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Pam Winterbauer ~ 2006 REALTOR® of the Year

Hayward Residents - Don't Forget to Vote on May 19

Hayward residents will go to the polls on Tuesday, May 19, to vote on Measure A - the 5.5 percent utility tax for basic city services. The Bay East Association of REALTORS® endorses Measure A because it will provide critical funding for police and fire services to help make neighborhoods safer.

For more information about Measure A, please click here.

Considering Moving to Hayward or to the East Bay? ~ Do you want to Buy or Sell a home?

Do you have clients with needs in the East Bay?

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Visit my website at http://pamwinterbauer.com

What's New in Washington DC?

Bay East Goes to Washington D.C.: With the federal government deeply involved in trying to jump-start the real estate market, the timing could not have been better to take our concerns to Washington D.C. A team of Bay East REALTORS® including President Pat Huffman, President-Elect Pam Winterbauer and treasurer Otto Catrina joined federal political coordinators Dorothy Jackson and Kevin Brown as REALTORS® from across the country descended on the nation's capitol as part of NAR's mid-year meeting.

Our visit to Capitol Hill was welcomed by elected officials and their staff looking for ideas to help housing and the economy. The Bay East team was ready to provide the REALTOR® perspective. On Wednesday, May 13, they met with staff members from Congress members Barbara Lee and Pete Stark. On Thursday, they met personally with Congressman Jerry McNerney. Our message focused on federal policies that impact home purchase financing; energy efficiency; commercial lending and health care reform.

  • Home Purchase Financing: Our team urged the East Bay congressional delegation to make the 2008 conforming loan limits permanent, extend the $8,000 Federal Tax Credit and make it available to all home buyers.
  • Energy Efficiency: We explained why proposed federal legislation that would require an energy audit at the point-of-sale would not accomplish the goal of making homes more energy efficient. Instead, we're supporting another bill that offers incentives to homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements.
  • Commercial Real Estate Financing: While the nation has been dealing with the fallout from sub-prime mortgages and ARMs resetting, commercial real estate financing also is at risk. Specifically, many loans for commercial real estate are based on very short terms and the lack of available credit means limited refinancing options. The Bay East team explained that the short, three-year term of the Term Asset-backed Securities Loans that help secure commercial mortgage-backed securities need to be extended.
  • Health Care Reform: The REALTOR® position on health care issues is to make sure small businesses and independent contractors are included in federal plans for making health care available and affordable.

All of the elected officals and staff we met with were receptive to our concerns and issues. NAR's lobbying team in Washigton D.C. welcomed our participation in their daily activies and encouraged REALTORS at the local level to help make sure Congress is aware that we're paying attention.

Considering Moving or to the East Bay? ~ Do you want to Buy or Sell a home?

Do you have clients with needs in the East Bay?

Search East Bay Area Properties

Visit my website at http://pamwinterbauer.com

South Livermore Plan Town Hall

The Alameda County Planning Department will hold a town hall-style meeting on Wednesday, April 22, to gather community input on the South Livermore Specific Plan. The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the Robert Livermore Community Center at 4444 East Ave. in Livermore. The topic for the town hall will be the definition of a "winery."

REALTOR® Impact: The South Livermore Specific Plan establishes land use regulations for parcels in the unincorporated areas south of Tesla Road. Changing these regulations and permitted uses for land in this area could directly impact both private property rights and property values.

Next Steps: If you or your clients own property in South Livermore, please attend town hall on April 22. For additional information, please contact Jana Beatty Weldon, senior planner for Alameda County, at jana.beatty@acgov.org or (510) 670-5400.

Considering Moving Livermore or to the East Bay? ~ Do you want to Buy or Sell a home?

Do you have clients with needs in the East Bay?

Search East Bay Area Properties

Visit my website at http://pamwinterbauer.com

Hayward REALTOR®, City Council Member at Central County Marketing Meeting

Anna May, a Bay East REALTOR® and Hayward city council member, will make a presentation at the Central County Marketing Meeting on Wednesday, April 25. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. and is held at Knudsens Ice Creamery at 3323 Castro Valley Blvd. in Castro Valley. Her presentation will be a great opportunity for REALTORS® to learn about running for an elected office and what it's really like to serve on a city council.

Considering Moving to the East Bay? ~ Do you want to Buy or Sell a home?

Do you have clients with needs in the East Bay?

Search East Bay Area Properties

Visit my website at http://pamwinterbauer.com

Hayward Vacant Property Ordinance Update

The City of Hayward wants to do something about blighted vacant residential properties. Last month a group of Bay East REALTORS® and Bay East staff met with City officials to educate them about the realities of dealing with vacant foreclosed properties. We suggested several alternatives, however the City seems intent on developing an ordinance that will ultimately do little to address the problems associated with vacant foreclosed properties.

Earlier this week, City staff released a draft version of a vacant property ordnance. This ordinance could require owners to register their property with the City of Hayward upon receiving a notice of default. Once registered these properties could be subject to inspection and a $1,000 per day fee if the property is not maintained.

Bay East is seeking REALTOR® input on this new ordinance. Please take a moment to review the ordinance by clicking here.

Considering Moving to Hayward or the East Bay? ~ Do you want to Buy or Sell a home?

Do you have clients with needs in the East Bay?

Search East Bay Area Properties

Visit my website at http://pamwinterbauer.com