Realty World – BLUE | Property Group, Inc.

HELLLOOOO My Most Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area!!…  The “Question of the Day” is … Are you sure your realtor is licensed to do business?
Most sellers, buyers, soon to be in the market consumers and yes even fellow realtors probably don’t think too much about the licensing status of the agents they work with! And we all should know!! In fact its crucial to know… why would you work with someone who isnt licensed, why would you work with someone who has been disciplined or has complaints placed on his/her record?… As with everything else in life we must scrutinize the who, what and whys which includes “making sure your realtor is licensed and current” when it comes to working closely with that person regarding your home or any kind of property and where a huge amount of your life and money  is involved… Use a Licensed Realtor!
Jim Malmberg wrote a very insightful article on why its important to know the status of the realtor you work with…please take a minute to read it… and enlighten yourselves… http://bit.ly/A5hHlw
(the DRE – Department of Real Estate License Lookup link is inside Jim’s article… its FREE to use…do yourselves a favor and do this…)

HELLLOOOO My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area!… Its a bright sunny day in our neck of the woods today…  I know many of you out there are searching and searching the awesome world of the internet for the best “deals” available in your chosen areas, including # of bedrooms, # of baths, square feet, space for parking your cars, space for play and gardening and the best absolute best (most rock bottom) list price possible!!… Tell the truth… you are right??  Of course you are!!… In this “down” market we’re in… why wouldnt you?… if you’ve spend any decent amount of searching online… you must also be wondering why those doggone listings at places like Trulia, Zillow etc… always have properties posted that are no longer available, have gone pending, have sold and not just sold but sold perhaps years ago, or perhaps they’re not actually on the market at all… the following is a partial explanation…

Trulia: Problems with real estate listings info are pervasive (INFOGRAPHIC) | Inman News
Source: inman.com
Survey shows accuracy is key priority for consumers, industry pros. A real estate data-quality study released by online portal Trulia found that about 69 percent of errors in online real estate listings information were directly related to third-party syndication of information by non-multiple listing service sources. The company reviewed about 1.2 million listings from about 250 data sources during the third quarter and found about 120,000 inaccuracies in listings information. More than half (51 percent) of those inaccurate listings had errors in price, 41 percent had status errors, and 8 percent had errors in both price and status.


My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area… please keep the above in mind as you search the internet … when you’re ready to make that “decision to purchase”… please do yourself a major favor and enlist the help of a Licensed Realtor who can assist you every step of the way and provide you with bonafide “real time properties for sale” … properties that best fit your parameters…
Trust me… Licensed Realtors are here to guide you and assist you in everyway possible to help you get that home you’re looking for…  you can be assured they abide by the Code of Ethics… if they belong to the NAR (National Association of Realtors)… If you dont know how to find a good licensed realtor I’ll be happy to help you find one…


Cheers to you and Happy Searching…

HELLLLOOOO My Wonderful Beautiful Bay Area… Those of you who have enjoyed taking certain deductions yearly… be forewarned… certain tax benefits will be going up up and away… (the article below comes from Inman News)… please make your notes and be sure to take what you can before they disappear…
Real Estate Tax Talk. There are several tax credits and deductions set to expire at the end of the year, and given the federal deficit problem, there’s a good chance they won’t be extended. If you want to take advantage of them, you need to act before Jan. 1, 2012. Mortgage insurance premium deduction If you itemize deductions, you may deduct the premiums you pay for mortgage insurance, just like you do mortgage interest. However, this deduction is phased out if your income exceeds certain levels. To qualify for the full deduction, a couple or a single taxpayer must have an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less. The deduction is phased out completely if AGI exceeds $109,000. For further details go ahead and check out the full article…click open the hyperlink below…
http://shar.es/oh6zE

HELLLOOOOO My Wonderful, Beeeeauuutiful Bay Area… Tis the Season!!…

No matter how you look at it…there are legions of consumers getting ready for their annual “holiday shopping”… O Joy!! Personally have been there many times, done that many times and am finally very comfortable at my very comfortable age not participating in all the planning, crush of traffic, lack of parking, stress of finding the right gift or not, staying within a reasonable budget or not, skipping meals to get all the shopping done, sore feet and body aches, bundling up to stay warm from the chill outside but oooops peel off once inside to stay cooool… too much stuff to carry…
Life is so much simpler and happier these days not participating… but that’s just me…

For all of you who love all of the trappings and traditions the holidays bring… who truly enjoy “holiday shopping”… hitting the malls everywhere… please beware of the 8 Germiest Places in the Mall…
http://bit.ly/rQJBXb
There’s really some true advantages to “Online Shopping”!!… LOL
Take Care – Stay Well – Enjoy The Season with Happiness and Love!!

San Francisco is a multi-cultural city full of immigrants from all over the world.  Like many other Chinatown all over the world, the Chinatown at San Francisco is within a few minutes walk from downtown San Francisco where major headquarters and offices located.  This town is a major first stop from Chinese new immigrants to land.  Here they can speak Chinese, buy foods imported from all provinces of China and find a reasonable price logging.  It also has good public transport linked to different parts of City for their work.  No wonder the house price in San Francisco is comparatively speaking stable. Every year the 15th of August in Lunar Calendar is Mid-Autumn Festival.  This year it falls on today, September 12, 2011 that is one day after the 9/11.  In spite of the potential danger of going out on 9/11, lots and lots of people still enjoyed walking.
I feel very grateful that my son, unlike other teenagers, did not share the not so good American culture of “independence” and still willing to walk the fair together with me.  He enjoyed watching all different Chinese cultural stuff and volunteered helping to carry the “goodies” I bought.  I remember when I was at his age, 14, I did not have the concept of going out with parents is shameful or sign of independence.  The big issue in the American education is lack of moral training.  I can understand this might be difficult of USA is the mixing pot and people from different cultures barely mixed like salad.  However, there are some special moral concept about relationship between parents and children from China that categorize that children should pay special respect to parents and elderly.  I have followed this concept and I never talked back to my parents even though I did not agree to their points of view sometimes.
Putting on my hat of “realtor”, it is truly amazing how the real estate price had been supported by streams of new immigrants.  I have many clients who literally shipped their money from China to buy real estate properties in San Francisco and nearby cities.  No wonder, the house price at the Sunset district of San Francisco seems have not dropped much, maximum 20% which is nothing in comparison with other places.
Thank you for checking in with my blog and feel free to contact me if you have any real estate needs or opinions about this blog.

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.

 HELLLOOOO My Ever Wonderful Beautiful Bay Area… here’s some interesting stats for you regarding housing activities in the following counties….they may give you a better insight as to what the average List prices are in high and low price points … Enjoy!!

I hope you will find the following snapshot of local Real Estate 
 

inventory interesting. The table represents aggregated values based on 

MLS data for the specified date. 
 
 

Housing Inventory Snapshot 
July 28, 2011

 
Average List Price
Median List Price
Average Days On Market

Santa Clara County, CA

Single Family under $1M
$592,091
$580,000
69

Single Family over $1M
$2,302,785
$1,650,000
77

Condo/Townhome under $600K
$346,370
$349,000
75

Condo/Townhome over $600K
$746,892
$708,000
67

San Mateo County, CA

Single Family under $1M
$614,943
$588,888
74

Single Family over $1M
$2,806,758
$1,728,000
80

Condo/Townhome under $600K
$370,848
$359,900
88

Condo/Townhome over $600K
$779,907
$719,000
65

Santa Cruz County, CA

Single Family under $1M
$563,733
$559,000
79

Single Family over $1M
$1,952,887
$1,645,000
108

Condo/Townhome under $600K
$353,149
$333,703
107

Condo/Townhome over $600K
$800,226
$759,000
120

Monterey County, CA

Single Family under $1M
$449,639
$375,000
87

Single Family over $1M
$3,139,852
$2,195,000
125

Condo/Townhome under $600K
$310,009
$279,000
80

Condo/Townhome over $600K
$1,074,440
$897,000
111

San Benito County, CA

Single Family under $1M
$363,682
$319,900
92

Single Family over $1M
$1,983,890
$1,500,000
199

Condo/Townhome under $300K
N/A**
N/A**
N/A**

Condo/Townhome over $300K
N/A**
N/A**
N/A**

Alameda County, CA

Single Family under $1M
$439,582
$400,000
77

Single Family over $1M
$1,861,976
$1,498,000
87

Condo/Townhome under $600K
$272,242
$249,000
85

Condo/Townhome over $600K
$757,419
$699,000
61

Contra Costa County, CA

Single Family under $1M
$389,133
$314,900
77

Single Family over $1M
$1,930,678
$1,450,000
113

Condo/Townhome under $600K
$228,331
$177,000
88

Condo/Townhome over $600K
$718,012
$679,950
82

If you know someone who is considering buying or selling a home, please 

give me a call. I will provide professional & courteous service along with 

knowledgeable guidance through the process. 
 

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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.

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Just turn on the “Printer” and here you go, the money that we need.  Is it just that simple?
How about cutting tax for the higher income group to trade for the extension of another year of unemployment payment? 
Recently, I called one of my potential buyer who ended up not buying because of unemployment.  She still had that much of downpayment handy but can no longer qualify for any loan.  She is an experienced dentist assistant and I do not expect less people will see a dentist because the economy is bad.  If you have serious toothache, no matter what, you will see a dentist.  But what about that periodic cleaning or minor toothache, can you go without it?  Oh yes.  So her boss has to cut cost and so do many other businesses.  Instead of hiring full time employee, many firms fired the permanent staff and replace them with the temporary staff.  Of course, no fringe benefits, no 401K, no medical insurance payment, these add up figures help.  Now what?  Why should the unemployed work the part time job, being deducted the hard earned money from their unemployment benefits?  So, it ends up while business people try to survive by cutting cost but the unemployment money take away their part time helpers.  18 months are long enough and now another year, no kidding.
My prospect actually turned down many part time jobs.  She did not want to work for nothing.  What I mean is the money she earn from the part time job will be deducted from her unemployment paid.  So she only look for permanent position and so are thousand of many others.
Thank you for checking in.
What do you think?  The latest figure is 64% of population can now afford to buy a house but not so many people are really buying.  Why?  Will tell you next time.
Tina To – agent with heart, serving San Francisco Bay Area