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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The timing couldn’t be better.  With the recent financial rollercoaster leading to the constant up and down of the stock market, this weekend’s event in Dublin’s Emerald Glen Park is just what the doctor ordered.  The annual festivities held at Emerald Glen Park at the corner of Tassajara Road and Gleason Drive in Dublin kicks off on Saturday morning at 10AM.  The free event includes activities for the children age 12 and under (including a petting Zoo, Face Painting, Balloon Animals and more) while the older children can watch the skateboarding demonstrations or participate in the skateboarding competition held on Sunday.

Last year, more than 16,000 people attended the event celebrating Dublin’s 25th anniversary.  Hoping to draw more people this year, the theme is a global one introducing the attendees to many different cultures from around the world.  The shows scheduled include different dances from Irish, Indian, Brazilian, Chinese and West African groups to name a few.

A special concert is planned for Saturday night at 6pm where, Pete Esovedo, will be performing.  This is a great, free event you should take advantage of this weekend.

For more details, check out the Day on the Glen website.

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

Danville said hello to its newest major retail shop last weekend as September 6th marked the grand opening of the “Rose Garden” in Danville. The 44,000 square-foot retail center is at the corner of Sycamore Valley Road and Camino Ramon and is anchored by the Navlet’s Nursery. Brad Blake, and Blake Hunt Ventures are the developers and spearhead for the project which has been in works for some years.

Blake Hunt Ventures are tackling the Green on Park Place next.  The 27 Acre project will be on the corner of Hacienda and 580 in Dublin across the street from the popular Hacienda Crossings.  The new center will be anchored by long awaited Whole Foods and is sure to be a popular place for Trivalley residence.  With the existence of Hacienda Crossings and the upcoming development of Green on Park Place and the Promenade in Dublin Ranch, get ready to see a lot more retail and restaurants in Dublin which can only  be good for the local market here.

Click here to read more about this story.

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

My wife, an English teacher at Pleasanton’s Amador Valley High School recently spent a week of her summer break to tutor at STEPS Community Prep School in Pleasanton for the first time. She was very impressed with the model behind this tutoring facility and the direct benefits it would have to the students. So I asked her share her thoughts about the prep school and how it is different from other facilities. Below are the benefits she saw in STEPS Community Prep School.

It is easy to see why so many Pleasanton families are choosing the tutoring services of STEPS Community Prep School. The team of teachers is comprised only of Pleasanton school teachers. This is what, perhaps, sets STEPS apart from other tutoring services. The teachers are highly skilled with the Pleasanton curriculum. They are able to combine their expertise with innovative teaching strategies. For example, a sophomore student seeking help in geometry will receive instruction from an actual geometry teacher from Amador Valley or Foothill High School. A student wanting to get instruction on writing will be taught the same format and requirements expected at Pleasanton middle schools at high schools. There is no question that this kind of specialized tutoring is rewarding for students when they see their own growth applied to the classroom.

A small group setting promotes individualized learning and in depth study. The Pleasanton teachers can adjust to students’ needs and foster meaningful collaboration among the students. In short, a student at STEPS can get the attention they need to meet their educational goals.

Classes are scheduled in relationship to the PUSD academic schedule. Continue Reading

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.

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

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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While the media may not have caught up to the increase in sales activity in the Trivalley for the past three months…I have.  The chart seen below, displays the increase in activity in home sales for the TriValley since the beginning of 2008.  The increase in home sales can be attributed to several factors including a dramatic spike in rental prices, aggressive sellers willing to wheel ‘n deal, and historically low mortgage interest rates.

So, are we at the bottom?  Is this the time to buy?  Quite honestly, I don’t know.  But here is something interesting to think about.  Maybe you should buy BEFORE we hit the bottom (this is not a typo).  Here’s why.

If we are 6-18 months away from the ‘bottom’ and prices are going to slide down further, then maybe it is a good idea to wait it out until then.  However, if we are 3-6 months away from the bottom, then I think that would be the best time to buy. 

(Keep in mind this analysis is only for individuals who are currently renting and thinking of entering into the housing market.  If you currently own a home and are thinking of moving up, you have no worries because you would be selling and buying in the same market, whether it is a hot or cold market)

Let’s take a look at the chart I have drawn up.  Letter “A” represents the market if we are 6-18 months away from the bottom.  With a possible year and a half of price correction left to go, it would most likely be wise to wait on the sidelines until things were closer to letter “B”. 
The only way we know we have hit the bottom of the market by definition is only after we have bounced back as represented by letter “C”.  As the chart suggests, the prices we see right before the bottom would be similar to the prices right after the bottom, hence a buyer buying at point “B” or point “C” would be buying while the market price would be the same.  While the market price would be similar in this scenario, there would be a significant difference in the purchase price and terms.

At point “B” the market has still not recovered and the economy is suffering.  As a result, interest rates will be lower and banks would be competing for the business of the buyers.  Capturing a lower interest rate, can save you thousands in the long run even if you pay a higher price than someone who buys the house for cheaper but pays much more in interest over the years. 

Further at point “B” the other buyers are still on the sideline waiting and waiting and waiting.  This allows you to be selective and not have to fight over best house deals in the neighborhood.  When you put in your offer, the sellers are nervous of losing you and your offer and as a result would be willing to negotiate price and terms much more aggressively and in your favor.

In review, point “B” allows you to purchase in an environment which would share similar market prices compared to the market once we bounce back from the bottom, you are able to capture in most cases a lower mortgage interest rate, pick out your favorite home from a large selection and negotiate a better price and terms with sellers who are afraid they may lose you if they don’t deal…sounds good to you?

And what if you wait until point “C”.  Point “C” represents the market after prices have jumped back up and everyone knows we are back at a regular increasing market.  The media is back on the housing bandwagon remembering that real estate is still the best investment.  The federal reserve is again raising interest rates making mortgages more expensive.  Open houses are busy with buyers and the best homes on the block receive multiple offers.  You put in an offer and the seller now knows that we have hit the bottom and they are no longer willing to negotiate as they did just months ago.

So, are we at the bottom should not be the question because we will never know until we bounce back.  Are we 3-6 months away from the bottom…now that’s a good question!

This Saturday night on May 10, Trivalley Socks and downtown Pleasanton will be hosting a mother’s day walk-a-thon in efforts of raising money for breast cancer research, treatment, and educational programs.  The organization, Tri-Valley SOCKs, operates with no paid staff and is run completely by volunteers.  The walk includes a bra-decorating contest and the raised money will go to the San Francisco Bay Area Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Check-in begins at 6 PM with the festivities starting at 7 PM.  To join-in on this great event held in downtown Pleasanton, please go to http://www.trivalleysocks.org/index.html for more details.

How’s business?  This seems to be a very common question to answer these days.  My business has been surprising!  In the past three weeks, I have had the chance to help two separate clients submit an offer on two homes in the Trivalley.  One was a two bedroom townhome in Pleasanton and the other a newer townhome in Dublin in the Cottages.  What happened with these offers may surprise you.The two bedroom Pleasanton townhome was in good condition with not much work to be done.  It was priced competitive for the market and could fit most first time home-buyers budgets’.  My client was looking to purchase the townhome as an investment property and with a 20% downpayment the rents would nearly cover the carrying costs.  So we visited the home on the first day it hit the market (Monday) and got together Tuesday morning to submit the offer.  After we wrote the offer (very close to asking price), I called the agent to let him know to expect an offer from my client on the Pleasanton townhome.  He informed me that there were a total of five offers on the property and according to the agent, the home will sell for over asking price.  (But wait, I thought it was a buyer’s market!?) Continue Reading