sam shueh: Spring gardening tips
- 05/03/16 01:07 PM
After actor James Stewart retired he wanted to grow all his vegetables. In Beverly Hills he learned his next door neighbors were selling their home. Stewart bought the house for over $1,000,000 razed the mansion and use the lot as his vegetable garden. He stated:" There is nothing like tasting your own grown vegetables". I thought he was nuts at the time; now I see why people want to grow their own vegetables. I think Mark Zukerberg is doing similar things.
When spring arrives, the urge to get seeing some green yard and flowers will motivate most people. The following are a few tips on … (3 comments)
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sam shueh: Cities now using cats to solve a fundamental homeowner problem
- 05/03/16 12:32 AM
The warm winter in parts of the US created a new challenge to home owners. Many cities in mid-west are facing with early breeding of rats and rodents this year.
In Chicago, for example, the Mayor Emanuel has a task force address ways to resolve sources of rat food by cleaning up sewers, placing abatement programs and cleanup street dog droppings, and cap dumpster and trash cans better(Chicago Radio Show on rats).
Residents are trying a more active solution-adopt more feral cats. The proponents say it is a humane way and natural to control population of rats.
It also solves overcrowded animal shelters which … (3 comments)
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sam shueh: Femto housing are getting popular in big US cities
- 04/28/16 01:44 PM
Mountain View California is the headquarter for search engine giant Google. The immediate neighborhood is usable to provide employees with housing. Linkedin, Facebook are also having same problems. However, with Google's employer support help is on the way. North Bayshore district that may likely create up to 10,250 units of high-density housing consists of 12 story buildings. Apartments may be limited to 5 stories high so they do not hover over single story existing homes below. Town folks are opt to vote on it.
There will be no room for huge parking lots. The City encourage walkable mixed use units with retail store at street … (7 comments)
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sam shueh: Silicon Valley city needs real solutions to housing solutions
- 04/18/16 09:41 AM
Sam Shueh
Affordable housing in Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay area is really short of housing for the plentiful high income jobs offered. I get calls many from out of North America coming for intern positions. They give an allowance of several $1000 for a 3 month stunt. I am surprised they come from Switzerland, Finland, as well as many eastern second or third tier schools. Many professional positions are offered 1 year before graduation. Many employers … (3 comments)
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sam shueh: I worked next door from a counterfeit operation
- 04/13/16 03:47 PM
Sam Shueh I worked next door at Stevens Creek Blvd and Torre Ave in Cupertino, CA for several years. The office used to share the building with a local bank and a title company. Sometime ago, I saw the building was surrounded with sheriffs. One could not leave or enter the building. Next day, some residents said to me do you know what happened at the bank yesterday? No. Someone … (8 comments)
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sam shueh: Started seeing moderate housing growth in Silicon Valley
- 04/04/16 02:21 AM
Sam Shueh
For South San Francisco Bay I have most neighborhoods analyzed quarterly. The % of growth has shrink to single digit from double digit- %. This is first time the growth slows down since Q1 2012.
People are now moving to a lower priced neighborhood from job centers and to Central San Jose and Milpitas which is north of San Jose, CA. Also Morgan Hill and Gilroy enjoyed a crazy … (4 comments)
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sam shueh: Real estate investment rules
- 03/23/16 09:50 AM
Sam Shueh
These are a few suggested ideas for investors to think about when you are want to invest your equity capital.
1. Properties which do not generate rental income --
They consist of vacation homes and land investments. Too many people invest in properties hoping that they will go up in value. The reality is raw land outside urban area does not really go up in value or factoring into the inflation. I have people wanting to get rid of their vacation land but they … (4 comments)
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sam shueh: Saint Patrick's Day
- 03/15/16 01:35 AM
Sam Shueh
March 17 is believed to to the day St Patrick passed away. I learned, the expression "Drowning the Shamrock!"-getting loaded came because Shamrock leaves are floated on the whiskey before drinking.
March 17 is Saint Patrick Day. Maewyn Succat is a Roman born in Scotland. He was kidnapped as a teen and taken to Ireland as a Shepard. He escaped but returned and spent 40 years in Ireland and Britain teaching Christianity to the Irish and converted many while … (7 comments)
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sam shueh: Social media craziness or lack of enthusiasm
- 03/12/16 12:47 AM
Sam Shueh
SM has transformed the world building communities for anyone who has a smart phone or internet to instantly connect and share data across the continent. It changes how we meet people, read and share information.
As realtors we are learning about Social Media (SM) and how we take advantage of the new technology. A couple of years ago, SM … (3 comments)
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sam shueh: Silicon Valley Homes 2016 q1 update- Mt View, CA
- 03/06/16 11:53 AM
Silicon Valley Housing Market-2016 1st quarter
Sam Shueh
The oil price drop and stock volatility coupled with worries in Asia has been troubling the investor a number of ways. Local employees at Tesla, Apple future earnings, and Yahoo’s future make some of the Silicon Valley people uncomfortable. Linkedin in Mountain View, CA lost its -53% stock value makes one wonder if rest of Silicon Valley companies can sustain at the level as before.
None of the major employers from Facebook, Apple, Google, Intuit have hiring freeze. In fact, they all plan to add more employees and increase production. The argument is Silicon Valley has … (5 comments)
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sam shueh: Home flips are lucrative in San Francisco Bay area - 2
- 03/03/16 12:09 PM
Sam Shueh
Continued with part 1 which focuses on the US flipping activities from different states.( 2015 US flipping activities by States).
Which cities investors made most gain buying and put it on the market during 2015 as flipper? According to RealtyTrac which keeps track of homes purchased by ithose who put them back on the market for sale within same 360 days. 2015 was a jolly good … (2 comments)
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sam shueh: Home prices in US metro are still increasing
- 02/29/16 11:30 PM
Sam Shueh
The recent cyclic stock market and historically low gas prices seem not to make a dent on current home prices. The following data is compiled from Corelogic(was a First American Title's valuation subsidiary). One would expect home price erosion from the oil industry job loss. The Houston previously owned home prices went up by 5.7% compared to Jan 2015. It does not seem to have an immediate impact there. The table below is a … (2 comments)
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sam shueh: Chinese New Year celebration and parade
- 02/21/16 02:28 AM
Sam Shueh
More than 2,500 marchers and countless beautifully costumed performers honored the Chinese lunar Year of the Monkey in 2016 San Francisco’s annual Chinese New Year Parade.
The famous festivity is a long-standing city tradition that dates shortly after Gold Rush days to 1860s. The event has been named one of the top 10 parades in the world and is known as one of the biggest celebrating the Lunar New Year … (4 comments)
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sam shueh: It was a beautiful day in San Jose, CA
- 02/18/16 12:48 AM
Sam Shueh
We received a little rain last night. It is likely the last one rain before months without one in 2016.
It was such a fresh view of the area. Cars were all cleaned. Car wash is not permitted still. Fresh air smell, birds were singing and bathing.
Artists in downtown
I was going to downtown San Jose. Near Five Wounds Portugese Catholic Church* There is no doubt in … (4 comments)
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sam shueh: Happy the year of the monkey!
- 02/08/16 08:37 AM
Sam Shueh
This is the year of the Monkey.
Those who celebrated the Superbowl 50 get another excuse for the Chinese lunar year feast one day after.
We have Mark Zukerberg and his wife Pricilla Chan md wish all of us a happy New Year. Their daughter Maxima got a … (22 comments)
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sam shueh: To control one's own destinty
- 02/04/16 05:08 AM
Sam Shueh
I attended a 100 year old aunt's birthday party recently. She got up gave a talk on her life and did ball room dance acted as she was still youthful. No sign of falling apart as she worked for City of Berkerly until she was in her 80s. The other day I got an text message from a 102 year old thank me for a gift I totally have forgotten.
We also have … (2 comments)
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sam shueh: Superbowl business advertisement not legal
- 02/03/16 09:54 AM
Sam Shueh
Silicon Valley, CA
As I was driving on I-280 back from Santa Clara, CA (aka Levi Stadium home of the 50th Superbowl game), I saw a Sign "Oracle Cloud ERP #1" on a shared Oracle building shared with Price Waterhouse Inc several miles away.
Oracle, CEO Larry Ellisson is leading the Superbowl spirit with … (5 comments)
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sam shueh: 2016 Ground Hog Day, Silicon Valley, CA
- 02/02/16 06:21 AM
Sam Shueh
Silicon Valley, California
The legend says if it is cloudy when a ground emerges from its burrow on February 2nd, then the spring season will arrive earlier. If it is sunny, the ground will supposedly see its shadow and a realtor wanting the ground hog to list with … (1 comments)
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sam shueh: Attaining 300,000 AR points
- 02/01/16 07:07 AM
Sam Shueh
I started actively blogging last spring (2015) to expand my internet presence exposure. On July 17 2015 I reached my 1st level plateau of 100,000 pts.
I do not recall when I reached my 200,000 pts. I imagine it was not long ago,
I have to spend a great deal of time thinking about what topics … (8 comments)
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sam shueh: Does a NFL team in your city boost housing prices?
- 01/31/16 03:18 AM
Sam Shueh Realtor
I was selling homes not far away from the Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA a few years ago. It was in the midest of the Great Recession. The seller was willing to pay up to 4% of closing cost and I could not even give away with lots of skeptical owners. They picked on the lack of modern features, bath room condition as well as the industry. A few I mentioned that it was close to … (4 comments)
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After actor James Stewart retired he wanted to grow all his vegetables. In Beverly Hills he learned his next door neighbors were selling their home. Stewart bought the house for over $1,000,000 razed the mansion and use the lot as his vegetable garden. He stated:" There is nothing like tasting your own grown vegetables". I thought he was nuts at the time; now I see why people want to grow their own vegetables. I think Mark Zukerberg is doing similar things.
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