ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - FRANKLIN PARK - 05/31/11 02:41 PM
ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - FRANKLIN PARK
 
ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - FRANKLIN PARK  Franklin Park is the fifth oldest park in Alameda.  It is located in the "Gold Coast" and was opened in 1920.  It is a small park, about about 2.98 acres, compared to other Alameda parks but a very popular park in a lovely residential area.
 

 
 
The Gold Coast is a residential district named for its affluence which feature tree-lined streets and lovely, large Victorian homes.  The first streets in this area were developed in the 1860s and many more homes were built in 1880.  The homes were within … (4 comments)

HISTORIC ALAMEDA NEIGHBORHOODS - NOBLE AVENUE - 05/30/11 01:53 PM
HISTORIC ALAMEDA NEIGHBORHOODS - NOBLE AVENUE
 
HISTORIC ALAMEDA NEIGHBORHOODS - NOBLE AVENUE.  Alameda has many historic neighborhoods.  Noble Avenue is one of those neighborhoods.  George Noble was the foremost bungalow builder in Alameda who built these homes.  The street is named for him.  Noble build most of his bungalows in Alameda from 1909 to 1925.
 
 

 
Noble built over 300 homes in Alameda,  He started out building conventional craftsman then developed stylist changes such as a peaked roof on the craftsman bungalow.
 

 
 
 

NOBLE MADE STYLISTIC CHANGES TO BUNGALOWS WHICH MADE THEM … (8 comments)

DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS SWEARING-IN - 05/29/11 06:11 PM
DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS SWEARING-IN
 
 
DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS SWEARING-IN  Thirty three new Disaster Service Workers(DSW) were sworn in on Thursday, May 26, at Alameda.   Each DSW had completed a 5 weeks of classes .  The classes included  Personal Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation, Disaster Medical, Fire Suppression/Hazardous Materials, Disaster Search Techniques, Basic Incident Command System(ICS) and Completion Exercise.
 

 
Captain Sharon Oliver, Disaster Preparedness officer for the Alameda Fire Department swore the DSW graduates in.  She welcomed them to CERT and expressed her appreciation for their willingness to participate in the Alameda CERT program.  Following a disaster, CERT volunteers … (10 comments)

EYE ON THE BAY - CITY OF ALAMEDA ON CAMERA - 05/28/11 01:56 PM
 
EYE ON THE BAY - CITY OF ALAMEDA ON CAMERA
 
EYE ON THE BAY - CITY OF ALAMEDA ON CAMERA. Last Thursday a local CBS (KPIX) affiliate broadcasted a program all about my city, Alameda.  It was very good and entertaining and packed with a lot of information about Alameda in a half hour show. 
 
 
 
One of the main areas the show visited is the downtown area, Park Street.  The host, Brian Hackney, spoke with the Alameda Park Street Business Association executive director, Robb Ratto places to see and things to do in Alameda. 
 
They visited the … (14 comments)

BOOST! LEADERSHIP IN ALAMEDA - 05/27/11 11:53 AM
BOOST! LEADERSHIP IN ALAMEDA
 
BOOST! LEADERSHIP IN ALAMEDA  is an Alameda program which utilizes peer leadership to emphasize role-modeling, being responsible for your actions, solving conflicts properly, playing fair and having fun together.  There are about 90 kids participating as leaders at the two schools offering the program.
 
 
 
BOOST! LEADERSHIP began in 2007 at Edison Elementary School in Alameda.  The program is now also at Otis Elementary.  Lissa Merit is the founder and Program Director. She began her career facilitating team building and leadership programs, since then she has worked with several organizations facilitating activities for youth and adults helping them … (6 comments)

WHY WON'T MY CLIENT SELL HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE - 05/26/11 07:35 PM

 
WHY WON'T MY CLIENT SELL HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE  A client whom I have spoken with about selling his mother's house for over a year told me recently he might be ready to start clearing the house soon.  The house had been in a trust and all the documents and and deed's needed to transfer the house from him as trustee to him as an individual had been signed and recorded last year.
 
 
I have been giving him updates during the time telling him about the current value of the house periodically.  During the time of her death to the present time the house has … (11 comments)

REAL ESTATE IS CHANGING ARE YOU KEEPING UP - 05/25/11 09:17 PM
REAL ESTATE IS CHANGING ARE YOU KEEPING UP
 
REAL ESTATE IS CHANGING ARE YOU KEEPING UP  Real estate has changed more in the last 10 years than in the previous 20 years.  Technology has provided the public with more information and more options than ever before.  Technology, including the internet, has hastened the change in the real estate industry.  The changes have been truly breathtaking.
 
Consumers are taking a more active role in their real estate search due to the internet.  They know more, they are want more and they want us to respond immediately to their requests.
 
 
 
All the tools that are available to Realtors … (7 comments)

WASHINGTON PARK ALAMEDA PARKS - 05/24/11 01:57 PM
 
WASHINGTON PARK ALAMEDA PARKS
 
WASHINGTON PARK ALAMEDA PARKS  The original site of Washington park was a pristine oak grove bordered by a white sand beach, it was the third park purchased by the city in 1909.  The park site was 4.5 acres and originally owned by William H. Taylor.  After his death his heirs sold the property to the City for $45,000.00.  Washington Park was formally dedicated on February 24, 1912.  Sports teams from Alameda and Oakland competed in soccer, tennis, baseball and basketball.  Gymnastic for children was a popular sport at the park.  Everyone participated in swimming and rowing races in … (4 comments)

PG&E GAS LINES - DISCLOSE OR ADVISE? - 05/23/11 03:14 PM
PG&E GAS LINES - DISCLOSE OR ADVISE?
 
PG&E GAS LINES - DISCLOSE OR ADVIS?  On September 9, 2010, a catastrophe occurred in San Bruno, California.  Underground PG&E natural gas pipelines ruptured causing a huge fire. 
 
The disaster caused the death of eight people and $38 million in damage to homes, property, and public infrastructure 

 
Everyone, buyers and sellers alike,  are asking about the gas pipelines.  They want to know where the pipelines are and any other information available.  California Association of Realtors attorneys have indicated that we should refer buyers and sellers to PG&E for more information, advise not … (9 comments)

COLLAGE CONTEST - 05/22/11 05:44 PM
COLLAGE CONTEST
 
COLLAGE CONTEST  I love ActiveRain.  I have been seriously blogging since February, 2011 but have been a member since 2008.  I was invited by a friend and colleague, Pacita Dimacali.   She is the number one Rainer in Alameda County and has been blogging ever since she started on ActiveRain.
 

 
Pacita told me that ActiveRain was great and that I should start blogging right away.  She told me that she had received emailed from buyers who have found her on ActiveRain.  But I was busy and didn't see the need to blog. I had my sphere and … (9 comments)

JUMPING FROG CONTEST OF CALAVERAS COUNTY - 05/21/11 10:59 PM
JUMPING FROG CONTEST OF CALAVERAS COUNTY
 
JUMPING FROG CONTEST OF CALAVERAS COUNTY  Our neighbors across the street "jump frogs' as they put it.  That means they participate in the Jumping Frog Contest of Calaveras County.  The family is now in Angels Camp jumping their frogs.  They have been participating in the jumping frog contests for years. 
 

 
And every year our  neighborhood gets a chance to participate vicariously . The family buys their frogs two weeks in advance of the contest.  During the two weeks they test their frogs to be sure they are good candidates for the … (9 comments)

ALAMEDA WALKS, PART THREE - 05/20/11 05:26 PM
ALAMEDA WALKS, PART THREE
 
ALAMEDA WALKS, PART THREE  The Alameda Recreation and Parks Department sponsors ALAMEDA WALKS a program started in 2003.  The goal of the program was to get people out of their homes on Saturday mornings for a little exercise and a chance to learn a little about the City of Alameda.  
 
Alameda Walks' third walk of the year is a walk on the Bay Trail and the Tidewater Aquatic Center and the East End on Saturday May 21  at 9 a.m.  The walk will start at the Lincoln Park Gates on High Street in Alameda.
… (4 comments)

ALAMEDA ARTCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION AWARDS - 05/19/11 11:01 AM
ALAMEDA ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION AWARDS
 
ALAMEDA ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION AWARDS  The Alameda Architectural Preservation Society will present their Fourteenth Annual Preservations Awards at the Auctions by the Bay Theater on May 19, at 6:30 pm.
 

 
The awards honor restored properties in Alameda with historic or architectural significance.  Nominated properties may range in age from 19th century through the 1940's.  Properties nominated can be residences, commercial properties, churches, governmental structures and apartment houses.  The awards showcase projects that preserve, restore or reuse historic property in a way that enhances it architectural character.
 

 
Previous honorees include the U.S.S. Hornet aircraft carrier museum, Kofman … (3 comments)

SANDI NICHOLS A SPECIAL REALTOR - 05/18/11 11:14 AM
SANDI NICHOL A SPECIAL REALTOR
 
SANDI NICHOL A SPECIAL REALTOR  I first "met" Sandi Nichols when we both took a class at ActiveRain University with Steven Graham.  I posted about the experience and she commented on my blog reminding me that we had taken the class together. We found we were both newbies on ActiveRain.
 
Since then we have corresponded occasionally via email and both of us have commented on each other's blogs.  Sandi is a smart, knowledgeable and very competent Realtor.  She is fun to talk with and she has a great sense of humor.
 


Sandi … (6 comments)

ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - MCKINLEY PARK - 05/17/11 08:28 PM
ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - MCKINLEY PARK

ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - MCKINLEY PARK  McKinley Park was the second park opened in 1909 after Lincoln Park and bought the total city parks to three. 
 
 
 
It was originally the site of Oak Shade, a oak forest Northside estate built by the Magil Family in the 1860s.  The land was originally 4 acres and stretched to the estuary.  In 1885 James A. Wymire and his family bought the property.  He was a prominent attorney and politician who managed the California presidential campaign for William McKinley.  He was also a University of California … (0 comments)

ESCROW HURDLES - 05/16/11 07:58 PM
ESCROW HURDLES
 
ESCROW HURDLES  Last week I was talking with an escrow officer who told me that short sales are still causing the biggest problems with escrows.  One such problem concerns divorced couples, one of whom had signed a quit claim deed removing that persons name from the deed.  The difficulty arises when that spouse is still on the deed of trust.  Lenders will not fund without the divorced spouse signing off on the deed of trust.  Sometimes the the spouse is not available and this creates delays until the spouse can be found.
 

 
Homeowner's Owners Association(HOA) dues may … (2 comments)

NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN - 05/15/11 07:40 PM
NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN
 
NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN   For Christmas I gave my husband tickets toa trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train.  We had taken the train previously, but it had been a while.  We decided that May would be the perfect time to visit Napa.  This weekend we spent some time in Napa, took the wine train, visited a few of the wineries in the area and had a great time.  If you are in the Napa Valley, you should consider boarding the Wine train for a wonderful afternoon or evening.
 
The Napa Valley Wine Train offers … (9 comments)

ALAMEDA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER GRAND OPENING - 05/14/11 11:27 AM
ALAMEDA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER GRAND OPENING
 
ALAMEDA BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER GRAND OPENING  On May 14, 2011 the Boys and Girls Club Youth Development Center will have it grand opening at 1:00 pm.  The Center is located at 1900 Third Street in Alameda.
 

 
 The Youth Development Center has been in the works for 5 years.  There are many activity rooms, a teen lounge, a huge gym, music room, class rooms and a media lab. There is even a miniature medical clinic where volunteer physicians and dentists will provide free screening and health care.  A commercial kitchen where … (4 comments)

ALAMEDA WALKS - JACKSON PARK AND THE COHEN ESTATE - 05/13/11 01:13 PM
ALAMEDA WALKS - JACKSON PARK AND THE COHEN ESTATE 
ALAMEDA WALKS - JACKSON PARK AND THE COHEN ESTATE.  The Alameda Recreation and Parks Department sponsors ALAMEDA WALKS a program started in 2003.  The goal of the program was to get people out of their homes on Saturday mornings for a little exercise and a chance to learn a little about the City of Alameda.   Alameda Walks' second walk of the year is an Architectural Walk starting at Jackson Park on Saturday May 14 at 9 a.m.
 
 
 
The walk on Saturday begins at Encinal Avenue and Park Avenue.  Highlighting Jackson Park … (2 comments)

ALAMEDA HOMES SOLD 2011 PART 2- ALAMEDA, CA - 05/12/11 07:13 PM
ALAMEDA HOMES SOLD 2011 PART 2
ALAMEDA HOMES SOLD 2011 PART 2   Alameda is a community of about 75,400 people.  There are approximately 32,010 housing units in Alameda.  Alameda is a wonderful community which has been compared to a Midwestern town on the San Francisco Bay.  Our schools are very good, our weather is pleasant, our streets are tree lined and our neighborhoods are charming, and our Victorian homes are lovely.
 

 

 
However, just like everywhere, Alameda does have some distressed properties.  In the first quarter of 2011, 55% of distressed properties were in the $300,000 to $599,000 range.  Most … (2 comments)

ACTIVERAIN PHOTO BLOGGER CONTEST - MEMORIES OF ROSES - 05/11/11 02:37 PM
 
ACTIVERAIN PHOTOBLOGGER CONTEST -MEMORIES OF ROSES

ACTIVERAIN PHOTOBLOGGER CONTEST - MEMORIES OF ROSES.  I have always loved roses.  They are so beautiful, whether they are a tight bud or a fully opened rose.  They come in many gorgeous colors and so many wonderful smells.
 
According to Wikipedia, Roses are perennials and there are over 100 species.  Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa. and are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach … (21 comments)

ALAMEDA PARKS - LINCOLN PARK - 05/10/11 02:30 PM
ALAMEDA'S CITY PARKS - LINCOLN PARK
 
ALAMEDA'S CITY PARKS - LINCOLN PARK  Lincoln Park was one of three parks opened in Alameda in 1909.  The first thing you notice about Lincoln Park at its High Street entrance is the beautiful tall cast-iron fence and gate.  It is a remnant of a grand Victorian estate. 

 
Originally Ohlone Native Americans lived in what is now the park and left shell mounds in the area.  The land was purchased in the mid 1800 from the Peralta family who held the Spanish land grant for the property. It eventually became part of one of the first subdivisions in … (2 comments)

50,000 POINTS AND COUNTING - 05/09/11 05:29 PM
50,000 POINTS AND COUNTING

50,000 POINTS AND COUNTING  I noticed that a number of ActiveRainers reached the 50,000 point plateau this past week.  Count me in with that group.  I am now at 51,352.  Whoopee!
 

 
I am participating in the 31 Days in May blog contest so my points have been ticking up quickly.  When I started blogging in earnest in late January my points were a modest 5000+  I never thought I would reach 50,000 in 4 months.  I blogged when I reached my first goal, overtaking the number 2 person in my community.  My goal now is to be the number 1 blogger … (10 comments)

RENOVATION, REPAIR AND LEAD PAINT REMOVAL - 05/07/11 06:54 PM
RENOVATION, REPAIR AND LEAD PAINT REMOVAL
 


RENOVATION, REPAIR AND LEAD PAINT REMOVAL  Spring has finally arrived here in Alameda.  This is the time when many people will be renovating their homes.  If you plan to paint your home soon it is not the simple process it used to be.  Now you must be concerned about hazardous lead paint.  If you are planning to paint your house you need to know the rules.  If your Alameda house has been painted with lead based paint in the past your painter must comply with EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule(RRP).
 
The RRP rules applies to anyone … (8 comments)

PARK STREET SPRING FESTIVAL - 05/06/11 03:35 PM
PARK STREET SPRING FESTIVAL


PARK STREET SPRING FESTIVAL  The 11th Annual Park Street Spring Festival in Alameda  starts on Saturday, May 7 and continues on May 8 from 10am to 6pm each day.   Its a Mother's Day tradition and the perfect place to find a gift for Mom.  There will be over 150 vendors and Park Street Merchants on Park Street from Lincoln Avenue to Encinal Avenue.
 
The Park Street Festival is fun for the whole family.  There will be continuous live entertainment running the gamut from Bluegrass, Fusion, Nu Jazz, Santana Tribute Band, Fund, R&B, Soul to Blues. 
 

The kid's area is a … (4 comments)

ALAMEDA 2011 FIRST QUARTER MARKET REPORT - ALAMEDA, CA - 05/05/11 12:09 PM
ALAMEDA 2011 FIRST QUARTER MARKET REPORT- ALAMEDA, CA
 
ALAMEDA 2011 FIRST QUARTER MARKET REPORT- ALAMEDA, CA  Just like the rest of the nation, Alameda's real estate is a state of flux.  The First Quarter 2011 statistics show some interesting trends.  The data is not guaranteed to be accurate but is derived from verifiable sources, EBRD and Terradatum. 
 
It's not news that homes priced correctly sell quicker then those that are priced too high.  The following are some statistics which show just that.  Of the 73 homes sold in the first quarter 2011 in Alameda those that were priced right sold within weeks.  Homes … (3 comments)

ALAMEDA SENIOR SAFETY PROGRAM - 05/04/11 04:36 PM
 
ALAMEDA SENIOR SAFETY PROGRAM

ALAMEDA SENIOR SAFETY PROGRAM. Keeping seniors safe in their homes is the goal of the Senior Safety Program in Alameda.   The program offers free home safety visits to advise of any potential hazards in the home.  Any one who is 60 years of age or older and lives in Alameda is eligible to participate in the program.   Program director Erin Christ says, "The program has been very well received by those she has helped.  But we need to be sure that every single Senior in Alameda knows how to be safe in their homes."
 

 
The Program … (2 comments)

ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - JACKSON PARK - 05/03/11 05:11 PM
ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - JACKSON PARK
 
ALAMEDA CITY PARKS - JACKSON PARK
 
Recently I was enticed out doors by a beautiful spring day. I decided to take a walk to Jackson Park, a park near my office.  Many people were out enjoying the day, playing with their kids and walking their dogs.  As I walked around the park I wondered about the history of the park.  I knew it was an old park but I didn't know how old it was.  A light bulb click on.  Alameda Parks, what a great topic to introduce people to the City of Alameda and its … (7 comments)

ALAMEDA WALKS - 05/02/11 01:42 PM
ALAMEDA WALKS
 
ALAMEDA WALKS  The Alameda Recreation and Parks Department sponsors ALAMEDA WALKS  a program started in 2003.  The program was initially a collaboration of the Alameda Recreation and Park Department, Pedestrian Friendly Alameda and Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth & Families.  According to Patrick Russi, Recreation Supervisor, Alameda Recreation & Parks,  the goal was to get people out of their homes on Saturday mornings for a little exercise and a chance learn a little about the city of Alameda. 

The first walk of 2011 will be held on May 7 at 9:00 a.m.starting at St. Joseph Notre Dame High … (3 comments)

STAGING ADVICE - 05/01/11 12:26 PM
STAGING ADVICE
 
STAGING ADVICE   I  attended a seminar last week in which a stager offered some advice to the Realtors in the audience.  She said the usual things about de-cluttering, cleaning, repairing and depersonalizing the home.  She said that statistic show that staged homes sell 78% faster than empty homes. She suggested agents should ask the seller what they loved about their house and what made living in the house special.  Staging the home to capitalize on those features will capture more buyers. 
 
                           Before and after staging photo courtesy of Stagedhomes.com 
Then she moved beyond staging to talk about advertising, photos and the idea of creating a story about … (13 comments)

 
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Evelyn Kennedy, Alameda Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Alameda, CA

More about me…

Gallagher & Lindsey, Alameda, California

Address: Alameda, Oakland, Emeryville, San Leandro, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Alameda, CA, 94501

Office Phone: (510) 748-1120

Cell Phone: (510) 504-5612

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