Home prices still getting weaker
First time in six years that any state reported prices falling over a 12-month period, government agency says.
Home prices rose in the third quarter but at a slower pace than in the second quarter, a government agency said Thursday, the latest sign that the housing market is still trying to find a bottom.
The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) said that housing prices nationally edged up just 0.9 percent from the prior quarter, leaving them up 7.7 percent from a year earlier. That was down from the second quarter's gains of 1.2 percent quarter-to-quarter and 10.1 percent year-over-year. Complete Article: Click Here

Excellent Holiday Event for the kids and the whole Family! Downtown Sunnyvale This Saturday Evening...
Christmas Tree Lighting, Food & Cheer: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m., 100 block of Murphy Ave., Downtown Sunnyvale. Come join the ceremony and share in the holiday spirit. For more information, contact the Sunnyvale Downtown Association at (408) 404-6655.

C.A.R. reports sales decrease 28.7 percent in October, median price of a home in California at $548,680, up 2 percent from year ago
Home sales decreased 28.7 percent in October in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home increased 2 percent, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.
“While it appears that home sales have stabilized over the past three months, it’s too soon to say whether or not the market has bottomed out,” said C.A.R. President Colleen Badagliacco. “We do expect smaller year-over-year declines in home sales for the remainder of the year.
Complete Article: Click Here

When Is a Real Estate Agent a REALTOR®?
A real estate agent is a REALTOR® when he or she becomes a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, The Voice for Real Estate®, the world's largest professional association. The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and abides by its strict Code of Ethics.
Founded in 1908, NAR has grown from its original nucleus of 120 members to more than 1 million today. NAR is composed of REALTORS® who are involved in residential and commercial real estate as brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors, and others who are engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry.
Members belong to one or more of 1,700 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of REALTORS® and can join one of our many institutes, societies, and councils. Additionally, NAR offers members the opportunity to be active in our appraisal and international real estate specialty sections. REALTORS® are pledged to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Working for America's property owners, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® provides a facility for professional development, research, and exchange of information among its members.

Map Based Search to find Residential Rentals Across the US! Pretty Cool...
HotPads.com - Search for Apartments for Rent, Rental Houses, Homes, Sublets, and Roommates

MARKET COMMENT
Last week was definitely a slow week. The Thanksgiving holiday truncated trading in equity and credit markets and meaningful economic data releases were non-existent. That said, it was also a surprising week, and pleasantly so in the mortgage markets, where rates continued to fall to levels unseen since the first quarter of 2006. On that front, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.18%, the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.91%, and the five-year Treasury-indexed adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 5.99%, according Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

What's up with the Sunnyvale Downtown redevelopment project? Too many details and options still exist but, it's possible that construction could start as early as August/September of 2007. To obtain all the up to date details on the downtown Sunnyvale real estate projects...Click Here

Looking for that Perfect House in Downtown Los Gatos?
Don't miss this one at $5,995,000!
Check out the website at www.HistoricEstate.com.













Welcome to 133 Glenridge Avenue, the architectural jewel of the premier avenue of West Los Gatos. The home was built in the Neo Classical style in 1909 by one of the area’s first industrialists. It is the ultimate stop on the Historical Homes of Los Gatos Tour. Revitalized, warm and accommodating; this is the home you’ve been looking for.
It was lovingly restored over several years, applying the personal touches that reflect the quality of a bygone era. Generous windows, many with their original leaded glass, allow the light to flow into the house. Music and illumination follow you from room to room, as the sophisticated home automation system senses your presence. Beyond the tree-shaded patio, there is a delightful 1,200± sf self-contained guest residence, completely restored with the same uncompromising quality as the main house. Truly this is the house that combines the beauty of master craftsmanship, the lineage of history, and the convenience of modern living.

Another 1.5 acres of the Sunnyvale Olson family cherry orchard evolves into a shopping mall. But, don't be concerned...The CJ Olson Cherry stand is still open daily and going strong under the guidance of Deborah Olson.
While the southwest corner of El Camino Real and Mathilda Avenue in Sunnyvale no longer holds an Olson family cherry orchard, there is still a sense of history at the site.
On Nov. 9, Yvonne Olson Jacobson and her husband William Jacobson, along with and their family and friends, cut three red ribbons at the new Cherry Glen Plaza. On the corner, in clear view of the thousands of cars that pass by each day, are nine cement sculptures that tell the story of Sunnyvale's agricultural past before high technology, cement and commercial outlets came into prominence.
Emeryville-based artist Scott Donahue spent the past five months sculpting the pieces in clay, casting them in plaster and finally pouring cement to make the final products. In addition, each gray-green sculpture has several toy-sized brass-casted icons of the valley, including early-model trucks and grain silos.
The artwork was inspired by Olson Jacobson's book, Passing Farms, Enduring Values.
Complete Article: Click Here

Sunnyvale's DUI Checkpoint Location...
Safety and Sobriety Checkpoint Scheduled for Wednesday November 22, 2006. The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety officers will conduct a DUI safety and sobriety checkpoint from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., Wednesday, November 22.
This year, Sunnyvale will again operate its own checkpoint. Cars traveling northbound on Mathilda Avenue between Maude and San Aleso Avenues will be randomly stopped and checked. Officers will look at the safety of the vehicle and the operator’s license and state of sobriety.
Read the news release.

Smart Money magazine released it's lastest "most overvauled" housing cities. They looked at 152 markets (San Jose & SF in top 20).

Here are the most overvalued areas (guess which state dominates the list?)!...
1) Naples, FL
2) Miami, FL
3) Santa Barbara
4) Riverside-San Bernardino
5) Modesto
6) Salinas
7) Stockton
8) Los Angeles
9) Merced
10) Port St. Lucie-Fort Pierce, FL
11) San Jose
12) Sarasota-Venice, FL
13) San Diego
14) Fresno
15) Vallejo-Fairfield
16) Ventura
17) Fort Myers, FL
18) San Francisco
19) Vero Beach, FL
20) Atlantic City, NJ

13 of the Top-20 are in California! WOW!

Read the article here

Event not to miss! All are invited...this Sunday in Los Gatos

Art, Jewels, Music, Luxury Cars & Architecture Event this Sunday, November 12th, 2006 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM held at my fantastic $10M home for sale, formerly owned by Steve Wozniak, co-founder of apple computer. Come see this stunning home with the authentic caves and magnificent setting. To see this gorgeous home, please visit: www.legendaryestate.com.
This event hosted by ASANTE Luxury Homes and RELAX magazine features original art, jewels, wine & hors d’ oeuvres and luxury cars - all set in a beautiful home transformed into a work of art. The address is: 300 Santa Rosa, Los Gatos 95032. We hope you can make it!
Original contemporary paintings and sculptures will be displayed throughout the interior and exterior of the home, provided by artists from the Linda Durnell Gallery. There will also be an exquisite jewelry showcase provided by Deja & Co Jewelers, along with renowned jewelry designer, Peter Storm. These jewels are GORGEOUS! There will be two wine stations plus delicious food provided by Santana Row restaurants: Tanglewood, SINO and Straits. Also, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley will feature their luxury cars in front of the home. Also, we have a wonderfull Jazz Band for music.
This fabulous event will be featured in the January/February 2007 issue of RELAX magazine. So, please come and enjoy yourself for an evening of Art, Wine, Food, Music, Jewels, Cars and Architecture!
Also, please feel free to forward this email to your friends.
Hope to see you on Sunday! No RSVP needed at this point.

Mark Thomason

Mark@ThomasonTeam.com