Some time ago, I was at City Beach for my coed bachelor and bachelorette party. Yes, my wife-to-be was there. It was a fun time, and I especially enjoyed the bocce courts they have there. Thanks to my brother and a resource or two, I learned that the floor of the bocce court is partially made up of crushed oyster shell. Fascinated by such a claim, I bent down for a closer look. Sure enough, there were little bits of oyster shell on the bocce court. It actually had a mother of pearl effect under the bocce court lights they use there. However, albeit beautiful to some, it can be a bit messy and quite evident to that fact immediately after players receive a pat for a good roll. A white, dusty hand print poofs its way onto almost any fabric. Well meaning gestures of, "way to go" and "good o... 01/12/2010

If you go to my site, http://www.tricityhome.com, you will see an iPhone app down near the bottom of the page that you can download. The application allows users to search for homes on the iPhone in Fremont and many other cities, but even better, a user can create a search criteria, save it and when a home comes up for sale that matches the criteria, it alerts the iPhone user to view their homes on the iPhone. Pictures, data and map are all there. Great, Now that it was in, I was ready to go give it a try on my phone. One small problem. I have a Blackberry. My developer passed me up and went straight to search for homes on the iPhone. He said that there are much more apps written for the iPhone. But, they are working on the application for the Blackberry as I write, supposedly. So, I ca... 01/10/2010

In a Q & A I took part in, a homebuyer needed to know if his agent was a "great" agent or just there, like a lemon. My answer was abit roundabout because it can be subjective, but only up to a point. There is merit to the question. Representing a seller for example, any licensee can list a home, but having real estate contract knowledge and thinking outside of the box when an offer comes though the fax or scan is one of several characteristics that mark a great agent. I tutor my agents in regards to the purchase agreement for a total almost 8 hours of lecture—line for line in a Quicktime presentation. Not that I have arrived by any means, but I want my new agents to know what I know about the contract. Knowing the buyer’s 3 day right of rescission for lead, natural hazard disclosures a... 01/08/2010

I am starting off the 2010 year by putting together my Women's Network for Home Buyers here in Fremont, CA.  Single women continue to be a  very strong  member of the home ownership here in our local market.  tha NAR states that twenty percent of home buyers were single females, and 10 percent were single males.  With the $8000 Tax Credit, the numbers could only increase here in our Fremont Housing Market.   Part of our goals of the Fremont Women's Home Buyers group is to help educate the buyers with the new rules and regulations of the lending industry.  We want to help women make strong educated decisions on the key aspects of purchasing a first time home or an invesment. We hear it is satisfying to purchase a bank owned home. Mmaybe maybe not.  Connecting with our Women's Fremont Hom... 01/04/2010

If you do not know already, there is a great Social Media tool sort of like YouTube. It's called Slideshare. http://www.slideshare.net As an agent and a broker, teaching is part of the profession. Home buyers, home sellers, licensees and myself included all benefit from being educated about real estate and how it applies to us all. Slideshare allows you to create streaming audio/visual presentations using PowerPoint (other programs too), but PowerPoint being perhaps the most convenient. Once finished, like in my example below, viewers must click on the green play button rather than the prompt that moves, so I'm sure that could be a bit confusing. But all in all, Social media packs a punch. For example, without even trying, the slide share presentation below has been viewed almost one th... 12/27/2009

A while back, I had a home for sale in Union City, and I had just finished up on a few things after an open house. I decided to drive home by way of a different street. All the while, in the back of my mind, I wondered where a poor Prudential agent's real estate sign ended up, and there it was. The sign was posted on a home for sale in Union City on Almaden Ct off of Alvarado during my listing period on another Union City home nearby. My seller and I always got a kick out of the bare post with no sign. The missing sign started as a dangler. You know, the one hook dangle? Then, it just dropped on the lawn. The agent never bothered to check on the home. I even called. After a while, someone finally decided to dump it. Stop, I know what you're thinking--It wasn't me. I'm not trying to sla... 12/23/2009

I have a wonderful home in Parkmont for sale here at http://www.homes-in-fremont-unioncity-newark.com/ I put it at this point2home site because I want to have the home in parkmont be posted (syndicated) to 30+ websites. Well, it worked. It's out there, and we are marketing the home in Parkmont aggressively. In fact, we procured a ready, willing and very able buyer today. I cannot discuss particulars, but even though the buyer is ready willing and able to purchase this home, we have obstacles. One problem is overcome already, the HUD requirements for FHA and condos regarding spot approvals for condos I mentioned in an earlier blog here http://tricityhome.blogspot.com/2009/12/fha-loans-for-condos-in-fremont.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/TCREB+(Home... 12/17/2009

My wife and I are inviting friends over from their new home in Niles this weekend; now that school will be out for two weeks Sunday works out okay. They recently bought a home in Niles Fremont off of Easterday. We live in a Parkmont home in Fremont, so it's never too far to go for a quick visit, and instead of us going over there for their open home in Niles, we decided to have them come this way. I will be making brick-fired pizza from a home made brick/Weber BBQ fueled by an industrial propane burner. It's a guy thing and another story all together. Pizza may not really say Christmas, so we needed something a bit more seasonal. Ah ha! Persimmon pudding for desert. For those of you who may not know about bread puddings, they happen to be one of the very best concoctions known in the cu... 12/16/2009

Most home buyers for condos in Fremont are unaware of the new changes in FHA requirements. When I say requirements, I am not referring to the buyer's requirements. They seem to have remained the same, but the real change has come from somewhere else. FHA loans for condos in Fremont and everywhere else have placed HOA risk assessments into the picture. FHA is a program not necessarily a loan by itself, and lenders need to comply with the program that is set forth by HUD (Housing and Urban Development). The new catch is that the subdivision/HOA has to have been approved by HUD for FHA loans in Fremont to occur. Here's an example. If a condo subdivision, say like Mowry Gardens in Fremont (Redwood Terrace), has condo for sale which it does by yours truly here http://www.homes-in-fremont-uni... 12/10/2009

$199,000.00 - 2-bedroom condo in Fremont Villas is a good dealLocation: Fremont VillasGood value, good location, good amenities, good condition.This condo is located in Fremont Villas, a park-like complex with beautifully landscaped grounds, mature trees, and lots of mini-green belts. Wonderfully located near city amenities and BART, with easy access to major citY amenities.The residents enjoy a nice pool and clubhouse, and have reserved covered parking. While guests will have little trouble finding off-street parking.The unit is on the upper floor, and as such benefits from lofty ceilings and ample natural light. The balcony is large enough to accommodate a barbecue. The kitchen is well equipped with newer appliances. For even more convenience, the unit has laundry hookups including a ... 12/10/2009

Sunday was our day to tour a few Fremont Christmas tree lots for our favorite Charlie Brown tree.  Well, it didn't really turn out to be Charlie Brown at all.  We went to a new spot first.  We know the trees are costly this year due to the lack of rain!  Of course, we know our trees don't come from California anyway, esecially they aren't local here in Fremont.  The problem was, no trees were great, but they were very expensive.  Of course, we ended up at regular stop.  Regan's Nusery in Fremont. CA.   Usually we have our three children with us when we start the Christmas tree hunt.  We gear up with Hot Chocolate and warm clothes.  This Sunday was especially cold due to the Canada winter srorm watch.  It was almost to the point of thinking snow was going to start blowing as we tretched ... 12/07/2009

I tweeted using Openbeak for the blackberry earlier today while I was in the Niles area of Fremont . I was on my way to meet with Pat Montellano, a purveyor of fine collectibles such as plates, cups and all things art deco like syrup dispensers over at A Time For Tea in the Niles area of Fremont, of which I happened to have a recent affinity for. I talked to Pat a few months ago asking her if she had plans to pick up any dispensers. She said she would and for me to write my name on a list, so I did. Last week I got a call from Pat claiming that she found a few of the 50's art deco syrup dispensers for me while she left the Niles area of Fremont and went on her road trip into the Midwest. When she returned, she asked me what colors I had in mind. I wanted to know if she found any with sa... 12/07/2009

Last week I brought a client into a new subdivision in Fremont called Gramercy at Park Lane West in the Irvington area. After locating the sales office, and after filling out my broker form, I escorted my Fremont home buyer into the Gramercy at Park Lane West's Lanesborough Loft and then the Devonshire model home in what is called the Westerley at Park Lane West. Those were as large as they were stunning. But most of this is written about the Gramercy. It has been a while since I have walked into a new home subdivision, but I must say, I was quite impressed. First, the staging furniture was excellent as well as the accents. Sure there was the cardboard computer on a desk, but that is to be expected. Who's going to put either an outdated 40lb monitor on the table? or risk placing a Power... 12/04/2009

Subscribe In the last year with the help of the tax credit, there has been a rise in first time home buyers. The National Association of Realtors says the percentage of first time buyer is up to 47% in 2009 compared to 41% in 2008 and 36% in 2006. The unemployment rate is close to peaking and is projected to ease to 9.5% by the end of next year. Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-11-17/housing-a... 11/30/2009

After a few late appointments at my real estate office, I hopped in the car (could have walked) and drove to Washington High school Gymnasium where the Huskies were playing the Livermore High school team. As you can see in the final scoreboard, the Huskies bit the Livermore High School team 70 times while the Visitors nipped back a mere 33. It was good sportsman's ship to see fallen players helped back up after a fall from the opposing side more times than one. All in all, a good night out with the family. Better luck next time Livermore. 11/24/2009

Some of you know that from 1987 to 1999 I worked for UPS, a driver in fact. I delivered packages out in the Mission San Jose area of Fremont. In the morning deliveries to businesses came first, then some residential, then business pick ups, then go back out and deliver residential again. I saw a lot homes to say the least. , About mid route, I also delivered to a small business center where I would find my new dentist Dr. Karen Gianotti, my insurance agent Mike Qutermous at State Farm, my Optometrist, Dr. Marvin Mah (I may need glasses soon) and the VCA Mission San Jose Pet Hospital where we take our pets. They are all there in the Mission San Jose Business center on the corner of Luzon and Washington Blvd. I especially grew fond of where one of my driver buddies lived off of Luzon and ... 11/18/2009

Bijan Restaurant - Fremont, CA (Alameda County, California) Bijan Restaurant is located a couple miles west of I-680 on Mission Blvd. in Fremont. It's in the Lucky Shopping Center behind the ARCO gas station and you need to make a u-turn at the next light if you're coming from the 680 freeway. Bijan Restaurant has belly dancing on Friday nights and it's pretty cool when the belly dancer balances a sword on top of her head while she's dancing! If you feel like eating Persian food in Fremont, I recommend going to Bijan Restaurant...they have good food, good service and a clean restaurant. They also have outdoor dining with a covered patio, which is a nice option. The last time we ate at Bijan Restaurant, we shared a Hummus ($5.95) and it was a generous portion for two, which we both reall... 11/15/2009

On average, the "sold" prices for real estate owned homes in Fremont over the last 3 months or so have been selling for over the asking price. I ran just a quick list of all the homes that sold during that time, averaged the sales prices, averaged the listing prices, subtracted for the difference then divided the difference by the listing price. It sounds like a real estate question from the state exam. Doesn't it? Anyway, below are the results. Asking Price Avg. Sold Price Avg. Avg. Difference % Over Asking $434,138 $458,711 $24,573 5.66% We have not heard a lot of the "we bought our home for half the listing price" kinds of stories in our office. Actually, in order to get the house--most of the time, one has to offer over the asking price. Please remember that these are averages and o... 11/14/2009

Good Morning Fellow Readers: It is interesting to read all  the blog posts, well as much as possible anyway!  Some posts are personal, some are more technical.  All in all, its a way for the readers and visitors to meet and greet the industry from their lap top!  For me, I get to experience this from our local hang out in Fremont called Suju's.  A local coffee shop that is spacious, has lots of tables to congregate at, comfy couches and chairs and a  ambiance. Best of all, the coffee is freshly roasted in the back of the room and the Internet is FREE!  In most of my net-working groups I attend, mixer's I crash, and areas of Fremont I shop, I seem to run into at least 1 or 2 acquaintances at Suju's.  It is a great local hang out for college kids, high school kids, entrepreneurs, and YES ... 11/13/2009

Just real quick--the number of homes for sale in Northgate, Centerville, Mission Hills and other areas of Fremont are shrinking. Usually this is followed or accompanied by rising prices. In my last blog post, I simply laid out the fact that the home prices in Fremont were getting a bit of a boost upward. So, this could be the culprit. What do you think? Let me know. 11/10/2009