So You're Thinking of Buying a House

Posted on the Alameda Patch, March 13, 2012

Buying your first home is not for the faint of heart. From the moment you decide to begin the steps to home ownership until you have the keys in your hands you will likely experience every emotion on the human scale. Couples purchasing will find even the best relationship at odds and individuals will wonder what they were thinking.
So what do you do once you’ve decided this is the right time for you to become a homeowner? There are many things buyers can do to ensure they have a successful home purchase experience and many pitfalls that can make the experience far from satisfying or, worse yet, very costly.
Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting a series of recommendations for homebuyers to consider when stepping into the real estate market. If there’s anything in particular you’d like covered just leave a comment at the end of this post and I’ll do my best to include it in the upcoming series. In the meantime, I thought I’d provide the following as food for thought.

Is now the right time?

This will always be something dependent upon your specific life situation, however many economists are stating 2012 is the time for buyers to come back into the market including CBS News which reported in January “Seven Reasons Why Now’s a Good Time to Buy a Home."

Is it worth it?

Leslie Appleton-Young, the California Association of Realtors’ (CAR) Chief Economist, spoke last week at an Alameda Association of Realtors’ working lunch and noted eight out of ten Americans still agree purchasing a home is the best long term investment a person can make. 

Home Underwater? Help May Be on the Way

Posted on the Alameda Patch February 13, 2012

Last week President Obama announced a landmark $25 billion settlement between the federal government and five of the major mortgage servicers – Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi Mortgage, JP Morgan Chase andAlly/GMAC. We are still waiting for details, but the agreement includes assistance for:

• Homeowners who are underwater (home value is less than what’s owed) but have remained current in their payments
• Homeowners in need of a loan modification due to financial hardship
• Homeowners who lost their homes to foreclosure

This is particularly good news for those who purchased between 2004 and 2009 as they have been hit the hardest by decreased home values.

Before you grab the phone to see if you qualify there are a couple of things you should know.

• Loans owned by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae are not included under the agreement – not sure if that’s you, check here for FannieMae and here for FreddieMac.
• Be prepared to be patient. It’s going to take a few months for the third party administrators to be selected, systems to be set up and qualifying borrowers to be identified.
• Qualifying borrowers will be identified and contacted via mail in the next three to nine months however, you can contact the servicer directly.
• Not all loans qualify

For more information visit the National Mortgage Settlement website for additional details including phone numbers for the five major mortgage servicers included on the settlement.

Stay tuned for more information as it unfolds!

If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again

Posted on The Alameda Patch January 30, 2012 at 5:00 am Email Print 1 Comment

The plan was simple; my friend was considering a career in the wine and spirit industry so I invited her to dinner as my husband has over 30 years of experience to share. I confirmed the dinner Wednesday morning and decided to keep it simple with burgers and a big green salad. That afternoon I left a message with my husband informing him he’d be manning the barbeque and headed off to Encinal Market for some great ground beef from Scalise’s and nice fresh veggies for the salad.

My friend arrived at 6:30 as planned but Dan was running a bit late. No problem. We had plenty to chat about and I could prep the salad while we waited. When my husband arrived home around 6:45 my plan started to go a bit awry. Looks like I hadn’t thought about whether or not we had propane in the tank and of course, we didn’t. No problem. I remembered we had that great big giant silver box in the corner of my kitchen, I think they call it a stove? I’ll just broil the burgers, grilled are definitely better, but this way I could manage the cooking giving my guest and husband more time to talk. Perfect!

All right, back on track, now where’s that broiling pan? Oh yes, it’s over here, no, over here, what was I thinking its right …. dang….. frying! I’ve never fried burgers, but it’s got to be kind of like the way they do it at diners and everybody loves those. A quick peak over the shoulder, they’re still in deep conversation, so I fire up the burner, pull out the fry pan and away we go!

Ten minutes or so later I have three beautifully cooked burgers sizzling away, finally! I pull out a baking sheet to toast up the buns and melt some cheese on my pièce de résistance open up the oven door and voilà, buns go flying, burgers flip through the air and dogs fly in from every direction! Risking bodily harm I grab the burgers off the floor—don’t panic, they’re future treats for the dogs—and turn to my husband. He calmly looks up from the conversation and announces “ looks like it's all you can eat pizza at Linguini’s tonight.”

About 8 p.m. we sat at our table, pizza slices in front of us and I decide to claim the night a success. After all, the plan was fait accompli with the bonus of knowing we’ll have happiest dogs in Alameda snacking on burgers for days to come!

Breaking Out of the Holiday Mode and Heading Straight Into 2012!

Posted on the Alameda Patch on Jan 20, 2012

All right, that’s it. I’ve milked them for all they’re worth. I’m finding it necessary to publicly announce — the holidays are officially over!!


After 18 months of intense volunteer work, a (thankfully) strong business year and adapting to having my youngest off at college, I decided to relax and enjoy the holiday season. Initially I was simply going to say no to open houses in December and enjoy shopping, baking and, well, eating with the family. By the end of the month this relaxation thing was taking hold. Hmmm, how could I rationalize extending this a little longer? So I set my mind to work and figured why not take advantage of the quiet. My current deals are under control, I should take the first week of January to visit my parents in Ashland; after all, it really was for them. Done! Upon return I was in the zone, without a flinch I realized it was my maternal responsibility to make Anna’s last week at home all about her. There was shopping to do, games to play and movies to watch. I mean, really, what choice did I have?!?

Well, yesterday was it, enough with the kick back attitude, 2012 awaits!! I don’t know about you, but from the get go it’s been clear to me that this is going to be an amazing year. The Alameda real estate market started coming back strong in the latter half of 2011, helped along by low interest rates, stabilizing prices and the return of buyers’ confidence. All signs show this trend should continue and, though we’ll not see the madness of the early 2000s, I believe we’ll see a firming up of our market with great opportunities, especially for first time home buyers.

At the risk of receiving a lengthy dear “John” letter, exciting work is going on in Alameda schools. Yes, funding is still a struggle; yes, negotiations are looming, but creative, collaborative work between parents, teachers and administration are creating opportunities for progressive learning environments and choices for Alameda families. And on on the home front, my husband is happy as lark with this extended cycling season, my daughter is doing well in college, my son is gainfully employed in a job he loves with amazing opportunities and the doggies are spoiled rotten and endlessly entertaining!

Now you know not only what I’m looking forward to in 2012 but some of the topics I’ll be writing about here on the Alameda Patch. I hope you’ll find future posts both informative and entertaining. Until then I’ll leave you with my new favorite saying stolen from the trailer of 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' “All things work out in the end, if they’re not working out, you’re just not at the end yet!”

I Love a Parade!!

I admit whole-heartedly to being a sucker for a parade. Make it a 4th of July parade, and I'm in heaven. Make it a 4th of July parade in Alameda where I get to be responsible for the entry, well, it just doesn't get any better!!

This year I've had the pleasure of chairing the Alameda Association of REALTORS® (AAoR) 4th of July parade entry and I know I have people wondering who let that happen!! I believe there are those who take a serious role in a parade; local dignitaries, any of our members of the armed services and those walking in remembrance, honor or in behalf of others. The rest of us, we owe the crowd a show!!

This year AAoR is highlighting our Live, Live, Work Alameda community outreach by showcasing some of the programs supported over the years. And how better can we draw attention to these efforts than our own Sign Rider Drill Team and Official Marching Kazoo band!! So don't miss out on the fun, Monday 10am in Alameda, I'm confident you'll hear us coming!!

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And speaking of community outreach! The AAoR is supporting the Alameda Education Foundation's All Together Now benefit again this year. The main event will be held November 10, 2011 at the Alameda Historic Theater. On Sunday July 3rd, the Harbor Bay Club will be hosting the kick-off event for this benefit with a fabulous Beatles tribute from The Sun Kings. Doors open at 4pm and the show will begin at 5pm. Food and beverage provided by many of your favorites including Shay's Cafe, Aroma, Otaez, Dragon Rouge, Angela's, Jamba Juice, Pyramid Beer and R&B Cellars. You can still buy tickets online or at the door. In addition to the show, you can purchase raffle tickets for several prizes including a grand prize valued at approximately $4,200!!  Raffle tickets can also be purchased online and you do not need to be in attendance to win, but trust me, if you're around you'll want to be there!!

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I wish all of you a fabulous holiday weekend filled with family, Friends, hot dogs, fried chicken, home made potato salad and your favorite beverage!  Keep it safe and sane, no fireworks over Jack London this year but click here for a list of local firework shows!

The main hope of a nation lies in the proper education of its youth - Erasmus

California education is at a crossroads. Voters were prevented from going to the ballot box to decide whether current tax rates would be extended to protect education and other vital services. We're hearing news of more devastating cuts to our district and districts throughout California. To a certain extent, Alameda is in a better position than many other districts as we were able to pass Measure A and avoid devastating cuts. In a conversation with AUSD Board Member, Mike McMahon he stated " .. failure to pass the tax extensions will put us back to square one."

As difficult as it is to hear that about our district, the cuts being discussed will be devastating to many of our neighboring cities, especially Oakland and Hayward, as well as districts throughout the state. It has been said we could see up to 1/3 of California School Districts placed on the State Watch due to fiscal challenges, the first step towards receivership.

There is good news, tax revenues improved at an unexpected rate demonstrating a possible sign of recovery. However, this one time event is being used as an argument the extensions are unnecessary and critical services will be protected through current legislative protections. And what do you think will happen if cuts are required, thousands of lost jobs in our state putting stress on an already fragile economy. The circle begins again.

So what can we do. We can act! I've contacted my State Assemblymen and Senator as well as the Speaker of the Assembly thanking them for their continued fight for education and asking them to continue to do everything in their power to prevent any additional erosion to education. I also called the Governor's office doing the same adding, as a voter, I was far more concerned he continued to work with legislators to protect school funding than I was about my ability to vote on tax extensions.

So now I'm asking you to do the same. Please e-mail or phone your elected officials and let them know ensuring quality education for our youth is the most important job we have entrusted them with. For those in Alameda, I've provided the contact information of your elected officials below. Those in other districts can visit http://www.smartvoter,org/ to obtain your legislator information. It's quick and easy and you will be glad you've done something to save education in California.

As I've always said, if you don't have a voice you don't get a voice. So speak up!!

Assemblyman Sandre Swanson  sandre@sandreSwanson.org  916-319-2016
Senator Loni Hancock   Senator.Hancock@sen.ca.gov   916-651-4009
Speaker of the Assembly, John A Perez assemblymember.john.perez@asm.ca.gov  916-319-2046
Governor Jerry Brown  http://www.govmail.com/  916-445-2841

My world is shrinking .... and I love it!

Although I may wish my reference was to my waistline, it's actually about one of the many things that make Alameda a remarkable place to live.


Before arriving in Alameda I lived in the South Bay, growing up in Mountain View and then on to San Jose. The lay of the land was quite different in the neighborhoods I resided in especially when you compare them to the great island we live in today. Most of the time there were no corner stores, neighborhood coffee shops or local restaurants close to where we lived. If you wanted to go anywhere, you jumped in the car and drove. One area I lived in was close to stores, but nothing personal, it was all chains no personality.

Then we arrived in Alameda. Initially we lived on the west end of town, our floating home was under construction and we didn't have a kitchen for months. So what did we do, we headed out the front door and walked to Chevy's, Larry and Della's (before the fire) and of course Pasta Pelican - ...hmmm, my earlier comment about my waistline is starting to make more sense! We quickly settled into a new hair salon, About Beauty, and could take a quick trip to the store - or Baskin Robbins - with ease simply by heading to Marina Village, by foot! .
Five years later we became landlubbers moving into our current home on Encinal between High Street and Fernside. For a while I would actually drive "all the way to the other end of the island" - how comical is that statement - but it wasn't long before I discovered Kim's Nails, Katie's Hair Design and Cafe Au Lait, not to mention the Encinal Market! I was back on foot again. Not only that, we were now close enough to really enjoy Park St on a regular basis, Woo Hoo, more restaurants!! Not to mention the movie theater, Tuckers Ice Cream, Peet's and Starbucks with that occasional glorious trip to Sumbody. When I need something special, it's a trip to Daisy's, 3 Wishes or Books Inc.

About a year or so ago, a friend asked what our favorite restaurant was and I listed off a handful of local spots; Asena, La Penca Azul (you know, La Pinata!), Bugermeister, Linguini's, when she stopped and said "No, I meant off the island!" I stopped, thought about it and finally realized I couldn't remember the last time we left Alameda. On one hand it seemed criminal seeming that we can reach San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland in no time at all. But the bottom line is, I love my neighborhood, my Park St, my South Shore and my West End. I love bumping onto people I know giving a quick hello or a fast update on the latest news. I'll take that over a trip in the car any day of the week!

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Tonight marks the end of the first quarter of 2011. I'll be analyzing the sales data for the last 90 days in comparison with the same period last year. Stay tuned to see if the Alameda real estate market is continuing on its path of improvement. One thing I can tell you is the number of properties in contract has increased almost 20% since Measure A passed on March 8th. Lets hope that's a sign of more good things to come!

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Alameda is an amazing community!

Please indulge me with this weeks post. Its been a while since my last writing as I've been a little busy with this thing we call Measure A. As the campaign kicked into full gear, something had to give, and my Blog was it. So now I find I just need to say a few things before moving on .. and I promise I will!

Serving as Fundraising Chair for Alameda SOS will go down as one of the most incredible experiences in my life. From the very beginning, when Alamedans packed the School Board meeting pleading with the Board of Education to give a Parcel Tax one more try, vowing to support and do the work necessary to pass a Measure to maintain quality education in Alameda to the very end, standing in a jam packed Tucker's celebrating the glorious news - Measure A passes! - I witnessed remarkable acts of understanding, compromise, giving and perseverance.

When I state hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of Alamedans were behind the construction, financing, campaigning and passing of Measure A, I am not exaggerating. The time given by volunteers attending numerous meetings, knocking on doors, calling from phone banks surpassed anything this community has ever seen. These same volunteers, and many others, opened up there checkbooks to ensure our community didn't fail our children. The in pouring of contributions was astounding, t-shirts, buttons and wristbands were purchased by the hundreds, tickets were bought for events and some of the youngest Alamedans set up Lemonade Stands so they could help too!

Throughout the campaign there were those who did everything possible to turn this into a public mud wrestling event. However, the communication network developed to keep everyone informed, in touch and involved helped all of us hang tough, stay focused on what was important and ensured we got the job at hand done and done with dignity.

Without taking anything away form all those who worked so hard to pass Measure A, it would be hard felt to imagine us having had the opportunity to fight for our schools if not for the work done by the School Board, in particular President Ron Mooney, and the district led by Superintendent Kirsten Vital. I can only begin to imagine the total number of meetings held with members of our community, residents and business owners, sharing information, concerns and ideas on our communities, schools. The result, a Measure that balances the communities responsibilities and benefits, the "reasonable compromise" AUSD set out to achieve from the very beginning.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love being right. I've always said Alameda was an amazing place to live, so thanks to all for proving me right!!

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So where do we go from here? Not to worry, there are still many ways to help support our schools.

Mark your calendar and join the Alameda Education Foundation on April 29th for the annual Salute to Education This year we'll gather at Rock Wall Winery as we recognize the teachers, staff and volunteers who make Alameda schools so special, as well as community volunteers and local businesses who support our schools.

Several PTA's have annual fundraising events coming up; Edison and Otis Annual Auctions and Night at the A's for Washington and Edison

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You may be asking why a Real Estate Blogger is going on and on and on about schools.

Personally, I believe education is the backbone of our society. We must do all we can to ensure our students receive the highest quality education we can proivide. I can't teach, but I can advocate!

Professionally it is my opinion, and the findings of both the National and Califorina Association of Realtors, schools are an intricate part of any community.  Buyers will seek out and pay more for homes located in communities with high quality schools. Therefore, anything I can do to help Support Alameda Schools benefits me, my clients and our community.

It just doesn't get any better than that!

You asked for it!

Earlier this week, I tweeted about 56 classrooms adopted so far this school year through the Alameda Education Foundation's Adopt-A-Classroom program, that's $28,000 in teachers hands for direct classroom support! I received a response from Medablog asking if I would blog about the program, so here you go!

The Adopt-A-Classroom program was originally developed by a  Bank of Alameda committee headed up by Steve Andrews. Their idea was simple, set up a program where local businesses can make contributions directly to the classroom to support our local students, teachers and schools. One issue arose; can the donations be tax deductible? The committee contacted AEF to see if they would be interested in partnering with the project, and thus the Adopt-A-Classroom program was born!

So exactly what is the Adopt-A-Classroom program and how does it work. Few realize almost all teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies. Per the AEF website - According to the National Education Association “Status of the American Public School Teacher 2001 survey”, the national average that teachers spend each year on supplies for their classroom is $443 with teachers in the West averaging $539 annually. (http://www.nea.org/home/2233.htm page 64 of PDF).  The program was designed to provide financial relief to teachers while allowing them the freedom to purchase exactly what was needed in the classroom without waiting (and hoping) for district approval.

To adopt a classroom donors complete an Alameda Education Adopt-A-Classroom Information and Application form and forward with a $500.00 check to PO Box 1363, Alameda CA 94501. The donors may select the teacher, program and/or school they would like to adopt when completing the form. Often parents and grandparents will select the classrooms their children attend. However, many local residents and business people leave the selection to AEF. When this occurs, adoptions are distributed to classrooms based on a random selection ranked by need. This allows teachers throughout the district to benefit from this very valuable grant program.

As President of AEF, one of the greatest pleasures I had was visiting the classroom and distributing grants to teachers. Quite often the teacher had no idea their classroom had been selected, so when the principal and I would walk in, we were often greeted with a look of confusion even concern. By the time we were finished the looks were usually more along the lines of joy and shock. Some teachers would become so overwhelmed by the gesture they would be unable to hold back the tears. Of course, equally as fun was watching the student reactions. Typically the younger students would shout out things like 'Yay, more books" whereas "Pizza Party" was the call of action from many middle and high school classes. So I should add, each teacher is required to complete a form advising the Foundation how the funds were used within the classroom, needless to say, Pizza and Ice Cream parties are not allowed, sorry kids!!

One final note of importance; donations to this program are not charged an administrative fee allowing 100% of the funds to go directly to the classroom. There is a great deal of work required to organize presentations including scheduling time with the schools, preparing and framing classroom certificates and processing the check and related paperwork including donor thank you. If you would like to support this program but the $500 contribution for the direct adoption is not in your budget, please consider making a general donation to the Foundation. This will help support the cost it takes to keep this program strong!

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Okay, how about a little real estate information! As you may recall, I summarized my review of this summer's real estate market on October 18. We'd had a stable but relatively slow market with sales volume down approximately 28%. Well, I'm not sure I can explain it, but over the past few weeks we've seen our market make a bit of a move. In the past two weeks the number of homes pending - currently in contract with an accepted offer - increased twenty percent!

Digging into the details a bit, seventy percent of the properties pending are detached homes, fifteen percent other residential properties and the final fifteen percent residential income and commercial. After removing the two commercial properties, the average list price is approximately $570,000, $600,000 if you look at detached homes alone.

Of course list price is not sales price so we'll need to wait for a few more weeks to see if the average sales price remains stable. My hunch is buyers finally decided to take advantage of the low rates available to them, but we'll need to see how things work themselves out.

If you're thinking about buying in the next 6 -9 months, my colleague, Justine Francis, and I will be holding a seminar "Why Would You Buy Now", Please join us Saturday, November 20 at 9: 30 am at the High Street Station and find out why this may just be the perfect time to buy a home! Refreshments will be provided and you may win the door prize! Stay tuned for more details!!

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If you're looking for a little Halloween fun, head over to Rooster's Roadhouse Saturday night at 7:30. For a mere $10.00 fee you can celebrate to the tunes of Old Coal, Spill the Wine and West of High. Band earnings will be contributed to Alameda SOS Show up in costume and you'll receive an adult Halloween treat!

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Finally, there are many key races to be determined Tuesday. As most of you know, I've spent the last six years actively working on behalf of our schools, teachers and students.  Maintaining quality education and providing the necessary financial support for our schools is my top priority. As such, I have publicly endorsed Mike McMahon and Margie Sherratt for School Board and Tracy Jensen for City Council and would like to take this last opportunity to ask you to consider these highly qualified candidates for office.


That's it for now!  Hope you have a safe and spooky Halloween!!

Patience, Persistence and a little Pinor Noir ....

This week marked the closing of a deal a loooooooooooooooooong time in the making. My listing on Barnhill Marina is now SOLD! When I first sat down with my Seller, over two years ago, I told her these homes will sell within 1 week or it will take a year or more. Well, I guess if nothing else, I have the satisfaction of being right!

Okay first of all, yes you read that right; the home had been listed for more than 2 years before it sold. This lends to the question, “Why in the world would I be sharing this information with anyone, much less on my blog???"  Simple, I'm actually quite proud of the process and the results. You see when I made the statement about how long it would take to sell, I was being quite sincere. Floating homes are a specialized property. In the best of markets, the actual buyer pool for these homes is quite limited. Needless to say, the last few years would clearly not be defined as one of the best markets!

Now that's not to say there aren't a lot people interested in seeing these homes. I wouldn't be exaggerating to say I probably handled 250-300 inquiries on this home. First you go through the routine - buyers need to put at least 20% down; interest rates are 6% variable, 7.5% fixed; monthly berthing fees start at $450; homeowners are responsible for insurance and utilities; rentals are not allowed and finally, yes it really is a home floating in the water. That usually removes the first time home buyers, investors and the curious. For those still interested, you get to set an appointment for a showing. The marina requires the listing agent to attend all showings, so I probably visited the home about 100 times. Fortunately I love visiting the marina, but it is very time consuming, especially when you consider showings take about 45 minutes on average.

Now it goes without saying, when the buyer - now owner - walked through the door and immediately knew this was her house, I was thrilled! Not only because I knew I'd be updating my listing from active to pending, but because I knew she would really enjoy the home and marina living, and the deal would close!

So why am I proud of all this? Because throughout the two plus years this home was listed, I kept my client informed about the market, recommended price changes reflective of the times, kept her realistically optimistic without building false hope and when I told her I just put a buyer into a floating home that was on the market less than a week, she congratulated me and told me I was a due for an easy deal! That's when you know you've done a good job!!!!

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Buy Your Tickets Now!!!!  

Friday, November 12th, The Sun Kings and DJ Peter Fletcher are sponsoring a fabulous night for the Alameda Education Foundation; All Together Now! Doors will open at 6pm at Antiques By the Bay. Good food, good fun, good friends, GREAT CAUSE. There will be dancing in the aisles and I dare you to last the night without singing along to those classic Beatles songs incredibly performed by The Sun Kings. Tickets are $40.00 and proceeds will support Music, Arts and Drama in our schools. You can buy tickets online by clicking the link above or e-mail or call me, I've got tickets burning a hole in my pocket!!

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Tomorrow I head off to Ashland with a friend that's put up with me for almost 40 years!! We're visiting my folks and better be watching the game that gets the Giants in the World Series!!!  Have a great weekend!

A Summers View of the Forest from the Trees

Well, the traditional selling months have come and gone for Alameda real estate, and it's left most of us scratching our heads. There were properties we believed would sell in a heartbeat that stuck around all summer long while others were flying off the market receiving multiple offers for reasons we just couldn't figure out. I would often joke that the best tool in my REALTOR tool box this summer seemed to be my Crazy-8 ball!!


In order to try to make rhyme or reason out of the market, I decided to compare Summer 09 and 10 using several key indicators - number of homes sold, number of homes available, average price per square foot and average months of inventory on the market -broken down by type of property - Single Family Residence, Townhouse and Condo -and by location - All Alameda, Main Island (94501) and Bay Farm/Harbor Bay (94502). Once compiled, the data was averaged and compared. I found the results turned out quite interesting. Hold onto your hats, there's lots of statistics to wade though!

The 30,000 foot view….. It came as no surprise to find we had a slow moving market this summer. The number of properties sold dropped by 28% while the properties available for sale increased by 29%. The result; the number of months of inventory on the market almost doubled. Although movement lagged, the average price per square foot actually increased slightly - 1% compared to last year. So the question arises, if prices have stabilized why have sales slowed? Especially when you consider interest rates are the lowest we've seen in decades.

There are several reasons heavily discussed in the media supporting why the market was slow this summer. Buyers are still wondering if we've hit the bottom, the overall fear of a double-dip recession and the assumption that banks are not lending. However, we have an additional concern in Alameda; “What will become of our schools next year?” Believe me, a week does not go by without hearing buyers state "We're waiting until the spring when we know about the schools." A survey taken by the National Association of Realtors found 27% of home buyers listed school quality and 21% listed proximity to schools as deciding factors in their home purchase. Interesting enough given we saw a 28% decline in sales volume over last year! Of course there is something we can do to remove this concern, pass a parcel tax this spring. Please visit and bookmark Alameda SOS Save Our Schools to stay informed ... but I digress...

Down to the forest level….. The decrease in sales volume was about the same for the 94501 area as compared to 94502, however the remaining indicators reflect the main island seemed to adjust to this new market faster. Though higher in 2010, the increase in available properties and months of inventory on the market on the main island were markedly less, about 1/3 the increase as seen on Bay Farm. In addition, 94501 saw a 4% increase in price per square foot whereas Bay Farm experienced a slight decline - 3%. So why would homes take longer to sell in Bay Farm and a sell at a lower price? I believe the real culprit is short sales These sales typically take longer to sell and sell below market. Currently 24% of properties on the market in Bay Farm/Harbor Bay are short sales, compared to 10% on the main island. This is definitely high enough to skew the summers results.

Now for a few of the trees…… Condo's (predominantly in 94501) represent about 15% of our market and continue to be the toughest market in Alameda. It experienced a 52% decline in sales volume, and a 241% increase in months of inventory on the market, still there was an increase in price per square foot of 3%. Townhouses make up another 15% (predominantly in 94502) of the market and fared a bit better in sales volume, declining 24% overall, but lost 7% in the price per square foot indicator.

Of course single family residences represent the majority of the transactions occurring in Alameda with the greatest number falling on the main island. Of all the property types, these seemed to fare best this summer. We experienced a 22% decrease in sales volume of single family homes, about the same throughout the island, with properties available only increasing by 9%. In addition, price per square foot increased 4% (6% increase in 94501; 4% decrease in 94502).

What is interesting to me is though the market felt like it was all over the board, the numbers reflect buyers were still apprehensive to pull the trigger, but when they did, values remained stable and Alameda continued to be a desirable market.

So there's my call for the forest and the trees of Alameda! If you're interested in getting an even closer look at the market, please contact me and I'll be happy to provide detailed information for your neighborhood of interest!

Information obtained from Trendgraphix Fact and Trends; deemed reliable but not verified.

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Alameda has many challenges ahead; protecting quality education in difficult economic times, balancing the development of Alameda Point with the effect of growth on our city and maintaining a strong fire and police department to keep our streets safe. In a few weeks we'll be electing a new Mayor, 2-3 City Council Members and 2 School Board members. Please be sure and vote November 2nd, your vote WILL make a difference!!

There's a reason they call them PERSONAL computers!!

My computer was about 2 years old, and given the way I drag it around, it was holding up fairly well. I'd noticed it was freezing up a bit, and the power cord was a bit troublesome (my puppy confused it with a chew toy) but overall I figured I had another year before I'd need to break down and a get a new machine.


Then it happened ... I was telling a great story, which required a good deal of animation - no, I can't talk without using my hands - and whack, I managed to smack my wedding ring into my computer screen! The good news is, diamonds always win! The bad news is, in a matter of moments, the little spot on my screen began to grow. Several hairline cracks swirled out from the center making what began as a lovely spiral design around the screen.

After I got over the initial shock I thought, no problem, I can work with this it's not like I can't see the screen. Well that pipe dream lasted a few more moments until the lovely hairline cracks started to bleed black, blue and an occasional red ink-like substance inside the screen. Still, my Scottish blood coursing through my veins, I convinced myself all would be fine. It's not like the whole screen was blacked out. It just looked, as a good friend said, like I had a tarantula smashed across my screen.

What I discovered in the weeks - yes weeks - that followed was if we can't use our computers in the same way we always have, we start finding reasons to limit the way we use them. I had figured out if I shrank my windows and move them to the lower left-hand corner of my screen, I could still read e-mail, check out websites and conduct business relatively well. Yes it was a hassle, but I could do it. Then I found myself using my blackberry for e-mail and web searches (ugh) even though my computer was sitting right next to me. Then I was asking my daughter for her computer or using my husband's when he wasn't working. Of course none of this really worked well, because all MY files, things I wanted easy access to and used all the time weren't available.

I no longer had a Personal Computer, I had a machine I could use if I had no other choice. Not the best way to run a business!! So I bit the bullet headed to Best Buy and bought the cheapest decent machine I could find. Fortunately, all this did happen as students were heading back to school so I was able to get a really good deal on a Gateway, but I still didn't have a Personal Computer. The real fun was about to begin; loading software and files, re-establishing wireless connections and setting up e-mail options, getting used to the new keyboard set-up and changes related to System 7.

It's taken about a week and a half, but I realized today I once again have my very own personal computer and suddenly I was ready to get back to my blog. That's when the light bulb went off! It wasn't that I didn't have anything to say (God forbid!!) or I was lofty enough to have writers block, I simply couldn't face blogging without the right tools! Shame on me, lesson learned, sometimes being cheap is very costly!!

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Stay tuned, next week I'll be analyzing what really happened in the Alameda market this summer. What areas were hot, what areas were not. Was it the house, the price or the location that made a difference in the sale of a home. Or was this truly a schizophrenic summer with no rhyme or reason? We'll see....

School's Back in Session!!!

Both my kids graduated from High School some time ago so it's been quite awhile since I've experienced the "First Day of School." Thanks to Facebook, I've seen pictures of friends children dressed in their new outfits, fresh new back packs with lunch bags in hand and that special first day glow! I also get to chat with my friends daughters and hear about how they like/hate/love their new teachers, how easy or hard their schedules are and whether their in the same class as their best friend.

We may not have kids in school, but we still get to enjoy part of the school experience. We live half a block from Lincoln Middle School, so once again we get to watch the kids streaming off to school. Some of them have a great skip in their step, others drag along at a snail's pace. We get to hear girlfriends giggling away and the boys testing out their latest swear words. I get the greatest kick out of my husband. We often walk the dogs at the same time the kids are heading to school. He loves to chat them up "Hello Son", "Hi Ladies","Ready for a Good Day?" Most of them are friendly and nice and enjoy the conversation, some walk by as if he doesn't even exist, but others get this "Oh God here he comes" look about them that totally cracks me up! But the best is when the kids say Hi to the dogs and call them by name, it absolutely makes my husbands day!!

It's bittersweet this year, we know all this could change in the next year. But for now, we're going to continue to enjoy our middle schooler's and hope for the best.

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School appears to be back in session for me as well. In the past few week's I've begun working with several first time home buyer's. I've always enjoyed working with these clients, I really think the idea of helping someone purchase their first home is what brought me into real estate. Too many times, you hear horror stories of people buying a home without really knowing what they're getting themselves into. Fortunately, many times it all works out, but often people wind up taking risks without even realizing it or winding up buying an absolute nightmare.

When I work with first time home buyers I commit to the following:

(1) to be sure you are always prepared and know what to expect as we move forward in the process. For instance, at our first meeting we'll discuss  the entire process in general then what needs to be done first, pre-qualification, in detail . We'll talk about why it's important to be qualified for your loan before we even begin looking at property and the importance of understanding the difference between what you're qualified for and what you're comfortable with.

(2) to be with you every step of the way. I understand this is one of the largest financial decisions you've made. I'll attend viewings, inspections, signings, if it's related to the purchase of your home, I'll bee there.

(3) to provide you with the information and education needed so that YOU are making confident decisions on your home purchase. As I tell my clients; this won't be my house or my loan, so I shouldn't - and won't - tell you what you should do, including how much to offer the seller, when we sit down to write your contract. I will provide you with all the latest data of similar homes sold in the area, what the standard practice is for assigning contractual and closing costs and what is required to protect your good faith deposit.

(4) to remain even-keeled on as we navigate the process. Buying a house is exciting, frightening, exhilarating, nerve-wracking, you name it. No matter how carefully or hard I work, things will happen. Right now it's not unusual to have the loan process get crazy at one point or another. My job is to inform you have any situations as they arise and provide solutions for your consideration. It's okay for you to be nervous, but not me.

Of course each situation is different and we'll discuss what's most important to you and how I'll address those concerns, but I'll also make the process enjoyable, after all buying your first home is exciting.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I do hand out homework!

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That's it for now, go out and make it a great Labor Day weekend.open house If you're between 2 and 4 on Sunday, stop by my open house at 1100 Post and say Hi!!

Has it actually arrived?

After waiting two and a half months, it appears summer just may visit Alameda after all!

I was showing property Thursday morning and for a moment I thought I was coming down with something. It was then I realized the sun was out, the skies were blue, the wind was almost non-existent. I was so excited I actually stopped mid-sentence to announce I was warm! I'd almost forgotten what it was like to stand and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, it was wonderful. I then actually looked up, and there it was, that beautiful robins egg blue sky with bright white clouds sailing along. I'd been walking around with my nose to the ground and arms tightly wrapped around myself just trying to avoid the chill of the wind for so long, I couldn't remember the last time I'd just taken the time to enjoy a summer sky.

Of course we keep waking to those grey skies and it seemed the fog came in as cold as ever this evening, but I'm going to keep the faith and believe the sun will win again tomorrow. Besides, it has to. Pirates in Paradise is finally here and we all deserve to have some real fun at the Waterfront. Don't forget to head over and take a spin out on the Estuary. I can't get there until the afternoon so I'm hoping I won't miss the Police Department take on the Fire Department to see who gets to claim the Estuary as their own. Of course the fact that the organizers announced the event will benefit the Alameda Education Foundation only makes it sweeter. So come on sun, don't let me down!!

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Mark your calendars! September 26th marks this years' Alameda Legacy Tour and it should be exceptional. Eight extraordinary homes will be available for viewing; each having gone through an amazing renovation and restoration process. Homes will be open between 11 and 5 with refreshments served in one of the lovely garden settings. By the time you've finished you'll understand one of the reasons being a Realtor in Alameda is such a great job.

The Legacy Tour is self-guided so you can start at anytime and visit the homes in whatever order you'd like.  The tour is hosted by the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society and the Alameda Museum. Tickets can be purchased in advance online for $30. You'll receive the official tour guide with your purchase.

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Now I need you all to wish me luck. I'm headed to Margie and Don Sherratt's Annual Blackjack Tournament benefiting the Boys and Girls Club. It's been awhile since I've played but last I checked I can still add up to 21. Still, I wonder if they allow you to use your Blackberry at the table, that calculator app certainly comes in handy!

Subtle changes in the market

The end of July early August have brought some interesting changes to Alameda's real estate market. We experienced a sudden surge of single family homes coming onto the market at the end of the month.  This increased our months of inventory on the market from 2.8 at the end of June to 4.7 months at the end of July. At first glance this appears to be something to be concerned about, however if August continues in the same manner it began, I believe we'll be back to levels we've seen throughout the summer by the end of this month.

Granted, I've always been accused of being a bit of an optimist, but my conclusion is based on several factors. The first I've already mentioned as it is likely the increase in listings at the end of July has skewed the months on the market sharply upwards. But that isn't the only factor. July brought a sharp decline in average days on the market  to 27, the lowest point we've seen in well over a year. This means houses are not sitting on the market as long as they were, or in other words, buyers are on the move! This pattern has continued into August as we've watched the number of homes pending increase from the high 70's into the low to mid 90's.

The other good news is pricing continues to remain stable. The average price per square foot remains strong at $391.00 and average price sold and average list price are hovering around $650,000.

The best news clearly is interest rates. Finding rates in the 4.5% range is the norm. Whether you're considering buying or refinancing, now is really the time to get serious. If you're considering either, please let me know and I'll help make it happen!!

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Alamedans rock!

This summer the Alameda Education Foundation has been collecting school supplies and backpacks for students in need. Most people don't realize there are over 900 students attending AUSD without permanent housing, I know I didn't.  These students are among the 30% who qualify for the free or reduced lunch program. Your generosity will allow each of these students to start the school year with the supplies they need to be successful.

We've been collecting supplies all summer at the Alameda Towne Center's Summer Beat concerts. I was dropping off 3 fantastic backpacks from Marilyn Shumaker at tonight's concert (Thanks Marilyn!) and witnessed a woman dropping off 2 shopping carts full of supplies! I looked around and our donation box was almost full.

If you haven't had a chance to drop off supplies, we'll be at the Summer Beats concerts through the end of this month. You can also catch us at the Crab Cove concert tonight or you can drop supplies off at Tuckers, Color me Mine and the Bank of Alameda Park St branch. Oh heck, call me and I'll be happy to pick up and deliver supplies for you!!

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All righty then, that's it for this week, have a great weekend and hope to see you tonight at Crab Cove!

Just sign here....

In real estate that's the goal. Whether the signing occurs at the beginning of a new deal when you're representing the sale of your client's home or the end of a culmination of work with your buyer as they make an offer on the home they're purchasing, getting the best terms in place and obtaining signatures on a contract is a key business goal.

It's also very exciting. The circumstances' surrounding a sale or purchase of a home is usually the result of a life change for your client. Sometimes it's the result of loss, but usually it's because you're representing someone who's reached a new stage in their life. However, getting those all important signatures can prove to be a challenge in and of its self, and quite often, very inefficient.

Technology certainly has helped. Initially the fax machine made a huge step forward. We could send and receive contracts over the phone, obtain signatures and move onto the next stage. However, it also created several problems. Machines would be busy or out of paper; pages would go missing or get jammed and need to be resent; the same document would be sent so many times it would be come illegible and a new set would have to be signed at closing. Then came scanning, a huge step forward. But your clients needed the capability to receive, print, rescan and return. Plus you often wound up with lengthy contracts having to be printed several times over as each party would prepare sign and resend. In either case, it can be very easy for missed signatures or initials to occur requiring a re-routing of the necessary pages.

Finally a technical solution is available making it easy to receive and send signatures from any number of signers and multiple locations. DocuSign, an electronic signature system, provides a web based program that should be in every Realtors tool chest. Any document can be sent securely to one or more people - an e-mail account is required - who can open, read and then click to assign initials, dates and signature where required. Once completed a pdf copy of the form is saved and the originator is notified signing has been completed. You can even predetermine the order in which signatures are obtained when more than one party is involved.

Most importantly, signatures obtained using DocuSign's are fully compliant with federal e-sign regulations and are 100% legally binding. Of course, many banks are still operating in 1950's mentality when it comes to technology and will require a "wet" signature on contracts. Let's face it, the banking industry has certainly proven they know best when it comes to legal compliance!

Seriously, the final benefit of using DocuSign is the environmental savings. These days you can easily have 20-40 pages or more in a purchase contract. Even if you scan documents, the simplest of deals could result in a minimum of 3 sets printed out. Now apply that across the number of sales that occur (we'll ignore those that don't make it to escrow) and your easily talking about hundreds of thousands of pages each year.

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Now for a personal note. This weekend my family will be gathering together to celebrate my father's 85th birthday (he was 50 when I was born - amazing!!) Reaching 85 is certainly momentous, but during that time my Father earned a Masters when few did; raised 7 children during the 50's, 60's, 70's AND 80's, including 5 girls who never believed they couldn't (or shouldn't) excel in any and all subjects; impacted space exploration from the Apollo Space Program to the Hubble telescope; and is now in the 60th year of one of the strongest marriages I will ever witness. And the most imprtant thing he'll want you to know is he couldn't have done any of this without my Mother.

My father taught me my love for the Olympics, red wine, dark chocolate, mince meat pie, dry wit and my desire to be able to speak knowledgeably about anything I find interesting (okay, he may have overdone that one!)

So Happy 85th Birthday Daddy!! I love you very much!!

Well it is summertime...

See ya next week!!

Keep the faith baby!

I don't know about you, but I'm just tired of all the negative discussions/articles surrounding bad development projects and "They-who-shall-not-be-named"! I know this is a serious subject and many will be incensed by my reaction, but I just want to take a break from it all.

Now, I've always been a - the glass is half full - kinda gal, but to listen to all the rhetoric, one would think it's impossible to successfully develop a project in Alameda. Well, I'm here to tell you about a local company who's quietly gone along developing wonderful business campuses not only attractive to the eye but, since 2005, utilizing designs, equipment and materials that are environmentally friendly.

SRM Associates extraordinary work can be found throughout the bay area, but several of their cornerstone projects can be found right here in the Harbor Bay Business Park.

The North Loop Project, pictured above, houses some of the Bay Area's best companies. Donsuemor, Semifreddis, Pacific Rim Produce (is anyone else getting hungry?) and eight other companies call this project home. The development is so attractive, esthetically and efficiently, that the project is at full capacity. The state of our current economic environment makes this feat even more impressive.

Considering the success of the North Loop Project, it should come as no surprise SRM has been selected to develop another section of Harbor Bay Parkway for VF Outdoor's corporate headquarters. This latest development will be another of their LEED accredited business parks. Among the many environmentally friendly attributes, the project will include its own wind power combines doubling as artwork and awnings with solar energy panels providing shade and energy, how cool is that!!

Of course, the pièce de résistance (to date!) is the Gold Certified Peet's Coffee and Tea Roasting Plant. This building, which houses the companies roasting plant, tea packing and distribution center, was designed to integrate sustainability into every square inch while providing state of the art production and work space. From the native plants and recycled materials used in the landscaping to the energy star rated roofing material, this building encompasses the future of commercial real estate.

I think SRM says it best "We believe building green is an extension of our commitment to develop high-quality, healthy, inspiring buildings that improve the environment in the workplace and in communities throughout the Bay Area."  Let's just hope whatever the future holds for Alameda Point, our city leaders listen and learn from the examples set forth by SRM Associates.

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It's finally here!!  The Park St Art and Wine Fair will take over Park St from Encinal Ave to Buena Vista on July 24th and 25th. We'll be able to meander down Park St, partake in some tasty wines and beers; listen to a variety of live music; take the kids to the petting zoo and get their face painted; peruse blocks and blocks of art, clothes, jewelery, furniture, you name it! And of course, THE FOOD!!!

If you visit Park St this weekend, and believe me you really should, stop by and say Hi! I'll be working several shifts at the Alameda Education Foundation's table in front of Tucker's (salted caramel here I come) as well as Harbor Bay Realty's booth. Bring the kids by as there's a rumor we'll have balloons!!

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All righty then, have a great week and hope to see you at the Park St Art & Wine fair!

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something ... Green!!

Saturday, July 17, from 10am - 4pm the Alameda Association of Realtors - serving the Island City since 1922 (something old) - will present something new in the Alameda Towne Centre where they're borrowing space to hold The Green Home Expo.  Is that a stretch or what!!

Anyway, the Green Home Expo will give you the opportunity to visit with over 40 companies and organizations providing services that decrease the carbon foot print we leave on our city and earth. You'll be familiar with some, like the hybrid vehicles available at One Toyota of Oakland, others, like Carbonated Carpet Cleaners, may be new to you and your family.

Now, if you're considering making improvements to your home you really want to make time for this event. Many of the exhibitors provide design services and household products to help make your home green, inside and out. These companies will not only improve your quality of life but you may find an extra added benefit, green homes are desired by buyers. When your home has something buyers desire, it will likely sell faster and for more than a similar home without these addiitons.
Finally, there will be local organizations and groups working to ensure we meet the goal set forth in Alameda's Local Action Plan for Climate Protection, to increase sustainability and well-being while reducing carbon emissions by 25% by the year 2020.

So jump on your bike, slip on your walking shoes or grab the corner bus and head to the Green Home Expo to learn how to improve your home and community!

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Somewhat on the same subject, whether your attending the Expo, enjoying one of the Summer Beats concert series or shopping for you and your family, take a minute or two to really look around and take in the atmosphere.

I went to Border's this evening for July's Alameda Business Women's meeting to hear Allison Maslan speak about her book Blast Off! Afterwards, several of us headed to Zeytini's to enjoy a little food, drink and conversation. As we headed to the parking lot I found myself taking in the decoratively lit trees, various pieces of artwork and patchwork quilt walkway and asked how many of the others lived here before the improvements had been made. Most of them had, and we all agreed how much we appreciate the amazing changes made over the past several years.

My family moved to Alameda in September 2000 and I can remember thinking, Oh God, is this where I'll have to shop!?! Though I still prefer the old name, South Shore was nothing short of an eye sore, the ultimate strip mall. Most of the buildings were run down and it seemed there was nothing but concrete wherever you turned. So I just wanted to send out a Thank you to Harsch Investments Properties for persevering through the big box protests - I mean, really, what shape did they want them to be - and providing us with a beautiful place to shop, dine and enjoy special events in Alameda!

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All right then, another week gone another weekend ahead; it should be a beauty so go out and enjoy it!!

Alameda is dog-gone great!

Now for all you cat lovers. I like cats. My friends have cats and I'm perfectly happy to let them leap into my lap and pet them until they're finished with me and are ready to move on. But you see, that's just it. My experience has been, when you own a cat it's all about them. Now in my house, and my husband will be happy to attest to this, it's all about me! When I walk in my front door my dogs fight over who gets to say hello first, and I like it that way. There's something fabulous about looking down and seeing your four-legged friend wriggling out of it's skin just to have you lean over and give it a nice pat on the head or scratch on the chin. So we have dogs!

Fortunately for us and all the other dog lovers out there, Alameda is definitely a dog friendly town. I don't know that I've ever driven around town without spotting someone walking their dog. If you attend any of the street fairs or outdoor concerts, many of us bring our dogs, leashed with little blue bags at the ready, to share in the fun. If you attended this year's 4th of July parade, dogs were not only onlookers but key participants themselves.

Alameda also helps us spoil our dogs. For the pampered pooch a trip to Dog Bone Alley is an absolute must. There's always a bowl of clean, cool water out front and treats waiting at the register and it's loaded with fun and fancy goodies for our buddies. Now bathing is not something many dogs look forward to but Pet Food Express makes the job easier on both dog and owner. The individual stalls provide a choice of shampoos, cool air blow dryers and the toweling area really takes the pain out of this necessary task. Once you're finished, you can also take them for a quick rewarding walk along the estuary before heading home.

I'll probably get in trouble here, but we've finally given up on the Alameda Dog Park It's not the park we have trouble with, though the water area of the large dog park can be a mess, it's the humans. Too many times we've experienced problems because good dog park etiquette isn't followed. Owners often congregate at the entry of the big dog park and don't give incoming dogs the space they need to enter into a social setting. In the small dog park, you often find a group of owners sitting in a circle of chairs allowing their animals to behave aggressively with the excuse that they're just "behaving like dogs." The good news is, it's a quick drive to one of the most incredible dog parks around, Point Isabel . This is a must for anyone who wants to enjoy a remarkable off leash experience. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

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Of course the real good news is the Alameda Real estate market hasn't gone to the dogs (sorry, I just couldn't help myself!) In comparing the housing statistics of June '09 to June '10, I believe we're seeing positive trends. For instance, we had about the same number of residential properties on the market; 140 in '09 and 139 in '10, but the number of homes sold increased 17.5% from 40 to 47. In turn, the average number of days a property was on the market dropped from 73 to 35!

Of course most of us want to know whether our home is worth more today than a year ago. If we go back to comparing this year to last, we'll find the average sold price has dropped by 5%, but the average price per square foot has increased 2%. So what does that mean for your home? Everything and nothing! Especially in Alameda, values can fluctuate block by block and even house by house. If you want or need to know the market value of your home, the best thing for you to do is have an Alameda Realtor prepare a comparative marketing analysis, ofter referred to as a CMA. The analysis will provide active and sold information on homes similar to yours and reflect any adjustments made to arrive at the comparative valuation. Don't feel you can only contact a Realtor if you're considering selling. There are many reasons you may need the information and, as long as you make them aware of your needs at the beginning, they should have no problem assisting you. Of course, to make it really easy, just call me up and I'll be happy to help you out!

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Okay, finally, file this one under - Are you kidding me! Are you kidding me? - My husband and I were taking our dogs for an early evening walk on Monday and decided to make it a nice stretch and head for Park St. We were walking along taking in the beautiful weather, admiring gardens and proudly showing off our little tribe. Then we turned from Central onto Park towards Encinal and I saw it - a team of workers installing steel folding security gates on Park St! That's right, Park St! Even more shocking is the gates were being installed for the eyeware shop moving from around the corner. I mean, really! It came as quite a surprise to me that, compared to Central Ave., Park St. is such a high crime scene!!

So this week I have to give a big "Shame on you" to Perfect Vision. I'm sure it has something to do with insurance but, really, Are you kidding me! Are you kidding me?

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All righty then, until next week, go out and make it a good one!