Roots2RealEstate

San Jose Mercury News put out a call to action today with their article entitled

“Flaws In System Take Human Face”, by Joe Rodriguez. Now Joe’s article does aim to pull on the old emotional heartstrings 

http://www.mercurynews.com/joerodriguez

I find the timing of this article fitting in two ways.

The holidays are biting at our heels; it is a time we should think about others rather than ourselves.  I guess a sort of insurance of making sure my name pops up on the “Nice List” before I make those self proclaimed affrimations for the new year.

Ironically, this has been on my mind most recently when in starting the Almaden Valley Moms Group last week.  I want to be connected to a group that’s compassionate and willing to teach their children the art of giving selflessly.  Not more than two days after posting an idea about my “Heat Some Feet” - sock drive on Meetups.com, Joe’s article is center stage in Monday’s Valley section of the San jose Mercury newspaper and hits it right to home about how many homeless fall through the cracks when it comes to our over-burdend system of dealing with the homeless in San Jose.  

Now my life has not been directly in contact with such individuals living on the streets, but that’s about to change.

I thought it might help that each time the Almaden Valley Mom’s group gets together they could bring a pair (or more) of clean unused socks with them to donate to the cause of “Heat Some Feet” this winter.  On or around Dec. 20th, 2007 - I will go out and hand out the collection of new socks to several of the homeless shelters here in San Jose. If you’d like to participate in anyway, contact me - let’s Heat Some Feet this winter, for I am sure it is going to be a chilly one.

If you know me personally, then you know I’m deeply compassionate about serving others.  An opportunity for me to step up my creative thought process and design something more than just promotional materials for my real estate business has arrived. 

Since the help of www.DomusConsulting.com , my eyes are now focused on something I have been looking for my whole life.  The ease of Social Web 2.0.

My two most favorite sites out there right now, both are free to use.

www.MeetUp.com

and

www.Freecycle.com

Wow, not just one but two web sites that help shake things up socially and economically.  Learn from others at MeetUp.com and gather everything you need from Freecycle.com these two sites can and will be benefical when doing any type of project.   

For example, I’ve been planning my son’s two year old B-Day Party, coming up Nov 17th.  I picked a theme, made my list of needs, and set out two months ago collecting items from Freecycle - so far I’ve only spent only $10. on the cost of materials building a make believe farm for the kids to play with.  So easy to do with some imagination and planning; I’m so looking forward to this day!

I also have been mapping out my 2008 Business Life goals - I’ll post for feedback in another blog.  Part of it, I’ve been really doing some soul-searching wanting to connect with others moms and make new girlfriends.  That’s when I discovered MeetUp.com

Now I’m the proud moderator of a group for some lovely ladies living nearby me. 

Alamden

For a casual gathering to bond and grow with.

“We all get busy, but never to busy to share”

Most events are at no cost, and include:

• A drop-in meet-up time with the kids playing, and moms discussing interesting topics they want to know more about.  Bring healthy snacks if you want to share.  Everyone is welcome. No cost, just bring a positive outlook. 

• On occasion there will be invited guest speakers and we may have some workshops and forums discussing hot topics that are on the minds of its members.

• A mini book club where each member shares about a book they just finished reading. 

• Have a “date night” co-op babysitting for parents that would like to participate (though not mandatory)

• Have a girls night out once a month (could be used for working on an art project together, getting pedicures together, or we could all go out and see a chick-flick or have lunch together – it will vary on what the majority of its members would like to do together.   

• Baby and I retreat for a day events – going to places of interest together, walking in the park together, an art day, the possibilities are endless!   

• Heat Some Feet - Sock Drive - Let’s come together with purpose.  Bring clean, unused socks for the homeless each time we meet, lso we may teach our children the value of giving selflessly. Socks to be donated around Dec 20th. 2007.  

• A Baby Gear Swap Meet.  Participates can sell off their unused items.  

 As for my Blossom Valley and Santa Teresa neighbors our door is open to you as well. 

Many of our outings will be at or near Almaden Lake Park. 

An email is circulating out there regarding the safety spots to go during an earthquake. An email with advice from a man named Doug Copp, which apparently is a man being scutinized about his knowledge and past experiences.  Some even go as far as call him the ambulance chaser of big disasters. 

Already bloggers like “I Speak of Dreams” (Which reminds me of the title of the Sandman comic novels, that brings back memories̷ writes about the email and claims of Doug Copp.  http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2004/10/doug_copp_iii.html

 I especially liked the comment given by one of I Speak of Dreams  fellow fan, I think he laid it out (yes, pun intended) best:

Next time it rains, set up a table outside. Have your friend get under the table and you stand out in the rain. See who gets wet.

Now imagine the rain as rocks falling. Where do you want to be in an earthquake under the table or out in the rain?

Posted by: Dave | Monday, September 05, 2005 at 06:45 PM

It’s funny to me the reactions I’ve heard from people since our fault line gave out a big burp.  Some folks were calm, cool, and collected, headed to a door’s threshold or a load baring wall and then after the ground stopped shaking, went on with their nightly routine; and for some others it was a jolt to the memory and their gut.  As for some others that I know, it was a first time riding on what California is known and famous for.  Yes, this would include myself; I’ve slept through another so I don’t count that one!

After I calmed by boys and girls down, I headed around the property in search of any water leaks or cracks in my stucco or pool.  Then headed to my furnaces and gas meter to test out my trusted nose for any gas leaks.  As I stood in front of the gas meter I realized that I really didn’t know for sure how to A.) detect for a gas leak and B.) exactly how to turn off my main valve lines if there was one.  The next day I went out onto the live wire Internet and started a search.  Here’s what I came up with.  I hope it inspires you to be better prepared when the earth moves again. 

This link is to a a site that is specific to the S.F. Bay Region and offers a handbook on what to do in case of a major disaster like an earthquake:  

http://www.pge.com/safety/prepare_natural_disasters/earthquakes/sites_publications/usgs_earthquake_handbook/contents.html

A link to PG&E’s website on how to turn off your gas at the meter and other helpful tips:

http://www.pge.com/safety/prepare_natural_disasters/earthquakes/gas_shutoff_devices/index.html

 New news when it comes to the CA broadcasting system;  A bill to be passed allowing major cell phone carriers to send out to cell phones a warning signal when disaster strikes.  Read more and sign up for your carrier’s workshops at: 

http://www.oes.ca.gov/Operational/OESHome.nsf/ALL/7A99C56B83C24B4788257339005BD548?OpenDocument

A handy all-in-one tool created by a retired firefighter. As well as a great tip on how to detect a gas leak:

  http://www.survivalinstinct.com/shutoffvalve.html

A hefty survival checklist:

http://www.survivalinstinct.com/surcheclis.html 

Learn how to strengthen existing structures and also how and where to build when you live in Northern California’s earthquake country:

http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/prepare/index.html

Red Cross website, need to say more? 

http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_583_,00.html

Best site of all!  A cool world map displaying all seismic activities taking place around the world!  Check out the interesting activity happening else where on the same day that our earthquake (and Oct 31st’s aftershock) happened:  

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

HASUS Earthquake Loss Estimator, You have damage - now what?

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/hz_eq.shtml

One final thought, I couln’t help but think of my neighbors right after we experienced the earthquake.  I realized through this experience that I must get to know all my elderly neighbors or single residents and call upon them after an earthquake just to see if they are o.k. too.  I strive to be a good neighbor by shutting off their home’s gas and water in a major quake, and also check on my neighbors, and to comfort them if needed.  The life I save could be my own as well.

Oh Boy, Let me tell you about my last two deals!
It’s a very difficult time right now to be the agent who has to set the new unfavorable benchmark price for a neighborhood.  In both my deals the scenario was that the buyers were putting more than the typical $100,- down, and both buyers are savvy investors.   However, they both felt certain the market has already come down 40%, and offered very, very low ball offers.  Both my sellers were flat out insulted that they were hit with such a big gap in value from homes similar to theirs that sold just a short 2 months ago.   For both deals, I was able to negotiate a 20,- difference between both parties, & both  wanted to walk away from the deal. 

It’s a funny market - some people negotiate with the thought that it will, or already has, hit the dreaded economic forcasters predictions regarding a loss in home values; while others think this area of Silicon Valley will bounce back faster, economically speaking, verses over the nation, and may not go up in price but won’t lose as much value either in popular neighborhoods.  As sellers don’t want to be the ”evil one”  that brings the neighborhood down, buyers don’t want to be the “biggest losers” at buying a home that will come down in price either.  

Buyers need to remember that the only ones that have full control over neighborhood values are them.  They are the ones solely responsible for setting a fair market value with the price they are willing to pay for a home in any given neighborhood.    Therefore you’d think buyers may not want to bid so low, so that the neighborhood retains a bit of its price stickiness ceiling. 

As with doing appraisals, the last sold comparable is a key element in determining a property’s worth.  One property sale can have a domino effect in an average looking neighborhood.  One home sold way below market is all that is needed to get it started, and will set the bar down a couple of notches. 

I truly believe when it comes to deciding on what price to pay for a home one must  compare different neighborhoods and consider all factors, including those properties around the subject property, down the street from it, and up to the major streets accessing that particular neighborhood.  If the majority of the neighbors have done some big remodeling projects, lawns and landscaping is kept up, and the home is in a choice location, then it only seems fair that a home with quality upgrades deserves to retain its equity position.  However, if a neighborhood is fair and is filled with original condition homes, junky cars are on the street, and has a lot of homes that are rentals, then these neighborhoods should not be selling for $800,- and need to be brought back down to reality. 

To just blanket San Jose and say 40% drop all over in prices, makes no sense to me - determining a particular micro market for each neighborhood with some of the tips above is the key to buying a home that’s  a sound investment in any market.   

Buyers if the home has quality upgrades, in superior condition and is in a choice location, please try not to add insult to injury by giving a  low blow offer to the sellers as your first initial offer price, be reasonable and have facts that support your offer.  For example, if you are willing to buy a home listed at $870,- and your bottom line price is $830,-, don’t come in with a $780,- offer.  Sellers are offended right from the start and you have not painted a positive picture about yourself in convincing them to sell you their home.  Other sellers are emotionally wrapped up in price and are concerned of offending any longtime friends/neighbors.  That shouldn’t effect price but it is one of the emotional responses I’m hearing right now from sellers. 

It helps to use an agent who is well hearsed in negotiation, that can get a listing agent and a seller to understand why your offer is at the price it is at.  I’m tired of hearing agents quote ”because the forecast is predicting it so”!  Give concrete proof, use your offer price and the factors like repairs and neighborhood condition to explain your price stategy.   

I remember this same occurrence around 1989…. Anybody with me? Real estate moves in cycles and roughly this valley experiences two year intervals.  That will be another post for another time.