CALIFORNIA:     Santa Clara County / Silicon Valley

Through April, 2008 – Santa Clara County – Year Over Year

• As of April 24, 2008  :   There were 5,498 Single Family Units – 27.5% Sold for more than list price.  

FOR ALL HOMES:      MEDIAN HOME PRICES & SALES  

• Median Price:      $779,500  / Price Change   – 9.9%   / Volume Change -33.5%

• Average Price:  $992,100 /  Price Change   – 9.2%

• No of Sales: 608 /-33.5 % compared to  April 2007 (914)

  1. 49  Days on the Market (DOM)
  2. 98.6  %  SP/LP Ratio (-2.1% compared to April 2007)
  3. 6032 Current Inventory (+28.1% compared to April 2007)

TRENDS AT A GLANCE  for  April 2008  

• PALO ALTO : Median Price $1,736,000  - Average Price $1,956,500

1. Prices  Up         2.1% compared to  April 2007
2. Sales               -34.8%  compared to  April 2007
3. 21  Days on the Market (DOM)
4. 102.3% SP/LP Ratio (-3.9% compared to April 2007)
5. 73  Current Inventory (-20.7% compared to April 2007)

• MOUNTAIN VIEW   – Median Price $1,076,310 – Average Price $1,160,090

1. Prices  Up        13.3% compared to  April 2007
2. Sales                  - 54.5% compared to  April 2007
3. 17 Days on the Market (DOM)
4. 105.2% SP/LP Ratio (+1.3% compared to April 2007)
5. 57  Current Inventory (-3.4% compared to April 2007)

• LOS ALTOS    - Median Price  $1,720,000 – Average Price $2,080,130  

1. Price                      -0.6% compared to  April 2007
2. Sales                  -34.4% compared to  April 2007
3. 19  Days on the Market
4. 101.0 % SP/LP Ratio (-2.3% compared to April 2007)
5. 70  Current Inventory (-23.1% compared to April 2007)

• CUPERTINO  - Median Price  $1,200,000 – Average Price $1,286,789

1. Prices                        -2.0% compared to  April 2007
2. Sales                     -48.9% compared to  April 2007
3. 29 Days on the Market (DOM)
4. 105.9% SP/LP Ratio (+1.6% compared to April 2007)
5. 100  Current Inventory (-9.9% compared to April 2007)

• SUNNYVALE   – Median Price  $905,000 – Average Price $903,955

1. Price                             0.0%    compared to  April 2007
2. Sales                    -30.4%   compared to  April 2007
3. 23  Days on the Market (DOM)
4. 102.8% SP/LP Ratio (-1.7% compared to April 2007)
5. 208  Current Inventory (+44.4% compared to April 2007)

By Dataquick Information Systems.  The real estate market is very hard to generalize. It is a market made up of many micro markets.   For complete information on a particular neighborhood (or your own neighborhood) or for an evaluation of your home™s worth, do not hesitate to contact me.  It will be a privilege to serve you.

Cristina @ 650-330-6235 / cpage@cashin.com  

Visit my Resource Center @ www.PaloAlto4Sale.com

RISMEDIA, April 3, 2008- Four out of five people are interested in being œgreen, according to a nationwide survey among homeowners. And, nine out of 10 homeowners agree that improving the energy efficiency of their homes is one of the most useful actions to help the environment. This notion is a step in the right direction, as the home is a leading source of pollution. In fact, about 17 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide. This spring homeowners can go green with quick and easy home energy tune-ups. Survey respondents listed the following as the top three easy and inexpensive ways to increase a home™s energy efficiency.

1. Caulk gaps and cracks
2. Switch to Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
3. Install a low-flow showerhead.

According to Energy Star, the most cost-effective action homeowners can take to improve energy efficiency is sealing and insulating their homes. Sealing gaps and cracks with silicone caulk, and insulating the home can reduce total energy costs by up to 10 percent.

CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than regular incandescent bulbs. High efficiency showerheads can cut hot water demand by an estimated 40 percent. Together, these three easy actions can save homeowners hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs and remove hundreds of pounds of greenhouse gases from the environment.

œCaulking is a small expense for a big step towards a greener world, said Rodney Hawkins, general manager of Momentive Performance Materials, an exclusive licensee of General Electric. œThe key is to be sure to use GE silicone, not acrylic caulk, when sealing. If it™s not silicone, you may not get the same impact.

Silicone is waterproof, permanently flexible and won™t shrink or crack, unlike acrylic caulk. Acrylics shrink up to 25 percent, leaving cracks and gaps for air and water to leak through, meaning an additional afternoon spent re-sealing the home, and more waste put in the environment. Also, GE Silicone II XST, a paintable silicone formula, has the benefits of silicone and the paintability of acrylic all in one.

CALIFORNIA:     Santa Clara County / Silicon Valley

• On March 27, 2008 there were 5,205 available homes for sale

• 26.7% homes were sold for more than listing price.

• .

• On  March 20, 2008  there were  5,046 available homes for sale
• 25.7% homes were sold  for more than  listing price.

 MEDIAN HOME PRICES & SALES –

Through March 17, 2008 – Santa Clara County

• All Homes : $650,000 Median Price    / -5.3% Price Change   / -46.1% Volume Change

• Total resale Houses:   $720,000 Median Price / -4.0% Price Change / -44.6% Volume Change

• Total condominiums:   $466,500 Median Price / -9.4% Price Change / -54.1% Volume Change  

• Total new homes: $660,000 Median Price / -2.8% Price Change / -40.3% Volume Change

Median  Values  for February 2008; Percentage change is from the same period last year.  

• SANTA CLARA COUNTY: $778,000 All Homes

1. Prices                -1.5% compared to  February 2007
2. Sales             -36.2% compared to  February 2007
3. 81 Days on the Market (DOM)
4. 98.2 %  SP/LP Ratio
5. 1,855 New Listings
6. 424 Sold
7. 5,068 Current Inventory

• PALO ALTO ALL: Median Price $1,657,000

1. Prices  Up        14.3% compared to  February 2007
2. Sales               -45.2%  compared to  February 2007
3. 15 Days on the Market (DOM)
4. 105.6% SP/LP Ratio
5. 47 New Listings
6. 17 Sold
7. 50 Current Inventory

• MOUNTAIN VIEW ALL – Median Price $970,000

1. Prices                   -2.4% compared to  February 2007
2. Sales                  -38.9% compared to  February 2007
3. 37 Days on the Market (DOM)
4. 95.8% SP/LP Ratio
5. 34 New Listings
6. 11 Sold
7. 46 Current Inventory

• LOS ALTOS ALL  - Median Price  $1,866,000    

1. Price  Up           2.0% compared to  February 2007
2. Sales  Up        41.7% compared to  February 2007
3. 29  Days on the Market
4. 100.3% SP/LP Ratio
5. 31 New Listings
6. 17 Sold
7. 36 Current Inventory

• CUPERTINO  ALL – Median Price  $1,190,000

1. Prices  Up               0.8% compared to  February 2007
2. Sales                     -35.5% compared to  February 2007
3. 25 Days on the Market (DOM)
4. 101.0% SP/LP Ratio
5. 34 New Listings
6. 20 Sold
7. 53 Current Inventory

• SUNNYVALE  ALL – Median Price  $836,000

1. Price                        -3.4%    compared to  February 2007
2. Sales                    -31.0%   compared to  February 2007
3. 55 Days on the Market (DOM)
4. 103/1% SP/LP Ratio
5. 75 New Listings
6. 29 Sold
7. 137 Current Inventory

By Dataquick Information Systems.  The real estate market is very hard to generalize. It is a market made up of many micro markets.   For complete information on a particular neighborhood (or your own neighborhood) or for an evaluation of your home™s worth, do not hesitate to contact me.  It will be a privilege to serve you.

Cristina @ 650-330-6235 / cpage@cashin.com  

Let us see what the news  is saying about the U.S. economy:  

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A rapidly deteriorating U.S. economy will cause home prices to drop by 20 percent peak-to-trough, a leading economist said on Wednesday.

Mark Zandi, chief economist and co-founder of Moody’s Economy.com, said he also expects a recession in the first half of this year.

Zandi, speaking at the Reuters Housing Summit in New York, said this is a “significant” change from the Moody’s Economy.com outlook published in December, which called for a 13 percent drop.

He expects home sales to hit bottom this spring, housing starts to reach a nadir this summer, and house prices to trough in the spring of 2009.

What is really happening in our  LOCAL housing market?

We are still seeing multiple offers around here! Yes! in Palo Alto, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, etc.  

“The Bay Area is still much better off than the rest of the state” -according to an article in the San Jose Mercuy News -3/1/08- “The South Bay in particular was insulated from the worst thanks to the strong technology economy” –  

We are seeing multiple offers on homes that are in move-in condition, good schools, good location. These homes are attracting not just one but  many home  buyers.    For each home that is sold  with  multiple offers there are 5, 6, 8 buyers who still would like to buy a home. Inventory is low, but  we have  strong buyers out there. Many of these home buyers are bringing 20% and sometimes more as down-payment.   Prices continue to go up in many parts of the Peninsula.   Our local housing market is doing well. We just need more homes for these buyers.   This is a good time for sellers to place their homes on the market.

CALIFORNIA:   The Bay Area ** Santa Clara County / Silicon Valley

• On  February 21, 2008  there were  4,664 available units
• 24.5% homes were sold over list price.

 MEDIAN HOME PRICES & SALES –

Values  through February 13; Percentage change is from the same period last year.  

• SANTA CLARA COUNTY: $650,000 All Homes

1. Prices                -1.9% compared to January 2007
2. Sales             -48.4% compared to January 2007

• SAN MATEO COUNTY: $656,000 All Homes

1. Prices                -11.2% compared to  January 2007
2. Sales                  -44.0% compared to  January 2007

Values Through  February 13, 2008

• PALO ALTO – Zip Code 94301:   Not Available

1. Prices                      NA  compared to  January 2007
2. Sales        -38.5%  compared to  January 2007

• Palo Alto – Zip Code 94306:   $1,330,000

1. Prices  Up               6.9% compared to  January 2007
2. Sales                     -38.5% compared to  January 2007

• MOUNTAIN VIEW – Zip Code 94040: $809,000

1. Prices  Up         16.2% compared to  January 2007
2. Sales                   -60.0% compared to  January 2007

• MENLO PARK – Zip Code 94025: $825,000

1. Prices Up          15.4.7% compared to  January 2007
2. Sales                         -48.5% compared to  January 2007

• LOS ALTOS  - Zip Code 94024: $1,979,750

1. Price  Up        10.4% compared to  January 2007
2. Sales             -10.5% compared to  January 2007

• CUPERTINO  - Zip Code 95014: $952,000

1. Prices  Up            30.1% compared to  January 2007
2. Sales                     -58.9% compared to  January 2007

• CAMPBELL  - Zip Code 95008: $743,500

1. Prices Up              9.3% compared to  January 2007
2. Sales                   -52.1% compared to  January 2007

• SARATOGA  - Zip Code 95070: $1,277,500

1. Price                    -1.9% compared to  January 2007
2. Sales                   -9.1%  compared to  January 2007

• SUNNYVALE  - Zip Code 94087: $1,003.000

1. Price  Up               7.8%    compared to  January 2007
2. Sales                      -9.5%   compared to  January 2007

By Dataquick Information Systems.  The real estate market is very hard to generalize. It is a market made up of many micro markets.   For complete information on a particular neighborhood (or your own neighborhood) or for an evaluation of your home™s worth, do not hesitate to contact me.  It will be a privilege to serve you.

Cristina @ 650-330-6235 / cpage@cashin.com  

Play is so important!   Often we did not get our full quota growing up and it affects how we live our lives as adults. This month tips are about how to make your garden a more playful place and how to be more playful in your garden. Here are the tips.

1. Make a game board in your garden. What ever game you really love to play, be it chess, checkers, tick tack toe or monopoly. It is a place to act with your whole body in concert with your best friends.

2. Bring in equipment to play on. If you like to do gymnastics or dance, golf or tennis you can bring in the appropriate equipment to practice with and garden around it accordingly. I have seen several private putting greens and several play houses that looked like miniature mansions.

3. Add color that is playful. Primary colors Red, Yellow and Blue are just a start. We see them in playgrounds all over. As playing adults we can add detail and complexity to our color plans by bringing in secondary (with green already there of course) like orange and purple to give a deeper feeling of play.

4. Remove old play stuff and add new. If your children have out grown the play set then let it go and re-design your yard for an older crowd.

5. Adult play is quite different than child play. The important thing is that it be play (versus work) and that putting in a play garden can be part of the play too.

6. Have a play garden party to get help changing the look and feel of your yard. This will not only help with the labor aspects of re-landscaping but can significantly help with the ideas that create that landscape.

7. New games are not so new any more but just as important a way to play. The purpose is to have a whole lot of fun without any body loosing. The win win model is so important to learn and practice in this day and age. Try google-ing New Games.

8. Art is an important form of play. Why not make your back yard, or your front and back yard for that matter into artist studios. Create places to create. Paint, photograph, sculpt or what ever your heart desires to express yourself. And what better place than out doors.

9. Make a dance floor. Wether it is Tango or Break dancing a garden planted to compliment the theme of your dance space is the ultimate in panache.

10. Have fun doing what ever it is you do in your garden. Think about what is fun, truly fun for you. This may be more difficult than you think. Once you have an idea, then by all means go for it.

 Good gardeningJack McKinnon is a Garden Coach and can be reached at 650-455-0687 or visit his web page at jackthegardencoach.com

CALIFORNIA:   The Bay Area ** Santa Clara County / Silicon Valley

• On  January 24, 2008  there were 4,116 available units
• 22.0% homes were sold over list price.

 MEDIAN HOME PRICES & SALES –

Values  through Jan 14; Percentage change is from the same period last year.  

• SANTA CLARA COUNTY: $703,500

1. Prices Up       0.5% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales             -45.2% compared to  December 2006

Values  through Jan 7; Percentage change is from the same period last year.  

• SAN MATEO COUNTY: $810,000

1. Prices Up           1.3% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                  -28.4% compared to  December 2006

Values Through  January 14, 2008

• PALO ALTO – Zip Code 94301:   Not Available

1. Prices            NA  compared to  December 2006
2. Sales              NA  compared to  December 2006

• Palo Alto – Zip Code 94306:   $1,072,500

1. Prices  Up       17.9% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                 -42.1% compared to  December 2006

• MOUNTAIN VIEW – Zip Code 94040: $932,500

1. Prices  Up      104.9% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                   -23.5% compared to  December 2006

• MENLO PARK – Zip Code 94025: $829,500

1. Prices Up                  2.7% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                       -18.6% compared to  December 2006

• LOS ALTOS  - Zip Code 94024: $1,617,000

1. Price  Up           8.5% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales             -28.6% compared to  December 2006

• CUPERTINO  - Zip Code 95014: $1,036,500

1. Prices Up       43.5% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                 -27.5% compared to  December 2006

• CAMPBELL  - Zip Code 95008: $662,500

1. Prices                -9.8% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                -46.8% compared to  December 2006

• SARATOGA  - Zip Code 95070: $1,474,500

1. Price                    -4.9% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                   -6.5%  compared to  December 2006

• SUNNYVALE  - Zip Code 94087: $872,500

1. Price  Up             40.2%    compared to  December 2006
2. Sales  Up               3.6%   compared to  December 2006

By Dataquick Information Systems.  The real estate market is very hard to generalize. It is a market made up of many micro markets.   For complete information on a particular neighborhood (or your own neighborhood) or for an evaluation of your home™s worth, do not hesitate to contact me.  It will be a privilege to serve you.

Cristina @ 650-330-6235 / cpage@cashin.com  

CALIFORNIA:   The Bay Area ** Santa Clara County / Silicon Valley

• On  January 10, 2008  there were 4,145 available units
• 23.1% homes were sold over list price.

 MEDIAN HOME PRICES & SALES –

November  2007, compared  with  November 2006:  

• BAY AREA: $670,000  

1. Prices Up     1.4% compared to  November 2006
2. Sales           -39.4% compared to  November 2006

• SANTA CLARA COUNTY: $799,000

1. Prices Up       9.5% compared to  November 2006
2. Sales             -41.7% compared to  November 2006

• SAN MATEO COUNTY: $820,000

1. Prices Up           3.1% compared to  November 2006
2. Sales                  -24.7% compared to  November 2006

Values Through  December 31, 2007

• PALO ALTO – Zip Code 94301:   Not Available

1. Prices            NA  compared to  December 2006
2. Sales              NA  compared to  December 2006

• Palo Alto – Zip Code 94306:   $1,155,000

1. Prices  Up       40.0% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                 -47.6% compared to  December 2006

• MOUNTAIN VIEW – Zip Code 94040: $1,000,000

1. Prices  Up        87.8% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales  Up          23.5% compared to  December 2006

• MENLO PARK – Zip Code 94025: $772,500

1. Prices Up             20.0% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                       -27.9% compared to  December 2006

• LOS ALTOS  - Zip Code 94024: $1,731,750

1. Price  Up     30.5% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales             -33.3% compared to  December 2006

• CUPERTINO  - Zip Code 95014: $1,100,000

1. Prices Up       52.3% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                 -11.6% compared to  December 2006

• CAMPBELL  - Zip Code 95008: $715,000

1. Prices                -3.1% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                -42.0% compared to  December 2006

• SARATOGA  - Zip Code 95070: $1,562,500

1. Price  Up              14.1% compared to  December 2006
2. Sales                        -3.6%  compared to  December 2006

• SUNNYVALE  - Zip Code 94087: $900,000

1. Price  Up           15.4%    compared to  December 2006
2. Sales  Up           19.4%   compared to  December 2006

By Dataquick Information Systems.  The real estate market is very hard to generalize. It is a market made up of many micro markets.   For complete information on a particular neighborhood (or your own neighborhood) or for an evaluation of your home™s worth, do not hesitate to contact me.  It will be a privilege to serve you.

Cristina @ 650-330-6235 / cpage@cashin.com  

Palo Alto Housing Market Activity for Single Family Homes

From  November 30 to December 31, 2007

12  Active Listings – 15 Pending Homes –  11 Sold Homes

LIST PRICE

Minimum   $ 799,000     –       Maximum $12,500,000       –       Median $1,447,500

SALE PRICE

Minimum $1,180,000     –     Maximum $2,350,000     –     Median $1,765,000

DAYS ON THE MARKET (DOM)

Minimum Days  19     –     Maximum Days   111     –     Average Days   40

Home Values  for:  Crescent Park, Community Center, Green Gables

HOMES for SALE:    Active listings

859  Lytton Ave  @ $1,495,000  - 24 DOM

2375 Sierra   Ct  @ $1,249,000 –  38 DOM

1103 Oregon Ave @ $1,400,000 –  45 DOM

PENDING HOMES:   Sold: in Escrow process

1430 Parkinson Ave @ $1,950,000 –  10 DOM

758 Center Dr @ $2,995,000 – 42 DOM

80 Crescent Dr @ $6,900,000 – 42DOM

SOLD HOMES:   Escrow is closed.

717 De Soto Dr @ $1,495,000 – Sold for $1,600,000 after  10 DOM

240 Fulton St @ $1,100,000 – Sold for $1,180,000 after 7 DOM

941 Addison Ave @ $2,398,000 – Sold for $2,350,000 after 19 DOM

Note: If you would like values in your neighborhood, send your request to cpage@cashin.com

In case you were still wondering if California is a good place to purchase real estate.   Check out these stats that my friend, Gabe Bodner – Mortgage Planner, came across:

1.   35% of the homes in the U.S. do NOT have a mortgage.

2. 94.88% of all loans ARE performing.

3. The foreclosure problem in this country is really a story of seven states.

4. The BIGGEST foreclosure problems are in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. These are manufacturing states that had horrible job losses. Since 2001,
Michigan has lost 300,000 jobs. These states would have had problems no matter what the market condition happens to be.

5. The other four states, California, Florida, Nevada, and Arizona—-experienced significant overbuilding. Twenty-five per cent of the foreclosures in these states are on properties that are held by investors who were speculating.

6. ONLY 25% of all mortgages are subprime, and of these 75% are performing.

7. In the other 43 states, foreclosures have fallen in 2007 from 2006.

(In California which is the predictor of what is to come in Florida, the following is being said¦¦)According to Leslie Young, chief economist for the California Assoc. of Realtors, (which mirrors what we are seeing here) that the areas being hardest hit in California are the outlying areas where there has been overbuilding.

The resale market in California™s major markets continues to be strong. In fact, the closer you are to a metropolitan area, the better the sales are. In the million-dollar plus price range, there has been essentially no change from 2006 to 2007.

You can contact Gabe at  Lawson & Associates – 408.371.4444