Eagle Ridge Blog

Halloween traditions in Eagle Ridge

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:55:22 -0500

Eagle Ridge and the missing Phantom Ghost of Halloween

The tradition of the Phantom Ghost of Halloween started a number of years ago here in the community of Eagle Ridge.

It was a few weeks before Halloween on a dark evening when there was a knock on our door.

My little girl and I looked at each other; we didn't expect anyone! Who could that be? We carefully checked and opened the door but nobody was there. We looked up and down the street but not a soul in sight. Then we spotted the little bag on the doormat. It was a gift from the mysterious Phantom Ghost of Halloween. The bag held goodies and instructions; we were to mark our door so others would know we were struck by the Phantom Ghost of Halloween and copy the instructions and make three goodie bags for other neighbors. We promptly complied and before Halloween many of our neighbors were struck by the Phantom Ghost of Halloween.

The following year the Phantom Ghost came back for a visit and on Halloween we were amazed at the number of neighbors spread throughout the community who were visited by this Ghost. A tradition was born.

Something happened this year however; I have not spotted any doors struck by the Phantom Ghost of Halloween. Where is he? Is the economy wearing us down so much that we stop caring about Halloween and traditions? Just a few years after the tradition started I noticed that he didn't appear as usual and my daughter and i made the first three bags. Today I have to admit that it is too late to do so. Now that our children are almost grown up who will decorate for Halloween now?

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

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The Simple Skillet - sponsor your local business in Gilroy

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:20:32 -0500

Sponsor your Local Business – The Simple Skillet

Many years ago in another lifetime when my children were very young as a busy mom I would plan our meals for the coming week on index cards going through many cookbooks and spending a "good" time with them and generating shopping lists on the back. At the end of the week I would file them and start all over again. Over the years our meal choices changed when we became vegetarian and my database of recipes didn't work so well anymore. I am glad to discover that I don't have to start all over again because now there is The Simple Skillet a much better system; it is computerized and customized.

Chris Louie had a vision to help other busy people with the planning of healthy and balanced meals and thanks to that vision The Simple Skillet was created. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the daily chores, activities and the running around which leaves you little time to plan and cook a meal I have a solution for you. Join the Simple Skillet meal planning service for less than a dollar a day and forget the drive-thru of the fast food restaurant for your next dinner.

The Simple Skillet is a web based company located in Gilroy, California. Chris Louie launched her company and website last year and already it has grown quite a bit both in numbers and members.

The Simple Skillet is a site that plans healthy meals and offers helpful information from nutritional facts to grocery shopping lists.

Membership benefits include

a balanced and nutritious meal plan. Members receive six dinner and side dish recipes with dessert or beverage.
Automated grocery list which saves time; forget the multiple trips to the grocery store
Customizable menus which are easy to make
helping the Simple Skillet with their fundraising efforts (more on that later)
you never have to worry about what to cook for dinner.

Chris and her staff have made it easy for busy families to get together for a healthy family dinner.

The Simple Skillet is now sponsoring a fundraiser for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Subscribers will receive a 15% discount of the annual subscription price ($48.00) and the Second Harvest Food Bank will receive 20% of the cost of the subscription. Enter code “secondharvest” when subscribing to the Simple Skillet online in order to get the discount. You can also donate money to the Second Harvest Food Bank on her site.

Chris now offers a free 30 day trial to her meal planning service.

For more information on her company and benefits contact Chris or visit the Simple Skillet website.

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Morgan Hill Centennial Recreation Center is Expanding

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:13:32 -0500

Morgan Hill Centennial Recreation Center has outgrown their fitness facility after three years and is expanding.

The Centennial Recreation Center on 171 W. Edmundson Ave, in Morgan Hill started the expansion project this week and expects completion by April 2010. This beautiful environmentally green facility has outgrown the fitness facility as is evident at peak hours. During the summer months the facility is packed all hours of the day and the parking lot is full all the time because of all the many activities offered in the direct area.

Thanks to the residents of Morgan Hill who voted to fund the local redevelopment agency in the 1990s the city now has a wonderful parks and recreation program. The Centennial Recreation Center, (also called CRC), Aquatic center and dog park are a direct result of their forward thinking.

Morgan Hill has improved a number of park and recreation facilities, such as the aquatic center and soccer complex adjacent to it; the dog and skate board park both across the street of the CRC. The only problem I see with the expansion project is that the parking problem will only get worse.

As a resident of Gilroy I couldn't imagine why the city of Morgan Hill needed another recreation facility with indoor pool when they had a beautiful and expensive state of the art aquatic center on the east side of town. Little did I know at the time how important this facility is for not only the residents of Morgan Hill but surrounding communities such as Gilroy and San Martin who are benefiting too. For years I wanted to belong to a fitness facility but every time I showed up at my local gym to sign up I turned home without a membership. It just didn't feel right for me. When I toured the CRC a few days before opening day in October 2006 I felt at home right away and signed up as a member. I had some concerns that it would be too far away for me to regularly work out but it is not. As a matter of fact I run into acquaintances from Gilroy all the time.

The facility opened at a cost of almost $28 million. It is roughly 52,000 square feet and with the new construction they are adding about 2000 square feet to the fitness facility which will add more cardiovascular machines and enlarge the free weight area. Currently the center has some 3000 members. It is operated by a unique partnership between the City of Morgan Hill and the YMCA of Santa Clara County.

Visit the city's website for a sneak peak at drawings of the expansion.

The facility is bright and clean and spacious. When you enter the building from either the parking lot or the W. Edmundson side you step into a large lobby, which is the center of the community dividing it into the fitness center on one side and the Kids Zone, Senior Center, Teen Center on the other side. The staff is wonderful and offer personal training, classes such as Zumba, Kickboxing, Yoga including classes for beginners, boot camp, spin classes, Pilates, and more. It also offers classes for seniors and families. The Fitlinxx computer system keeps track of my fitness goals and keeps me motivated. The large gym hosts a number of leagues but also has open gym and is my daughter's favorite place for a game of volleyball. The center also hosts health and wellness fairs

The Morgan Hill CRC now has its own Facebook fan page.

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Housing Crisis Investigation - and YOU thought you had problems in the current real estate market - guess again!

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:53:49 -0500

Housing Crisis Investigation - And YOU thought you had problems in the current real estate market - guess again!

Just about everyone has been affected by the sluggish economy and the problems in the real estate market.

Take for instance this very well-known person, as a matter of fact he is considered the spill of the economic recovery or chaos depending on how you look at it, who is also a victim of the economic and housing mess we find ourselves in.

I just saw a funny video clip on the Agent Inner Circle on the problems of the housing market which I wanted to share with you if you hadn't seen it already.

It is a clip from The Daily Show

Anja Kerstens

Eagle Ridge Realty

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Oktoberfest at Eagle Ridge

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:18:18 -0500

Oktoberfest at Eagle Ridge Golf Course Community

A few dedicated Eagle Ridge women are organizing the second Oktoberfest at Eagle Ridge which is sponsored by the Eagle Ridge Home Owners Association. This evening of fun and fine food will take place on September 4, 2009 at the Eagle Ridge Golf Clubhouse on Club Drive. There will be a "No Host" bar, German food, German beer and dancing with The Internationals. The cost is $55 per person but Eagle Ridge residents will get a $10 discount since the Home Owners Association is sponsoring the evening. You can make arrangements by contacting the Home Owners Association of Eagle Ridge at 408-846-9735.

The Eagle Ridge Home Owners Association sponsors several events a year. The Social Committee also organizes the annual New Year's Eve Party, and earlier this year a Casino Night

Eagle Ridge residents get together regularly for organized events such as Bunko evenings, book club, gourmet dinner club, walks, tennis, golf, etc. I would say that we have a pretty nice community here in the foothills of Gilroy. One can get involved as much or as little as one wants.

Anja K. Kertens

Eagle Ridge Realty and Signature Homes and Estates

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Eagle Ridge Market Update

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:36:39 -0500

Eagle Ridge Market Update

Eagle Ridge Golf Course Community in Gilroy is definitely a very desirable place to live. The proof is there: homes listed for sale in Eagle Ridge are selling quickly. In the last 6 days 4 homes went under contract ranging in price from $605,900 to $834,900 (another Eagle Ridge Realty listing) and ranging in size from 2808 to 4095 square feet.

Currently there are 18 homes under contract and 13 active listings ranging from $525,000 to $1,099,000.

If you would like to live in this very desirable community contact us for a showing or free Market Analysis of your current home.

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

First time home buyers beware

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:29:15 -0500

First Time Home Buyers Beware - You are running out of time.

Prices are down, sales are up and many first time home buyers are back and ready to purchase their first home. If you are a first time home buyer you don't want to wait too much longer because the deadline for the $8,000 first time home buyers tax credit is approaching soon. This tax incentive is expiring on November 30th at 12 midnight. First time home buyers will have to complete the purchase of the property under contract before this deadline.

That means that first time home buyers will have to find a property AND be under contract before the end of September 2009. It takes 2 months on average to close a sale; mortgage approvals take longer, appraisals are also delayed under the new HVCC regulations that took affect on May 1, 2009 and properties for sale receive multiple offers often close to or more than list price.

First time home buyers: don't delay and wait until time is running out. Now is the time to look for your first home.

If I can help you find property or you need more information on this or other subjects please feel free to contact me.

Anja Kerstens

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

The Great Escape - Perfect Photo Opportunity at Carmel Beach

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:56:44 -0500

Perfect Photo Opportunity at Carmel Beach

The beach in Carmel is just a short drive away from Gilroy, California but the difference in temperature can be very great. Gilroy was steaming with temperatures in the 90's this weekend but Carmel was breezy and a bit cool. Perfect to escape the heat.

Our dog is so much part of our family that we pick Carmel as our favorite beach because she can have as much fun as we do. She hates the pool but loves the beach and will play with the waves and the us until it is time to go home. Most of the time we end a perfect day at Carmel beach with a dinner in Carmel. Carmel has some great restaurants which cater to your pet too. Carmel is very dog friendly and many stores and restaurants offer a bowl of water and treats for your four legged friend.

This dog got some shades on and was the perfect model for many visitors who stopped by to shoot her picture. Of course she could go anywhere.

You think you have a cute dog? What about this one?

This Golden loves the water but hates the pool.

Anja Kerstens

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Real Estate Market Trends - Prices and Sales are Increasing

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:47:41 -0500

Real Estate market Trends - prices and sales are increasing

After one year of falling prices and home sales the market is hotter than ever. This spring the increase in sales activity was higher than we normally see in the spring. In Santa Clara County sales are up 29% but prices are down 26% compared to the same period last year.

I had the pleasure of attending one of the very fine seminars at the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors yesterday and listen to NAR's Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, Ph.D. as he talked about current Real Estate markets, his interpretations of the statistics reflecting both past and present trends and where he predicts it will head in the near and far future.

In the last few years real estate prices dropped so fast and so steep that buyers got out of the market and cautiously followed the implosion from the side lines. Now thanks to government incentives such as the $8,000 first time homebuyer credit and $10,000 new construction purchase credit, and other factors such as low prices and plenty of inventory, has brought the buyers and inventors back to the real estate market and they are ready to purchase. As a matter of fact sales numbers are higher this spring than the same period in 2008.

Currently a large portion of the inventory is distressed properties such as bank owned (and thus foreclosed) and short sale properties. There is still a fair amount of "conventional" sales (not distressed).

It takes longer to close distressed properties and there are a few good reasons for them.

Short sales need approval from lenders and we all know how long that can take
the government has put new regulations in place such as the HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct). Currently only Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have adopted this code. Many appraisals are now done by appraisers appointed by the lenders who may not be familiar with the geographical area and appraise properties much lower than the actual value is; the fees paid for appraisals by the homebuyers are up but appraisers receive less for their services. NAR (National Association of Realtors) is working hard to get the HVCC code suspended.

Dr. Yun noted:

that it is interesting to know that the real estate markets in most parts in the country didn't experience the “burst bubble” effect because there was no real estate bubble. Only the markets in California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida (basically desert states) and other states on the East Coast who experienced a real estate bubble are now feeling the effects of the “burst bubble”

What are the trends in your market? Do you agree with this statement?

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Eagle Ridge Market Update

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:41:51 -0500

Eagle Ridge Market Update - Eagle Ridge homes for sale.

The inventory is similar to last month here in Eagle Ridge. Buyers are out and we have more visitors to our open house showings. In addition we are seeing multiple offers on listed properties. Our most recent closing last month received one of the highest sale price of any resale home here in Eagle Ridge in the last year. We were able to negotiate top dollar for your seller.

Currently there are

16 active listings in inventory ranging in price and size from $525,000 (4 bedroom/3 1/2 bath - 2,222 square feet) to $1,099,000 (5 bedroom/3 1/2 bath - 4,729 square feet). If I compare this to last month I conclude that the listing price on the low end of the market has dropped slightly and it increased from $924,000 to $1,099,000) for the upper end of the market
16 properties are under contract. Listing price ranges from $539,875 (4 bedroom/2 1/2 bath - 2,417 square feet) to $925,000 (5 bedroom/4+ bathroom - 3,772 square feet).
5 properties closed in July and 1 in August. Sold price ranges from $585,100 to $879,000. Three homes sold over asking price and 2 for slightly less. That leaves one property which sold for asking price. Average days on the market this month: 45. Two of these sales were Bank owned properties; two were short sales and two conventional sales.

All in all I think the numbers are looking very good.

Anja Kerstens

Eagle Ridge Realty

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Supporting local businesses - Ride Bikes Save Earth

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:13:07 -0500

Ride Bikes Save Earth

Recently, when we took a break from our usual bike ride, we stopped at First Street Coffee my favorite coffee shop in Gilroy. It is usually a busy place but today it was difficult to park the bikes because of the number of bicycles already there. Two Cannondale bikes looked very interesting. I had the pleasure of meeting a very interesting people. These bikes belonged to a young couple who were biking across the US to raise awareness for a healthier Earth.

Darren and Becky stop and visit as many small farms as they can on their journey across the United States. They hope to stop at about 200 farms. These smaller farms need to be supported just as we support other small business in our communities. You can find more information on local harvest on the website.

They started their journey on June 15th from Topley in Northern BC in Canada and rode down to San Francisco and had just left Santa Cruz and were on their way to Merced. Their goal was to bike all the way to Vermont and end their journey in Montreal Canada.

I recommend that you follow their adventures on their website ride bikes save earth.

If you happen to come across these travelers tell them I said "Hello" and let us know where they are on their journey.

I am totally impressed with their commitment to the cause they believe in: local farming is important and buying local fresh produce.

Anja Kerstens

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Open House in the gated golf community of Eagle Ridge - Gilroy

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:43:43 -0500

Open House this Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 - 4:00 pm in the beautiful gated golf course community of Eagle Ridge in Gilroy, California.

Eagle Ridge Realty presents this beautiful, large, Shapell model on 2701 Club Drive at $834,900. This is a 4 bedroom 3 1/2 bath home in mint condition. It is close to a large park with community pool, tot lot, basket ball courts and tennis courts. This beauty has a guest bedroom/bathroom on the first floor, granite slab counter tops, butler pantry and much more to offer. Nice corner lot.

This is not a short sale or bank owned (REO) property.

Anja Kerstens

Eagle Ridge Realty

408-848-2516

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Cold Calling or Door-knocking? - Think Again!

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:53:06 -0500

Cold calling or door-knocking? - Think again!

Have you been called by sales people or telemarketers even though you registered on the National Do Not Call Registry? I signed up years ago but still get calls so now and then but today I filed a complaint.

Just hours ago I got another unsolicited call from a telemarketer out of Washington D.C. A recording told me they were calling about "my credit card account and if I would want to lower my interest rate".

I became immediately suspicious and believe this could be another scam preying on innocent victims who are drowning in debt. Telemarketers and sellers (real estate professionals be aware that includes you too) can't make these type of phone calls to anyone on the DO-NOT-CALL list. If you fall into this category you should register as a telemarketer at the National Do Not Call Registry which is managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

What do you do to stop those annoying calls?

First make sure you are on the DO-NOT-CALL-LIST You can verify your registration or sign up at this web site.
Find out who called you and report them. Ask for their name and company before you tell them you will report them. Or check the caller ID. I checked the caller ID at the website Whocallsme and discovered so much about this company. The name of the cell phone user and her number.
Report the violator.

Violators can expect a nice fine for violating the registry.

Anja Kerstens

Eagle Ridge Realty

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Eagle Ridge Homeowners Association - is hosting the Eagle Ridge E-Waste Day

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:25:47 -0500

Eagle Ridge Homeowners Association - is hosting the Eagle Ridge E-Waste Day

The Eagle Ridge Homeowners Association is hosting their first Eagle Ridge E-Waste Day for the homeowners of Eagle Ridge on September 19, 2009, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. I encourage all homeowners to save the day and to take advantage of this program. Future events are based on the success of this (hopefully) first E-Waste event.

Hi-Tec Recycling located in Richmond, will accept all electronics free of charge in the parking lot of the Eagle Ridge Homeowners Association (ERHOA) clubhouse at 2840 Caledonia Way.

You can bring all recyclable electronics such as:

televisions
remotes
computers
printers
cell phones
monitors
satellite dishes
radios, etc.

They will not except:

light bulbs
mercury switches
large kitchen appliances

If you have larger items such as refrigerators, dryers or washers, you can contact Hi-Tec Recycling to schedule a pick up or check out their website for more information. Note: the Eagle Ridge Gazette erroneously notes that large appliances will be picked up for a fee but this is not the case. You need to contact Hi-Tec Recycling for a pickup.

I recommend that you remove and destroy the Sim card from discarded cell phones and hard drives from computers. You can destroy the hard drive a number of ways such as soaking it in a bucket of salt water or hitting it with a hammer.

Anja Kerstens

Eagle Ridge Realty

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Gilroy Garlic Festival - Last minute tips

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:01:47 -0500

Gilroy Garlic Festival starts tomorrow.

If you are planning on going to this wonderful, popular, delicious and fun event you may want to go tomorrow, Friday July 23, because that is the least busiest day of the event; Saturday and Sunday promise to be very busy.

As I mentioned earlier it is best not to take the 101 south to Gilroy but take alternate routes.

If you take the 101 South; exit at Route 152 (Leavesley Road) and go west. East will take you to the Gilroy Premium Outlets. Come early to avoid the traffic congestion. Gilroy's new high school, Christopher High School (named after one of the founders of the Garlic Festival) is still under construction and the road work will sure increase the bottleneck through Gilroy. You may want to avoid Santa Theresa and Masten Avenue.
Another suggestion is to take Route 101 to Tennant in Morgan Hill and make a right going West to West Edmundson Avenue. Turn left onto Sunnyside Avenue and a right onto Watsonville Road. This road takes you all the way into Gilroy. Turn left at the T-intersection on Hecker Pass Road past Gilroy Gardens and into Gilroy. Make a right onto Santa Teresa. You are now only about 1 mile from the entrance to the parking lot.
Or you can come tomorrow or Saturday evening, avoid all the traffic and stay at a local bed and breakfast or motel/hotel.

See you at the beer booth near the Amphitheater.

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Gilroy Real Estate market update for July

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:29:14 -0500

Gilroy Market Update for July 2009

The following market update is for single family homes.

July continues to be a strong month for Real Estate sales here in Gilroy. Again, more homes are under contract then there are in inventory. Many of these properties are short sales or bank owned properties.

As of today there are:

138 active listings ranging in price between $144,500 and $5,500,000
199 homes are under contract ranging in price between $111,000 and $1,075,000. Note: many of these homes are short sales or bank owned properties and these sales generally take longer to complete.
38 homes closed escrow during the first 22 days of July. The average days on market for these homes was 112
- 24 of these properties are bank owned
- 8 are short sales
- 6 do not disclose the type of sale or are "conventional" (meaning not distressed) sales.
- Note: one short sale property went under contract in November 2008.
If you would like to receive more information or are interested in properties in Gilroy or Morgan Hill you can contact me. If you would like to receive a free Market Analysis of your home feel free to contact me too.

Anja Kerstens

Signature Homes and Estates

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Eagle Ridge Real Estate Update

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:25:15 -0500

Eagle Ridge Golf Community Market Update for July 2009

Currently we have more homes under contract then there are available in inventory. July continues to be a strong month for Real Estate sales here in Eagle Ridge.

As of today we have:

14 active listings ranging in price between $599,000 and $924,750.
16 homes are under contract ranging in price between $479,000 and $925,000. These homes were on the market an average of 83 days before going to contract.
3 homes closed escrow during the first 20 days of July;

List price $610,000; Sale price $610,000; days on market 68
List price $649,000; Sale price $657,000; days on market 121
List price $750,000; Sale Price $725,000; days on market 404

Anja Kerstens

Eagle Ridge Realty

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

The Garlic Festival - Psst.... let me tell you a secret

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:45:02 -0500

The Gilroy Garlic Festival

Gilroy's Garlic Festival is only a few days away and anyone who has visited the festival knows that is can be quite an ordeal to get to the festival. Entrance fees are low and parking is free. The only problem one can encounter is the traffic jams on route 101 and in town.

Here are a few suggestions to make the trip to the Garlic Festival a bit more enjoyable:

If you leave early you shouldn't have a problem; there are nice restaurants where you can have breakfast to kill some time or do some shopping.
You can book a hotel room in town or stay at a local bed and breakfast
If you are coming from San Jose there are some other ways to get into Gilroy. Consider McKean Road to Uvas Road to Watsonville Road to Hecker Pass Road. Hopefully, you won't have the big bumper to bumper traffic.

We are looking forward to the Gilroy Garlic Festival every single year. People come from far away but we are lucky; we just walk across the street and we are there. The concerts, cook-off, and food is delicious and we always find some interesting crafts that we buy as gifts (Christmas shopping in July). Hope to see you at the Garlic Festival.

Questions or suggestion?

Contact me: anjakerstens@akerstens.com

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

How to Appeal Property Tax Assessment in Santa Clara County

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:44:36 -0500

Appeal your Property Tax Assessment.

This post is in response to the questions I received from readers: "How do I appeal my property tax?" and "My neighbor has been assessed at a much lower value; how can that be?"

The answer to the first question can be found in an earlier post where I help the reader through a step by step process.

The second question is not as easy to answer; there could be different factors.

They may have appealed their property tax before
They benefited from Proposition 13 which lets a longtime homeowner transfer their property tax to a new property even though it has a higher tax assessment
or Proposition 60 which is similar to Proposition 13 but lets the homeowner transfer this tax base to a new property in a different county. However, the destination county must be a participating county.

Homeowners can always access the public records of the Santa Clara County Tax Assessor for more information.

If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me or comment.

Anja Kerstens - anjakerstens@akerstens.com - http://akerstens.com - DRE#01839597

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Cycling opportunities are only a click away

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:12:08 -0500

Cycling in Gilroy.

I have other passions besides Real Estate and cycling is one of them.

I found this great website Bikely, where anyone who is interested in cycling can find a ride that suits their needs and level of comfort or can share a favorite route. You can either plan your route or pick one route from a list.

During the year I usually go on longer bike rides with my girl friends a couple times a week. The distance varies between 15 to 50+ miles depending on our work load, appointments or other commitments. We don't have to get in our cars and drive a distance to enjoy our beautiful surroundings. The weather is not often a cause for cancelation because it is almost always "perfect" except for the Tierra Bella we participated in 2007 when it poured "cats and dogs" all day long. During the summer months I also add some shorter rides with others such as friends and family who are not as seasoned yet.

This ride is short and great for kids

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Appeal Property Tax Assessment

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:46:07 -0500

HOW DO YOU APPEAL YOUR PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT?

How do you appeal your property tax assessment? It is easier than you think.

I bet that you and many others like you were in anticipation of the Property Assessed Value Notification Card this year.

Many of my neighbors received a temporary reassessment of their property taxes which shows a sharp decline in their property value, and thus a nice savings in tax payments, which reflects the decrease in real estate value of the last few years. Here in Gilroy that number is about 36%. However, we did not receive THE anticipated decrease and are wondering why we "are so special". The tax assessor's office explains that properties which are similar in quality, size, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, "upgrades" such as patios, pools and additions are all considered in the value assessment.

We are "scratching our heads" so to speak because even though that seems to make sense; it doesn't. For instance many homes in this community are similar in every aspect of the property comparison; even when we assume we are "so special" because we applied for permits for a pool and landscaping doesn't make sense. While I am wondering if that makes a difference I can answer that question. After further investigation I discover that even those with similar homes and upgrades also received temporary tax assessments. Go Figure! Who in the tax assessor's office compares these properties? Is it done manually or it the computer deciding based on certain criteria?

If your property was not reassessed you can take steps to appeal it. It is actually quite simple and there is no need to hire a company to do it for you; at least not yet. Just my 2 cents.

As I mentioned in my earlier post it is quite simple and I don't mind helping you with this for FREE! Yes, for FREE. There isn't much for free anymore but I will offer to help you for FREE! "I can claim that I am an expert!" or can I????

I appealed my Property Tax Assessment on line and included three CMA's (Comparative Market Analysis) to proof my point. In just a few days I received a letter from the helpful people at the tax assessor's office confirming my "informal" appeal and they will review my property below. Now I sit back with my bottle of champagne and "anxiously" await for the new and hopefully reduced assessment of my property.

If I don't need the champagne there is always THE last resort: A formal "Application for Changed Assessment" that needs to be filed with the Clerk of the Board between July 2 and September 15, 2009.

Anja Kerstens - anjakerstens@akerstens.com - http://akerstens.com - DRE#01839597

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Eagle Ridge Golf Course Community - Everyday is a day in paradise

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:46:53 -0500

Life in Eagle Ridge is great!

We are enjoying life here in Eagle Ridge very much.

We are cruising on the "Eagle Ridge Cruise" as some of my neighbors are referring to the many summer month activities. There are many opportunities here for family activities. Not only does Eagle Ridge offer golf, tennis courts, basketball courts, pool, walking and hiking trails, it is also close to beaches, wineries, and shopping.

We planned to go to Malibu on our only family summer vacation this weekend. We were looking forward to this trip, all packed and on our way, however, our oldest who was scheduled to work July 4th was not able to find a sub for his shift. We canceled our trip and returned home unpacked the car and started our vacation in Eagle Ridge.

We are only a short drive away from the beaches in Monterey and Carmel, our favorite beach because we can all be together including our beloved golden retriever. Santa Cruz beach and boardwalk are just a short scenic drive (50 minutes) from Eagle Ridge. The weather was perfect in Carmel yesterday. The waves were great and the dolphins plentiful. Carmel is always a busy place with locals and tourists alike. It offers great dining, lodging and shopping. After a day at the beach we washed up and had dinner on the patio by the fire pit at The Forge at the Forest where they even have a menu for our Golden Retriever.

And just this morning, as we do almost daily, we bike to the new baseball park here in Gilroy an easy 9 mile bike ride.

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Who says a working mother can't combine motherhood with work and have fun too?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:12:49 -0500

Who says a working mother can't combine motherhood with work and have fun too?

Welcome to my office at the Santa Cruz Beach.

Today I am working in my "office" at the Santa Cruz Beach while my teenage daughter is enjoying the day with her friends at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. I am working on my SOI.

The weather is perfect; a bit overcast and not warm at all. I don't need my beach umbrella at the moment. There is quite some activity here; the beach has plenty of people who brave the sometimes nippy winds; others are flying a kite and just now a group of participants of a Life Guard camp jogged by. There are enough distractions but I am taking a lunch break right now. I have been reading some very good and informative books; "Sell with Soul" by Jennifer Allan and "Realty Blogging" by Richard Nacht and Paul Chaney and I am itching to write something. Well here it is.

When you are in my line of work .... can you guess?...... you can work from just about anywhere. I wrote a few weeks ago about my "office" at a local coffee shop and today I can't help but be stranded at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Who says a working mother can't combine motherhood with work and have fun too?

So, while my daughter is hanging out with friends I can work close by in case she needs me and work on my SOI. I am not the only one who is working on the beach or who has set up "shop".

I spot:

another person working on her lap top
two police officers on ATVs cruising the beach behind each other (who wouldn't like a job like that on a nice day like today?)
a couple of roving lifeguards with their surf board strapped to the top patrolling

I think I am actually enjoying this job.

It is time to go back to work and read some more "Sell with Soul" a book written by our very own Jennifer Allan who by-the-way has just finished her newest book "If you are not having fun selling real estate".

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Garlic - Did anyone say "Garlic"?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:41:01 -0500

Gilroy Garlic Festival

The Gilroy Garlic Committee is in full gear preparing for another successful event. After almost a full year of organizing the thirty-first annual event, the volunteers the many artisans, bands and activities they are in the final count down. The banners are up in Gilroy, and volunteers are put in position.

I am excited, as everyone else is of course, about volunteering and be part of the hustle and bustle. Working the beer booth is exciting. I have worked my way up over the years. I started out in 2001 as a garbage collector with the Gilroy Gators, the local swim team. Every evening at closing time (7:00 PM) we would sweep the grounds and pick up every little piece of garbage. The parents and team clean the festival grounds in no time. Then I moved up to hospitality, lemonade sales, information booth and the endless sale of water bottles. A few years ago I was asked to work in the beer booth for the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce. I could hardly keep up with the sale of beer! That beer looks so good on a sweltering hot day at the Gilroy Garlic Festival.

People come from far away to visit the Garlic Festival, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors. In Gourmet Alley pyro chefs cook up delicious garlic dishes such as calamari, scampi, pasta con pesto, the famous garlic ginger chicken stir-fry, peppersteak sandwich and much, much more. Amateur cooks from all over the country and Canada participate in a recipe contest and the 8 finalists are invited to prepare their recipes on the Cook-off stage.

A few weeks ago I hosted a party and decided to prepare all dishes from the two cookbooks I bought at the Garlic Festival which are a compilation of recipes from the cook-off contest. It was a great hit.

Anja Kerstens - Signature Homes and Estates

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.

Property Tax Assessment - How can you appeal the assessed value of your property?

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:19:46 -0500

Property Tax Assessment

All Santa Clara Property owners should have received the Notification of Assessed Value card from Lawrence E. Stone, the Santa Clara County Assessor.

Many properties have been assessed at a lower value based on the decrease of property values, however, not all properties have been adjusted.

If property owners feel that the market value of their property is lower than the assessed value on the notification card they can appeal the assessed value of their property. It is important to know what the market value of the property is on January 1, 2009.

What are the steps to take to appeal the assessed value:

Go to the website of the Santa Clara County Assessor and download the proposition 8 form to request a temporary assessment relief or
Contact them at 408-299-5300 (Property valuations, Propositions 8), Email: RP@asr.sccgov.org, faxed, or personally dropped off at 70 West Heddings Street in San Jose.
Gather evidence: A property owner can gather evidence of lower market value by finding "comparable sales". Comparable sales are properties which sold near the property within 90 days of the assessed date of January 1, 2009. They should be similar in appearance, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, lot size, improvements such as additions, patios and pool, and quality. It is helpful to calculate your property's price of living space per-square-foot and match them to the compared properties (patios and garages are not considered "living space").
Comparable sales data can be found by your real estate professional or by going to the public records at the local assessors' office. These are usually available for free or a moderate fee.
Know the full address and/or assessor's parcel number for each property that is compared.
File your appeal before August 15, 2009

Note: just because your property is assessed higher than your neighbor is not a valid reason to reduce the assessed value of your property.

If you like help on this topic or are interested in properties in the South Bay you may contact me at anjakerstens@akerstens.com

Eagle Ridge Realty - Silicon Valley Golf Course Properties

Signature Homes and Estates
Eagle Ridge Realty
DRE#01839597
Gilroy, California

408-848-2516
email

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, visit my website or become a fan of my facebook page.