In Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy – the South Santa Clara County where Gentleman Farmer meets
Old MacDonald and Ancient Hippies, Yuppies, Yippees, Dinks, Drinks and Drunks crowd Downtown is
this Paradise or Paradise Lost?  A few years hope abounded, new Los Gatos, new Saratoga was on
everyone’s lips, growth with x-rated abandonment suited some where others favored a more
measured and often times misguided view on controlling growth.  Downtown revitalization took many
forms and poor Gilroy’s downtown revitalization program was in full swing for the third time.  And
what is with those speed bumps in Morgan Hill, whose brilliant idea was that?

Now we have a market that is full of what we lovingly call “distressed” properties.  But to what extent,
and where has all the money gone?  Can we look at land use practices and conclude that over building
and poor planning contribute to the mess we are in.  Do the City Fathers have a piece in the mortgage
meltdown?  No, they did not buy the houses, lend the money and walk out on the loans.  But they did
give a green light to certain building practices and in there; “It’s a beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
attitude do anything to hedge against the dark clouds that were loaming in the distance.  If everyone is
borrowing to buy – what type of community are you really building?

Now the “CHICKEEEENS HAV E COOOOMMME HOOOME TO ROOST” to quote a recent Reverend.

I am not advocating Government intervention into this problem; I think the market needs to correct
this imbalance so that we can get back to a balanced market.  The sooner the private sector comes in
and picks up these properties and turns them into productive properties the better off we will be. 
What do I mean by productive properties, I mean properties that are owned by people who are both
paying the mortgage and the taxes and contributing to the community or people who are renting
these properties out to people who are contributing to the community. 

The real loser for the community is the Seller that has to sell but is not forced to sell.  The one with
equity and that for whatever reason has decided that this is the time to sell.  Hopefully they have a
great agent that can navigate them through this difficult market, help them with the touch choices and
get them sold at the highest possible price.