Can't find the car keys... But I bet you can remember THAT agent that made you mad 7 years ago... - 10/27/10 12:18 AM

Isn't that the truth?  We sometimes can't find the obvious stuff, but we have no problem remembering the stuff from years past that might have made you, um... mad?  Like that agent that didn't give me my $200...
It was a tour day.  Wednesday...  I remember tour days in Los Gatos since it seemed that everyone did it. Touring properties, leaving cards, trying to think of comments that we can leave so we sounded like we were giving great points and not necessarily criticizing...  Food, soda, coffee, snacks, you name it.
We would wait for the tour sheet to come … (64 comments)

Motivational Monday - Abraham Lincoln - 10/25/10 11:15 AM
 
In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.  Abraham Lincoln
What a powerful quote!  It is a short quote, but a long one when it comes to what it makes you think about.  The "life" in your years".  Are we truly living for the life in our years?  I certainly am trying!
 
Fun facts about Abraham Lincoln that you may not have known:
Born on February 12th 1809 Died April 15th 1865 at the age of fifty six, and was the first president to be assassinated. His born in … (28 comments)

Speechless Sunday - Sunset at 35,000 feet... - 10/24/10 02:01 PM
Flying back from New Orleans, I snapped this picture somewhere over New Mexico or possibley Arizona...  Or was it Texas?  Hmmmm...  Well, wherever it was...  It rocked!
I always forget to take pictures when flying, so this time I didn't.

Have a great Sunday!
-Chris
 
 
… (35 comments)

Breakfast with Santa - Cupertino CA - 12/4/10 - 10/22/10 11:49 AM

Yup!  It's that getting close to that time of the year, and its time for Santa!  Santa and Mrs. Claus will be making an apearance in Cuperitino on December 4th, 2010 at the Quinlin Center here in Cupertino.  You and your family are invited to a breakfast celebration with both Santa and Mrs. Claus.  They will be cooking up some awesome North Pole Pancakes and of course, Santa will be posing for pictures.
Santa's elves will be setting up some holiday crafts and fun for children.
Remember, register early!  Spaces are limited, and it fills up fast!  Also, children must … (20 comments)

54th Annual Children's Christmas/Holidays Parade (Los Gatos, CA) - 10/21/10 08:18 PM

Saturday, December 4, 2010 - 11:00 a.m. Rain or Shine!
Oh what an event!  I have gone to this several years now, it is sooo fun.  We arrive early with our coffee and hot chocolate, line up the street and wait for the parade to start.  Children from around the area, bands playing and local groups march down the street. 
The Los Gatos Children's/Holidays entry deadline is Friday, October 15, 2010 by 4:00 P.M.
If interested in the for forms needed, I added the links here. 
-General Entry Packet-
-Marching Bands Entry Packet-
-Equestrian Entry Packet-
This wonderful parade begins at … (10 comments)

Autumn Ikebana Show - October 23 - 24, 2010. Quinlan Community Center, Cupertino CA - 10/21/10 05:48 PM
The Autumn Ikebana Show will be on 10/23/2010 and 10/24/2010 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  It will be held at the Quinlan Community Center located at 10185 N Stelling Road, Cupertino, CA 95014. 
Nearly 160 ikebana floral artists will present a two-day weekend exhibition on October 23 and 24 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the local chapter's establishment. Visitors will enjoy a wide variety of floral arrangement styles, such as those created in low shallow vases ("moribana"), in tall upright vases ("nageire"), as well as suspended and wall-hung styles, and large-scale floor arrangements. Highly accomplished Wafu ikebana artists will also present demonstrations … (3 comments)

Sunnyvale Howl'oween Pet Parade and Faire 10/30/10 - 10/21/10 05:28 PM

Howl'oween Pet Parade & Faire - October 30, 2010
Now, this event is one that you do not want to miss!  If you have a loved one (pet) that you want to show off, dress up, parade on down the road, then this event is the one for you! While you are there, take a moment to stop and have lunch or an early dinner in downtown Sunnyvale.
It starts at 11am, and goes down Murphy Avenye, in Historic Downtown Sunnyvale. 
This event is presented by the Sunnyvale Downtown Association and the City Of Sunnyvale.
The parade starts at 11am to … (4 comments)

Leads don't always yell, sometimes they whisper when they pass by... - 10/21/10 12:07 AM

I heard this the other day, or something like it.  Who knows exactly what my brain heard, because I was probably thinking about 10 things at that particular time.  Like pumpkins, Disnyland, work, country music, basketball, long walks on the beach, NASCAR, how my doctor said I was overweight when I was only 6 lbs over my ideal average.  (Look out Roger Mucci, I might have to take it off in the rain!). 
Ok, back to the subject... 
I heard someone say this, and it made me think of the movie "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks...  Here he was, so … (63 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - A Rootin-Tootin Cowboy! - 10/20/10 01:39 PM
HAHAHA!  We were getting pumpkins weekend, and I always have to stop at these and take pictures...  And this one rocks!  My son loves cowboys.  My son Ryan is 3 years old.

Can you see him trying to show a tuff cowboy face?  LOL!
Have a great day!
-Chris
 
 
… (29 comments)

Los Gatos High School Magical Glass Pumpkin Patch - 10/19/10 09:20 PM
Every year, for the past 7 years, there has been a Magical Glass Pumpkin Patch in Los Gatos at the High School.  It is hosted on the front lawn, rain or shine.  I brought my son out this year, and he really loved it.  Local atrists and glass blowers show there best and this community event.

This year, it was on October 2nd and 3rd.  So the event has passed, but I wanted to share some great pictures from the event, and to remind you to put it on your schedules for next year.

To find out more, visit … (13 comments)

OK, I lead generated for an hour... Can I stop now? - 10/19/10 12:32 AM

Ohhhh, the amount of times I have heard this.  Lead Generation.  Lead Generation for a specific amount of time...   One hour?  Two hours?  Three or more?  What is the correct time that should be allotted?
We all know that we need to lead generate but it seems that many agents have the preconceived notion that we only need to spend a certain amount of time doing it daily.
We doorknock, but give ourselves a certain amount of time to do it, before we stop for the day.
We call our sphere of influence to check in, till we call the … (180 comments)

Motivational Monday - Founding Father - Thomas Paine - 10/18/10 06:21 PM

I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1, December 19, 1776

What a great quote...  So what comes to mind when you hear this one?  Oh, the things that come to mine!
 
… (12 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - A coyote and a rabbit, from my front window!!! - 10/13/10 12:52 PM
I do live out in the country...  And I keep my camera handy, to catch great pictures of whatever walks by. Last night a huge buck was eating grass out there, but the lighting was terrible, and the pictures were dark!
So this morning, 4 coyotes came through the yard, as you can see from this picture, he is standing in my driveway.  He is growing his winter coat.

This is a picture of a little rabbit that is eating berries that are falling from a big bush. 

Here are some additinal pictures from the past, that you might be … (27 comments)

Motivational Monday - Thomas Jeferson Quote - 10/11/10 04:42 PM
The flames kindled on the 4 of July 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them. Thomas Jefferson, September 12, 1821
What comes to your mind when you read this?  Freedom spreads like fire, but the same fires can destroy it?
What about your business...  The same thing that creates your success, can also cause your business to suffer... Confidence can propel you to high levels, over-confidence can cause you to fall...
I am interested in your thoughts?  … (22 comments)

Cupertino Tournament of Bands. Saturday October 9th, 2010. (Cupertino, CA) - 10/08/10 12:25 PM

 
Cupertino Tournament of Bands.  Saturday October 9th, 2010.  (Cupertino, CA)
The yearly Cupertino Tournament of Bands is here!  Hosted by my Alma Mater Cupertino High School.  There are scheduled to be 30 schools participating, including Cupertino High School.  San Jose State Spartan Marching Band is also scheduled to appear.
Parts of Stevens Creek Blvd will be blocked, and traffic will be diverted on Saturday during the parade section, so plan accordingly.
Schedule is as follows...
 
 You can find out more my clicking here.
http://www.chs.fuhsd.org/TOB
I am planning on attending, will I see you there?
-Chris
… (6 comments)

If you give a real estate agent a cookie... - 10/08/10 12:15 AM
If you give an agent a cookie, they will want a glass a milk to go with it.  I mean, they get thirsty after eating that big, soft, chocolate chip cookie...  I mean just like the MegaBite ones you can get on the airplane that cost close to $4.00...  But you eat it and pay for it anyways...  Then eat it really slow, knowing that smaller bites cost less.  If you take a big bite it could cost a buck a bite, so you try to do .25 cent nibbles...
If you give an agent a glass of milk, they will … (97 comments)

An ActiveRain blogger said, "I wrote my first blog, but didn't get any comments" - 10/06/10 12:19 AM

That can be discouraging...
Spending so much time preparing what you are going to write...  Some bloggers spend hours, and some spend days.  Thinking, preparing, planning, outlining... 
Spending so much time writing out the blog...  Correcting it, editing it, sharing it with our friends and loved ones... 
Spending so much time figuring out how to actually post the blog...  When you click the post button, realizing what happens next...  Not sure if that is the actual button that posts to YOUR blog, so someone else's...
Spending so much time with the butterflies...  The butterflies in your stomach need to be … (217 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Welcome to Mississippi - 10/06/10 12:12 AM
I am teaching in New Orleans, and decided to take a drive to Mississippi, since I never have been...  It was just a short drive from Slidell, where I am staying.

So I drove down to Waveland and Bay St Loius...  It wasn't that long, and it was  georgous drive!  I stopped and walked out on to the sand and found some great shells!

Have a great day!
 
 
… (18 comments)

Cupertino CA, Single Family Home Sale Stats, End of Sep 2010 - 10/04/10 10:20 PM
It's the end of the month again, and it's time for the City of Cupertino Home Sale Stats!  The Active homes are single family homes that are currently posted for sale, the pendings are homes that are currently in contract, and the sales are the homes that have sold in the last 30 days. (+/-)
This first post is for Year-To-Date stats...  As you can see, July had our highest listing amount at the end of the month.  We are also seeing the number of sales increase, however the pending sales are starting to drop.  Be sure that you price your … (6 comments)

Motivational Monday - Alexander Hamilton - 10/04/10 09:49 PM
Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.
-Alexander Hamilton
So the question I have is...  what do you stand for? 
Do we even think about things like this anymore?  Do we stand for truth? Honesty?  Compassion?  Standing to help others?  Teaching our youth? 
I would be curious as to what your answer would be...  hmmm... 
Now what is my answer?  Ooops, that is a hard question!
Why do you think this question is so hard to answer?
 
… (14 comments)

Speechless Sunday - Wonder how much this house would be worth... - 10/03/10 11:15 PM
Downtown Saratoga, is the Village...  A quant location, amist multi-million dollar homes... At the hight of thte Dot.com era, the average prices was in the 1.5mm range... 
So I was at the Art and Wine festival last week, and snapped this picture.  It is a residential (I think) unit there in the middle of the village...

So, I have no idea, but this nice... small...  unit is right in the middle of everything!
 
-Chris
 
 
 
… (21 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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