Giving Back to Your Community!

Give Back to Your Community!

20 Ways to Give Back!!

Have any of you wondered how to find as many ways as possible to give back to your community. Well, here are 20 ways in which you can help others! 20 Simple Ways to Give Back to Your Community. Not every volunteer effort has to change the world. Let your efforts make your corner a little brighter. Here are some simple ways you can improve your community:

1. Help an elderly neighbor rake leaves, grocery shop or do home repairs.

2. Give away free flowers, seeds or plant to a neighbor in the Spring.

3. Put out flags for the Fourth of July in neighborhood front yards.

4. Sponsor a Little League team or any children's athletic team.

5. Become active in the Chamber of Commerce.

6. Start a garden or historical walk.

7. Speak at career day at the elementary school.

8. Repaint a playground.

9. Take your pet to the local senior center.

10. Organize and gather goods & beds for the Women's Shelter.

11. Be a Big Brother or Sister to a child.

12. Encourage homeowners to donate clothing and furniture.

13. Get involved with your local community.14. Sponsor a school to help with their needs.

15. Bring a carload of newspapers,towels & blankets to the animal shelter.

16. Ask a local teacher what supplies his or her class needs most and donate them.

17. Hold a canned food drive and deliver the goods to the food bank..

18. Organize a town or beach clean-up day.

19. Take a lonely child with you when your family goes to the movies.

20. Sponsor a family in need who needs food and clothing.

Alameda County Housing Statistics

October 2008

The continued decline in home sales prices throughout most of southern and eastern Alameda County has increased housing affordability and inspired buyers to act. Sales activity remained strong in the Central County and Tri-Cities regions in October 2008 fueled by modest month-to-month price drops. Sales, on average, dropped 9% in the Tri-Valley markets.

Sales prices proved once again the variability between real estate markets.

Prices actually increased in specific communities from September to October.Central County (Castro Valley, Hayward, San Leandro and San Lorenzo)Castro Valley was the notable exception in the Central Valley by showing a 10% increase in median sales price from September to October. However, units sold slipped by 20% in Castro Valley. Active listings were also down an average of 4% throughout the Central County communities - a trend that's consistent with decreasing inventory throughout Alameda County. Pending sales increased an average of 9% month-to-month. In terms of actual units listed and pending sale, the pace of home sales has remained steady since August 2008.

Tri-Cities (Fremont, Newark and Union City)Union City showed positive growth in all market indicators this month. Units Sold shot up 76% from 21 units in September to 37 units in October; pending sales were up 13% and active listings increased 7%. The median sales price increased 7% from $480,000 in September to $511,500 in October. Newark did well last month, too. A modest 2% increase in sales prices, a 13% increase in units sold and a 7% increase in active listings. However, it was the only Tri-City community to post a decline in pending sales. Median prices slipped 16% in Fremont from $685,000 in September to $573,000 in October. Sales activity was virtually the same with only two fewer units sold in October.

Tri-Valley (Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton)All Tri-Valley communities, but Danville, saw a drop in sales prices in October. Livermore prices decreased 16% from $499,950 to $420,000 while prices in Dublin, Pleasanton and San Ramon dropped 8% and 4%. In terms of actual dollars, the prices in each community are still well above both the state and county median prices. The pace of home sales and pending sales also slowed throughout the region with the exception of Livermore which saw a 10% month-to-month increase in actual units sold. Meanwhile, with the exception of Pleasanton, active units increased across the rest of the Tri-Valley

Information is deemed reliable but not verified

It's Your Move!

Purchase a Home in Today's Market? Is it Wise and Possible?

Buying a home in today's market may be a challenge. And given the economic news we're getting, it may take nerves of steel to jump in right now. But there are many homes on the market right now that are great values. If you have good credit, money for a down payment and are pre-approved by a bank, there are homes that may fit your needs.

There are many factors that make buying a home today a great option. Interest rates are near their all time lows. The rate on a 30-year, fixed mortgage is hovering around 6 percent. By contrast interest rates were hitting 8 percent and higher during the last market downturn, and were between 10 and 12 percent at the height of the last housing boom in the 1980s. Lower interest rates make it easier to qualify for a loan, and your monthly payments are more affordable.

Another factor impacting the real estate market is that today there are many homes for sale that are bank-owned because of foreclosures. The banks are taking anywhere from a 30% to 50% loss on these listings. It's true not all bank-owned properties are good deals and that dealing with these sales can be a challenge, but with help of a good Realtor there are bargains to be had.

The same can sometimes be said for so-called "short sales" (short, because the seller is asking their lender to take less than the amount left on the loan.) These are even harder to put together than bank-owned properties and much trickier as well. It is really important that you are working with an experienced realtor who is on the same page as you are. And be careful--just because it's a short-sale or an bank-owned property doesn't necessarily mean it's a good deal.

"Normal" sales--a property that is not a short sale or banked-owned property-- are easier to purchase today than just a few years ago. The value of properties has finally adjusted downward from their peak highs during the real estate boom. Buyers are finally able to find affordable homes. And there are choices.

The length of time a home remains on the market before it is sold has increased from roughly two weeks in 2004 to between eight and nine weeks in 2007. According to the unsold inventory index provided by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, it would take 16.3 months to sell all the homes on the market at the current sales pace, compared with 6.4 months in 2006. With more homes on the market for longer periods of time, now you have more choices when it comes to selecting a home.

I often hear potential buyers say "I think prices will drop even more and I am going to wait." Of course that is their prerogative. But over the long term across California the median sales price for a single-family home has been consistently rising for several decades. In short, housing remains a solid, long-term financial investment. While the pace of home appreciation has slowed over the last year, historical data suggest home prices will continue to appreciate over time. The projected median home price for a single-family home in California in 2008, for example, is $553,000. By comparison, the median price in 2000 was $241,350; $193,770 in 1990, and $99,550 in 1980. (source: C.A.R.)

In the Bay Area it's a great time to buy. So if you are ready to buy, find a service oriented, caring, ethical Realtor®. Get yourself preapproved by a lender. Start your journey for that home that you have always wanted and that is now attainable. Contact me when you are ready for that journey to purchase the biggest investment of your life. Why rent when you might be able to purchase in today's market?

Call Jean Powers a Certified Residential Specialist and Broker Associate at Kane & Associates.

Jean can be reached by email at Homes@JeanPowers.com or by telephone at 510.908.9002

Buyers in Northern California!

Buyers! Please! Please!

For all you buyers in Northern Calfornia who want to purchase a Bank Owned or Short Sale property:

1. Please do not believe what you hear or read from the Media.

2. Please listen to the advice of your Realtor.

3. Please believe us when we say the lenders are not willing to give away the properties.

4. Please understand that that the lenders are taking anywhere from 30 to 50 per cent loss on the home.

5. Please understand for the most part the lenders will not take less than listed price.

6. Please understand that when the property is in great condition and in a good location that the there will be multiple offers.

7. Please understand that when there are multiple offers, you need to offer more than listed price.

8. Please understand that real estate in the long run has always gone up in value.

9. Please understand that interest rates will not remain low forever and now is the right time to buy.

10. AND finally, Please understand that there are not any deals! The deals are here right now! Homes are ON SALE right now!!!

Jean Powers, CRS
Broker-Associate
Windermere Welcome Home
Homes@JeanPowers.com

http://www.jeanpowers.net/
510.908.9002

Do You Know the Difference?

Buyers and Sellers! Do You Really Know the Difference?

In today’s San Francisco Bay Area market there are numerous properties for sale. I have been working with buyers and sellers in this challenging market. For the most part, prices ranging from $200,000 to $400,000 are being sold as Short Sale or REO properties. There are some being sold on Auction websites. Very few homes in the above price range are being sold by homeowners as what we call a Regular sale. Below are a summarized definition of these types of transactions.

Regular Sale - A sale where the seller has equity in the property. The buyer and seller will the
negotiate price and terms of the sale. The seller is required to provide Disclosures according
to California Law and statute. The transactions in this type of sale are generally much easier to come together as there are timelines in which the seller needs to abide by in the transaction. The seller is motivated to sell and move on in his/her life.

Short Sale - A short sale is the sale of real property where the fair market sale price is less than the loan(s) on the property. A short sale means the seller's lender is accepting a less than the existing loanson the property. Just because a property is listed with short “sale terms” does not mean the lenderwill accept your offer. These properties must be purchased “As Is” without any repairs or warranties. Some are in need of repair.The lender is already taking a 30% to 50% loss on the property. This is why a majority of the time, they will NOT negotiate on the price. In fact, in most cases in our area, there are multiple offers on most properties that are in good condition and the price will higher than the listed price.

If the property in encumbered with more than one loan, there could be a problem. All of the lenders must agree to a short sale or a contract can never be ratified. There is no guarantee the lender will
approve of the sale. My buyers have waited over 4 months for the lender to respond to their offer. We are still waiting for an acceptance! I have heard of circumstances where it took the lender over 9 months to respond and did not accept the offer. Statistics show over the last six months that only 20 % of these sales have closed. The homeowner should consult their CPA or Tax Attorney before entering into a Short Sale agreement.

REO/Bank Owned Property - REO is an acronym for a real estate owned property that has been
foreclosed on or repossessed by banks or lenders. These properties are also sold in “As Is” condition without any repairs or warranties. The seller (lender) is exempt by law from completing any disclosures. The agents involved in the transaction are not exempt from completing their visual inspection as per California’s disclosure laws.

Prior to these properties going on the market, the lender has had an agent submit a BPO (Broker’s Price Opinion). So, just as in a short sale transaction, the lender is already taking a 30% to 50% loss on the property. This is why a majority of the time, they will NOT negotiate on the price. In fact, in most cases in my area, there are multiple offers on most properties that are in good condition and the price will higher than the listed price. Again, some properties are in need of repair. The process for bank approval can be anywhere from 3 – 10 days.

Pre-Foreclosure Property - A property where the homeowner has fallen behind in their payments or when a Notice of Default (NOD) has been filed against the property by the lender. May not have much flexibility in negotiating. These properties may be regular sales or potential Short Sales. The homeowner should consult their CPA or Tax Attorney before entering into a Short Sale agreement.

Online Auctions - Recently I have found that some of the REOs that have not sold were placed on an online auction website. Do not be fooled in thinking that you can purchase these properties lower than what they were listed for by an agency. The agency still has the listing. The website starts with a minimum bid and the buyer is made to believe that they can purchase this property for this amount if there are no other bidders. Not so, there is a reserve amount that the lender expects to get for the property. This price is usually what the real estate agency has listed the property for in the multiple listing service. There is a 5–10% fee paid to the auction house in addition to the final bid price. These properties are all “As Is” sales without inspections or warranties.

Call me for more information and help!

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Today I received an email from a friend on the Jeopardy question in which all 3 contestants incorrectly answered regarding the men who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I decided to research the information on the guards as it was quite interesting to me. Not only did I find the questions and answers on these fabulous men but I also found a YouTube piece on the subject which got to my heart! I hope you enjoy this information. I did!!

Do You Know About the Federal Housing Bill?

How Does Federal Housing Bill Affect You?

On June 26, 2008, the Senate passed a housing bill that will offer up to $300 billion in loans for troubled hsomeowners and establish a government rescue plan for mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The President will roll over once again - but this time to the benefit of the economy and the consumer. At first, Bush said he would veto the bill, but after consulting with his "advisers" he will concede this coming week and sign the bill into law.
The bill will take effect October 1st, 2008.

What does all of this mean to you, the consumer?

For Distressed Home Owners
Some folks may be able to cancel their old mortgages with high interest rates and replace them with new fixed-rate loans lasting at least 30 years...with some caveats:

1) New loans would be no more than 90 percent of what the borrower's property is worth currently;

2) Loan must have originated on or before January 1, 2008;

3) The loan must be on the borrower's primary residence;

4) Income verification is required, which might be an issue for subprime borrowers who did not have to disclose their income to receive their current loan;5) Your housing payment has to be at least 31 percent of your monthly household income;

6) You cannot take out a home equity loan for at least five years;

7) Appreciation made on the home within five years goes back to the government;

8) Fifty percent of any appreciation after five years must go to the government.

For Home Buyers

1) Conforming loan limits increased permanently to $625,000 (great for California!)

2) The bill includes a tax refund for first-time home buyers worth up to 10% of a home's purchase price but no more than $7,500 (The refund, however, serves more as an interest-free loan, since it would have to be paid back over 15 years in equal installments. )

3) The bill eliminates a program that has allowed sellers to provide down payment assistance.

For Veterans

1) Lenders will have to wait nine months, not 90 days, before beginning foreclosure proceeding on homes owned by someone returning from the military.

2) Lenders will have to wait a year before raising interest rates on a mortgage held by someone returning from military service.

I will continue to learn more about this legislation. If you have any questions, or if I can help you in any way, please call or e-mail me...I am here to help!

Purchase in a Totally Green Community!!

“Yes, the First Totally Green Community
In The United States,
Where? Of Course In California”
4/22/2008

CastleView Estates, the leader in innovation for the first certified Environmentally Friendly community in the State of California announces the opening of its Tract 7338 near Pleasanton, California. A unique gated 52 acre Ag and residential community in Alameda County, that borders Pleasanton, California, the CastleView Estates community, although nestled next to Pleasanton, is the first in California to provide a completely environmentally secured gated community with full recycling of its energy use. We have established within the County of Alameda our own Sewer Water District. Being our own Sewer Water and Power District, we pump our own water, purify it and then we recycle it back through our waste system it grows grapes and alfalfa for crops and for ostrich/beef meat; this includes wine grapes. The advanced engineered treatment system for the overflow affluent of the sewer’s disposal is able to clarify it up to 97% making it virtually drinkable. These nutrients go into growing the crops; the system is monitored by computer systems, and is serviceable on an annual basis for a very low cost, making it basically maintenance free, but very high reliability. Power, provided by windmills and solar, helps to offset the costs of our water usage, pumping costs, and maintenance for the association. All of which is under a non-profit organization registered within the State of California for the purpose of providing for its members and residences.

Being the first to totally go green in a community which recycles all of its energy needs and is completely self-contained, it’s such a unique concept in California it took years of planning by the CastleView Estates leaders. The uniqueness of this project is such that very high end homes are built GREEN with certification from the Department of Energy with the Energy Smart label. These homes are constructed from Green materials being environmentally friendly at a cost below the typical market. Therefore, buying scenic view lots and building a home well below the typical high end market by 20-30%. Homes are nestled and hidden from others atop the hills over looking the entire community, not utilizing precious Ag land from below. Secured access in the first gated community in years in this particular area, allows full security for all of its residences yet with the Ag Bent allows them to not only have high end homes, but also participate in the Ag should they want a horse or other type of animal in their particular area, especially given lots up to 2.5 acres.

Homes can be pre-fabricated in a factory environment by Palm Harbor, the Nation’s leader in energy green supplied homes and have an AARP oversight. Unique on-site building allows the construction of very high end expensive homes way below market price. These homes can be constructed in less than nine months and be ready for move-in. Red tape and burocratic delays are minimal with far less middle men involved in this construction. Given the economic change in the housing market, this is an opportunity for those to come in at a lower price which a much nicer home in an environment that is friendly for our community as well as the State of California. We are proud to participate and to introduce this first pioneering concept, proving reality.

Waste, Waste, What are You Doing?

We live in a society that produces so much excess waste. Some of it is garbage and other is recycle. Our association, my office, family and friends are attempting to go green. In my research here is what I found and I thought it was work passing along.

Garbage........ Americans produce more and more of it every year, when we need to be producing less. Even the most waste-conscious among us can feel overwhelmed by the amount of household waste that goes beyond what municipal recyclers and compost bins can handle. That's why our editors spent the summer of 2007 investigating the state of waste management in our country, putting this list together for you, explaining how we can get serious about the three R's

- reducing, reusing, and recycling - and divert more waste away from landfills.

1. Appliances: Goodwill accepts working appliances, www.goodwill.org, or you can contact the Steel Recycling Institute to recycle them. 800/YES-1-CAN, http://www.recycle-steel.org/.

2. Batteries: Rechargeables and single-use: Battery Solutions, 734/467-9110, http://www.batteryrecycling.com/.

3. Cardboard boxes: Contact local nonprofits and women's shelters to see if they Boxcan use them. Or, offer up used cardboard boxes at your local Freecycle.org listserv or on Craigslist.org for others who may need them for moving or storage. If your workplace collects at least 100 boxes or more each month, UsedCardboardBoxes.com accepts them for resale.

4. CDs/DVDs/Game Disks: Send scratched music or computer CDs, DVDs, and PlayStation or Nintendo video game disks to AuralTech for refinishing, and they'll work like new: 888/454-3223, www.auraltech.com <http://www.auraltech.com/> .

5. Clothes: Wearable clothes can go to your local Goodwill outlet or shelter. Shirts donate wearable women's business clothing to Dress for Success, which give then to low-income women as they search for jobs, 212-532-1922, www.dressforsuccess.org <http://www.dressforsuccess.org/> . Offer unwearable clothes and towels to loca l animal boarding and shelter facilities, which often use them as pet bedding. Consider holding a clothes swap at your office, school, faith congregation or community center. Swap clothes with friends and colleagues and save money on a new fall wardrobe and back-to-school clothes.

6. Compact fluorescent bulbs: Take them to your local IKEA store for recycling: http://www.ikea.com/.

7. Compostable bio-plastics: You probably won't be able to compost these in your home compost bin or pile. Find a municipal composter to take them to at http://www.findacomposter.com/.

8. Computers and electronics: Find the most responsible recyclers, local and national, at www.ban.org/pledge/Locations.html.

9. Exercise videos: Swap them with others at http://www.videofitness.com/.

10. Eyeglasses: Your local Lion's Club or eye care chain may collect these. Lenses Glassesare reground and given to people in need.

11. Foam packing: Your local pack-and-ship store will li kely accept foam peanuts for reuse. Or, call the Plastic Loose Fill Producers Council to find a drop-off site: 800/828-2214. For places to drop off foam blocks for recycling, contact the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, 410/451-8340, www.epspackaging.org/info.html

12. Ink/toner cartridges: Recycleplace.com pays $1/each.

13. Miscellaneous: Get your unwanted items into the hands of people who can use them. Offer them up on your local Freecycle.org or Craigslist.org listserv, or try giving them away at Throwplace.com or giving or selling them at iReuse.com. iReuse.com will also help you find a recycler, if possible, when your items have reached the end of their useful lifecycle.

14. Oil: Find Used Motor Oil Hotlines for each state: 202/682-8000, http://www.recycleoil.org./

15.Phones: Donate cell phones:

Collective Good will refurbish your phone and sell Cell phone it to someone in a developing country: 770/856-9021, www.collectivegood.com. Call to Protect reprograms cell phones to dial 911 and gives them to domestic violence victims: http://www.donateaphone.com/. Recycle single-line phones: Reclamere, 814/386-2927, http://www.reclamere.com/.

16. Sports equipment: Resell or trade it at your local Play It Again Sports outlet, 800/476-9249, http://www.playitagainsports.com/.

17. "Technotrash": Project KOPEG offers an e-waste recycling program that can help you raise funds for your organization. Use Project KOPEG to recycle iPods, MP3 players, cell phones and chargers, digital cameras, PDAs, palm pilots, and more. Also, easily recycle all of your CDs, jewel cases, DVDs, audio and video tapes, pagers, rechargeable and single-use batteries, PDAs, and ink/toner cartridges with GreenDisk's Technotrash program. For $30, GreenDisk will send you a cardboard box in which you can ship them up to 70 pounds of any of the above. Your fee covers the box as well as shipping and recycling fees. 800/305-GREENDISK, http://www.greendisk.com/.

18. Tennis shoes: Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program turns old shoes into playground and athletic flooring. www.nikereuseashoe.com. One World Running will send still-wearable shoes to athletes in need in Africa, Latin America, and Haiti. http://www.oneworldrunning.com/.

19. Toothbrushes and razors: Buy a recycled plastic toothbrush or razor from ToothbrushRecycline, and the company will take it back to be recycled again into plastic lumber. Recycline products are made from used Stonyfield Farms' yogurt cups. 888/354-7296, http://www.recycline.com/.

20. Tyvek envelopes: Quantities less than 25: Send to Shirley Cimburke, Tyvek Recycling Specialist, 5401 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Spot 197, Room 231, Richmond, VA 23234. Quantities larger than 25, call 866/33-TYVEK.21. Stuff you just can't recycle: When practical, send such items back to the manufacturer and tell them they need to manufacture products that close the waste loop responsibly.

By the way what are you doing to go green?

Point-of-Sale Legislation Held in Committee

C.A.R. is OPPOSING AB 2678 (Núñez) which among other things, will require that ALL homes and commercial property in California have an energy audit at point-of-sale and that mandatory energy efficiency investments be made. AB 2678 was to have been voted on by the Assembly Appropriations committee last week but is now being held in that committee for at least a few days due to its potential cost. We are now expecting the bill to have a hearing some time before May 23rd.

ISSUE BACKGROUND
AB 2678 will require a state agency to set up a process to require point-of-sale energy efficiency audits that will cost up to $400 and ultimately will require point-of-sale energy efficiency retrofits that may cost THOUSANDS of dollars. While C.A.R. has no objection to increasing energy efficiency, AB 2678 will be both dangerous to the real estate market and grossly ineffective. Here's why AB 2678 is a bad idea:

-AB 2678 will hurt your business. Heaping costly requirements on all sales will slow every residential AND commercial transaction, further weakening the real estate market and the economy.

-Point-of-sale approaches take too long. Research shows that only 22% of the properties most in need of energy efficiency retrofits will actually be sold by 2020. AB 2678 will be grossly ineffective in achieving its goals.

-AB 2678 will hurt housing affordability. The mandatory audit and retrofit requirements ultimately created could add THOUSANDS of dollars to every transaction. And every $1,000 increase in the price of a home disqualifies 26,600 families from owning.

-Politicians want to make an end-run around you! They know REALTORS® will fiercely oppose point-of-sale mandates. By passing the buck to a state agency, they hope to make this proposal more acceptable to other legislators. But be forewarned: once the legislation is passed and the bureaucrats take charge, you will have NO SAY!!

For additional information, please contact DeAnn Kerr at deannk@car.org

The M&M's of Life!

I was going thru my computer this afternoon looking for something I saved in my document folder and of course I couldn't find what I was looking for. I did however find something I needed called the m & m's of life.


We always talk about taking care of ourself and sometime wonder how. Some time ago this passed my life and a nice way to treat ourself.

music - start and finish your day with music in your life


moisture - live near water, alcohol (1 oz only)


movement - exercise, non competitive


massage - relax, the best way to eliminate stress. hugs are mini massages


menu - what you eat, size & self esteem. lower fat & increase exercise


meditation - few minutes for yourself. take time for you.


myrrh - humor, share with others. laugh.


If you take care of yourself!!! Then you can give back to others


So, what are you doing to take care of yourself?

Technology?

Your road warriors could be leaving a trail of customer data behind them.

I recently read and article about Computerworld's sales department's performance and how it is measured on revenue, not on data protection. So it's no surprise that salespeople focus on closing deals, not security holes. As a result, they sometimes sacrifice security for convenience. We log onto Wi-Fi hot spots in airports to work on presentations despite the risk of being hacked. We carry reams of information, some of it propriety, on their smart phones. They transfer deal details on USB drives. Although companies have done much to address the challenges of this frequently mobile population, there's still more work to do.

1. Be wary of unsecured connections.
Salespeople have the tools to phone home from anywhere. Unfortunately, those connections aren't always secure. Even if a salesman is using his laptop at a Wi-Fi hot spot at the airport just to check sports scores, he could be putting a slew of sensitive information at risk.
IT's response: Mandate encryption and a connection to the corporate virtual private network. Peter Evans, director of marketing at IBM Internet Security Systems, says employees should always use a corporate VPN and encryption to ensure that hackers can't get in. Moreover, companies should automate the process for users so they have no excuse for trying to circumvent the rules.

2. Guard access to the CRM system.
Customer relationship management systems give sales departments an efficient way to handle information. But Rena Mears, a partner in the security and privacy services unit at Deloitte & Touche LLP, says it's often too easy for salespeople to access the system to enter, read or forward information. "You can have data proliferating in ways that you can't control," Mears says.
IT's response: Set policies governing access, and back them up with IT controls. Companies must establish who should have access to the CRM system and for what reasons, Mears says. IT should implement access controls, automated encryption and content-monitoring applications.
3. Keep a close eye on mobile devices.

Mobile devices regularly go missing as a result of carelessness or theft. In fact, a 2005 study sponsored by data protection company Pointsec Mobile Technologies (now owned by Check Point Software Technologies Inc.) found that 85,619 mobile phones, 21,460 handhelds or pocket PCs, and 4,425 laptops were left in a Chicago cab company's vehicles in a six-month period.
IT's response: Deploy security applications to company-issued devices. Businesses should require salespeople to use only company-issued mobile devices that are equipped with auto??matic protections -- boot-up and screen passwords, as well as automatic encryption of data, e-mail and hard drives, says Jonathan Gossels, president and CEO of System Experts Corp., an IT compliance and network security consultancy in Sudbury, Mass.

4. Cut the cell phone chatter.
People have a tendency to use their cell phones to carry on public discussions of confidential matters, says Howard A. Schmidt, a security strategist at International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium Inc., or (ISC)2, which offers the Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification. He remembers once hearing all of the details of a fellow traveler's business call at Dulles International Airport. "Everyone in the cabin could hear him," he says.
IT's response: Provide education. Awareness training is often enough to remind people to watch what they say and when. "We show [video of] people running their mouths really loud and ask, 'Is this you?'" says Schmidt, who has also served as the cybersecurity adviser to the White House and in security roles at eBay Inc. and Microsoft Corp.

5. Curb access to all that information.
Not everyone in the sales department has equal responsibilities. Why should they all have equal access to information? Companies often fail to ask that question, says Ed Zeitler, executive director of (ISC)2.

IT's response: Manage information access and reinforce that effort with technology. Sales managers, security personnel and IT workers should define who needs access to what information. Once that's done, IT should use access controls in databases and applications to ensure that only authorized individuals can get in. Moreover, that team of managers must update access controls when employees' responsibilities change.

Jury Finds Realtor Not to Blame for Purchase Price

A jury sided Thursday with Carlsbad real estate broker Mike Little in a closely watched lawsuit that pitted a local couple against the agent that helped them buy a home. The couple, Vern and Marty Ummel, claimed that Little neglected to mention recent sales in their neighborhood, leading them to overpay by about $150,000 for their home in July 2005.

The case attracted national attention as it posed a hot question: What are the responsibilities of a real estate agent? The real estate camp was concerned that if the plaintiffs won Thursday, it would catalyze and focus a growing urge around the country to find someone to blame -- and to hold financially responsible -- when houses aren't worth as much as their buyers once paid. Those who sided with the Ummels worried their case would be chalked up to rich people problems, a matter of a measly $150,000 in the scope of a million-dollar tract home near a golf course in North County.

With an enthusiastic and unanimous response, the jury found that Little had executed a reasonable standard of care when he showed his clients, Vern and Marty Ummel, more than 80 homes in a house hunt that began in May 2005, ultimately leaving them to their decision to pay $1.2 million for their house two months later.

In arguments delivered Thursday morning to conclude the jury trial that began last week, attorney David Bright said his client, Little, was being unfairly blamed for the Ummels' house dropping in value.

"The Ummels want to own the most desirable house and pay for the least desirable house and have Mr. Little make up the difference," he told the jury.

At a time when housing market trouble has rocked the global economy, the individual roles of people involved in the basic housing transaction have come under fire. A soaring market this decade hid a multitude of mistakes, a plethora of cut corners and fudged appraisals, because buyers could sell for a profit, nearly no matter what.

But now that the value of housing has come unhitched from what once propelled it upward by double-digit percentages year after year, a spotlight has become trained on the topic of ethics in real estate. Scores of fraud cases, underpinned by inflated appraisals and collusion between buyers' and sellers' agents, have landed in national headlines and aggravated bank losses in a major nationwide housing slump.

And arguments in this two-week trial attempted to answer some of those questions: What right did the Ummels have to expect Little to know and tell them about all of the other nearby homes? What duty do buyers have to do their own research, to challenge what their agents and appraisers and mortgage brokers tell them?

At least in this specific case, the Realtor was found to have exercised sufficient care in helping the Ummels find their house, including helping them negotiate other offers they made on houses before they settled on this one. That made an important part of the case Vern Ummel's admission on the stand that after looking at so many homes, he had a good sense of value in the neighborhood.As for the buyers' responsibilities, juror after juror gushed praise for Little and heaped criticism on the Ummels' failure to research the comparable sales themselves.

Bright argued the trial had illuminated the hard work that responsible real estate professionals, those that have been in the industry for a while, do for their clients.

"I think Realtors are scapegoats for a declining market," Bright said after the verdict was reached Thursday afternoon.

"There are always people out there who will blame someone for something that is beyond their control."But Marty Ummel, "devastated" by the conclusion of the case, said the jury's decision enables real estate agents to skimp on information they provide to their clients.

"I think it sends a bad message to people about the real estate industry," she said. "Evidently there is not the relationship of trust that I would've expected.

"The verdict marked an end of a battle that began soon after the Ummels bought a house on Amante Court in Carlsbad for $1.2 million in late July 2005. They were still unpacking when Marty found on their doorstep one day a flyer from another real estate agent, touting a recent sale of a similar-sized home down the street from the Ummels'. What caught Marty's eye: that house sold six weeks earlier for $105,000 less than they'd paid.

When they received a paper copy of their appraisal after they bought their house, the Ummels noticed the comparable sales in the neighborhood had not just lower prices, but, in their view, better amenities and larger lot sizes. A few months later, they saw another flier for a house down the street that sold for $175,000 less.

The Ummels contended their agent had misrepresented a reasonable value to pay for their house and had breached his fiduciary duty to them, acting to protect his commission instead of their best interest. They filed suits in July 2006 to that effect against their agent, Mike Little, and Re/Max Associates, the parent franchise of 14 affiliated offices in San Diego County.

The Ummels picketed, carrying signs that exclaimed "Caution, Beware: All Re/Max offices are independently owned," and "It's our money; we want justice" to Re/Max offices around the county and even to the Greenwood Hills, Colo., national headquarters of Re/Max.

The original lawsuit named the appraiser and the mortgage broker, who each settled with the Ummels for $10,000.And though the case was decided in his favor Thursday, the impact of the picketing and the media attention over the last 18 months was significant for Little, Bright said.

"It's been extremely hard," Bright said. "Now, when he looks at a client, he's got to wonder, what's going to happen? Are these people going to second-guess me?"Marty Ummel said her efforts weren't in vain. The jury spoke and the Ummels lost, but she said she was proud of herself for "doing what I thought was right.""The fact that there's dialogue on what Realtors need to do, the fact that it looks like the Realtors don't need to do as much," she named as aspects she was happy the case brought to the public consciousness.

Todd Lackner, a real estate appraiser not associated with the case, said the Ummels had "lost the battle but won the war" when it came to raising questions and delivering a hit to the reputation of real estate agents.

"I think it's scaring Realtors more than anything else," he said. "[Little] won the court case, but there's a lot of other Realtors out there that are very concerned. Not just in San Diego. It's got to be nationwide.

"I think people are a little bit more skeptical, more concerned, and rightly so," he said. "If you don't think this is the right value, don't do it."

California Agents Representing Investment Buyers

California agents have not been able to represent investors on properties which there is a notice of default filed because the law stated that buyer's agents needed to be bonded. The issue is that the bond didn't exist. Below is information from the California Association of Realtors legal department with the latest news on this subject!

C.A.R.'s Member Legal Services team has published a revised legal article, "Notice of Default and Investor-Buyer Transactions: Home Equity Sales Contracts," which has been revised to reflect the holding in the case, Schweitzer v. Westminster Investments, 157 Cal. App. 4th 1195 (2007), review denied March 26, 2008.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal held that the bond requirement under Civil Code Section 1695.17 for an equity purchaser's representative is "void for vagueness under the due process clause and may not be enforced." The California Supreme Court has declined to review this case which means that the bond requirement has been eliminated from the Home Equity Sales Contract Law.

This article can be found on the What's New and Legal Articles pages of the Legal section on C.A.R. Online (http://www.car.org/).

Want to Lower Your Credit Card Rate?

Credit cards are one of the most pervasive forms of your financial picture. On a daily basis, they provide the flexibility and freedom to reserve a hotel room, travel without carrying cash, and purchase just about anything at anytime.

As such, your credit cards can have a major impact on your financial wellbeing and even your credit score. But did you know that your credit score can also impact your credit cards...specifically your interest rates? Although some companies have abandoned the practice, many won't hesitate to raise your interest rate if your credit score declines - even if you are paying them on time! By following these tips, you can help avoid inflated interest rates on your credit cards...and perhaps even enjoy more trips to the ballpark:

Understand the terms. The best way to protect yourself from high interest rates and hikes is to read and understand your credit cards policy terms. Pay particular attention to the interest rate, how long that rate is in effect, and what actions can lead to a hike - such as a late payment on your card, a declining credit score, or even a late payment on a completely unrelated bill.

Don't be late. Making a late payment can lead to increased interest rates on all your cards. In addition, they can lower your credit score, causing you even more problems down the road. So make a schedule and always pay on time.

Watch the mail. We all get junk mail, but some of it may not be junk after all. Whenever you receive any information in the mail from your credit card, read it carefully in case any policies or interest rates are changing.

Make a call. If your rate does change, call the company. If you've made your payments on time consistently, you may be able to get your original rate restored. If the company seems hesitant, you may want to threaten to transfer your balances to another card - customers in good standing may find they have more bargaining power than they realize. And don't just threaten to make a change...actually do it if it makes sense. You may find the grass actually is greener on the other side.

Be careful what you close. Closing a card that has a current balance will likely send your interest rate soaring. In addition, closing your oldest credit cards can have a negative impact on your overall credit score.

So make sure you check and double check which cards are best to close.

Are You Molding or Molting?

Mold seems to be a growing issue in our area. There is always some mold everywhere - in the air and on many surfaces. Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. Mold grows where there is moisture. While doing my research I came accross some information from the CDC that is worth passing along.

Mold and Your Health

Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, molds can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation. People with mold allergies may have more severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may get serious infections in their lungs when they are exposed to mold. These people should stay away from areas that are likely to have mold, such as compost piles, cut grass, and wooded areas.

A link between other adverse health effects, such as acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants, memory loss, or lethargy, and molds, including the mold Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra), has not been proven. Further studies are needed to find out what causes acute idiopathic hemorrhage and other adverse health effects.

Mold and Your Home

Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags, and pets can and be carried indoors.

Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

You Can Control Mold

Inside your home you can control mold growth by:
Keeping humidity levels between 40% and 60%;
Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes;
Thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding;
Ventilating shower, laundry, and cooking areas.

If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.

Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home, and CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you can not rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk. Also, good sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth.

If you choose to use bleach to clean up mold:

Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.

Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.

If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or by going to the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.

MOLD PREVENTION TIPS

Keep the humidity level in your home between 40% and 60%. Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months and in damp spaces, like basements.
Be sure your home has enough ventilation. Use exhaust fans which vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.

Fix any leaks in your home's roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.

Clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly (within 24-48 hours) after flooding.
Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting.
Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.
Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly. Consider not using carpet in rooms or areas like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

To learn more about preventing mold in your home, see the Environmental Protection Agency's publication A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html.

Information from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention

The Housing Market is OK! The High Cost of Oil is Messing Us Up!

I read an article today by Linda Tremblay that I wanted to pass along that says a lot about our market.

Everywhere you go, the news has been about foreclosures and the real estate market going downhill. I hate to tell the press, but if they would leave the housing market alone, we would be fine. Historically, the market has always had peaks and valleys. Along with this the press has send that home ownership is getting beyond our reach. As i have said before, I wish I would of bought about ten houses back then. If I sold them now, even at a reduced sale price now, I would be a millionaire.

The oil industry on the other hand is another story. The oil companies are making billions in profit as we are having to cut back on certain things to be able to drive our cars. That is bad enough and somehow we need to get away from depending on oil for our automobiles. But today I heard that the independent truckers are possibly going on strike because they can not afford the high cost of diesel.

This weekend I saw regular gas at $3.15 and deisel was $4.20. Ouch! Apparently it is costing the trucking industrymore money to run a load than they are making.This is going to cause the price of everything to go up. Look at all the materials and food that is transported by the trucking industry. This is crazy. There ae so many smart people out there, hopefully someone can come up with an alternative method to run our trucks, our homes and our cars. After all, we can send a man to the moon.

The Hope Awards!!

Champions for Minority Homeownership Encouraged to Apply for HOPE Awards

Applications are now being accepted for the fifth HOPE (Home Ownership Participation for Everyone) Awards. The HOPE Awards is a national industry awards program that recognizes individuals and organizations that are making outstanding contributions to increase minority homeownership, revitalize communities and expand affordable housing opportunities across the country. Many American families own their home, but not everyone realizes the dream of homeownership. While more than three out of four white households own their own home, only half of minority households enjoy the benefits of homeownership. The HOPE Awards honors those who strive to remove barriers to minority homeownership and focus public attention on that vital issue.

The HOPE Awards is sponsored by a partnership of real estate associations; awards are conferred every other year. HOPE Awards winners receive $10,000, national media coverage, paid travel expenses to attend and speak at a minority housing symposium, and recognition at the HOPE Awards Gala in May 2009. The categories for the HOPE Awards are Finance, Homeownership Education, Leadership, Media, Project of the Year, Public Policy, and Real Estate Brokerage. Entries are evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges, based on the impact of the nominee's work in promoting minority homeownership, focus on affordability, use of innovative ideas, and acceptance by the minority community.

Individuals, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and state and local agencies are eligible. Self-nominations are encouraged.

HOPE Awards entries must be received by December 5, 2008. For HOPE Awards entry forms and submission guidelines, visit http://www.hopeawards.org/ or call 202/383-1013. Winners will be announced in April 2009. The HOPE Awards Gala will take place in Washington, D.C., in May 2009.
The HOPE Partners are the Asian Real Estate Association of America, Chinese American Real Estate Professionals Association, Chinese Real Estate Association of America, National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, National Association of Real Estate Brokers® and the National Association of Realtors®.

When you need a Realtor, please contact me!! homes@JeanPowers.com

Do You Qualify for a Home Office Deduction?

This article is by CRS instructor, Chris Byrd who is well known for his tax strategy seminars He has been a speaker for the Northern CA CRS Chapter and we find him to be very good! Chris@ChrisBirdSeminars.com or http://www/.chrisbirdseminars.com

Qualifying for the Home Office Deduction
The deduction allows you to deduct a pro-rata portion of your residential costs as a business expense when it's used as your principal place of business. The percentage of allowable expense (found by dividing the square footage of the office by the home's total square footage) can be applied to mortgage interest, insurance, property tax, rent, depreciation, utilities, and other home-related expenses.

The two requirements:1. The space is exclusively used for business2. You must regularly conduct some kind of business activity in the space
The home office deduction can only be taken if a portion of the home is used "exclusively and primarily" for business. That means the designated space cannot be used for any other purpose, like a guest room.

Although the space must be "separately identifiable," it needn't be blocked off with a permanent partition. This deduction can also apply to a separate structure not attached to the dwelling unit.

Your Home Office Needs to be Your Principal Place of Business
More taxpayers qualify since the definition of "principal place of business" was broadened to include a place where administrative or management activities are conducted on a substantial basis, if there is no other fixed location where they conduct substantial administrative or management activities (Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997). In short, this means that a self-employed person needs to spend more time running their business from home, not the brokerage sales office.

In my experience, real estate agents often fail to qualify for this deduction because they already have a brokerage sales office, where most of their activities in running their business are conducted.

Also, if you are an employee who works at home, the rules state that the home office must be for your employer's convenience, rather than your own. As popular as tele-commuting has become, make sure this point is clarified with your employer. That way you can document that the office space is specifically required by them.

One caveat for anyone taking this deduction. It cannot be taken for any year when the amount claimed will generate a net loss for the business. However, the untaken deduction can be carried forward to a year when there is sufficient profit to avoid that limitation.

Selling a Residence with a Home Office
In December, 2002, the US Treasury approved a change that removed a major negative for those who'd been taking the home office deduction. (And for those who feared taking it.) Normally, gain on the sale of a principal residence (where you resided two or more years) is tax free. Until that change, homeowners who sold would owe tax on the gain allocated to the office portion of their home.

The new Treasury rules change mean that a seller must no longer allocate the amount of gain between their business and personal use. The home office had to be within the house, however. And the new rules don't excuse any depreciation recapture that may have been taken for the home office.

Make Your House "Pay its Way"
Whether taking the home office deduction is tax-wise depends on your circumstances. Study the details in IRS Publication 587 http://www.irs.gov/publications/p587/Here's a tax strategy that every self-employed person should reconsider. Especially since several of the "traps" regarding the home-office deduction have been dismantled. Its tax advantages are substantial and could bring you significant savings-year after year

Crab Cove in Alameda California

About The Visitor Center

Crab Cove Visitor Center at Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda features all new exhibits opened in April 2004. You can see bay creatures in the 800-gallon aquarium system, use interactive stations for varying age groups to view microscopic animals, build a crab from the inside out, or get a lug worm's view of the mudflats. You'll see amazing depictions of the underwater world of San Francisco Bay. At the Visitor Center you can also plunge into San Francisco Bay without getting wet, or travel back in time to Alameda's colorful past.

These entertaining educational opportunities all have a serious purpose--to increase public understanding of the environmental importance of San Francisco Bay. There is strong emphasis on the interdependence of marine life and shore life and on the urgency of preserving the marine and estuarine environment.

Dedicated to interpreting relationships between people and the earth's marine environment, this center attracts visitors from all over the Bay Area.

A focal point for this educational effort is the Visitor Center's Old Wharf Classroom. There, in a picturesque setting, youngsters and adults alike can learn about such topics as shoreline wildlife and the food chains that sustain all living creatures.

The waterless plunge takes the form of a display case showing a cross-section of bay, with lifelike models of shoreline and underwater animals. Adjacent rooms contain an aquarium and lots of interactive exhibits.

Education continues just outside the center, where the Crab Cove Marine Protected Area, at the foot of McKay Avenue, was designated the first California estuarine marine reserve. Its mud flat and rocky shore area are an important wildlife habitat. A special ramp allows wheelchair users to explore the tidepools at low tide. Collecting or disturbing creatures in this protected area is forbidden, thus preserving a unique shoreline environment for study and education.

Naturalist-guided programs for school groups and other organized groups are available Wednesday through Friday by advance reservation. See the Field Trips page for details or call visitor center at (510) 521-6887. Weekend programs provide exciting opportunities for you to learn about Bay ecology and the local area; download our monthly program guide to see a list of upcoming activities.

Up until the late 1930s, the area now occupied by the visitor center was part of a thriving resort community featuring bathing spas and an amusement park. Later, during and just after World War II, it was the site of the U.S. Maritime Service Officers School, a training base for Merchant Marine commanders. What is now the visitor center building was the base infirmary.

More Info About the Isle City of Alameda

Central Alameda

Even though I was born and raised in Alameda it always amazes me on how it has grown so much. Here is a little information about Central Alameda. The only way to access the main island is to cross either of our 4 bridges or the tube.

The island of Alameda was originally a peninsula connected to Oakland. Much of the peninsula was low-lying and marshy, but on the higher ground, the peninsula and adjacent part of what is now downtown Oakland were home to one of the largest coastal oak forests in the world and the area was therefore called "Encinal", Spanish for "Oakland". "Alameda" is Spanish for "grove of poplar trees" or "tree-lined avenue.” This name was chosen in 1853 via popular vote.

The inhabitants at the time of the arrival of the Spanish in the late 18th Century were a local band of the Ohlone tribe. The peninsula became part of the vast Rancho San Antonio granted to Luis Peralta by the Spanish king who claimed California. The grant was later confirmed by the new Republic of Mexico upon its independence from Spain.

Prior to the gold rush besides Native Americans there were also in modern Alameda French lumberjacks supplying lumber to the quickly expanding San Francisco and Chipman and Auginbaugh, as well as major Spanish descended landowners who founded the village of Alameda near the corner of Encinal Avenue and High Street in Alameda.

The city was founded on June 6 , 1853 . Originally three small settlements grew in town. "Old Alameda" referred to the village at Encinal and High, Hibbardsville was at the NorthShore ferry and shipping terminal, and Woodstock was on the west near the ferry piers of the South Pacific Coast Railroad and the Central Pacific . Eventually, the Central Pacific's ferry pier became the "Alameda Mole " while the Central Pacific itself became the Southern Pacific . The Alameda pier was the site of the first train across the Transcontinental Railroad into the San Francisco Bay Area. The terminus was moved to Oakland a few years later.

In 1917, an attraction called Neptune Beach was built in the area now known as Crab Cove. Often compared to Coney Island , the park was a major attraction in the 1920s and 1930s. The original owners of the facility, the Strehlow family, partnered with a local confectioner to create tastes unique to Neptune Beach. Though many do not know it, both the snow cone and the popsicle were invented at Neptune Beach. The Kewpie doll, hand painted and dressed in unique hand-sewn dresses, became the original prize for winning games at the beach - another Neptune Beach invention. The Strehlows owned and operated the beach on their own, even filling in a section of the bay to add an additional olympic-size swimming pool and an exceptional roller coaster which must have given riders a tremendous view of the bay.

Neptune Beach 's two huge outdoor pools hosted swimming races and exhibitions by famous swimmers like Olympian Johnny Weissmuller , who later starred as the original Tarzan, and Jack LaLane, who started a chain of health clubs. Unfortunately, the park closed down in 1939 because of the Great Depression , the completion of the Bay Bridge, people circumventing paying the admission price and in general, the rise of car culture. Once the Bay Bridge was complete, the rail lines, which ran right past the entrance to Neptunem Beach on the way to the Alameda Mole and the Ferry, lost riders in droves. People began using their cars to escape the city and the immediate suburbs like Alameda and traveling further a field in California. Alameda lost its resort status as more distant locations became more attractive to cash-rich San Francisco tourists. Youngsters in town became aware of ways to avoid paying the dime for admission to the park. Strong swimmers or even waders could sneak in on the bay side, just by swimming around the fence.

Some of the resort homes and buildings from the Neptune beach era still exist in present-day Alameda. The Croll Building , on the corner of Webster St. and Central Ave., was the site of Croll's Gardens and Hotel, famous as training quarters for the some of the greatest fighters in boxing history from 1883 to 1914. James J. Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, Jim Jefferies, Jack Johnson, and many other champions all stayed and trained here. Today this beautiful preserved building is home to Croll's Pizza and the New Zealander Restaurant. Neptune Court, just a block away on the corner of Central Ave. and McKay Ave., provides another glimpse of what resort life was like in Alameda in the 1920s. A short walk near Crab Cove will reveal many more historic gems.

Sadly, the vast majority of the Neptune Beach structures - the hand-carved carousel from the world-famed Dentzel Company, the ferris wheel, the roller coaster, and other rides - were auctioned off in 1940 for mere pennies on the dollar of their original cost. Today, an Alameda resident Michael Schiess looks to preserve some of the historic artifacts from the Neptune Beach era at the Neptune Beach Amusement Museum, specifically dedicated to the resort and all "amusement machines." While the existing and more general Alameda Museum has quite a few artifacts from Neptune Beach in its collection, this new museum will focus more on the games, rides and other machines that brought amusement to Alameda's bay shore.
As the Neptune Beach era faded and Park Street developed into the major thoroughfare of the city and the location of the main Alameda train station, residents of Old Alameda pulled up stakes and moved across town to the new downtown. The street's location was chosen by two landowners who wished to attract tenants and development to their land. As a result they designated their mutual border as Park Street.

The need for expanded shipping facilities led to the dredging of a canal through the marshland between Oakland and Alameda in 1902, turning Alameda into an island. Most of the soil from the canal was used to fill in nearby marshland. The area of Alameda called Bay Farm Island is no longer an island, but is attached by fill to Oakland. In his youth, author JackLondon was known to take part in oyster pirating in the highly productive oyster beds near BayFarmIsland, today long gone. The Alameda Works Shipyard was one of the largest and best equipped shipyards in the country. In the 1950s, Alameda's industrial and ship building industries thrived along the estuary, where the world's first-ever; land-based, containerized shipping crane was used. Today, the Port of Oakland across the estuary serves as one of the largest ports on the West Coast, using the shipping technologies originally experimented with in Alameda. As of March 21 , 2006 , Alameda is a "Coast Guard City," one of seven in the country.

In addition to the regular trains running to the Alameda Mole, Alameda was also served by local steam commuter lines of the Southern Pacific (initially, the Central Pacific) which were later transformed into the East Bay Electric Lines . Southern Pacific's electrified trains were not streetcars , but full-sized railroad cars which connected to the mainland by bridges at Webster Street and Fruitvale (only the latter bridge survives today). The trains ran to both the Oakland Mole and the Alameda Mole. In fact, one line which ran between the two moles was dubbed the "Horseshoe Line" for the shape of the route on a map. Soon after the completion of the Bay Bridge , Alameda trains ran directly to San Francisco on the lower deck of the bridge, the ferries having been rendered unnecessary.

In the 1930s Pan American Airways established a seaplane port along the fill that led to the Alameda Mole. This was the original home base for the famous China Clipper . With the advent of World War II , a vast stretch of the marshy area southwest of the Alameda Mole was filled and the Naval Air Station Alameda established. This major Naval facility included a large airfield as well as docks for several aircraft carriers . It closed in 1997

Buying or Selling, I am here to help!

Jean 510.908.9002

The Island in which I Sell, Born and Raised

Bay Farm Island
Alameda is a small island with a beach that looks to San Francisco. Bay Farm Island is where I grew up and in those days we took a school bus to school, AC transit did not run on the weekends, I took the ferry (the kind that carries vehicles) to San Francisco when I went to the doctor and Bay Farm Island had 3 streets with homes and the rest was the bay and farmland. Right behind Bay Farm Island was a very small airport (Oakland Airport) and now it too has grown! There were no schools and only 1 park. Where the Oakland Raider's headquarters are now, it was the bay.

Bay Farm Island is an area of the city of Alameda, California , near Oakland . It is divided from the main island of Alameda by an estuary and connected by separate drawbridges for both cars and bicycles. Bay Farm Island is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport . In addition to being an affluent neighborhood, it is also the location of a municipal golf course, a high-tech industrial park, a small shopping center and the world headquarters of the NFL football team, the Oakland Raiders.

Also located on BayFarm Island are two public elementary schools: Bay Farm and EarhartElementary Schools. The former is named for the island community that it serves. The latter is named for famed female aviator Amelia Earhart who started many of her flights from the nearby Oakland Airport.

An interesting point to note is that Alameda was once a peninsula and was later divided from the mainland to create an island , while BayFarmIsland was once an island, later to become a peninsula through land reclamation , adjacent to the Oakland Airport.

Once used as farmland, Bay FarmIsland is now home to a the 36-Championship Hole Chuck Corica Golf Complex in addition to its many housing developments. The land mass boasts a chain of lagoons as well as several parks including Shoreline Park, Leydecker, Godfrey, Harrington Field and a greenbelt that surrounds Bay Farm's perimeter.

Wow! Has my town changed!

Tips To Save Gas

Here is some tips on how to save Gas from a friend……

TIPS ON PUMPING GAS (Good information)I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gallon. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon..

Here at the Kinder Morgan Pipeline where I work in San Jose , CA we deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline.One day is diesel the next day is jet fuel, and gasoline, regular and premiu m grades. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons.

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, ther eby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

**Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NO T fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.

DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS!

**(It always felt like the gas lasted longer if it was above ½ a tank!!!)

Lending Institutions Not Permitting Short Sales

A Realtor friend of mine sent me this information the other day! I truly hope they are trying to help the homeowners and are not just foreclosing on their homes! I know that Wells Fargo Bank did help many homeowners keep their homes by re negotiating the loans. Many thanks to Wells!!

Ocwen Loan Servicing announced that they are no longer permitting short sales. Their goal is to try to keep the homeowners in their homes or just take the property to foreclosure. If Ocwen is in first position and is receiving a FULL payoff, then a short sale can still be done with the second servicer (obviously). However; if Ocwen is being shorted on the first or the second, they will no longer allow the short sale process to take place at this time.

The President of National Short Sale Center is in discussions with the Ocwen Loan Servicing's Upper Management Department in an effort to allow negotiations of short sales with their company.

Northern California's MLS's & California Association of Realtors Statewide MLS

Except for this year, I have been a director of the Bay East Association of Realtors for over 11 years. I also sat on our MLS committee and the joint committee for Contra Costa, East Bay Regional and Bay East Associations and have been a CAR director since 1992. The MLS is forever changing and the politics just seem to be keeping us from having one Northern Calfornia MLS. Each association does feel they are looking out for the best interest of their members but the reality is that some just want to keep their positions (jobs), protect and keep other agents from selling in their areas and they do not keep in mind what is best for their members or sellers.

Most agents are not receiving the information regarding issues that are coming up within their MLS's and some agents have apathy. Below is some information that is happening in Northern California. The directors at the last couple of meetings at CAR overwhelmingly voted to have CAR move forward in putting together a statewide MLS. This is moving ahead very rapidly! What agents do not understand is that most of us will not sell out of our areas of expertise but we will be able to help our buyers and sellers find good information on properties in the areas in which they are relocating.

We need to start thinking outside the box and get rid of all these fears. We should also be asking questions and receiving proper information of the agents and/or brokers who are running the MLS's and ask them why they do not want to merge into one MLS which is in the best interest of their members. If we do not join forces and come together as one, then someone else might do it for us. We will then not have any control with our data.

Please read below what is happening in Northern California.

It has been difficult to keep up with everything that is going on regarding possible MLS mergers and other data consolidation efforts, especially since it has been changing so rapidly. Expanding our MLS coverage is a goal we have been trying to accomplish for some time. Over the past three years, several alternatives have been proposed. The primary one has been to merge with MLSListings Inc. (formerly NCREX) to form a Bay Area MLS. Unfortunately, this has not worked out because BAREIS (North Bay) and Metrolist (Sacramento valley area) declined to join the merger initially, and then both San Francisco and EBRD decided not to participate.

Although there are other concerns too, without EBRD as a member, merging with MLSListings Inc. would require our members to join two MLSs to get all of the East Bay listings, which would be a move in the wrong direction. Keeping the East Bay together on a single platform is critical to our members' ability to do business. Recognizing this, Bay East, Contra Costa Association and EBRD have agreed to remain on a single MLS platform for at least the next two years. After careful consideration, both Bay East and Contra Costa Associations' Boards of Directors have concluded that merging with MLSListings Inc. is not in the best interest of our members at this time, and the effort to do so has been terminated.

What other opportunities to expand MLS coverage beyond the East Bay have been considered?We have signed the Statement of Intent to take part in the CAR Statewide MLS Initiative, which demonstrates our support for the concept of a statewide MLS. This effort has already gained considerable support throughout the state. To-date, 59 associations and MLS (representing more than 200,000 agents and brokers in California) have signed the Statement of Intent. We have looked at QUATTRO, the data sharing solution that is being used by San Francisco, BAREIS and Metrolist that allows agents to input and search listings in each other's systems. We are also reviewing CARETS, the Southern California group that is currently merging the data from several MLSs into a single database.

The CARETS approach, with its uniform data content and simplified interface with existing MLS systems, appears to have some advantages that we feel are worth exploring further, and might even be something that could be included in CAR's Statewide MLS.Doesn't the CA MLS Alliance do what we need? It provides complete listing information from many of the largest Northern and Southern California MLSs?We believe the CA MLS Alliance (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001YJaQk_2HnRAC6qVHEyxQmb833MRQDj5cDWHrxeJlXgBvaK78JX_V0DCTA8es798Li0Mv9Xwj7VrvAj7dPAdZRxRVyPWUR8iuSlhW0d6sz-mgmtjoxNYMLw==) is an excellent data sharing product that meets many of our needs. But it falls short of being a unified MLS. It does not create a common set of rules for all participants. Brokers and agents may still have to belong to more than one MLS if they work across MLS boundaries. It does not have uniform information or report content or format. All of these things and more would be possible if there was a single MLS provider across the full area of interest.

Now that the CA MLS Alliance is available to our members, will we continue with the MLSXchange?The MLSXchange is no longer needed, now that the information from all participants is available from the CA MLS Alliance. Therefore, it will be stopped on Monday, April 21, 2008.

Amazing Site for Cookie Recipes!

This is remarkable! Even if you have no particular interest, please pass on to the bakers in your life. They'll appreciate it.
Just click on the name of the cookie and bam the recipe is there. Good to keep handy

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