castro valley homes: Where does your mail go when your away? - 08/04/08 12:09 AM
Think about what lands in your mailbox...bank statements, credit card bills, and maybe even DVD's. Where do they all go when you're gone? If you've been asking a nosy neighbor to pick up your mail--or worse, letting your mail pile up in the box--there's a better option and it's easier than … (15 comments)
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castro valley homes: Ceiling fans vs air conditioners - 08/02/08 12:23 AM
We still have a bit of summer ahead of us and keeping the cost of electricity down is important. Instead of running an air conditioner at a cost of 16 cents per hour or 43 cents per hour for central air, use a ceiling fan.
If you use an air conditioner, … (9 comments)
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castro valley homes: Name that mother! - 07/19/08 06:24 PM
What's up with your mother's maiden name? Passwords are crucial to accessing your personal accounts and information. The problem is: We all have so many accounts that we worry more about remembering our passwords than we do about making sure they actually protect our data from hackers. So we end up … (3 comments)
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castro valley homes: Meena's Castro Valley, California Blog - 07/02/08 12:53 PM
http://castrovalleyhomes.wordpress.com/
… (0 comments)
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castro valley homes: May Housing Statistics for Castro Valley - 06/15/08 12:04 AM
The May statistics are in for Castro Valley and home sales have remained constant with 37 single family homes that went pending and 29 closings for the month of May.
The inventory for single family homes has taken a slight increase from 201 to 208 during the month.
The average days … (3 comments)
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castro valley homes: One stop utility connection - 06/08/08 12:20 AM
Moving can be very exciting...but it can also be a bit of a pain as well. Besides packing and unpacking, there is a long list of details to be handled. Things like choosing a mover, connecting utilities, getting Internet and cable service, or subscribing to newspapers or magazines in a new … (8 comments)
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castro valley homes: Small Drips Add up to Big Losses - 05/28/08 11:06 PM
Water conservation and water rationing seems to be just around the corner in our area due to the lack of rain this spring.
SMALL DRIPS ADD UP TO BIG LOSSES ~ A small drip, even five drips per minute, from a leaky home or office faucet can waste more than 250 … (6 comments)
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castro valley homes: Proposition 8 - Potential Property Tax Relief For Alameda County Home Owners - 05/21/08 09:53 AM
What is Proposition 8 and How does an Alameda County Home Owner Exercise Their Rights?
Proposition 8 passed in November of 1978 and amended Proposition 13 to reflect declines in value. As a result of this the Assessor is required annually to assess the value of property.
As a home owner … (7 comments)
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castro valley homes: Got energy hogs, bet you do! - 05/21/08 12:26 AM
We are always talking about ways to save energy, go green and leave the world a better place. I was reading an article recently and some of our modern day items are really zapping our energy.
Today's televisions can be real energy hogs. Televisions do not turn off when you hit … (3 comments)
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castro valley homes: ICE.....Are you using ICE to it's full extent? - 05/19/08 10:26 PM
We carry our cell phone's and PDA's everywhere we go. We use them to make phone calls, appointments, check email and send text messages. They are our electronic leashes. Today's technology can save your life!
In our phone directory we can use the initials "ICE" to save our lives.
ICE stands for In Case … (6 comments)
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castro valley homes: Waste, waste, waste.....what are you doing? - 05/06/08 10:46 PM
We live in a society that produces so much excess waste. Some of it is garbage and other is recycle. Our association, my office, family and friends are attempting to go green. In my research here is what I found and I thought it was work passing along.
Garbage........ Americans produce more … (6 comments)
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castro valley homes: The new subprime loan........... - 05/06/08 10:54 AM
FROM MY DESK TOP TO YOUR DESK TOP........Everything you wanted to know about FHA Loans and how they can help your buyer.
I think it is vital to the financial well being and future success of all my REALTOR® clients that they become as knowledgeable and conversant about the FHA program as … (6 comments)
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castro valley homes: I want to buy but I need to sell my home....what do I do? - 05/06/08 12:58 AM
Always sell before you buy. It may sound like common sense, but if you're like many sellers, you probably started attending open houses before you even thought about what it would take to sell your current home. Why Sell First? Most experts agree that you should close the sale of your … (4 comments)
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castro valley homes: I am ready to buy.....what's next - 05/06/08 12:48 AM
When you buy a house, you also invest in the neighborhood that surrounds it. The identity of a neighborhood may be as important to property values as the individual properties themselves. In a planned community, strictly controlled architecture governs a carefully crafted identity block after block. In a rural town, tree-lined … (2 comments)
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castro valley homes: So your thinking of buying a home - 05/06/08 12:38 AM
What you should ask the seller or the listing agent when you're interested in a home?If you know why a seller wants to sell, it can help you negotiate a better offer. The more motivated the seller, the more you can negotiate. It may take some finesse, but see if you … (1 comments)
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castro valley homes: Pleasanton Town Hall Meeting Update - 05/02/08 08:25 PM
Pleasanton Real Estate Town Hall: On Wednesday (4/30) the City of Pleasanton, Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, Pleasanton Weekly and Bay East held a town hall-style meeting at the Veteran's Hall to discuss the real estate market in Pleasanton. More than 125 Pleasanton residents and others attended.
Carole Rodoni, CAMB's George Duarte … (0 comments)
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castro valley homes: Home Buyer Fair draws nearly 5,000 Attendees - 05/01/08 12:22 AM
Southern California Home Buyer's Fair Draws Nearly 5,000 Attendees
Nearly 5,000 consumers attended the Southern California Home Buyer's Fair held April 12 and 13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Co-sponsored by C.A.R. and the Los Angeles Times, the free Southern California Home Buyer's Fair featured more than … (5 comments)
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castro valley homes: Winners, Losers, Where is Your Focus? - 04/29/08 11:54 PM
Have You Lost Your Focus? We all know how important it is to focus on what we want. But what happens when we lose focus? It's easy to do, isn't it?We get distracted. Something captures our interest and diverts our attention away from our chosen objective.We suffer setbacks. Things don't work … (8 comments)
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castro valley homes: Do You Remember the Fly Lady - 04/27/08 12:23 AM
SPRING HAS SPRUNG...some time ago a dear friend introduced me the the "Fly Lady" concept and keeping things in order. The more stuff we have the more congested our minds and life is. I am not even sure the fly lady is still around.
Spring is an ideal time to declutter our … (5 comments)
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castro valley homes: Earthquake Awareness: Are you prepared? - 04/24/08 11:11 PM
April is the month of the 1906 "big quake". I have lived in California all my life and lived with the little jolts every now and again. I remember the last one in 1989 the Loma Prieta. We hear the next big one is coming soon, very soon and we need … (4 comments)
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castro valley homes: Finding the Energy Leaks - 04/23/08 10:34 PM
Charm radiates throughout the beautiful old house your clients just bought - but so does cold air in the winter and hot air in the summer. Should you suggest that your clients install new windows to increase the energy efficiency of their house? Not necessarily. What you could do is recommend … (7 comments)
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castro valley homes: What is an ECOBROKER®? - 04/23/08 09:46 PM
EcoBroker® is a real estate designation that helps green-minded consumers identify REALTORS® who have received training that addresses "green" home certification programs like Energy Star® Qualified Homes, energy-efficiency, and sustainable design.
EcoBroker's® core curriculum offers innovative energy, environmental, and green strategies and tools for real estate professionals. EcoBroker® currently offers three courses … (1 comments)
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castro valley homes: A Penny for Your Thoughts - 04/20/08 11:48 PM
Starting May 12th, it'll cost you one extra little penny to mail someone your thoughts. That's right...the US Postal Service is getting ready to make some price changes, and the biggest change for most consumers will be a price increase for First Class stamps from 41c to 42c.
The news isn't all … (14 comments)
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castro valley homes: Got Air? Clean Air? - 04/20/08 11:22 PM
Since it's spring time we know summer will be fastly approaching. We are to conserve energy and we still may be forced to turn on our air conditioning. I found the following checks an balances that may assist in conservation and saving money.
Read on my friends and Save Money and Improve Air … (4 comments)
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castro valley homes: May is Deck Safety Month - Is Your Deck Safe? - 04/20/08 10:45 PM
As spring approaches, thoughts turn to sprucing up the yard, the garden, and spending more time outdoors. Part of gearing up for this time of year is making sure your deck is safe and wellmaintained.
In an effort to save lives and prevent injuries, the North American Deck and Railing Association, … (1 comments)
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castro valley homes: Are you at risk? Let's find out together - 04/20/08 09:41 PM
As I look around it is real clear that Spring is here. Our hillsides are green with the wild flowers popping up, the turkeys and wildlife have returned. Mama and papa doves are nesting in our courtyard to deliver their young again this spring.
It's the time of year that fosters new beginings! With … (1 comments)
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castro valley homes: It's BBQ Time.....Let's bring in the Beef - Garlic Marinated Steaks - 04/20/08 01:09 AM
Tomorrow is Sunday and it's a great day for a BBQ. Here is one of my favorite recipe's and I hope you enjoy this one.
Garlic Marinated Steaks
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons garlic, minced
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon onion … (1 comments)
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castro valley homes: City of Hayward is considering the adoption of a "Green Building" ordinance - 04/18/08 10:06 PM
Hayward also know as the "Heart of the Bay" may be going green! This would be a bid step for this city. If they can do it so can others. Read the following story.
Green Building Ordinance: The City of Hayward is considering the adoption of a "Green Building" ordinance that could increase … (3 comments)
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castro valley homes: A Short History of Hayward - 04/18/08 09:52 PM
During the late 1840s two events occurred occured that set in motion the founding of Hayward. First, the Mexican American War ended and the United States received California, New Mexico, and Arizona as new territories. Secondly, gold was discovered in California, drawing an explosion of people from all over the world. … (5 comments)
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castro valley homes: Foods to Calm You Down Fast - 04/18/08 07:55 PM
I was thumbing through my mail today and in my box I found an artice that addresses the every day stresses we have. I know there are times when I am stressed to the max and head out for a walk or a moment to look at the flowers and enjoy … (15 comments)
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castro valley homes: Free & Easy Timesaver for our Computers - 04/18/08 06:09 PM
How often do we discover by accident an incredibly timesaving tool, which we COULD have been using for years in our computer work, but just had not known about. Well, you will bless the day that you learned here about this true time saver.
Google Desktop: How many times have you misfiled something … (7 comments)
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castro valley homes: Free & Easy Timesaver for our Computers - 04/18/08 05:55 PM
How often do we discover by accident an incredibly timesaving tool, which we COULD have been using for years in our computer work, but just had not known about. Well, you will bless the day that you learned here about this true time saver.
Google Desktop: How many times have you misfiled something … (4 comments)
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castro valley homes: Your road warriors could be leaving a trail of customer data behind them. - 04/17/08 01:19 PM
I recently read and article about Computerworld's sales department's performance and how it is measured on revenue, not on data protection. So it's no surprise that salespeople focus on closing deals, not security holes. As a result, they sometimes sacrifice security for convenience. We log onto Wi-Fi hot spots in airports to work … (1 comments)
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castro valley homes: Castro Valley the Early Years - 03/28/08 07:08 PM
Ohlone
The Ohlone lived in Castro Valley for thousands of years. Spanish explorers called them "Costanoans" (Coast people). San Lorenzo Creek was a perfect location for a village. A variety of plants grew in the area that could be used for food, medicine and shelter. The creek attracted animals such as deer, … (0 comments)
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castro valley homes: Where Do We See Technology Going............. - 03/19/08 08:56 PM
I remember my first cell phone....it was one of those that had it's own briefcase, heavy and made by Okidata. It had a fair amount of dropped calls as there was not a fully formed network of cell towers. Minutes were extremely expensive and I seem to remember the days of … (2 comments)
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castro valley homes: Spinach and Leek Frittata - 03/19/08 12:01 AM
Great recipe that I had for dinner this week. It is very healthy and for those of us who are trying to watch what we put in ourselves this is a 10!
Spinach and Leek Frittata - Serves four
2 Tablespoons olive oil5 eggs or the equivalent egg substitute1 large leek, white and … (2 comments)
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castro valley homes: Crawling the Internet - 03/18/08 11:45 PM
Ten years ago, it was required that consumers visit a real estate professional to obtain information about a home. According to the CAR 2007 Internet vs. Traditional Buyer Survey, 72 percent of today's consumers use the Internet in their search for the "perfect home." For a top real estate professional, that … (2 comments)
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castro valley homes: St. Patrick's Day History, Legends, Trivia, and Information - 03/15/08 12:37 AM
St. Patrick's Day is fastly approaching and I went on the search to find out more about him and why the date is celebrated and here is what I found.
Who is St. Patrick Anyway?According to the World Book, St. Patrick lived about 389-461A.D., and is the patron saint of Ireland. Patrick was chiefly responsible … (4 comments)
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castro valley homes: NAR Offers Loan Limit Info - 03/14/08 07:50 PM
Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued new FHA and conforming loan limits. NAR has pulled together lots of information on the impact of these changes and what they mean to real estate professionals. You can check out these resources at a new NAR web page … (2 comments)
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castro valley homes: Things You Never Knew Your Cell Phone Could Do - 03/12/08 01:26 PM
One of my friends emailed this this morning and it seems to have some value to it. I can't wait to try unlocking my call with my cell phone from someone at home.
There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be … (3 comments)
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castro valley homes: Remember the Day's......FHA and VA Loans? - 03/12/08 01:02 PM
Rembmber when......FHA's and VA loans were the loans of choice and what we used for our buyers? OK, now I am really dating myself after three decades of getting clients into the American Dream! Well those were the days. What has been you experience of late with FHA & VA loans? How do … (1 comments)
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castro valley homes: San Ramon Community Activities - 03/11/08 03:32 PM
Just received this hot off the press from the City of San Ramon. Please enjoy and feel free to pass this along.
Aquatics
Spring Break Recreation Swimat the San Ramon Olympic Pool
The San Ramon Olympic Pool & Aquatic Park will be open in the afternoon for children and families during Spring Break. Come … (0 comments)
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castro valley homes: Tankless Waterheaters - 03/10/08 10:45 PM
So you're tired of running out of hot water in the shower and want to replace that old hot water heater. Or maybe you're considering tankless for a new project. Well, tankless hot water heaters can be a great solution to your residential hot water needs. They're also referred to as … (6 comments)
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castro valley homes: The Moving Timetable - 03/10/08 10:16 PM
Moving can be a stressful time and I found it is always better to plan ahead. Here are some things I would recommend planning out before you move.
4 weeks before the move
Do-it-yourself movers -- line up access to packing materials such as furniture pads, hand truck, dolly, packing tape (to … (0 comments)
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castro valley homes: Helpful Tips before having a Home/Property Inspection - 03/10/08 05:26 PM
1. Have all utilities / electrical / gas / water / pilot lights of heating systems / water heater / gas stove - ranges turned on which will make the process go smoothly. ( Inspector does not turn on utilities and ignite pilot lights. )
2. Have all light fixtures operating with bulbs in them!
3. All crawl and … (2 comments)
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castro valley homes: Springtime is for Grilling - 03/09/08 09:56 PM
As we spring forward with the new time change I remember some of things I enjoy most about spring. It's the time when everything seems to bloom and grow. Easter is near and the children go on Easter egg hunts and get their Easter clothes ready. Most of all I enjoy … (1 comments)
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castro valley homes: About Castro Valley - 03/09/08 03:29 PM
Castro Valley is an unincorporated community in Alameda County, California, located in the picturesque East Bay hills of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. It sits alongside Interstate 580 south of Oakland, east of San Leandro and north of Hayward, and borders Lake Chabot and the East Bay Regional Park District.Named … (0 comments)
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castro valley homes: Filing for Local Elections - 03/09/08 02:45 PM
Friday (3/7) was the filing deadline for candidates seeking office in several southern Alameda County communities including Hayward and San Leandro. Currently, we don't know who has officially filed their candidate documents, but we do know which seats are up for election. In Hayward, incumbents Barbara Halliday, Olden Henson and Bill … (0 comments)
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castro valley homes: State Senator briefs REALTORS®: - 03/09/08 02:42 PM
On Friday (3/7), State Sen. Ellen Corbett gave the Valley Marketing Meeting in Pleasanton a behind-the-scenes look at what's happening in Sacramento and legislation she's working on that addresses real estate issues. Corbett represents the 10th Senate district which includes the cities of San Leandro, Fremont, Hayward, Union City, Pleasanton, Milpitas … (0 comments)
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castro valley homes: Ready to close the deal? Maybe not. - 03/07/08 12:21 AM
Sometimes unforeseeable issues arise just prior to closing the sale. Hopefully, with negotiation, most of these have a workable solution. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. But don't panic. Another buyer might still be found who is willing to accept the house as is. Imagine that your prospective buyers are … (2 comments)
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castro valley homes: Mortgage News - 02/28/08 01:01 PM
Everyone has seen the news that the Fed has cut interest rates several times recently. The general public naturally thinks mortgage rates have been going down. Unfortunately that is not the reality. The 30 year fixed rates are up over .5% since the last Fed cut. The big news that most … (3 comments)
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castro valley homes: More Trivia for Today - 02/26/08 11:27 PM
… (6 comments)
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