The following pdf douments contain charts highlighting the prominent role our particular office of Alain Pinel Realtors plays in the Palo Alto real estate market.

After seven days on the market we reviewed offers on our listing at 3744 Redwood Circle. At the end of the day we had received 15, and our clients accepted a fantastic contract with outstanding terms. Not only is this result an example of an intelligent and properly executed marketing strategy, but it shows that Palo Alto real estate is outperforming much of the surrounding neighborhoods as the market continues to stabilize. Please let us know if you would like more details about this sale. We will be happy to update you upon the close ...

Our new listing in South Palo Alto is now on the market. It is a four bedroom and two bathroom Eichler located in a wondeful neighborhood. The home offers a number of opportunities to customize the living space for your own lifestyle. It is being offered at $899,000, and you can view all of the details HERE. We will be holding the home open on Sunday, November 1st from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. You are also welcome to stop by during the broker tour on Friday, October 30th from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. We will be providing espresso drinks and ...

Inhabitat.com recently posted an article about the new Portola Valley Town Center as it was a highlight of this year’s AIA/SF Architecture and the City Festival. The article can be found HERE. Inhabitat.com is a weblog devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future.

The Economist has been measuring house-price data for many countries since 2002. They have produced an extremely interesting and interactive chart that allows the user to compare countries over time and across four different measures. It can be found HERE. I have read The Economist religously for over ten years, and I cannot think of another news source that I trust more because of its even-handed and pragmatic view of current events and ecoomic issues.

James May, the host for the BBC's show Top Gear, built a two story home out of 3.3 million Lego blocks. The entire story can be found here. The home was recently demolished because nobody wanted it. Nobody but me.

Here is a Dow Jones Newswire video of Formula Capital's James Altucher explaining why the economy is on the verge of robust growth. A few of his points are valid, but I feel he is ignoring the substantial risks that are still present. I am of the belief that the economy, and real estate market, are close to a "bottom," however I think we might be at this level for quite some time. The period we are now in is an excellent time for long term real estate investors.

I appreciate design that melds artistry and functionality ... Maybe that is why bicycles are one of my obsessions. When it comes to living spaces I gravitate towards modern architecture, and I especially appreciate architects that effectively fuse new and old. If you spend any time with me you will hear me complain about the lack of modern architecture that can be found on the Peninsula. I like many architecture styles, but if I were a developer I would be building modern homes all day long. There just aren't enough of them. I've been ...

Calif. median home price - July 09: $285,480 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region July 09: Santa Barbara So. Coast $885,000 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region July 09: High Desert $110,650 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. First-time Buyer Affordability Index - Second Quarter 2009: 67 percent (Source: C.A.R.) Mortgage rates - week ending 8/20/09 30-yr. fixed: 5.12% Fees/points: 0.7% 15-yr. fixed: 4.56% Fees/points: 0.7% 1-yr. adjustable: 4.69% Fees/points: 0.5% (Source: Freddie Mac)

"Where's the market heading?" This is far and away the question I hear most, and my short response recently has been, "A lot closer to the bottom than the top." Following are a few visual aids that support my thought process. The graph above shows the real and nominal house prices based on the Case-Shiller national index. (Q1 2000 = 100 for nominal index) The above graph shows the price to median income ratio Lastly, the above graph shows the price to rent ratio (Q1 1997 = 1.0) for the Case-Shiller national Home ...

Calif. median home price - June 09: $274,740 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region June 09: Santa Barbara So. Coast $850,000 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region June 09: High Desert $108,600 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. First-time Buyer Affordability Index - Second Quarter 2009: 67 percent (Source: C.A.R.) Mortgage rates - week ending 8/13/09 30-yr. fixed: 5.29% Fees/points: 0.7% 15-yr. fixed: 4.68% Fees/points: 0.7% 1-yr. adjustable: 4.72% Fees/points: 0.4% (Source: Freddie Mac)

Those interested in taking advantage of the federal tax-credit for first-time buyers will soon be running short on time. Although the program does not expire until December 1st, it is important to understand that the purchase needs to be completed by November 31st. With escrow periods lasting up to roughly 60 days in this market, buyers are left with less than two months to enter a contract on a suitable home. Below you will find more information about the program: The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit ...

There are many reasons Midtown Palo Alto consistenly ranks as one of the most desirable neighborhoods on the Peninsula, and this charming home offers an excellent opportunity to join this special community. It is a three bedroom and one bathroom ranch-style home. It has a very functional floor plan that includes a large living room, a separate dining room, and eat-in kitchen. There are built-in shelves and cabinets in two bedrooms, and the bathroom was recently updated. All of the home's details can be found by clicking here. We will be ...

As reported by KCBS: MENLO PARK, Calif. (KCBS) -- At a time when many cities are grappling with massive deficits, one Peninsula city has massive reserves in its rainy day fund.

The Joint Center for Housing Studies is Harvard University's center for information and research on housing in the United States, and they have recently released their annual "State of the Nation" report. It is an excellent piece that encompasses the major issues facing the housing markets. Attached is a fact sheet summarizing the report's major points. Please contact us if you would like a copy of the full report.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for all of Santa Clara County that become effective on Monday, May 18, 2009. These maps show areas that are considered to be in a floodplain, and therefore may require homeowners to obtain flood insurance. Flood zone disclosure is a statutory requirement in California real estate transactions. The revised FEMA maps will expand the 100-year flood zone and affect residential parcels in Palo Alto near Foothill Expressway, in Cupertino near Heney ...

In another move to push first-time home buyers off the sidelines the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) recently launched the C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund Mortgage Protection Program. Through the Housing Affordability Fund Mortgage Protection Program, first-time home buyers who lose their jobs due to layoffs may be eligible to receive $1,500 per month, for six months, to help make their mortgage payments. A qualified co-buyer also can participate in the program, and receive a monthly benefit of $750 per month for up to six ...

The State of California is currently in possession of more than $5.1 billion in Unclaimed Property belonging to approximately 8.2 million individuals and organizations. The State acquires unclaimed property through California's Unclaimed Property Law, which requires "holders" such as corporations, business associations, financial institutions, and insurance companies to annually report and deliver property to the Controller's Office after there has been no customer contact for three years. Often the owner forgets that the account exists, or ...

If I can offer one piece of advice in these challenging economic times it would be to avoid paying any mind to the pundits at CNBC ... Most pundits for that matter. I want to make it clear that I am not recommending you bury your head in the sand. The truth is we all are responsible for gathering information from several respected sources and forming our own opinions. These opinions need to be balanced against the views of trusted advisors to formulate rational courses of action. Rational; not reactionary. The time I spent as a f ...

The Attached PowerPoint presentation provides a detailed explanation of the 2009 first-time homebuyer tax credit. Although it falls short of what the industry hoped for, it is a vast improvement on the 2008 plan. Please, do not hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.