June 30, 2009

Real Estate is Local

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Real Estate is Local. Stats change dramatically city by city and even neighborhood by neighborhood. Choose a knowledgeable, professional Realtor® with experience you can count on in this tough and volatile real estate market. Contact me today for a personal assessment of your specific needs. In the meantime, take a look at the latest stats in Alameda County real estate.

The latest in monthly real estate statistics in Alameda County listed city by city as complied by Bay East Association of Realtors in Pleasanton, CA as of May 2009.

Posted by:Kay Korbel



June 26, 2009

Alameda County Fair July 1-19

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It’s time to plan your visit to the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. Fair dates are July 1 – 19, closed on Mondays.

The fair always has a wonderful concert line up – free with the cost of fair admission. This year see Charlie Daniels, Mandisa, Night Ranger, Carmen Jara, Skynnyn Lynnyrd, Gregg Rolie, Salvador, Bowling for Soup, En Vogue, Bucky Covington, Evolution, B.J. Thomas, Ozomatli, Solange Knowles, Con Funk Shun and Arron Tippin – details can be found at www.alamedacountyfair.com.

Add to that wonderful exhibits, livestock show, landscape exhibits, carnival and live horse racing and you will find something for everyone at the Alameda County Fair. Fireworks are July 3rd at 9:15 PM.

Tickets are $10 for ages 13-61, $8 for aged 62 and over, $6 for ages 6-12, no charge for those under 6. Parking is $8 general, $15 preferred and $20 VIP.

I hope to see you at the fair.

Posted by:Kathy Mardiros



June 22, 2009

Financing Options

Posted to Kathy Mardiros, Real Estate Tips

While in recent years conventional financing with its many variations was the most popular financing option when purchasing a first home, today a myriad of financing options abound.

I attended a Financing 2009 seminar this morning where some of the new programs were discussed. One popular choice is the CalHFA program. The borrower must be a US citizen, permanent resident alien or qualified alien and must plan to occupy the property as a primary residence. There are income limits by county and the borrower must meet credit and loan requirements of the originating lender and CalHFA. There is a mortgage protection program should the borrower become involuntarily unemployed.

CalHFA has a Community Stabilization Program (CSHLP) designed to help first time buyers purchase vacant homes that are owned by participating financial institutions in certain areas of California hard hit by the financing crisis. Currently 13 counties are involved in the program including designated zip codes in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

The CalHFA SMART program is designed to help first time buyers purchase vacant homes owned by CalHFA statewide. The Cal30 conventional loan program is a conventional loan with 30 year amortization schedule and a fixed rate. This program allows for a 95% maximum loan to value ratio but must meet income limits by county location as well as family size and private mortgage insurance is required.

If you would like additional information on any of these programs, give me a call at 925-287-0550 and I will put you in touch with one of our loan counselors.

Posted by:Kathy Mardiros



June 16, 2009

Triton Art History Summer Classes 2009

Posted to Area Attractions

GOT ART?

Join me at The Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, CA for three summer evening classes! These classes are not covered in your college art history class. Taught by Preston Metcalf, Curator and Art Historian of the Triton Museum. Preston has an irresistible, engaging and entertaining teaching style. He will escort you on a journey of stories and ideas as you explore the plight of some of the greatest art ever created!

click image to enlarge

Three classes are offered for $40.00 for Museum members or $50 for non members. There is a drop in fee of $20 per lecture. The classes are being offered on Thursday, July 23rd, July 30th and August 6th from 7pm to 8:30pm

Topics:

  • Art from the Age of King Tut

  • Enemy Mine: Great Rivalries that drove Art History

  • Art Goes to the Movies

Visit: www.TritonMuseum.org

Posted by:Kay Korbel



June 15, 2009

Fremont in the News

Posted to Kathy Mardiros

Over the weekend two news articles appeared touting accomplishments of Fremont and the citizens living in the community.

First of all, Fremont’s Irvington High School received an award for being “America’s Greenest School”. See the article here. Irvington High implemented programs to reduce waste and make the campus greener. In 2007 Irvington was named an Energy Star school so the accolades just keep coming.

Also appearing in the paper over the weekend was the announcement that Men’s Health Magazine has named Fremont as the second best recycling city in the country. See the article here. Earlier Men’s Health had named Fremont as the Healthiest City for Men (2004), and in 2007 ranked for good drinking water and small number of drunk drivers.

Fremont is a great place to live and I would be happy to refer you to one of our sales associates to assist you in locating a home to purchase in Fremont or one of the surrounding communities. Give me a call at 925-287-0550.

Posted by:Kathy Mardiros



June 08, 2009

Contractor Special in Historic Niles: 37807 2nd Street Fremont, CA

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My new listing in historic Niles is the lowest price single family property on the multiple listing service today! Priced to sell at $100K. This is a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom cottage built in 1910.

Located in a corner lot and walking distance to Niles Elementary School, this home is antique heaven, with numerous restaurants and bars nearby and the post office is across the street. This property is characterized as a ‘knock down’ or ‘Contractor Special’. Truly not for the feint of heart. Please use extreme caution and enter at your own risk!

Click here to view this property at 37807 2nd Street Fremont, CA 94536.

If you are interested in this property please call me at 510-676-2731 and I will help.

Posted by:Kay Korbel



June 04, 2009

Home Sales at 8 Year High

Posted to Kathy Mardiros

Today’s newspaper had an article indicating that home sales have hit an 8 year high. Click here to read the article.

At yesterday’s sales meeting, Legacy company owner/broker Bill Aboumrad provided some interesting numbers as well. In most of the areas Legacy services, the number of pending sales is greater than the number of homes currently on the market. For example, in Fremont there are 390 active listings and 411 pending sales, in Union City 122 active listings and 226 pending sales, and Livermore 232 active listings and 236 pending sales. In most areas pending sales seem to indicate that at the present numbers there is currently a 2-4 month supply of homes available for sale. (Numbers are reflective of the market as of the last day of May 2009.)

Legacy Real Estate and Associates continues to be the market leader. In the Fremont area, Legacy is number one in sales through the end of May with an average sales price in Fremont of $600,000. When looking at all of Alameda County, again Legacy is number one in sales but the average sales price is a bit lower at $573,000.

When considering buying or selling in Alameda County, consider Legacy Real Estate and Associates. For a referral to one of our sales associates, give me a call at 925-287-0550.

Posted by:Kathy Mardiros



June 03, 2009

What’s for dinner?

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Too busy and no time to stop at the grocery store? Here is a very clever and nifty website that will assist you in turning random ingredients into a terrific meal. Visit www.supercook.com for more information or watch the short 2 ½ minute video below to learn how you can turn random ingredients into a fabulous meal:

Better yet it’s FREE!! You can choose from starters, entrees or desserts. Life is short, better have dessert first!

Posted by:Kay Korbel



June 02, 2009

First Time Buyer Story

Posted to Kathy Mardiros, Real Estate Tips

With all the incentives available for first time home buyers, now is a good time to talk to people who may be able to take advantage of these incentives. I have a friend whose daughter graduated from college about four years ago and she has a good job down in Southern California. I mentioned to the mother that now might be a good time for her daughter to think about buying. The mother’s initial reaction “Oh now, she cannot afford to buy.” But she did pass on to her daughter some of the information I had provided.

Next thing I know the mother asks me to refer her daughter to a real estate broker in Southern California. Great! I call one of the member companies in the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World network and passed on the contact information for the daughter indicating that I wanted an agent who worked well with first time buyers and would be able to explain the process every step of the way.

Imagine my surprise when not two weeks later the mother comes to me all excited that her daughter is now in escrow to purchase her first property – a condominium in Southern California. The payments on the new condo will be less than the daughter is currently paying in rent and the mother is smiling ear to ear and so excited for her daughter.

Now is a great time for first time buyers due the various incentives being offered combined with low interest rates, prices at levels lower than in years past and inventory in many areas offering a great selection of properties from which to choose.

I would be happy to refer you or your friends to real estate agents – just give me a call at 925-287-0550. Leading Real Estate Companies of the World member companies are the leading real estate firms in their market area and will take wonderful care of any referral received.

Posted by:Kathy Mardiros



June 01, 2009

Useful Plumbing Tip

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Tip on retrieving something you drop down the sink. Watch this 1 minute video below. It’s quick and useful! Good for a lost contact lenses or ear ring. This is one of those tips you wish you had known about before you took the sink apart or called the plumber

It is a great tip and it saves money too!

Posted by:Kay Korbel