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Livermore, California Wineries - Barrel Tasting Weekend

2010-03-17T16:29:00Z

This is the weekend to visit Livermore for the Second Annual Barrel Tasting Weekend. The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association is sponsoring this event that allows consumers to experience wine before it is bottled for sale.

As wine is aged it typically goes from barrel to barrel in an effort to blend or achieve the ultimate result. At the barrel tasting, tasters get a hint of what the wine will be like when fully mature and released for sale. However, if they like the wine they taste they can pre-purchase a vintage before its release to the public often at a discounted price.

This year 27 wineries are participating in the event. Tickets are $25 if purchased through ... Continued on the blog.

Time is Running Out for the Homebuyer Tax Credit

2010-03-15T21:39:00Z

Time is running out if you are thinking of purchasing a home and obtaining the Homebuyer Tax credit. In order to qualify for the tax credit you must be in escrow by April 30, 2010 and close before July 1, 2010. See the guidelines at http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html.

Here in the San Francisco East Bay there is limited inventory in many price ranges and buyers are having to make several offers before they are able to get a property into escrow. Escrows are taking longer to close so anyone wanting to obtain the tax credit should be actively looking NOW.

Remember real estate is a local business a ... Continued on the blog.

New Listing Priced to Sell $425,000

2010-03-04T21:12:00Z

New Listing in South Sundale, Fremont, CA.

3 bedroom 1 bath one story single family home.

Open house Saturday and Sunday March 6 & 7 and 13 & 14.

Visit: www.4571hilo.com for exterior pictures and disclosures.

It’s a good life!

Posted by:Kay Korbel

on the blog.

Livermore

2010-03-04T20:57:00Z

Many of you probably are members of CSAA/AAA for your automobile insurance. Each month you get the Via Magazine and this month there is an article on Livermore that you might find interesting.

Livermore is an eclectic mix of the old and the new. Wineries are winning awards at many of the well know tasting events and should you visit the Livermore wineries you might just meet the wine maker. Much more casual and a lot less crowded than the more famous Napa/Sonoma Valley wineries. Find out more at www.lvwine.org.

The downtown area has been re-vitalized with charm ... Continued on the blog.

Earthquake Preparedness

2010-03-02T18:08:00Z

Are you prepared for earthquakes and other natural disasters? Check out this preparedness guide to see what experts recommend.

Posted by:Kay Korbel

on the blog.

Legacy earns WQC

2010-03-01T18:39:00Z

Legacy Real Estate and Associates has earned Web Quality Certification presented by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. The designation is awarded to member companies that have demonstrated excellence in website design, functionality and execution. Legacy was once of only 64 initial applicants to earn this designation. The WQC was introduced in 2009 to recognize and encourage superior websites among Leading Real Estate Companies of the World’s 600 member firms.

Great websites enhance a company brand and as more and more consumers begin their home search or search for a real estate company and/or ag ... Continued on the blog.

Recycle your old cell phone

2010-02-23T20:35:00Z

I just heard about a great program that many local community groups and communities are supporting. The program is called 911 Cell Phone Bank. The program reprograms old cell phones so they can be used in emergency situations only and gives them to members of the community who could not otherwise afford a cell phone. The phones are often given to those subject to domestic violence or vulnerable seniors.

The phones are collected in a number of locations nationally – go to www.911cellphonebank.com to find a location near you – and all contacts on the phone are deleted. The phone is then reprogrammed so it can only be used for 911 emergency calls. Th ... Continued on the blog.

Participate in the 2010 Census

2010-02-22T17:13:00Z

The questionnaires for the 2010 census will be posted to households in the middle of March 2010. Cities expect to receive $3,000 for each resident that is counted in the census. These funds help to fund schools and other community services. Please return your completed survey by the first of April so your city receives all the benefits that they are entitled to. For more info visit: www.Fremont.gov/census.

It’s a good life!

Posted by:Kay Korbel

on the blog.

City of Livermore Report of Residential Building Record

2010-02-18T21:35:00Z

I am currently selling a house in Livermore and was unaware that the City requires a Residential Building Record report be sent to the Buyer before the property changes ownership. It just entails the Seller of the property filling out an Application with a payment for $60. Seller has to make sure they install a chimney spark arrestor and smoke detectors at the time of sale, and also is a record of any permits filed with the City, which is useful information for the Buyer.

You can call the City of Livermore Permit Center for the application at 925-960-4410, or go to www.ci.livermore.ca.us.

Posted by:http://www.guidemehome2sanfranciscoeastb ... Continued on the blog.

Bank Owned Bargain in Union City

2010-02-17T21:00:00Z

I have a bank owned listing for sale in Union City at 4171 Queen Anne Drive. It is located in a very nice neighborhood, close to all amenities, schools and transportation. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, is approximately 1357 square feet with a large back yard. It is in need of some TLC. It does have a separate living and family room. List price is $365,000, which is quite a bargain in that area. Please call me for a showing at 510.673-4721, or e-mail me at pam@pamdakan.com.

Check out the flyer b ... Continued on the blog.

Legacy #1 in Alameda County (San Francisco Bay Area)

2010-02-16T20:55:00Z

Legacy Real Estate & Associates is the top performing company in Alameda County for 2009. Legacy with two offices – Fremont and Livermore – and about 165 sales associates out performed companies much larger in size in terms of both number of offices and number of sales associates.

If you do not know a Legacy sales associate and are interested in buying or selling in Alameda County, please give me a call at 925-287-0550 or mailto:kmardiros@legacyrealestatea ... Continued on the blog.

Is your to do list out of control?

2010-02-10T20:24:00Z

Do you feel like you cannot keep your head above water? Do you feel like there are not enough hours in the day to complete the list of items on your to do list?

Here are a few helpful tips to help you take the pressure off and hopefully get better organized.

Keep your personal phone number to yourself; don’t give it to clients or colleagues.
Keep your work phone number out of the hands of your friends.
Turn off instant messaging and e-mail alert functions on your computer.
Stop checking personal emails during your normal work hours.
Place a red sticker or highlight dot in the upper right hand corner on each paper each time you handle it. Quickly you will discover t ... Continued on the blog.

IRVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER FUNDRAISER

2010-02-09T14:41:00Z

My son Anthony played Junior Varsity soccer for Irvington High School for the last few months and they had their big fundraiser for the year, the 31st Annual Crab Feed! Parents donated baskets for the big raffle.

We made a Movie Night Theme, filled with goodies, Orange Crème Soda, Milk Duds, Blockbuster movie rental gift cards, popcorn, pretty much everything you would need for a great night in with movies. I get my baskets from the Gourmet Gift Horse, a company on the Peninsula. They do such a great job when I order gift baskets for my clients. I have personalized ribbon with them and I can use them as promot ... Continued on the blog.

Privacy Settings on Facebook

2010-02-08T16:22:00Z

A great article was published in the BayEast Realtor magazine, it was written by Kim Komodo regarding privacy settings on Facebook. It never occured to me how much personal information I had on my Facebook page. After reading Kim’s article, I made some changes in what info I share on my Facebook page. Here is a quick list of some changes you may wish to consider making in an effort to strike the right balance between openness and privacy.

Your profile, photo, location, fan pages and friends list are open to everyone. You may choose to make some of this private.
Search sites can find your Facebook pages.
Co-workers may be able to see your photos.
Prospective em ... Continued on the blog.

California Proposition 90 and Proposition 60

2010-02-05T18:51:00Z

This is a constitutional initiative passed by California voters that allows proposition 60 to be modified by local government ordinance(s). Prop 60 provides property tax relief by preventing property reassessment when a homeowner/citizen is 55 years and sells their owner occupied residence and buys or constructs a replacement home worth the same or less than the home they sell. This applies when the replacement property is in the same county.

Proposition 90 allows those sellers that meet the criteria to transfer the current assessed base year value of their home located in one (8) participating California counties. Those counties are Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Ventura and n ... Continued on the blog.