Real Estate Industry Heating Up | RISMedia

My wife and I recently attended our once-a-month cruise club cocktail hour, in which we are two of the only working stiffs in the group, as most of the members are retired. Obviously whenever I show up because of my real estate history in this area of the state, the conversation always goes straight to: “What is happening in the real estate market?”

I found myself in a very upbeat, and excited mood and I was raving about the real estate market and what I see happening over the next few years. I was particularly excited, because for the very first time in my entire career, I signed 30 closings in one day the day before the cruise and had in fact signed almost 60 closings that week.

Our business in March was up 31% over February and by April 9th, we had already passed the halfway mark of what we did in March. The real estate industry is heating up and will only continue to heat up. Needless to say I ended up surrounded by several members dying to hear the good news.

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Featured Homes in Almaden Valley 041209

Barnes Ct., $1,199,000, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 3179 SqFt
Mount Hope, $1,050,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2217 SqFt
Crimson Dr., $950,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2008 SqFt
Delight Way, $899,995, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2356 SqFt
Weeping Oaks Ct., $879,950, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 2357 SqFt
Paso Los Cerritos, $775,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1796 SqFt
Cloverbrook Dr., $759,950, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2205 SqFt
Montalban Dr., $699,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2033 SqFt
Minoru Dr., $639,888, 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1538 SqFt

Should sellers hire a home inspector? - ContraCostaTimes.com

By Barry Stone
Inspector s in the House

Posted: 04/12/2009 12:00:00 AM PDT

Q: Our house is on the market. We're waiting for offers and wondering if we should hire our own home inspector or let the buyer hire the inspector once we are in escrow. Our agent advises against hiring our own inspector. What do you think?

A: Some real estate agents are in favor of pre-sale home inspections and some are not. Here are the reasons why I favor them:

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Featured Bank Owned Properties 041209

Traughber St., $493,000, 6 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 2038 SqFt
Randolph Dr., $483,600, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2197 SqFt
Kring Dr., $471,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1760 SqFt
Glengarry Dr., $449,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1407 SqFt
Merrill Lp., $444,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1221 SqFt
Parvin Dr., $434,900, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 1942 SqFt
Destino Cir., $421,900, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 1954 SqFt
Azule Ave., $414,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1208 SqFt
Ralene Pl., $409,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1041 SqFt
Kimball Dr., $404,900, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1618 SqFt

Featured Homes Near Monta Vista High 041109

Ramona Ct., $1,598,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2230 SqFt
Regnart Rd., $1,548,000, 6 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, 3765 SqFt
Canyon Vista, $990,000, 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 2119 SqFt
Scotland Dr., $899,000, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1190 SqFt

Featured Bank Owned Properties 041109

Lakewood, $394,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1108 SqFt
2nd St., $389,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1246 SqFt
Omira Dr., $389,900, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1400 SqFt
Alderwood, $375,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1399 SqFt
S 9th St., $374,900, 6 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1700 SqFt
Story Rd., $369,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1476 SqFt
Eulalie, $344,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1232 SqFt
Turley Ct., $324,900, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 1479 SqFt
N 17th St., $314,000, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1260 SqFt
Dixon Rd., $312,900, 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, 1085 SqFt

Best Tips to Get Your House in Tip Top Shape | RISMedia

As the all-important spring selling season approaches in an historically slow housing market, sellers need to do all they can to market their home - and that includes staging it to attract and “wow” potential buyers. Home stagers know just the right moves to take a house from bland to grand and bring home the biggest return on investment. “Attention to detail throughout the home can make the difference between a house that sells and one that sits on the market,” explains Kate Hart, one of America’s top home stagers and owner of Hart & Associates Staging & Design. 

“In particular, improvements to the kitchen and bath - the two rooms that sell a home - will always help bring in the buyers.”

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Featured Homes Near Lynrbook High 041009

Corvette Dr., $1,599,950, 5 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 2800 SqFt
Sharon Manor, $1,431,000, 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, 3101 SqFt
Castano Dr., $1,198,888, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2082 SqFt

Featured Bank Owned Properties 041009

Decatur Dr., $299,900, 3 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms, 960 SqFt
Platte River, $289,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1152 SqFt
Hiawatha, $284,900, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1353 SqFt
Amaryl Dr., $275,000, 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, 899 SqFt
Lyndale Ave., $274,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1667 SqFt
Pacina Dr., $269,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1200 SqFt
Azucar Ave., $259,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1290 SqFt
Poplar Dr., $237,445, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1542 SqFt
Gion Ave., $225,900, 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, 1038 SqFt
Beeman Dr., $220,000, 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, 887 SqFt

Bank Owned: 4572 Capitola Ave., San Jose, CA.

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Get your own

Create Your Own Dream Place! Beautiful Views! This Charming San Jose Home Features Updated Baths, Eat In Kitchen, Brick Fireplace, Inviting Pool/Backyard Perfect For Entertaining, Central Forced Air Heat, Wood Burning Fireplace In Living Room, Separate Family Room, Shower Over Tub, Composition Roof, 2 Car Garage, Easy Accessible To Shopping, Restaurant, Employment, Entertainment, Major Freeways, Don't Miss This Great Price! Not A Short Sale! Asking $369,900

Despite downturn, 2008 was record year for sales of high-end homes - San Jose Mercury News

By Sue McAllister

Mercury News

Posted: 04/05/2009 01:01:00 PM PDT

Last year was a grim time in the real estate market, wasn't it? Foreclosures, falling values, the credit crunch.

Nonetheless, in Santa Clara County more homes sold for $5 million or more than at any time since the dot-com-nirvana year of 2000. And in San Mateo County — home to luxury-home strongholds like Atherton and Woodside — it was a record-breaking year for sales of super-expensive castles.

Only in the final quarter of 2008 did the recession finally bite into the top end of the market, sending sales plummeting. While the super rich weathered the early days of the credit crisis far better than most, experts say, last fall's stock market crash drastically impaired their ability to snap up multi-million-dollar manses.

At least 31 homes in Santa Clara County and 60 in San Mateo County sold for $5 million or more in 2008, according to MDA DataQuick, which gathered the information from public records. There were probably even more such sales, the company said, because buyers and sellers of very expensive homes often opt to "hide" the price when their deeds are recorded.

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Featured Bank Owned Properties 040809

S 9th St., $199,900, 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, 1203 SqFt
N Cragmont, $199,500, 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, 1036 SqFt
Chrisland, $190,900, 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, 992 SqFt
Midfield Ave., $189,900, 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, 960 SqFt
Havana Dr., $189,050, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1040 SqFt
Balfour Dr., $166,900, 3 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms, 1075 SqFt
Rose Ave., $159,900, 2 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms, 1092 SqFt
Yew Tree Ct., $135,000, 3 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms, 1157 SqFt
Cinnamon Dr., $123,500, 2 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms, 1017 SqFt
Gum Tree Dr., $104,900, 2 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms, 1017 SqFt

Property for Sale: 1308 Cerro Verde, San Jose CA. 95120

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Get your own

Better Family Living ! This Beautiful Single Story 4 Bedrooms And 2 Bathrooms Home Has Excellent Floor Plan, Across From Almaden Meadows Park, Upgrades Include: New Kitchen Cabinets, Gas Hook Up Kitchen, Trash Compactor, Stainless Steel Appliances, Granite Counter Tops, Patio Door, French Doors, Central Air Conditioning, Central Forced Air Heat, Valley View And View Of Mountains, Beautifully Landscape Back Yard, Garden Windows, Entry Door, Interior Doors, Mostly Hardwood Floors, Double Pane Windows, Large Family Room, Spacious Living Room, Vaulted Ceilings, .New Paint, Newer Composition Roof, Automatic Sprinkler Front And Back, 2 Car Garage, What A Home ! asking $839,999

Spring Home Sales

Spring is the optimum time to sell a home. Regardless of whether it's a buyer's market or a seller's market, inventory almost always rises in the spring. Why? Because the largest number of buyers are actively searching for a new home during the months of April, May and June.

Tip: If your home has been languishing on the market since the holidays, take it off the market. Give it a chance to "cool down" for a few weeks before putting it back on the market. Nobody is going to look at your home in the spring if the DOM show it's been on the market for several months. Buyers gravitate toward fresh, new listings!

Here are 15 things you can do to improve the odds that your home will stand out among the sea of new listings flooding the spring-time real estate market:

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Featured Homes in Almaden Valley 040509

Seawood Way, $1,075,000, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2465 SqFt
Mcabee Rd., $1,074,000, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2450 SqFt
Big Talk Ct., $1,069,000, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2655 SqFt
Timberview, $948,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2233 SqFt
Medallion, $897,000, 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, 3479 SqFt
Strada Almaden, $799,888, 5 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2278 SqFt
Oakglen Way, $788,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1950 SqFt
Redmond Ave., $749,950, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1859 SqFt
Fiddletown Pl., $719,000, 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2454 SqFt
Cooperage Ct., $519,000, 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1124 SqFt

Featured Bank Owned Properties 040509

Plateau Dr., $475,000, 4 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 1787 SqFt
Hallbrook Dr., $469,900, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1407 SqFt
Flagler St., $459,900, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 1924 SqFt
Honey Dale, $439,900, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1861 SqFt
Rockway Dr., $429,000, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2428 SqFt
Muriel Ct., $424,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1645 SqFt
Drexel Wy., $414,900, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1703 SqFt
Tilton Ct., $402,800, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1618 SqFt
Pusateri Wy., $401,900, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1594 SqFt
Searcy Dr., $400,000, 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, 1180 SqFt

Featured Homes Near Monta Vista High 040409

Terra Bella, $1,528,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2255 SqFt
Castine Ave., $1,318,888, 5 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2440 SqFt
Linda Vista, $1,259,000, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1678 SqFt
Country Spring, $1,249,000, 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1956 SqFt
Lockwood Dr., $1,125,000, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1910 SqFt
Almaden Ave., $789,000, 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, 934 SqFt

Featured Bank Owned Properties 040409

Heron Ct., $384,900, 4 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 1615 SqFt
Avalani Ave., $379,000, 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1532 SqFt
Catamaran, $373,915, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 1637 SqFt
Manton Dr., $372,500, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 1664 SqFt
Carick Pl., $364,900, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1478 SqFt
Freya Dr., $342,500, 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 1431 SqFt
Canton Dr., $335,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1522 SqFt
E. Misson, $329,900, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1178 SqFt
Kinross Way, $329,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1417 SqFt
Vaughn Ave., $327,000, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1166 SqFt

Buying Foreclosed Homes: Be Careful

If you're looking for a great deal on a house, one option might be to purchase a home that's in foreclosure.

But Early Show financial contributor Vera Gibbons says the process isn't for everyone: It's complicated and fraught with potential stumbling blocks.

There's certainly no shortage of properties in or approaching foreclosure to pick from.

Some three million foreclosures are expected this year alone, according to the Web site RealtyTrac.com>, three-to-four times the usual number.

Prices usually range from 20 to 80 percent below market value, depending on where the house is located.

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Featured Homes Near Lynrbook High 040309

Oak Knoll, $1,748,000, 5 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, 4634 SqFt
Vicanna Dr., $1,099,950, 5 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1800, SqFt
Alderbrook, $899,888, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1300 SqFt
Danromas Way, $899,888, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1790 SqFt
Corvette Dr., $899,000, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1133 SqFt