Having a great time in Almaden valley

The South San Jose community of Almaden is one of the most attractive residential areas of Silicon Valley, It has nice hillside views and a gorgeous landscape. This Halloween the Almaden residents had a great time.The Pumpkin Patch featured plenty of orange gourds, the haunted house was spectacular, the food was tasty and there were plenty of crafts and story times for the costumed kids. Adults could also start early Christmas shopping with plenty of original arts and crafts. And a raffle offered special items for their own use or maybe a basket for a gift as well.Of special interest was Grandma and Grandpa’s haunted house that brave souls entered winding and wending their way through darkened hallways filled with ghouls and goblins. Many of the adult guests dressed in costume as well. For the guests, who made it out, there were home baked cookies, raffle tickets, brightly glazed pottery abstract paintings plenty of handcrafted jewelry, photography, leather and knitted goods and paintings presented for early Christmas shoppers. Children could choose a pumpkin, listen to story time and make some Halloween crafts.
Almaden valley is a great place to settle down and raise your kids in. One of the newest properties on sale in Almaden valley is a brand new 34-year-old home. Everything is new except the garage floor and exterior garage walls. This 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom home is absolutely gorgeous! Its amazing space includes a gourmet kitchen, a spacious bonus room, and an approximately 500 square feet balcony with a stunning 270-degree valley view. Everything you would expect in Almaden. If you’re looking to purchase properties in Almaden Valley, contact realtor Dale Warfel of Keller Williams Realty, who specializes in properties in this community and can guide you very professionally and efficiently. They also have some great properties in the surrounding areas of Campbell, Los Gatos, Coyote, Holy City, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Madrone and Redwood Estates which are within a distance of approximately 10 miles and are all communities of San Jose.

Hybrid forms of home ownership

Real estate elements that are owned by individuals and elements that are owned by a group, are called hybrid forms of ownership and they include real estate titles to condominiums, townhouses, and cooperatives.
There are differences and similarities in the ownership of the three types of real estate. For example, an individual condo owner holds title to the condominium unit only, not the land beneath the unit, so condos can be stacked on top of each other. All condo owners share title to common areas. Common areas include land, the exterior of buildings, hallways, roofs, swimming pools -- any area used by multiple owners. Condominium owners pay property taxes on their individual units. A property owners' association usually manages the complex and collects fees from all condo owners in order to maintain common areas.
In the case of townhouses or town homes, they are usually a series of single story or multistory units that are linked to each other horizontally by common walls. Townhouse owners hold title to their units and the land beneath them, so townhouse units cannot be stacked on top of each other. As with condos, common areas are owned jointly by all townhouse owners. Townhouse owners pay property taxes on their individual units. A property owners' association usually manages the townhouse complex and collects fees from all owners in order to maintain common areas.
If a property is a cooperative arrangement, title to all associated real estate is held by a corporation. Buyers purchase stock in the co-op corporation and are considered shareholders, not owners of real property. Each shareholder holds a lease to his unit that runs for the life of the corporation. Taxes are paid by the corporation. Any mortgages are normally held and paid by the corporation. All costs to operate the building are shared by shareholders. New cooperative shareholders must usually be approved by an administrative board. Cooperative ownership is not common in most states of the US.
Whether you are scouting for a condo, a townhouse or a co-op, if your looking in or around San Jose realtor Dale Warfel is the real estate agent you should get in touch with.

Stage your home before putting it up for sale

Home staging is beyond decorating and cleaning your house. It's about illusions. It's about creating moods and making your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more loving and, best of all, making home buyers want to buy it. Contrary to what you might think, it's more than preparing the house for sale. After you've cleaned, decluttered, painted, made minor repairs, you dress the house for sale. This is called Home Staging
Professional stagers are highly skilled artists. Stagers possess the skills of a top-level designer and they create dramatic scenery that appeals to all five senses. Some of the little things they do to make your home look more appealing are arranging sparse pieces of furniture in an appealing grouping known as a vignette. Showcasing a generous usage of soft fabrics such as silk, lambs wool, satin. Displaying unusual knickknacks in units of 1, 3 or 5. Draping window coverings with simple lines. Adding unique elements to shelving, bookcases and fireplace mantels, which draw attention to predetermined areas
Here are some professional staging tips. Apply orange oil to cabinets that appear dry, which will renew their original luster. Put out large bowls of fruit such as polished apples, bright oranges, luscious grapes. Arrange colorful and fun cookbooks on the counters. Bringing the outdoors inside through the use of greenery and plants is a great idea. Create a clean and crisp space and arrange the furniture with plenty of room to walk around. Bathrooms are essential to dress well. Bathrooms should look open, airy and delightful. Add baskets filled with spa treatments such as towels tied with ribbons, scented soaps, creamy lotions, moisturizing & facial jars.
The back yard needs staging, too. For patios and decks, bring in plants and potted flowers, and add additional color by setting the picnic table with bright, plastic dinner plates.
Once your home is prettily dressed up it is ready to be shown. A good real estate agent would be able to advise you if staging your home is a good idea depending on the area and the kind of buyers you are hoping to impress. If your property is around San Jose, Realtor Dale Warfel who is familiar with the area would be the right person to contact.

Multiple Listing Service helps potential buyers

The Multiple Listing Service or MLS is a database, through which the different real estate brokers of the sellers and the buyers interact with each other. The inclusion of the buyers and the sellers in the list is through a listing contract. The list consists not only of realtors who are members of the multiple listing service, but also of agents associated with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), United States of America.

The MLS helps potential buyers become aware of different properties that they can choose from, and to help the sellers advertise their properties. MLS also makes searching for the right house easier as information is generally retrieved based on the location, amount, area and other important details regarding the property.

Only those who are licensed real estate brokers, agents of the brokers and members of CREA or NAR can be a part of the MLS. The MLS define their members clearly and restrict membership to licensed realtors. The owner of a property cannot become a member of the MLS. That is, the owner of the property would not be able to list his or her property in the MLS, without having a real estate broker to represent him or her.

These MLS systems are managed not by the government or the state, but by private organizations, who set the rules to be followed by the members. That is, the various MLS systems have their own set of rules, but at the same time, are subject to nationwide rules proposed by CREA or NAR. These systems may be owned by any association starting from a real estate organization to the country itself. So if your looking to buy or sell property you best bet to get a really good deal would be to go through a good real estate agent like Dale Warfel.

MLS are most famous and sought after in Canada and the United States, but are also available in other countries. Any good real estate firm would be registered with them.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tips for selling - How to talk to your Realtor?

When you decide to sell your home, one of the best things you can do is to take the services of a realtor. However, you need to ask the right questions so that you choose someone who has the expertise you require. Here some tips on what to ask a realtor:

Realtors have a basic license to function. However, there are additional certifications such as CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist, CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), GRI (Graduate, Realtor Institute) and ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative) that the realtor can obtain. Ask your realtor about his/her certifications, so that you know you are talking to someone who is really interested in moving forward in his/her profession.

Ask for their years of experience and about the tools they would use to sell your property. Would they be using the internet or a network of professional realtors like themselves to find a good deal for you? Another useful question here would be if the realtor is working full time or is this just a part time job? This way you will know how much of time and attention the realtor can give you.

Asking for recommendation letters is very useful and a realtor who obliges is obviously one who is good at finding the best deal and making his clients happy.

You need to find out how long the realtor will take to sell a home. Find out about the type of home they specialize in selling. Ask them about their ratings on closing deals on homes. This is a good way to find out about how they are performing.

Find out if your realtor is from a reputable agency and a member of the State and National Realtor Association. You can be confident with such a person, so find out these details as you speak to the realtor.

Ask them about their commission rates and don’t leave out asking if they will refund a part of their commission if you also purchase a home with them. This can be very useful for you if you are planning to combine your home sale with a purchase.

When you ask the questions listed above you will find out what kind of expertise and experience the realtor you are talking to has and about their background. This will help you to make a decision of whether to hire the realtor or not. Choosing the right realtor makes a lot of difference at the time of sale, because you can lose a lot of money otherwise if you do not get the right deal.

Housing inventory up in Santa Clara County

The number of homes for sale rose more steeply last month in Santa Clara County than in any other of 13 counties included in a monthly report from a local realty brokerage.

The inventory of for-sale homes rose 9 percent in the county from July 31 to Aug. 31, to 6,412 houses and condos, according to a monthly report prepared by Redwood City-based Movoto. The second-highest increase was 5.3 percent in San Diego County, followed by a 4.1 percent uptick in San Francisco.

Movoto's report covered inventory levels and other measures of the real estate market's health in the 13 counties in which the brokerage operates in Northern and Southern California. The data come from the multiple listing services that serve those counties. Inventories were up everywhere except in Alameda, San Mateo, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, most of which saw only slight declines.

In Santa Clara County, inventory is rising in part because more buyers are hesitating, said Warren Winsness, president of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors.

Movoto founder and broker Henry Shao said listings in San Jose are driving the county's overall inventory trajectory. Listings in San Jose are about double their level from three years ago, he said, while listings in Palo Alto and Saratoga, for example, are well below where they were in summer 2004.

Meanwhile, the average list price of homes for sale in Santa Clara County as of Aug. 31 fell 2.5 percent from a month earlier, to $857,048, Movoto said. Average list prices fell most in Contra Costa County, dropping 4 percent, and rose most in San Mateo County, up 2 percent.

List prices are the prices sellers hope to get for their homes. About one-third of Santa Clara County sellers in August got more than their list price when they sold their homes, according to data from San Jose broker Richard Calhoun of Creekside Realty.

Movoto's report also features an estimate of what percentage of homes for sale in each county are "distressed," as measured by whether terms such as "bank owned," "short sale" or "in foreclosure" are included in the comments entered by listing agents in the multiple listing service.

In Santa Clara County, those properties made up 11 percent of listings, up from 9 percent at the end of July. San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties had rates of about 10 percent, also up from 9 percent. Contra Costa and San Benito counties had the worst incidence of distressed properties, with 22.1 percent and 20.3 percent falling into the category, respectively.

Courtesy: http://www.mercurynews.com/

Why do a Real estate Seminar?

Finding new clients is one of the most critical, yet challenging, aspects of the real estate business. One successful way to do this: Hold a seminar. ”It positions you as an expert and increases your credibility,” says Dan Forbes, CRS®, GRI, broker-owner of Premier Team Inc. in Bradenton, Fla. Real estate investment seminars are the most popular, but you can choose pretty much any topic that would appeal to your targeted customer base. Then, you need equal doses of creativity and business finesse to locate a venue, publicize the event, and pull together a compelling program that leaves a lasting impression on attendees. First impressions are invaluable. Your initial contact with potential clients is a chance to make a personal connection and establish your credibility. But you can’t do that very easily with a postcard or newspaper ad. A seminar is usually an in-person event that brings together a room of prospects and lets you showcase your expertise — whether you specialize in waterfront condos or pet-friendly homes. Lorayne Morris, a broker in Calif., says she’s been holding seminars since 2003 for first-time home buyers. The seminars are designed to relieve the apprehension renters may feel as they get ready to jump into the marketplace for the first time. Morris uses a pressure-free setting to educate attendees on every step of the buying process, start to finish. The result? She generates 25 to 30 percent of her business directly from the seminars, which on average draw 15 to 20 people. Some clients are recommended to her from friends and relatives who attended the seminars, she says.If you’re looking to build a business relationship with the community, holding a seminar is worth it!

Flips Blamed for California's Housing Decline

California's Inland Empire region is suffering from one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country. The culprit? House flippers, those who purchased properties to resell them for a fast profit. Instead, however, these housing flips are increasingly heading into default. The toll the trend is taking on the area is visually apparent. Many homes now sit vacant and neglected, as their bargain-basement sale prices drag down the value of neighboring properties — many of them still occupied by their owners. And even for those foreclosed properties that do get new residents, if only temporarily, the lack of care and maintenance often is clear. Home owners who purchased their dream properties in developments such as Towne Square in Corona, Calif., are finding themselves "upside down" on their mortgages — meaning they owe more than they could fetch from a sale — as a result of declining property values. Therefore, uprooting and relocating to a better community is out of the question for many. Real estate professionals, however, say California's pattern of high population growth will help the state bounce back from its current woes. "Everything goes in cycles," insists practitioner Patricia Patton. "I think we'll be okay if people don't panic."

Courtesy: http://www.realtor.com

Don't Let an Empty House Jeopardize a Sale

More home sellers are leaving their properties completely unfurnished while they sit on the market. Some argue that an empty house lets prospective buyers more easily picture their belongings in the space, take measurements, and examine recent improvements. However, real estate brokers warn that empty homes must be well maintained, as overgrown lawns could lead buyers to wonder what interior components have been neglected as well. They recommend that sellers keep vacant dwellings clean and in top-notch condition, as flaws cannot be camouflaged by furniture. Some buyers seek out empty homes because they believe the owner is desperate to make a sale. Sellers unable to generate buyer interest are urged to bring in some furnishings to create a lived-in look.

Courtesy: http://www.realtor.org

Home Buyers’ Top Preferences

Here is a news report from www.realtor.org:

More home buyers want extra garage space with two or more spaces in their homes, according to the “2007 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences,” which was released Tuesday by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. NAR's latest home buyer preference survey, which reports responses from buyers who purchased homes in 2006, asks buyers about the importance of 75 home features and room types. Other priorities for today’s home buyers include:
Air conditioning: three out of every four respondents surveyed ranked this as “very important.”
Master bedroom walk-in closet: 53 percent of buyers rated this as an important feature in a home.
Hardwood floors and granite countertops: each gained 7 percentage points in popularity since the 2004 survey; 28 percent and 23 percent, respectively, of buyers labeled these home features as very important.
Cable/satellite TV-ready: 46 percent, a growth of 6 percentage points from the 2004 survey, said this was important.
Energy efficiency: especially among new-home buyers — 65 percent of new-home buyers said energy efficiency home features are very important compared to 39 percent for buyers of existing homes.
Home buyers also said they're willing to pay more for these extras. For example, 65 percent of buyers said they would be willing to pay a median $1,880 extra for a home with central air conditioning. One out of four buyers also was willing to pay a median of $4,760 more for waterfront property.

Dale Warfel to hold Real estate Workshop series in September

Here is some information from San Jose realtor Dale Warfel about his forthcoming Real estate Workshop series. Dale is a realtor specializing in properties in Willow Glen and Almaden valley, with several years of successful experience behind him.

“Starting in September, we will be holding a series of Real Estate Workshops, where we will be presenting information on all aspects of real estate ownership. Though the information will emphasize the benefits of acquiring real estate for personal use and investments, issues such as estate planning, financing, tax benefits, ways to hold title, and other topics will be presented. The first seminar is scheduled for September 18 in the South San Jose area, with other workshops following in other localities in Santa Clara County.”

Watch this blog for more details on the workshop series………..

Just listed property in Willow Glen

777 Gregory Street, San Jose (Detached Single Family Home)
2 Bedrooms / 1 Bathroom / 960 Sq. Ft.
New Carpet, Newer Laminate Flooring, Updated Kitchen with new Countertops, New Paint, upstairs has Dual Pane windows
Offered at $565,000
This is a charming Willow Glen cottage, close to nature and downtown!

Buying a house is the best investment

Buying a house is likely to be the biggest life-time investment one ever makes.
It is crucial to understand what makes a sound property investment. Draw out a detailed plan before you buy.
Avoid sellers who want, for a variety of reasons, to get rid of the property as soon as possible. They will be very flexible while negotiating price and other terms.
Opt for decent neighborhood: Better be prepared to pay a higher price, to buy in neighborhood with good schools, shopping areas, medical facilities and quiet neighbors who take pride in their homes.
First time home-buyers must be guarded and not fall a prey to unscrupulous agents or other mischief mongers. A novice can get burnt badly by over-paying for a home.
Another mistake young investors or first time home-buyers make. They buy a home, fix it up and then sell it. They quite often make improvements to the home that buyers do not want.
All walls should be white or off white, and not painted with rich colors, to make the best purchase. Fancy landscaping is also a not advisable – particularly if you plan letting your home on rent, at some date in the future. Tenants generally not known to maintain landscape well
The best way is to buy a duplex plan and occupy one side while renting out the other side. This will fetch you the best loan possible as it will be owner-occupied. You can also have a tenant to help you quickly liquidate your mortgage liability.
There are many ways to raise finance for buying a home. There are handbooks which offer you guidance about home finance.
If you wait for the timing to be right, you might be waiting a long time and end up paying more.
Home-ownership is certainly a wise move even without the tax advantages. But the special tax relief given to home-owners makes buying a home such a worthwhile investment.Many of us do not consider our homes as part of our investment portfolio. But this revised attitude will help us make better decisions when we buy or sell our homes.

Almaden valley restaurants

One of the best places to buy real estate is in Almaden Valley, California. Surrounded by rolling hills and a lush countryside, this place gives you a serene and beautiful atmosphere like none other in California.

Located south from downtown San Jose, Almaden Valley is a great place to move into and buy property. You will find it to have modern-architecture homes that are also quite spacious. Some of the best schools can be found here like Leland High and Bret Harte Middle School. The valley is most famous for its Almaden Quicksilver County Park, which has many mercury mines. These mines gave out over $75 million worth in mineral wealth during the Gold Rush era!

Almaden Valley is largely populated by an elite upper class made up of professionals like sports professionals, scientists, and Silicon Valley executives. Since it is a part of the Silicon Valley, it is a prime location for businesses that are into technology research and development. For example, you can find IBM's Almaden Research Center here.

There a many places to go shopping and not to mention eating out and dining. There are many top-quality restaurants in Almaden that serve some very exquisite cuisine. Here’s a look at some of the best restaurants you find here:

Almaden Feed & Fuel – This restaurant was built about more than a century ago in the 1880. It’s an interesting place to come and eat mouth-watering steaks, burgers and pasta with smoked salmon. It includes a bar and its ambience makes you remember about the good old days.

Gunther’s Restaurant & Catering – Gunther’s is one of the finest places to eat out with friends and family. It serves top-class American and European cuisine with a touch of international flavors added in to make the food something special.

La Foret – If you are looking for some French cuisine to satisfy your palette, this is the place to come to for a meal. It serves some of the best in French foods and has a classic ambience. You need to make reservations before you come.

The ambience in these restaurants is great and you will find the atmosphere here very comfortable and friendly.

Senior Real Estate Specialist

Buying or selling houses and properties can be one of the most important and crucial decisions that one can make. Hence care must be taken that these delicate decisions are taken after good planning and under proper and reliable guidance.

Seniors Real Estate Specialists, also called he SRES, are realtors who are professionally experienced and certified to meet the special requirements and wishes of the maturing American population. The Senior Advantage Real Estate Council or the SAREC® is a national program and is a support organization of the SRES designation which has been in existence since the year 1998. It is one of the largest and the most recognized association to offer a designation in the field of real estate. This program offers a special title, SRES®, to uniquely identify those members who are well versed in the subject and have completed its education program successfully, along with other benefits. Realtors designated with SRES are considered to be the most optimal and trusted realtors and consulters for the senior market.

For earning a SRES designation, one normally has to go through a twelve hour training course. The course offers knowledge about various aspects such as how to look after the special needs of a senior person, how to develop and maintain ones marketing skills, how to provide counseling to clients, how to work as a team, how to improve communication skills, how to market oneself and also offers better understanding of tax laws, probate and estate planning. SRES classes are held in almost all parts of the United States and Canada.

Once a person earns the SRES designation, he or she becomes a fully qualified and certified realtor who has demonstrated requisite knowledge and this makes them completely eligible to guide senior clients through all kinds of major financial and lifestyle transitions which involve relocation, refinancing, or even selling homes and other real estate properties. This REALTOR® is now ready to give out information and opinions which can make life influencing decisions as he or she has obtained all kinds of special trainings in this field. These realtors are provided with regular updates, time to time and pass it on to their clients and keep them updated. They give out information on the current trends and real estate market values and also help in making decisions which are wise and well planned. These realtors also refer their clients to other professionals such as attorneys who also show interest in senior client issues.