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Michelle Carr-Crowe, ABR ALHS ASP CDPE RECS SRES

Dear God...Please bless Noah Biorkman...

Dear God...Please bless Noah Biorkman...

Dear God...

Please bless and watch over Noah and his family. Give them health, strength and peace. Let this holiday season be filled with love and joy and answered prayers.

Amen.

Does anyone remember the 1996 movie, "Dear God" starring Greg Kinnear?

In it, a cynical con man must take the only job he can get (in the dead letter department at the post office) as a condition of parole. While there, he finds out there is an entire bin of undeliverable dead letter mail, including dozens of "Dear God" letters. Some of it contains cash, jewelry and other goodies.

Although he initially intends to steal the unclaimed money and valuables from this undeliverable mail, he ends up having a change of heart and leads his colleagues in answering prayers found in the letters.

Most of the time when I receive an email request to send Christmas cards to a sick child or help find a missing child, I'm a bit cynical. I check it out first on Urban Legends or Snopes. About 90 percent of the time it's either an urban legend or expired (e.g. the missing child was found 2 years ago).

So when my colleague Linda Gonzales sent a request to mail Christmas cards to Noah Biorkman, a young boy with neuroblastoma in Michigan, whose family planned to celebrate Christmas early this weekend, I checked it out first. To my pleasant surprise, it's a legitimate request. There were links to the local radio station WYCD and Noah's Care Pages. (The only hiccup was they already celebrated their family Christmas last weekend.)

Here's the most recent posting from Noah's mother on Care Pages:

Posted Nov 11, 2009

We received 80,000 pieces of mail on Monday alone! We even received mail today on Veteran's Day! Yes, the Post Office is closed today, yet, we still got mail!

My garage is so full that we asking for everyone to please send all communications to Noah's father's house. Everything should go to the following:

Scott Biorkman
3480 Petoskey Way
Milford, Michigan 48380

Please post on all Facebook accounts the address change.

Merry Christmas!!

Posted Nov 9, 2009 12:23am

What a week! Scott and I have had a hard time wrapping our brain
around how much support and compassion we have received from people
all around the world!!! Noah was the 17th most googled topic on
Thursday and 12th on Friday!! Unbelievable!!!!!!!

Thank you to everyone for the support! Thank you to everyone that listened to my requests for peace...

So for the cost of a stamp and five minutes of your time to write a note, address the card and put on the stamp, you can be part of God's love and a child's Christmas miracle.

Dear God...

Please bless and watch over Noah and his family. Give them health, strength and peace. Let this holiday season be filled with love and joy and answered prayers.

Amen.

Cupertino Monta Vista High MidWeek Update 11.12.09

Cupertino Monta Vista High Homes MidWeek Update 11.12.09

Hello & Happy Harvest Season! This is Michelle Carr Crowe with your Cupertino Monta Vista High Homes MidWeek Update for 11.12.09.

The housing market in Cupertino with Monta Vista High continues to be stable. Currently there are a total of 33 single family homes for sale, ranging from $4.2 million to $868,000. There are 8 Condos and Townhome for sale. There are no multi-family units available right now.

I have *2* different pre-approved buyers who want to buy in the in the next 30 days and close before the Christmas holidays -but the homes they want and need aren't on the market right now. Who do you know who's thinking of selling that could use my help?

Tax Credit and Unemployment Benefits Officially Extended & Expanded

The existing tax credit for first-time buyers, originally set to expire at the end of the month, has been extended, expanded and approved by the House, Senate and President Barack Obama. The new measure allows both first-timers and existing homeowners to take advantage of thousands in the form of a tax credit. All properties must close by the end of April.

The measure would continue giving an $8,000 tax credit to first-time buyers.

In addition, it provides a $6,500 tax break to qualified homeowners looking to move up OR MOVE DOWN to middle-market homes that cost no more than $800,000. This can be an important bonus for seniors.

The legislation also significantly raises the qualifying income levels to $125,000 for individual income tax filers and to $225,000 for joint filers.

Finally, the bill would extend unemployment benefits 14 more weeks nationwide and 20 more weeks in California and other hard-hit states. That would give the long-term unemployed nearly two years' worth of benefits.

Reprinted with permission from the National Association of REALTORS®.

SELLERS: Click HERE to Find Out Home Values BEFORE You Sell

BUYERS: This week we have *3* separate 3 Br TownHome Opportunities in Monta Vista! All 3 are at least 3 Br and 2 Bath! All are in low-traffic locations, and feature 2-car garages, too. Please call 408.252.8900 to request a showing time. We must have your most current pre-approval letter on file prior to showing- you can email it to info@michellejudycarr.com or fax it to 408.378.9056.

VIP INVESTOR BUYERS ONLY: Call me regarding a potential teardown/remodel opportunity on a standard size (~6000sf) lot. Seller only wants to sell As-Is with no contingencies (getting reports is OK), preferably to cash buyer, reasonably priced.

BUYERS: Click HERE to Find Out Home Prices BEFORE You Buy

Get RE$ult$ Team Open House

Open Saturday 1:30-4:30! Grandma's Cottage Charmer in Willow Glen! 2180 Cheryl, San Jose 95125 REDUCED $$!

Asking $612K OR BEST WRITTEN OFFER !! Try FHA Loan - $21,525 Down Possible!*

For Sale Single Family Homes: 33

15601 Montebello Rd

Cupertino

5

51

5,400

$777.78

626,392

$4,200,000

71

10450 Serra St

Cupertino

5

4+

239

4,650

$729.03

30,056

$3,390,000

22362 Regnart Rd

Cupertino

3

2

64

1,974

$1,213.27

144,183

$2,395,000

31

10421 Scenic Bl

Cupertino

5

4 (3/1)

86

4,200

$518.81

13,939

$2,179,000

10952 Stevens Canyon Rd

Cupertino

4

4 (3/1)

148

3,830

$495.56

10,454

$1,898,000

4

21011 Greenleaf Dr

Cupertino

5

4 (3/1)

22

3,815

$492.79

9,625

$1,880,000

10280 Phar Lap Dr

Cupertino

5

4

167

3,746

$480.51

10,150

$1,800,000

41

15571 Montebello Rd

Cupertino

5

4

114

3,000

$599.67

223,027

$1,799,000

38

11741 Regnart Canyon Dr

Cupertino

4

3

191

3,200

$552.5

72,745

$1,768,000

61

10211 Santa Clara Av

Cupertino

3

2

43

3,547

$451.08

12,500

$1,599,980

58

10326 Scenic Bl

Cupertino

5

4 (3/1)

84

3,047

$524.78

10,018

$1,599,000

20

8045 Pumpkin Dr

Cupertino

5

5 (4/1)

121

3,085

$515.04

7,500

$1,588,888

46

15970 Flintlock Rd

Cupertino

4

2

111

2,578

$581.83

277,041

$1,499,950

20

10415 Heney Creek Pl

Cupertino

4

3

113

3,201

$468.29

50,529

$1,499,000

28

10707 Amulet Pl

Cupertino

5

3

113

2,611

$569.9

13,068

$1,488,000

41

10055 Byrne Av

Cupertino

4

2

50

2,616

$544.72

17,520

$1,425,000

68

10170 Peninsula Av

Cupertino

4

3

72

2,445

$568.1

6,534

$1,389,000

1065 W Hill Ct

Cupertino

5

3

86

2,905

$477.8

6,534

$1,388,000

23

10201 Lebanon Dr

Cupertino

3

3 (2/1)

27

2,041

$661.44

8,721

$1,350,000

57

22009 Oakdell Pl

Cupertino

4

2

93

1,952

$683.91

7,659

$1,335,000

45

10015 Orange Av

Cupertino

3

3

100

1,897

$682.66

7,500

$1,295,000

74

21851 Almaden Av

Cupertino

4

2

366

1,109

$1,136.16

9,935

$1,260,000

67

11141 Bubb Rd

Cupertino

4

3 (2/1)

147

2,280

$526.27

7,900

$1,199,888

36

10370 Mann Dr

Cupertino

4

3 (2/1)

100

2,020

$569.31

10,320

$1,150,000

52

10501 Stokes Av

Cupertino

4

2

135

1,890

$608.47

7,725

$1,150,000

40

10048 Orange Av

Cupertino

2

2

30

2,200

$522.22

3,049

$1,148,888

10035 Orange Av

Cupertino

3

3 (2/1)

121

1,769

$565.23

3,825

$999,900

24

10439 N Stelling Rd

Cupertino

4

2

185

1,672

$596.89

9,375

$998,000

59

11518 Murano Ci

Cupertino

4

2

177

1,788

$548.66

1,306

$981,000

4

1272 Poppy Wy

Cupertino

3

2

13

1,405

$696.8

6,250

$979,000

47

11510 Bianchini Ln

Cupertino

3

3 (2/1)

35

1,788

$530.76

1,306

$949,000

4

7435 Bollinger Rd

Cupertino

3

2

85

1,533

$618.4

6,160

$948,000

50

1110 Scotland Dr

Cupertino

3

2

217

1,190

$729.41

5,994

$868,000

48

For Sale Condos/TownHomes: 8

10728 Stevens Canyon Rd

Cupertino

3

3 (2/1)

59

2,215

$514.22

$190

$1,139,000

1

11476 Garden Terrace Dr

Cupertino

3

3 (2/1)

2

1,516

$519.79

$250

$788,000

29

20709 Garden Manor Ct

Cupertino

3

3 (2/1)

49

1,591

$489.63

$250

$779,000

28

10745 N De Anza Bl #309

Cupertino

2

2

150

1,334

$449.03

$400

$599,000

10475 Mary Av

Cupertino

2

2 (1/1)

78

1,216

$484.38

$325

$589,000

38

10745 N De Anza Bl #114

Cupertino

2

2

98

1,178

$499.15

$390

$588,000

10745 N De Anza Bl #103

Cupertino

1

2 (1/1)

24

1,209

$404.47

$395

$489,000

10745 N De Anza Bl #105

Cupertino

1

2 (1/1)

135

1,194

$409.55

$390

$489,000

For Sale Multi-Family: 2

10341 Alpine Dr

Cupertino

43

5,806

$378.92

10,625

$2,200,000

40

10101 Alhambra Av

Cupertino

464

1,445

$553.63

3,807

$800,000

47

Thanks for reading, Aloha & God bless you!

Saratoga Cupertino Schools Lynbrook & Monta Vista High Homes MidWeek Update 11.12.09

Saratoga Cupertino Schools Lynbrook & Monta Vista High Homes MidWeek Update 11.12.09

Hello & Happy Harvest Season! This is Michelle Carr Crowe with your Saratoga Cupertino Schools Lynbrook & Monta Vista High Homes MidWeek Update for 11.12.09.

The housing market in Saratoga with Lynbrook & Monta Vista High continues to be stable. Currently there are only 7 single family homes for sale and just 1 Townhome for sale. There are no multi-family units available right now.

I have *2* different pre-approved buyers who want to buy in the in the next 30 days and close before the Christmas holidays -but the homes they want and need aren't on the market right now. Who do you know who's thinking of selling that could use my help?

Tax Credit and Unemployment Benefits Officially Extended & Expanded

The existing tax credit for first-time buyers, originally set to expire at the end of the month, has been extended, expanded and approved by the House, Senate and President Barack Obama. The new measure allows both first-timers and existing homeowners to take advantage of thousands in the form of a tax credit. All properties must close by the end of April.

The measure would continue giving an $8,000 tax credit to first-time buyers.

In addition, it provides a $6,500 tax break to qualified homeowners looking to move up OR MOVE DOWN to middle-market homes that cost no more than $800,000. This can be an important bonus for seniors.

The legislation also significantly raises the qualifying income levels to $125,000 for individual income tax filers and to $225,000 for joint filers.

Finally, the bill would extend unemployment benefits 14 more weeks nationwide and 20 more weeks in California and other hard-hit states. That would give the long-term unemployed nearly two years' worth of benefits.

Reprinted with permission from the National Association of REALTORS®.

SELLERS: Click HERE to Find Out Home Values BEFORE You Sell

BUYERS: This week we have *3* separate 3 Br TownHome Opportunities in Monta Vista! All 3 are at least 3 Br and 2 Bath! All are in low-traffic locations, and feature 2-car garages, too. Please call 408.252.8900 to request a showing time. We must have your most current pre-approval letter on file prior to showing- you can email it to info@michellejudycarr.com or fax it to 408.378.9056.

VIP INVESTOR BUYERS ONLY: Call me regarding a potential teardown/remodel opportunity on a standard size (~6000sf) lot. Seller only wants to sell As-Is with no contingencies (getting reports is OK), preferably to cash buyer, reasonably priced.

BUYERS: Click HERE to Find Out Home Prices BEFORE You Buy

Get RE$ult$ Team Open House

Open Saturday 1:30-4:30! Grandma's Cottage Charmer in Willow Glen! 2180 Cheryl, San Jose 95125 REDUCED $$!

Asking $612K OR BEST WRITTEN OFFER !! Try FHA Loan - $21,525 Down Possible!*

For Sale Single Family Homes: 7

Address

City

Beds

Bath

DOM

LOE

SqFt

$/SqFt

Lot(SqFt)

List Price

Age

Sale Price

ACTIVE

12333 Viewoak Dr

Saratoga

5

4 (3/1)

34

3,294

$529.75

10,455

$1,745,000

42

20700 Maureen Wy

Saratoga

5

3

58

3,079

$513.15

12,180

$1,580,000

41

12302 Goleta Ct

Saratoga

5

3 (2/1)

37

2,500

$631.2

10,100

$1,578,000

39

19465 Eric Dr

Saratoga

4

2

43

2,794

$554.4

10,200

$1,549,000

9

12343 Arroyo De Arguello

Saratoga

4

3

21

2,464

$608.36

15,960

$1,499,000

38

12415 De Sanka Av

Saratoga

4

2

114

2,127

$704.28

11,550

$1,498,000

58

12010 Saraglen Dr

Saratoga

5

4 (3/1)

38

2,954

$473.56

10,030

$1,398,888

46

For Sale Condos/TownHomes: 1

20632 Oak Creek Ln

Saratoga

3

3 (2/1)

156

1,807

$469.78

$278

$848,888

30

For Sale Multi-Family: 0

Thanks for reading, Aloha & God bless you!

West San Jose Cupertino Schools Lynbrook High Homes MidWeek Update 11.12.09

West San Jose Cupertino Schools Lynbrook High Homes MidWeek Update 11.12.09

Hello & Happy Harvest Season! This is Michelle Carr Crowe with your Lynbrook High Homes Update for 11.12.09.

The housing market in West San Jose with Lynbrook High continues to be stable. Currently there are only 6 single family homes for sale (2 went pending and 1 new one came on the market since Sat., 11/07/09). Condos and townhomes remain steady with the same 7 for sale. There is also 1 multi-family fourplex for sale.

I have *6* different pre-approved buyers who want to buy in the in the next 30 days and move in before the Christmas holidays -but the homes they want and need aren't on the market right now. Who do you know who's thinking of selling that could use my help?

Tax Credit and Unemployment Benefits Officially Extended & Expanded

The existing tax credit for first-time buyers, originally set to expire at the end of the month, has been extended, expanded and approved by the House, Senate and President Barack Obama. The new measure allows both first-timers and existing homeowners to take advantage of thousands in the form of a tax credit. All properties must close by the end of April.

The measure would continue giving an $8,000 tax credit to first-time buyers.

In addition, it provides a $6,500 tax break to qualified homeowners looking to move up OR MOVE DOWN to middle-market homes that cost no more than $800,000. This can be an important bonus for seniors.

The legislation also significantly raises the qualifying income levels to $125,000 for individual income tax filers and to $225,000 for joint filers.

Finally, the bill would extend unemployment benefits 14 more weeks nationwide and 20 more weeks in California and other hard-hit states. That would give the long-term unemployed nearly two years' worth of benefits.

Reprinted with permission from the National Association of REALTORS®.

SELLERS: Click HERE to Find Out Home Values BEFORE You Sell

BUYERS: This week we have *3* separate 3 Br TownHome Opportunities in Monta Vista! All 3 are at least 3 Br and 2 Bath! All are in low-traffic locations, and feature 2-car garages, too. Please call 408.252.8900 to request a showing time. We must have your most current pre-approval letter on file prior to showing- you can email it to info@michellejudycarr.com or fax it to 408.378.9056.

VIP INVESTOR BUYERS ONLY: Call me regarding a potential teardown/remodel opportunity on a standard size (~6000sf) lot. Seller only wants to sell As-Is with no contingencies (getting reports is OK), preferably to cash buyer, reasonably priced.

BUYERS: Click HERE to Find Out Home Prices BEFORE You Buy

Get RE$ult$ Team Open House

Open Saturday 1:30-4:30! Grandma's Cottage Charmer in Willow Glen! 2180 Cheryl, San Jose 95125 REDUCED $$!

Asking $612K OR BEST WRITTEN OFFER !! Try FHA Loan - $21,525 Down Possible!*

For Sale Single Family Homes: 7

1033 Windsor St

San Jose

6

4

35

4,956

$482

10,950

$2,388,800

6

1681 Provincetown Dr

San Jose

4

3

160

2,800

$535.67

6,500

$1,499,888

1566 Duckett Wy #9

San Jose

4

4 (3/1)

1

2,315

$517.49

2,134

$1,198,000

1142 Johnson Av

San Jose

5

2

79

1,904

$530.46

6,549

$1,010,000

51

1432 Yilufa Ct

San Jose

4

4 (3/1)

36

2,309

$433.07

2,171

$999,950

1403 S Blaney Av

San Jose

3

2

9

1,357

$713.99

6,180

$968,888

50

1307 Centennial Ct

San Jose

3

2

3

1,176

$764.46

7,102

$899,000

50

For Sale Condos/TownHomes: 7

7250 Clarendon St

San Jose

3

3 (2/1)

9

1,448

$531.77

$300

$770,000

30

7126 Clarendon St

San Jose

3

3 (2/1)

28

1,448

$502.76

$300

$728,000

30

1082 Norfolk Dr

San Jose

2

2 (1/1)

16

1,149

$598.78

$295

$688,000

37

7150 Rainbow Dr #21

San Jose

2

2 (1/1)

269

1,050

$476.14

$393

$499,950

45

7100 Rainbow Dr #7

San Jose

2

1

31

968

$470.04

$374

$455,000

45

1155 Weyburn Ln #28

San Jose

2

1

58

814

$526.89

$330

$428,888

47

6942 Chantel Ct

San Jose

1

1

86

582

$462.2

$305

$269,000

109

For Sale Multi-Family: 1

1609 Brookvale Dr

San Jose

30

4,520

$298.67

7,668

$1,350,000

41

Thanks for reading, Aloha & God bless you!

Savings for Cupertino Seniors-the Tax Credit for Move-DOWN Cupertino Buyers

Savings for Cupertino Seniors-the Tax Credit for Move-DOWN Cupertino Buyers

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

Lost in the hoopla about extending and expanding the "up to" $8,000 credit for new homebuyers is the credit for existing homeowners. In my opinion, this can be "Senior Salvation" - a tax credit for move-DOWN Cupertino sellers and buyers.

I called my broker, my local real estate board, the California Association of REALTORS®, and even the IRS to ask my question: does this credit apply for move-down buyers?

So far the answer is, "As long as they qualify and have a tax to apply the credit to, it looks like YES."

To summarize:

•1. A first time homebuyer is one that has not owned a home for at least three years.

•2. A repeat homebuyer must have owned their current home for at least five consecutive years out of the last eight years.

•3. The maximum purchase price for the new home is $800,000.

•4. If single, your earning maximum to qualify is $125,000; if married, it's up to $250,000.

•5. There's no gap between the prior deadline (November 30th) and the new credit period, which ends April 30th.

•6. While you must be in a contract to purchase your new home on or before April 30th, you have until June 30th to close the transaction.

•7. To prove you qualify, you'll need to attach proof of purchase to your tax return (most likely a HUD-1 or final closing statement).

Caveat: please, please check with your tax professional and attorney before making any real estate commitments.

However, this may finally be a tax credit that helps seniors who've lived in their homes for more than five consecutive years of the past eight.

For example, a senior couple selling a $2 million dollar single family home in Cupertino Monta Vista they've owned for the past 8 years, then buying a new single-level 2 bedroom condo in San Jose for $650,000 not only get to keep their $500,000 tax-free capital gains benefit and transfer their tax basis, they can also now use up to $6,500 as a tax credit.

And as the capital gains $500,000 tax-free credit is set to EXPIRE as of December 31, 2010, now is a huge window of opportunity for seniors seeking to maximize their benefits.