Sunnyvale, CA

This past week, I held my annual, private Client Appreciation Dinner Party. To be invited to the party, invitees must have either referred me to a prospective client (closed transaction or not) or have been a recent client that I represented on a purchase or sale that closed escrow. So, you too, can be invited by referring someone you care about for expert advice on the purchase or sale of residential or commercial real estate.

As in the past, we had a dinner party at Midori Japanese Restaurant in Sunnyvale. The manager of the restaurant, Jeff, made sure we wouldn't go about disturbing other patrons by reserving their tatami room for us. Food was excellent and included a selection of tasty sushi and sashimi appetizers, soup, salad with miso dressing, a wide variety of entree combinations, dessert and beverages (including adult beverages).

Each invitee was allowed to bring an adult guest and those that attended received a gift bag with a wonderful bottle of Steven Bannus Russian River Sauvignon Blanc wine, bag of chocolate truffles from Harry and David's and a gift card to use on their next visit to Elephant Bar Restaurant. Each attendee was eligible for drawings of wonderful gifts from Crate & Barrel that were specially chosen and wrapped by my lovely wife, Carol.

A second special gold gift bag was presented to those that had referred someone to me and those clients had closed on a transaction. The gold bag included a bottle of superb Beaulieu Vineyard's BV Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and their very own Passport Unlimited unrestricted gold membership card to save them money when dining at a great selection of fine restaurants!

Some of the invitees were attending their second or even third Client Appreciation Party!

The variety of invitees ran the gamut from first time home buyers to those referring prospective clients and came from as far away as San Francisco and included such occupations as a financial planning firm officer, architectural photographer, registered nurse, attorney, software engineer, residential mortgage and commercial loan professionals, insurance sales representative, stay-at-home mom, comedy club owner/operator along with my sons, David and Kevin, and wife, Carol. Just so you know -- she's my COO - Chief Organizing Officer! There were multiple, interesting conversations going on up and down the table on a variety of topics.

Everybody had FUN and didn't go away hungry! I know this because absolutely nobody complained!

I can't wait to have another Client Appreciation Party because I get to thank some of those that are the heart of my business. And, getting close to Valentine's Day, it makes perfect sense!

Thanks for reading my blog!

The December 2009 Completed Sales Report for Sunnyvale Single-Family Homes saw a closing of 40 sales receiving 100.25% of list price. These closings represented a median price of $790,000 and an average price of $762,058. There were 35 new listings reported for December. Total Sales: $30,482,350

The December 2008 Completed Sales Report for Sunnyvale Single-Family Homes saw a closing of 23 sales receiving 99.21% of list price. These closings represented a median price of $631,575 and an average price of $671,803. There were 42 new listings reported reported for December. Total Sales: $18,575,400

ist price. These closings represented a median price of $631,575 and an average price of $671,803. There were 42 new listings reported reported for December. Total Sales: $18,575,400

SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES by ZIP CODE

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Having lived across the road from Pak 'N Save in Sunnyvale for 10 years, I shall be shedding a tear for its demise at the end of Feb 2010. I now have the skinny from a real Sunnyvale authority (OK, one of the checkers!). Personally, I have always enjoyed shopping there - parking is a breeze and the aisles are well-spaced. And of course there's the added advantage of Trader Joe's across the road for all that "other stuff" that only TJ's does (2 Buck Chuck anyone?).

So What Exactly Is Happening?

Well, if you've driven past Toys 'R Us in Sunnyvale recently you'll have noticed some major building work happening on the corner of El Camino and Sunnyvale-Saratoga, where the little Firestone store used to be. Not sure exactly what's happening on the corner, but I can tell you that Pak 'N Save will be closing end of February 2010. In its place we'll be getting a big new Safeway store, just round the corner next to PetCo, where Drug Barn used to be. Trouble is, we'll have to wait until January 2011 for the new store to open! There are also plans for a 24-Hour Fitness on the site, and a Sprouts organic produce store over the road, where Circuit City used to be.

Where Do We Shop In the Meantime?

For those of you that like the supermarket shopping experience, you'll have a number of choices during 2010 before the new store opens. None of them especially convenient, but there you go.

1. Safeway, 785 E El Camino, near Wolfe, opposite Best Buy. A big store with annoyingly crowded parking, and small, crowded aisles. But look what you get: Bakery, Deli, Floral, Liquor, Meat, Pharmacy, Produce, Seafood, Starbucks, Sushi Bar, Olive Bar, Digital Photo, DVDPlay Kiosk, Coinmaster, Wi-fi, Wells Fargo Bank. Mmmm.

2. Safeway, 639 S Bernado Ave, off El Camino. Been here a couple of times, nice store, good parking. Looks like the same stuff as the one above. I'll probably hit this one more often. You get: Bakery, Deli, Floral, Liquor, Meat, Pharmacy, Produce, Seafood, Starbucks, Sushi Bar, Olive Bar, Digital Photo, DVDPlay Kiosk, Coinmaster, Wi-fi, Wells Fargo Bank.

3. Safeway, 1601 Hollenbeck, up from Homestead. I haven't been to this one, though I may try it. I know the shopping center, and I believe the parking is pretty good. They have: Bakery, Deli, Floral, Liquor, Meat, Produce, Seafood, Starbucks, Digital Photo, Coinmaster, Wi-fi.

FHA's Energy Efficient Mortgage program (EEM) helps Sunnyvale, CA homebuyers or homeowners save money on utility bills. This is done by enabling them to finance the cost of adding energy efficiency features to their house as part of their FHA insured loan.

EEMs recognize that reduced utility expenses can permit a homeowner to pay a higher mortgage to cover the cost of the energy improvements on top of the approved mortgage. FHA EEMs provide mortgage insurance for a person to purchase or refinance a principal residence and incorporate the cost of energy efficient improvements into the mortgage. The borrower does not have to qualify for the additional money and does not make a downpayment on it.

Eligible Activities:

EEM can be used to make energy efficient improvements in one to four unit existing and new homes in Sunnyvale. The improvements can be included in a borrower's mortgage only if their total cost is less than the total dollar value of the energy that will be saved during their useful life.

The cost of the energy improvements and estimate of the energy savings must be determined by a home energy rating report that is prepared by an energy consultant using a Home Energy Rating System (HERS). The cost of the energy rating report and inspections may be financed as part of the cost effective energy package.

The energy improvements are installed after the loan closes. The lender will place the money in an escrow account. The money will be released to the borrower after an inspection verifies that the improvements are installed and the energy savings will be achieved.

If you are looking for an FHA approved lender in Sunnyvale who could offer more information on FHA EEM program and other loan programs, please contact me at shashank@arcuslending.com