Homes for Sale Palo Alto Today

FHFA Refinancing Program Explained

Gwen Wang — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:04:28 +0000

City of Palo Alto Green Building Program

San Mateo County Market Update – November 2011

Gwen Wang — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:45:02 +0000

Highlights in This Newsletter:

Underwater Mortgage Holder Get Helps under HARP
Home Inventory down 20% compared with October 2010
Mortgage rate outlook
Foreclosure statistics

Like it,

Housing Boost From Foreign Demand?

Gwen Wang — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:00:31 +0000

: © Sergey Ilin – Fotolia.com

A bill being proposed in hope to boost housing from foreign demand. It will benefit foreign citizens looking to invest in the US real estate market and better yet, it comes with a visa good for three years. Proposed and co-sponsored by Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mike Lee (R.-Utah), if approved, this bill would grant a U.S. visa to international investors who agree to spend at least $500,000 in cash on residential real estate in the US. Out of which, $250,000 will be spend on the primary residence where the visa holder will stay at least 180 days out of the year. The visa will be valid for a period of 3 years, and would be a residential visa meaning you will not be permitted to work in the US. This program will not lead to a US citizenship and all normal back ground checks on the visa applier will still be applicable, this mean that the person will go through all the standard procedures, checking of criminal records, bank balance, etc in order to be granted a visa.

This can be an exciting opportunity for people who want to live in the US, as they can take advantage of the weaken dollar and deflated US housing price. The move an also help the excess supply of housing inventory in the US market by introducing foreign demand.

A report published by National Association of Realtors has shown US residential property approaches $82 Billion on an annual basis purchased by non-resident foreigners and recent immigrants. This number has gone up by 24% from a year ago. Foreigners investing in US real estate has counted 8% of the sale. 62% of these foreign investors have purchased with cash. The most popular places for foreigners to purchase homes have been states like New York, California, Texas, Hawaii, and Arizona. These states count for 58% of all international sales in the US.

In California, foreign buyers predominately come from Asia, which make up 12% of the overall California housing sales. Most of these foreign buyers look for houses for primary residence or, vacation homes or simply investing in Real Estate.

If this bill is passed, it will certainly have a boosting impact on the market of US homes. If you like to be notified of future development for foreigner investing in the US real estate market, please contact Gwen.

Palo Alto Halloween Activities

Gwen Wang — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:06:17 +0000

Halloween is just around the corner. I have compiled a list of Palo Alto and surrounding neighborhood cities’ Halloween Activities for you and your little ones!

Halloween Haunted House & Puppet Show

Sunday, Oct 30 6:30p to 8:00p

at Gamble Garden, Palo Alto, CA

Price: $10/person members $15/person non-members.

Phone: 650-329-1356 x201

17th Annual California Ave Trick or Treat and Halloween Carnival

Sunday, Oct 30th, 1 – 3PM
California Avenue Palo Alto
Halloween Carnival between Ash and Birch on California Ave
Children under 10, tots and babies too!

Free Trick or Treat fun!
Look for orange fliers in windows of 40 participating stores.

Featuring Andy Z at 11am in front of Blossom Birth

Halloween Spooktacular

Saturday, Oct 29 11:00a to 1:00p

at Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

Join us for our annual Halloween Spooktacular celebration! The cauldrons will bubble over with ghastly prizes, crawly goodies and frightful games!

Halloween Zoo Night At Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo

October 28, 2011, 6pm – 8pm (members only)

Get ready for our spookiest event of the year! Members come to the Junior Museum & Zoo dressed in their Halloween costumes for a night of fright! Pizza, drinks and, of course, Halloween candy, will be enjoyed by all. There will also be a sneak-peek of our new Raccoon Creek.

Halloween Zoo Night is for members only. Be sure to join, renew or upgrade to attend this enchanted event.

City of Menlo Park Halloween Hoopla

Saturday, October 29th

11:45am: Halloween Costume Parade

12:30pm – 3:00pm: Trick or Treat

The City of Menlo Park, in conjunction with the Chamber, presents the Halloween Hoopla on Saturday, October 29th, beginning at 11:45am with the annual costume parade from Arrillaga Family Recreation Center to Fremont Park. Participants will receive a free trick or treat bag. From 12:30pm to 3:00pm, participants may Trick or Treat with downtown merchants displaying “Welcome Trick or Treaters” signs, or enjoy a magic show and crafts in Fremont Park. For more information, please contact the Menlo Park Community Services Department at 650.330.2200 or visit www.menlopark.org. Location : Santa Cruz Avenue, Downtown Menlo Park
Contact : Community Services Department 650.330.2200

Mountain View Halloween Monster Bash Celebration

Saturday, Oct 29, 2011 5-8pm, Community Center, 201 South Rengstorff Avenue

Come celebrate Halloween with your family, friends and neighbors at the Mountain View Monster Bash! An outdoor movie appropriate for all ages will be featured along with Halloween crafts, games and refreshments. Come in costume! The feature presentation “Mars Needs Moms” rated PG starts at 6:00 p.m. Be sure to bring a low-back chair and blanket.

All are invited to attend this FREE family event!

Los Altos Halloween Spectacular

Monday, Oct 31, 2011 from noon to 4pm

Halloween fun and games at State and Second St from 2-4pm. Trick or Treating events for children at downtown participating stores.

Halloween Spooktakular 2011

Saturday, October 22, 2011
12-3pm
Red Morton Community Center

Kids will thrill to carnival games, proudly show off their Halloween attire in a Costume Parade at 1:30 pm, explore their way through the mysterious Monster Maze, create festive fall crafts, indulge in Transylvania Treats, enjoy lots of other fun activities, and win prizes! Redwood City’s Halloween Spooktakular is suitable for kids up to age ten – admission is just $5 per child.

No related posts.

Palo Alto Real Estate Market Update – September 2011 – Homes For Sale vs. Home Sold

Gwen Wang — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 02:03:43 +0000

In September 2011, the median for sale price in Palo Alto is up 18% vs one year ago and the sold price is relative flat (-1%)compared to one years ago. The inventory of houses for sale under $1.5M is very limited, and there are slightly more choices for homes in the $2M and above range.

Overall, the supply has decreased dramatically (-46%) compared to one year ago. Supply usually goes up in September after Labor Day, but it is not quiet true this year. The number of sold properties has decreased by 6%. When weighing both factors, the current market condition continues to be a seller’s market in Palo Alto.

Current Active Listings in Palo Alto

If you like more information for any of them, please email or call me.

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 37. See more city of Palo Alto real estate.
(all data current as of 2/22/2012)

$840,000 : 4248 Rickeys Wy #M, Palo Alto

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,554 sq ft

Lot size: 871 sq ft

Year built: 2008

Walk Score®: 60
$1,598,000 : 530 Irven Ct, Palo Alto

5 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,624 sq ft

Lot size: 5,662 sq ft

Year built: 2007

Walk Score®: 60
$1,595,000 : 1028 Paradise Wy, Palo Alto

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,918 sq ft

Lot size: 6,056 sq ft

Year built: 1965

Walk Score®: 45
$925,000 : 1129 Tuolumne Ln #51, Palo Alto

2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,130 sq ft

Walk Score®: 43
$1,799,900 : 2886 Emerson St, Palo Alto

5 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,745 sq ft

Lot size: 6,098 sq ft

Year built: 1950

Walk Score®: 71

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Santa Clara County Market Udpate – October 2011

Gwen Wang — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:07:46 +0000

Highlights

Mortgage rate reach record low. Thirty year fixed mortgage rates are down in the 4% area.
Conforming loan limit was decreased on October 1, 2011. In Santa Clara county, the new limit is reduced to $625,500 from $729,750.

Santa Clara County Real Estate Market Update – May 2011

Gwen Wang — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:54:19 +0000

San Mateo County Real Estate Market Update for May 2011

Gwen Wang — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:49:18 +0000

New Listing – 530 Central Ave, Menlo Park

Gwen Wang — Tue, 17 May 2011 08:11:10 +0000

Open House 5/21 & 5/22- 1:30pm to 4:30pm

Charming Starter Home With Room to Grow in the Willows

The perfect starter home in the highly sought after Willows neighborhood of Menlo Park, this 950 square foot house sits on an large 7,000 sq ft lot on a quiet tree lined street with alley access. This home for sale in Menlo Park is the perfect property for an owner who would like to plan for a future expansion. The layout and lot size create ample opportunity for a homeowner to explore endless design and landscape possibilities.

Learn more about the Willows neighborhood

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 81121642 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

2011 Tax Tips for Palo Alto Menlo Park Home Owners

Gwen Wang — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:51:35 +0000

It’s the time of year we all dread… time for your 2010 tax filings. I want to share with you some basic tax tips all Palo Alto Menlo Park home owners should consider before filing their taxes.

Contact a tax expert. My motto is always, if in doubt, contact a tax expert. There’s no way around it; taxes are complicated. While some don’t want to spend their money on tax experts, I’ve found that they’ve saved me much more money than they’ve cost. And, the peace of mind they provide is priceless.
Claim your Palo Alto Menlo Park home owner’s tax deduction, if you’re eligible. In 2002, a study was conducted that showed that 61% of eligible home owners did not claim their home owner’s tax deductions on their income taxes. That means that 61% of home owners who would have saved on their income taxes took the standard deduction and paid a higher tax bill that they needed to. Don’t miss any more tax savings by automatically taking the standard deduction. Consult a tax expert to find out how much you can save by taking advantage of your home owner’s tax breaks.
Review your past returns. If you think you might have overpaid your taxes in the past, have a tax expert review your past returns and help you file an amended return to reclaim your money.
Start paying back your 2008 first-time home buyer tax break. If you claimed the very first version of the first-time home buyers tax break on your 2008 tax returns, you must now start paying it back. The credit has to be repaid in 15 equal payments each tax-filing time, beginning with 2010 returns. The 2008 tax break wasn’t a true credit. Instead, it was an interest-free loan, and like all loans, it must be paid back.
Claim subsequent home-buyer tax credits. If you qualified for and used the 2009 (which was extended to June, 2010) first-time home-buyer tax credit or home-owner tax credit, you had the option to claim the credit on your 2009 or 2010 taxes. If you waited to claim them, now’s the time to do so.
Energy and Appliance Tax Credit If you made any energy-efficiency improvements to your home in 2010, you may be eligible for a tax credit. You can deduct up to 30% of the cost — up to $1,500 — for many energy improvements to your existing home. Note that the credit does not apply to rental properties or new homes. Approved improvements include new windows, insulation, high efficiency furnaces, water heaters and air-conditioning. It also covers alternative energy such as solar equipment, small wind turbines and fuel cells.
For a list of other potential deduction items, please review my article – Top Deduction Items for Palo Alto Homeowners.

Even though the home-buyer tax credits are no longer available, this is an amazing time to buy a Palo Alto Menlo Park home. If you’d like to learn more about why now is a fabulous time to buy a home, or if you need help finding a home you love, I can help. Give me a call today at 650-454-8568 or email me at gwen.wang@kw.com.