Anna May & Greg Jones, REALTORS

San Mateo-Hayward Bridge crossing San Francisco Bay, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Our Buyer Clients are anxious to find the following:

1. Nurse seeks “urban living” condo or townhouse under $400,000 in the Hayward, San Leandro, San Lorenzo or Oakland areas.

2. Veteran of the United States Navy and his wife seek a single family home under $500,000 with enough space for entertaining.

3. World traveler seeks a single family ranch-style home near the San Mateo – Hayward bridge around the 880/92 interchange. Must have a 2-car garage with enough space for recreational vehicles.

RECENT SUCCESS STORIES:

1. First-time Buyer Clients and new parents of a 9.2 lb. baby boy born earlier this week will be closing escrow on their new home tomorrow.

2. First-time Buyer Clients in contract on a home with 3% credit from seller for closing costs. (Yes, this does still happen!)

Think “zen” when you approach this home in the historic Prospect Hill neighborhood of downtown Hayward! With a very active neighborhood association, this oasis is only a few blocks from the downtown Cinemark theatre, farmers market, post office, city hall, BART, restaurants, shopping, coffee shops, etc. Only a few extra blocks away are the Japanese gardens and the Senior Center.

A glass-walled living room looks onto a koi pond in the back yard. Bamboo floors and rich Philippine mahogany complete the scene in the living area. The kitchen is inspired by the best 5-star restaurant kitchens in San Francisco. To add nostalgia to the scene, the bathrooms are decorated in hot retro tones. The overall scene will be appreciated by the most artistic and eclectic folks in the bay area who work hard, play hard and rest with equal fervor.

This home will be available by March 31st. Stay tuned for Open House dates!

(Of upcoming interest: 20th Annual Asian Heritage Festival on May 19th!)

In this market, where multiple offers and cash buyers are the norm, our VA buyers are getting left behind.  It is unfortunate that some of the very benefits of a VA loan are hindrances to making the purchase work, particularly when sellers have their pick of buyers.  Any creative ideas out there?  Any sellers that believe in recognizing our veterans for the service and deciding to work with a veteran buyer rather focusing purely on profit?

It is a tough market for buyers…who would have thought.  We are seeing 10-20 offers on every property listing, almost always over asking price and often cash buyers.  Hang in there buyers, there is just the house out there for you, but be patient.

http://www.businessinsider.com/us-housing-inventory-shortage-2013-2

Last year a majority of our client relations were a result of the loss of a loved one in the client’s family. These situations require a great deal of sensitivity and compassion for the family members often left with a plethora of confusing documents, bank accounts, debt, tax and property issues to handle. Adding to the stress of losing a loved one, there can be strained instances of sibling rivalry and hurdles to navigate that wouldn’t exist if there were no money or assets involved.

We’ve run into numerous situations that require care above and beyond the emotions involved with a client’s loss of a loved one in conjunction with the gain of property and other assets. We’ve had tenants of inherited property get sticky with moving out and mention of security deposits without proof of existence, we’ve had a church and a monastery on title that nobody knew about, we’ve had clients’ emotional ties to their childhood home that slowed down the will or desire to sell a property and we’ve had a short sale property that was left to a friend of the deceased to sell. The list goes on and on…

We’ve also witnessed the love between family members who trust their siblings to make the right decision on behalf of the estate. The family members work together to help choose a new owner of their childhood home. In these cases, it is usually a family with children that the heirs prefer selling the home to due to the warm memories of their own childhoods growing up in the home. Though important, money is often not the primary motivating factor in cases like these.

Being patient with what a client is experiencing is only part of the job and is often the most important part. It is very rewarding to be able to help people navigate through a difficult time in life.  I know what it’s like to lose someone suddenly. My father was hit head-on in a car collision in 2000 and I will never forget the kindness people showed to me in the aftermath of that incident. Although there was no real estate property left to me or my siblings, the experience of loss has helped me with my job today.

On the lighter side, my mother who is still alive and kicking said she’d leave me everything when she departs from this life. She jokes that all she has to leave behind is a sense of humor and a big heart — and that is all I need…

Our very own Greg Jones in partnership with Gary Wimp of Saratoga Properties has found yet another new  business to open downtown!

Eva the owner is who I visited when I went in for my first massage. The place is clean and quiet and I was thoroughly relaxed when I left.

Call them for an appointment! 510-581-8899.

No funny business, please! Professional massage only.