Buying Vs. Renting

Here’s a tip for home buyers from Dale Warfel – if you’re confused about what is best renting or buying.

Home ownership offers tax benefits as well as the freedom to make decisions about your home. An advantage of renting is not worrying about maintenance and other financial obligations associated with owning property.
There also are a number of economic considerations. Unlike renters, home owners who secure a fixed-rate loan can lock in their monthly housing costs and make prudent investment plans knowing these expenses will not increase substantially.
Home ownership is a highly leveraged investment that can yield substantial profit on a nominal front-end investment. However, such returns depend on home-price appreciation.
"For some people, owning a home is a great feeling," writes Mitchell A. Levy in his book, "Home Ownership: The American Myth," Myth Breakers Press, Cupertino, Calif.; 1993.
"It does, however, have a price. Besides the maintenance headache, the amount of after-tax money paid to the lender is usually greater than the amount of money otherwise paid in rent," Levy concludes.
As for evaluating the risk associated with home ownership, David T. Schumacher and Erik Page Bucy write in their book "The Buy & Hold Real Estate Strategy," John Wiley & Sons, New York; 1992, that "good property located in growth areas should be regarded as an investment as opposed to a speculation or gamble."
The authors recommend that prospective buyers spend a few months investigating a community. Many people make the mistake of buying in the wrong area.
"Just because certain properties are high-priced doesn't necessarily mean they have some inherent advantage," the authors write. "One property may cost more than another today, but will it still be worth more down the line?"

What is a home inspection?

A home inspection is when a paid professional inspector -- often a contractor or an engineer -- inspects the home, searching for defects or other problems that might plague the owner later on. They usually represent the buyer and or paid by the buyer. The inspection usually takes place after a purchase contract between buyer and seller has been signed.

Yes, do definitely do need a home inspection. Buying a home "as is" is a risky proposition. Major repairs on homes can amount to thousands of dollars. Plumbing, electrical and roof problems represent significant and complex systems that are expensive to fix.
For properties and homes in San Jose, especially in the communities of Almaden Valley and Willow Glen, do get in touch with realtor Dale Warfel.

Buyer tips – How do you find a home inspector

In order to find a home inspector, Dian Hymer, author of "Buying and Selling a Home A Complete Guide," Chronicle Books, San Francisco; 1994, advises looking for someone with demonstrable qualifications. "Ideally, the general inspector you select should be either an engineer, an architect, or a contractor. When possible, hire an inspector who belongs to one of the home inspection trade organizations."
The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) has developed formal inspection guidelines and a professional code of ethics for its members. Membership to ASHI is not automatic; proven field experience and technical knowledge of structures and their various systems and appliances are a prerequisite.
One can usually find an inspector by looking in the phone book or by inquiring at a real estate office or sometimes at an area Realtor association.
Rates for the service vary greatly. Many inspectors charge about $400, but costs go up with the scope of the inspection.
Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, for properties and homes in San Jose, especially in the communities of Almaden Valley and Willow Glen, do get in touch with realtor Dale Warfel.

Things to look for when buying a home

There are quite a few things to look for when buying a home.
Find Your Price Range - This is one of the most important things to know when buying a home. How much can you afford? Identifying your price range will automatically narrow down your home search exponentially and make it easier to formulate a game plan for looking at the available homes.
Location - The location of your home will be another important thing to consider. How close is it to work? To school for the kids, if there are any? How close is it to transit if necessary and shopping and recreation? For a home to be truly feasible it should be within reasonable distance of everything you require on a day-to-day basis.
Inspection - You should NEVER purchase a home without an inspection. Even if the home is a new construction home it should be inspected prior to purchase. Be wary of sellers who try to downplay the necessity of a home inspection, they may be hiding something. Home inspections are there to help protect the buyers so take advantage of it!
Timing - Keep a careful eye on the trends of your local real estate market. Try to purchase a home at the right time in the market when it is favoring the buyer.
Of course there are more detailed things to look for when actually viewing homes but those will be dependent on your needs and the individual homes.

If you’re looking to buy homes in Almaden valley or Willow Glen, get in touch with San Jose realtor Dale warfel who specializes in properties in these communities.

Criteria that determine the value of a property

Whether you are purchasing a home or selling a home, the value of the property will be of great interest to you. The value of any given property depended on quite a few different things. It would be nice if the value was based on the property alone, but this is not the case.
The Neighborhood - The neighborhood that the home is in is one of the major factors in determining its value. This is partly due to the fact that homes bought & sold in the neighborhood will be used to compare when the original asking price for the home is determined. Also, the quality of the neighborhood itself plays a big role. An area where the yards are well kept, the streets are clean, and the homes are well maintained will have higher baseline real estate values than an area that is run down and dirty.
Schools - Whether or not you have children, schools have a definite impact on home values in their areas. People with children are always looking for homes in a good school zone. Plus school zones are usually more established areas and as such have a higher value.
Shopping & Recreation - Area that have close access to shopping centers tend to have a higher value as people do not want to have a long trip to pick up the necessities of daily life. Also being close to sites of recreation is handy, especially if you have kids who are into sports.
Crime Rate – The crime rate in the area will have a huge impact on home prices as people will tend to shy away from purchasing in a high-crime area. Buyers will also likely take notice of the kind of crimes that are most often committed in an area before moving in. It would seem the home-buyers are concerned about home-based crimes, naturally.
City Planning - Also known as zoning. This is what will determine the future of the neighborhood and area in general. Are they planning on dropping a huge big box store in your backyard? This will no doubt have a huge effect on the value of a property and the neighborhood.
Selecting your area is one of the most important choices in home buying and is extremely important in the sales game. So plan ahead for your purchase or sale and get the most out of it.

If you’re looking to buy or sell homes in Almaden valley or Willow Glen, get in touch with San Jose realtor Dale warfel who specializes in properties in these communities.

Dale Warfel – realtor with a professional approach

Dale warfel is a realtor specializing in homes in Almaden Valley and Willow Glen. Here's what one satisfied customer has to say:Dale and his entire team provided the highest level of care we could have hoped for in our home purchase. Dale kept us informed every step of the way, provided clear and understandable answers to our questions, and provided a detailed market analysis on each property which interested us, prior to suggesting an offering price. We had a clear vision of the home we wanted, and he was tireless on our many home tours. We were kept up-to-date with the status of our escrow, making the process stress-free and fun. Dale has been a great communicator, well beyond the close of escrow, making sure that everything was running smoothly as we moved into what is now our new home. We would recommend Dale to anyone thinking of buying or selling their home. - D. and K. M.

Almaden valley homes

Almaden Valley (often just called ‘Almaden’) is a neighborhood of about 37,000 in the south of San Jose, California, USA, roughly equivalent to the 95120 ZIP Code. The neighborhood is east of Cambrian Park, west of Santa Teresa, and south of Coleman Ave. It is named after the New Almaden Mines, which are themselves named after the mercury mine in Almadén, Spain.Like its Spanish namesake, California's Almaden had a number of quicksilver mines. They are closed now but despite their closure, there still remains a high mercury content in the nearby creeks and rivers. Even still, many of the names in Almaden still retain their mercury mine themes.As part of the Silicon Valley, the main industry in the neighborhood is now high technology research and development; IBM's Almaden Research Center is located here. The neighborhood is primarily upper-middle class, with homes owned by local professionals, scientists, and Silicon Valley executives. Almaden Valley's key attraction is Almaden Quicksilver County Park, which contains remnants of a historic mercury mine. It also boasts of plenty of hiking and biking trails and a spectacular wildflower display during the springtime.One of the most attractive residential areas of Silicon Valley, the South San Jose community of Almaden is distinguished by nice hillside views and is one of the most gorgeous landscapes in America. Almaden Valley Real Estate features more contemporary style homes in prestigious neighborhoods, along with top rated schools.If you’re looking to buy or sell properties in this community, feel free to get in touch with Dale Warfel.

How market conditions affect your offer price

A hot market is a "seller’s market." During a seller’s market, properties can sell within a few days of being listed and there are often multiple offers. Sometimes homes even sell above the asking price. Though most buyers want to get a "deal" on a home, reducing your offer by even a few thousand dollars could mean that someone else will get the home you desire.A slow market is a "buyer’s market. During a buyer’s market properties may languish on the market for some time and offers may be few and far between. Prices may even decline temporarily. Such a market would allow you to be more flexible in offering a lower price for the home. Even if your offered price is too low, the seller is likely to make some sort of counter-offer and you can begin negotiations in earnest.More often than not, the market is simply "steady," or in transition. When a market is steady, no real rules apply on whether you should make an offer on the high end of your range or the low end. You could find yourself in a situation with multiple offers on your desired house, or where no one has made an offer in weeks.Transition markets are more difficult to define. If the economy slows unexpectedly, as it did in the early nineties, people who buy on the high end of a seller’s market (like the late eighties) could find their home loses value for several years. So far, no one has proven reliable in predicting when markets change or how good or bad the real estate market will become.Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, for properties and homes in San Jose, especially in the communities of Almaden Valley and Willow Glen, do get in touch with realtor Dale Warfel.

Sobrato continues plans for 975 homes in Willow Glen

Willow Glen is a charming neighborhood in San Jose. A news brief from this dynamic community, courtesy Silicon Valley Community Newspapers http://www.svcn.com/willow_glen/ :
The Sobrato Development plan to transform the vacant industrial buildings on Lincoln Avenue into housing is making its way through the city.
The San Jose City Council tentatively approved a change to the General Plan that would rezone 21.5 acres of industrial park to high-density residential. The approval coincides with the San Jose Planning Commission's recommendation in late March.
On May 2, the project returned to the planning commission for approval for rezoning to planned development.
Like the General Plan amendment, the rezoning would change from industrial park to planned development, allowing up to 975 multi-family residential units and 5,000 square feet of retail space. The city council will make the final decision on the rezoning May 15 at 7 p.m., in city hall chambers, 200 E. Santa Clara St.
The Sobrato project has been in the planning stages for two years, and the project is bound by Lincoln Avenue, Northrup Street, Interstate 280 and Race Street.
To buy homes in Willow Glen community, contact Dale warfel, a San Jose realtor who specializes in properties in this community: http://dalewarfel.com/

Almaden artists exhibit work at Silicon Valley Open Studios

Almaden Valley has its share of excitement in the field of arts too. Here is a news brief from The Almaden Times http://www.almadentimes.com/ :
“Foothill Artists” Lois Halley, Judith Brynda, Mary Morrison and Mona Johnson exhibited their original artwork during the countywide Silicon Valley Open Studios event last weekend, Saturday and Sunday, May 5 and 6. California landscapes are a specialty of these artists and will be featured in the women’s paintings, photography and note cards.“This is my first time to show in Almaden,” said Morrison. “Last year we were in Los Gatos and the year before we were on Foothill Drive, off Santa Teresa…hence our name; The Foothill Artists. It seems that fewer artists are participating in this event now which is a shame.”Morrison is right; the group represents the only Almaden listing in Silicon Valley Open Studios for the annual event.
To buy homes in Almaden community, contact Dale warfel, a San Jose realtor who specializes in properties in this community: http://dalewarfel.com/

Tips for home buyers

Located in the rolling foothills in the southernmost valley of the San Jose metro area, Almaden is an upscale, family-oriented community excellent schools, plenty of recreational opportunities and magnificent views.
Tips for home buyers:
Get pre-approved. Get a letter that says you have already gone through the loan process and are ready to buy any home up to the stated amount on the pre-approval letter.
Ask your real estate agent to pull up all properties within your range. If you are pre-approved for up to $750,000, ask to see properties up to $800K.This way you will be ready to move fast in case a property drops in price from $800K price range.
Identify neighborhoods you like, and go on a tour with your real estate agent.
Be clear about your window of opportunity. If you are moving because of schools, make sure that you let your realtor know the urgency. If your realtor knows your motivation, you will both work together as a team better.
Good buys are made on homes that require some cosmetic work. Two similar homes can be priced very differently and all it takes is a little elbow grease.
If you are serious about buying a particular home it is important to price your offer correctly. In a multiple offer situation you should understand that the home may sell far above the asking price.

Living in Almaden valley

Located in the rolling foothills in the southernmost valley of the San Jose metro area, Almaden is an upscale, executive community featuring numerous parks, open space and a rural atmosphere. The upscale community of some 40,000 residents is also home to Almaden Country Club, a private golf club that has hosted numerous tournaments. The real estate market features a mix of contemporary homes and executive properties.

Almaden is primarily a self-contained residential community that values its remote location. There are only two roads leading into and out of the valley, allowing residents to maintain a small-town feel. However, all of the amenities of a major metropolitan area are close at hand, thanks to an excellent road system. The Almaden Expressway gives residents access to I-85, Highway 87, the Capital Expressway and Highway 101. Light rail transportation is located throughout the I-87 corridor.

Access to good medical facilities is another important factor that influences decision-making for buying homes. There are top of the class hospitals in and around Almaden valley, the best being Saint Louise Hospital (3.4 miles away) and Hillview Convalescent Hospital (5.2 miles away). Almaden also houses the VCA Animal Hospital providing quality healthcare for your pets.
Residents have access to a wide variety of local recreation programs thanks to the Almaden Recreation and Community Center – senior, youth and adult activities are coordinated offering arts and crafts, dance, exercise, music, drama, self defense, personal improvement, and pre-school age activities and classes. The four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school located in Almaden. The schools are part of District 5 of the San Jose Unified School District. The Almaden Valley SJUSD Schools have a total enrollment of about 6,800 students and are known for excellent scores in national testing. One of the major employers in the area is the Almaden Research Center, one of eight IBM Research Division facilities worldwide and a premier industrial research laboratory. At Almaden, some of the finest minds in the industry focus on basic and applied research in computer science, magnetic and optical storage technology, physical and materials science and technology, and scientific and technical application software.

Living conditions in blossom valley

Blossom Valley is the name of the perfect suburbia located near San Jose. Situated in the south San Jose, just northeast of the breathtaking Los Capitancillos Ridge that separates it from Almaden Valley, Blossom Valley's well regarded schools, recreational amenities, outstanding Mediterranean climate and convenient location make it one of the region's best family neighborhoods. And by Silicon Valley standards, it's even affordable.Populated by soccer moms and little league coaches and interspersed with vestiges of San Jose's agricultural history, Blossom Valley is a short drive from downtown San Jose's cultural resources and Silicon Valley's high technology work centers.Blossom Valley offer views of Mt. Umunhum to the west, and from higher ground, the lights of the Santa Clara Valley at night. Along the ridge of Sierra Azuls, part of the Santa Cruz Mountains of the Coastal Range, is Almaden Quicksilver County Park, one of Santa Clara County Park system crown jewels. Almaden Lake Park, the city's only park with a sand beach, offers boating, fishing, swimming and windsurfing.Blossom Valley has all manner of convenient retail shopping, from home improvement to neighborhood shopping and services. The newly renovated Oakridge regional shopping center is anchored by Macy's and Sears and has more than 100 specialty stores. For sports and recreation, Blossom Valley has Golfland, the Blossom valley Athletic League (comprised of 22 schools), the Aloha Roller Palace, etc. The Vista Park includes 2 sports fields that can be used for softball or soccer, a tot lot, a new youth lot, a picnic area with BBQ pits, and security lighting.An excellent highway system and light rail service connects the community to all parts of the valley, and makes it easy to escape to Northern California's ski slopes and mountains to the east, the beaches to the west or San Francisco to the north.

Blossom Valley Real Estate is a conveniently located area adjacent to Willow Glen and Almaden Valley, offering homes at more affordable prices than Willow Glen or Almaden Valley. Thus, Blossom Valley can have access to the great schools and healthcare facilities available in Almaden Valley and Willow Glen. Blossom Valley has its own elementary school (Grades K-6).