How much does my real estate agent need to know

Real estate agents would say that the more you tell them, the better they can negotiate on your behalf. However, the degree of trust you have with an agent may depend upon their legal obligation.

Agents working for buyers have three possible choices: They can represent the buyer exclusively, called single agency, or represent the seller exclusively, called sub-agency, or represent both the buyer and seller in a dual-agency situation.Some states require agents to disclose all possible agency relationships before they enter into a residential real estate transaction.

Here is a summary of the three basic types:

* In a traditional relationship, real estate agents and brokers have a fiduciary relationship to the seller. Be aware that the seller pays the commission of both brokers, not just the one who lists and shows the property, but also to the sub-broker, who brings the ready, willing and able buyer to the table.

* Dual agency exists if two agents working for the same broker represent the buyer and seller in a transaction. A potential conflict of interest is created if the listing agent has advance knowledge of another buyer's offer. Therefore, the law states that a dual agent shall not disclose to the buyer that the seller will accept less than the list price, or disclose to the seller that the buyer will pay more than the offer price, without express written permission.

* A buyer also can hire his or her own agent who will represent the buyer's interests exclusively. A buyer's agent usually must be paid out of the buyer's own pocket but the buyer can trust them with financial information, knowing it will not be transmitted to the other broker and ultimately to the seller.

Whether you’re a buyer or seller, for homes in San Jose get in touch with realtor Dale Warfel. He has years of real estate experience and specializes in homes in Almaden Valley and Willow Glen.

Real Estate acronyms – Dale Warfel explains

“If you find yourself stumbling over weird acronyms in a real estate listing, don't be alarmed”, says San Jose realtor Dale Warfel.

There is method to the madness of this shorthand (which is mostly adopted by sellers to save money in advertising charges).

Here are some abbreviations and the meaning of each, taken from a recent newspaper classified section:

* assum. fin. -- assumable financing

* dk -- deck

* gar -- garage (garden is usually abbreviated "gard")

* expansion pot'l -- may be extra space on the lot, or possibly vertical potential for a top floor or room addition. Verify actual potential by checking local zoning restrictions prior to purchase.

* fab pentrm -- fabulous pentroom, a room on top, underneath the roof, that sometimes has views

* FDR -- formal dining room (not the former president)

* frplc, fplc, FP -- fireplace

* grmet kit -- gourmet kitchen

* HDW, HWF, Hdwd -- hardwood floors

* hi ceils -- high ceilings

* In-law potential -- potential for a separate apartment. Sometimes, local zoning codes restrict rentals of such units so be sure the conversion is legal first.

* large E-2 plan -- this is one of several floor plans available in a specific building

* lsd pkg. -- leased parking area, may come with an additional cost

* lo dues -- find out just how low these homeowner's dues are, and in comparison to what?

* nr bst schls -- near the best schools

* pvt -- private

* pwdr rm -- powder room, or half-bath

* upr- upper floor

* vw, vu, vws, vus -- view(s)

* Wow! -- better check this one out.

Resources:"Real Estate's Ambiguous Language You Oughtta Understand," Glennon H. Neubauer, Ethos Group Publishing, Diamond Bar, CA; 1993.

Buying your dream house

Buying a house is not an activity that is performed every month or every year, but is one of those special events that needs a lot of thought. Considering the enormous risks and huge amounts of money that are normally involved, it would not be wise to take crucial decisions without expert advice and professional assistance. We need professional help in almost every aspect of a real estate transaction, starting from deciding on the right house, to abiding by the proper rules and regulations and finishing profitable deals.

Realtors help in guiding you through the whole process of buying a house. They are people who know every minute detail about buying and selling properties and follow certain code of ethics in carrying out a transaction. A realtor can help you understand your financial position. This includes the loans that you would be sanctioned, plus your original financial assets. A realtor can help you search for your dream house, satisfying all your needs and requirements. Sometimes, you might not know about a property due to lack of proper advertising. But a realtor may know about it through various other sources.

A realtor will know about houses that are on the MLS. He can evaluate a property best. In most cases, you may not be totally aware of the real worth of a property. A realtor would know it better than any other person. A realtor can help you in the negotiation process. To make the best deal out of a transaction, it is best to leave the negotiation process in their capable hands . His job is to make sure that the whole process gets carried out smoothly.

A good real estate agent like Dale Warfel will also tell you about the localities and the advantages and disadvantages of that locality. He brings his years of experience and his knowledge of the San Jose area in helping you find your dream house.

Spruce up your house before putting it up for sale

Whether you are moving on or moving up, letting go is always hard. Selling a house is heart wrenching, With it go lots of memories .This is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house. But you need to get started on the nitty gritty details before starting to show the house.

After years of living in the same home, clutter collects in such a way that may not be evident to the homeowner. However, it does affect the way buyers see the home, even if you do not realize it.Clutter collects on shelves, counter tops, drawers, closets, garages, attics, and basements. You want as much open clear space as possible, so every extra little thing needs to be cleared away.Take a step back and pretend you are a buyer. Let a friend help point out areas of clutter, as long as you can accept their views without getting defensive.

Do not do major repairs before you sell such as remodeling. If possible, use savings to pay for any repairs and improvements – do not go charging up credit cards or obtaining new loans. Remember that part of selling a house is also preparing to buy your next home. You do not want to do anything that will affect your credit scores or hurt your ability to qualify for your next mortgage.

When looking at a house, prospective home buyers often do not really know what to do. So they play with things. They flick light switches. They open everything with a handle. They turn on all the faucets and flush all the toilets. Having nice shiny fixtures makes an impression.

All your sink fixtures should look shiny and new. If this cannot be accomplished by cleaning, buy new ones. If you don’t buy something fancy, this can be accomplished inexpensively. Make sure all the hot and cold water knobs are easy to turn and that the faucets do not leak. If they do, replace the washers.It sounds like hard work, but it's pretty easy -- even for the inexperienced.

Check to make sure you have good water pressure and that there are no stains on any of the porcelain. If you have a difficult stain to remove, one trick is to hire a cleaning crew to go through and clean your home on a one-time basis. They seem to be wonderful at making stains go away.

Once you have your house spruced up your ready to put it up for sale. A good realtor can help you get a really good price. If you live in or around San Jose, you could go with realtor Dale Warfel who is very familiar with the area and can guide you efficiently.

The decision to rent or buy a house

Home ownership means you no longer pay monthly rent for the roof over your head. You can do what you want with your house (within reason). When you leave, you can sell it to recoup the purchase price and - with any luck - earn a profit too. But don't kid yourself. Home ownership comes with a slew of disadvantages, responsibilities, and downright headaches. So before going any further, consider whether your lifestyle and finances make home buying a smart move.

Except in a roaring real estate market, it usually doesn't make sense to buy a home you'll own for less than three or four years. Reason: the high transaction cost of buying and selling property means you could lose money on the deal. If you do make money, you'll pay capital gains taxes if you're in the house for less than two years.

So ask yourself if you can really stay put for that long. Will you need to move because you are transferred by your current employer or a new one? Are you thinking of going back to school?

On the financial side, one key question is whether it costs more, on average, to rent or own in your area. The rule of thumb is that if you pay 35 percent less in rent than you would for owning - including the monthly mortgage, property taxes, and any homeowner's fees - then it's smarter to continue renting.

Only if all those answers still point towards owning should you proceed to the next step - getting a real estate agent. Most good real estate agents will actually walk you through the first step again. They will review your finances and see if you are ready to make the commitment. They will be able to help you make the best decision. Realtor Dale Warfel has been in the business for many years and he has helped many families make the best investment of their lives.

Buying your dream house

Buying a house is not an activity that is performed every month or every year, but is one of those special events that needs a lot of thought. Considering the enormous risks and huge amounts of money that are normally involved, it would not be wise to take crucial decisions without expert advice and professional assistance. We need professional help in almost every aspect of a real estate transaction, starting from deciding on the right house, to abiding by the proper rules and regulations and finishing profitable deals.

Realtors help in guiding you through the whole process of buying a house. They are people who know every minute detail about buying and selling properties and follow certain code of ethics in carrying out a transaction. A realtor can help you understand your financial position. This includes the loans that you would be sanctioned, plus your original financial assets. A realtor can help you search for your dream house, satisfying all your needs and requirements. Sometimes, you might not know about a property due to lack of proper advertising. But a realtor may know about it through various other sources.

A realtor will know about houses that are on the MLS. He can evaluate a property best. In most cases, you may not be totally aware of the real worth of a property. A realtor would know it better than any other person. A realtor can help you in the negotiation process. To make the best deal out of a transaction, it is best to leave the negotiation process in their capable hands . His job is to make sure that the whole process gets carried out smoothly.

A good real estate agent like Dale Warfel will also tell you about the localities and the advantages and disadvantages of that locality. He brings his years of experience and his knowledge of the San Jose area in helping you find your dream house.

Charming Willow Glen

Willow Glen is a uniquely charming neighborhood of San Jose. Located three miles southwest of downtown San Jose, Willow Glen is bordered by the Guadalupe River, the Los Gatos Creek and Coe and Curtner Avenues.

The Willow Glen community is an ideal setting for new families where virtually every home is unique and beautiful. Willow Glen bars and clubs are fun any day of the week. Aqui's and Goosetown are some night spots of Willow Glen.

The Lincoln Avenue downtown business district, located between Coe and Minnesota, has sidewalk cafes, Italian delis, home design stores and clothing boutiques. Though there are many big names in Willow Glen like Starbucks and Peet most of the restaurants and shops are locally owned. Willow Glen offers a small town appeal and is a great place to settle down in. In fact, Willow Glen features two of the Silicon Valley area's only remaining independent bookstores.

Willow Glen has a very interesting history. Lincoln Avenue was originally called "El Abra," but by the mid-1860s, its name had been changed to Willow Glen Road. Shortly after the assassination of President Lincoln in 1865, residents agreed to call it Lincoln Avenue. A streetcar took turn-of-the-century Glenites down eucalyptus-lined Lincoln Avenue to downtown San Jose. On September 20th the people of Willow Glen celebrate their Founders day. Founders Day is a great time to eat endless bagels and drink numerous cups of coffee while getting to know the community. Since Willow Glen established its own school district in 1863, residents have identified themselves as distinct from San Jose.

It is a small community where people are very friendly. It is an ideal place to settle down and raise a family. There are beautiful houses located in picturesque locations. Willow Glen features outstanding schools, a vital community life It also is in close proximity to Downtown San Jose, retail shopping areas and Silicon Valley workplaces. If you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life Willow Glen is a great place to settle in. Realtor Dale Warfel who specializes in properties in this community can guide you very professionally and efficiently.

Founders Day in Willow Glen

The country's founding fathers officially stated that America was free of England's rule and signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. July 4 has since been celebrated as the American Independence Day.

Willow Glen residents celebrate September 20^th as their Independence Day. Their short period of independence is from the city of San Jose. And while most Glenites, as the people of Willow Glen call themselves, know that Founders Day celebrates the years when Willow Glen was its own city, not many seem to remember the exact details.

Willow Glen established its own school district in 1863 and residents identified themselves as distinct from San Jose. Incorporation seemed to be on the minds of Willow Glen residents, but nothing much happened until 1925, when the San Jose City Council ordered the Southern Pacific Railroad to get off Fourth Street and find a new route. The chosen route, went straight through Willow Glen. The choice Glenites had was to let that happen or incorporate. They chose the latter.

Nine years later, on Sept. 4, 1936, the substantially larger Willow Glen community voted 978-871 to be annexed back into San Jose.

Founders Day in Willow Glen celebrates these nine years of independence and the unique quality of what many residents still consider their own little town.

But nowadays, Founders Day is a time when everyone gets together; there are not very many communities that do that . It is a great opportunity to not only serve hundreds more bagels than usual and numerous cups of coffee but also a chance to get to know the community. There is a parade down Lincoln Avenue in which the children of the Willow Glen Elementary School and Willow Glen High School take part.

Willow Glen has a very diverse community and a strong small town appeal. Though it has many retail giants like Starbucks many businesses are locally owned and very cosy and intimate. Everyone is friendly. People know one another. There are little league games and intimate restaurants. Some people have lived here all their lives. Children go to the same schools that parents went to. But this does not mean that Willow Glen is a closed off community wary of newcomers. They are welcomed into the community and made comfortable.

Willow Glen is a great place to settle down and raise a family. Realtor Dale Warfel who is familiar with this little town, will be able to show you some great locations and help you find the ideal place to settle down in.

Dancing on the Lincoln Avenue

Every June thousands of people descend on Lincoln Avenue to celebrate Willow Glen's Dancing on the Avenue festival. This year was the sixth annual Willow Glen festival that has drawn crowds between 20,000 and 30,000 in past years. This is a much looked forward to event in the Willow Glen calendar. The event is sponsored by the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association.

The entertainment is varied and endless and most of them are sponsored by local businesses and services. All the volunteers are local too. About 100 volunteers from a variety of Willow Glen businesses and organizations help out at this annual fete. The arrival of thousands of people for the festival makes it a very lucrative time for the local businesses.This year saw a record crowd. The association actually ran out of water as the crowds exceeded their anticipation.

Bands at four stages kept the crowd tapping their feet. Fontain's M.U.S.E., hosted by the Willow Glen Coffee Roasting Company, Vin Santo restaurant and Violet Johnson's Wellness Spa, played near Minnesota Avenue from 5 to 7 p.m. Liquid Audio, hosted by Art Made to Match, played from 4 to 7 p.m. near Willow Street. Headliners FlashBack and the Joe Sharino Band closed out the evening, playing from about 6 to 10 p.m. Sharino and his band headlined Willow Glen's Dancing on the Avenue for the third time. They rocked the street from 7 to 10pm at the corner of Lincoln and Willow.

Police closed the busy thoroughfare from Minnesota Avenue to Willow Street at 3 p.m., so vendors could set up their booths and bands could prepare for their gigs. The street was cleaned up and reopened by midnight.

Willow Glen is located three miles southwest of downtown San Jose, Willow Glen is bordered by the Guadalupe River, the Los Gatos Creek and Coe and Curtner Avenues.

It has a very friendly community and is a great place to live in. To become a part of this beautiful community and to get far, far away from the madding crowd contact realtor Dale Warfel who specializes in properties in this community and can guide you in your search for your ideal house.

ALMADENS QUICKSILVER COUNTY PARK

The Almaden Valley neighborhood is south east of Los Gatos, west of Santa Teresa, and south of Coleman Ave. It is named after the New Almaden Mines, which were named after the mercury mine in (old) Almaden, Spain. Like its Spanish namesake, California's Almaden had a number of quicksilver mines. The mercury was used during gold extraction in the California Gold Rush.

The mines were closed in 1975 and have since been converted into Almaden Quicksilver County Park.You have to travel down Almaden Road to reach the park's main entrance. The New Almaden Historic District is located along Almaden Road before the park's Hacienda Entrance.

There are a number of historic houses and buildings which you will pass on the way down.The history of the town is intimately linked with the mining history of the park. Many of the people who managed or worked for the mines lived in New Almaden and many of their houses still remain. The Alamitos Creek cuts through the town. On the south side of Alamitos Creek is Bertram Road. Several historical sites lie along the road, including the Hacienda Hotel site, the New Almaden Community Club, and the Hacienda Cemetery.

The Hacienda Hotel was built in 1848 as a boarding house for miners. It was the first two-story hotel in California. In the 1930's, it was converted into the Cafe Del Rio, which was a popular restaurant. After 1979, it became the home of the La Foret French restaurant.

Down the road past the Community Club is the Hacienda Cemetery. It has graves dating back to the 1800's. Bertram Barrett's is one of the oddest graves there. Bertram Barrett was an Almaden Valley teenager who lost his arm in a hunting accident in 1898. His arm alone is buried here in this cemetery. The rest of him was buried in another cemetery in San Jose's Oak Hill Cemetery in 1959. The reason for this is a mystery. Its fascinating history and booming economy makes Almaden like many of its neighbouring valleys a sought after place to settle down in.

BLOSSOM VALLEY

Blossom Valley is situated in South San Jose, just northeast of the Los Capitancillos Ridge that separates it from Almaden Valley. Blossom Valley has very good schools and recreational amenities. The Mediterranean climate and convenient location make it an excellent neighborhood.

Blossom Valley offer views of Mt. Umunhum to the west. If you go a little higher you will be able top see 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 Parks. Almaden Lake Park, the city's only park has a sand beach.The beach offers boating, fishing, swimming and windsurfing for the sport enthusiast.

Blossom Valley is a short drive from downtown San Jose's cultural resources and Silicon Valley's high technology work centers .The valley is very scenic with many golf courses and vineyards. There are clubs and theatres, art galleries and museums.

Blossom Valley has many shopping centres at convenient locations , 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.

Blossom valley has a very friendly community with soccer moms and little league matches . The real estate is booming as it is a very sought after area for settling down. The best part is that is in spite of its fantastic location its still quite affordable.A good real estate agent should be able to help you find exactly what your looking for.

The community is connected to all parts of the valley through an excellent highway system and light rail service So this makes it easy to get away on holiday to Northern California's ski slopes in the east , the beaches to the west or San Francisco to the north.

ALMADEN VALLEY

Almaden Valley in South San Jose is one of the most attractive residential areas of the Silicon Valley. It is very scenic and has called "one of the most gorgeous landscapes in America," according to the Greenbelt Alliance website.

Almaden has a spectacular wildflower display during the springtime. The various parts of Almaden are interconnected through the Almaden Expressway . This helps make the cultural attractions and amenities of the downtown area easily accessible for Almaden residents.

Almaden Valley's key attraction is Almaden Quicksilver County Park. You will be able to see here the remnants of a historic mercury mine that produced more than $75 million in mineral wealth from the Gold Rush era to the 1970s (the San Jose mine's name came from the Almaden Mine in Spain). This park encompasses over 3,977 acres and includes over 29 miles of hiking trails, 23 miles of equestrian trails and 10 miles of bike trails. The Almaden Quicksilver Park has great hiking and biking trails which offer scenic views along the way. Los Alamitos/Calero Creek Trails is one of them and along the route are clearings laid out with picnic tables for some well deserved respite during the tough hike. Another beautiful park is the Almaden Meadows park.

Every September the Almaden Valley Women's Club Has the Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival .This festival has been conducted for twenty-seven-years and has an endless supply of wine, food and entertainment.

South of San Jose's Almaden Valley, located off Highway 101, the Coyote Creek Golf Club is one of Silicon Valley's most distinguished golf courses. Golfers can enjoy a great round of golf on these well maintained fairways and greens at Coyote Creek. This is a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and has been designed as a challenge to golfers of every skill level. All these amenities and the spectacular scenery makes Almaden Valley and some of its surrounding areas some of the most sought after real estate in San Jose.