South Bay Top Schools
Newsweek’s June 8, 2009 edition has a list of the top 1500 high schools in the country. Here is a list of the 15 which are in the South Bay of Silicon Valley: 40 Pacific Colligiate (Santa Cruz) 117 Gunn High (Palo Alto) 121 Summit Prep (Redwood City) 141 Monte Vista (Cupertino)…
South Bay 4th of July Celebrations
 Here are some great ideas for 4th of July fun in the south bay of Santa Clara County: LOS GATOS Time: 1:30-3:30PM Location: front lawn of Los Gatos High School Event Description: San Jose Wind Symphony at 1:30PM; Preceeded by a Hometown Picnic & games 11AM-1:30PM at the Civic Center;…
Saratoga Real Estate Market Update
There are currently 156 active single family listings and 16 attached listings in Saratoga, CA. This is down slightly from last month as there are currently 39 homes with pending sales. Click>here for more detail. Only three of those pending sales are REO (16600 Bohlman Rd.; 13441 Quito Rd.; and…
Finding Good Deals in Pockets of Housing Recovery
Jim Carlton wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal on Jun 20, 2009 that squares exactly with what I am seeing in the field, working with first time buyers.  There are definte “pockets of recovery” in Silicon Valley. “Homes are selling briskly again in the lower end of the market [under $600,000]…
Enjoy Free Music in the Park
Los Gatos Music in the Park is a ten-week, Sunday afternoon concert series presented by the Los Gatos Arts Commission. Concerts are sponsored by local businesses and individuals and are free to the public. This summer music series features multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-generational music to the Los Gatos Community. Click>here…
Save $$$ with an Assessment Revaluation
Since any increase or decrease in assessed value will impact the amount of property taxes you pay, it is very important to contact the Assessor’s Office if you feel that the assessed value exceeds the market value of your property. In Santa Clara County, a Notification of Assessed Value (indicating…
Don’t be Fooled by Foreclosure Headlines
Recent news headlines have caused confusion by the media have improperly characterizing the new California Foreclosure Prevention Act as a “90-day moratorium†and incorrectly stating that the lender must modify delinquent loans before it begins foreclosure. In reality, the foreclosure process for certain owner-occupied residential first trust deeds has been…
New Fixed Loan for First-Time Homebuyers
On June 8th California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), the state’s provider of affordable loans for first-time homebuyers, today announced that it will offer a new mortgage option called Cal30, a fixed rate, 30-year loan. Cal30 combines the predictability of a fixed interest rate with the affordability of up to 95…
We’re Close to Wine Country Fun
Rick Bonetti | 408-857-8800 | Alain Pinel Realtors | The Art and Heart of Real Estate | DRE#01237009…
Do your Homework with an easy Building Permit Search
Homebuyers should search permits for remodeling construction if they have any doubts. Click>here for a link to City of San Jose building permit search. Rick Bonetti | 408-857-8800 | Alain Pinel Realtors | The Art and Heart of Real Estate | DRE#01237009…
Saratoga Sales Up
Home sales in Saratoga turned up in May, 2009 on a gradual increase from a January low. May closings were primarily under $2 million. Only three homes (Lomita, Oriole Rd. and Matilija Dr. were above that number and $2.7 million was the highest price. Click>here for more detail. Call Rick…
A Signal to Buy – Mortgage Rates on the Rise
According to John Shapiro of Private Mortgage Advisors (Wells Fargo), “Mortgage rates have continued to climb due to a continuing increase in the yield on the 10 year bond due to that product getting sold off. Â The phenomenon at play here is interesting as the Fed is trying to keep…
FHA Tax Credit Can Be Used For Purchase Costs
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced last Friday that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will allow homebuyers to apply the Obama Administration’s new $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit toward the purchase costs of an FHA-insured home. Donovan said the action will help stabilize the nation’s housing market by…
Los Altos Market Update
Los Altos consists of four sub-market areas: North Los Altos (211); Country Club (212); Highlands (213); and South of El Monte (214). Values of homes that are currently on the market range from $1.1 million to $6.5 million. There are very few distressed properties for sale because of the price…
Avoiding Short Sale Disappointments
I am one of the few Realtors in Santa Clara County who has been trained in “Distressed Properties” by the California Association of Realtors. The coursework I took covered the details of the “short saleâ€Â process and what lenders with Real Estate Owned (REO) expect. Included was how to deal with the procedures and…
