Posted by: WGx

31/07/08

Someone died in that house! Okay, it is an odd topic, I know … Fifty years ago, it was normal for people to die in their homes and the buyer that subsequently purchased that house had no concerns about it (if it was even disclosed — disclosures 50 years ago is a whole different topic!). Today, buyers are leery of buying a home someone died in. Even if it was natural causes. Does this indicate society has superstitions, a fear of ghosts or a just a general fear of death? (You know, you are not getting out of this life alive right??). DSC00966I recently went on a broker tour of my local area of San Jose, Willow Glen, and we toured a house that had two recent deaths in the home. The first died of natural causes and the second died from a heroine overdose. Both were non violent deaths. Even as we were about to go through the house with over 40 ‘live’ agents, I heard comments from people who did not want to go in the house. That heightened my awareness and I tried to use my best psychic abilities and see if I could feel anything. Although I did not feel or see anything unusual it was a topic of discussion for about 15 minutes before and after seeing the house. During those discussions, I learned that the house nearby also had a recent death in it. That makes the count 3 deaths and I heard some people say, ‘well death comes in three’s so the bad luck has passed.” To be honest, I would be a bit uncomfortable purchasing a house that someone had died in, and I shyly admit to being a bit superstitious. Would you buy a house someone had recently died in? Do you think a death in the house should result in a lower asking price? Why do you think disclosing a death in the home is such a hot topic? Holly Barr - Your Favorite Realtor WGx wants to know what percentage of WG homes could be haunted by a previous occupant’s at-home death … Someone died in that house and still we’re overpriced?

Posted by: hollybarr

I am sure you know people who check out open houses for a hobby…realtors refer to them as lookiloos. Some of my buyers have converted into lookiloos because they really enjoy looking at homes and cannot seem to stop. Almost like I was the drug dealer getting them their first hits aka, getting them into some homes that met their criteria and they were hooked! Once escrow closed they could not stop looking and they will cruise the streets on the weekends looking for another hit (aka open house).

The nosey neighbor

Some people are simply nosey or more accurately enjoy the voyeurism of looking how other people live. Others are looking for remodeling ideas or that perfect fireplace. Others are looking for their dream home and enjoy picking a house apart. If they find one they cannot pick apart, they might just have to buy it!

Do you like to look at houses? Are you addicted? What are you looking for?

Personally, I see huge value in lookiloos and here are my Top Three Reasons lookiloos are a good thing!

1) They are often talking positively about real estate

2) They may see something that catches their attention and tell a friend that is looking for a home

3) They help agents with pricing. If a property is not priced well, a lookiloo will not only still come and see the home, they will often give honest and knowledge based feedback

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Posted by: Julia sulek

29/07/08

Landscape Do's and Don'ts with Irving Tamura Irving Tamura of Tamura Designs has a long history of setting a California outdoor ambience for Sunset Magazine. Tamura has been featured in numerous Sunset Idea Houses, including this one in San Jose. His office in a remodeled carriage house is on The Alameda in San Jose's Rose Garden neighborhood. Lookiloos had a chance to catch up with Tamura to ask his advice on starting a garden plan: Lookiloos: What are the do's and don'ts when starting a landscape plan? Irving Tamura: Here's my list of the Do’s. 1.Start with a theme (the big idea). Italian Tuscan country garden, Butter fly garden, French formal etc. 2. Start collecting photos from magazines, take picture of gardens that you like that connect with your theme. 3. Start to educate yourself on the style of garden. The resources are endless through the internet. 4. Study the areas that you are landscaping as far as sun, shade, wind, privacy issues (screening), vistas to preserve, sound issues. 5. Make a list of features you desire in the garden. Water features, pool, patios, arbors, vegetable garden, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, lighting _ the list could be endless. 6. Develop a master landscape plan that pulls together all the landscaped areas. Landscape Do's and Don'ts with Irving Tamura - Patio The Don’ts 1. Don’t sacrifice comfort and functionality for aesthetics. Contact Irving Tamura at his San Jose office at 408-279-0296.Landscape Do's and Don'ts with Irving Tamura - Pool
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Posted by: WGx

27/07/08

Local Realtor Holly Barr – hey! I’ve heard of her – and Willow Glen PAL Soccer are teaming up to host a special community Safety Fair on Saturday, August 16, at River Glen Park. Along with the soccer league’s festive “Pre-Season Games,” the entire community is invited to meet representatives of the SJ Fire Department, K-9 unit and the SJPD Mounted Police Unit – yes, the horses and doggies! AND MANY MANY MORE! SafetyFairPAL

Posted by: WGx

26/07/08

Realtor Holly Barr continues her ongoing WGx column with a twist this time around. During a quiet week for the home tour, she instead brings word of a Produce Exchange hosted by neighbors in the Rosegarden area: Highlights of July 17, 2008 Willow Glen Realtor Tour Tricky to find a theme this week. I did see a lot of unusual homes. Just for the record if your third bedroom does not have a closet it is not a bedroom. Also, if your third bedroom is in a separate structure, like a garage, appraisers state that it is technically not a 3 bedroom house. I recommend you put a clear description of where that bedroom is. RoseGardenProduceExchangePictureOn a neighborhood update note I went to the first neighborhood produce exchange. Well, the neighborhood was Rose Garden, but we are all neighbors right? Anyway, gotta love the idea. Basically you bring some produce in 2 to 4 lbs. bags between 4:00 and 7:00 and Cass has a table in her front yard. You trade what you brought for a mixture of the items other people brought. I brought two bags of large nectarines, I walked away with a big zucchini, some apples, plums and lemons. All organic and fresh let me know if you want to exchange produce next month. Here are some interesting numbers about this past week in Willow Glen’s real estate scene:
  • 10 sales last two weeks in area 10 (Mostly 95125)
  • 229 active listings in Willow Glen this week 7/17/08
210 active listings is the gold standard for a sign of a healthy market for this area. The fact that we are consistently in the 230-240 range indicates Willow Glen to be a stable market. If you ever have any questions about what I put here, or would like to see me take a different approach with this weekly summary of the tour, please let me know! Holly Barr - Your Favorite Realtor

Posted by: hollybarr

24/07/08

If you are going to call it a third bedroom, that bedroom has to be INSIDE the house... Just for the record if your third bedroom does not have a closet it is not a bedroom. Also, if your third bedroom is in a separate structure, like a garage, appraisers state that it is technically not a 3 bedroom house. I recommend you put a clear description of where that bedroom is. Here are some interesting numbers about this past week in Willow Glen’s real estate scene: • 10 sales last two weeks in area 10 (Mostly 95125) • 229 active listings in Willow Glen this week 7/17/08 210 active listings is the gold standard for a sign of a healthy market for this area. The fact that we are consistently in the 230-240 range indicates Willow Glen to be a stable market. Every Thursday I attend a realtor tour of all the new listings in Willow Glen. It’s a great way for realtors like me to stay on top of the market.. The tour is organized by Mike Gains of REMax, and usually includes 25-50 realtors. Every week I’ll report back on highlights from this tour – a summary of what’s going on in the Willow Glen market, exceptional new listings, stuff like that. If you ever have any questions about what I put here, or would like to see me take a different approach with this weekly summary of the tour, please let me know!

Posted by: admin

12/07/08

The theme this week seems to be YARDS!! There were some beautiful yards on tour this week! While it was hot and you did not really want to be outside at all, it does help to have something very pretty to look at (and a cool drink in your hand). Realtors on tour often offer cool drinks and food to help us stay longer at a house and to help us remember a house–nothing calls to memory like a yummy snack or a free lunch! First up was 1018 Carolyn Way for $1,129,000. Cute charming house with lots of fun details throughout. The yard was mostly behind the garage. Once you got to the yard, it was like an English garden. Many of us said how nice it would be to have a small wedding back there! Sorry I did not get a picture for you on that one! Next up was 656 Palm Haven Ave. for $1,699,000. Gotta love the Palm Haven area being close to downtown and such an exclusive yet community feel… and this jem is in the HEART of it! Nice house with upper end appliances and custom (read expensive) touches throughout. Soapstone counters and titanium appliances

656 Palm Haven't gorgeous kitchen.

The yard was out of a magazine. It has built in heaters and fans.

656 Palm Haven's awesome patio

Of course the best house on the market right now is my listing at 1460 Kiner Ave. $949,950 between Cherry and Plummer. Talk about a yard… HUGE park-like yard with music, landscape lights and a playground. It is a ranch style house is very family friendly with some nice upgrades on a tree lined WIDE street.

Kiner Backyard

What is your favorite house on the market right now? Here are some interesting numbers about this past week in Willow Glen’s real estate scene: · 22 sales last two weeks in area 10 (Mostly 95125) · 215 active listings in Willow Glen this week 6/28/08 210 active listings is the gold standard for a sign of a healthy market for this area. The fact that we are consistently in the 230-240 range indicates Willow Glen to be a stable market.