bay area: Silicon Valley Housing Market Update - July 2007 - 07/26/07 05:40 AM
It's all about proximity. This month, I took a look at the semi-annual statistics aggregated for the first-half of the year so that my clients can get a good look at the overall trends, as opposed to the bumps in the road.
The story isn't about the median prices, which are charted … (0 comments)
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bay area: Silicon Valley Housing Market Update - July 2007 - 07/23/07 11:53 PM
It's all about proximity. This month, I took a look at the semi-annual statistics aggregated for the first-half of the year so that my clients can get a good look at the overall trends, as opposed to the bumps in the road.
The story isn't about the median prices, which are … (0 comments)
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bay area: The Thought Process Behind Making an Offer on a Home - 06/29/07 03:43 AM
The words will sound like they make perfect sense: "If we make an offer, we should make it to win." Even though his eyes were scanning the path from the patio, through the living room into the kitchen, his expression was motionless as he finished his sentence.
It was coming towards the … (0 comments)
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bay area: Unearthing School Gems in the Bay Area - 06/16/07 04:37 AM
Palo Alto, Saratoga, Los Altos, Cupertino, Pleasanton. The names alone read like a Who's Who list of elite school districts, not only in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, but across California and even nationwide.
Some of the best Bay Area school districts like Palo Alto are even opting out … (0 comments)
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bay area: Treating a Home Sale Like a Job Interview - 06/10/07 12:52 AM
It's a job interview, for a position that lasts for anywhere from the next few years to decades into the future. And there are hundreds, if not thousands, of candidates eager to be the chosen one. Some candidates don't make the cut because they're too far from work or they … (0 comments)
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bay area: Getting an Edge When Selling a Home Using Small Details - 06/02/07 07:11 PM
Empathy. We stepped outside for the moment to envision how our interview candidate would look to prospective buyers. Over the years, she'd gotten used to the loose handle on the front door and always liked to tell the story about an obscure dark stain on the well-used living room carpet. Her … (0 comments)
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bay area: Cupertino Wireless Services Survey - 05/30/07 06:54 PM
The City of Cupertino would like community assistance in determining their priorities with respect to wireless internet and cell phone service. The Technology, Information and Communications Commission (TICC) has setup a confidential survey for residents at this URL: http://www.cupertino.org/wireless/
This survey is available to anyone who lives or works in Cupertino and … (0 comments)
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bay area: The Inside of a Property Only Tells Half the Story - 05/30/07 04:31 AM
The model was open on this semi-clear Sunday and several families with their babies in tow were touring what was an exciting new opening in the area. There was a lot of buzz in the air and the rep definitely had his hands full that day. If you picked up the … (1 comments)
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bay area: Making Your Transition to a New Home Easier Using Contracts - 05/25/07 02:01 AM
It really depends on the market. Sometimes they come in droves, other times you have to offer freshly-baked cookies. Sometimes you can't drive a block without seeing what you want, other times you have to fish for pocket listings. You may not be able to plan precisely when you'll sell your … (1 comments)
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bay area: Preparation for Moving Up - 05/25/07 01:58 AM
"I love it," she said. Everything about their current home was serviceable, but from the granite island with inset burners in the kitchen to the Juliet balcony overlooking the main entryway, just walking through this Silicon Valley house made them feel more alive. We'd already done the calculations, gotten pre-qualified, and … (0 comments)
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bay area: Sunnyvale Town Center Demolition Under Way - 05/15/07 02:59 PM
The long-awaited tear down of Sunnyvale Town Center's main building, in favor of a more open and walkable layout, has begun. Target and Macy's are open during this deconstruction effort but the parking lot in front of the west side Macy's entrance is currently closed. You can find more information about … (1 comments)
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bay area: Finding a Fit - 05/11/07 01:23 PM
How do you define what a great place to live is? I walked up and down the streets of this neighborhood carefully observing how they reacted to it. It's those details that are important. After all, there's a double-edged sword here early on in an agent-client relationship: most clients recognize the … (0 comments)
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bay area: Reasons People Stop Renting - 05/03/07 06:21 AM
Jet black and brand new. You could see this car from all the way on the other end of the garage. It was never well-lighted in this Silicon Valley complex but you could still see the Cadillac's moonlit reflection, like a soft white halo. There was talk about added security, … (0 comments)
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bay area: AMC Cupertino Square 16 Now Open - 05/01/07 04:13 AM
The AMC movie theater at Cupertino Square opened Friday with a noon ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Cupertino Mayor Kris Wang.
Automated movie ticket pods are available in the lobby next to the escalator and you can also purchase tickets at the traditional AMC ticket booth or online. The new Cupertino Square … (0 comments)
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bay area: Emotions in Real Estate: From Fear to Elation - 04/26/07 04:12 AM
"It's yours!" About ten seconds after hanging up with the selling agent, I couldn't wait to deliver the news. This had been something he'd been waiting years for and today was the day. And after those two words, the only thing on the line was stunned silence! A combination of elation, … (2 comments)
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bay area: Sequoia Union High School District Distinguished School Winners - 04/24/07 02:14 AM
Sequoia Union covers a wide stretch of Silicon Valley and the Peninsula, serving the San Mateo County cities of Atherton, Belmont, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, and Woodside.
Three of Sequoia Union's four comprehensive education high schools (Sequoia Union has one vocational high school) won this … (0 comments)
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bay area: Fremont Union High School Distinguished School Winners - 04/24/07 02:12 AM
Fremont Union primarily covers the Silicon Valley staples, Cupertino and Sunnyvale, but also includes areas of other Santa Clara County cities including Los Altos, Saratoga, and San Jose.
Three of Fremont Union's five high schools received the California Distinguished School award this year. Monta Vista High School and Lynbrook High have both … (0 comments)
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bay area: Silicon Valley Distinguished Schools - 04/24/07 02:10 AM
The California Department of Education (CDE) just released the recipients of its California Distinguished Schools award, which honors the "exemplary and inspiring" schools across the state.
Typically only 5% of schools are awarded with the California Distinguished School title, which schools are allowed to use for four years --- and in … (0 comments)
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bay area: AMC Cupertino Square Ribbon Cutting - 04/21/07 02:15 PM
Progress has been steady and the day's been set. I confirmed that, beginning Monday of next week, Cupertino Square will be holding several charity events (though they aren't open to the public) leading up to the ribbon cutting at the AMC Cupertino Square 16 movie theater on Friday, April 27. More … (0 comments)
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bay area: Silicon Valley Housing Market Update (April 2007) Continued - 04/16/07 02:35 AM
I mentioned in my Silicon Valley Housing Market Update - April 2007, that the recent 9.2% increase in single-family home prices year-over-year in Santa Clara County wasn't necessarily bad news for most buyers. Then I left a cliffhanger for Sunday.
I've updated the article with the reasons why and where there … (0 comments)
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bay area: The Hidden Beauty of Cupertino Wine Country - 04/14/07 03:15 AM
On cue, our feathered friend hopped up onto the wine barrel and struck a pose. He was the photogenic one. A friend of his was laying in the shade preening himself and another went roaming the grounds for bugs, but that wasn't him.
No, he'd been following some of the other … (2 comments)
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bay area: AMC Cupertino Square Coming Together - 04/06/07 02:28 AM
Going up? Cupertino Square pulled the wraps off the construction they're doing on the AMC theater set to open in April.
Stairway to heaven? Normally an escalator wouldn't be that interesting, but in this case it's the visual centerpiece of the Vallco revitalization.
The entire area had previously been cloistered away behind … (1 comments)
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bay area: Silicon Valley School District Bang-for-the-Buck - 04/01/07 06:40 PM
Original Article: Silicon Valley School District Bang-for-the-Buck
I've assembled information from the California Department of Education site and the Palo Alto Daily News to provide a table of school district API averages for Silicon Valley and Bay Area elementary and middle schools.
Here are the API values for these Silicon Valley school … (2 comments)
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bay area: You Can Learn a Great Deal From a Rant - 03/26/07 09:18 PM
I sat in the office of another client, across from him and his dustless mahogany desk. I briefly peered out towards the Silicon Valley hills through the shades of the window behind him before he lifted his brow from thought. He muttered cautiously, "That's a good question…" and placed his chin … (4 comments)
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bay area: One Lazy Saturday at Shoreline Park - Mountain View - 03/25/07 04:25 PM
I'd completely forgotten and now I was regretting it. I pulled in past the gate to Shoreline Park, which hasn't been manned in years --- or at least I hadn't seen anyone there --- and into the parking lot where they fly all those beautiful kites on Saturday afternoons. … (1 comments)
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bay area: Mortgage Rates Are Low Without Exclamation Points - 03/24/07 12:27 AM
There are three key facts to note about current interest rates. These facts are based on the data the Federal Reserve has published on the internet for the period from April 1971 to February 2007. The statistics are for 30-year fixed mortgages.
1/ The average interest rate over that period was … (0 comments)
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bay area: Villagio Cupertino - Civic Park Lane - 03/20/07 06:34 PM
Centrally located in Cupertino on Civic Park Lane, the Silverstone Communities Villagio is less than one mile from Symantec world headquarters and less than two miles from Apple's world headquarters and Hewlett-Packard's massive Cupertino complex.
The eight-building complex targets high-tech workers with standard connectivity pre-wired. Cable TV outlets and four telephone … (0 comments)
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bay area: Walking Tour of Santana Row - 03/20/07 03:27 AM
Who says startup companies are the only reason Silicon Valley is glamorous? Who says you need to head up to San Francisco for the urban scene?Santana Row is a uniquely Northern Californian fusion of design, culture and accessibility, recreating the atmosphere of Paris' Champs Elysees using a distinctly Silicon Valley neo-Mediterranean … (3 comments)
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bay area: Silicon Valley Farmers Markets - 03/18/07 12:24 AM
One great way to spend weekend mornings is to check out the freshest produce, delivered right into your town by the local Northern California farmers. Not only do you get to pick from the best fruits and vegetables the area has to offer, but you also help your dollars go back … (2 comments)
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bay area: Being Upside-Down: Not Just for Mortgages - 03/18/07 12:21 AM
The beauty of real estate is that you can apply a lot of its concepts to other areas. In this case, Money Crashers writes about being upside-down on a car loan and bootstrapping your way out of a situation where you owe more on the loan than your car is worth. … (0 comments)
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bay area: Bay Area Hiking Trail Updates - 03/12/07 02:54 AM
Howdy, I've folks updated my article on Walking Tours and Hiking Trails Galore
to include another great Bay Area hiking site that has detailed
pictures of the flora, fauna, creepy crawlies, and other skeptical
natives you might encounter on your next outdoor adventure. Oh, and
it's got my two favorite trails … (0 comments)
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bay area: AP Reports Gas Tops $3 in California, Locals Thank Sherlock Holmes for Update - 03/08/07 05:37 AM
The reality of Silicon Valley is that you need a car to get most places you'd actually need (or want) to get to on a regular basis. This is unfortunate because other urban-suburban regions have shown that it's both possible and practical. Boston, for example, has the amazingly interconnected T which … (0 comments)
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bay area: Heaven for Bay Area Mall Rats - 03/05/07 10:51 PM
Ever wondered how your favorite shopping mall rates or whether there might be a much nicer one within a few minutes of where you're going now? Scott Parsons of the BIGMallRat Guide to Shopping Malls has a solution.
His site focuses on Northern California and Reno, Nevada and rates some of … (0 comments)
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bay area: Bedford Square Mountain View - 03/05/07 02:15 AM
While folks are moving into the Bedford Square master-planned community in July, they've already sold out the first of their six phases. Its location in Mountain View right along the border of neighboring Sunnyvale is close to many major employers in the Silicon Valley.
Even in the rain that day, it was … (0 comments)
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bay area: 511.org: New Carpoolers Get Free Gas and Safeway Gift Cards - 03/04/07 10:46 PM
Whoever said "virtue is its own reward" didn't know that the 511 Rideshare Rewards Program is giving away up to $100 in gasoline and Safeway gift cards to new carpoolers in the Bay Area.
To encourage Silicon Valley commuters to make the switch from "California carpools" (you know, where everyone going … (0 comments)
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bay area: Quick Fixes to Sell Your House Faster - 03/04/07 02:32 PM
Sometimes good real estate stories don't come from real estate. This was a lesson in paying attention to detail which I experienced (carelessly, mea culpa) some years back. I've told clients and prospects this story and they've reacted well to it so I figured I'd share it here.
I wanted to … (0 comments)
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bay area: Metropolitan at Cupertino: Convenient and Contemporary - 02/27/07 05:20 PM
The Metropolitan is a brand new community of townhomes and condominiums located in central Cupertino just steps away from Cupertino Square (formerly Vallco). This modern complex is a high-tech worker's dream, only minutes away from Apple's world headquarters and HP Cupertino, among other tech campuses.
When I visited, I noticed … (0 comments)
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bay area: How Far Would You Go To Lower Your Landscaping Costs? - 02/26/07 01:05 AM
Six billion dollars. $6 billion. That's what Americans spend each and every year on caring for their lawns according to Warren Schultz, author of The Chemical-Free Lawn.
But the growing trend among homeowners, particularly those with already precious little spare time and owners of investment properties. This trend involves words that … (3 comments)
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bay area: Silicon Valley Neighbors, Mountain Lions - 02/21/07 02:19 PM
Responding to reports about mountain lions sunbathing at the Fremont BART station, California Department of Fish and Game officials flew over the area with a helicopter and heat-sensing equipment but didn't find the offending felines.
When I first moved to Silicon Valley almost a decade ago... I spent a lot of time … (2 comments)
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bay area: What the CHP Is Helping Me Give Up for Lent: Speeding - 02/20/07 02:18 AM
Happy Mardi Gras everyone! If you're not in New Orleans (like me), you're missing out on the best reason ever concocted to throw a party on a Tuesday. According to the folks on KGO today, my hometown hotels are 95% booked and people are having fun and spending cash there like … (0 comments)
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bay area: Cupertino Square: Update on AMC, Bowling Alley - 02/19/07 12:12 AM
According to the Cupertino Courier, the former Vallco (which is going to be renovated and renamed Cupertino Square) is getting a brand new high-end bowling alley, to be named "Strike." Mall general manager Mike Rohde uses the words "progressive" and "modern-looking" to describe the 38000 sqaure foot addition. The renovation's centerpiece … (0 comments)
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bay area: Vision North San Jose Gets Boost - 02/13/07 04:01 PM
Just last March, redevelopment plan for North San Jose was stuck --- tangled in a lawsuit by neighboring cities Santa Clara and Milpitas over traffic flow.
The plantiffs contended that the proposed redevelopment would create population growth and traffic problems that would spill over into neighboring cities as well as I-880.
How … (0 comments)
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bay area: Santana Row: Silicon Valley's Urban Oasis - 02/12/07 01:30 AM
Santana Row has been described as a cutout of Paris' Champs Elysees transplanted to Silicon Valley. Its main thoroughfare, which gives name to the neighborhood, is the backbone of this urban oasis, lined with luxury stores and a variety of restaurants.
And when the weekend comes, so do the luxury cars … (0 comments)
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bay area: Goodbye Vallco, Hello Cupertino Square - 02/11/07 03:48 AM
The 80's neon-and-hair relic Vallco Fashion Park in Cupertino lost its battle with Westfield's Valley Fair Mall long ago and was pushed further into complete obscurity by Santana Row.
It's hard to call Santana Row a shopping mall given its balance of city living and planned but not completely contrived urban … (1 comments)
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bay area: Downtown Sunnyvale Revitalization Gets Desperately Needed Kickstart - 02/10/07 01:44 AM
Revitalization of Sunnyvale's downtown area has been an on again, off again, on again, but mostly off again scenario, and the centerpiece of downtown Sunnyvale, the Town Center mall, has been closed for quite a while with the exception of the Macy's and Target anchor stores.
Sunnyvale has a suburban image, … (0 comments)
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bay area: When Not to Buy a House - 02/06/07 09:54 PM
You've probably heard all the perks about buying a house and how it's the centerpiece of the American Dream. But the American Dream is less about possessing the house itself than the improvement you expect in your lifestyle when you own a home.
There are times when buying a house isn't … (0 comments)
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bay area: Lies, Damn Lies, and Mary Poppins? - 02/02/07 01:28 PM
I read the San Jose Mercury News article titled "Bay Area homes' price down 1.4% from a year ago" and pictured yet another heated discussion between the two propaganda crowds.
You know, the ones who blindly say the sky is or isn't falling and the others who always carry around steel-reinforced umbrellas, … (0 comments)
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bay area: Top Things to Know When Buying a Home - 02/02/07 02:49 AM
Buying the perfect home requires knowledge and preparation. CNNMoney.com has a surprisingly insightful list of top things you need to know when buying a house, but there are a couple adjustments that need to be made for Northern California.
CNNMoney.com's #3. Debt vs. Income
Housing affordability in the Bay Area is definitely … (0 comments)
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bay area: "The Sky Is Falling!" and Other Fairy Tales - 02/01/07 03:14 AM
First some numbers: the Wall Street Journal reports that Silicon Valley added 30,000 new jobs last year and that unemployment in Silicon Valley dropped to 4%, down from a peak of 8% in 2002. The average salary here is up 4% from last year to $74,302 according to the same report. … (0 comments)
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bay area: How Long Will My Silicon Valley Commute Take? - 01/30/07 01:30 PM
Traffic in the Bay Area is predictably unpredictable. Fortunately, 511.org provides real-time traffic updates that are accessible over the web or from your phone by dialing 5-1-1. There is also a test site where you can customize your driving time updates for up to four trips.
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511.org covers the entire … (0 comments)
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bay area: Existing Home Sales Across U.S. Plummet: Silicon Valley Take - 01/27/07 05:27 PM
Local station CBS5.com reports that existing home sales dropped sharply in 2006 across the country.
2005 was the peak of this recent real estate boom and during that year a whopping 40% of all home sales were to investors or people buying vacation homes, according to David Lereah, chief economics … (0 comments)
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bay area: California Mortgage Defaults Hit 8-Year High - 01/25/07 12:23 AM
That's the headline from the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The San Jose Mercury News states it more plainly as "More Californians fall behind on their mortgages."
Impact on Silicon Valley
So what's the impact here in Silicon Valley? "None right now. Literally none," according to John Karevoll, who works at DataQuick, the … (3 comments)
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bay area: Finding the Right Silicon Valley Public School - 01/24/07 02:06 AM
Choosing the right school for your children is such an important decision that it may help determine where you decide to live. It's not a simple choice, but with the right resources, you can be confident in your decision.
Standardized Test Scores.
The California Department of Education measures the academic … (0 comments)
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bay area: Do We Really Need More Sites That Post House Listings? - 01/23/07 01:50 PM
I'm not an MLS apologist. I believe that information wants to be free and that agents should be good interpreters of information and not gatekeepers, but we're coming to a point where listing real estate is going to get much worse before it gets better.
While Zillow.com made the big splash in … (4 comments)
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bay area: How Much House Can I Afford? (Part 2 of 2) - 01/22/07 08:49 PM
In Part 1, we talked about the financial half of deciding how much house you can afford. But how happy you are after buying the house depends on how well you balance the financial of your decision with the psychological ones. Is More Really Better?Hugh Chou writes an excellent article, "How … (1 comments)
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bay area: Empowering Yourself Through Your Credit Rating - 01/20/07 02:02 AM
Your FICO score is the number makes-or-breaks your ability to buy a house and determines whether you get the best rates or get charged enormous fees. You can directly affect the strength of your credit and, in turn, how much your dream house really costs you.
When applying for a mortgage, … (1 comments)
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bay area: How Much House Can I Afford? (Part 1 of 2) - 01/19/07 01:22 PM
As with most decisions when buying a house, figuring out how much house you can afford is half financial and half psychological. How happy you are after your purchase depends on how well you balance the two.
The Financial HalfHow much of a house you can afford financially boils down … (0 comments)
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bay area: The Ultimate Silicon Valley Public Transportation Wizard - 01/18/07 01:48 PM
Navigating the acronym soup of only Bay Area public transportation systems is much easier because of the 511.org TakeTransit Trip Planner. Just enter your starting point and destination, and it'll tell you not only what to take, but provide you schedule info and how much it will cost.
The system … (0 comments)
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bay area: Don't Get Financially Drawn-and-Quartered - 01/17/07 03:10 PM
Here's a realistic scenario about a family that is upgrading to a new house where the sale for the old one fell through. The question is: what would you do now?
Unfortunately, a great way of dealing with Catch-22 situations is to avoid them completely. It's a matter of clearly communicating what … (0 comments)
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bay area: Walking Tours and Hiking Trails Galore - 01/16/07 03:25 PM
With an exciting name like The Association of Bay Area Governments, you just know that they'll provide a veritable cornucopia of fun.
But their impressive guided photo tours of Bay Area waterfront trails document some of the most amazing views of Silicon Valley and the surrounding areas you'll find anywhere. … (0 comments)
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bay area: How Much Should You Allocate as a Down Payment - 01/15/07 11:39 PM
Traditionally, people put 20% of the purchase price as a down payment when buying a home. You would pay this 20% upfront as a "cash" down payment through a cashiers check or by wiring money to the seller, and get a mortgage to pay them the remaining 80% of the price … (0 comments)
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bay area: Support for Silicon Valley Mothers - 01/14/07 04:05 PM
Parents who take care of babies and young children sometimes want to connect with other parents to feel a sense of community and support.
There are a number of groups all over the Bay Area that are dedicated to helping working and stay-at-home mothers (and sometimes dads) connect with others, … (0 comments)
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