I am currently getting a Santa Clara Probate sale ready for market. However, for a variety of reasons the Personal Representative has decided to let the Santa Clara Probate Process finish up before putting the home on the market. As a result, she has now inherited the home outright and so the rules have changed some. This means that she can now do repairs on the house without putting the Santa Clara estate in jeopardy of increased liability. The previous owner was almost 100 years old when he died and there is a lot of differed maintenance.  Both bathrooms were completely filled with dry rot, besides being old, ugly, and dirty. She made the decision that it was worth having the termite company come in and get rid of the dry rot, replace the fixtures, and re tile the bath rooms before s... 10/03/2013

As a Santa Clara Real Estate Agent I am always being asked, "How's the market in Santa Clara?" The answer is simple: Not enough inventory, plenty of buyers. There are currently 45 single family Santa Clara homes for sale, up from 42 last week. There are currently 41 Santa Clara town homes/condos for sale, the same as last week. There are currently 62 pending sales of Santa Clara single family homes, down from 66 last week. There are currently 40 pending sales of Santa Clara town homes/Condos, down from 43 last week. In Aug of 2013 there were 51 single family Santa Clara homes sold, 10 less than in July, ranging in price from $525,000 to $1,500,000. The lowest priced home is $115,000 higher than the lowest price in July, but the highest price home is about the same, and in the same new d... 09/30/2013

As a Santa Clara Realtor who specializes in Probate Sales I have found many unusual things left at house that were not wanted or noticed by the heirs. Since I offer to clean out and stage the Probate Homes I sell I get to deal with al the junk that is left behind. You see when someone dies an estimate of the value of the personal items is given to the court. After that the items that were left to specific people are distributed. These are usually the things of monetary or sentimental value like jewelry, artwork, or good furniture. Sometimes there is no will, or no specific designation, so any valuables will be sold and the money added to the money that will eventually be divided amongst the heirs. This can be done by an estate seller, a garage sale, or an auction house. What is left is ... 09/30/2013

What Thomas Jefferson, Machine Gun Kelly, The Beatles Have in Common Six Surprising Things That Happened on September 26 by Michelle Carr Crowe, Cupertino real estate agent selling San Jose homes Some days are filled with important anniversaries and celebrations, others days, not so much. Curious to know What Thomas Jefferson, Machine Gun Kelly, The Beatles Have in Common?  All three share an important anniversary date of September 26, along with three more surprising anniversaries on September 26. 1580 – World explorer Sir Francis Drake finishes his circumnavigation of the Earth. 1789 – The new United States government gains several new appointments. Thomas Jefferson is appointed the first United States Secretary of State, John Jay is appointed the first Chief Justice of the United Sta... 09/26/2013

As a Santa Clara Real Estate Agent I am always being asked, "How's the market in Santa Clara?" The answer is simple: Not enough inventory, plenty of buyers. There are currently 42 single family Santa Clara homes for sale, down from 46 last month. There are currently 41 Santa Clara town homes/condos for sale, up from 39 last month. There are currently 66 pending sales of Santa Clara single family homes, up from 60 last month. There are currently 43 pending sales of Santa Clara town homes/Condos, down from 46 last month. In Aug of 2013 there were 51 single family Santa Clara homes sold, 10 less than in July, ranging in price from $525,000 to $1,500,000. The lowest priced home is $115,000 higher than the lowest price in July, but the highest price home is about the same, and in the same ne... 09/21/2013

Post Blogs in 3 September Contests for Up to 5900 ActiveRain Points   by Michelle Carr Crowe, Silicon Valley real estate agent If you've been blogging on ActiveRain and feel like you need to "up your game" for ActiveRain pointts, search engine optimization and personal satisfaction, consider posting blogs in 3 September Contests for Up to 5900 ActiveRain Points:   Summer Video Challenge, Update Your Profile Challenge & September's Cloudburst of You.  1)  Summer Video Challenge, Show Us Your Local & Bring in the Juice – 800 per video post and blog, up to 3 blogs maximum for a possible 2400 points.     Due Date: 11:59 pm on September 7, 2013. To increase search engine optimization (SEO), which loves video, this challenge is to shoot three short videos of something local and something show... 09/02/2013

  People want to feel a sense of community or neighborhood.  Especially people from the East Coast who relocate here and feel disconnected.  They are accustomed to walking to the local market or to the corner cleaners to pick up their cleanings.   Things are different here.  Everyone loves their cars and drives their cars everywhere;  to go to the grocery store, to pick up their dry cleaner,  or even to go to Starbucks and go through the drive through. Hardly anyone walks here in the West Coast.  Lifestyle is different between the two coasts.      But for those East Coast transplants or others who want a change of pace, there is something different.  The Miraval at the Rivermark.  Here is a community that feels like a true neighborhood.  The Rivermark Village is within walking distance... 08/26/2013

Here is the latest market report for the City of Santa Clara for the past 12 months. Santa Clara had some quick price appreciation over the past year, and multiple offers was the norm.  It appears the market has cooled just a tiny bit, but being in the heart of a booming Silicon Valley shows no signs of home sales slowing down. Santa Clara is home to Intel Corporation and Santa Clara University.  It is in a great location with relatively easy freeway access to all parts of the bay area. 08/25/2013

Today is the last day to pre-register for the Silicon Valley agent self defense workshop tomorrow in Santa Clara.  I still have a few Complimentary Passes left, so click HERE to register and reserve your spot now! The workshop will cover: Basic safety considerations and procedures for agents Self defense techniques against common attacks in the field This hands-on workshop is designed to address the unique safety threats agents face in the workplace.  Instruction will focus on self defense methods agents can use once careful planning and other precautions have failed. Online registration for the workshop is recommended, though there will also be on-site registration on the day of the workshop IF SPACE PERMITS.   Attendees should arrive early, there is limited parking and the workshop w... 08/23/2013

Sold! 3745 Terstena Place, #161, Santa Clara, CA 95051 The condo market is strong in Santa Clara, CA and other Silicon Valley and Peninsula towns. This lovely 2-bedroom, 1-bath condo at 3745 Terstena Place in Santa Clara sold above asking, after being on the market only 9 days. Escrow closed in August, 2013. Interested in knowing how you can achieve the results you'd like? Contact me and we'll discuss your needs and wants.     08/23/2013

As a Santa Clara Real Estate Agent I am always being asked, "How's the market in Santa Clara?" The answer is simple: Not enough inventory, plenty of buyers. There are currently 46 single family Santa Clara homes for sale, up from 40 last week. There are currently 39 Santa Clara town homes/condos for sale, down from 48 last week. There are currently 60 pending sales of Santa Clara single family homes, up from 46 last week. There are currently 46 pending sales of Santa Clara town homes/Condos, up from 42 last week. In July of 2013 there were 61 single family Santa Clara homes sold, the same as in June, ranging in price from $410,000 to $1,520,000. The lowest priced home is about the same as teh lowest price in June, but the highest price home is much higher, by about 300K. This is probabl... 08/12/2013

2013 has been an amazing year for Santa Clara Sellers. With inventory at historic lows and interest rates at historic highs, Santa clara homes for sale have been flying off the shelf.   However, now it is summer, and there is a normal shift in the market. The 20% appreciation that we saw in the first 6 months of the year is leveling off which is typical for this time of year. Interest rates have gone up by about 1% and while still low, are high enough to keep the affordability of a home in check for some buyers, and inventory has increased. This does not mean it is a buyers market, or that prices are crashing, but it does mean Santa Clara sellers can not get lazy, especially if you want to get top dollar for your home When a buyer first sees a home they get an impression which is hard ... 08/08/2013

As a Santa Clara Real Estate Agent I am always being asked, "How's the market in Santa Clara?" The answer is simple: Not enough inventory, plenty of buyers. There are currently 40 single family Santa Clara homes for sale, down from 44 last week. There are currently 48 Santa Clara town homes/condos for sale, up from 44 last week. There are currently 56 pending sales of Santa Clara single family homes, the same as last week. There are currently 42 pending sales of Santa Clara town homes/Condos, down from 43 last week. In July of 2013 there were 61 single family Santa Clara homes sold, the same as in June, ranging in price from $410,000 to $1,520,000. The lowest priced home is about the same as teh lowest price in June, but the highest price home is much higher, by about 300K. This is prob... 08/05/2013

  I got a call this morning from a very sweet but distraught woman about a home in Santa Clara that belonged to her grandmother and was supposed to be a trust sale. However the home is now 2 weeks away from a foreclosure sale and this did not have to happen. Here is the situation: 1. Grandmother owned the home and took out a reverse mortgage with Wells Fargo.  2. After Grandmother got her reverse mortgage and before she died she put the home in a trust and did not inform Wells Fargo she had done this. 3. Grandmother dies and the successor trustee, grand daughter is in charge of dealing with the house.  4. Granddaughter tells Wells Fargo she is the successor trustee and will be selling the house which is a requirement with in 3 months of the owner passing or leaving the house. 5. Wells F... 07/28/2013

As a Santa Clara Real Estate Agent I am always being asked, "How's the market in Santa Clara?" The answer is simple: Not enough inventory, plenty of buyers. There are currently 44 single family Santa Clara homes for sale, down from 46 last week. There are currently 44 Santa Clara town homes/condos for sale, up from 39 last week. There are currently 56 pending sales of Santa Clara single family homes, down from 61 last week. There are currently 43 pending sales of Santa Clara town homes/Condos, down from 59 last week. In June of 2013 there were 61 single family Santa Clara homes sold, up from 47 in May, ranging in price from $420,000 to $1,240,000. This shows a decrease in price range of 10% for the lowest priced home sold in May, but it was a short sale that took a long time to close so... 07/27/2013

As a Santa Clara Real Estate Agent I am always being asked, "How's the market in Santa Clara?" The answer is simple: Not enough inventory, plenty of buyers. There are currently 46 single family Santa Clara homes for sale, the same as last week. There are currently 39 Santa Clara town homes/condos for sale, up from 34 last week. There are currently 61 pending sales of Santa Clara single family homes, up from 59 last week. There are currently 59 pending sales of Santa Clara town homes/Condos, up from 51 last week. In June of 2013 there were 61 single family Santa Clara homes sold, up from 47 in May, ranging in price from $420,000 to $1,240,000. This shows a decrease in price range of 10% for the lowest priced home sold in May, but it was a short sale that took a long time to close so the ... 07/21/2013

As a Santa Clara Real Estate Agent I am always being asked, "How's the market in Santa Clara?" The answer is simple: Not enough inventory, plenty of buyers. There are currently 46 single family Santa Clara homes for sale, down from 49 before the July 4th Holiday. There are currently 34 Santa Clara town homes/condos for sale, up from 30 before the July 4th Holiday. There are currently 59 pending sales of Santa Clara single family homes, down from 69 last week. There are currently 51 pending sales of Santa Clara town homes/Condos, down from 54 last week. In June of 2013 there were 61 single family Santa Clara homes sold, up from 47 in May, ranging in price from $420,000 to $1,240,000. This shows a decrease in price range of 10% for the lowest priced home sold in May, but it was a short sa... 07/15/2013

Did You Miss Bay Area Fourth of July Fireworks? One More Show July 6 by Michelle Carr Crowe, Silicon Valley real estate agent selling homes in Santa Clara County If you missed the Bay Area Fourth of July Fireworks, or just have a hankering to see "one more fireworks show", head out to Great America in Santa Clara, Calif. tonight, July 6, 2013. One challenge with Fourth of July fireworks shows in Silicon Valley is while there are so many great choices from Morgan Hill and Gilroy to Palo Alto and Mountain View to San Jose and Santa Clara, almost all of them are at the same time on the same night, July 4. Any Silicon Valley resident wishing to see just one more "Fourth of July fireworks show", the last chance to see one is tonight, Saturday, July 6, 2013. Great America Amusement Park, loca... 07/06/2013

As a Santa Clara Real Estate Agent I am always being asked, "How's the market in Santa Clara?" The answer is simple: Not enough inventory, plenty of buyers. There are currently 49 single family Santa Clara homes for sale, up from 48 last week. There are currently 30 Santa Clara town homes/condos for sale, down from 33 last week. There are currently 69 pending sales of Santa Clara single family homes, up from 66 last week. There are currently 54 pending sales of Santa Clara town homes/Condos, up from 46 last week. In May of 2013 there were 45 single family Santa Clara homes sold, 6 more than the number in April, ranging in price from $495,000 to $1,290,000. This shows a decrease in price range of 10% for the lowest priced home sold in April. The highest is up 3% from April. In May of 201... 06/23/2013

As a Santa Clara Real Estate Agent I am always being asked, "How's the market in Santa Clara?" The answer is simple: Not enough inventory, plenty of buyers. There are currently 48 single family Santa Clara homes for sale, uo from 40 last week. There are currently 33 Santa Clara town homes/condos for sale, up from 30 last week. There are currently 66 pending sales of Santa Clara single family homes, down from 71 last week. There are currently 46 pending sales of Santa Clara town homes/Condos, up from 50 last week. In May of 2013 there were 45 single family Santa Clara homes sold, 6 more than the number in April, ranging in price from $495,000 to $1,290,000. This shows a decrease in price range of 10% for the lowest priced home sold in April. The highest is the up 3% from April. In May of... 06/15/2013