Last Wednesday, August 13, Smart & Final, Pleasanton’s newest major grocery store in Pleasanton opened its doors to the public.  Smart & Final serves as the sixth major grocery store in Pleasanton accompanied by Pleasanton based Safeway as well as others like Nob Hill and Lucky’s.  The business model of the Los Angeles based chain is similar to Costco and the bulk style purchasing for a discount, however Smart & Final does not require a club membership like Costco.

The new location (a stone’s throw away from my office) shares the parking lot of hamburger selling machine, In ‘n Out and is across the street from Pleasanton’s Home Depot location.  Look for special grand opening coupons specifically for the Smart & Final Pleasanton location in your mailbox and be sure to check out the city’s newest major grocer.

For more details, check out this article in the Pleasanton Weekly.

Chris Kamali is a TriValley Real Estate Agent, helping clients buy and sell homes in Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Livermore.

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A recent change in the Housing Assistance Act of 2008 signed by President Bush may have some home investors, not just in the Trivalley, but in the whole country worried.  A strategy taxpayers have used in the past to avoid paying capital gains taxes has been to move back into one of their rental properties and to claim it as their primary residence and sell the property after two years of residing there to take advantage of the Homeowner’s Exemption, a law that allows allows a taxpayer to exclude up to $250K ($500K for married couples) of gain realized on the sale of a primary residence.

The Housing Assistance Act of 2008 now includes a change that takes away much of the benefits to this plan.  The following article in the Wall Street Journal speaks in details to this change affecting the modification of the homeowner’s tax exemption.

Chris Kamali is a TriValley Real Estate Agent, helping clients buy and sell homes in Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Livermore.

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So you finally are about to move into your Tri-Valley home and you need to make sure you have the utilities turned on so you don’t walk into a dark home with no running water.  Below is the contact information for the local services which may be helpful when moving into the Tri-Valley.

PG&E
1-800-743-5000

Pleasanton

Pleasanton Garbage Service
(925) 846-2042

Pleasanton Water Service
(925) 931-5425

Dublin

Dublin Garbage Service
925-479-9545

Dublin Water
(925) 828-8524

San Ramon

San Ramon Waste Management
(925) 837-3356

San Ramon Water
(925) 828-8524

Livermore

Livermore Garbage Service
(925) 447-1300

Livermore Water  
(925) 447-4900

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Below are the housing stats for the city of Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon and Livermore. If you have any questions or would like any detailed information, please let me know.

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I was wondering whether you have any insight into whether it would be a good idea to think about a refinance for my property in Pleasanton.  My purchase price was $587k and I took an 80% loan (6.25%) and 10% second (4.75% now, thanks to Fed’s rate cuts). 

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Below are the housing stats for the city of Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon and Livermore. If you have any questions or would like any detailed information, please let me know.

As the graph shows, activity has continually increased in the Trivalley for real estate sales in 2008.  A combination of attractive pricing and increased rent has brought back many of the buyers.  The entry level market has certainly heated up and with time this will eventually lead to the mid range and higher priced homes to follow.  Whether we are–at the bottom, several months away from it or just passing it–buyer confidence in the market is back and homes are selling.  If you have any specific questions about your Trivalley neighborhood or the neighborhood you would like to move to, feel free to comment or contact me.  

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Buying or selling a home is a very large decision and can be filled with difficulties and complexities.  One common form of interference that I often experience is when home buyers and home sellers over rely on their friends or family members for advice on what they should do.

While I am a proponent of getting feedback from those you trust when you are making a large decision, you must keep in mind that the advice you are receiving is solely based on that person’s personal experience with the matter and not a well rounded responce (unless the person has gone through the same situation several times).  Continue Reading

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Is it cheaper to buy than rent?  If you are currently renting in the TriValley, you are experiencing the rising costs first hand of the rental market.  The housing market has an inverse relationship to the local rental market and it is safe to assume that the rental market today is blazing the trail to heightened rates.  So much so, that for individuals who have good credit, a steady income and a down payment, it only makes sense to look at getting back into the housing market.

Do you fit in this box…Currently Renting A Two-Bedroom, Two-Bath Apartment And Paying $1800 or more?  Continue Reading

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The newest player in the home search arena is one of the most popular online shopping sites in my household.  I guess it is also fitting that the company (named Overstock.com) would beging advertising the homes in a market like this.  It just would not have the same ring to it if they began doing this three years ago when there was barely any inventory around.  While the idea of homes advertised on a website made popular by selling cheap over stocked items and clearanced prices sounds appealing, the reality is that it is not.

 The site pulls in MLS listings and is simply a portal for clients Continue Reading

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1.  Buyer’s Who Keep Looking And Avoid Getting Preapproved
Danger:  When the aggressively priced home comes on the market, you are behind the game because the other buyers are going to have do all of their research and already have a working relationship with a lender.

2.  Buyer’s Who Are Afraid To Make An Offer
Danger:  You never know the motivation of a seller.  Maybe they have their eye on their replacement home and would take a lower offer today knowing that they can have the house they want!

3.  Buyer’s Who Waste Time With LOW BALL Offers
Danger:  Of course negotiation is part of this market…but within reason.  No seller will come down 20% off their asking price…would you?

4.  Buyer’s Who Think They Will Find The Perfect Home Because There Is A Lot Of Choices
Danger:  Looking for the perfect home can be tiring….that is because you may never find something that meets all your needs.  And your needs will change over time.  So make sure you find a home that has all of the major aspects you are looking for such as neighborhood, square footage, floor plan, etc.  Don’t sweat the small stuff, you can change it in time.

5.  Buyer’s Who Think The Market Will Never Bounce Back And Don’t Get In
Danger:  Just like stocks, real estate values are cyclical and will go through ups and downs.  In the short run, it is never a good time to buy.  When prices are going up like crazy….you think, I will wait until things slow down.  When things slow down, you think, I will wait until things pick up.

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