Of course, the Fremont police department is proud of their new website. Recently unveiled to the public, the new website promises ease of navigation and plenty of useful informaiton. You can file a police report, keep up to date on police activity in Fremont through a subscription to Nixle, apply for employment, and you will find a variety of other uses on line with this site.

Check it out at: www.fremontpolice.org

What goes up must come done and vice versa. What does ”vice versa” mean? It is a phrase my parents used to use frequently. I don’t hear it much anymore. It is Latin for “the other way around”. In other words, what goes down must come up. That is what we are seeing in the real estate market in Fremont and across the U. S., according to a news story that I just heard on the radio.Real estate sales have fallen nationwide over the last few years. Now reports are surfacing of an uptick in sales volume. Reports of increased sales are being reported in both new and resale homes. It appears that what is happening is that many real estate buyers – investors and those buying for occupancy – think that prices have fallen to the point – along with record low interest rates – where buying makes sense. Houses are being snapped up. Inventory in Fremont has declined for the last six months and is currently very low. Many homes in Fremont are being sold with multiple offers. Sales volume is up. What goes down must come up.Will prices follow? Yes! When? Can’t answer that question. The market is cyclical. The market fluctuates. The market has seen prices fall dramatically. At some point, prices will head upwards, as they always do until the next adjustment takes place. Are you, potential buyer, going to wait until prices head up so that you can pay more? Are you going to wait until interest rates head up so you can pay more?What goes down must come up.The buying window of opportunity is wide open. No, I did not say that it is a buyer’s market. I stress…the opportunity to buy at a reasonable price with attractive financing is here…now. That will not be true forever.

Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, says he doesn’t think that anyone should give campaign donations to politicians, specifically member of Congress and the President “…until a fair, bipartisan deal is reached that sets our nation on stronger long-term fiscal footing”. In addition, he said, “Our companies are going to hire. We are going to accelerate growth, employment, and investment in jobs.”Warren Buffett wrote an op-ed piece that was published in The New York Times on Sunday in which he complained that the rich, including Warren, himself, are not being taxed enough. In part, Buffett said, “Americans are rapidly losing faith in the ability of Congress to deal with our country’s fiscal problems.” He went on the say, “My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It’s time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice.”F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me.” Well that would certain apply to Mr. Buffett, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals and Mr. Schultz whose income was reported to be $22 million in 2010. Yet both of them understand the necessity for limits on spending combined with additional revenue in order to bring the country’s debt woes under control. In addition, Mr. Schultz pledges to do his part to increase employment which is another key to lifting the nation out of its economic doldrums.They get my early vote for cover of Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” issue.

This Thursday, July 22^nd, from 5:30 to 8:30, the second summer street party will be held in downtown Hayward, Ca. Stop thinking about buying or selling real estate for a few hours and relax and enjoy yourself. “B” Street will be closed between Foothill and Mission Boulevards as an assortment of western themed attractions, activities, and booths take over. Treat the kids (old and young) to pony and wagon rides and meet Rowell Ranch Rodeo Queen Danielle Williams.

Music will be provided by the aptly named California Cowboys and the Diehards. Classic cars and hot rods will share street space with food and craft vendors. There will be jugglers, face painters and games for the kids. The cost of admission…FREE!

I plan to attend so don’t call me about your Hayward real estate plans tomorrow evening.

I was recently visiting a house in Fremont that our real estate team was about to put on the market. It is a short sale. As I was headed for my car, the neighbor from next door hailed me. He asked if I had a couple of minutes to spare to talk to him. In the real estate business, you never say “no” when a neighbor wants to chat. Maybe it is a new listing opportunity. Maybe he has a friend or relative who has always wanted to live in the neighborhood and is a prospect to buy the real estate that we are selling. Of course I wanted to talk to him but the conversation surprised me.

He wanted to know if there was a way that he could know that the new buyers of the house were “legitimate”. I did not understand the nature of his concern. He told me of an experience that a friend of his had related to him. The friend lived next door to a house that went up for sale. In due time, new neighbors introduced themselves. They seemed like nice folks and were welcomed to the neighborhood. The problem, as it turned out, was that those folks were not the new owners. In fact, the house had not sold. The “new neighbors” had simply moved in and taken occupancy. They were squatters!

The neighbor of the Fremont house that we are listing was concerned that a similar scenario might unfold next door to him and his family. I assured him that was highly unlikely because the owner planned to stay in the house until it is sold. It is not going to sit empty and become a target for takeover by squatters.

It is a shame that a neighbor, or neighborhood, has to worry about an issue like this. Truth is that we know that it happens from time to time. Whether in Fremont or elsewhere as foreclosed houses sit empty and seemingly abandoned, they become targets for those who are looking for a free place to stay. What happens to and in these squatter-occupied houses certainly does not enhance the quality of a neighborhood.

We have long known that high performing schools drive real estate values upwards in the areas around those schools. In the Mission San Jose School District of Fremont, Ca. a buyer will pay more for their new home than they will for a similar home in surrounding communities or even other parts of Fremont. Why? A recent newspaper article in the San Jose Mercury proudly points to the highe number of high performing elementary schools in Santa Clara County and the Peninsula. What the article does not mention is that the list of the top ten elementary schools ranked by API scores includes two schools in the Mission San Jose School District of Fremont.

Yes…if you want to have a great public school education and live in a neighborhood where your home value is boyed by the excellent neighborhood schools, real estate in Fremont, Ca. is a good choice.

The Medford Team covers the East Bay, including Pleasanton, Fremont, Danville, Newark, San Ramon, Livermore, Union City, Hayward, Dublin, San Leandro and other nearby cities.

Anti-Deficiency Protection Almost There: On Thursday, August 19, the California Senate approved SB1178.  This bill extends anti-deficiency protections to homeowners who refinanced their mortgages, but didn’t take any cash out, and are now facing foreclosure.According to C.A.R. under existing law, if a homeowner defaults on a mortgage used to purchase a home, the home owner’s liability on the mortgage is limited to the property itself.  However, homeowners who refinanced the original purchase debt, even if only to obtain a lower interest rate, were not extended the same protections. C.A.R. sponsored SB 1178 to close this loophole and extend foreclosure protections to consumers who refinance their home loans but don’t take cash out as part of the refinance.

SB 1178 still must be signed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

Information provided by David C. Stark, Public Affairs Director, Bay East Association of REALTORS, Pleasanton, Ca.

Helping my clients to buy or sell thier house is what I spend most of my time doing. But life is not all about real estate. Next weekend is the Good Guys Summer Get-Together custom car and hot rod show and swap at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, Ca. The event runs August 27, 28, and 29th.

We will soon find out. The verdict is in for the Johannes Mehserle trial being held in Los Angeles.

Fear of civil unrest following the announcement of the verdict is causing the Alameda County Recorder’s Office to close until the coast is clear. No one knows if this will really happen or, if it does, how long the closure will be in place. This raises the specter that transactions will not close on time because deeds will not be recorded, property will not be transferred and new loans will not close.

We live in interesting times.