Wordless Wednesday - American Flag on a Barn - 07/29/10 03:16 PM
I was driving out to Brentwood California to teach a social media class, and saw this as I was driving...  So I grabbed my camera and snapped a quick picture.
Love it!  (I tried to post yesteray, but user-error) LOL!

The Barn is located in Vasco Road (between Livermore and Brentwood).  When you are headed to Brentwood, it is on the left hand side.  It seems that flags are taken town everwhere on state roads, so this is on private property, so we get to see it!
Great job, to whomever is teh owner and painted it!
:)
… (42 comments)

Ever been to a training event/class and afterwards thought… What was it that I learned???? - 07/27/10 01:48 PM

You are an adult learner, and can only retain "so much" information before you start to forget...  Think about these stats:
You will retain 10% of what YOU read
You will retain 20% of what YOU hear
You will retain 30% of what YOU see
You will retain 50% of what YOU hear and see
You will retain 70% of what YOU say
You will retain 90% of what YOU do.
Think about all the trainings you have been to.  Think about all the seminars you listened to.  Think about all those books on tape.  We all learn in different … (38 comments)

Why does the contract care if I am buying it as owner occupied or not! 5 ideas on how to answer this question for your buyers! - 07/27/10 12:54 AM

Most contracts across the nation have a paragraph asking if the buyer is going to occupy the home, or not.  When you ask a lot of people why, they state that the cost of a loan will be more expensive.  Or they state that the seller will want to know if the buyer is going to live in the house to take care of their bougainvilleas...  Or maybe it's to see if there are any owner-occupied laws that affect the buyer.  Or maybe liquidated damages clauses that exist in most states...  Or it may require the investor to use a … (26 comments)

Hiking in Linda Vista Park, Cupertino CA - 07/26/10 05:59 PM
Hiking in Linda Vista Park, Cupertino CA
Ever wanted to do a great hike, close to home, but feels so far away?  Try Linda Vista Park.  It is located on Linda Vista Drive in Cupertino.  At first you wouldn't think you can do some hiking here, but the path is there, right up to the top.

The park as play structures, and the hiking trail can be found from the middle of the parking lot going up the trail. 

The hike is for moderate hikers, as it is pretty much an uphill walk to the top of the hill.  … (6 comments)

Part 2 of 2! Interview with Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook) at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View - 07/25/10 01:37 PM
Part 2 of 2. 

Click here for part one --> http://activerain.com/blogsview/1759674/an-evening-with-mark-zuckerberg-founder-of-facebook-notes-from-his-talk-in-mountain-view-ca-last-night-part-1-of-2  
I found Mark fascinating.  A normal guy, doing a normal job...  As we all have learned in our careers, we have to continue to strive to be better and better.  Every year striving to do more, earn more, and seek more success.  If we become mediocre, then the only direction we to go is down...  So it would seem Mark is always striving to be better.  It seems that there are many people around us that seem to be OK with Mediocrity.  Feeling that they should be rewarded … (9 comments)

An evening with Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of Facebook (Notes from his talk in Mountain View, CA last night) Part 1 of 2 - 07/23/10 12:35 PM


It was great to see Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook speak last night.  He was the guest speaker at the Computer History Museum, and was interviewed by David Kirkpatrick (Author, The Facebook Effect) and Guy Raz (a weekend host on NPR).  Diane Sawyer was also in attendance.  I was able to score a 5th row seat, and perfect view.  Not to mention, that there was lots of food and strawberry lemonade before the event.  I think I was the ONLY person in real estate there.  I sat next to some ladies, and of course, said hi.  It was … (7 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Mark Zuckerberg last night at the Computer History Museum in Mt. View CA - 07/22/10 02:19 PM
I was at an awesome event in Mt. View CA last night, where the featured speaker was Mark Zuckerberg.  I am writing a blog post on the actual event, but am limited on time today.  So I thought I would share some pics from the event.

Mark was great in the interview.  David Kirkpatrick and Guy Raz left a lot to be desired.  More to come tomorrow about what he talked about!  Diane Sawyer was in attendence as well.

… (7 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - What type of birds are these? Parrots or Conures in the Toys R Us Parking lot? - 07/21/10 12:16 PM
I was at Toys R Us last week...  And no, not for me, but my son.  :)  And as I was loading a new sand box for him, I heard several birds chirping, but they were not local birds to our area.  We have sparrows, mocking birds, crows, robins, seagulls...  But not this type of chirp.  I felt like I was in the pet store.  I turned to look, and there were 10-15 birds flying, swooping, playing...   as if they have always done this.

So I am unsure what type of birds these are?  Do you???

One last picture.
… (21 comments)

You mean the REO addendum states the bank can cancel this contract for any reason? - 07/19/10 11:55 PM

What??? They cancelled my contract and went with another buyer???
I am seeing this more and more.  Written within the contract are paragraphs that allow the seller (bank) to cancel the contract for any reason without any recourse to the buyer.  And establishes that the buyer be made whole (by refunding the deposit) and that the buyer cannot go after the seller (Bank) for damages...  In addition, the contract can also have passive contingencies as well (where a 10 day contingency is actually removed passively at midnight of the 10th day, usually includes financing, appraisal and/or property condition)
Hmmmmmmm...  In … (7 comments)

When it's good, it's due to how awesome I am... When it's bad, it's your fault. - 07/19/10 01:44 PM
 
Have you ever thought about that statement?  When something good happens in our Real Estate lives, it always seems to be due to us, because we are so awesome.
I got the lender to fund the loan.  I got the title company to clear title and close escrow.   I got the buyer to the closing and got him to sign the papers in time to get it recorded.  I negotiated the deal and got the seller/buyer to accept what it was that I wanted.
The common word or phrase in the above paragraph was "I"  "I GOT" etc...
So let's … (67 comments)

Flying to teach in Seattle, and had this thought, “Traditional Farming vs. Facebook Farming” - 07/16/10 02:42 PM

Farming.  Yup, the traditional way of mailing stuff to a geographic (or psychographic) farm.  Monthly mailers, door hangers, doorknocking, pumpkins on Halloween, flags on the 4th.  You know, all of the stuff that we all learned about when we were growing up (lol).  We know if we do this over a period of time, we will see rewards.  Similar to a farmer planting corn.  He/she plants the seed, fertilizes, waters and gives a little TLC, and presto... Corn! 
So the same can be said with your traditional farm.  Statistics show that if you are farming monthly by sending out a … (18 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Hiking in Big Basin State Park, California - 07/14/10 12:01 PM
I went hiking in Big Basin State Park on Sunday.  Big Basin is 15 miles north of Santa Cruz, CA and about 30 minutes south of San Francisco.  It was California's first State Park.  Yosemite was our first National Park.

The Park extends all the way to the coast, and this hike I took was a 12 mile hike up to the Berry Creek Falls.  (6 miles in, 6 miles out).  I parked on Hwy 1 at the entrance.
 
The actual falls, are about 3 stories high. 

This picture is of the creek that we are following to … (10 comments)

How to have your ActiveRain Blog appear on your Facebook Fan Page (directions with pictures!) - 07/09/10 01:20 PM
Alot of agents have asked me how to post your blog on your facebook fan page.  I know that you can get it to appear as a post, but then is lost in the shuffle over time.  What I am showing you, is how to have it appear in the "notes" tab at the top of the page on your Facebook fan page.
***Be sure that your Active Rain Blog is a public blog, so that the rss feed will work***If you are getting errors when trying this, check to be sure that your blog is public to the outside public***If … (156 comments)

Cupertino CA, Home Sale Stats. MTD 7/1/10 - 07/08/10 03:56 PM
I love to track stats on a daily basis, and input what I find into a spreasheet.  I pull the number of homes that are currently for sale, the number of homes that are pending sale (any type of pending), and I pull the number of sales that occured in the last 30 days.  I pull these stats daily.  So the last day of the month stat, I track that on the following chart.
This chart reflects single family homes, in Cupertino California.

This chart reflects Common Interest Development properties.  (condo's-townhomes).

Interesting statistics to me...  What do you think … (0 comments)

Wordless Wednesday (On Thursday)... Like father like son??? - 07/08/10 03:34 PM
I am not sure who taught my son how to make the awesome face!

We were at Disneyland at the Blue Bayou restaurant, and the waitress took our picture.  Only AFTER I looked at the picture did I know the face he made.

I hope everyone has a great day!
:)
Chris
… (14 comments)

So he asked me in line at Starbucks if I was in Real Estate... Uhhh, ummmmmm, well... (fun story) - 07/06/10 11:46 AM

Scripts.  What we use on a daily basis.  For example, when we ask someone how they are doing.  We are asking, and will most likely get a response with the same question back to us.   In regards to Real Estate, we have to think in the same but a different way.  Scripts allow us to have the answer to situations that may lead to business.  When opportunity knocks, it's too late for preparation... Opportunity only exists for those that are ready, willing and able.
Like this time a few years ago at Starbucks, and there was only one table left.  … (86 comments)

Wow!!! I made $135 in recycling today! - 07/05/10 03:38 PM

Crazy huh?  I collect recycling to use the money as one of the many sources of savings for my son's college saving account.  Now he is only three years old, so every little bit counts right now, as there is at least 15 more years till I will be encouraging him to continue on his own path in life. 
There are many ways to save for your kid's college, and this is one way that takes little time, and has a great feeling when you turn the stuff in for cash.  Not to mention the space you save when you … (7 comments)

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics, (Francis Scott Key, 1814) - 07/03/10 01:05 PM
The Star Spangled Banner LyricsBy Francis Scott Key 1814

Did you know that there is more to this song?  I thought I would post it!  I hope everyone has a great 4th of July!
Here are the lyrics
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early lightWhat so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er … (6 comments)

Funny Friday - Merle Goes Out Drinking Every Night... - 07/02/10 04:02 PM
Every night after dinner, Merle took off for the local watering hole.  He would spend the whole evening there and always arrive home, quite inebriated, around midnight each night.He usually had trouble getting his key to fit the keyhole and couldn't get the door open.  And every time this happened, his wife would go to the door and let him in.  Then she would proceed to yell and scream at him, for his constant nights out and always coming home in a drunken state.   But Merle just continued his nightly routine.One day, the wife was talking to a friend about … (4 comments)

4th of July Festivities, Cupertino CA 2010 - 07/02/10 02:36 AM

The City of Cupertino schedule for the annual July 4th festivities.
The De Anza Optimists will start the morning with a traditional pancake breakfast at the Quinlan Community Center. Breakfast begins at 7am. At 9:30am, the line-up for the children's parade will take place by the Memorial Park ball field, and at 10am, the parade will begin. The parade will wind through Memorial Park, ending at the Memorial Park Amphitheater. Once the parade ends, there will be a family concert by The Peelers! Pack a picnic and enjoy the music!Daytime Program
7am-11am: De Anza Optimist Pancake Breakfast (Quinlan Community Center's … (3 comments)

Soci@l the book, Chapter 4 review. "Farming Social Networks" - 07/01/10 02:09 PM

This chapter in the book is a critical one, for many reasons.  Too often we get sucked up in our facebook chat, or Farmville or some other type of social medium and FORGET to ask people for business.  Is it because it is addicting? Is it because we are afraid to ask?  Is it because we don't know how to?  Is it because we feel like we are intruding on our friends?  Well, chapter 4 helps agents understand the answers to these questions, and more.
Farming a geographical area online.
We know and understand how to do farming, when it … (2 comments)

 
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Chris Alston (Silicon Valley, California)

Cupertino, CA

More about me…

Chris Alston (Keller Williams Realty, Cupertino California)

Address: 20230 Stevens Creek Blvd. , Suite E, Cupertino, CA, 95014

Office Phone: (408) 850-6955

Cell Phone: (408) 921-4711

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Helping Real Estate Professionals learn new ideas and thought to help them in their business... At the same time, comments from our community help me in my classroom setting.


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