December’s Season of Celebrations & Sharing – The Family Giving Tree Drop off donations at the drop off warehouse located at the Milpitas Town Center.   749 E. Calaveras Blvd. Milpitas, CA 95035Donate online: Help a child living in poverty experience a magical moment at Christmas!     Top 10 Children’s 2011 Holiday Wishes 1.           Toy Cars and Trucks 2.          Scooter 3.          Dolls (e.g. Baby, Dora, Barbie) 4.          Sweaters & Jackets 5.          LEGO Building Set 6.          Remote Control Toys 7.          Educational Toys & Books 8.          Sports Balls 9.          MP3 Player 10.        Board Games It’s not too late – donate today! Merry Christmas! 12/20/2011

Milpitas Single Family homes Active Short Sale Listings:  23 Active Bank Owned Homes: 9 Pending Short Sale Homes: 49 Pending Bank Owned Homes: 11 Sold Short Sale Homes: Last 6 months 23 Sold Bank Owned Homes: 19   Milpitas Condo Townhomes Active Short Sale Listings: 12 Active Bank Owned Condos:  4 Pending Short Sale Condos/Townhomes: 43 Pending Bank Owned Condos/Townhomes: 4 Sold Short Sale Condos/Townhomes: 19 Sold Bank Owned Condos/Townhomes 26 Unlike San Jose, where short sales far outnumber bank owned transactions, the numbers are much closer for short sales and bank owned homes in Milpitas. There are many more pending short sale listings than bank owned, but short sales take so much longer to close that number is not surprising. If you have any questions about short sales or forecl... 09/26/2011

Milpitas CA.  Volunteers Needed for the "Clean A Park" Event Volunteers Needed to Get Ready, Get Set and Clean.  Join Milpitas' volunteerpartners in the "Clean A Park" event to clean up one of Milpitas' most popular parks - Augustine Memorial.  Make a difference in your community and volunteerto "Clean A Park" Contact the volunteer coordinator at (408) 586-3207 to join Date: Saturday, September 17, 2011 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Location: Augustine Park Cortez and Coelho, off Escuela Parkway So, Milpitas CA.  Volunteers Needed for the "Clean A Park" Event See you all there! By the way, if you or anyone you know are in the market to sell or buy a home, call (408-316-0793) or email (rpablaza@comcast.net) and I will send you a free report on home buying and selling.  I am quite busy but I will ... 09/09/2011

Homes for Sale in Milpitas CaDuet in Hidden Lake Villages OverviewMapsPhotosDescriptionMarket Stats $369,000 Single Family Home Main Features 2 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 1350 sqftLot: 03 sqft Location 723 Jennifer WayMilpitas, CA 95035USA Kathleen Daniels, CDPE, CHS, RDCPro (800) 972-1822http://www.ExclusiveSanJoseHomes.com   Listed by: San Jose Homes Our recent listings Homes for Sale in Milpitas CaWillow Glen HomeSan Jose Condo For SaleSan Jose Homes for Sale Subscribe to our listing feed   08/18/2011

MILPITAS CA.  COSTLY MISTAKES TO AVOID IN BUYING GOVERNMENT FORECLOSURES Milpitas CA.  Costly Mistakes To Avoid In Buying Government Foreclosures.  You can really save money when buying a home by purchasing a foreclosure. Nonetheless, even though it is possible to find foreclosed properties at the HUD Homestore, it is still possible to make some very costly errors. 1. What about taxes? The truth is that the majority of people make an overpayment when it comes to the transfer taxes on their foreclosure buy. A little known fact is that the majority of government foreclosures are free from transfer taxes, which may amount to over $5,000 in some areas. This varies from state to state, but generally speaking transfer taxes for changing from the ownership of the Federal Government to that of ... 08/09/2011

Milpitas CA. Movie Nights Out Continues Milpitas CA.  Movie Nights Out Continues So come out and join us for a fun night of enjoyment watching a classic movie filled with a comedy of errors, misunderstanding and a feel-good ending (not rated) Date:  Thursday, August 11 @ 7 PM Where: Barbara Lee Senior Center 40 N. Milpitas Boulevard Admission is FREE Refreshments will be available at the Snack Bar So come on Milpitas CA.  Movie Nights Out Continues For more information please contact: Milpitas Community Center @ (408) 586-3210 By the way, if you or anyone you know are in the market to sell or buy a home, call (408-316-0793) or email (rpablaza@comcast.net) me and I will send you a free report on home buying and selling.  I am quite busy but I will always have time for you, your family an... 08/04/2011

Milpitas CA.  Does Your Home Have Curb Appeal? Milpitas CA.  Does Your Home Have Curb Appeal?  An enhanced curb appeal attracts more potential buyers.  That is because your property's facade is the first picture potential buyers see from the street.  Increase your chances of selling your home faster and at a higher price, by improving your home's curb appeal.  All it takes is minimum effort.  Because of familiarity to your home's appearance, you probably don't notice deferred maintenance issues such as small cracks, peeling paint, uncontrolled shrub and tree growth or a dated entry way.  Someone seeing your home for the first time will.  So how can you critique your home's curb appeal?  Start from the street and look at your home.  What stands out?  What looks wrong?  Does your tree or ... 07/29/2011

Milpitas CA.  Your House Did Not Sell? Milpitas CA.  Your House did not sell? There are “do’s” you can implement to increase the salability of your home.  There are also “dont’s” you need to avoid so that your potential buyers “don’t” run away and leave you in the dust. An experienced Realtor can give you tips on what to do to make your home highly saleable, but here are a few tips on what not to do:  Does your house smell?  If you have pets and smokers in your home the smell will be pungent and noticeable to outsiders.  However you may not be aware that your house has an unpleasant odor as you live with the “funny” smell day in and day out.So how do you get rid of the “funny’ smell:  Smoke outside your home.  If you have cats keep litter boxes fresh and in a contained area.  For dogs, ... 07/29/2011

Title Insurance Coverage in Milpitas CA Buying a house is a major commitment. A Title Insurance Coverage in Milpitas CA will help you shelter that expense against would-be losses that may take place after your property transaction closes and you realize that someone else has an ownership claim to the home. It may appear doubtful that such a state of affairs may play out, however it is a surprisingly widespread incidence enough to make buying a title insurance coverage a fine idea to safeguard your purchase. When you purchase a home, your attorney or lawful representative will perform a title investigation (also known as a title examination) to verify ownership of the property in question. A title investigation involves gathering and investigating, in conscript, all of the public data th... 07/28/2011

Double Ending REO Sales in Milpitas CA In many of my REO listings I am often approached by Buyers and asked if I would be willing to represent them in the sale of my REO listing.  My answer to all of them is NO in Double Ending REO Sales in Milpitas CA.  Here are the reasons why: Some buyers think they are doing the REO listing agent a favor income wise.  They think that by double ending the REO sale the listing agent will double his/her income.  Well that simply is not true (for the Banks and Asset Managers I represent anyway).  If I double end my REO listing I will get a maximum 3% commission (which I get for listing the REO).  The other 3% commission goes back to the Bank / Asset Management Company.  So where is the incentive for me to double end an REO sale?  In fact, when I recentl... 07/24/2011

Milpitas CA.  An Apple A Day Keeps the Burglars Away Summer is the height for burglaries.  It is at this time that burglars look for empty houses.  This according to the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association.  Before you leave for your vacation, consider these tips to keep your home burglar proof while you are away.  Ask your neighbor or relative, to look into the home while you are away.  Leave a spare key with them.  Ask them to pick up flyers, newspapers or mail.  Have your neighbor park one of their cars on your garage.  Or, ask your relative or neighbor to move yours once and a while.  Stop all deliveries.  Go to www.usps.com and put a hold on all your mail.  This should minimize deliveries to your home while you are gone.  If you have an alarm company, let them know the date... 07/24/2011

How to Get Multiple Offers for HomeSellers in Milpitas CA. Last week one of my REO listings in San Jose CA went into escrow.  We received 14 offers on the property.  The final selling price went $110,000 over list (asking) price.  Here are tips on How to Get Multiple Offers for HomeSellers in Milpitas CA. Price your property well.  A tight BPO (normally used in valuations of REO's) will give you the price range for your area.  From that range, price your property at the low end - specially if there are other Active competitive listings that are priced very aggressively.   Remember the saying, "Price it high watch it die, Price it low watch it go." Have a complete disclosure package ready.  A disclosure package can contain information from the HomeSeller on what the HomeSeller knows and ... 07/22/2011

Photo by Vinay Verma   Milpitas CA Art Exhibit     The Milpitas Phantom Art Gallery Proudly Announces A New  exhibit    "FLIGHT OF IMAGINATION"   Milpitas Community Center  Monday, JULY 25, 2011 ~ 6pm                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Milpitas Phantom Art Gallery Proudly Announces A New  exhibit    "FLIGHT OF IMAGINATION"   Milpitas Community Center  Monday, JULY 25, 2011 ~ 6pm   You are cordially invited to a Phantom Art Gallery Opening at the Milpitas Community Center. Please join us for an evening of inspiring art in the new exhibit... 07/18/2011

  AIR POWERED CAR IN MILPITAS CA? This sounds amazing, but I don't think `big Oil`is going to like it much................ Tata Motors is ready to introduce Air Car - Will it be the next big thing? Tata Motors is taking giant strides and making history for itself. First the Land Rover/Jaguar deal, then the world's cheapest car, and now it is also set to introduce the car that runs on compressed air.With spiraling fuel prices it is about time we heard some breakthrough!India's largest automaker, Tata Motors, is set to start producing the world's first commercial air-powered vehicle. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy N?gre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine's pist... 07/18/2011

Now You Can Substitute a New Buyer for One Who Walked Without Restart for Bank of America Short Sales In Milpitas CA The days for having to initiate a short sale transaction from First Base if the buyer in contract walks away are over.  At least for Bank of America Short Sales.  Now you can substitute a new buyer for one who walked without restart for Bank of America Short Sales in Milpitas CA.  You heard me right.  Bank of America has heard the pleas of all the Real Estate Agents and Brokers who have complained that the short sale process is tedious and lengthy enough without having to start all over when a buyer in contract decides to walk.  If You Have A Backup Offer: Now you simply have to submit a back up offer within (2) days from the day the original buyer cancels the contract.  ... 07/14/2011

Calling All Milpitas CA Golfers!  If you are a high handicap golfer who's golf ball prefers to hide in the rough, the trees, in tall grass, in water, the sand trap and everywhere else on the golf course except the fairways and greens, then this message is for you.  A new golf ball, the Polara Ultimate Straight, Self-Correcting Golf Ball, is now on the market.  The designer, Dave Felker, used to design golf balls for Callaway.  This is a no nonsense ball.  It's unique dimple design makes the ball fly 75% straighter.  If you want to see a straighter more controllable flight, give this ball a shot.  I have found the balls for sale at Golfsmith.  The problem is you wont be able to curve your ball around a tree planted in the middle of the fairway.  Well that will be a welcome problem becaus... 07/11/2011

Milpitas CA, “How long will it take my house to sell?” That's the question real estate professionals hear the most. As agents, we can easily obtain information from our Multiple Listing Service (MLS) about average time on the market from time of listing to accepted offer. These statistics vary depending on interest rates, price range, local economics, and other factors. What most sellers really want to know, however, is “How long will it be until I have to move?” This depends on how long it will take from accepting an offer until the transaction closes. Once an offer is received and accepted, it may take from 30 to 45 days to obtain financing and close the deal. Buyers who are preapproved by their lenders can shorten that time frame considerably. If you're interested in how much time yo... 07/11/2011

  For more information about events in Milpitas check out my other blogs: Movie Night Out in Milpitas CA 07/11/2011

Staging Your Home In Milpitas CA                                        I have found from experience that the activity during the first two weeks a home is on the market tends to predict how long it will take to sell. Potential buyers eagerly jump on good conditioned homes on the market, especially when they are in “show shape.” Here are some “staging” tips you might find helpful: * Keep your home in “show shape.” Make sure that beds are made, dishes are in the dishwasher or put away, everything is picked up, and the kitchen and bathrooms sparkle. * Decorate with fresh flowers. Many home sellers use potted flowering plants that last much longer than cut flowers. Place them inside and out. They really add cheer! * Turn on lights; replace all burned-out bulbs. Open blinds and draperies. L... 07/05/2011

The First Step To Buying A Home In Milpitas CA With so much competition in the marketplace today, it's imperative that you position your offer to be as attractive as possible to a seller. The best way to do that is to obtain a pre-approval letter from your lender. Not only will this save you time later on, but it will help you gain an advantage over other buyers as well. Before we find the right home for you, let's make sure we cover our bases by securing pre-approved financing. With one phone call or email, we can help you get started on The First Step To Buying A Home In Milpitas CA. Contact us today @ (408) 316-0793! 07/05/2011