tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90448471806160782712024-02-19T06:55:05.203-08:00Silicon Valley Real Estate and LifestyleI am sharing my insights into real estate here in the Silicon Valley. I have lived and worked in Silicon Valley for about 20 years. I have personally owned several homes in the Silicon Valley.
I am also highlighting businesses or business partners that I think will add value to your Silicon Valley Lifestyle.
I am also sharing some recipes that my family loves. For many of us the kitchen is the center of our home and the way we share our lifestyle with others.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-5541351594144913622012-07-27T14:56:00.000-07:002012-07-27T14:56:05.059-07:00Recipe: Pasta CarbonaraFor some strange reason I was craving bacon and eggs and pasta after my run this morning. So I decided I would try making Pasta Carbonara. It took less than half an hour to make and was delicious. I used a couple of recipes to come up with this version, it satisfied my bacon, eggs and pasta craving. It has become a kitchen staple.
Single Serving Recipe, make in an individual bowl.
2 slices of bacon cooked until very crispy. Dry off with paper towel and crumble.
Saute a chopped clove of garlic and about a tsp of chopped onion in some bacon fat. Do more onion and garlic and store in the refrigerator for use another day.
In a serving bowl add one egg yolk, a tsp of cream black pepper to taste, mix together. Grate about an 1 oz of your favorite hard cheese into the mixture. Add cooled bacon and onion/garlic, toss with warm pasta.
Make 4 oz of your favorite pasta per serving. Enjoy! Let me know how you like it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-51637687883617055482012-03-19T15:43:00.000-07:002012-03-19T15:43:41.567-07:00What you need to win in the Silicon Valley as a buyerStop listening to the national news, it will only guarantee that you will not get the property you want because you will ignore the advice that your agent gives you on your local market. Forget everything you hear on the news about this being a buyer’s market, the Silicon Valley is not like other markets.<br />
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In the Silicon Valley it is now a seller’s market for most markets. The seller has their pick of offers and they can cherry pick for the best terms and best price. <br />
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<b>Strategies to win the offer</b><br />
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Go in at your best and final price. When sellers get as many offers as they are getting right now there usually will not be counter offers. Do not lose the house you love trying to save a couple of thousand dollars. Do not follow Suze Orman's advice on never paying more than 80% of the list price on a condo. Suze does not know this market; her advice might be sound in another market. If you want the winning offer please read the first sentence of this blog again.<br />
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You cannot take more than a week to remove property contingencies, if you even have property contingencies. If the seller has already done the inspections using a reputable inspector you may want to consider not having any other inspections. Review the inspection findings carefully and if you have questions about the findings in the inspections have a qualified contractor review them with you on the property. You may also consider not having an appraisal contingency if you have the cash to cover the difference in the appraised value of the property and purchase price. <br />
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Before you even start looking for a property make sure you are pre-qualified for a loan and have proof of funds in the bank. Your offer will be ignored without it. <br />
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Be open to properties that need a little love and affection. Anyone can fall in love with a property that has been staged to sell. In this market you will pay a heavy premium for the staged move in ready property. Look for a property with good bones but that needs a little cosmetic updating. Educate yourself about the comparable costs of a kitchen or bathroom refresh. <br />
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Paint and new carpet are relatively inexpensive updates and many buyers cannot see past green shag carpeting and orange faux paint. Watch every HGTV episode you can on getting a house ready to sell so you can see how easy it is to update a house with paint, carpet and few strategically placed new door handles.<br />
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Last but not least, be ready to look at property the MINUTE it hits the market, if you can only see property on Saturday afternoon from 3 pm to 5 pm you will remain a renter for the foreseeable future.<br />
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If you have any questions about other deal winning strategies I use with my clients please feel free to contact me.<br />
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Happy House Hunting!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-60065211787208801592012-02-18T18:41:00.000-08:002012-02-18T19:57:17.174-08:00Helping my clients understand Zillow's NumbersI love Zillow, this blog post is not a Zillow bash. I am trying to help my clients understand Zillow's numbers.<br />
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I have been a Premier Agent with Zillow for over a year and I have met some amazing clients through Zillow. <br />
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I was a huge Zillow user before I became a real estate agent. I like statistical data, I am a numbers driven person and so are 90% plus of the clients I work with. However, some times the Zillow numbers are hard to understand and they lead to more questions than answers. My clients ask me all the time about why the Zestimate is so different than the list price on some homes here in Silicon Valley? I thought I would answer the question.<br />
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There are two main issues that cause so much confusion on a Zestimate in Silicon Valley, the small sample size and the diverse housing stock.<br />
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For example, on average in any given year only about 350 houses sell in Mountain View, CA. So this means in any given month less than 30 houses are sold in Mountain View, CA. On top of that Mountain View, CA has several very distinct neighborhoods and the price you would pay for a similar house in one neighborhood verses another neighborhood varies greatly. So you may find yourself with only 3 or 4 houses selling within any one year that are really compare to yours. But Zillow does not "know" which houses sold are really the ones comparable to yours, they know what sold next door or down the block. Finding true comparable homes in Silicon Valley is sometimes more art than science.<br />
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I have engaged in many an art/science project to help my clients understand the right price to offer on a property or the right price to list a property. The Zestimate is good to know especially as the seller as it can impact the offers you receive from a buyer. If you are a buyer please work with your agent on a price and do not get caught up in the Zestimate of the property as being the market price.<br />
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What Zillow knows is that your neighbor next door sold her house for $523,000 and another house around the corner sold for 1.8M last month. If these are the only two houses that sell in your neighborhood they can become part of the basis for the Zillow Estimate of your home, even if they are nothing like your home. The sale of the higher end property is probably going to increase your Zillow estimate, which can make you feel really good that your property values have increased. However, when the next two properties to sell in your neighborhood sell for $624,000 and $567,000 you are left wondering why your Zillow estimate went down just a month later. <br />
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When you have very small data samples the data can fluctuate very rapidly and over/under value your property very quickly. At a zip code or city level Zillow does a great job of reflecting the price trends here in Silicon Valley. It just does not have enough data to accurately estimate most homes in the Silicon Valley. The data samples are too small and too infrequent. This statistical sample issue is only made worse with the wide variance of housing stock in any one neighborhood. <br />
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Unlike many areas in the country, the Silicon Valley does not have large developments of recently built homes that are very similar in size and amenities. Most of the large development projects happened in the 1950's to the 1970's here. Many of these houses have been replaced, added onto and or remodeled in the years since they were built. A few of them have not been touched since the day they were built in 1958. I recently posted on Facebook a kitchen in an Eichler that had never been updated! Of course this untouched Eichler sits in a sea of rebuilt newer homes. The Zestimate for this Eichler is not in line with the true value of the property as a potential lot not a home. Sorry in advance to the rabid Eichler fans that I think this is a tear down, not a restoration project. Please I have owned an Eichler, I know when to let go. <br />
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If you go to Zillow and look up the accuracy of their Zestimate it explains very well about their estimation process but it seems that very few people bother to read this page:-)<br />
http://www.zillow.com/howto/DataCoverageZestimateAccuracy.htmAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-60109261422522030742012-02-11T16:37:00.000-08:002012-02-11T16:40:25.576-08:00Condo Bingo Anyone?One of the things I love most about my job is the unexpected. There always are many things that can happen on the journey to buy a new home. This morning I had the opportunity to go with a client to put an offer on a new condo under development. We were told that there could possibly be more people interested in the condos that were being released than there were condos available. Even with this warning we were not prepared for the wall to wall number of people wanting to have a chance to buy a new condo nor were we prepared for the way the selection process was carried out. <br />
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There were a few lucky owners to be that got their first choice condo. They were given their paperwork and sent on their merry way. I am wondering if they were happy to be the one and only or if they are second guessing that they picked an ugly condo…<br />
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The majority of potential condo owners had their ownership determined by a Condo Bingo. <br />
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Condo Bingo works like this:<br />
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You wait for the unit you gave as your first choice to be called out. Then you and the other condo contestants go to the front of the crowd and pick out which bingo ball is going to determine if you get to buy a new condo today or not. Some condo contestants agonized over which bingo ball was going to be lucky enough to bring them a home. Others like my client just asked to be given a ball so they could get the silly process over with. The balls were placed into the bingo ball spinner and whoever’s ball dropped out the other end got the condo. <br />
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My buyer was a Condo Bingo winner, but this was the strangest way to get a new home I have been a part of so far. <br />
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Would you play Condo Bingo? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuSFOID8AaaG8KhjAx5i4X30dazFSIwQHTe0MNKzwYxLaUROoQx-4C3ECuspgOm3s_wn0HSdxzdp8Lp-r9kZAs4WeWwOTLTIs74bePOFoJ557dCpTeFbhCRH9EUVYqTxwSDePdrXOXKci/s1600/5723504-a-bingo-ball-cage-on-a-white-background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuSFOID8AaaG8KhjAx5i4X30dazFSIwQHTe0MNKzwYxLaUROoQx-4C3ECuspgOm3s_wn0HSdxzdp8Lp-r9kZAs4WeWwOTLTIs74bePOFoJ557dCpTeFbhCRH9EUVYqTxwSDePdrXOXKci/s400/5723504-a-bingo-ball-cage-on-a-white-background.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Carla Dimond<br />
Realtor-Lifestyle Neighborhood Specialist<br />
Keller Williams Realty-Cupertino<br />
Cell/Direct: (650) 388-8820<br />
carla.dimond@gmail.com<br />
www.findahomeinsiliconvalley.com<br />
DRE # 01871201Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-39465101321708535302012-01-15T12:18:00.000-08:002012-01-15T12:18:36.501-08:00Open House Sunday 1:30-4:30 pm 50 W Edith Ave #5 Los Altos, CAStop by my Open House at 50 W Edith Ave #5 in Los Altos, CA 94022 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm today<br />
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See why the Village of Los Altos is one of my favorite lifestyle neighborhoods.<br />
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This 2 bedroom 2 bath home is a great place to entertain friends and enjoy the downtown Los Altos lifestyle. 50 W. Edith boasts a WalkScore of 86 and includes two parking spaces in the garage for your cars to vacation.<br />
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Sit on the balcony and watch the world go by. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI4MYz2iUOxmxUFE19JJqsT3EtIjwJYianPgakAWevsdhebGh7oSjuXS7A9ECu1DBTVP7vjbehYZqzYFhLIdWCVG4CSIQ8hN0qxga9WzC9MlFPDRrGKTa9UObkKcxYEi4sEFyUCzpjd1a/s1600/edithpatio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="72" width="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI4MYz2iUOxmxUFE19JJqsT3EtIjwJYianPgakAWevsdhebGh7oSjuXS7A9ECu1DBTVP7vjbehYZqzYFhLIdWCVG4CSIQ8hN0qxga9WzC9MlFPDRrGKTa9UObkKcxYEi4sEFyUCzpjd1a/s400/edithpatio.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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50 W Edith Ave is just minutes from all the wonderful shops and restaurants in Village of Los Altos.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXpG5VlImBEaO_iwbcUxafdC0J3pdpa0yg5mhoh39GqDbafi_yCLUGsi8dmnDJL01ftB7I1wuOwxZ4vvaBDeD4sAoQVfjnfkIYjiiUTH2wP1xQPOTQrYBlC4H13-WavQ5LTG-Sl8PMTy2/s1600/50wedith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="72" width="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXpG5VlImBEaO_iwbcUxafdC0J3pdpa0yg5mhoh39GqDbafi_yCLUGsi8dmnDJL01ftB7I1wuOwxZ4vvaBDeD4sAoQVfjnfkIYjiiUTH2wP1xQPOTQrYBlC4H13-WavQ5LTG-Sl8PMTy2/s400/50wedith.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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New to Los Altos?<br />
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Let me make some suggestions of a few of my favorite places; <br />
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For pampering yourself visit Le Petit Salon on Plaza Central. Owner Nancy Tran has been treating Los Altos to the best manicures and pedicures for about 20 years. Schedule a facial for your next visit, your face will love you for it.<br />
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Want to show off that new pedicure? Head to Main Street and go to Crismon Mim for a great new pair of shoes. Check out the great selections of clothes while you are there.<br />
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Getting hungry? Draegers is a great place to pick up a custom gourmet sandwich & something special for dinner tonight. Don't miss their amazing wine selection.<br />
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Want to go out to dinner? I love the old school experience of eating at Beasejour on State Street. Their coq au vin is outstanding, save room for the chocolate souffle.<br />
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AND??<br />
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Well some local secrets are meant to be kept, but if you visit my Open House I may be willing to share...<br />
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Come see why the Village of Los Altos is one of my favorite lifestyle neighborhoods.<br />
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originally posted:<br />
http://siliconvalleyrealestate-blog.com/Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-66974540103310047472012-01-12T19:24:00.000-08:002012-01-12T19:24:55.459-08:00Chili Verde and Spanish RiceA while back I had a friend out visiting and I had them share their grandma's Chile Verde recipe. I love Chili Verde and I did not have a recipe I loved. They shared Grandma’s recipe and I have been playing with it ever since. I am the kind of person that even if Julia Child had prepared a recipe just for me I would be fiddling with it the minute her back was turned. <br />
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Tonight I added roasted tomatoes & red pepper to this recipe. I had already decided that I liked about 75% Anaheim chilies and about 25% Poblano, which were not in Grandma’s recipe either. I also added some chicken broth to this version.<br />
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I wanted to have something to eat with the Chili Verde with so I decided I would try making Spanish rice. I like really good Spanish style rice but I have to say not many Mexican places do it very well, even some of my favorites. I again used the roasted tomatoes and red peppers in the rice plus tomato paste and lots of garlic.<br />
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I decided I better hurry up and share this on my blog while I could still remember what I did differently! <br />
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<b>Chili Verde</b><br />
2 Tbls olive oil<br />
3/12 lbs of pork butt roast, cubed, remove excess fat<br />
6 Anaheim peppers roasted and chopped<br />
2 Poblano peppers roasted and chopped<br />
1 small red bell pepper roasted and chopped<br />
3 medium tomatoes roasted and chopped<br />
1 clove garlic chopped<br />
1 med yellow onion chopped<br />
2 C low sodium chicken stock<br />
Salt/Pepper to taste<br />
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I roasted the peppers and tomatoes at the same time I sautéed the meat with the onion and garlic. I salted and peppered the meat before adding it to a warm pan with olive oil. I browned the meat in batches and returned to a large soup pot. I then added the chopped peppers and tomatoes to the pot. Simmered for about 15 minutes and then added the chicken stock. Cook the dish for at least 2 hours on low heat with the lid on and then simmer for about an hour with the lid off.<br />
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<b>Spanish Rice</b><br />
1 Tbls olive oil<br />
2 C long grain white rice<br />
1 large tomato roasted and chopped<br />
1 small red bell pepper roasted and chopped<br />
1 clove of garlic chopped <br />
1 small yellow onion chopped<br />
1 Tlb tomato paste<br />
3 C of chicken stock<br />
Salt/Pepper to taste<br />
Sauté the garlic and onion in the olive oil until clear add the tomato and pepper, cook another 5 to 10 min add the rice, stir to mix. Add the chicken broth. Let the mixture boil on the stove and then reduce to a simmer and cover. The rice will take about 30-40 mins to cook.<br />
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Serve with tortilla's, lime wedges, sour cream, avocado and salsa. <br />
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A beer or two would not be a bad addition either!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5lMZLlQusxl9G5VA3mHPCESuXkZuIlrkH9FUvb2oprpjebIyyRIOqgb2nBTuiU6BsLmHFcNcGqh85hGqi3aAfLZM6i6Hsct2c-itdjRXdgC3jhHOMD1MOZeabprGrapHxAmbLwK_OaUX/s1600/chiliverde.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="299" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5lMZLlQusxl9G5VA3mHPCESuXkZuIlrkH9FUvb2oprpjebIyyRIOqgb2nBTuiU6BsLmHFcNcGqh85hGqi3aAfLZM6i6Hsct2c-itdjRXdgC3jhHOMD1MOZeabprGrapHxAmbLwK_OaUX/s400/chiliverde.JPG" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-43777066235559977302012-01-08T10:12:00.000-08:002012-01-08T10:12:04.173-08:00The transition from client to neighborI think even if you do not make official New Year Resolutions many of us reflect on the what happened in the past year and what we want to happen in the year that is about to unfold. One of the things I enjoyed most last year was when clients turned into neighbors.<br />
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Last year I decided that I was going to really concentrate selling homes in my own neighborhood. In fact my first blog post as part of the ActiveRain community was about my neighborhood, the Shoreline West neighborhood in Mountain View, CA<br />
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http://siliconvalleyrealestate-blog.com/post/1283658/homes-for-sale-in-shoreline-west-mountain-view-ca<br />
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One of the greatest things that happened in concentrating on my own neighborhood is that I have clients that have turned into neighbors. I tell everyone that one of the greatest perks of my job is picking out new neighbors. After I say that almost always they lean in and ask me; “What do you do if you have a client you don't like?” Lucky for me I have not had that problem. I have however had wonderful clients that I would have loved to have as neighbors and we were not able to find them the right place in Mountain View. Some other community has gotten lucky and has them as new residents.<br />
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So as 2012 starts to unfold I am happy for my new neighbors that moved into the neighborhood in 2011 and I am excited to meet new clients that will be new neighbors in 2012! <br />
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Also posted<br />
http://siliconvalleyrealestate-blog.com/local/California/Mountain%20ViewAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-85653969222724634762011-11-22T22:04:00.000-08:002011-11-22T22:05:04.854-08:00Happy ThanksgivingI love the idea of reflecting on what an honor it is to live in this country, the sacrifices made by those who first came here from Europe; especially with all the flaws and shortcomings being brought up in the news every day. Those of us in the 99% have a great deal to be thankful for compared to those who live in other places. <br />
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In addition, we can never gather family and friends around our table often enough and enjoy their company. We seem to get busier and busier every year on less and less important things. This is a great Holiday to reset what is important.<br />
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The food served on Thanksgiving is not my favorite. A slice of turkey is more than enough and don't get me started on what a bad idea I think marshmallows and yams are. Then there is just the sheer quantity of food eaten in such a short period of time. So I have my own traditions that do not include turkey and candied yams. To me it is about spending time with friends and family not the food.<br />
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This can be a tough time for many people because they cannot go home to be with family for various reasons. So if you know someone that may be facing the day alone invite them to your house. Do not worry that you are not the best cook nor about the dust bunnies that are breeding in the corners of the living room. Enjoy their company, your family, and friends and let the day unfold.<br />
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I am not going to kill myself to provide a meal that Martha Stewart would envy but I am preparing a few dishes I think my family and guests will enjoy and I am looking forward to sharing bread and laughter and being thankful and grateful for what I have.<br />
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I hope you enjoy the company and laughter of your family and friends on Thanksgiving as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVSVyrP-14OJVkkaQy0wehQtc8osFwnvG0SZ4ufmChAi5xmh228jRLalXaS4KW1463LL-sh1Usl21CgvrNpqxI6bGzF2tnJ11R1dFBcHICxwKpiY2_Siysf-Aap_KGGBOzuG1mkhHbX0W/s1600/autumn-mv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVSVyrP-14OJVkkaQy0wehQtc8osFwnvG0SZ4ufmChAi5xmh228jRLalXaS4KW1463LL-sh1Usl21CgvrNpqxI6bGzF2tnJ11R1dFBcHICxwKpiY2_Siysf-Aap_KGGBOzuG1mkhHbX0W/s400/autumn-mv.JPG" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-34841033919243074332011-11-21T19:38:00.001-08:002011-11-21T19:38:37.747-08:00The Penn State Scandal, how it has impacted meLike too many adults I was the victim of sexual abuse as a child. Reading and listeining to the Penn State Scandal has made me remember and feel things I do not want to. Being sexually molested has damaged my life in ways that I am still trying to deal with and move beyond well into my middle age. <br />
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Also like many victims, I have lived with someone else's shame. I did nothing wrong, I was just a child but like so many others like me, I felt like I caused the abuse and was responsible for hiding the secret. There is so much pressure to hide the secret when the abuser is a relative, there are so many ways for them to seek and get retribution on you. <br />
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Young children do not have the language to tell you what is happening to them. I told my mother that this person hurt me and that I did not want to be with them but she did not know that they were sexually molesting me. She listened with her head not her heart about what I was telling her. She did not understand the level of terror and fear I had of being left with this relative. I think that this is issue is compounded in an extremely religious environment where sex and anatomy are usually never discussed. All things sexual have a hushed secretive nature. The message is often we don’t touch or talk about anything “down there” so if you are not allowed to talk about that part of your body, how can you describe that someone was touching you inappropriately? You really do not have the language to explain what happened to you.<br />
<br />
I beg any adult that has a child or knows a child that is unduly fearful of an adult or older child, listen with your heart to what they are telling you, not their words. A small child does not know what words to use other than "Help me, they are hurting me" I know it is so hard to face, but the neighbor who likes to babysit or the aunt or uncle who comes over all the time could actually be child molesters. Child molesters are people who work hard to blend into the community and appear to be helpful so they have access to victims. The damage this does to child is unimaginable unless it has happened to you. They lurk in churches and in schools. They do their best to be respected members of society so that their word is always believed over the word of the child.<br />
<br />
I also beg anyone else like me that has stayed silent that now is the time to talk about this and get changes in how our society is dealing with this issue. The statistics are staggering; something like 1 in 4 of girls and 1 in 6 boys are being sexually molested by the time they are adults. This has got to stop. <br />
<br />
If the child molester did it to you they will do it to someone else you love as well. It breaks my heart to know that the same thing happened to another one of my relative’s years later because I was not able to get my message to my parents about the pain that was inflicted upon me. It is a club I wish they did not belong to. And what terrifies me even more is to think how many other members of this special little club there are because nothing was done when I was a small child. Just like the special little club created at Penn State. No one wants to be a member of this type of club.<br />
<br />
My heart aches for all the children and the inner children that were hurt by this man at Penn State and not helped by others that were in a position to do so. I wish I did not know the pain they feel of thinking that the person that did this to me is somehow more important than me. We have got to break this cycle and one of the best ways to do that is for people like me to stand up and tell our stories.<br />
<br />
If you have a story to tell like mine tell it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-72538996453981121672011-11-20T20:04:00.000-08:002011-11-20T20:04:02.434-08:00Recipe: Italian Sausage, Pine Nuts and Exotic Mushroom DressingA friend of mine just posted a lament on Facebook about what kind of dressing to make for Thanksgiving. So I decided I would share my favorite recipe. I like my dressing to be browned and a little crunchy. I really don't like stuffing; it is too moist and gummy for my taste. <br />
<br />
Actually it is kind of a family tradition not to make a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, no one in my family likes turkey so we never make it. I am partial to dressing and I plan on making it this Thanksgiving but I have not decided yet on a roasted chicken or a pork roast to serve along with it.<br />
<br />
However you celebrate Thanksgiving; I wish you and your family a wonderful day.<br />
<br />
4 C day old baguette cubes<br />
<br />
1 Italian Sausage browned and crumbled<br />
<br />
1/2 C Celery diced<br />
<br />
1/2 C yellow onion diced<br />
1 Leek chopped<br />
<br />
6 cloves of garlic minced<br />
<br />
1 C exotic mushrooms, chopped. I am using Chanterelle, King Oyster and Shitake this year<br />
<br />
1/4 C pine nuts, browned<br />
<br />
1/4 C fresh herbs-sage, thyme, rosemary <br />
<br />
1 C chicken broth<br />
<br />
1/2 stick of butter<br />
1 -2 egg beaten<br />
<br />
Salt & Pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Cook the sausage and set aside to add to the dressing. Lightly toast the pine nuts, watch carefully not to burn.<br />
Melt the butter & add the onion, leek, garlic, celery and fresh herbs. Sauté until lightly browned add the mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms are cooked through. <br />
In a large mixing bowl add the bread cubes, sausage, pine nuts and mushroom mixture. Add the chicken stock and beaten egg to the bread cubes until you get the right “wetness” for your taste. <br />
In the pan you cooked the mushroom mixture lightly brown the dressing. Adding more butter as needed salt and pepper to your taste.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-39895900000762721132011-11-15T19:43:00.000-08:002011-11-15T19:43:17.073-08:00My secret to eating what you want and losing weightA big part of my life is cooking and eating great food but, believe it or not I have been eating what I want and losing weight. <br />
<br />
I share a great many recipes on my blog because I love food and I love to eat. However, in the past year I have managed to lose over 20 lbs or about 2 1/2 dress sizes. I recently bought a pair of jeans in a size I have not worn since Nixon was still President!<br />
<br />
I know it sounds contradictory that I share very calorie rich recipes and yet I still have managed to lose weight. I do not believe in diets, the minute I put myself on a diet I get hungry and obsess over food I think I should not be eating. What I have done instead is to make choices about what I eat. <br />
<br />
I evaluate what I eat and I try to make a rational choice about what I put in my mouth. I have lost weight by doing the simplest things: I eat less and I exercise more. We need so many calories a day to live and if we consume more calories than we need our bodies store it somewhere for another day.<br />
<br />
I know that sounds too simple to be true but it is. I do not eat until I am full at any meal, I stop at the point I am no longer hungry. I also try and add another 10 or 15 minutes at least of cardio every day than I want to do. Plus I really push myself on my cardio workouts. If I am not sweating I am not moving hard enough. I have also found that for me running is my ideal cardio workout. It helps me feel good emotionally, it challenges me and I can set real goals around challenges to continually get faster or increase my endurance running.<br />
<br />
My knees and back seem to agree that less of me to carry around is a good thing. However, I want to strike a balance. If I cannot enjoy the foods I love I will lose some of my passion for life. I know that it sounds crazy to some but I think you can have the pleasure of eating ANYTHING you want and still maintain your weight. It is really about portion control and eating because you need to refuel not to entertain yourself. <br />
<br />
I think so many people are told you can enjoy food or you can be thin but I am sure that you can do both if you are careful about the quantity of what you eat.<br />
<br />
As an example, I ate out recently and I really wanted to have some fried Calamari. Which is not a low calorie food, plus I ate the tartar sauce on top of it. I ordered the dish and ate only until I was not hungry. My waiter wanted to know if I did not like the dish because I ate so little of it. I loved it but I only needed a few bites not a 1000 to enjoy it! <br />
<br />
So with "Food Season" upon us find ways to eat what you want but make sure you are eating to refuel not to entertain yourself.<br />
<br />
See you at the gym!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-73624419592419290412011-11-07T21:26:00.000-08:002011-11-07T21:26:30.087-08:00Mountain View, CA: Comparing SFH sales October 2007 through 2011Almost every news article is full of news about how home sales are down and prices have fallen but I wanted to see if that holds true for the local real estate market in Mountain View, CA. Has the market fallen dramatically and has the number of transactions fallen significantly? I decided to do some research on MLSListings, Inc. and see what the actual sales numbers look like for single family homes (SFH) in Mountain View. <br />
<br />
I have had a gut instinct that prices today were fairly close to what they were in 2007 but I wanted to take a look at the real numbers. This is what I found:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Oct 2011 Snapshot</b><br />
<br />
# of SFH listed-31<br />
<br />
Cancellations or withdrawls-2<br />
<br />
Short Sales/REOs-1<br />
<br />
Highest priced SFH-$1,849,318<br />
<br />
Lowest priced SFH-$594,500<br />
<br />
Average SFH characteristics-<br />
<br />
Listed for $1,037,082<br />
<br />
3 bedroom & 3 bath home builit in 1959 with 1709 sq ft on a 6938 sq ft lot<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><br />
Oct 2010 Snapshot</b><br />
<br />
# of SFH listed-31<br />
<br />
Cancellations or withdrawls-8<br />
<br />
Short Sales/REOs-0<br />
<br />
Highest priced SFH-Listed 1.699M sold 1.79M<br />
<br />
Lowest priced SFH-Listed 435K sold 380K<br />
<br />
Average SFH characteristics-<br />
<br />
On the market for 46 days<br />
<br />
Listed for $941,332 and sold for $939,748<br />
<br />
3 bedroom 2 bath built in 1962 with 1531 sq ft on a 6322 sq lot<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><br />
October 2009 Snapshot</b><br />
<br />
# of SFH listed-30<br />
<br />
Cancellations or withdrawls-0<br />
<br />
Short Sales/REOs-3<br />
<br />
Highest priced SFH-Listed $1,718,153 sold $1,653,823 took 421 days to sell!<br />
<br />
Lowest priced SFH-Listed 399K sold 399K<br />
<br />
Average SFH characteristics-<br />
<br />
On the market for 55 days<br />
<br />
Listed for $905,986 and sold for $905,787<br />
<br />
3 bedroom and 2 bath built in 1963 with 1628 sq ft on a 5674 sq lot<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><br />
October 2008 Snapshot</b><br />
<br />
# of SFH listed-24<br />
<br />
Cancellations or withdrawls-17!!!! Or 0ver 70% of homes did not sell<br />
<br />
Short Sales/REOs-0<br />
<br />
Highest priced SFH-listed for $16,950,000 sold $1,613,000<br />
<br />
Lowest priced SFH-listed $828,000 sold $765,000<br />
<br />
Average SFH characteristics-<br />
<br />
On the market for 61 days<br />
<br />
Listed for $1,107,929 and sold for $1,065,809<br />
<br />
4 bedroom and 3 baths built in 1957 with 1837 sq ft on a 7702 sq lot<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><br />
October 2007 Snapshot </b><br />
<br />
# of SFH listed-42<br />
<br />
Cancellations or withdrawls-16 almost 40% of homes were taken off the market<br />
<br />
Short Sales/REOs-0<br />
<br />
Highest priced SFH-listed $1,600,000 sold for $1,595,000<br />
<br />
Lowest priced SFH-listed $640,000 sold for $650,000<br />
<br />
Average SFH characteristics-<br />
<br />
On the market for 22 days<br />
<br />
Listed for $1,038,627 and sold for $1,047,014<br />
<br />
3 bedroom and 2 baths built in 1958 with 1576 sq ft on a 6818 sq ft lot<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The average list price in 2007 and 2011 are very close but the number of listings are down about 25%. So is the news half right? Let me know your thoughts on the state of the market.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqWCSFN9D9VVUBTADJfpNRWrSY0CAXLxjlKUaPWdKmoBGLvmuN42Emc2vrtu71TURdcXw4n5i5Qeuj21_PtCPogXwk0XZ2nJpjkdKEMZMJSKIRQ8xP-LuZEaUW8YoiNBO3WzBcm99IVii/s1600/california_castro_mv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="189" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqWCSFN9D9VVUBTADJfpNRWrSY0CAXLxjlKUaPWdKmoBGLvmuN42Emc2vrtu71TURdcXw4n5i5Qeuj21_PtCPogXwk0XZ2nJpjkdKEMZMJSKIRQ8xP-LuZEaUW8YoiNBO3WzBcm99IVii/s320/california_castro_mv.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-69422591200259022232011-11-01T16:03:00.000-07:002011-11-01T16:03:46.513-07:00Call me crazy but I love first time buyersI know many agents do not like all the questions and sometimes all the drama that comes with dealing with first time buyers. However, I love participating in one of life's biggest moments and for most of us buying our first house is a really big moment. I feel really good when I help someone find that first place. <br />
<br />
I know that many first time buyers start out looking for the Taj Mahal with a trailer park budget. Again half the fun of working with them is helping them realize what they can actually afford in their price range. Sometimes this results in tears and a decision to hold off for a little longer. Other times they find exactly what they want and they start building a new life. I had one client call me recently to let me know they were expecting another baby, I was so excited because one of the main reasons they bought their first house was so they could expand their family.<br />
<br />
I have another first time buyer that has a couple of offers under his belt and so he understands the process better than most first time buyers. On one of our last shopping sprees to find him a home he brought along a friend that is thinking of starting to look for his first place. His friend asked a great deal of questions and I was amazed at the answers my client gave him about the process. He has really listened to what I have shared with him about the process in the last couple of weeks. He is under contract and patiently waiting to see if we make it through the short sale process.<br />
<br />
I have another first time buyer that I am working with ask me about a property they wanted more information on that they found out on Zillow. It just happened that the data was out of date and I got back to them with a flippant remark about why would they need if the data was always accurate on Zillow? <br />
<br />
They got back to me with the cutest reply. They said, “We need you to negotiate for us and we need your moral support.” I loved answer about providing moral support because sometimes I think some agents forget what a big deal buying a house is. We get jaded, we do this all the time but our clients do not. We really do need to provide moral support to our clients. I am getting this first time buyer the keys later this week and I can hardly wait. And yes, I have provided a great deal of moral support along the way.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-763727302185187942011-10-03T19:03:00.000-07:002011-10-03T19:03:30.726-07:00Recipe: Seafood Gumbo with a SecretI love to make Seafood Gumbo as my big wow meal for guests. I have relatives that call and say; we are coming in a month you better make a pot of Seafood Gumbo. I get extra giddy when these relatives that grew up eating Seafood Gumbo tell this little cowgirl from Wyoming/Idaho that I make the best gumbo they have ever had. What might be the truth is that I am the only one they can flatter enough to make a pot for them when they come to town. Whatever the truth is, in the end they get a pot of Seafood Gumbo when they come to town.<br />
<br />
I always put some type of fish, clams, crab and shrimp in my Seafood Gumbo. What is fresh at the market determines the exact nature of the seafood that ends up in the pot. The day I made this batch they had live crayfish and some blue crabs. I prefer our West Coast Dungeness to eat but the flavor of the blue crab is hard to beat in gumbo. I have to confess that I am not a huge Crayfish fan but how can you not put fresh Crayfish in a Louisiana Seafood Gumbo if it is available? They ended up being so sweet and delicious that I will make sure I make a pot of Gumbo anytime I see live crayfish at the market. But the crayfish that is not my new secret ingredient. My new secret to great gumbo is dried scallops. I had some in the cupboard so I threw a few in the pot. It added a Smokey earthiness that could not be beat. So no matter what is fresh at the market I will also drop in a couple of dried scallops next time I make gumbo. Just about any Cantonese cook would tell you that a pot of soup is always better when you add dried scallops, why would Gumbo be any different?<br />
<br />
Bon Appetite!<br />
<br />
Roux <br />
¼ C butter<br />
¾ C flour (more or less) really depends on how much the butter absorbs<br />
I melt the butter and then add the flour. Stir constantly until dark brown and the roux smells nutty. This is at least 20 mins.<br />
Add to the roux<br />
3 C of the holy trinity chopped (celery, onion & green pepper)<br />
If you want more flavor -add shallots, a leek, couple of green onions, jalapenos and some garlic<br />
Add 6 C of low sodium chicken stock (you can always add back in salt it is really hard to take out) <br />
Cook over slow heat for at least 4 to 6 hrs <br />
3 Med dried scallops (soak in warm water for about 10 mins before adding) <br />
Add red pepper to taste<br />
Hint-I make the gumbo up the day before and then I store it in the fridge and heat it up for a couple of hours before I add the seafood<br />
4 to 5 lbs of seafood-use a variety that your family likes, I recommend fish, shrimp, clams and crab at the minimum but make it for your family’s taste<br />
Serve with White rice and File Gumbo<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG39d-QknVQyytYraOXC7VHCwowdAxmOJLsIDDbwim6AAcMuf3whgHzG1ioRQW_OHJe-sBLlp_kg8IgYTo5gvNt3ZpsvnfFUAfoLreBj3p9-St5b-ZAix-Pnbssjk2aM-APOql06MbQw0-/s1600/newgumbo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="196" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG39d-QknVQyytYraOXC7VHCwowdAxmOJLsIDDbwim6AAcMuf3whgHzG1ioRQW_OHJe-sBLlp_kg8IgYTo5gvNt3ZpsvnfFUAfoLreBj3p9-St5b-ZAix-Pnbssjk2aM-APOql06MbQw0-/s320/newgumbo.JPG" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-72623088802978557852011-10-01T20:22:00.000-07:002011-10-01T20:22:21.599-07:00Homefacts.com My favorite new websiteHomefacts.com is a great site because it has aggregated several sites that make sense for home buyers and home sellers to check out. <br />
<br />
I know Homefacts.com is geared towards buyers but sellers will want to make sure they know what potential buyers will find when they type in their address. <br />
For Example, I just found out there are 10 registered sex offenders in my neighborhood within a mile of my home, and only 1 sex offender in the neighborhood of the last house I owned. That is information I would have liked to have had when I sold my place in Palo Alto and bought my place in Mountain View.<br />
<br />
<b>Interesting Facts I just learned about Mountain View, CA</b><br />
<br />
15% of the houses built in Mountain View were built after 1990; I would have guessed that number was 5%! <br />
<br />
34% of the housing available in Mountain View is Single Family Homes; I would have guessed that number was higher. <br />
<br />
11% of households speak Spanish at home and 60% speak English only. Again, I would have guessed that the number of English only speakers to be much lower. <br />
<br />
Mountain View's unemployment rate is lower than the national average. Thank you Google!<br />
<br />
Mountain View's median household income is just over $92,000.00 and the median family income is just over $117,000<br />
61% of the population has a bachelor’s degree and 49% of the population over 15 is married.<br />
<br />
But my favorite factoid is….<br />
<br />
Of the percentage of regular church goers in Mountain View, the 3rd most popular religion is LDS. Now that is not something I would have guessed either.<br />
<br />
Use Homefacts.com and tell me what you learned about your neighborhood and city! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtx4YU4ChYoiFpsyIhNsrOh5hMt7ouvFWPPKETvQviLaIAOhJl806cy4N6m3RdMviaT-JaxS9D9gYBV3B7IdUShtvzYtb3CNYc3E5dS6F7BKOCeWUiES57ja6WScJVvvPt7C0tB536a2d/s1600/danast_mv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="192" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtx4YU4ChYoiFpsyIhNsrOh5hMt7ouvFWPPKETvQviLaIAOhJl806cy4N6m3RdMviaT-JaxS9D9gYBV3B7IdUShtvzYtb3CNYc3E5dS6F7BKOCeWUiES57ja6WScJVvvPt7C0tB536a2d/s320/danast_mv.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-79911197639537185222011-09-03T19:23:00.000-07:002011-09-03T19:23:38.054-07:00Recipe: Chicken SaladOnce again I found myself craving something old school like chicken salad however, I wanted a more modern twist on the traditional recipe. <br />
Lucky for me I had a couple of wonderful Trader Joe items in my possession that made a great addition to chicken salad; Cornichon pickles and Marcona Almonds. Almonds are something many people put in their chicken salad but usually it is the tasteless slivered almonds. Marcona almonds have a very strong flavor and these also have rosemary on them, which really complemented the chicken. The French cornichon pickles have a different flavor than American pickles that I really like as well. It tasted familiar but with a twist. Give it a try next time you have some leftover chicken you want to turn into chicken salad. <br />
<br />
1 C of chopped roasted chicken<br />
6 Cornichon pickles finely chopped<br />
¼ C of Marcona Almonds with Rosemary<br />
1 Tbl Mayonnaise, (the real thing!)<br />
Fresh Ground pepper to taste<br />
Mix everything together and serve on your favorite greens. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGD_qnBXEXyu9ICkCk4dNOVZFxQvBeptASoKJbRDFEvjBOzd0_7fl30K99yN09B2tAp3gH0EWEF6Hl1CiDO6dFEMIjGQKc1Wx8LgWGHdfZdtdPEJHliqd5mxGJJu25gM0EjTRzuCGhqcy/s1600/tj-chicken-salad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGD_qnBXEXyu9ICkCk4dNOVZFxQvBeptASoKJbRDFEvjBOzd0_7fl30K99yN09B2tAp3gH0EWEF6Hl1CiDO6dFEMIjGQKc1Wx8LgWGHdfZdtdPEJHliqd5mxGJJu25gM0EjTRzuCGhqcy/s320/tj-chicken-salad.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-88774541263516453712011-08-20T14:39:00.000-07:002011-08-20T14:39:59.084-07:00What does the Debt Ceiling have to do with buying a home?<br />
<br />
I asked Marla Sarkozy, a Direct Lender with Blue Oak Mortgage, (A Stearns Lending Company) to help make sense of the Debt Ceiling impact on home buying. This is what she had to say:<br />
<br />
After months of political grumbling back and forth, the Debt Ceiling was finally raised and the country took a step - albeit a small one - towards lowering our enormous budget deficit.<br />
<br />
With the political stalemate behind us, it's time to focus on how the Debt Ceiling deal will impact Bonds and home loan rates.<br />
<br />
First, shortly after the deal was announced, Fitch Ratings and Moody's both reaffirmed the United States' AAA rating, citing that the Debt Ceiling agreement virtually removes any threat of default. That was Bond friendly news and helped Bonds and home loan rates improve. But the ratings agencies did leave the door open for a future downgrade depending on how the debt and budget negotiations continue in the future. So the Debt Ceiling may be raised, but the issue of debt and credit ratings is far from over.<br />
<br />
Beyond that, the deficit reduction program agreed to in the deal should help strengthen the value of US debt, because there will be less spending. At the same time, less government spending will also weigh on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). And just last month, we saw how weak the GDP already is when the 2nd Quarter GDP came in well below expectations and at the slowest growth rate in 2 years. Additionally, the 1st Quarter GDP was revised sharply lower than it was previously reported. Remember, a weak GDP would make Stocks LESS attractive and Bonds MORE attractive - as Bonds generally perform better during sluggish economic times.<br />
<br />
Bottom line… be careful what you wish for. When rates moved sharply higher this past winter, it was due largely to the Fed's second round of Quantitative Easing (QE2). When that ended, the prevailing wisdom was that the only way rates could come back down to levels anywhere near where they were on the eve of QE2 was if the economy "endured more pain." That sure is what we are seeing of late as growing economic uncertainty, persistently high unemployment and rising consumer pessimism is helping Bonds move higher and trade within an earshot of the best levels - ever!<br />
<br />
Though Bonds and home loan rates look very attractive right now, we can't be complacent and think rates will stay low or go even lower still. As fast as prices have moved higher, things can change in a heartbeat if the economy starts to see some good news.<br />
<br />
And, although there isn't much, there is some good news out there. For example, the most recent reports for Housing Starts and Building Permits were both reported better than expected. While this is only one number and one number doesn't make a trend, this is a good figure, and I will be watching closely for follow through in future readings.<br />
<br />
Marla can be reached at:<br />
<br />
Marla Sarkozy<br />
Direct Lender, Blue Oak Mortgage (A Stearns Lending Company)<br />
NMLS #256557<br />
408 718 8842 cell<br />
408 521-0157 efax<br />
marla@gr8r8ts.com<br />
www.gr8r8ts.com<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-6776566187173935182011-08-15T23:30:00.000-07:002011-08-15T23:30:52.404-07:00Santa Clara County Real Estate Activity in July 2011 vs. July 2010<b>Santa Clara County Real Estate Activity in July 2011 vs. July 2010*<i></i></b><br />
<br />
It seems that every time I read an article on real estate activity this year it contradicts the article I read the day before. <br />
<br />
So I wanted to see what the numbers say about Santa Clara County real estate activity in July. It felt like there was less inventory this July compared to July last year. It also feels like there were less short sales and bank owned properties on the market. <br />
<br />
What is interesting is that the numbers do reflect that there was less inventory for both Single Family Homes and townhouse/condos. However the inventory of bank owned townhouses/condos has increased in July 2011 by 5%. <br />
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<b>What did you noticing in the market this July? How does it compare to last July?</b><br />
===============================================<br />
<b>1434 Single family homes were listed in July 2011 in Santa Clara County, of those 1434 homes,</b><br />
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• 121 homes (8%) were bank owned<br />
• 271 homes (19%) were short sales <br />
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<b>497 townhouse/condos were listed in July 2011 in Santa Clara County of those 497 townhouses/condos,</b><br />
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• 98 townhouse/condos (20%) were bank owned<br />
• 138 (28%) townhouse/condos were short sales<br />
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<b>How does that compare to July 2010?</b><br />
<b><br />
1726 Single family homes were listed in July 2010 in Santa Clara County, of those 1726 homes,</b><br />
<br />
• 160 homes (9%) were bank owned<br />
• 375 homes (22%) were short sales<br />
<b><br />
609 townhouse/condos were listed in July 2010 in Santa Clara County, of the 609 townhouse/condos listed,</b><br />
<br />
• 94 townhouse/condos (15%) were bank owned<br />
• 183 townhouse/condos (30%) were short sales<br />
<br />
If I can answer any of your real estate questions please do not hesitate to ask. <br />
<br />
Carla Dimond<br />
Realtor-Lifestyle Neighborhood Specialist<br />
Keller Williams Realty-Cupertino<br />
Cell/Direct: (650) 388-8820<br />
carla.dimond@gmail.com<br />
www.findahomeinsiliconvalley.com<br />
DRE # 01871201<br />
<br />
<br />
*-Information from MLSListings, Inc, deemed reliable but not guaranteed<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-81646759367459767062011-08-08T22:48:00.001-07:002011-08-08T22:48:41.038-07:00Recipe: Grown Up Pasta and CheeseWhat grown up wants to have pasta and cheese for dinner?<br />
<br />
Actually I am guessing it is probably a secret comfort food for many adults and I wanted to share my adult version. I used black truffle butter and truffle cheese to make this something worthy of serving as a side dish at your next dinner party.<br />
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With just a little tweaking of the classic dish you usually make for a 4 year old you can make something amazing. Serve this with a nice glass of red wine and be happy that you can make something so decadent in about 10 minutes<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
6 oz of dry pasta, cooked to instructions<br />
<br />
1 tablespoon of truffle butter<br />
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3 Oz of grated Pecorino cheese with truffles<br />
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Fresh ground pepper<br />
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Drain pasta toss with butter and cheese season with pepper and serve!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-19534369681025443112011-08-02T21:37:00.000-07:002011-08-02T21:37:10.500-07:00Can you take money out of your 401K to buy a home?Can you take money out of your 401K to buy a home?<br />
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I want to thank Jenny Barnes from JLB Tax Services for providing information on this subject. Jenny can be reached at jenny@jlbtaxonaut.com or visit her website http://www.jlbtaxonaut.com for additional information<br />
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<br />
Using Your IRA for a Home Down Payment<br />
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<br />
The IRS discourages you from withdrawing money from your retirement accounts early by charging a 10% penalty on withdrawals before you turn 59 1/2.<br />
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<br />
Roth IRA<br />
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Among the various kinds of retirement accounts, pulling money from a Roth IRA will cost you the least in taxes and penalties. This is because you can withdraw contributions at any time without penalty or tax. In addition, after you’ve held the account for five years, you can withdraw up to $10,000 in earnings without penalty or tax for the purchase, repair, or remodel of a first home. In other words, if you withdraw all of your contributions, you can still withdraw another $10,000 and not pay the 10% penalty or taxes on any of it.<br />
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There is one caveat however: you only have 120 days to spend withdrawn earnings or you may be liable for paying the penalty. Also, for your convenience, your financial services firm will automatically prioritize the withdrawal of all of your contributions from a Roth IRA before any earnings.<br />
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<br />
Traditional IRA<br />
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<br />
The next best choice is a traditional IRA. You’re still able to withdraw up to $10,000 for the purchase, repair, or remodel of a first home without paying a penalty, but you’ll have to pay regular income tax on the entire amount. SIMPLE and SEP IRAs follow the same rules.<br />
<br />
<br />
With a traditional IRA, you must also use the money within 120 days for the purchase of a home or you’ll get hit with the 10% penalty. Alternatively, you can withdraw up to $10,000 penalty-free for the purchase of a home for your spouse, parents, children, or grandchildren.<br />
<br />
<br />
Just like with a Roth IRA, your spouse can also withdraw $10,000 from his or her traditional IRA, so you can collectively obtain $20,000 penalty-free for a down payment if you’re married. The $10,000 limit is a lifetime limit for each individual.<br />
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<br />
Using Your 401k for a Down Payment<br />
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<br />
If you take money out of your 401K to buy your first home, you’ll be assessed a penalty of 10% on the amount withdrawn and you’ll have to pay income tax on it as well.<br />
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<br />
If possible, roll over the amount you want to withdraw to an IRA, so you can avoid paying the penalty. However, you can’t roll over a 401k that’s with an employer for whom you are still working. If you have an old 401k from a former employer, roll that. Since a rollover can take time to process, fill out the necessary paperwork as soon as possible.<br />
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<br />
Borrowing from Your 401k<br />
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<br />
Another option with a 401k is to take out a loan. Your loan can be up to $50,000 or half the value of the account, whichever is less. As long as you can handle the payments (yes, you have to pay back this loan), this is usually a less expensive option than a straight withdrawal. Though you will pay interest, you won’t pay taxes or penalties on the loan amount.<br />
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<br />
A few things to know about 401k loans:<br />
<br />
<br />
Since you’re incurring debt and will need to make monthly payments on the loan, your ability to get a mortgage may be affected.<br />
The interest rate on 401k loans is generally about two points above the prime rate. The interest you pay, however, isn’t paid to the company – it goes into your 401k account.<br />
Many plans give you only five years to repay the loan. In other words, if you borrow a large amount, the payments could be substantial.<br />
If you leave your company, you may be required to pay back the outstanding balance within 60 to 90 days or be forced to take it as a hardship withdrawal. This means you’ll be hit with taxes and penalties on the amount you still owe.<br />
If payments are deducted from your paycheck, the principal payments will not be taxed but the interest payments will be taxed. Since you’ll be taxed again on withdrawals during retirement, the interest payments will end up being double-taxed.<br />
<br />
Sometimes it makes sense to take a loan from your 401k to cover the down payment, like if you are getting an FHA loan and only need a small down payment. However, a large loan payment could have a big effect on your mortgage qualification.<br />
<br />
<br />
Therefore, it is wise to run numbers and ask your mortgage broker how such a loan will affect your qualification before you take one out. Conversely, if the amount you need will have too adverse an effect on your qualification, it might make sense to withdraw the down payment amount and pay the taxes and penalties.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Carla Dimond<br />
<br />
Lifesystle Neighborhood Specialist<br />
<br />
Keller Willliams-Cupertino<br />
<br />
650.388.8820<br />
<br />
carla.dimond@gmail.com<br />
<br />
www.findahomeinsiliconvalley.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-1985591539639867102011-07-31T10:28:00.000-07:002011-07-31T10:28:08.758-07:00Open House 1:30 to 4:30 pm 11655 Jessica Lane Los Altos Hills, CAOpen House Sunday 1:30 to 4:30 pm 11655 Jessica Lane, Los Altos Hills, CA, come see this wonderful 4 bedroom home that has the best of both worlds. It is tucked away on a quite street in Los Altos Hills for privacy and seclusion, but is just minutes to downtown Los Altos or Highway 280. It also has a new price of 2.65M.<br />
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This homes sits on about an acre of land and provides almost 4000 sq ft of living space. Amazing views from the kitchen and master bedroom. The master bedroom has ample closet space and a spa like bathroom.<br />
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The downstairs level has a family room with access to the pool and back yard. This home also has a large driveway and a 3 car garage. Perfect for entertaining friends and family.<br />
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Drop by and see if 11655 Jessica Lane, Los Altos Hills, CA could be your next home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiSf03bz06Sv63eTYTTkmA7ihPThT6KK2TudYccMdi_d1sAQX4-bvjArbh5_ntjryne_Hm-f8Psq_NFcB8uE5vRrzv4LT1zhA-uGLRBuovS8tEnzAS9aTg9PTq8J99H5a0hkrekvR0f0E/s1600/photo+%252839%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiSf03bz06Sv63eTYTTkmA7ihPThT6KK2TudYccMdi_d1sAQX4-bvjArbh5_ntjryne_Hm-f8Psq_NFcB8uE5vRrzv4LT1zhA-uGLRBuovS8tEnzAS9aTg9PTq8J99H5a0hkrekvR0f0E/s320/photo+%252839%2529.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<br />
<br />
This is a view from the kitchen window of the secluded back yard!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-53771588170947009552011-07-23T21:45:00.000-07:002011-07-23T21:45:46.718-07:00Recipe: Duck Fried RiceLike so many of my recipes this recipe for duck fried rice was inspired by leftovers in my fridge. <br />
<br />
I have had family out visiting this week. One of my favorite things to do when I have family out is to go to places they don't have at home. <br />
<br />
One of the dinners we had this week included a Peking duck. I love Peking duck but it is very rich and one duck goes along way. We ordered several dishes so we ended up with leftover duck. I have never had duck fried rice but I am sure I am not the first person to make it. In any case, duck fried rice was a big hit at our house. <br />
<br />
So if you find yourself with leftover Peking duck or roast duck I highly recommend eating the duck leftovers as fried rice. It is a fast and delicious meal. <br />
<br />
I had some leftover fatty skin that I rendered in the pan that I added to the dish. Very decadent.<br />
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<br />
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1 C chopped duck meat<br />
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2 green onions chopped<br />
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2 C of cooked rice<br />
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3 eggs beaten<br />
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2 TBL of soy sauce<br />
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Black pepper to taste<br />
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1 TBL duck fat<br />
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In large frying pan heat up leftover duck fat and skin to create about a tablespoon of fat. Add the green onions first and then the duck meat. Cook until light brown add the rice. Cook until the rice is warmed completely and then add the beaten eggs and the soy sauce. Stir constantly until the egg is combined with the rice. Serve when the egg is cooked.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-2353241285479725072011-07-12T11:35:00.000-07:002011-07-12T11:35:45.608-07:00Mountain View, CA: Comparing June 2011 single family home activity to June 2010In Mountain View, CA there were 31 single family homes sold in June 2011. Homes were listed for 1.085M and sold for 1.11M on average. This represents a selling price of about 2% over asking price.<br />
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How does this compare to June 2010 in Mountain View, CA?<br />
<br />
In June 2010, 40 single family homes sold with an average list price of 934K and a sale price of 951K. This also represents a sales price of 2% over asking price. <br />
<br />
With this data it is so easy to create some crazy headline about how the market is up 17% in June 2011 compared to June 2010 in Mountain View, CA.<br />
<br />
Is that really a true statement?<br />
<br />
If you look deeper at the average house sold this year vs. last year in June the difference in price is based on the average size of the house sold.<br />
<br />
In June 2010 the average house sold was 1585 sq ft with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on a lot of just under 5500 sq ft.<br />
<br />
In June 2011, the average house sold was 1884 sq ft with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths on a lot just under 7100 sq ft. <br />
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If you look at cost per sq foot in June 2010 the average was $600 and in June 2011 it is $589. So the average price per square foot has not changed significantly and it does take into account the larger lot size for homes sold in June 2011.<br />
<br />
So it would appear that the difference in prices would be based on the type of homes sold this year vs. last, not a spike in home prices. <br />
<br />
“Bigger houses sold this June in Mountain View, CA” does not make as interesting a headline as “17% jump in home prices in Mountain View, CA year over year”, so you need to look at the real data not just the potential headline to understand the real trends in the real estate market.<br />
<br />
If you want help making sense of the housing market in Mountain View, CA please contact me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAG9iQ8Hts-HlO4-yD8JHEB0hQ3sV420xn_rohpeP82ea3x3N1YKuRVVYWOvZbwjfuq6nUm7Fu-5-MnXKUfnbKdIPkKSfABG_DEs0FCtbSCX-QwNdvHWmPfOQoQFnXuXtVFdaWTUfeKLJ/s1600/booksinc_mv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="173" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAG9iQ8Hts-HlO4-yD8JHEB0hQ3sV420xn_rohpeP82ea3x3N1YKuRVVYWOvZbwjfuq6nUm7Fu-5-MnXKUfnbKdIPkKSfABG_DEs0FCtbSCX-QwNdvHWmPfOQoQFnXuXtVFdaWTUfeKLJ/s320/booksinc_mv.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-76302663499137067912010-08-06T10:07:00.000-07:002010-08-06T10:07:05.885-07:00Mountan View Ca, July 2010 Townhouses/Condos Sold<b>Mountain View CA, July 2010 Townhomes/Condos Sold</b><br />
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Mountain View-real estate stats for July 2010 townhomes/condos-30 New came on the market, 20 homes were sold and 25 went under contract. The price Range was from 985K-187K.<br />
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In July 2010, 20 townhomes/condos were sold and the highest price sold townhouse/condo sold for 920K, which was 36K below asking and lowest priced townhome/condo sold for 180K, 10K below asking price.<br />
<br />
June 2010, 24 townhomes/condos were sold in Mountain View, CA. The highest priced townhome/condo sold in Mountain View, CA sold for 932K, 17K under asking price. The lowest priced home sold for 478K at asking price.<br />
<br />
In July 2010 in Mountain View, CA the average number of days on the market for a townhome/condo was 37 days. <br />
<br />
In June 2010 the average number of days on the market was 26.2 days for townhomes/condo in Mountain View, CA.<br />
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In July 2010, the average condo/townhome sold for 7.6K under asking price in Mountain View CA. <br />
<br />
In June 2010, the average townhome/condo sold for 2K under asking price in Mountain View CA.<br />
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If you would more information about the Mountain View real estate market please feel free to contact me.<br />
<br />
Carla Dimond<br />
Realtor-Lifestyle Neighborhood Specialist<br />
Keller Williams Realty-Cupertino<br />
Cell/Direct: (650) 388-8820<br />
carladimond.com<br />
cdimond@kw.com<br />
DRE # 01871201<br />
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/carladimond<br />
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carla.dimond<br />
Blog: http://siliconvalleyrealestate-blog.com/<br />
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/carladimondAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044847180616078271.post-2016286461329165932010-06-15T20:33:00.001-07:002010-06-15T20:33:16.755-07:00Naglee Park: A Lifestyle NeighborhoodNaglee Park: A Historical Lifestyle Neighborhood (edit/delete)<br />
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Naglee Park San Jose CA is a lifestyle neighborhood in downtown San Jose located next to San Jose State University. The boundaries of the Naglee Park San Jose CA neighborhood are Santa Clara Street, 11th Street, Interstate 280, and Coyote Creek. <br />
<br />
The area was developed on the estate of California pioneer Brigadier General Henry Morris Naglee and is considered the first modern subdivision in Santa Clara County. Naglee Park San Jose CA was the first subdivision to be developed and marketed in the way we currently think of a subdivision. Naglee Park was developed as a complete neighborhood with paved streets and all the modern utilities' we take for granted a hundred years later. In addition, all utilities were located at the back of the lots to hide the wires.<br />
<br />
Naglee Park had restrictive covenants just like modern subdivisions but the concerns of a hundred years ago are different than today. You could not build a barn or a stable and your house had to cost at least $2000! The automobile was gaining in popularity as Naglee Park was being developed. Many of the residents of Naglee Park were prominent business owners and had to have the latest and greatest trends in housing such as having garages that matched their houses.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Naglee Park has many houses that have historic significance because of their ownership history and their architecture. Drive over to Naglee Park and park your car, walk around and admire all the architectural styles that are not found in the typical Silicon Valley subdivision. Also notice how friendly the neighbors are and imagine that this could be your next lifestyle neighborhood. <br />
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If you get hungry after your walk, stroll over to the Naglee Park Garage for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Naglee Park Garage has been featured on the Food Network Show "Diners, Drive-In's and Dives" staring Guy Fieri. <br />
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<br />
<br />
Please let me know if I can show you any of the homes currently available for sale in the Naglee Park neighborhood.<br />
<br />
Carla Dimond<br />
Realtor-Lifestyle Neighborhood Specialist<br />
Keller Williams Realty-Cupertino<br />
Cell/Direct: (650) 388-8820<br />
cdimond@kw.com<br />
carladimond.com<br />
DRE # 01871201Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10425957053014901461noreply@blogger.com0