Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Fremont Warm Springs Extension   The Bay Area Rapit Transit (BART) Warm Springs Extension will add 5.4-miles of new tracks from the existing Fremont Station (near Mowry Ave and Paseo Padre) south to a new station in the Warm Springs district of the City of Fremont.An optional Irvington Station may be built approximately midway, in the Irvington District, depending on future funding through the City of Fremont and may be added at a later date.The BART extension will cross over Walnut Avenue; under Stevenson Boulevard, Fremont Central Park and the Union Pacific Railroad track in a subway; over Paseo Padre Parkway; under Washington Boulevard; under Auto Mall Parkway; and over South Grimmer Boulevard.The Warm Springs Station will feature an at-grade island plat... 02/13/2012

The market statistic for Fremont, Ca. for 1-12-12 show that inventory has moved up slightly from year-end 2011 but is still far lower than the inventory figures for the end of September, 2011.        It does not matter whether you are considering the purchase of a condo, townhouse or single family detached home. It does not matter whether you want a traditional sale, short sale, or REO – or if you would rather steer away from REOs and short sales – inventory is thin. What does that mean? The law of supply and demand has not been repealed. Demand may be down due to prevailing economic forces. But demand has not disappeared. Supply is definitely down. There are obviously fewer houses for sale than in the recent past. If you see a well located, attractive home, other buyers will also find ... 01/31/2012

Multiple offers!!?? What?? In Fremont, Ca. How can that be?  All of the news stories are stressing that the economy is still poor, home sales are poor and home prices are not going up. The prevailing wisdom among many people with whom I speak is that low-ball offers are the way in which buyers should make offers these days. At least that is what buyers tell me. Well, I don’t think low-ball offers will carry the day when there are 30 offers on one house! Wow! Thirty offers! What year is this? Are we in 2004? Not only did that house receive a surprising number of offers but the house itself is an REO! Aren’t REOs supposed to sell at a big discount from the market price compared to a “normal” sale? At least that is what buyers tell me. The house is question is located in the attendance are... 01/29/2012

Market Statistics for Fremont, Ca. 11-22-11.   Who says it’s a buyer’s market? One of the major facets of a buyer’s market is that there are lots of choices for buyers. In other words, there is lots of inventory. Not so in Fremont right now. In fact, the available listings of single family homes have plummeted. How much of the decline is seasonal? Who knows? I think we can expect a continued decline through December. January often is in line with December with an uptick in inventory normal in February. We shall see.   So what do these statistics that are evidence of shrinking inventory mean? Well, if you are a buyer whose intent is to write low-ball offers because you are hoping for a DEAL, you might want to rethink that strategy.                                                         ... 11/22/2011

Renting a home after  a short sale can be done Although Fremont-Union City home renters looking for homes to rent in Fremont have to do so in some very trying times, despite challenges, many of them are excellent renters. A lot of Fremont renters have been recovering from a short sale in their recent history. That's a rough situation to be in. Not only can they can no longer keep their home, they must now have their recent financial woes made known to their soon to be landlords and the property management. Albeit embarrassing, landlords as well as property management should read between the lines of the back round report. The people looking to rent in Fremont-Union City, who have come out of short sales, can be very reputable renters. Landlords and property management professionals sho... 11/06/2011

Greece, the Fed and Inflation—Oh, My! How Do We Get Mortgage Interest Rates?   First, here’s how we don’t: There are three common misconceptions about how mortgage rates are determined: 1) solely by each lender, 2) by the Federal Reserve and/or 3) based on the 10-Year Treasury Note.  There are still mortgage professionals claiming rates are based on the 10-Year Note.  Wrong! Now, here’s how we do: While there are several generic interest rate trend indicators, rates can be influenced at any given moment by at numerous different variables in the market and with each individual loan approval scenario. The mortgage rate marketplace is dynamic and complex.  Lenders set their rates every day based on the market activities of Mortgage Bonds, also known as Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS).  A ... 11/03/2011

Got You On Camera...No.. NOT my GOLD...  It was my Grandmothers!  Have you heard this comment lately from your friends, colleagues, neighbors, or clients?  With the loss of jobs, kids looking for something to do, we have been reading more and more about houses being broken into.  In just a six month period, we recently read on the Police Blotter in Fremont, CA, a group of three boys under the age of 17, were arrested for 6 break-ins!  They were after GOLD.  Gold prices have gone out the window, which has caused a higher rate of house break-ins.  Are you prepared?  Did you get it on camera?   This may be a great gift for your new home buyers, a surveillance camera ready to take down the "thief".  You can connect from your Smart Phone and see what is happening in your home and neighborhoo... 10/26/2011

Click Here to see all homes on the MLS 09/23/2011

Tonight was another of the Friday night “Street Eats” events put on by the Fremont Chamber of Commerce at Pacific Commons. Gathered in the parking lot in front of the Any Mountain sporting goods store were eight food trucks.                      GrillStars That’s Sweet BBQ Kalbi                       Siam on Wheels Twisted Chili WOW Truck O Mi Ninja                                                                                   El Malecon Mogo BBQ BiggShrimpi’n They were serving a variety of foods and desserts to hundreds of people who turned out in the great Fremont weather for alfresco dinner and fun.     Great Fremont weather??? About two hours after returning home we were treated to a display of lightening, thunder, and a shower of rain. I realize summer thunder showers are the no... 09/09/2011

Median For Sale vs. Median Sold Aug-10 vs. Aug-11: The median price of for sale properties is up 8% and the median price of sold properties is down 10% Aug-10 vs. Aug-11 FOR SALE Aug-10 Aug-11 Change % 859,000.0 929,950.0 70,950.0 +8% Aug-10 vs. Aug-11 SOLD Aug-10 Aug-11 Change % 839,800 756,000 -83,800 -10%   Supply & Demand by Month Aug-10 vs. Aug-11: The number of for sale properties is down 7% and the number of sold properties is down 27% Aug-10 vs. Aug-11 FOR SALE Aug-10 Aug-11 Change % 245 229 -16 -7% Aug-10 vs. Aug-11 SOLD Aug-10 Aug-11 Change % 41 30 -11 -27% South Fremont includes the prestigious Mission San Jose area, Weibel area, and Warm Springs area. It's been very desirable among home buyers for its good schools and convenient location to the Silicon Valley.  However, it ... 09/01/2011

Median For Sale vs. Median Sold Aug-10 vs. Aug-11: The median price of for sale properties is down 0% and the median price of sold properties is down 13% Aug-10 vs. Aug-11 FOR SALE Aug-10 Aug-11 Change % 500,000 500,000 -0 -0%   Aug-10 vs. Aug-11 SOLD Aug-10 Aug-11 Change % 517,500 452,000 -65,500 -13%       Supply & Demand by Month Aug-10 vs. Aug-11: The number of for sale properties is down 15% and the number of sold properties is down 8% Aug-10 vs. Aug-11 FOR SALE Aug-10 Aug-11 Change % 963 822 -141 -15% Aug-10 vs. Aug-11 SOLD Aug-10 Aug-11 Change % 158 146 -12 -8%     Thank you for reading this blog. Should you have any questions regarding the data or want more information about the City of Fremont, please feel free to contact me.  If you or someone you know owe more than your home... 09/01/2011

The name Mel Blanc may not have been too well known to many young children growing up in the 60's and 70's, but he was one of my childhood heroes. You may have remembered him as Barney Rubble, Bugs Bunny (not to mention ALL of the Looney Tunes characters all the way down to even Black Jacque Shallac). They were all the voice talents of Mel Blanc.   Last week was a tough week at my real estate office here in Fremont CA http://www.tricityhome.com. One real estate lender was particularly persnickety. At the end of the day, on may way home, I heard the voice of Bugs Bunny singing the old Danny Kaye scat routine my head. A half smile made its way to what must have already looked like a genuine curmudgeon's face.   You might say that I just had to scratch that old Bugs byte. So, after I found... 08/20/2011

Last year, 330 cars were on display. This year…even more.     When: Saturday, August 20th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where:  on Niles Boulevard between J and G Streets. Niles, Fremont, Ca. What: Hot August Niles Car Show     For the first time, a Studebaker owner’s club will be bringing more than a dozen examples of that marque to display. The Fremont Mustang Club will be displaying its members' cars and offering up its mouth watering barbeque selections. Niles merchants and restaurants will all be open and welcoming you to visit.   …or, just stroll among the dozens of cars and enjoy the live music from the Niles Town Plaza.     08/19/2011

I spent the morning with my Lion Club selling wine, beer and soft drinks at the Cajun Zydeco Festival at Ardenwood Farm in Fremont, Ca. Since it was a warm day, the lines were steady for beverages to compliment the crayfish, oysters, chicken, and Cajun and Creole dishes.     Music was supplied by Gator Beat, Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys, Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic and BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet. The music was rowdy and fun and lots of dancing took place.     Thanks to the East Bay Parks District folks for partnering with the Dawn Breakers Lions Club to raise funds to underwrite the event and contribute to Lions charities.     For me, it was a great way to spend a morning before meeting two different clients to show houses in San Leandro and Fremont. Being a Realtor is ... 08/13/2011

Tomorrow night, Aug. 12th, Street Eats will return to Fremont at Pacific Commons in front of Any Mountain. From 4:30 to 9:00 there will be a delicious assortment of foods available coming to you in a culinary traveling caravan. Fun and good food from: Grill Stars That’s Sweet Dessert Truck BBQ Kalbi Siam on Wheels Twisted Chili       MoBow O Mi Ninja BiggShrimp’n If you miss tomorrow evening’s opportunity for a fun dining experience, Fremont Street Eats will be repeated every other Friday night through September. Mark your calendars for Sept. 26th, and Sept. 23rd. 08/11/2011

At the Fremont, Ca. campus of DeVry University, 6600 Dumbarton Circle, Fremont, Ca., the travelling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall will be on display August 10-13 from 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m.  This is a traveling, smaller size replica of the Memorial in Washington, D.C. The replica, which includes all 58,129 names of fallen soldiers from the Vietnam War is 8 feet tall at the center and 46 feet from end to end.                                                                            Even if you have seen the Washington, D. C. original, this replica, with its reminder of all that our service men and women do for us, will move you. My wife’s uncle and one of my college classmates have their names on the wall. 08/10/2011

   What role did "Walters and Wolf Company" play at MGM City Center in Las Vegas Nevada by Robert Swetz (Vegas Bob)  "Walters and Wolf" Glass Company installed all the Glass & Panels in The Harmon Building at MGM City Center in Las Vegas Nevada, the Building with the (Blue Glass).  I started working for "Walters and Wolf" Glass Company in Las Vegas Nevada in the year of 2004. Walters & Wolf Glass Company is finishing the Harmon Building which is the Blue Building on the right hand of the photograph above.  I am still working on this project for Walters and Wolf and I have to say this is a wonderful company to work for. Walters & Wolf has their own Metal Extrusion for all the buildings they construct.  The owner of Walters and Wolf is Randy Wolf and my foreman since 2004 has been Ron Ni... 07/22/2011

The Fremont Jail is a small detention facility located at the southern edge of Alameda County and is operated by the Fremont Police Department. Typically, this facility will hold a small amount of arrestees from Fremont for up to 72hours or until the arrestee's first court appearance before they are shipped off to the Main County Jail. The nice part about community jails like Fremont is their ability to operate efficiently because they are not overwhelmed by volume. A perfect example of how the Fremont Jail operates efficiently is how quickly they process bail bonds and release inmates. In most cases once a bail bond is posted at the Fremont Jail, the arrestee will usually be released within 30 to 45 minutes. Compare this to a large facility like Santa Rita, where the release time is 6 ... 06/24/2011

His name is Retro. Initially, it was one of those 70's retro popcorn ceiling light fixtures. "He" was later created by dotting on a little mud on after removing him from our popcorn ceiling during our popcorn removal fest in our Fremont home.  Frugal as we are, my wife and I were sure that we could remove the stuff ourselves--keep in mind that the living room has a 12 foot high ceiling that measures 28 X 12. The 1700 sq ft task was labor intensive, exhausting and messy--and we supposed to have been prepared. We were not. Pooped out from popcorn removal, I tried to inject a little humor into the project. I run around the house while holding "Retro," making robot sounds and chasing the kids with it during breaks. My Fremont real estate office http://www.tricityhome.com recently sold anot... 06/18/2011

I just read a newspaper story about high performing schools in Santa Clara County. The article puffed with pride over the consistently high ranking of those schools. They should be proud. High performing schools are important to students, school staff, families, the community and homeowners. Yes! High performing schools are in desirable residential areas. Fremont, Ca. is a case in point. If you are interested in buying real estate in Fremont, Ca. you will pay a premium if the new home that you seek is in the Mission San Jose School District. Schools in the attendance area of Mission San Jose School District are also consistently ranked among the top performing California schools. We know that quality schools drive real estate values and that is true in the Mission San Jose School Distri... 05/05/2011