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.

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/).

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

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

1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss Treats Taralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee Squares Traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies Traditional Gingerbread Men Cookies Triple-Chocolate Chip Cookies Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Waffer Balls Walnut Butter Cookies Walnut Crumb Bars White Chip Chocolate Cookies Wild Oatmeal Cookies Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms

WOW! New England's Largest MLS Joined with Zillow!!

WOW! The largest MLS in New England is really being progressive! They are the first MLS who recently joined with Zillow 's Listings Feed program to provide a daily feed of their active listings. Agents, MLS companies or vendors are allowed to upload listings to Zillow's site and can include a description of the property, photos, contact information of listing agent and links to the listing brokerage's website.

In my area some of us would love to see that happen but because we are on a joint platform of 3 MLS's the politics become a problem. Many agents have that fear of losing control of our information and "They" will take over! In my opinion the more information that the public can access the better off we will be as an industry! Realtor.com is a good example The public loves receiving the information We still have the buyers and sellers seeking out Realtors to negotiate and get them into a property.

Over the past six months, several top brokerages have signed similar deals with Zillow.com to participate in the Listings Feed program, including Realogy, RE/MAX Allegiance, Real Living, Prudential California/Nevada/Texas Realty and ERA Real Estate. Zillow also has forged partnerships with real estate publisher Network Communications, Inc. and some 282 newspapers across the country that now feed classified real estate listings to the site.

Great work New England for leading the way in our industry!!!

California's Prop 60 & 90! Are You Over 55?

Proposition 13 prohibits property tax increases until property ownership is changed.

If either spouse is over age 55 (when the old home is sold), PROP 60 allows replacement of a primary residence with a new home of equal or lesser value (but see below) within the same county and transfer of the Prop 13 assessed valuation from the old home to the new property. This is allowed once in your lifetime, if a spouse has done it before then the other spouse is prohibited from transferring his or her base.

PROP 90 allows counties to elect to accept transfers of Prop 13 values for moves from other counties when a primary residence is replaced with a less expensive (but see below) home. If you are over 55 and move into a county which accepts Prop 90, you may take your old, lower Prop 13 value, regardless of from which county you move.

Using Prop 90, you can sell your $400,000 Alameda home [assessed value $80,000] and move to a new $300,000 home in Alameda and the new Alameda assessed value will be $80,000!

7 COUNTIES WHICH ACCEPT PROP 90 (Current as of 6/1/2005) *Alameda, *Los Angeles, *Orange, *San Diego, *San Mateo, *Santa Clara, and *Ventura. accept Prop 90.

Contra Costa, Inyo, Kern, Riverside, Modoc, Monterey, and Marin have dropped out of the Prop 90 program. Props 60 and 90 apply if you purchase a home at an equal or lesser value than your old home.

If you purchase the New Home First then sell the Old Home, you must go down price. If you sell the Old Home first then buy the New Home: • In the first 365 days after the sale of Old Home, you may go up 5% in the purchase price of New Home. • If you buy New Home more than 1 year from the sale of Old Home, but less than 2 years, you may go up 10%. Some buyers can pay the commission outside of escrow to lower to sales price.

This information is not intended as legal advice, or guaranteed accurate, verified or complete. Specific situations may differ. Contact your attorney and/or county for information regarding any particular situation.

Hey Californians! Here is the Cell Phone Laws!!

It is about time that we have a new law regarding using cell phones while driving! It is very frustrating when motorists are inconsiderate on our roads because they do not pay attention while on their cell phones! Here are the facts about the new California law!!!

Wireless Telephone Laws FAQs

Two new laws dealing with the use of wireless telephones while driving go into effect July 1, 2008. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions concerning these new laws.

Q: When do the new wireless telephone laws take effect?
A: The new laws take effect July 1, 2008

Q: What is the difference between the two laws?
A: The first prohibits all drivers from using a handheld wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. (Vehicle Code (VC) §23123). Motorists 18 and over may use a hands-free device. Drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle(VC §23124).

Q: What if I need to use my telephone during an emergency, and I do not have a hands- free device?
A: The law allows a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department, or other emergency services agency.

Q: What are the fines if I'm convicted?
A: The base fine for the FIRST offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. According to the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, with the addition of penalty assessments, a first offense is $76 and a second offense is $190.

Q: Will I receive a point on my drivers license if I'm convicted for a violation of the wireless telephone law?
A: NO. The violation is a reportable offense: however, DMV will not assign a violation point.

Q: Will the conviction appear on my driving record?
A: Yes, but the violation point will not be added.

- more -

Q: Will there be a grace period when motorists will only get a warning?
A: NO. The law becomes in effect on July 1, 2008. Whether a citation is issued is always at the discretion of the officer based upon his or her determination of the most appropriate remedy for the situation.

Q: Are passengers affected by this law?
A: No. This law only applies to the person driving a motor vehicle.

Q: Do these laws apply to out-of-state drivers whose home states do not have such laws?
A: Yes

Q: Can I be pulled over by a law enforcement officer for using my handheld wireless telephone?
A: YES. A law enforcement officer can pull you over just for this infraction.

Q: What if my phone has a push-to-talk feature, can I use that?
A: No. The law does provide an exception for those operating a commercial motor truck or truck tractor (excluding pickups), implements of husbandry, farm vehicle or tow truck, to use a two-way radio operated by a "push-to-talk" feature.

Q: What other exceptions are there?
A: Operators of an authorized emergency vehicle during the course of employment are exempt as are those motorists operating a vehicle on private property

DRIVERS 18 AND OVER

Drivers 18 and over will be allowed to use a hands-free device to talk on their wireless telephone while driving. The following FAQs apply to those motorists 18 and over.

Q: Does the new "hands-free" law prohibit you from dialing a wireless telephone while driving or just talking on it?
A: The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving.
Q: Will it be legal to use a Blue Tooth or other earpiece?
A: Yes, however you cannot have BOTH ears covered.

Q: Does the new hands-free law allow you to use the speaker phone function of your wireless telephone while driving?
A: Yes.

Q: Does the new "hands-free" law allow drivers 18 and over to text page while driving?
A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer's opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Text paging while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.

- more -

DRIVERS UNDER 18
Q: Am I allowed to use my wireless telephone hands free?
A: NO. Drivers under the age of 18 may not use a wireless telephone, pager, laptop or any other electronic communication or mobile services device to speak or text while driving in any manner, even hands free. EXCEPTION: Permitted in emergency situations to call police, fire or medical authorities. (VC §23124).

Q: Why is the law stricter for provisional drivers?
A: Statistics show that teen drivers are more likely than older drivers to be involved in crashes because they lack driving experience and tend to take greater risks. Teen drivers are vulnerable to driving distractions such as talking with passengers, eating or drinking, and talking or texting on wireless phones, which increase the chance of getting involved in serious vehicle crashes.

Q: Can my parents give me permission to allow me to use my wireless telephone while driving?
A: NO. The only exception is an emergency situation that requires you to call a law enforcement agency, a health care provider, the fire department or other emergency agency entity.

Q: Does the law apply to me if I'm an emancipated minor?
A: Yes. The restriction applies to all licensed drivers who are under the age of 18.

Q: If I have my parent(s) or someone age 25 years or older in the car with me, may I use my wireless telephone while driving?
A: NO. You may only use your wireless telephone in an emergency situation.

Q: Will the restriction appear on my provisional license?
A: No

Q: May I use the hands-free feature while driving if my car has the feature built in?
A: NO. The law prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using any type of wireless device while driving, except in an emergency situation.

Q: Can a law enforcement officer stop me for using my hands-free device while driving?
A: No. For drivers under the age of 18, this is considered a SECONDARY violation meaning that a law enforcement officer may cite you for using a hands-free wireless phone if you were pulled over for another violation. However, the prohibition against using a handheld wireless telephone while driving is a PRIMARY violation for which a law enforcement officer can pull you over.

NAR Requests That we Send This Letter!

I constantly read emails from NAR and CAR to receive as much knowledge as I can regarding the real estate industry. Below is a letter from NAR requesting Realtors to send to their Congressperson and Senators to make the "Loan Limit Increase Key to FHA Reform Bill Permanent!"

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s): Your Congressperson Your Senators
Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Permanent Loan Limit Increase Key to FHA Reform Bill

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

As a constituent and a REALTOR, I want to stress how important it is for FHA reform legislation to be quickly enacted. These bills, passed the House and Senate in 2007, are now stalled in conference. Permanent increases in the FHA loan limits, lowered FHA downpayment requirements, and new opportunities for condominium purchases are needed to create safe and affordable mortgage options for our state's homebuyers and those wishing to refinance. These changes will also provide much needed stability to our local housing markets and economies.The new loan limits passed in the recently enacted Economic Stimulus bill will expire in less than 10 months. Dramatically reducing these limits at year's end will push our nation's fragile housing markets into turmoil once again. Realistic loan limits that permanently help ALL areas of the country are needed to bring stability to the marketplace.FHA's downpayment levels led many borrowers to opt for the exotic, risky mortgages that have been the hallmark of the foreclosure crisis. The FHA reform bills will allow FHA to modify downpayment requirements and offer flexible financing to eligible borrowers.In many areas of the country, condominiums remain the most affordable option for homeownership, but FHA owner/occupancy and documentation requirements, make it very difficult to purchase a condominium using FHA mortgage insurance. The FHA reform bills will move condominium financing programs into FHA's single-family program where they belong and ease the way for condominium purchases.We cannot wait any further for FHA reform. Pass a permanent FHA reform bill NOW to give American homebuyers and homeowners the peace of mind they so desperately need.

Sincerely,

Possible Relief to Credit Crisis?

We should almost be there...tomorrow?????

WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said new steps announced by the central bank Sunday should help squeezed financial institutions get cash infusions_ a fresh effort to provide relief to a spreading credit crisis that threatens to plunge the economy into recession.
The central bank approved a cut in its lending rate to financial institutions to 3.25 percent from 3.50 percent, effective immediately, and created another lending facility for big investment banks to secure short-term loans.

"These steps will provide financial institutions with greater assurance of access to funds," Bernanke told reporters in a brief conference call Sunday evening.

The new lending facility will be available to financial institutions on Monday.It will be in place for at least six months and "may be extended as conditions warrant," the Fed said. The interest rate will be 3.25 percent and a range of collateral - including investment-grade mortgage backed securities - will be accepted to back the loans.

The steps are "designed to bolster market liquidity and promote orderly market functioning," the Fed said in a statement. "Liquid well-functioning markets are essential for the promotion of economic growth."

Tired of High Gas Prices? Check This Out!

Find the Cheapest Gas Stations in Your Area!

I have this website on my Point 2 NLS website! I think we are all tired of the high gasoline prices! I wish the government would start helping the citizens of the United States with this issue and more! I received this site from a friend and I want to pass it along to everyone I can in order for us to receive a little bit of relief with the gasoline crisis! I hope it helps you. If the link doesn't work, go to my www.JeanSellsDreams.com website and the link is located as one of the menu items on the left.

http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx

Get Energy From Good Fats!

I was referred by a good friend who is a Holistic Veterinarian to http://www.trivita.com/. This website has great information and products to improve our health. The one item Ialways take daily is their vitamin B-12 and I feel it really works! Here is a little bit of Tivitas newsletter.

The inside scoop on calories and fats Do you know what a calorie is? It's a measurement of energy. More specifically, it's the amount of potential energy stored in any food we eat. Generally speaking, both protein and carbohydrate foods each contain about four calories per gram. Fats, in comparison, have more than twice the calories and twice the potential energy per gram (note: 28.3 grams=1 ounce). So for long-term energy and stamina, think fats!
Small snacks with powerhouse fats

English walnuts - It takes about 100 calories of energy for me to walk a mile, and about 130 calories to run one mile. A one-ounce serving of English walnuts (about 7 pieces) provides 180 calories of energy - that's enough fat energy for me to walk nearly two miles or to run 1¼ miles! Plus, walnuts are very high in Omega-3 fats.

Avocado - It takes about 250 calories of energy for me to ride a stationary bicycle for 30 minutes (average speed 10 mph). That's about the amount of energy in a small avocado, a very delicious fruit containing high levels of beneficial fats.

Green olives - It takes about 140 calories for me to swim 20 laps in the pool. That's about the same amount of energy found in a small serving of green olives (my favorites!). The olive oil is beneficial for your heart and brain, as well as serving as a natural antibiotic. It is one of the most healthful oils for your body and like other sources of fat, it's filled with lots of potential energy.
Calories in, calories outFor any single day, whenever you don't use up all the food energy you consume, the excess energy is stored in fat cells as triglycerides. In other words, you gain fat. Conversely, whenever you use up more energy in a day than you consume, that deficit will likely be taken from fat stored in fat cells (the exception to this is when you are under severe stress). Here, you'll lose fat, which is a very good thing for most North Americans.

The good, the bad and the ugly Fats contain more than twice as much potential energy as protein and carbohydrates. For instance, Omega 3 fats are absolutely vital for your brain and heart - so much so that a neurologist said that "Omega-3 is to the brain what calcium is to the bones." Some sound advice: eat small portions of good fats every day and eat more fat when you need more energy - for instance, on a long hike.

Certain good fats are not found in the diets of people in developed countries. Or, at the very least, they are not eaten with the same regularity as they were in past times. If we do not have enough good fats in our diet, our health will suffer in many ways. The internal organs and hormones made up from these fats will not function correctly. Our brain will literally shrink without good fats. We will have blood sugar and hormone imbalances. We may even have a heart attack without enough good fats. Therefore, it's important that we select a good balance of fats in our diet and also include a high quality, Omega essential fatty acid supplement. Omega-3 supplements are perhaps the most important supplement we can take.

Some fats are inherently bad. No matter what foods they're found in they are always bad for you. Both trans-fats and hydrogenated fats fall into this category. Never eat them. Fortunately, neither of these fats occur in nature. So, as long as you are eating whole foods that have not been processed or over-cooked, you are unlikely to be poisoned by these bad fats.

Finally, as with all foods, you can over-consume even the good fats - it's like getting too much of a good thing. This is the ugly side of dietary fats. High fat foods provide a lot of energy. If you do not plan to burn off that energy, be sure to eat very little of these foods. Otherwise, unused stores of excess energy will appear in ugly places!