A Whole Lot of Shaking Going 0n Last Night!

By Alicia Lanier, REALTOR

Did you feel that one? Me, too!

I had just finished watching Obama and Edwards methodically beat up on Hillary for over an hour in the Democratic presidential candidate debate … and observed that Senator Clinton’s facial expressions gradually evolved from her usual leading-the-polls friendly smile (aren’t you guys nice!) to a more antagonistic frown (this isn’t fun anymore!)

Then, Shake-Shake-Shake!! It was my second earthquake, the first being a teeny little tremor three or four years ago that lasted just a second or two. But this shake was long enough for me to head for the door jamb in the hallway. Actually it would have been just as close to go outside through the front door – and probably safer - but, being a relative newbie to earthquakes, I wasn’t thinking all that clearly. I stood there in the doorway, with the floor continuing to feel unsettled beneath me, long enough to wonder if this might be The Big One. And then to worry that the epicenter might have been near my daughter and her family.

Finally, after a very long 30 seconds, the shaking was over. I first grabbed my land-line phone and heard  a busy signal … a busy signal? Then I grabbed my cell phone and headed out the front door. I wasn’t alone … there were other neighbors doing the same, calling family to make sure they were safe. However, I had cell reception, but my repeated attempts to call my daughter wouldn’t go through.

Finally, after chatting with the neighbors (You, okay? Yeah, How about you?) I went back inside to see whether the TV reporters were on this story. Not yet. So I checked my land-line again and realized I had a normal dial tone. Called The Daughter in Alameda. They had felt it, too, but were okay. She had heard that this quake was centered in Alum Rock … and was a 5.6 quake.

By then, the scrolls on my TV screen were verifying that this quake was not as bad as I’d feared. It was the most powerful earth quake in the San Jose-San Francisco Bay Area since the devastating 6.9 Loma Prieta quake in October, 1989. Calls on my cell phone still weren’t going through … what was that about? I consider my emergency stash to include flashlight & batteries, candles & matches, water & canned tuna, and, yes, my cell phone!

I am a native of Tornado Alley and should be used to Mother Nature’s wrathful little tantrums that sometimes take shape as thunder and lightning and whirling wind. But, hey, back in Texas we actually were warned when tornadoes were headed our way, even alerted with blasting sirens atop the neighborhood fire station. Folks in hurricane-prone cities and towns get even more advance notice. But these earthquakes … oh my, they are sneaky little shakers with no early warning to most of us.

TIP: This one may have been just a wake-up call for all of us in earthquake country. I highly recommend you go to the American Red Cross website and read their excellent guide on earthquake preparedness for your famly and home.

I am glad that this time we avoided the big one and I believe we’ll also survive the aftershocks … 30 small aftershocks at last count. But, what do you think … will Hillary continue to survive her shaking by all her competitors  – and the resulting aftershocks? 

Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR who lives in Campbell and is a member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally  www.AliciaLanier.com  408-491-1634 

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“Trick” or “Treat” for Health Care Reform?

By Alicia Lanier, REALTOR

After vetoing two separate health care reform bills passed by the California Legislature – this year’s Assembly Bill 8 and last year’s Senate Bill 840 (Single Payer) – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has finally put pen to paper for his own reform proposal. Now he’s called a special Legislative session and his health care proposal will be heard Wednesday – on Halloween - by the California Assembly Health Committee, chaired by Mervyn Dymally. Sofar, no lawmakers have stepped up to author a bill using his concept.

This will be the first legislative consideration of the 220-page bill language of the Governor’s health care reform proposal. There will be no vote; it is called an informational hearing only.

In past weeks, there have been many behind-the-scenes negotiations among lawmakers about the future of health care reform in California. Still on the table is the 2007 Senate Bill 840, the Single Payer health care reform proposal. Its author, Senator Sheila Kuehl, turned SB 840 into a two-year bill because of another threatened veto by the Governor who says his concept of a “shared responsibility” health care proposal retaining the current private insurance system is a better approach.

However, a Field Poll released this past August showed that Californians are now leaning toward a state-managed “single-payer” system. The poll said support for the single-payer system has risen from 24 to 36 percent in the last few months and support for the Governor’s concept has dropped from 52 to 33 percent.

The Governor’s proposal, as now written, was previewed in its first public forum in Santa Clara County last week (October 26) when Senator Elaine Alquist held a Health Care Reform Forum in Santa Clara. Senator Alquist is listed as an author for both SB 840 and AB 8.

Speaking on behalf of the three health care proposals were Agnes Lee, Director, Senate Office of Research, speaking for AB 8 as proposed by Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate Pro Tempore, Don Perata; Sara Rogers, Consultant, Office of Senator Sheila Kuehl, speaking for single-payer health care as proposed by Senator Sheila Kuehl in SB 840; and Cindy Ehnes, Director, California Department of Managed Health Care, speaking on the administrative approach to health care reform as proposed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

On two other panels were representatives from Working Partnerships, People Acting in Community Together (PACT), The Permanente Medical Group, San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, Valley Medical Center, Santa Clara Family Health Plan, California Primary Care Association, and Santa Clara County Medical Society.

The hearing room at Santa Clara University was almost full for the event – and attendees were rewarded by an indepth discussion of the proposals, of how each would impact consumers and providers in our county, and how they would impact local governments and the health care delivery systems they support.

Proponents of the single-payer concept of affordable health insurance for all Californians, as embodied in SB 840, say this  program would cover everyone with eligibility based on residency, not employment or income. SB 840 would require no new spending. The system would be paid for by federal, state, and county monies already being spent on healthcare and by affordable insurance premiums that replace all premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket payments and co-pays now paid by employers and consumers.

Not everyone on the panels agreed that SB 840 would be the best choice. However, most of the panelists agreed that, during the election year of 2008, there is a small window of opportunity for passing health care reform in California. Afterwards, said some, it might be 15 years or so before that window opens again. Others said it’s better to “pass something” and “take a small step” toward reform than do nothing. And, one remarked that the “worst” thing that could happen for health care reform in California would be for legislative negotiations to stalemate and for California voters having to make a choice in the November 2008 election between competing health care reform ballot initiatives.

Senator Alquist said: “If you look at the numbers, you know we must do something.  We have some 140,000 uninsured adults and tens of thousands of uninsured children in Santa Clara County. We can no longer sit back and ignore the cold hard economic and social reality of what this means. In Silicon Valley with our high housing costs, it means that working families must choose between health care and other basic necessities.  I can’t in good conscience ask hardworking families to choose between a roof over their heads and their health.”

It will be interesting to hear whether the Assembly Health Care Committee in its Halloween Day meeting deems the Governor’s proposal is a “trick” or a “treat” for Californians when it comes to health care reform.

Kudos to Senator Alquist for holding a hearing in the Silicon Valley on this important issue. Other hearings she has slated on topical issues include the following this fall:

“Getting Trans Fats Out of Our Schools and Our Communities” – November 7, 2007, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Ocala Middle School, 2800 Ocala Ave, San Jose

“Emerging Green Technology and Economic Growth: Can California Remain Competitive?” – November 13, 2007, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., NASA Ames Exploration Center, Eagle Room, Bldg. 943, Moffett Field, Mountain View

For more information and RSVPs, contact Senator Alquist’s San Jose office at 408-286-8318

Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR and member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally  www.AliciaLanier.com  408-491-1634 

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Coldwell Banker Kicks off “Reality about Realty” Initiative Aimed at Silicon Valley Homebuyers

By Alicia Lanier, REALTOR

Our Coldwell Banker Silicon Valley president Joe Brown has become positively evangelical about making sure that homebuyers don’t miss a window of opportunity to “get the house of their dreams.” And he’s marshalled the considerable resources of Silicon Valley’s largest brokerage firm to get the word out.

Brown announced today that a “Reality check on realty” initiative was officially kicked off yesterday with full-page newspaper advertisements throughout Northern California, from Lake Tahoe to the Monterey Peninsula. Over the next seven weeks, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage will place a series of ads in the local media and online venues, send out direct mail to consumers, and provide the company’s 4,300 agents with a variety of marketing tools to assist them in educating potential buyers.

“This is one of the most far-reaching consumer initiatives we’ve launched in recent years because we’re afraid potential buyers – particularly first-time buyers – may be missing a window of opportunity to get into the home of their dreams now that prices have finally leveled off,” said Joe Brown, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay.

 

“Real estate goes through cycles like any other sector, and the housing market nationally has slowed down over the past couple of years after being red-hot in the early 2000s,” Brown said. “But what consumers have to remember is that real estate historically has proven to be an excellent long-term investment. The current market provides an opportunity for buyers who have been on the sidelines for years to finally jump in and buy a home at a good price.

 

“Over the last 37 years, the median price of homes in California has only dropped seven times, according to the California Association of Realtors. And none of the price declines has reached 5 percent – a record that the stock market and other investment vehicles can’t match,” Brown added.

 

Among other things, company ads and direct mail materials will communicate that the real estate market in the South Bay has remained much stronger and more stable than the national market, with prices holding their own or even inching up in some communities.

 

In addition, Brown said, the company wants to get the “other side of the story” out to potential home buyers who have been unduly frightened away from the market for fear that mortgage money has dried up due to the credit crunch and the rise in defaults nationally. Those buyers may not even attempt to buy a house because they’re under the misconception that they couldn’t get financing, he said.

 

“There are a lot of fallacies out there about the housing market, and unfortunately it could end up costing consumers a chance to get into the market,” he said. “It’s true that defaults and foreclosures have risen on a national basis, but that rise is from a historically low level. Moreover, the credit problems have not been nearly as pronounced here in the South Bay, where only a tiny fraction of mortgages are in default, let alone foreclosure.

 

“Many people might be surprised to know that there is mortgage money going wanting – money at interest rates that are near their all-time low – because potential buyers aren’t being told both sides of the housing story. The perception just doesn’t match the reality of the Silicon Valley market, and consumers have the right to be fully informed about all aspects of the market in order to make truly educated decisions.”

 

Do you – or someone you know - want help finding your perfect home in today’s market? Let me know.

 

Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR and member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally  www.AliciaLanier.com  408-491-1634 

 

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Reality Check on Silicon Valley Real Estate

By Alicia Lanier, REALTOR

If you are one of the potential home buyers who are currently sitting on the fence waiting for “housing prices to hit rock bottom,” I am here to tell you that now may be a good time to get into the market – before the opportunity passes you by. 

The Term “Rock Bottom” in Relation to California Real Estate Probably Doesn’t Exist!  In the last 40 years, the real estate market in California has seen remarkable growth in terms of the median cost of a single-family home.   According to the California Association of Realtors, since 1970 the real estate market in California has only dropped seven times, six times under 3.6% and only once at 4.5%    

The Long-Term Outlook for Housing is Bullish.  As we enter into an election year, traditionally a time when the economy heats up, we do so with a job market that is hot, and during a time when buyers have more choices than ever.  What is driving this?  The upcoming growth in new households puts estimates for new-home demand at about 19.5 million units from 2005 to 2014, surpassing the 18.1 million units added between 1995 and 2004.

A Unique Window of Opportunity.  The reality is that the current housing market offers a unique opportunity for confident buyers looking to make long term investments. For the first time in many years, home buyers have the opportunity to steer the ship and navigate the waters of the Northern California real estate market on their own terms. Mortgage rates are historically low, inventory is high and financing is readily available for qualified borrowers. In the last 15 years, we’ve seen very few opportunities in which buyers can prevail and now truly is the time. 

If you’d like to discuss your opportunities in relation to the current real estate market, please contact me today.

Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR and member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally  www.AliciaLanier.com  408-491-1634 

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Silicon Valley’s Very Own Haunted House (Boo!)

By Alicia Lanier, REALTOR

Admit it! Nothing … simply nothing … says Halloween better than a haunted house!

Once upon a time, the movies were the best place to get a hair-raising scare with a haunted house flick … Hitchcock’s 1960s classic Psycho is definitely my all-time fave with that spooky knife-her-in-the-shower-til-dead scene accompanied by all that loud shrieking music! 

Today’s tech-savvy kids can head online and enjoy a virtual haunted house with names like Castle of Horror and The Haunting. But, most of them on the Trick or Treat Night itself will join their friends in finding a local ghostly-for-the-night venue.

Here in the Silicon Valley, we have in our midst year-round perhaps the most infamous haunted house of all, the Winchester Mystery House. Located near San Jose’s upscale Santana Row, this 160-room Victorian mansion is filled with oddities galore as well as being an architectural marvel. 

In 1884, Winchester Rifle heiress Sarah Winchester began a round-the-clock construction project that occupied the lives of carpenters and craftsmen until her death 38 years later. It is believed that she was convinced by a medium that continuous construction would appease the spirits of all those killed by “the gun that won the west” and help Mrs. Winchester attain eternal life.

 Visitors can tour 110 of the rooms - by flashlight if you take the Halloween night tour - and look for such bizarre features like a window built into a floor, staircases leading to nowhere, a chimney that rises four floors, doors that open onto blank walls and upside down posts.  Personally, I was more impressed with its having modern heating and sewer systems unknown to other homes of that era and gas lights operated by pushing a button. And, I really enjoyed seeing the rambling roofs, hand-inlaid parquet floors, gold and silver chandeliers, and Tiffany art glass windows.

Wherever you and yours spend Halloween, be safe out there! And I invite you to ask me for my special flyer with Safety Tips for Halloween … I’ll be happy to e-mail you a copy.

Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR and member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally  www.AliciaLanier.com  408-491-1634

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San Jose – the Capital of Silicon Valley – Listed Among Forbes’ Top “Best Cities for Jobs”

By Alicia Lanier, REALTOR

San Jose, the “Capital of the Silicon Valley,” has been ranked by Forbes at No. 14 for its Best Cities for Jobs List, jumping from its No. 91 position on this list in 2005. San Francisco is ranked at No. 31, up from its previous position at No. 86

The third-largest city in the Golden State, San Jose also has the highest median household income on the list, at $87,869. According to the data, that figure is projected to increase to $92,048 by the end of 2007 and $94,209 in 2008. However, it’s also the priciest city on the list in which to live.

To compile the rankings for the Best Cities for Jobs list, Forbes used five data points, weighted equally: unemployment rate, job growth, income growth, median household income and cost of living for full-year 2006 (only partial data is so far available for 2007). Measured were the largest 100 metropolitan areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, and data was obtained from Moody’s Economy.com.

Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR and member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally  www.AliciaLanier.com  408-491-1634

New California Laws Impact Home Sellers, Buyers, Tenants

By Alicia Lanier, REALTOR

The California Legislature has enacted several new laws that will soon impact home sellers or buyers or both. The California Association of REALTORS® has prepared the following summary of significant new laws … to view the full text of any bill mentioned below, go to www.leginfo.ca.gov.

New Disclosure for Private Transfer Fees: Effective January 1, 2008, a seller who must provide a Transfer Disclosure Statement must also provide, at the same time, a disclosure statement of private transfer fees if applicable. A transfer fee is defined as any fee that must be paid upon transfer of real property as imposed by deed, CC&Rs, or other documents, with certain exceptions (such as, but not limited to, transfer fees imposed by probate, trust, court order, or a governmental agency). The new disclosure statement must contain, among other things, a notice that payment is required, the amount of the fee, and the entity to which payment must be made. To comply with this new requirement, C.A.R. will release a new standard-form Notice of Transfer Fees (NTF) in November 2007. (Source: Assembly Bill 980.)

Recording Private Transfer Fees: Also effective January 1, 2008, any person or entity imposing a private transfer fee must, as a condition of payment of the fee, record the instrument creating the transfer fee and a separate notice of “Payment of Transfer Fee Required.” These two documents must be recorded concurrently in the county recorder’s office for which a property is located. The notice of “Payment of Transfer Fee Required” must include the following information:
  – Names of the current property owners;
  – Assessor’s parcel number and legal description;
  – Amount of the fee (or percentage of sales price);
  – Actual dollar-cost examples of the fee for residential property priced at $250,000, $500,000, and $750,000;
  – When the fee expires if applicable;
  – Purpose of the funds;
  – Name of entity to be paid and that entity’s contact information for sending the funds; and
  – Signature of that entity’s authorized representative.

The title of the notice of “Payment of Transfer Fee Required” must be in at least 14-point bold type. For transfer fees imposed before January 1, 2008, the receiver of the fee must, as a condition of payment of any fee after December 31, 2008, record a notice of “Payment of Transfer Fee Required” by December 31, 2008 (or record a substantial equivalent as specified). (Source: Assembly Bill 980.)

Real Estate Appraisers: Starting October 5, 2007, a licensed appraiser’s compensation cannot be dependent upon, or affected by, the value conclusion generated by an appraisal for a real property purchase, sale, transfer, financing, or development. Also starting October 5, 2007, anyone with an interest in a real estate transaction is prohibited from improperly influencing, or attempting to improperly influence, through coercion, extortion, or bribery, the appraisal process for a mortgage loan. An interested party may, however, ask the appraiser to do any of the following:
  – Consider additional, appropriate property information;
  – Provide substantiation or explanation for the appraiser’s value conclusion; or
  – Correct errors in the appraisal report.
(Source: Senate Bill 223.)

Escrow Cancellation and Postponement Fees: Beginning January 1, 2008, an escrow company licensed by the California Department of Corporations (DOC) may charge a fee for cancellation or postponement resulting from the acts or omissions of the parties to an escrow transaction. The fee must be in not less than 8-point bold type on the front page of the escrow instructions signed by the principals. A postponement fee can only be charged for a postponement of at least two months after the most recent closing date in the agreed-upon written instructions. This legislative bill also requires an escrow company licensed by the DOC, and any of its directors, stockholders, trustees, officers, agents, or employees, to comply with the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). (Source: Assembly Bill 804.)

Mortgage Lenders and Brokers Regulated: Commencing January 1, 2008, anyone who makes eight or more loans to the public in a calendar year using that person’s own funds must be licensed as a real estate broker. This law applies to loans secured by one-to-four residential units, including condominiums, whether such loans are held or resold. Excluded from the law, however, are loans negotiated through a real estate broker who meets the criteria of Article 7 of the real estate law (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code section 10232). This legislative bill also requires the Department of Real Estate (DRE) and other agencies to take steps to ensure that licensed mortgage lenders and brokers are aware of certain guidelines on subprime and other nontraditional mortgage product risks. (Source: Senate Bill 385.)

Anti-Discrimination of Tenants’ Immigration Status: Beginning January 1, 2008, a landlord or landlord’s agent cannot inquire into the immigration or citizenship status of an existing or prospective tenant or occupant. A landlord may, however, request information or documentation necessary to determine or verify the financial qualifications of a prospective tenant, or to identify a prospective tenant or occupant. This law also prohibits any city or county from requiring a landlord or landlord’s agent of residential rental property to inquire into, or take any action based upon, the immigration or citizenship status of an existing or prospective tenant or occupant. (Source: Assembly Bill 976.)

Notice of Agenda for HOA Meeting: Under existing provisions of the Common Interest Development Open Meeting Act, a homeowner’s association (HOA) must not only allow members to attend HOA meetings as specified, but also provide members with at least 4 days notice of the time and place of a meeting. Effective January 1, 2008, such notice must contain the agenda for the upcoming meeting. At the meeting, the board of directors cannot discuss or take action on any item not on the agenda. Exceptions apply as specified for brief statements, exigent circumstances, and continuances from last month’s meeting. This law does not prohibit a resident, who is not a member of the board, from speaking at a meeting about issues not on the agenda. (Source: Senate Bill 528.)

Certified Common Interest Development Managers: Existing law regulating certified common interest development managers was originally scheduled to expire on January 1, 2008, but has now been extended until January 1, 2012. Under this law, holding oneself out as a “certified common interest development manager” (or using a similar term) is an unfair business practice unless that person has satisfied certain requirements. These requirements include 30-hours of coursework in common interest development management, and either passing an aptitude exam or being certified by a professional association for common interest development managers. This law also requires common interest development managers to disclose certain information to the board of directors on an annual basis, such as, but not limited to, whether the manager is certified, is bonded for the current year’s operating and reserve funds, and has a real estate license. (Source: Assembly Bill 691.)

Ask your REALTOR how any of these new laws may impact your transaction.

Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR and member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally  www.AliciaLanier.com  408-491-1634

Silicon Valley Condos/Townhomes: Hot or Not?

By Alicia Lanier, REALTOR

The Bad News: Sales of condo-townhomes dropped significantly throughout the Silicon Valley in September. No surprise there. Housing news reporters preaching gloom ‘n doom made potential buyers for single-family homes edgy as well and pushed many buyers for all types of properties to the sidelines. (See my previous blogposts: August 19, 2007 – Why We Will Survive this Mortgage Meltdown Crisis; September 21, 2007 – Silicon Valley Home Sales “Up” By End of Year?)

The Real News: Serious condo-townhome buyers still found their perfect Silicon Valley home, and median prices for condos/townhomes actually rose in 9 of the 15 Santa Clara County cities in September 2007 compared to the same month last year. Median selling prices for condos/townhomes moved upward in Campbell, Gilroy, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, and Sunnyvale.

Here are the condo/townhome median sales prices, by all 15 Santa Clara County cities, for September 2007 and September 2006:

Campbell: $532,000 median in September 2007 ($518,500 in September 2006)

Cupertino: $722,000 in ‘07 ($757,500 in ‘06) 

Gilroy: $410,000 in ‘07 ($397,500 in ‘06)

Los Altos: $775,500 in ‘07 ($797,500 in ‘06)

Los Gatos: $790,000 in ‘07 ($856,500 in ‘06)

Milpitas: $554,975 in ‘07 ($542,500 in ‘06)

Morgan Hill: $431,000 in ‘07 ($544,950 in ‘06)

Mountain View: $510,000 in ‘07 ($553,000 in ‘06)

Palo Alto: $841,500 in ‘07 ($726,000 in ‘06)

San Jose: $490,000 in ‘07 ($457,000 in ‘06)-

Santa Clara: $445,000 in ‘07 ($438,000 in ‘06)

Saratoga: $605,000 in ‘07 ($570,000 in ‘06)

Sunnyvale: $613,888 in ‘07 ($560,000 in ‘06)

News reports evidently impacted potential sellers as well …. 178 fewer condos/townhomes were listed for sale in September compared to last year. Which meant the inventory of condos/townhomes countywide was only 236 more than September 2007, a partial reason for prices staying flat or rising.

TIP: There are many buyers out there who have been waiting for months (years?) for “home prices to fall”. But history shows that Silicon Valley home prices may pause for a breather but rarely fall very far – or for long – before moving upward again.  Since 1968, statistics from the California Association of Realtors show an average annual appreciation for those 38 years of 7.75% in California … in only 7 years (1984, 1990, 1992-96) did the appreciation actually drop. Peak appreciation years were 21.93% in 1977 and 20.18% in 2002. And, remember, those are statewide stats for California, not specific to our more economically robust Silicon Valley. Do you want price data for your neighborhood or other county? Just let me know.

Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR and member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally  www.AliciaLanier.com  408-491-1634

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Don’t Miss Downtown Campbell’s Octoberfest

By Alicia Lanier, Realtor

Don’t miss this weekend’s 2-day Octoberfest celebration in Historic Downtown Campbell.  With events all day long on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 20-21), it’s the Octoberfest festival that aims to be among the most authentic around. 

Spaten Beer representatives will be pouring an official Oktoberfest beer, and there will be plenty of German food to go with it, including Bratwurst, German potato salad, sauerkraut, and more!

With live music on three seprate stages, a children’s play area, a pumpkin patch, and over 100 arts and crafts vendors, there will be something for everyone to enjoy at Campbell’s Oktoberfest!

Want to start your weekend fun early? Then head to Downtown Campbell from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday for the monthly Art Walk.  This is a great opportunity to visit with the artists and view their exciting new works in a friendly, casual atmosphere. Featured are several galleries, showrooms and studios.

Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR who lives in Campbell. She is a member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally  www.AliciaLanier.com  408-491-1634

Tips for a Safe and Ecofriendly Halloween

By Alicia Lanier, REALTOR

It’s almost time again for that “spooktacular” holiday that both kids and grownups seem to enjoy. And, this year, The Sierra Club has some ideas for you to “think green” instead of the usual orange for Halloween.

For example, invest creativity instead of cash in your costume. Dig into the back of the closet (yours or a friend’s) or hit the thrift store to find wacky clothes and accessories instead of buying plastic costumes.

Whether for dressing up or handing out, avoid costume jewelry, especially glossy, fake painted pearls and toys from vending machines, both of which may contain lead. There were almost 30 recalls of lead-containing children’s products this year, so use a Lead Check kit if you’re unsure about a toy your child already owns.

For more Halloween ideas from The Sierra Club, check out The Green Life: Tricks and Treats for Halloween.  In addition, I have a flyer with 14 tips for ensuring the safety of your trick or treating youngsters on Halloween night … just ask me to e-mail a copy to you.

Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR and member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally  www.AliciaLanier.com  408-491-1634

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