Winding Down Week 3 with Project Blogger - 04/29/07 01:34 AM
This week I was so busy with my real estate practice here in Silicon Valley that I'm just glad I got in a daily post on my blog, Live in Los Gatos. Most days were long, with multiple appointments.  I had a couple of sales, and it was another week without a full day off.  I tell myself that it's like being a farmer when the crops are good: count your blessings, don't grumble, reap the harvest while you can.But today I only worked a half day and the rest was off. With my free time I went to our local park to see baby Great … (13 comments)

Blog Coaching with my Mentor, Frances Flynn Thorsen - 04/27/07 07:30 PM
Yesterday, Fran and I had a long talk by phone and we reviewed our game plan a bit, discussed some upcoming options (formatting and other things - I'm behind on the formatting), and I got some homework to do. Fran was ecstatic about the "Good Press" that I received last Sunday on The Los Gatos Observer and one of my homework assignments was to blog about it on my Live in Los Gatos! site. I think I must have re-written today's entry - Fran's homework - twenty times. That's about ten more than usual. I didn't want to turn it into … (4 comments)

Thank You for the Admin Assistant Day Reminder!! - 04/25/07 04:28 PM
This morning I logged on to Active Rain and a good soul posted a reminder that today is Administrative Assistant Day and we should say a kind word or do something to acknowledge the folks who help us at the office with our real estate practice.I wish I had bookmarked that blog - but didn't think to do it.Instead, I went to my office and invited the three gals to lunch. They were free and we did just that. The ladies were very touched that I would think of such a nice thing. I didn't, though - someone here did.So... I tried … (2 comments)

Creative Solutions - 04/25/07 12:57 PM
Finish the phrase: "Fighting fire with...." The standard answer, "fire",  might seem like an "out of the box" solution, since fire and water are opposites.But how about something even stranger?  Fighting fire with wine!  In my Live in Los Gatos blog today, I discuss how that's been done in the hills above Los Gatos and Silicon Valley, and what it can teach us about problem solving today.  Please stop by for an interesting twist of history: www.LiveInLosGatos.com. … (1 comments)

Finding Blog Topics - 04/24/07 09:59 AM
Yesterday I got a very nice email from a fellow Rainer asking me how I come up with so many blog topics.  I sent him a couple of emails on the subject and thought perhaps others would like to know what I do and chime in too.  How do you come up with your topics?  I keep a nice, tiny notebook for ideas for my blog, www.LiveInLosGatos.com. When something amuses me, makes me wonder, or gets me enthusiastic, I jot it down.  I also read up on local news online quite a bit.  I check the events calendar. And I try … (6 comments)

Same as in 1900 - Living History!! - 04/23/07 09:39 AM
 
The plague of gardeners everywhere is anything that destroys the garden.  In the beautiful Santa Clara Valley (the San Jose area), a major pest in orchards, farms, and flower gardens is the gopher.Once I watched, in horror, as a lovely and delicate flower I had nurtured and loved shook violently in place - like it was having a personal earthquake or a seizure. It trembled, it wiggled, and suddenly, SWOOSH, it was pulled below ground in an instant.  I had run into the voracious gopher, and he had found his "all you can eat buffet".Los Gatos had its share of trouble … (0 comments)

Some Great Press - 04/22/07 08:09 PM
I've been writing away as part of Project Blogger and have been adding content daily to my blog, http://www.liveinlosgatos.com/ . A local historian who runs an online newspaper in Los Gatos really appreciated my depth of information and did a very favorable article on me today.  He did not mention Project Blogger but I was able to say something about it in a response at the end. Today's entry, by the way, is a guest post by my husband, Jim. He discovered that a street near ours (the eastern boundary of Los Gatos) is a "meridian" and he got very excited tracing where else … (9 comments)

Winding Down Week 2 for Project Blogger - 04/21/07 11:00 AM
Week two is almost over, and I wanted to check in with everyone on what's been going on at my Live in Los Gatos! blog.  There's been some progress. Writing is something I truly enjoy doing, and my biggest challenge is being brief. (Yes, I have been to the Blarney Stone in County Cork, Ireland, but I did not kiss it. I seem to have inherited enough of that genetically, as my mom's people hailed from that very county.) My posts are still too long, I know, but I am working on the concept of writing concisely. So you will find … (8 comments)

Coggshall Mansion, the Haunted Restaurant of Los Gatos - 04/21/07 09:35 AM
Downtown Los Gatos, Califoria, featurtures many historic buildings with architectural importance and charm.One of them is an 1891 Victorian home, turned  mortuary (in 1917), turned  restaurant (1976 to the present).Would you be surprised to hear that in the past, many have asserted that it's haunted?My town blog, Live In Los Gatos, offers information and tips on current residential real estate, tidbits of history, current events and issues, scenic spots, local businesses, neighborhood & district information and a series on the town's haunted spots.Please stop by www.LiveInLosGatos.com and learn about the Coggeshall Mansion's newest use, see two photos I took of it recently plus a tourist's … (9 comments)

Darling Cambrian Home, Tree-Lined Street, Los Gatos Border, Room to Expand! - 04/19/07 12:38 PM
New listing this week - Open House Sat/Sun 1:30 - 4:30, please stop by!4933 Bel Estos Drive, San Jose (off Carlton/Rosswood)Offered at $749,950   Located in a lovely pocket of the Cambrian Park area of San Jose, a stone's throw to Los Gatos, this home enjoys the best elementary school in the district, Alta Vista Elementary School! Nicely updated with two remodeled bathrooms and 3 spacious bedrooms, it's very pleasant and liveable now but offers the potential for great expansion as the yard is huge!  The ranch-style house enjoys beautiful hardwood floors in the living and dining rooms, hallway and bedrooms and high, … (4 comments)

Monster Homes: How Much is Too Much? - 04/19/07 09:49 AM
How does your community feel about "super sized" homes?How about you - how do you feel about the extremely large houses?  When is "big" just too much, such that it negatively impacts the community?This is an issue in my town, Los Gatos, right now. I blogged about it at www.LiveInLosGatos.com and I would love to have your feedback on the question of how much is too much? (Or is there such a thing?) … (5 comments)

What's the SCARIEST thing that ever happened to you in showing a home? - 04/18/07 11:09 PM
Yesterday I did a post on "what's the weirdest thing" you've ever seen.... There were a lot of great answers and they trumped mine!Today I want to ask you a more somber question. What is the most frightening thing you've ever encountered as a real estate agent?I have two stories to share in that vein. Both were in the early to mid 90s.(1) I was out previewing homes in a remote area, the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. This "county area" has private roads and not many signs. I was trying to find a particular home in an unmarked area … (9 comments)

What's the WEIRDEST thing you ever saw in a home? - 04/18/07 03:05 AM
I could give you a list of the weirdest things I've ever seen:-a home full of S & M stuff (one bedroom with whips and chains, for instance - I'm sparing you most details)-a home with diamonds in the bathroom faucet handles and toilet flusher-a kitchen full of mirrored glass (on the countertops, the cabinet sides, you name it)How about you?  I bet you have some "in the trenches" stories you could share, some of which might be weird people, others weird areas, and others weird homes. I bet a LOT of agents have "I saw naked people" stories, too.   I … (29 comments)

Online Friendships, Online Business: It's About Connecting - 04/17/07 09:24 PM
How do you get real estate clients online?  In a lot of ways, it is the same way you make friendships online: it's by making connections.Some folks don't think you can have "real" friendships or relationships online (if you haven't also met in person). I haven't found that to be the case, and maybe that's part of the reason why I've had some success with gaining clients off the web.   Web relationships are real to me. In 1996 I started visiting chat rooms and made friendships. One gal in my circle there, Kat, had brain cancer. She was isolated due to lack … (2 comments)

Blog Idea - 04/17/07 12:29 AM
In a never-ending attempt to get great ideas for my blog (www.LiveInLosGatos.com), I've been spending inordinate amounts of time on Active Rain, looking and blogs and pondering the options. It did finally occur to me that perhaps efficiency is something I should consider, so I'm going to be writing up blogs in advance (2-3 at a time) and then set them to be released at staggered intervals. I've been doing this a little, but intend to do it more. Biz is picking up and I really cannot (should not) spend 2 hours a day on Active Rain!!  That said, I did … (9 comments)

Project Blogger: Winding Down on Week One - 04/14/07 05:13 PM
We are winding down on Week One of Project Blogger. Was it good for you?My coach, the fabulous Frances Flynn Thorsen, has been having some sort of computer nightmare this week, so we have not been in touch (much).  More like: phone tag, talk to you soon (or eventually).  But I'm plowing ahead out here on the Left Coast just the same. Accomplishments this week included these:* fixing formatting so my blog, http://www.liveinlosgatos.com/, looks right on various browsers (IE, Firefox) and no longer runs off the edge of the page in an annoying manner* added some feeds besides the one that … (8 comments)

Prices Up, Foreclosures Down - 04/14/07 10:16 AM
I have been hearing, anecdotally, that there really aren't many foreclosures in Silicon Valley. In my experience, getting a home this way is not easy, nor is it often much of a bargain. But right now I have a wonderful new client who really wants to investigate buying a home this way. So I've been paying more attention to this arena, and working with her to see what we can do there, and today read an article that was worth blogging about at Live In Los Gatos on this topic. Broderick Perkins is a national real estate writer who lives locally in San Jose … (0 comments)

Cost of homebuying in Los Gatos (Silicon Valley) - 04/13/07 12:20 PM
You've probably heard that buying a home in Silicon Valley is outrageously expensive. With $700,000 being the cost of an entry level house that's about 40 years old, I won't argue with you that it's costly to live here in the land of palm trees and semiconductors. People will pay a premium to enjoy this type of weather, the highly educated population, and extremely low crime. So what is the cost in Los Gatos, the upscale, scenic town between San Jose and Santa Cruz, a more expensive part of an expensive place? In my blog post today at Live In Los Gatos, I … (1 comments)

Hire A Local Appraiser - 04/12/07 06:24 PM
Right now, I'm knee deep in an appraisal problem. I've got a listing in a small pocket area which is the most expensive part of its zip code because this small section is attached to a GREAT couple of schools that are largely in another real estate area (more expensive).  The little section is a bargain for the school, but looks high for the zip code if you don't know the nuance of the area. (Here our school district boundaries do not follow the city district boundaries. So it's weird and complicated. But the quality of the schools is the #1 … (10 comments)

Of Computers and Banana Slugs - 04/12/07 11:40 AM
Back in November I began my Live in Los Gatos blog, and since then I've included information on neighborhoods, homes, history, events, the housing market, and even haunted houses in town.  Last night, though, I felt inspired to be a little more personal, so I discussed in today's entry a bit about the relationship between people and computers here in Silicon Valley.  And I talked about my own home too, and how (possibly absurdly) important the things are to life here in The Valley. My husband is an engineer by training, and our oldest child, Brian (17) seems especially gifted in … (3 comments)

Spandex is Not Sexy - 04/11/07 09:48 AM
Project Blogger moves forward and in my post today on my LIVE IN LOS GATOS! blog, I discuss exercize in my fair town of Los Gatos, a pretty part of Silicon Valley. We happen to have a proliferation of cyclists who don skin tight, neon colored stretchy stuff that outlines every bump and curve. And with some of them, there are a LOT of bumps and curves to be outlined!!The blog I'm revamping for Project Blogger is www.LiveInLosGatos.com and there I discuss events, history, housing, and all kinds of things related to the cute town of Los Gatos. Today I cover the … (5 comments)

Project Blogger, Day 2 - 04/10/07 02:35 PM
We're off and typing and I'm having a great time seeing everyone's blogging efforts and expertise.  My fabulous coach, Frances Flynn Thorsen, and I have been having a communications glitch with emails that seem to disappear in cyber space (or get sucked up into spam filters).  This has not made me any less of a nervous apprentice.  Half the time I'm not sure if I'm not receiving her directives or not.  Ah, the joys of internet communications!What's new?  In an effort to expand my horizons, today I used a new tool to showcase my beloved Los Gatos: Real Estate Shows. (Yes, I … (0 comments)

First Post for Project Blogger - 04/09/07 03:15 PM
Hello from sunny California!  I wanted to make my first post for Project Blogger on my blog, www.LiveInLosGatos, a good one that encompassed many of the reasons why living in Los Gatos is so cool.  Today I spent some time discussing the parks (one county, one owned by the town) at the very center of Los Gatos life and why they are so significant. Here's a link to today's post on Vasona Lake County Park and Oak Meadow Parks in Los Gatos:http://liveinlosgatos.realtownblogs.com/greatplacesinlosgatos/vasona-and-oak-meadow/ So my toes are wet!  Swimming's not allowed at Vasona Lake though, so of course I mean this figuratively … (1 comments)

Blog Apprentice Anxiety Syndrome - 04/08/07 04:03 PM

Today's Easter Sunday, I just got home from Mass and lunch with my family, my dad, and his girlfriend, and I have a knot in my stomach.Tomorrow is the beginning of Project Blogger. Where's the Maalox?I love to write.  One of my biggest challenges is not writer's block, but instead, being brief.  I read once that women say about 5 words for every 1 word men say.   I think I have that gene (the verbose one) in triplicate.But blogging is a whole different thing. It's not just about saying something, it's about saying something worthwhile enough that someone cares to read it, … (19 comments)

Still Lost: How Do Points Work on Blogs? - 04/07/07 06:06 PM
Now I have a silly question, but I'm still learning about AR. There are 20+ responses to my recent blog post about where everyone finds the great graphics used online - but my points summary is still saying 200 points for the entry. Other times I've done a blog and it gets 6 or 7 responses and I get more than 200 points. I am lost. What is it that causes points to happen, if not responses?Thanks all... If there's a place on AR that explains all of this, I haven't found it.Hope you are all having a great weekend.With thanks from Silicon Valley,Mary
 
… (9 comments)

Source for Images to use on the Web? - 04/07/07 04:00 PM
Confessions of newer blogger: I have no idea where you all get the great graphics you use in your posts.My blogs tend to look like the white pages of the phone book - all words.  That is, unless I happened to take the picture myself.Yesterday I was at Office Depot for supplies and I saw a CD with clip art, including web graphics, for about $30. "Cool" I was thinking. "That should do it."But my 17 year old in-house-tech-support and son, Brian, read the fine print and told me that it was "not for commercial use".   <unprintable>  The software is now by the … (54 comments)

Tip for the Day to Make Your Clients Money - 04/07/07 10:21 AM
In Silicon Valley, a lot of agents rely on the county records to give them the correct lot size.  When the parcel is a rectangle, the county often has the size correctly recorded.  When the parcel is irregularly shaped, however, things get interesting.  Often, lots which are "pie shaped" or those with more than 4 sides seem to have the math computed incorrectly, and the land is shown to be smaller than it is. Several times I've made my clients money (sellers by determining the right size before selling, and buyers by determining that what the listing agent accepted from the county is … (7 comments)

Los Gatos Real Estate Market Update - 04/06/07 10:42 AM
REInfolink, the local multiple listing service provider for real estate professionals, has provided us stats on March's sales and closing activity. How're things looking?In a nutshell, I'd say Los Gatos is fairly healthy.  Homes that are in the lower to midrange prices and are nicely improved and are selling well.  Overpriced homes that need updating are not moving well at all (but of course that tends to be the case in all markets).  Homes with a good lot that are priced like "land value" are selling well too.  It seems to be all about positioning.  Here are the numbers:For the "monthly … (2 comments)

Saratoga, CA (Silicon Valley): Scenic, great schools, shops & restaurants - 04/05/07 11:27 AM
Saratoga, a scenic, suburban corner of Silicon Valley, is nestled into the Santa Cruz Mountains just 3-5 miles north of Los Gatos. It's an upscale town noted for great schools, fabulous shops & restaurants, and beautiful estates.  Like most of the valley, this area was largely orchards 50 or 70 years ago. That was the heyday of "The Valley of Heart's Delight" and the San Jose area being known as "The Prune Capital of the World".  In fact, the largest prune orchard in the world was once Hume Ranch (located between Saratoga and Los Gatos along Highway 9), which had 680 acres of prune … (2 comments)

Colleagues and Competitors, Here's to the Best in our Biz - 04/04/07 09:47 PM
Don't we work in a funny industry?One minute, we're competing against the guy in the office across the street - either for a listing or in multiple offers, each of us representing our buyers.   A day later, we're working together, in contract, to both represent your clients' interests and to pull your weight so the deal can close on time, a "win win". Or we're doing charitable volunteer work together, or partying at an association of Realtors function. Adversaries. And friends.Shake hands or hug?I've been a Realtor for 14 years, and in my Silicon Valley area, we have horrible agents, fair … (8 comments)

How did you choose your brokerage? - 04/03/07 10:59 PM
Today a cousin of mine phoned to let me know she'd passed the state real estate exam. She is a real "shining star" and I know she is going to be GREAT in this field. She lives about 45 minutes north of me and wanted to know what kind of questions she should ask a broker when interviewing. What advice would you give her?I suggested all kinds of topics, from what training is available for new agents, to the costs and fees, to the splits and rules (rules for referrals in network or out of network - it reads like a … (19 comments)

Los Gatos, CA: spotlight on Belwood and Belgatos Park - 04/02/07 11:37 AM

 Los Gatos (Spanish for "The Cats") snuggles into the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, also called "The Coastal Range" since it separates the Santa Clara Valley from the area along the coast. On the other side of "the hill", as locals call it, lies the unconventional city of Santa Cruz (famous for being the first place in the continental US where surfing was introduced and for the odd college mascot of The Banana Slug at UCSC), the beach, and the exquisite Monterey Bay. Inland is Silicon Valley, the high-tech magnet, which is centered around San Jose, the self-appointed Capital of Silicon Valley.Right … (4 comments)

Los Gatos, CA: spotlight on Belwood and Belgatos Park - 04/02/07 11:36 AM

 Los Gatos (Spanish for "The Cats") snuggles into the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, also called "The Coastal Range" since it separates the Santa Clara Valley from the area along the coast. On the other side of "the hill", as locals call it, lies the unconventional city of Santa Cruz (famous for being the first place in the continental US where surfing was introduced and for the odd college mascot of The Banana Slug at UCSC), the beach, and the exquisite Monterey Bay. Inland is Silicon Valley, the high-tech magnet, which is centered around San Jose, the self-appointed Capital of Silicon … (2 comments)

Quito Road...watch your speed! - 04/01/07 11:51 PM
In my http://www.LiveInLosGatos.com  blog, I recently did a post on a very scenic area where the borders of Los Gatos and Saratoga meet: Quito Road.  I invite you to take a look and get to know this pretty part of Silicon Valley better!Mary Mary Pope-Handy, ABR, CRS, ePro, SRESHelping Nice Folks to Buy & Sell Homes in Silicon Valley Since 1993Intero Real Estate Serviceshttp://www.popehandy.com  http://www.valleyofheartsdelight.com/Mary@PopeHandy.com … (0 comments)

 
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Mary Pope-Handy, CRS, CIPS, ABR, SRES

Mary Pope-Handy, Silicon Valley

Los Gatos, CA

More about me…

Sereno Group Real Estate

Address: 214 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, Los Gatos, CA, 95030

Office Phone: (408) 335-1432

Cell Phone: (408) 204-7673

Email Me

A discussion on the real estate market and practice, particularly in Silicon Valley, CA.











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