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Mr Sing Dao Contest 2011
Recently I encouraged my son Gene to enter the Mr Sing Tao Contest 2011.  At first, he had no idea of what it was and after he googled it, his comment was this was really si-si.  Anyway, he noticed my response and how happy I was picturing him enter into the competition and agreed to try.
I remembered one famous Hong Kong actor once said at the Prize Award Ceremony,” if I were the winner, the competition was very fair, if not, it was not.”  I 100% agreed to this point of view.  Who won as the Mr Sing Dao was very subjective to the judges but who won the Mr Physical, however, was very objective.  Gene has been working out everyday for the past few years in preparation for his “fighter dream” and this led him to get his first award of Mr Physical.  He had completed the 3 different physical trial and had been the champion on the first two, lifting the most up within 30 seconds the heavy ball and jumped the most times on the heavy rope in 30 seconds (I had counted for him, of course).  I was so happy that he enjoyed it and I enjoyed it.
It had taken up a lot of time for rehearsal etc. but I would say this was also a very positive experience.  He told me that he did not have stage fright or maybe he had conquered that.  He is also the final 3 competitors in the talent competition.  He performed playing drum but did not perform well enough.  Maybe the set up time was too short (1 minute allowed for setting up the whole drum set) and Gene had to move his stool in the middle of the performance.  Anyway, according to his knowledge, all competitors would only win one prize and since he already won the Mr Physical, he could not be Mr Talent.
Mr Sing Dao, 2011 Nathan Ng
The Mr. Sing Tao came out to be the guy who posted the not so good looking picture in the newspaper (not photogenic, maybe).  However, I knew that he had prepared well and had been very thoughtful.  He gave one dozen roses to the audience during the cat walk and had answered the question tactfully and humorously (has the ability to entertain the audience which is the essence of this kind of competition).  I also have to praise Mr Talent, Grant Lim.  He had joined the Mr Sing Dao Contest 2010 but still came back to try the second time.  He must have a lot of confidence in himself.  I like this “not giving up” attitude.
Mr Talent, Grant Lim
On the whole, I would say this is a fair competition as I totally have no relationship with Sing Tao Newspaper or Sing Tao Radio Chanel.

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The tuition fee for overseas student at the public or private universities could range 3 to 10 times of the local students with American identity.  However, if these overseas student gain  their local identity by becoming an investor immigrant, the fee they saved for those 4 years tuition could be as much as their minimum investment amount which is $500,000 easily.  Worth it or not?
Let us take a look.  The immigration attorneys typically will charge 10% of the total investment which maybe justified as they have to follow up with the process for up to 3 year long.  However, looking at the current real estate market, many properties had fallen to the 2000 level.  Again this have to be dependent on the location.
Lafayette is a  prestigous district that is only half an hour drive from UC Berkeley.  The medium price of Lafayette has dropped 23% from the year of 2006.  In the year 2006, the medium price is $16,141,000 and in the year 2011, the medium price is $1,240,000 and the lowest possible sold price is $820,000 which is never possible to find in the year 2006.
Overseas investors:  maybe this is your golden chance to invest in America NOW.

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Hello my dear readers, please answer the following questions without peeking the answers first.
1.  Short Sale means the selling price is shorter than the seller’s loan amount, yes or no?
2.  Short Sale takes a longer time to process because it involves more than the seller’s decision, yes or no?
3.  Short Sale requires seller’s lender’s approval and this decision usually means the Bank, yes or no?
4.  The sold price of Short Sale property is lower than the fair market value, yes or no?
5.  Fair market value means the selling price of similar properties sold in similar locations within 3 months, yes or no?
6.  The parties involve in the Short Sale are: sellers, listing agents, buyers, buyer’s agents, seller’s lending institution, yes or no?
Do you get all yes?  So did I before I attended the Short Sales Seminar hosted by Chinese Real Estate Associationof America (CREAA) and presented by Elena Celestine of Bank of America today.
The answer to question no. 3 is no because while most people think that the seller’s bank has the major power to decide whether to approve the short sale transaction, in reality, the bank is only a third party who carry out the instructions from the investors behind the loan.   This also explain the complex communication path.  The listing agent has to negotiate with the “loan mitigation department” of the bank but the assigned negotiator is usually only a middle person and has to pass the information  to the investors.  Therefore, this is an extremely complex negotiation and it is more than what ordinary people think in the communication path.
The answer to question no.4 is yes and no.  Technically all sellers will not want their properties sold below fair market price and so do the seller’s lender.  However, market price is very dynamic and is determined by many factors.  Therefore, not only short sale properties, but all properties can be sold at market price, below market price or above market price.  Basically short sale properties and real estate own properties will involve more than one formal appraisals – one from the seller’s lender and one from the buyer’s lender.
The answer to question 6 is no because at least one more party will be involved, that is the investors.
1. yes    2. yes    3. no    4. yes or no    5. yes    6. no

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It is too easy to feel blue, down, discouraged and think in a negative way.  Whenever this is going to happen to me, I will turn myself to my “Happy Diary” .  I would brainstorm everything that I should feel happy about and write them down.
Here are a few things that I can easily think of.  Let me give you an example of today.
1.  It is a sunny day with clear sky, blue sky, white cloud.
2.  I have more clothes that I need whenever I open my closet, how rich am I.
3.  My kids are growing and they are healthy.
4.  I spare some time practice “Tai Chi”.
5.  I really look at least 10 years younger and I feel at least 20 years younger.
How about you?  What is your today’s happy diary?
I am a “happy” real estate agent who can help you move into a happy home.  Please feel free to visit or contact me.
Thank you for checking in.