Archive for March, 2010

We are always on the hunt for an insiders scoop on upcoming art events, restaurant recommendations, happy hour deals and fun things to do in Mountain View. More than ever, consumers are communicating in real-time via smart phones linked to Twitter about their first-hand experiences at local lunch spots, art galleries and entertainment venues by posting reviews on Yelp and check-ins with feedback on Foursquare or Gowalla. These local tweets can provide insight, feedback and even recommendations on a variety of topics.

Interested in what people are tweeting about near Gables End?

Take a look at our new, custom umapper map.  You can zoom in and out (top left) and recent tweets will load automatically in the new map.

Search keywords in twitter by using the search tab in the bottom right of the map.
Try typing keywords like SVRE, Gables End , townhomes or real estate to see what locals are saying about the housing market. An interesting trend is to see tech-savvy real estate agents and brokers use their smart phones to check-in to each open house on Broker Tour days and provide feedback via Twitter or leave feedback on those communities listed on geo-tagging sites like Foursquare and Gowalla. A great real-time client service!

Recently, SF Beer week was on twitter and it was fun watching nearby tweets recommend different ales and brews or pairings and tasting locations (Tied House, Gordon Biersch , Thirsty Bear Brewing ). Interested in art, music or wine? Try those keywords…you may hear about something new in the neighborhood!

You can even view the map and tweets in full screen mode by clicking on the full screen tab (top right).

Another way to stay tuned-into the local happenings is to follow the Gables End local Twitter list, a compilation of 55+ local businesses in Mountain View and just beyond!  http://twitter.com/GablesEnd/local

Friends of Gables End, be sure to join us on our Facebook Page too!

It is official. Mountain View first-time buyers this is an amazing opportunity!
Homebuyer tax credits will be continuing, adding a powerful incentive for those considering purchasing a new home. If you’re interested in purchasing a new home at Gables End, be in contract by April 30th to qualify for both California and Federal Housing Tax Credits!

The legislation, signed by the Governor Schwarzenegger today, allows first-time buyers in California  to begin claiming up to $10,000 tax credits starting May 1. Details regarding the legislation were posted in this recent Sacbee.com article (link)

In order to take advantage of this credit, Buyers needs to abide by certain criteria including:

• Must purchase the home between May 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010 and purchase date is the date escrow closes.
• This credit will be equal to 5% of the purchase price or $10,000, the lesser of the two.
• The tax credit must be taken in equal installments over three consecutive years.
• Purchasers will be required to live in the home as their principal residence for at least two years or forfeit the credit.

*California Association of Realtors Article about the Homebuyer Tax Credit (link)

The legislation allocates $200 million for more state tax credits – twice what was offered last year to 10,659 buyers of new, unoccupied homes. The state’s newest housing stimulus will grant $100 million in tax credits to first-time buyers of existing homes and $100 million to anyone who buys a new, unoccupied home. *

The state Franchise Tax Board is estimating that nearly 32,000 homeowners statewide might take advantage of  the tax breaks.

What about the Federal Housing Tax Credit?

Even better news for well-timed first-time purchasers! It may be possible to combine this credit with the Federal Tax credit (up to $8,000), enabling a home buyer to potentially capitalize on up to $18,000 in tax credits!  The catch is that you would need to be in contract by April 30, 2010, and close escrow between May 1, 2010 and June 30, 2010.

Federal Housing Tax Credit Summary (link)

*Restrictions apply, please contact a preferred lender for additional details.

Did you know Gables End is on Facebook?

We invite you to join the conversation and learn more about our community and about our larger community of Mountain View and Silicon Valley. One of the benefits of life at Gables End is access to so many area amenities in Mountain View. Favorite Mountain View restaurants, bars, retailers and area business Facebook pages are hosted on our Gables End Fanpage site creating an instant “yellow-pages” in one easy to find location. We love our local community and the entrepreneurs and businesses that support it.

Every week Gables End posts updated content featuring local area businesses, events and entertainment, homeowner tips, real estate news, design trends and the latest specials at our new home community. Become a fan and join the conversation! Your neighbors would love to hear about your favorite restaurant in town or paint color, the best place for happy hour or a recommended pet sitter.  If you have a knack with design, show us what you’ve done with your space at Gables End to give others great ideas. Post a photo of your new home.

Join Gables End Community on Facebook

We can’t wait to meet you!

Curious about the history of Facebook? Read the entire evolution from Facemash in 2003  to what we know as Facebook today on Wikipedia <A History of Facebook>   “Facebook is a social networking website that is operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc.^[1] Users can add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. Additionally, users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region.”

If you have considered purchasing a home, but are waiting for that “perfect time to buy” take note…
YOU MUST BE IN CONTRACT BY APRIL 30th!

The Buyer incentive tax credit may not be renewed for a third time.  According to industry leaders and lawmakers, the provision that puts up to $8,000 in first-time buyers’ pockets and up to $6,500 in move-up buyers’ pockets will soon come to an end.

In this LA Times Article, the end of the program is explained. Home buyers hoping to take advantage of a new or extended tax credit should not procrastinate: This third bite at the apple may be the last.

Legislative advocates of the $8,000 credit for first-time buyers and the $6,500 credit for move-up buyers made it clear during the debate on Capitol Hill that the benefits would not be renewed when they expire. This fact was confirmed by a lobbyist for the National Association of Realtors at the organization’s annual convention last month.

So what does that mean for potential buyers?  If buyers meet the income eligibility requirements, they have until midnight April 30, 2010 to be in contract and must close escrow by midnight June 30th to qualify.

A Brief History of the Buyer Credit Programs -

The original buyer credit, part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, was not as effective as anticipated by legislators. There were relatively few takers, due to the fact that the credit took the form of a no-interest loan rather than a true credit, requiring the purchaser to “pay back” the credit.

In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, lawmakers made the incentive to purchase more appealing by increasing the credit to a maximum of $8,000 for new buyers who closed before December 1st. The only requirement imposed for the program to be a true credit for the buyer – the taxpayer must not move out of the property for a three-year period following the purchase.

This second attempt at stimulating sales and removing standing inventory was extremely successful, so much so that that the housing lobby implored Congress to help keep the momentum going. Lawmakers extended the deadline for first-timers and even added a “long-term resident” tax credit for repeat buyers who owned their current home for at least five consecutive years out of the last eight.

An excellent summary of the current program can be found here.

Alas, all good things must eventually come to an end, and so it seems that the significant tax credit for purchasing a home in today’s market will soon run its course.

So if you have been considering making a purchase at Gables End, now is the perfect time to buy in order to take advantage of this great opportunity! Model Homes are open 10-5, daily at 1925 Plymouth Street in Mountain View.  Want to take a tour in photos? Visit Gables End on Flickr,  tour our new townhomes in photos or watch a slideshow. While you are there, have a look at our very popular 4 Bedroom plan – just released for sale!

Join our Gables End Fanpage to get weekly updates about our new home community and our greater community in Mountain View.

This Wednesday everyone turns Irish (it seems) in order to partake in the festivities. What are your plans for Saint Patrick’s Day? Whether you plan to stay at home and celebrate by cooking your favorite traditional foods — Irish soda bread, corned beef and cabbage + a number of green-tinted libations or you plan to head downtown to mingle and mix, we have you covered!

St. Stephens Green Irish Pub in Mountain View is starting this week with an Irish whiskey tasting paired with dishes such as smoked salmon on Irish soda bread ($35), while  Sakoon is offering lamb Irish stew ($20) and an Irish whiskey tasting with Indian Food Paring from 6-9 pm ($25). If you work in San Jose, O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub will be hosting its annual St. Patrick’s celebration with live music, Irish dancing, food and, of course, plenty of Guinness. And for those in the opposite direction Martins West in Redwood City is offering a gin tasting with K & L Wines on March 16th.

Some popular hot-spots close to Gables End Community:

Molly McGee’s 241 Castro St., Mountain View; (650) 961-0108.
St. Stephens Green Irish Pub 223 Castro St., Mountain View; (650) 964-9151.
Sakoon 357 Castro St., Mountain View; (650) 965-2000
Martin’s West  831 Main St. (near Broadway), Redwood City. (650) 366-4366.

Cooking Skills?

Sunset Magazine put together a nice comprehensive list of all the traditional Irish Fare with a Foodie twist. Click here for the recipes: A Foodie’s St. Patick’s Day

Staying home? Watch this video on Guinness:

Gables End is pet-friendly, so when we stumbled onto this little canine gem we had to share. Want to spend more quality time with your best friend? Looking for a  great list of dog friendly spots near our Mountain View community?

Fido Factor is a website featuring user-generated dog friendly listings including parks, restaurants, hotels, vets, pet stores, and more. They have photo galleries, helpful tips as well as news & events. They also donate to the SF/SPCA when you add new reviews and locations to their site. Check it out and add your favorite dog friendly spots!

Want more information on Fido Factor? Check out their website for Mountain View, fan them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

They even have an  iPhone app (watch the embedded video) .  Use it to find dog friendly dining, shopping, hotels, parks, pet stores, services, and more. The app also uses Facebook Connect and lets you geo-tag photos. How cool is that?

Take Fido on a stroll through Gables End and imagine a quaint New England village – an intimate community tucked away in Silicon Valley and the progressive and engaging City of Mountain View. We are open 10 -5 pm daily and are happy to give you a tour of our beautiful new home community. Your best friend will love life at Gables End as much as you do!

http://gablesendhomes.com

Congratulations on your new home at Gables End!

Even though our homes come move-in ready and are beautifully appointed…no remodel necessary, we understand the need to personalize your space. One of the easiest and quickest ways to add some personality is with a fresh coat of paint. Picking a paint color can be a daunting task. It’s a delicate balance between lighting, personality, mood and current trends. Are you one of those people whot feels overwhelmed by the process and are left with a dozen swatches on walls and no direction? Have a look at what the experts are saying about the freshest colors of 2010 and browse the list of The Hottest Paint Colors of 2010 in this House Beautiful article.

Our personal favorite is Pantone’s 2010 Color of The Year – PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise. Pantone supplies and tracks color for fashion and home decor, among other industries. Experts agree that the color is both universally appealing & puts everyone in a positive state of mind – think “vacation”! Even in small doses turquoise can inspire a sunny disposition…

More about Pantone and the color of the year pick can be found in this online article.

Still looking for your new home to call your own?

Our New E-Plan now available at Gables End! This long awaited plan features 1,873 approx. sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, granite countertops, surroundstone in bathrooms, expanded great room, high ceilings, large dual pane windows, hallway skylight, side by side garage and much more. Hurry, this plan is popular!

Limited supply and over 60% sold before our Grand Opening!
Contact Victoria or Antonio at 877.826.0704  http://www.regishomes.com/gablesend/
Gables End on Twitter -  http://twitter.com/GablesEnd
Gables End on Facebook

Need some “me time”?

The stress of everyday life can take it’s toll on your physical and mental health.  That is why it is so important to schedule some time to rest and rejuvenate yourself.  What better way than a relaxing spa treatment.  We are lucky at Gables End to have an incredible spa experience right here in our very own Mountain View community – Embody Wellness Spa.

Named Best Day Spa in Silicon Valley by the San Jose Mercury News in their 2008 Reader’s Choice Rankings, Embody Wellness Spa is best known for its high quality massages and facials. Their massage services also include deep tissue, hot stone, and advanced modalities such as fertility/pregnancy massage, and Orthobionomy™.

The Spa’s holistic approach also includes waxing; teeth whitening; yoga and wellness seminars on topic ranging from stress reduction, nutrition, fitness and creating a wellness
environment in your home.

So check them out at their website, their blog , Facebook or follow them on Twitter!

We love our local businesses in Mountain View! Gables End also hosted Embody a favorite on the Gables End Facebook Page + listed the spa on its Twitter local list for your convenience.

Planning on purchasing a new home but not sure where to start?  A basic understanding of your credit score is an important first step in the process of acquiring your dream home.

When applying for a mortgage, a lender will review your credit history. A negative history can have an effect on your new mortgage regarding rate and down payment requirements. Blemished credit is both stressful and costly, but it’s not the end. If you are ready for the commitment to purchase, plan ahead. There is still time to improve your credit history and take advantage of home ownership in today’s real estate market.

1.  Obtain a copy of your credit report. Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to a free credit report from each of the three nationwide reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every twelve months. It’s free here.

2.  Eliminate issues – Pay down large sums of any revolving debt. Spot identity theft. Dispute any inaccuracies.

3.  Practice good habits – Lenders will be looking at your rental payments, car payments, etc. Pay your bills on time! Most lenders look for 1 year’s worth of good history. Demonstrate to a lender you are capable of making monthly mortgage payments.

4.  Establish a credit history – If you lack one, secure a credit card and begin making timely payments. Make sure the credit card company reports your payment history to credit reporting agencies.

5.  Talk about housing needs with your significant other – Do you have realistic goals? Do you share priorities and a vision of what your new home will be? Does the area include future employment opportunities? Your first home may not be your dream home, but it should be a place that you envision sharing for a minimum of 2-3 years.

Purchasing a new home in today’s climate certainly has its advantages, including historically low rates, competitive pricing, tax write-offs and tax credits. Don’t be discouraged by a less than stellar credit report. Make the changes today so that you are prepared for tomorrow.