patrick.net

And make them BIG bathrooms and BIG bedrooms, gosh darn it!

Yeah... nice to have these but not necessary:

* bedrooms no smaller than 13x11
* walk-in closets
* newer appliances

and of course... pergraniteels! :)

It keeps getting better and better. I posted this link last month, and now they have updated the stats for week ending 4/20. This is for the Tri Valley area - which will pop before the core Bay Area.

http://tinyurl.com/m432t

The listings are dramatically up and pending sales are dramatically down YOY. It was a very similar story last month. This spring season is already dead there. I think 2007 spring is going to be far worse.

I do not see such drastic signs yet for the Cupertino - Sunnyvale area. The inventory of Cupertino has not increased as much (% wise) as these cities on Easy Bay. We will see what happens in summer.

Everything seems to be going according to the script.

Yeah, but Lexuses are too understated as a substitute.

California is pretty easy on cars. If they're well taken care of, they can last a very very long time.

Peter P,

If you're looking at anything near the street or parking lots, double paned windows will help a lot with the noise.

If you’re looking at anything near the street or parking lots, double paned windows will help a lot with the noise.

I rather avoid street noises altogether. I need air!

Yeah, but Lexuses are too understated as a substitute.

Turn on the xenon headlight and it will no longer be understated. ;)

I loath xenon lights...and idiots who use high lights on busy streets...

I loath xenon lights…and idiots who use high lights on busy streets…

Actually, xenon light is a very good way to increase visibility without annoying people.

No, do not use high beam. I hate people who use high beam inappropriately.

"I believe the ZX2 was based on the Escort, not on the Taurus.
Nitpickingly,
PS"

Oops, I guess I just blew my domestic car credentials. Can you tell I really don't like that ZX2?

Thanks :P

>Can you recommend something near Palo Alto (within 5 miles)?

The cats are the problem of course. Our past two landlords didn't want our dog but took us anyway (a good credit score and landlord references help of course). You can always meet first then bring up the pet. It might waste both of your time, but we've squeezed the dog past with an introduction.

How about:

http://www.craigslist.org/pen/apa/154273172.html

Asking Rent is a starting point. We've paid less than asking 2/4 times. A good credit history and a polite no-hassel demeanor can save you $100/month. Project that you don't need to move and that you're fence-sitting and then make your offer.

Alright, back to work. You guys waste enough of my time as it is... ;-)

Peter P,

I don't know, I find the xenon lights way too bright, especially when they're coming at me and there are no dividers.

The cats are the problem of course. Our past two landlords didn’t want our dog but took us anyway (a good credit score and landlord references help of course). You can always meet first then bring up the pet. It might waste both of your time, but we’ve squeezed the dog past with an introduction.

FRIFY, thanks for the recommendation.

We will try. There was one time we offered $100 more plus double deposit but the LL still did not want cats. Strange.

I don’t know, I find the xenon lights way too bright, especially when they’re coming at me and there are no dividers.

Hmm... perhaps they had high beam on? I find them very bright but not blinding.

(My wife hated them until we got a car with them ;) )

Hey I’m just the renter, they don’t talk to us anyway so why should I care.

Huh? Don't you have litter boxes?

Peter P,

Now you know why smart landlords hesitate on pets. I've heard several stories of people who've rented to renters with dogs, and they had to replace all the carpet and backing because the house smelt like dog piss afterwards.

Now you know why smart landlords hesitate on pets. I’ve heard several stories of people who’ve rented to renters with dogs, and they had to replace all the carpet and backing because the house smelt like dog piss afterwards.

But cats use litter boxes. And how much is new carpeting anyway? They can just charge higher rent and/or deposit.

I have never had a problem with the cats. Some people want a bit more deposit, but i have never had to pay cat rent. How can cats be expected to pay rent, for jeebus sakes they don't have pockets.

The street is quite risky for cats.

I am most definitely a cat person. My wife is probably a 60/40 dog/cat person. One of our cats is dog-like and can fetch if she feels like.

Agreed, dogs are too much work. A good one can be very rewarding, but there are so many idiot/hyper dogs out there. Of course, this current trend of "rescued" dogs and people overindulging their dogs makes everything so much worse.

I prefer goldfish and plants though. Very soothing. Plus, nobody calls me a murderer if I inadvertantly kills something. And no vets bills.

I finally went to realtor.com and checked out the specs for this house. I thought this was an outlier, but it looks like all Palo Alto houses in this price range are similarly cramped and unpleasant.

What can possibly persuade a family to part with that much money? For something that would be lower middle class living almost anywhere else in America! For $1.5 million I could start my own business and live anywhere I want. How could anyone want to live in 1,500 sq ft, 50+ year old, street facing lower middle class housing?

For $1.5 million I could start my own business and live anywhere I want. How could anyone want to live in 1,500 sq ft, 50+ year old, street facing lower middle class housing?

I really do not understand the appeal of Palo Alto.

I really do not understand the appeal of Palo Alto.

ITS PRIME!

ITS PRIME!

I am sure Marina is more prime than Palo Alto.

West Menlo and Sharon Height are so much nicer than PA.

Peter, why does it matter if the $tucco $hitbox is 1.5 mil? Hell it could be 1.9 or 3.6mil, doesn't matter, that house will be 2X from what you bought it for the following year. Sit in it sipping your courvoisier from a big snifter and laugh at all of JBR's that aren't as super saavy as you. I just put a bid in on that house, just to be safe I came in 26.5% more than asking, the realtor said (both selling/buying agent) that this is a good idea as they aren't making land any more.

Peter, why does it matter if the $tucco $hitbox is 1.5 mil? Hell it could be 1.9 or 3.6mil, doesn’t matter, that house will be 2X from what you bought it for the following year. Sit in it sipping your courvoisier from a big snifter and laugh at all of JBR’s that aren’t as super saavy as you. I just put a bid in on that house, just to be safe I came in 26.5% more than asking, the realtor said (both selling/buying agent) that this is a good idea as they aren’t making land any more.

I am just curious why people choose Palo Alto over Los Altos and West Menlo.

If safety was no concern, I would like to get a 1990 CR-X in good condition. Those are cheap, reliable, and fun to drive. Unfortunately, my family would kill me before I killed myself in a CR-X.

If safety was no concern, my dream car would be an old (1970) Mercedes 600:

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/profiles/2003/May/German/index.html

What a beauty!

Peter P,

Even your adventurous choices are stodgy! :)

British made vehicles have an incredible depreciation curve, no?

I'm thinking of anything still made in Britain. So Rolls, LandRover, Jaguar, MINI, and Bentleys are all British in my book.

I guess the MINI is holding up pretty well so far. Can't comment on the Rolls and Bentleys. However, Jaguars and LandRovers do not hold up their value well.

The MINI was designed by BMW and built largely with BMW parts, so it should have a depreciation curve similar to the 3 series.

Have you looked into Stanford West? It’s much easier to get into if you have a Stanford affliliation, but it’s not bad. Meets all your criteria, in fact. It’s even sort of on the way to West Menlo…

I have not! Perhaps I should. :) Thanks!

I think it’s the perception of the schools. Yes, LA has good schools too, but the PA schools are the bomb for the hyper-competitive set. Paly and Gunn are where it’s at, if you want your kids to make it… I disagree, of course, but that also, for example, explains why Emerald Hills (Redwood City schools) is so much cheaper than comparable areas near 280.

Sounds reasonable...

Personally, I think high school education is pretty much irrelevant anyway. Parental attention is the most important.

How about living in a reasonable area and sending your kids to an eastern boarding school, if you don't have to get stuck in the bay area? I never liked the BA. Too much superficial, childish happiness. Too many fucking Orientals and the likes bent on making money.

Of course I paid a price for my dislike -- I passed a chance to collect $40mil.

But, there will be other chances.

I passed a chance to collect $40mil.

Everyone in the BA has made at least this....by age 20.

I passed a chance to collect $40mil.

250 HaHa.

There are no HaHa millionaires yet. Even Bill Gates have less than 1M HaHa.

Only deficits exceed 1M HaHa.

"I passed a chance to collect $40mil."

I cleaned out my purse today and found $40 million on the bottom...

SQT,

That's interesting. I'd definitely be up for a mid 90s 5 series priced around $15K.