More meetings…..

I don’t know what planet we can see in the night sky…but it’s really close to the moon. This was taken on my cell phone last night..and it turned out better than I thought it would. 

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/@11887772

 

I’ve been to 4 meetings between yesterday and today. And they’re all important, at least to me.

Wednesday’s morning meeting was titled “Better Together” and it’s true…we are all better if we work together and share a bit of our real lives. I find that doing so, will open up doors to us, because we’re being truthful and vulnerable. This was at our Alameda  Chapter of the Bay East Assoc. of Realtors.

Then yesterday evening I went to our (every) Wed evening meeting at our church.  I was an usher, and I ushered folks in through the front door. This is always very calming to me because we have a great organist that plays on our huge pipe organ. There are hymns that we sing.  We listen to our First Reader read selections from the Bible and our textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and there’s some testimony time. These calm moments are more heavenly than earth-bound.

Today, I went out to the BayEast Association of Realtors, in Pleasanton, to hear our Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Gov (yep, that’s his first name) Hutchinson. I’ve been listening to him for years, going way back to the Harbor Bay Realty days.

Gosh, between his knowledge of rent control for the state of CA and our local rent control in Alameda (local city ordinances do supersede the state laws), I’m slowly, but surely, starting to get a handle on the specifics of our Alameda-style of rent control.

Then I finished up this evening with a group of housing experts from various agencies/companies at Independence Plaza (which is one of the City’s senior apartment/housing facilities, AND our Housing Authority office). This was sponsored by our local League of Women Voters. It was all about adding affordable housing and who/how/why we need it. We had experts there. Our Mayor was there, as well. I’m not sure this issue will be resolved, in my lifetime.

I ask myself…why do I do this? Then I answer myself: I want to hear it coming from the horse’s (person’s) mouth.  Attendance (or watching on Alameda cable 3) beats rumors. I do it for myself, and to keep apprised of what folks are thinking about. And maybe I can contribute something logical to the conversation: either with my clients or with neighbors & friends.

Alameda Real Estate this Week

Definitions:

MLS=Multiple Listing Service 

AC= active contingent=the buyer needs to sell something before s(he) can complete the transaction. In this instance, another buyer might write a back-up offer. If the primary buyer can’t meet the contract deadlines, it’s bye-bye to the first buyer. And the back-up offer moves into the primary position. Be sure your agent explains all of this to you! You do NOT want to lose your deposit to the Seller.

BOM=back on the market (could be that the buyer had some conditions in the contract that s(he) couldn’t meet in a timely manner.)

PCH= price change (seller either raised or dropped the price)

PSB=pending sale (seller wants backup offers)

Alameda Real Estate this Week

Broker Tour Tues 11

Active listings 64 (including 1 AC & 3 PSB)

Pending listings 11 (including 4 PSB)

Sold 10

That’s a wrap!

Have a good weekend!

best, marilyn