Los Altos Short Sale Home Opportunity

Hurry - this is a very nice home in a great area of Los Altos. 1,220 square foot home, with 2 bedrooms & 2 baths offered at $1,150,000. Possible short sale situation, but may not be with the right offer. To break in to the Los Altos market at this price is rare. Call to see this great house and great opportunity.

Bank REO Apartment Building in Downtown Mountain View

Check out this great apartment building near downtown Mountain View. All 1 bedroom units. Offered at $1,415,000. The bank took this building back and will want to sell it soon. 4,076 square feet on an 8,276 lot. This could be a very good deal. Call to tour or to make an offer.

Westfield Oakridge Mall Short Sale Duplex San Jose

2291 square feet, 7,840 square foot lot, duplex, 3 bedroom, 2 bath owner's unit and 2 bedroom, 1 bath rental unit. Great location near Westfield Oakridge Mall and all the additional shopping areas at Blossom Hill and Santa Teresa Blvd. This wonderful duplex is listed at $750,000. It is a pre-foreclosure/short sale situation. This can be a very good investment deal in a strong San Jose location. Call for a tour and to make an offer on this great deal.

New Years Eve (Already!) and Real Estate Goals for 2008

Another fast and furious year is coming to an end. I have an additional climatic event nearby too - my 40th birthday at the end of January - big party to be announced! The end of the year and the end of a decade make me think about life. What have I accomplished? Where am I going? What do I want to achieve?
This afternoon, the immediate family and I are taking an afternoon break to write our goals for 2008 - appropriately or not - at the luxurious lobby of the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose. It would have been better at Hotel Valencia if they had anything that resembled a lobby! Hotel V - I love you - you know that.
Some say less than 10% of the population has ever written their goals. I find the process to be very rewarding. It also helps greatly to review these goals often. Daily is best. My company guru and CEO - Gino Blefari - sets a wonderful example of setting (and keeping) goals for his day, month, year and life.
Another effective strategy to achieving goals is to make your goals public - tell a friend, tell a stranger - strangers are much more honest than friends - tell your lover. So, in that light, here are a few of my goals for 2008:
1. Buy another rental home in the Bay Area.
2. Make my real estate blog rank in the top 50 in the country (currently at 110).
3. Teach at least 12 classes in 2008
4. Learn to snowboard as well as I can ski in the next 3 months (IE: not to bruise my butt!)
5. Take two one-week vacations with my kids and leave the BlackBerry OFF
6. Run a marathon with Team in Training in the summer - oh crap!- OK, yes, run a marathon.
I hope you all have a great 2008 - let me know what your goals are and let's achieve them together - Happy New Years!!!

Silver Creek Country Club Home for Sale

Come visit my stunning listing in Silver Creek Valley Country Club at 5230 Birkdale Way, San Jose, CA 95138. 4 bedrooms plus an office, 3 full baths and one half bath, black bottom pool and spa, two story vaulted ceilings in the dining and living rooms, former model home, valley views, large master suite, spacious kitchen, two car garage plus offset one car garage - perfect for the prized weekend sports car, over 3,100 square feet, just painted, great flooring, etc, etc, etc. Come check it out! This is the best deal within the gates of Silver Creek CC - $1,349,950

Evergreen Area Listing for $799,000

This gorgeous 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home is in the quiet Evergreen foothills of San Jose. This home was rebuilt in 1994 with custom improvements throughout. There is approximately 1,960 square feet of living space plus a large 2 car garage. It's conveniently located around the corner from Laurelwood Elementary - a blue ribbon school of distinction. This is truly a wonderful home to be enjoyed by a deserving family. Come and see for yourself. Offered at $799,000.
2632 Peartree Lane in San Jose

New listing located at 1061 S. Almaden

Very solid apartment investment property at the gateway of booming downtown San Jose. This well-located apartment building has been very well kept as well as upgraded over the last few years. All units have newer central HVAC systems, double pane windows, new doors and other upgrades. There is good parking for the building both in the front and back. Fully occupied investment property, great financing rates available - come look! Offered at a realistic $895,000

Gorgeous Home in West San Jose for $825,000

-4 bedrooms and 2 full baths
-Approximately 1,585 square feet of living space
-A thorough and stunning renovation was just completed
-Huge master suite with office adjacent and two large closets with organizing systems in the dressing area.
-Master bath with new spa tub, new tile floors & tile surround, new double sink vanity and stone vanity top with new faucets & light fixtures.
-Kitchen with large island, granite counters, all new Kenmore stainless steel appliances (side by side refrigerator, dishwasher, trash compactor, microwave, wall oven & 5 burner gas island stove top), custom cabinets with roll out drawers, 6 glass display doors, new sink & Price Pfister integrated spray faucet and herb garden window above sink.
-Central gas forced air heating and central air conditioning
-New Kenmore washer & dryer in garage
-Wood burning fireplace with gas starter, new tile face & skirting
-Skylights in both bathrooms, office and kitchen
-Dining area with custom built buffet, granite top & glass display doors
-All new sod, new trees, plants, sprinkler system front & back, tile front porch, painted rear patio and redwood bark ground cover.
-New six panel interior doors, new hardware throughout & new lighting
-Excellent Moreland Schools - Baker Elementary - a California Distinguished school, Moreland Middle & Prospect High School all nearby
-Nearby great shopping and dining at Westgate Mall and El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center
Call for a showing of this hot home

Manufactured Home in South San Jose for $159,000

You will love this spacious one year old home in a great park off Monterey Highway in San Jose. This home has many upgraded features which the owner added when it was built. The master suite and bath are gorgeous. Vaulted ceilings in the living room, kitchen and dining areas. 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths. Great access to highways 85 and 101, close to shopping centers and restaurants. Located at 6130 Monterey Highway Space 119 San Jose 95138. Call to see this great listing.

Single Family Home in San Jose for $415,000!

Just south of downtown San Jose is a very well priced home for sale. A 1940's 2 bedroom, 1 bath, with a partial basement and a 2 car garage for a virtually unheard of price of $415,000. It does need some tender loving care, although at that price it is well worth looking at. It also has a very decent lot size of over 6,000 square feet. Want to make your first entry into San Jose real estate? Or, how about a very good rental property? Call me to see this very fleeting opportunity.

Foreclosures San Mateo County & Santa Clara County

SAN MATEO COUNTY:

654 ORANGE ST, DALY CITY 3/2;1170 $655,250
1243 CARLTON AVE, MENLO PARK 2/1;980 $564,500
1311 SEVIER AVE, MENLO PARK 3/1;1020 $469,900

SAN FRANCISCO:

6 BRADFORD DR, SO. SAN FRANCISCO 3/1; 990 $632,500
930 MISSION, #38, SO. SAN FRANCISCO 2/2;1060 $383,900

SANTA CLARA COUNTY:

44 WASHINGTON SQUARE DR, MILPITAS 2/2;900 $349,900
2590 KNIGHTSBRIDGE LN, SANTA CLARA 3/2;1369 $515,900
2633 ALDERWOOD DR, SAN JOSE 4/2;1663 $539,900
1555 ALDRICH WAY, SAN JOSE 3/2;1220 $529,900
1076 CURTNER AVE, SAN JOSE 3/1.5;1635 $564,900
2503 EASTON PL #42, SAN JOSE 2/2;975 $289,900
1532 FLEDERMAUS, SAN JOSE 3/1;1176 $329,900
2989 FLORENCE AVE, SAN JOSE 2/1;896 $449,900
4970 GAZANIA DR, SAN JOSE 3/2;1384 $469,900
2640 LANIER LN, SAN JOSE 3/2;4791 $518,500
3266 LANTERN WAY, SAN JOSE 3/2;1152 $472,900
53 MILLAR AVE, SAN JOSE 2/1;1000 $503,900
699 N 14TH ST, SAN JOSE 2/1;1064 $427,900
556 N WHITE RD, SAN JOSE 6+/4+;3060 $689,900
1312 PEBBLE CT, SAN JOSE 2/2;1045 $389,900
3041 POSTWOOD DR, SAN JOSE 4/2;1361 $639,900
101 RANCHO DR #B, SAN JOSE 2/1;822 $294,900
951 S. 12TH ST #109, SAN JOSE 2/2;1130 $409,900
20 S. 20TH ST, SAN JOSE 3/2;1247 $519,900
1623 SAWGRASS DR, SAN JOSE 4/2.5;1786 $569,900
130 SKOWHEAGAN CT, SAN JOSE 3/2;1350 $527,900
1159 SPIRO DR, SAN JOSE 2/1;938 $400,000
127 SUTTER ST, SAN JOSE 2/1;928 $399,900
1451 TERILYN AVE, SAN JOSE 3/2;1178 $399,900
3025 THREE SPRINGS, SAN JOSE 5/3;4553 $1,398,900
792 WARRING DRIVE #3, SAN JOSE 2/1;903 $289,900

This is a list of some of the foreclosures we are tracking. If you want to work with us to acquire one of these great opportunities, please call or email.

The Chateau at Heavenly Village Condo/Hotel

There is a wonderful opportunity in South Lake Tahoe. The Chateau is a development by RockResorts which will doubtfully ever be duplicated. The Vail Company bought Heavenly mountain a few years ago. Since then, they have improved Heavenly to the caliber experienced at Vail. Their landmark new project is the Chateau. This is a condo/hotel project directly across from the Heavenly gondola. What is more impressive is the 71,000 square foot convention center that is integrated in the development. This is keep the condo/hotel occupancy higher that surrounding properties. Studio units which sleep 4 people will be priced just under $500,000 and one bedroom unit will be just under $700,000. Let me know if you want more info on this great opportunity. See you on the slopes!

Virtual Tour West San Jose Gorgeous Home

Check out the virtual tour of 2098 Arrowood Lane in San Jose. This 4 bedroom, 2 bath fully remodeled home is offered at a very reasonable $825,000. Open house this Saturday December 21st 1:30-4:30

Just Sold - 8 Units Mountain View

Recent sale worthy of note:

433 Ortega Avenue, Mountain View, CA
Sales price $1,620,000
$263 per square foot
GRM 13.8
Cap Rate 4.2% - if you really believe the expenses!
Unit mix: one 3/2, one 2/1 and six 1/1's

Strong location in Mountain View near Palo Alto and Los Altos. Built in 1962 on a 11,760 square foot lot.

This deal probably took 40+% down payment to break even.

Any comments fellow investors?

Sell Homes in the Holidays?

Most home sellers decide to sell their homes in the Spring. This is the "selling season" when the market is the best - right? Maybe and no. Reality is historically sellers get the highest percentage of asking price between Thanksgiving and New Years Eve. Why? A lot of sellers who could not sell their homes in the fall will let their listings expire toward the end of the year, waiting again for the Spring. Many other sellers will not list their homes because they don't want to be bothered by people traipsing through their homes during the holidays. The pool of buyers declines too, although the buyers who are truly motivated to buy a home remains constant. This see-saw of buyers and sellers nets out to more motivated buyers with less choices and hence better results for sellers. So sometimes you may ask, why wait?

Open House Saturday and Sunday 1:30pm-4:30pm

Come and see this gorgeous house located at 2098 Arrowood Lane in San Jose, CA 95130
this weekend from 1:30pm-4:30pm both Saturday and Sunday.... Look forward to seeing you there....




-4 bedrooms and 2 full baths
-Approximately 1,585 square feet of living space
-A thorough and stunning renovation was just completed
-Huge master suite with office adjacent and two large closets with organizing systems in the dressing area.
-Master bath with new spa tub, new tile floors & tile surround, new double sink vanity and stone vanity top with new faucets & light fixtures.
-Kitchen with large island, granite counters, all new Kenmore stainless steel appliances (side by side refrigerator, dishwasher, trash compactor, microwave, wall oven & 5 burner gas island stove top), custom cabinets with roll out drawers, 6 glass display doors, new sink & Price Pfister integrated spray faucet and herb garden window above sink.
-Central gas forced air heating and central air conditioning
-New Kenmore washer & dryer in garage
-Wood burning fireplace with gas starter, new tile face & skirting
-Skylights in both bathrooms, office and kitchen
-Dining area with custom built buffet, granite top & glass display doors
-All new sod, new trees, plants, sprinkler system front & back, tile front porch, painted rear patio and redwood bark ground cover.
-New six panel interior doors, new hardware throughout & new lighting
-Excellent Moreland Schools - Baker Elementary - a California Distinguished school, Moreland Middle & Prospect High School all nearby
-Nearby great shopping and dining at Westgate Mall and El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center

New Home for Sale in San Jose - Completely Renovated

2098 Arrowood Lane, San Jose--Gorgeous remodel. Interior, exterior, landscaping, etc. Huge master suite, new bathroom with spa tub. 4th bedroom is office off of master suite. Double pane windows, tile roof, new landscaping, interior paint, hardwood floors just refinished, new textured walls, etc. This home is stunning. Great area too. Baker Elementary - A California Distinguished School - is walking distance. Listed at $825,000

Short Sale Opportunity on Magnificent Home Near Silver Creek

This stunning 6 bedroom 5.5 bath, approximately 5,000 square foot home is a very good value. It is the largest home in Bel-Aire! The home has spectacular views, professionally designed landscaping, beautiful stonework and a wonderful gazebo.
Call me if you would like to tour this gorgeous home with a great price. Offered at $1,999,999.

Monte Sereno (Los Gatos Schools) Short Sale

This wonderful location Monte Sereno home has great potential. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3,480 square feet on over 1 acre lot for $1,500,000. This is a short sale. There were offers on this home, yet it is not too late. A deal with the bank can still happen. Call me to view your best opportunity in the Los Gatos area.

Short Sale in Saratoga's Golden Triangle

This beautifully remodeled home is on a quiet cul-de-sac, 10,454sf lot in the prestigious Golden Triangle area of Saratoga. 1966 square feet, gorgeous pool and spa, great lot, excellent roof, remodeled, upgraded, etc. This home has it all. It's a pre foreclosure short sale and is a very good opportunity. Call to tour soon.

Great Short Sale Opportunity in Almaden Valley

This is a wonderful tri-level home in a great neighborhood of Almaden Valley. The home has a good layout, floorplan and lot. It does need some TLC to make it perfect though. Offered at $858,000, this is a very good value for its location and size. It is a short sale and the price could be negotiated better too, depending on what the bank is willing to do. Let me show you this great home.

360 Residences - New High Rise Condos Downtown San Jose

Another dramatic building in downtown San Jose. This building will put you in the heart of downtown San Jose next to the Fairmont Hotel and walking distance to all the restaurants, clubs and theatres. This is a landmark building designed by the same group which developed One Rincon Hill in San Francisco. The sales center is located at 170 S. Market Street. Call us for a tour.

City Heights San Jose Condo High Rise

Great incentive program right now for the impressive San Jose condos at City Heights in downtown San Jose. Up to $50,000 for upgrades, price buy downs, interest rate buy downs, closing costs, property taxes and more. The building is located at 175 W. St. James Place, San Jose. Great location walking distance to San Pedro Square and West Santa Clara Street. Check out the views from the penthouse units - absolutely stunning! Barry Swenson has done it again in San Jose. Units priced from the $400s to over $1.5M for the penthouse units. Call us to tour.

4,486 Single Family Residences on the Market as Active Listings
725 SFRs "in escrow"
6.2 months of inventory

1,527 condo/townhouses active
269 "in escrow"
5.7 months of inventory

The number of listings is starting to decline over the last 3 weeks for SFRs and over the last 5 weeks for condo/townhouses in Santa Clara County.

Great Time for Europeans Buying in the US

This is a wonderful opportunity for Europeans to use the strength of the Euro to buy real estate assets in the US. Many destination cities such as New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and even Las Vegas are seeing a strong influx of European buyers. If the Dollar is historically low, then when it adjusts back to a normal trading range, these US homes will make very good exchange rate returns. The homes don't even have to go up in value for Europeans to win in this situation. Of course, real estate values will rise over the next few years as we get out of the sub-prime mortgage situation - a key reason why our dollar is so weak now. That double whammy (a true real estate term) will make huge returns for foreign investors. Any Germans, Dutch or Brits reading this?