It’s so easy for sellers to mistakenly think for sale by owner is the way to go when you need to save money on selling a home, whether it’s in San Jose, Calif. or Manhttan, NY.

However as the story of ForSaleByOwner.com founder Colby Sambrotto shows, selling real estate for sale by owner is hard work, even when you have good knowledge and experience. Sometimes a for sale by owner can work at selling a home for six months, invest lots of money in advertising and open houses, (as well as feel permanently inconvenienced) and still not sell the home.

However, as Mr. Sambrotto found out, hiring a true real estate professional who takes the time to understand the seller (and seller’s motivation), the market and the buyers can make a huge difference in results!

In the The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Sambrotto shows how exchanging the FSBO model for a full service real estate agent was a winning one. As reported by Tim Fennell in ActiveRain, the story of Founder of For Sale By Owner Company Turns to REALTOR® for Help is spreading like wildfire.

Sambrotto’s wise choice to fire himself and hire a professional REALTOR® resulted in attracting multiple offers for his 2000 square foot condominium in New York.

And as a sweet bonus for his client, negotiated a final sales price of $150,000 OVER the asking price.

It’s easy to lose perspective when selling For Sale By Owner. Whether selling real estate in Silicon Valley or New York City, it’s a hard job.

As a professional REALTOR® I am thrilled for everyone involved in this transaction to see that a real estate professional achieved success for the client and made the difference in getting the job done well and right.

This story highlights the good news, and important role, that experienced, knowledgeable real estate agents are performing every day in aiding the U.S. real estate recovery.

You & the People You Care About are Invited to …

Michelle’s Get RE$ult$ Team’s First Look at
Our NEW CUPERTINO Office Open House !!

Sun., August 7th from 1:30-4:30
Treats, Tours & Chances for FREE PRIZES, too !!

Saratoga San Jose Lynbrook High Homes experts and Cupertino homes selling specialists

Aloha & God bless you,

Michelle

Michelle C. Carr-Crowe, DRE #00901962, and the Get RE$ult$ Team (established by the late Judy Carr) are known as the “Lynbrook and Cupertino Schools Experts.” Michelle is a creative catalyst for positive change in people’s lives.She is a Silicon Valley-based multi-million dollar real estate consultant who works by referral only. Her designations include: Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Accredited Luxury Home Specialist (ALHS), Accredited Staging Professional (ASP), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Property Marketing Expert (PME), Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist (RECS), and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES). In addition, she is an internationally-published freelance writer with over 1,000 traditional articles in print and online, as well as over 51,000 blog posts on Blogger, ActiveRain, MySpace, FaceBook, Realtor.com, Trulia, RealBird and others. She enjoys reading, traveling, animals, dancing, staging and praying. Check out her blog at www.activerain.com/results or visit her online at www.michellejudycarr.com or www.lynbrookhighhomes.com. For RE$ult$ … Just Call … (408) 252-8900.

By Michelle Carr-Crowe, San Jose Lynbrook High Home Expert Selling Homes in Cupertino Schools

Did you know there are multiple benefits to buying a home on a busy street? With the advent of the Internet, many buyers make the mistake of outright rejecting a home on a busy street before even visiting the virtual tour or an open house to see how a home possibly meets their needs, including financial affordability.

First, a home on a busy street is usually less costly than one on an inside street, often resulting in owning a significantly larger, nicer and/or better quality home. Surprisingly, people living on busy streets find it seems they have less crime because of the traffic and number of “eyeballs” of people out and about. Three, fewer solicitors (legitimate or otherwise) come knocking on the door.

Finally, there are two groups of people who frequently purchase homes on busy streets: investors and real estate agents. Both groups know the neighborhood benefits, such as award-winning schools, easy access to bus and public transportation as well as walking distance to shopping, dining and parks are the same, and sometimes better than, homes on inside streets, are at a lower price, and will still be easy to rent.

For someone who runs a small home-based business, such as tutoring, music lessons or alterations, a main street location offers extra benefits. As there is already existing traffic noise, the sounds from singing or music lessons is less likely to disturb the neighbors. Depending on the city, you may be able to display a small sign offering your services, giving you free daily advertising for your business. New business prospects find it easier to locate you on a well-known street.

Actually this last is true when your children begin meeting and making new school friends as well. Their parents know where you are, and that other people around will be on the lookout, too. Because it’s a main street, parents feel okay just “driving by” to make sure everything seems okay. For families who entertain a lot or enjoy loud activities (band players, drummers or music lovers) a busy street can even eliminate neighbors’ noise complaints.

Also, it can be the difference between living in a townhome or owning a single family home, especially when you factor in the cost of HOA dues. For example, in San Jose Lynbrook High a large, ~1790-sf townhome is asking $850K while the ~1441-sf storybook cottage on ~7700-sf at 6404 Bollinger is asking $883K.

ALL San Jose Lynbrook High Homes 1200-1750-sf sold since 01/01/2011

# LISTINGS: 33 AVG VALUES: 16 35 1,452 $694.96 6,275 $961,664 49 $1,000,255

Inside Streets San Jose Lynbrook High Homes 1200-1750-sf

# LISTINGS: 26 AVG VALUES: 14 37 1,445 $710.61 6,238 $970,813 50 $1,017,670

Streets with Traffic San Jose Lynbrook High Homes 1200-1750-sf

# LISTINGS: 7 AVG VALUES: 26 29 1,496 $622.43 6,670 $921,954 50 $922,286

In the example above, homes on low-traffic streets sold for about $95,000 more than those on streets with traffic. At these prices, that represents about a ten percent difference in price paid.

Before bypassing what could be your dream home because it’s located on a busy street, why not take a look at homes like 6404 Bollinger, San Jose at the July 17, 2011 open house, and examine all of your options before choosing the perfect home for your family.

Recent San Jose Lynbrook High Homes for Sale and Sold

ACTIVE Single Family Residential

Address City Beds Bath DOM LOE SqFt $/SqFt Lot (SF) List Price Age Sale Price

6312 Bollinger Road San Jose 4 3|0 4 1,363 $636.83 7,370 $868,000 52

SOLD Single Family Residential 

6585 Prospect Road San Jose 4 2|0 38 30 1,731 $557.48 8,300 $997,900 54 $965,000

6283 Rainbow Drive San Jose 4 3|0 39 32 1,606 $594.65 5,940 $978,000 50 $955,000

1197 Johnson Avenue San Jose 3 2|0 29 21 1,685 $563.80 5,959 $968,000 43 $950,000

1112 Johnson Avenue San Jose 3 2|0 31 27 1,379 $667.15 6,060 $943,888 53 $920,000

1132 Miller Avenue San Jose 3 2|0 7 22 1,226 $750.41 6,264 $918,000 50 $920,000

6448 Rainbow Drive San Jose 4 2|0 20 28 1,484 $647.57 6,800 $899,000 51 $961,000

6312 Bollinger Road San Jose 4 3|0 15 41 1,363 $575.94 7,370 $748,888 52 $785,000

# LISTINGS: 7 AVG VALUES: 26 29 1,496 $622.43 6,670 $921,954 50 $922,286

# LISTINGS: 2 AVG VALUES: 3 1,402 $624.80 7,535 $875,500 53

Do You Remember How Summertime Felt?

A warm sunny day. Take a walk down to the creek. Skip rocks. Try to show someone else how to skip rocks. Laugh. Take your shoes off. Wade in the icy-cold water. Watch a water-strider. Scoop up mouthfuls of snowmelt water. Slip on a mossy rock. Laugh. Find a cool rock. Climb on a log. Read a book. Dangle your feet in the water and notice you disturbed some minnows. Laugh. Maybe take a photo so you can remember it again and share it with your family.

Do you remember how summer time felt?

by Michelle Carr-Crowe, Your Lynbrook & Cupertino Schools Expert

Hello, this is Michelle Carr-Crowe with your Lynbrook High Homes Update for June 25, 2011.

Single Family Homes for sale are at 13 while combined TownHomes/Condos are at 11. Pending SFH sales are at 14, while pending TH/Condo sales are at 6. Only 1 SFH closed and 2 TownHomes and 1 Condo closed this week.

TOO LATE! 1197 Johnson is now Sold! Thanks to everyone who came to see this beautiful home. Please welcome your new neighbors when they move in.

Free Orange Chicken at Panda Express Tonight June 24

TONIGHT is FREE Orange Chicken Night at Panda Express. As part of promoting their new later summer hours, they are offering a single serving of free orange chicken after 9pm tonight. FYI, the El Paseo de Saratoga location is open until midnight and the West San Jose location at Stevens Creek & Lawrence is open until 11:30

Did you miss the Murdock MOVIE NIGHT last week? The Murdock Neighborhood Association is sponsoring another free community movie night this summer, during National Night Out, so put August 2^nd on your calendar for a great family night of fun!

Single Family ACTIVE: 13

Address City Beds Bath DOM LOE SqFt $/SqFt Lot (SF) List Price Age Sale Price

1140 Little John Way San Jose 6 3|0 28 2,386 $518.86 6,489 $1,238,000 47

6002 Pilgrim Avenue San Jose 5 3|0 71 2,124 $559.32 6,077 $1,188,000 49

1150 Bentoak Lane San Jose 4 2|0 3 1,736 $682.03 5,974 $1,184,000 46

1358 Suzanne Court San Jose 4 2|0 30 1,876 $628.94 7,526 $1,179,888 54

1255 Oak Knoll Drive San Jose 5 2|1 9 2,156 $546.38 6,060 $1,178,000 46

5526 Castle Manor Drive San Jose 3 2|0 7 1,641 $700.18 7,070 $1,149,000 44

6373 Devonshire Drive San Jose 5 3|0 11 1,936 $567.61 6,480 $1,098,888 54

6522 Canterbury Court San Jose 3 2|0 30 1,271 $785.21 5,940 $998,000 53

1080 Windsor Street San Jose 3 2|0 3 1,884 $529.72 7,020 $998,000 49

5750 Harder Street San Jose 3 2|0 51 1,187 $811.29 5,985 $963,000 53

6839 Devon Way San Jose 3 2|0 7 1,357 $698.60 6,240 $948,000 52

1377 Stephen Way San Jose 3 2|0 15 1,247 $757.82 6,300 $945,000 54

6802 Westmoor Way San Jose 3 2|0 4 1,300 $724.62 6,767 $942,000 52

# LISTINGS: 13 AVG VALUES: 21 1,700 $654.66 6,456 $1,077,675 50

Single Family PENDING: 14

Address City Beds Bath DOM LOE SqFt $/SqFt Lot (SF) List Price Age Sale Price

1090 Huntingdon Drive San Jose 6 4|1 6 2,902 $447.28 6,660 $1,298,000 53

6765 Charlene Court San Jose 4 2|0 10 2,299 $521.10 12,400 $1,198,000 55

5515 Bigoak Drive San Jose 5 2|1 34 2,112 $562.50 5,916 $1,188,000 46

6325 Slida Drive San Jose 4 2|1 9 1,937 $587.96 10,440 $1,138,888 37

1466 Sturgeon Way San Jose 3 2|0 9 1,507 $728.60 5,940 $1,098,000 46

1117 White Cliff Drive San Jose 4 2|0 9 1,662 $649.82 6,048 $1,080,000 50

1060 Harlan Drive San Jose 3 2|0 13 1,561 $638.05 6,386 $996,000 44

1151 Lynbrook Way San Jose 4 3|0 23 1,508 $655.70 5,994 $988,800 52

1197 Johnson Avenue San Jose 3 2|0 29 1,685 $574.48 5,959 $968,000 43

6093 Countess Drive San Jose 3 2|0 14 1,226 $781.40 6,099 $958,000 50

6501 Hanover Drive San Jose 3 2|0 35 1,300 $736.92 6,000 $958,000 51

1480 Pine Grove Way San Jose 4 2|0 10 1,532 $619.45 6,018 $949,000 47

6947 West Riverside Way San Jose 3 2|0 28 1,350 $696.21 6,300 $939,889 55

6448 Rainbow Drive San Jose 4 2|0 20 1,484 $605.80 6,800 $899,000 51

# LISTINGS: 14 AVG VALUES: 18 1,719 $628.95 6,926 $1,046,970 49

Single Family SOLD: 1

Address City Beds Bath DOM LOE SqFt $/SqFt Lot (SF) List Price Age Sale Price

1174 Arlington Lane San Jose 4 2|0 9 29 1,483 $701.96 6,098 $968,000 52 $1,041,000

Townhouse/Condo ACTIVE: 11

Address City Beds Bath DOM LOE SqFt $/SqFt HOA List Price Age Sale Price

1009 Tulipan Drive San Jose 3 2|1 52 1,950 $435.90 $405 $850,000 41

7167 Brisbane Court San Jose 3 2|1 21 1,790 $446.37 $190 $799,000 27

7134 Clarendon Street San Jose 3 2|1 9 1,448 $475.14 $310 $688,000 32

1038 Gardenwood Drive San Jose 2 2|0 3 1,042 $603.65 $295 $629,000 38

1594 Brookvale Drive San Jose 2 1|1 8 985 $537.97 $180 $529,900 38

6881 Chantel Court San Jose 2 2|1 30 1,056 $475.27 $380 $501,888 24

6937 Chantel Court San Jose 2 2|1 23 1,056 $416.19 $380 $439,500 24

7110 Rainbow Drive #6 San Jose 2 1|0 23 968 $452.48 $366 $438,000 47

6943 Chantel Court San Jose 2 2|1 53 1,051 $408.08 $379 $428,888 24

7100 Rainbow Drive #7 San Jose 2 1|0 8 968 $387.40 $366 $375,000 47

7101 Rainbow Drive #8 San Jose 1 1|0 72 700 $494.29 $338 $346,000 47

# LISTINGS: 11 AVG VALUES: 27 1,183 $466.61 $326 $547,743 35

Townhouse/Condo PENDING: 6

Address City Beds Bath DOM LOE SqFt $/SqFt HOA List Price Age Sale Price

1011 Tulipan Drive San Jose 3 2|1 19 2,096 $417.46 $405 $875,000 41

6154 Regency Oaks Drive San Jose 3 2|1 16 1,532 $528.39 $295 $809,500 39

1045 Regency Knoll Drive San Jose 3 2|1 8 1,532 $503.92 $295 $772,000 39

1069 Regency Knoll Drive San Jose 3 1|1 13 1,214 $576.51 $295 $699,888 39

1155 Weyburn Lane #29 San Jose 2 1|1 15 814 $488.94 $346 $398,000 49

7150 Rainbow Drive #7 San Jose 2 1|0 37 968 $380.17 $366 $368,000 47

# LISTINGS: 6 AVG VALUES: 18 1,359 $482.57 $334 $653,731 42

Townhouse/Condo SOLD: 3

Address City Beds Bath DOM LOE SqFt $/SqFt HOA List Price Age Sale Price

7159 Brisbane Court San Jose 3 2|1 8 30 1,790 $460.89 $190 $799,000 27 $825,000

7173 Brisbane Court San Jose 3 2|1 19 44 1,790 $434.64 $190 $775,000 27 $778,000

6900 Chantel Court San Jose 1 1|0 9 34 582 $477.66 $304 $289,000 24 $278,000

Thanks for reading & God bless you!

Michelle

Other blogs & articles you may enjoy reading can be found at www.activerain.com/results

Hope to speak with you in person soon – Just Call 408-252-8900.

Other recent articles you may find interesting:

15 Questions Every Client MUST Ask ANY Agent BEFORE Committing

Stage to Sell: 5 Simple Staging Tips Anyone Can Master

Why Buy a Home in Lynbrook, San Jose, Santa Clara, Cupertino, Palo Alto or Saratoga in 2011?

Ten Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance

Use All Five Senses for a Successful Open House

Economic Outlook NAR Research

Free Cupertino Schools Home Buyers Tool Kit

MythBusters 9 True Stories Behind Foreclosures, Short Sales

How to Find a HUD Home Bargain in Santa Clara County

Just starting to look for homes? First-time home buyers may find this instructional video, Shopping for a Home in 2011 Video, helpful.

FREE Home Sellers ToolKit  www.freehomesellerstoolkit.com

FREE Home Buyers ToolKit www.freehomebuyerstoolkit.com

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by Michelle Carr-Crowe, Top 5% San Jose real estate agent

Yes, your child can get a FREE Chili’s kids meal tomorrow, June 15th. To celebrate and acknowledge the end of the school year and beginning of summer vacation, Chili’s invites adults to invite a child to dine together and enjoy a free kids meal.

Free Chili's Kids Meals June 15 2011

The fine print: one child meal is free for a child 12 or under per adult entrée ordered.

You can get phone numbers and directions to the numerous Chilis San Jose Santa Clara County Locations .

Please verify with your desired Chili’s location that they are participating-and be sure to print out the above coupon and/or keep this blog up on your SmartPhone to show them the coupon when you order. You can also sign up for Chili’s e-mail newsletter and be eligible for free chips and queso on a future visit.

Imagine the fun you can have treating a child you care about out to eat…and enjoying the experience at a discount, courtesy of Chili’s.

Chilis San Jose Santa Clara County Locations

by Michelle Carr-Crowe Top 5% Santa Clara County Real Estate Agent, Senior Real Estate Specialist 408-252-8900

Did you know the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors wants to eliminate one of the most critical property tax breaks for senior citizens?

Proposition 90 allows seniors to transfer their property tax base when they purchase a home of the same or lesser value in one of the 8 participating California counties. (Only 8 of the 58 California counties participate but according to research, these 8 represent 60% of the state’s population.)This Tues., June 14th at 1:30, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is meeting at 70 W. Hedding in San Jose to vote on discontinuing Proposition 90 for the upcoming year.

As part of the Santa Clara County Proposed Budget for 2012, the County Executive and Assessor are recommending the Board of Supervisors repeal the local ordinances implementing Proposition 90 effective January 1, 2012. The County is currently facing a $220 million budget shortfall of a $4 billion budget. The repeal will not create a slight increase in revenue until 2013, which we estimate to be $150,000.

Please join the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS®, the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® and homeowners from San Jose, Saratoga and Cupertino in opposing this proposal by sending a letter to the Board of Supervisors and if possible, joining us in attending the June 14, Board of Supervisors Meeting starting at 1:30 PM at 70 West Hedding St., San Jose.

The most recent figures (from 2009): 62 people moved out and 26 moved in. HOWEVER, for the 62 who took advantage of Proposition 90 to move from Santa Clara County to one of the 7 other participating Prop. 90 counties, 62 new families moved in AND PAID NEW HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES. That results in an overall net GAIN to the County in terms of tax revenue.

For more information regarding Prop. 90 or to respond to this call to action, go to https://realtorparty.realtoractioncenter.com/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1628.

Thank you for reading and acting on your beliefs today.

By Michelle Carr-Crowe, Top 5% San Jose Silicon Valley real estate agent

Catch my happy…please. Why? It just might help you (and me) to feel better about life, real estate and the world in general. It could even spread to our friends and colleagues we share the happy with on FaceBook.

Facebook Spreads Emotions Among Friends tells the whole story. Published by the San Jose Mercury News on June 4, 2011, the article details FaceBook research about emotional transfer via the social networking site. (FYI, the Mercury only allows free downloads of their recent articles for the first 7 days, so be sure to check out Mike Swift’s story soon, or be prepared to pay for it.)

Facebook data scientist Adam D.I. Kramer analyzed postings by about 1 million English speakers and about 150 million of their FaceBook friends in the U.S. and abroad. His study showed the words people use in their status updates drive the emotions of their online friends, even days later.

Writing emotionally loaded words like “happy,” “hug,” “sick,” and “vile” in status updates sparked similar emotions in later Facebook postings by users’ friends…in fact, it affected the friends for up to three days later.

Interestingly, the affect resulted in the FaceBook friends also using more similarly emotionally loaded words; e.g. if using “happy,” the friends also used an even greater number of positive words…and reduced their use of negative ones.

Before you discount Kramer’s analysis, keep in mind his data is used to design and market FaceBook’s social products and the advertising that powers the site. (FYI, FaceBook CEO Mark Zuckerberg studied psychology at college.)

Did you know that psychologists have long known that emotions, just like germs, are contagious? People exposed to a person experiencing strong emotions may experience similar feelings, whether happiness or anger or fear. Psychologists believe emotions are caught via facial expressions, tones of voice and even body language. But this is the first study to show emotions are also “caught” through social media.

Interestingly, the negative impact is strong. For example, for every negative word Facebook members used in a status update, such as “sick,” their Facebook friends subsequently used 28 percent more negative words on the following day than would be expected, based on their pattern of speech at other times.

So be careful what you write and post about. In other words, Catch My Happy…Please.

Other stories on this post you may like:

Facebook’s Gross National Happiness index www.apps.facebook.com/gnh_index

Other Facebook data team academic papers www.facebook.com/data?sk=app_4949752878.

Facebook Spreads Emotions Among Friends http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_18183052?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1

Most Expensive Homes in Santa Clara County

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by Michelle Carr-Crowe, Top 5% San Jose real estate agent

Did you know this Friday June 3, 2011 is National Doughnut Day?

I’ll bet you didn’t even remember there was such a commemoration of the holy dessert. According to the Salvation Army’s official website and Facebook page, National Doughnut Day was created in 1938 by the Salvation Army as a way to honor the women who served dougnuts to soldiers during World War I.

Known as “doughnut lassies” these hard-working volunteers didn’t just pass out doughnuts, they made them by hand first.

Now I don’t know if any local, independent doughnut shops in your area will be participating, but in the Greater San Jose Area (Santa Clara County), Krispy Kreme is offering a free donut from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on Friday at all participating stores. (Interesting side note: Krispy Kreme was founded in 1937, just one year earlier than National Doughnut Day.)

In Santa Clara County, there is only one Krispy Kreme store, the one in Mountain View. Other nearby locations include Daly City and Union City. No purchase necessary!

Separately, Dunkin Donuts is offering a Free Doughnut with Purchase Day Friday. (e.g. if you purchase a beverage, {except for cooler beverages} you get a free doughnut while supplies last) at participating Dunkin Donuts locations.

Be sure to call ahead to verify participation before you trek out there for nothing. I thought there was a location at Camden & Bascom in San Jose but their restaurant locator shows no Dunkin’ Donuts stores within 50 miles, which just doesn’t sound right.

Hopefully, you will get to enjoy a free doughnut this Friday.

Participating Santa Clara County, California Krispy Kreme Stores:

Mountain View 2146 Leghorn Street 94043 650-254-1231

Other nearby Bay Area locations

Daly City 1575 Sullivan Avenue 94015 650-985-5612

Union City 32450 Dyer Street 94587 510-471-6121