Summer is finally upon us it seems, and with this beautiful weather in our wonderful town, comes the annual Music in the Park Concert Series, as well as the Jazz on the Plazz Concert Series.

Music in the Park is held on Sundays (June 19^th – August 28^th) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The fun takes place on the Los Gatos Civic Center Lawn. Starting this series off on June 19^th was Livin’ in the USA – A Cross Country Music Trip. There are a lot of wonderful musical guests, but please don’t forget to come and see us at the Alain Pinel sponsorship booth on July 31^st when Petty Theft – a tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be performing.

Jazz on the Plazz, a series of jazz concerts, will be held at the Los Gatos Town Plaza on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Starting the series off on June 22^nd is Spencer Day.

Both of these series are free to the public, so come join us here in Los Gatos this summer. Click the links for the schedules and more information on both Music in the Park and Jazz on the Plazz.

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

On behalf of the Los Gatos Alain Pinel Realtors and myself, I wanted to take a moment to say congratulations to all of the graduating classes of 2011! Whether you are graduating from elementary school, middle school, high school or college, I know this is an every exciting time for all of you. I wish you all the best on the next step of your journey. Good luck and congratulations on your accomplishments!

The Los Gatos High School graduation ceremony will take place on the Los Gatos High School front lawn on Friday, June 17^th at 6 p.m.

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

With all of the crazy wet weather we have been having lately, it’s kind of strange to think about getting ready for the summer. Our family recently received the Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation summer catalog. The recreation department offers a wide variety of courses, camps, and summer school. They range from toddler programs to adult programs. You can sign up for just about anything you can think of. If you want to be outdoors, perhaps you’d like a soccer, rock climbing, football or basketball camp, swim or tennis lessons or even boating classes held at Vasona Lake. My son will be going to summer school through the rec. department, as well as participating in the Los Gatos Youth Theater. The LGYT is a wonderful program if your children like acting, singing and performing in general. They put on two plays each summer. One is for children 7-10 years old and the other play is for ages 11-14. This summer they will be performing Grease, School Edition (11-14 year olds) and Jungle Book Kids (7-10 year olds). Auditions are coming up in the beginning of May so sign up now. The LGYT is also having a three week Day Camp from June 27– July 15.

Go to the websites for more information on the Los Gatos Rec. Dept and the Los Gatos Youth Theater. Have fun planning your summer!

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

I think that when we enter a New Year, most of us not only make New Year resolutions, we also vow to get organized. The problem with that is we don’t quite know where to start in the process. If you just start somewhere, you are ahead of the game. First try to “de-clutter” your head by getting rid of distractions and negative thoughts. Focus on one thing at a time. You should finish any important tasks that you haven’t dealt with from the previous year. Tie up all the loose ends and then you will be ready to go!

I find that making lists is very helpful. Start by jotting down the things that you want to accomplish and then you can go back and prioritize them. Use a tablet or sheet of paper, not a bunch of sticky notes. You can use an online “to-do list” or tracking system, whatever is easiest and most comfortable for you. Next you might want to figure out how to work your “to-do list” into your already busy schedule. Do you want to try and check off one item a day, one a week…..? Again, try and keep it simple and tackle only one item at a time.

Once you find a system that works well for you, you can organize your office, home, fitness and health regimen, children’s schedules, etc. I know it can seem overwhelming at first, but once you get started it should become easier to get, and stay organized. Of course there are many websites as well as phone apps that can help you out. Here are a few:

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Organized
http://www.organizetips.com
http://mashable.com/2008/12/30/organization-iphone-apps

I wish you all of the best for getting organized in 2011! Good luck!

Take care,
Jeff

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

Like most of you, I have been thinking about what or if anything, should be my New Year’s resolution for 2011. This then led me to think about where did this tradition come from in the first place? Here’s what I found from the website ezinearticles.com.

The Babylonians

The first recorded New Year’s resolutions were made by the Babylonians around 4000 years ago. Most commonly, it revolved around returning any borrowed farm equipment, as their New Year coincided with the start of their farming season.

The Romans

Not long after, the Romans would start the new year by counting the stock of the previous year and setting a goal to accomplish more in the coming year.

The Chinese

The Chinese set a special New Year’s resolution – house cleaning. Most people nowadays would relate this to Spring-Cleaning. At the coming of the New Year, the Chinese would clean their house from top to bottom. What a great way to start the year, with a beautiful clean house!

Of course we still have our own tradition today. Some of the most popular resolutions are: to lose weight, get in shape, quit smoking, get our finances together, spend more time with the family and get organized. So no matter what your personal New Year’s resolution is, I wish you all the best for a happy and healthy 2011!

Thanks,

Jeff Barnett – Alain Pinel Realtors

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

No matter how you celebrate, my family and I want to wish you a very Happy Holiday Season. As we come upon the New Year, this is always a time of reflection. I think of this past year with all of its trials and tribulations, as well as the happy and sweet moments. There were definitely both the good and bad but right now I want to look forward to 2011 and wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Cheers!

Jeff

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

Could it really be that time again already? It feels like it comes earlier and earlier every year, doesn’t it? Well, no matter how fast it gets here, the holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year! Here in lovely Los Gatos there are many holiday events for you and your family to attend. If you haven’t done so already, you don’t want to miss The Fantasy of Lights held at Vasona Lake County Park through December 31st. It’s a 1.5 mile drive through the park with a beautiful light display. There are animated displays including Santa Claus playing basketball, dinosaurs, hiding elves, playful penguins and so much more. My family and I have been going to this for years and still enjoy it. For dates, times and pricing, click here.

Another fun thing to do is the Horse Drawn Carriage rides through the historic neighborhoods of downtown Los Gatos. The rides are hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. You’ll need to make reservations for this one so for more information on times, cost, etc., click here.

Finally, if you have young ones, you’ll want to bring them to see Santa and sit on his lap at the Los Gatos Town Plaza Park on Sunday December 12th and 19th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

This activity is free but don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the special moment!

I would like to wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season!

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

Did you know that here in our little town of Los Gatos we have many, many parks and play lots? Some are large and some are small but there is definitely something for everybody. Here is a list of some of our parks and what they have to offer:

Bel Gatos Park is 17 acres of natural woodlands and wildlife. It has equestrian, cycling and hiking trails. Within the park is a playground, picnic tables, lawn area and restrooms.

Blossom Hill Park is a neighborhood park with 6 lighted tennis courts, a baseball field, picnic areas, BBQ pits, a large lawn area and restrooms. It’s great for birthday parties and jump houses. Just don’t forget to get your “special use permit” from the Town of Los Gatos.

Live Oak Manor Park has a large lawn area, a playground for the young ones, a basketball court and picnic tables.

La Rinconada Park has a half mile, creek side walking trail as well as BBQ pits, picnic tables, a play ground and a tennis court.

Bachman Park is a neighborhood park with a large lawn area, play structures, picnic tables and a basketball court.

Oak Meadow Park is a 12 acre park with access to the Los Gatos Creek Trail and Vasona County Park. It has the Billy Jones Railroad and the W.E. Mason carousel, which the kids love! It also has many BBQ and picnic sites and can accommodate large parties. You do need to reserve the large picnic areas through the Online Parks Reservation System .

And the list continues with Howes Play Lot, Fairview Plaza, Novitiate Park, Oak Hill Play Lot and Worcester Park. For more information regarding park hours, rules, regulations and special use permits, visit this website.

With so many parks to choose from here in Los Gatos, why don’t you pack up the kids and join us for some outdoor fun! Please feel free to call me for more information.

Thanks.

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

I felt that since the holidays are upon us I just wanted to post a “Happy Thanksgiving” to all of you. We all celebrate in different ways. I am looking forward to our annual Barnett Thanksgiving dinner held at our home for our friends and family. My wife always cooks a turkey in the oven which makes the house smell wonderful! I just purchased a smoker this past summer, so I will be smoking a turkey as well. I’m looking forward to this little friendly competition with my wife. I am sure both turkeys will be fabulous! Of course along with the turkey, we have all of the trimmings! Everyone brings their signature dish along with a variety of tasty desserts. Of course it wouldn’t be a Barnett dinner without some wonderful wines as well. But, truly, the best part of the day is spending it with family and friends. We are so very lucky and grateful for all that we are blessed with. So whether you volunteer serving food somewhere, share the day with a lot of guests or just have an intimate dinner with a few friends, my family and I wish you the very best Thanksgiving! Enjoy.

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

Have you ever noticed that when one thing goes wrong, it seems like it’s followed by at least two more things going wrong? That’s what has happened at my house as of late. First, it was our TV satellite going on the fritz. That was followed by the oven going out, the microwave not heating and a breaker switch that kept “tripping” for apparently no reason.

You know the saying, “It takes a village”? Well, when you’re a home owner it seems like it takes a village to keep everything in working order. It’s important to do some research to get information on reputable companies, contractors, repair people, etc. One of the best ways is to get referrals from friends or business associates. Another way is to look online for the company ratings or check them out with the Better Business Bureau.

Thank goodness my wife and I have a list of wonderful repair services and contractors that we keep readily available to us at all time. Some of those people include our general contractor, plumber, electrician, well repair company and appliance repair company. It gives us peace of mind knowing that we can trust these folks since they came highly recommended and have proven to be reputable.

So do your homework, make your own list and keep it handy. Hopefully you won’t have to use it too often, but when you do, you’ll feel better knowing you have someone trustworthy that you can turn to.

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

Los Gatos has ongoing events for young and old alike! If you haven’t doesn’t so already, there is still time to take the kids to the Haunted Harvest Festival featuring Goblyn’s Glen at Oak Meadow Park. I posted the information on a previous blog. You can also go to the website for dates, times and more information.

Another fun event that you may want to partake in this weekend is the Goulish Grand Old Winery Tours! This will take place at the Testarossa Winery which is the oldest, continuously operating winery in the Bay Area. It will be held on Sunday, October 31st. Tours are at 12:00 and 2:00pm and the cost is $10.00. For more information contact the .

Have a fun an safe Halloween!

Jeff

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

Los Gatos always seems to have wonderful events going on with the month of October having some great ones! You and your kids absolutely don’t want to miss the Haunted Harvest Festival at Oak Meadow Park. It runs from October 8 through October 31 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. There is the Goblin’s Glen Haunted walk for children 12 and under as well as the “Witching Hour” from 9-11 pm for the older ones. The Billy Jones Railroad and Carousel will be running as well so it’s an event that you surely won’t want to miss. For ticket prices and more information, please go to: www.goblynsglen.com.

On another note: The Morris Animal Foundation has launched the Canine Cancer Foundation to help raise money for the cure of cancer in dogs. On Sunday, October 10, Los Gatos will hold the K9 Cancer Walk to benefit the foundation. Registration is at 9:00 am. If you and your pup would like to participate, click here for information.

Thanks,
Jeff

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

As we leave the warmth of summer, we head into the higher energy bills of winter. Here are a few quick and easy things you can do to help lower your heating bill and make your home more energy efficient:

Insulate your furnace if you haven’t done so already and change the furnace filters about once a month to help make your home more energy efficient. Also, go through your home and check the doors and windows for any gaps or areas where wind may come through. You can eliminate those problems simply with weather stripping and/or caulking.

Another great way to reduce your heating cost is to make sure that your roof is efficient. Check to see that there are no tiles or shingles missing, and there are no warped areas on the roof. Also, check to see if the caulking needs to be touched up, and make sure the gutters are securely fastened to the roof. If you do have any major roof problems, you should call a professional for help.

Finally, I think we all know that lowering your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day, and dropping it even lower at night, will save you a lot of money on your heating bill.

Here is a list of the biggest energy users: Clothes washers and dryers, air conditioners, dishwashers, freezers, portable heaters, water heaters, ranges and refrigerators.

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

Los Gatos always has such fun events and this is no exception. The Los Gatos Wine Walk will be held on September 25th from 2-5 pm. You can purchase your tickets online. Once you get there just make your way to the Los Gatos Wine Walk welcome booth where you will get a wine glass and a program guide. So come drink some wine, enjoy some live music and a perhaps a little shopping while you are at it!

For all of the information and to purchase your tickets go to: losgatoschamber.com

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

I feel so lucky to live in this wonderful, little town of Los Gatos. There are always so many fun things to do here. I know that summertime is finally upon us when we get the new listings for the summer concerts series for both “Music in the Park” and “Jazz on the Plazz.”

• Music in the Park is held every Sunday from June 20 – August 29 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on the Los Gatos Civic Center Lawn.
• Jazz on the Plazz is held on Wednesday evenings from June 23 – August 25 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the Los Gatos Town Plaza.

Not only do you get to hear some really good music, it’s a great time to get together with friends and family. Bring your chairs, food and drinks and then just sit back and enjoy!

Below please find the first artists for both Music in the Park and Jazz on the Plazz as well as the links to their websites with all of the details.

June 20 (Sun.): Music in the Park – Elton John/Billy Joel tribute by Lee Alverson |  Civic Center lawn – 110 E. Main St. – 5:00 to 7:00 PM (Los Gatos Music & Arts 408-354-1155)

June 23 (Wed.): Jazz on the Plazz – Artist: Kathleen Grace | Park Plaza – Main St. and Santa Cruz Ave. - 6:30 to 8:30 pm 

Alain Pinel Realtors is a proud Gold Sponsor for Music in the Park as well as a Jazz Ensemble Sponsor for Jazz on the Plazz. Come visit our booth at Music in the Park on Sunday, July 25 and Jazz on the Plazz on Wednesday, July 14.

Take care, Jeff

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

Considering that most of us have grown an extra appendage, namely some sort of smart phone, I have decided to share with you some of my favorite “apps.” Yes, that’s right…my extra appendage is an iPhone. Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that there are applications for just about everything you could want or need. You could spend hours or even days looking at all of the possible apps. Since I am in the Real Estate business, here are some related apps you might find useful (or just plain fun).

I use the Dragon Dictation iPhone app for a variety of things. You just press the red record button and speak into your phone and when you are done press the button again. What you have recorded is then on your screen in written form. You can make changes to your document if you need to. You can then send your results by text message, email or copy it to your iPhone clipboard.

Evernote takes your notes, ideas, snapshots and recordings from your iPhone and syncs them directly to your MAC or Windows desktop. A great way to stay organized!

Real Estate Headline News gives you daily updates of all of the latest Real Estate news and information.

Real Estate Investment Calculator – This app tells you what a property is worth based on its cash flow.

You can even go house hunting by phone! There are various apps out there with info on open houses, current listings, home amenities, school info and much more. Alain Pinel Realtors has a great smartphone application for any web phone. Go to www.apr.com/mobile

I’d love feedback on your favorite apps. If you need further information, please feel free to contact me.

Take care, Jeff

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

I was reading an article the other day on this subject and thought it was worth revisiting. Of course there are some obvious things about keeping our homes safe from burglars such as always locking your doors when you leave the house and be creative when it comes to hiding the spare house key (you don’t really hide it under the front door mat, do you?).

Burglars look for homes that appear to be unoccupied so when you go on vacation have someone pick up your newspapers and mail daily. Have them move your car to different places in the driveway and put your interior and exterior lights on timers.

You don’t ever want to leave an outgoing message on your home phone message machine stating that you will be out of town. For that matter, you don’t want to shout it to the world on your Facebook page either!

Keep in mind that burglars want to get in and out as quickly as possible so you might want to think about fencing in your yard or planting low shrubs or hedges around your property to cause a barrier. Burglars know where you keep your jewelry (jewelry box, bedroom or bathroom counter, hidden in your sock drawer…) so even though it may be an inconvenience, lock up your valuables in your safe when you’re not using them. Which brings up another point; burglars also know that safes are often set to open with a half turn or an easy 123 access code for convenience sake so it’s in your best interest to use a difficult password or change it frequently.

Finally, if someone comes to the door and says they are with the phone company, for example, don’t just let them into your home, and always check their identification. Call their company for verification. The same thing goes for someone claiming to be with the police department. Get their badge number and call the station to make sure. It’s much better to be safe than sorry.

Stay safe and take care.

Jeff

Posted by: Jeff Barnett

Is it really May already? I can’t believe that in just about one month the kids will be out of school and starting their summer vacation. Even as summer approaches, if you are thinking of moving to a different school district or if your child is moving up from one school to the next, now is the time that you may want to do some research on your neighborhood schools. Some important information that you may want to look at is: the school ranking, test scores, class sizes, credentialed teachers, core academic courses and activities. If you are moving to a new area, you will also want to find out about registration requirements for the new school your child will be attending. There are plenty of places where you can get your school information. Of course my favorite is www.apr.com where an agent will be glad to help you. I have also listed a few other links for you to check out: School-ratings.com, GreatSchools.org, SchoolDigger.com. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Take care,

Jeff

Posted by:  Jeff Barnett

Being a self described wine connoisseur and wine collector I thought I would share one of my favorite activities with you – Wine Tasting! When you think of wine tasting you generally think of Napa Valley. I am here to tell you that you don’t need to go that far for a day of wine enjoyment. Here in Los Gatos we have many wonderful local wineries. There are over a dozen to visit! Please go to LosGatosChamber.com/Wineries.html for information on the wineries, their locations, wine tasting and upcoming events.

Don’t forget the upcoming community events for this weekend:

Sierra Madre & Graham Family Vineyard Release Weekend
Date: May 1, 2010 – May 2, 2010
Time: 11:00 AM – 04:00 PM

Children’s Fantasy Fair
Date: May 1, 2010 held on the Los Gatos High School front lawn
Time: 10:00 AM – 04:00 PM

Cheers!
Jeff

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

As a longtime resident of Los Gatos, I am always amazed that there is always something new and exciting to do here. Whether you want to shop at the antique stores, dine at one of the many wonderful restaurants, walk through a museum or go wine tasting there truly is something for everybody!

Here are a few of our upcoming events:

Rivers of Chocolate 2010!
This event consists of chocolate and wine tasting, Hors d’ouevres, a silent auction and live music. The event will be held at The Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA on April 25th from 1:00 – 5:00 pm. Tickets are $95.00 and the proceeds go to programs that benefit EHC LifeBuilders. For more information, please go to: ehclifebuilders.org/roc

A Week of Wine and Fashion in Los Gatos
This event runs from April 26th – May 1st and will be held in Downtown Los Gatos. This event includes daily luncheon fashion shows and much more. For all of the details, please go to: losgatoschamber.com

Enjoy and take care,
Jeff Barnett

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

With all of the short sales and deed in lieu of foreclosures (DIL) that are happening now, I am happy to be able to provide the following information from the Treasury Department regarding HAFA – Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program. HAFA provides incentives used to avoid foreclosures. This program went into effect April 5th, 2010. Please click on the link below for all of the details.

http://www.realtor.org/governmentaffairs/shortsales_hafa

Please contact me for more information. Take care.

Jeff

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

The town of Los Gatos is in Santa Clara County approximately 60 miles south of San Francisco. It’s a quaint little town located at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Its surrounding cities are Saratoga, Campell, San Jose and Monte Sereno. It’s just minutes away from the fast paced Silicon Valley. Los Gatos is made up of wooded hillsides, residential neighborhoods, businesses, shops, restaurants, walking and biking trails, creeks and streams. It even has its own Lake!

The town is a community with a mix of ages, income levels and family sizes. It boasts a beautiful downtown with many shops and restaurants. Downtown Los Gatos is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Because of its small town image, Los Gatos continues to be a favorite of community members as well as visitors.

The month of April is Keep Los Gatos Beautiful Month: www.losgatosca.gov/keeplosgatosbeautiful

For more information, please contact me. Take care.
Jeff Barnett

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

I recently returned from a meeting at our local MLS where I attended a very exciting demonstration of a product from our National Association of Realtors called Realtor Property Resource. We are the first MLS in the country to be able to beta test this new product which is for Realtors only. It is a software program which allows the Realtor to pull any property address in the United States for their clients. By doing so, they will get an automatic evaluation of what the property is valued at.

Agents can also use Realtor Property Resource to pull reports, comparable sales, property and tax records, school scores and much more. This is such a valuable tool for Realtors because it allows them to share their search results with clients.

Silicon Valley will be the first to roll out this program in the next 120 days. I will keep you updated as this proceeds. For more information, please call me.

Take care,
Jeff

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

I just returned from San Diego where I attended the National Association of Realtors Issues conference. The conference is an excellent way for Realtors to share and exchange ideas, examine market trends and cultivate relationships with Congressional leaders.

On the agenda were discussions about the top ten legislative priorities for 2010:

1. Mortgage Interest Deductions
2. The future of Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae and other GSA
3. Short Sales
4. Commercial Real Estate
5. Eminent Domain
6. National Flood Insurance
7. Small Business Health Coverage
8. Depreciation – Tenant Improvements
9. Wetlands/Clean Water Act
10. Transportation Reauthorization

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) volunteer leaders are given the opportunity to work with congressional leaders, their staff, and congressional political and policy experts. They are working together to try and make a difference on key federal issues affecting the real estate industry and the consumers it serves.

At this three day conference we covered a lot of issues and had a variety of speakers. My favorite speakers were Senator Johnny Isakson from Georgia, who is also a Realtor, and The Honorable Gary Miller – US Representative from California. They both spoke about the abysmal mess of the political system in Washington. Very interesting!

As a political contributor for NAR, I am fortunate to be able to attend these very informational meetings and I look forward to bringing you updates as I get them. As always, please feel free to contact me for more information on anything I’ve discussed.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

HouseLogic.com – A Homeowners free source of information and tools supplied by the National Association of Realtor’s.

I wanted to share a great website that the National Association of Realtors has supplied to you, the homeowner. It is HouseLogic.com. HouseLogic is a free source of information and tools that can help you increase and protect the value of your home.

You will start by creating an account tailored specifically to you and your home. Once you sign into your account you can: plan and organize home projects, create “to do” lists and reminders, save important articles and information as well as set goals and measure your progress.

HouseLogic also provides information on such things as home maintenance, improvements, tax information, green remodeling, financing and insurance.

You will also receive continually updated relevant news about: the housing market, community, home energy, and much more. It’s a great way to protect the value of your home so log onto HouseLogic.com today.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

I wanted to let you know that Alain Pinel Realtors is now offering a complete online open house website. Visit our user friendly website at Open.APR.com and get information on properties, agents, communities and more!

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

It’s important to take time to understand your real estate assessments, your property tax bill, and most importantly, whether or not you are paying too much in taxes. A large amount of revenue that is raised for your local schools, libraries and hospitals, etc. comes from you – the homeowner – and the property taxes that you pay. When real estate values decline, your local government gets less money from property taxes. That said, you’ll want to keep a close eye on your tax assessment letter for any potential discrepancies or mistakes. Your tax assessment letter will show what your local government thinks your property is worth. Your assessor will normally use one of two methods to figure out that amount. The method most commonly used is that from comparable home sales in your area. If there aren’t recent comparable sales the assessor will calculate how much it would cost to rebuild your home and add that price to your land value. With so much ground to cover, many assessors rely on formulas that assess neighborhoods or streets instead of one house at a time. So read your real estate assessment letter carefully and challenge it if the amount seems too high!

You’ll also want to see if you qualify for any property tax exemptions, as this could alter your tax bill. Whether you contest your tax bill or qualify for an exemption, you could save some money. For more information you should go online or call your local tax assessor’s office or your CPA.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

When we think about the economy and job loss of 2009, it’s hard to believe that in Santa Clara County we experienced a 44% rise in home sales in December.

2009 was the busiest year for real estate sales since 2006. The year also showed an increase in the median sales price which went up 15% from Dec. 2008. One of the main reasons for the increases is that the high-end home sales in 2009 exceeded those of 2008. Also, in Santa Clara County, 14% of homes sold were for buyers of vacation and second homes, or investors. The federal tax credit for first time home buyers was also a good incentive to buy. This tax credit has been extended until April 2010!

I am hopeful that 2010 will be another good year for the real estate industry. Please contact me for any other information.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

I’d like to start the new year off with some information about possible property tax exemptions as well as some local community information for Los Gatos, CA.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

Jeff gives some information as to why foreign buyers are buying real estate here in the US. He also talks about the existing home buyer and new home buyer tax credit and about how now is a great time to buy real estate. Jeff also gives an update on the Los Gatos community holiday events.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

The 3rd quarter of this year showed that more than 70% of homes sold were considered to be affordable and therefore now is a good time to buy. The affordability of homes along with the $8000 home buyer tax credit helped to drive many home buyers into the market last quarter.

The President and Congress extended the original Nov. 30 deadline for the Federal tax credit which will continue to help stimulate the housing market. As reported by the National Association of Home Builders, a typical American family with the average median income could afford to buy 70.1% of all the homes sold in the U.S. during the 3rd quarter of this year which is quite a leap from the 56.1% in the third quarter of 2008.

So with the extension of the “new home buyer” tax credit of $8000 along with the $6500 “existing home buyer” tax credit, the outlook for continued affordability of homes is looking good. Now is the time to buy!

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

Los Gatos Alain Pinel Regional Manager, Jeff Barnett giving an update on the rise of the median home prices in Santa Clara County and the San Francisco Bay area. Jeff shares some Los Gatos community and holiday event information.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

As we approach the holiday season, I’m glad to be able to share this good news with you. With the best showing in the past two years, the U.S. economy grew 3.5% in the third quarter. Consumer spending on big-ticket goods rose at an annualized rate of 22.3% in the 3rd quarter as well. With the largest jump since 1986, spending on housing developments rose at an annualized pace of 23.4% nationwide!

The outlook is positive for Real Estate:
• According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales activity is at the highest level in over two years.
• Existing home sales jumped 9.4 % by October.
• According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, NAR, housing supply is the lowest it’s been in two and a half years.

On a local level, inventory is low and buyers are active. As buyers absorb the inventory, home prices are predicted to rise in the first and second quarters of 2010. I’m also seeing some multiple offers for properties that are well-priced. High end properties are still moving slowly. Now may be the time to act. Give me a call with any questions.

Enjoy your Holiday Season!

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

Jeff Barnett, Manager of Los Gatos office of Alain Pinel Realtors, says the real estate market is exciting in Los Gatos and the surrounding communities, such as Campbell, Almaden, Rose Garden, Cambrian, Willow Glen, Santa Clara and San Jose. In the month of May, his office sold 115 units for a total of $90 million. Currently, the average sale price is $750,000. Lots of first time homebuyers in the market. Great REO (bank owned) properties are available under $500,000.

For more information watch this video below and visit APR.com.

Posted by:Michi Olson

Welcome to my blog about Los Gatos! My name is Mike Moresco and along with being a full time REALTOR®, I have been involved with Los Gatos for over 25 years. I would like to make this blog as interactive as possible. The plans I have is to update it as often as possible with relevant information about our town. If there is something you would specifically like to know about just drop me a line and I will be happy to research it for you.

Los Gatos is about 60 miles south of San Francisco and is neighbors to San Jose and Campbell. The town is up against the foothills called Sierra Azule with the beach town of Santa Cruz being on the other side of the mountains. There are approximately 32,000+ peole living in Los Gatos and it is a very active community. In the Los Gatos school district there are 4 public elementary schools, 1 private elementary school, one middle school and one high school. However there are more schools then those mentioned in the city limits, but belong to other school districts.

For now here are some links about the town’s history, chamber and API scores of the local schools:

Town of Los Gatos

History of Los Gatos

Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce

APIs as of 2008

Posted By: Mike Moresco