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SERENO GROUP AWARDED TOP WORKPLACES IN GREAT BAY AREA

2011 Top Workplaces Sereno Group

Nick Warner of the SJ Mercury News, Alicia Nuzzo, Lisa Williams, Ryan Iwanaga, and Chris Trapani

For the second consecutive year, Sereno Group Real Estate has been recognized as the top work place in the greater Bay Area by the Bay Area News Group in their prestigious TOP WORKPLACES 2010 list, an annual profile of the top 65 places to work in the Bay Area’s five counties.

“We are honored to be named to this prestigious list for the second year in a row and very, very humbled to be named the number one organization again,” said Chris Trapani, President and CEO of Sereno Group, “To be twice given the honor of Top Workplace in the Greater Bay Area and to be associated with so many wonderful companies is a tremendous testament to our team.”

Sereno Group ranks as the top spot in the small company category (50 to 150 employees) out of 1,370 total companies from all sectors of the five county Bay Area business profile, representing 34,375 employees and includes high tech and engineering companies, law firms, non-profits, and government organizations.  Sereno Group is the only residential real estate brokerage ranked in any of the three company size categories.

The Bay Area News Group compiles the rankings annually.  The Top Workplaces 2011 list is based solely upon a comprehensive survey of Bay Area company employees and their overall satisfaction with their respective companies.

For more information, visit:  http://www.topworkplaces.com/survey/resultslist/bayarea_11.

Open since July 1, 2006, Sereno Group Real Estate has quickly established itself as a market leader by continually attracting top producing agents in the Silicon Valley. During this time, Sereno Group has achieved the highest per agent productivity for residential real estate brokers in the county.  In 2010, Sereno Group ranked as the #7 brokerage in the United States for per agent closed sales volume in Real Trend’s annual national brokerage rankings report. The company now has five offices located in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos, Santa Cruz, and Palo Alto.  The 146 agents of Sereno Group sell and service the Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties and points beyond.

For more information, visit www.serenogroup.com.

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By Ryan Iwanaga – June 27, 2011

ALL ABOUT SANTA CRUZ WINERIES

winery tasting roomYou don’t have to go to Napa, burn gas, pay $300.00 a night for a room to go wine tasting and meet some nice folks. No, no, no my little oenophile!

You can pedal over to the Ingalls Street Courtyard and have a fantastic afternoon and never get in a car!

Located at the top of Santa Cruz just before you head out towards Davenport, turn left on Swift Street and a short distance to Ingalls St where you turn left again. Park the car. And forget about it.

Here you will find over 10 winery tasting rooms, 2 of which I’ll talk about here.

Let’s start with Silver Mountain Winery. Jerold O’Brien has been producing wine for over 30 years from his vines high atop the Santa Cruz Mountains. His Certified Organic vineyard sits at almost 2100′ above the sea with commanding views over the mountains and looking down onto a distant Highway 17! Amongst the clouds, the occasional snow flurries, and the gorgeous sunlight, Jerold’s grapes thrive.

Growing tender Pinot grapes is his passion and his wine reflects this commitment. Along side these luscious reds is his crisp Chardonnay. Not overly oaky or loaded with butter, Jerold’s Chard is a favorite at the tasting room. The Chardonnay grapes are also grown at the vineyard and are organic.

Members of his very successful wine club stop at the winery to taste as a benefit of membership and enjoy 20% off on all the wine they buy during the year, except of course, Jerold’s generously discounted collections, like his Economic Recovery Special, featuring Spencer’s Choice Pinot . Spencer is the beautiful blue eyed winery dog who presides over the porch! This velvety elixir is sumptuous and opens in the glass beautifully.

The second Silver Mountain tasting room is located at 402 Ingalls St Suite 29, right next to the Santa Cruz Organic Brewery and is open Thursday through Sunday Noon to 5 ish! If the room is packed , they’ll keep pouring! The winery itself is open only Saturday, Noon to 5:00PM and is located about 9 miles up Old San Jose Road, turn right at Miller Hill Cut off.

Next stop is across the courtyard to Sones Cellars. Michael and Lois Sones met at sea on a cruise ship, so the masthead on their label is a nod to that romance!

I love their Cancione Del Mar, or Song of the Sea, a crisp blend of great whites, using Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Torrontes and my beloved Viognier. This blend is redolent of pineapple and pear, soft and yet has a nice slice of mineral, like a ripe apple cut with a carbon knife!

Another fun offering at Sones Cellars is the The Hedgehog. You purchase a special bottle that you can bring in and refill with quality table wine, much as they did in the old days! This is a great red wine and perfect for Friday dinner.

If you haven’t visited this chic and lively little corner of Santa Cruz, you need to stop missing the fun! I’ll share more tidbits about the other wineries soon! And of course a story on Kelly’s French Bakery who started the whole enterprise on Ingalls.

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By Terry Ballantyne – June 20, 2011

LOVELY, PEACEFUL APTOS

cabrillo community collegeAptos is in the south part of Santa Cruz County and is home to Cabrillo College, the historic Bayview Hotel, The Forest of Nicene Marks, Aptos Village, a fantastic Farmers Market, the celebrated Cement Ship, and one of the only walk entry beaches in the county at Rio Del Mar.

Aptos is named for an American Ohlone Indian word meaning the ‘meeting of two creeks’. In Aptos the Valencia and Aptos Creek come together. The residents pronounce it App-Toss.

Aptos is in the 11th Senate District and the 27th Assembly District.

Aptos Rancho was granted to Rafael Castro by the Mexican government in 1833, (Castroville fame). When California became a state, he leased the land to Americans and in 1853, a tannery was built on the site of the recently sold Apple Lane Bed and Breakfast.

Claus Spreckles, the sugar millionaire began leasing land from Castro in 1872 where he built a hotel and summer mansion near the beach. He fenced the entire area and stocked it with deer, hence the Deerpark Center!

Between1880 and 1920 Aptos was a redwood boom town. The Loma Prieta lumber company logged all of what is now the Forest of Nicene Marks. You can see the remains of the beautiful old growth redwoods surrounded by rings of newer growth. Even today , despite that early destruction, the forest is a magical place to walk, run or bike. Ferns about, vinca minor, coast iris, berry vines, and of course lots of poison ivy.

The Valencia Mill logged everything to the east. Within 40 years the hills were bare. Sad to think of all those beautiful trees being cut down. But with the hills bare it gave rise to another industry, apples. The old apple packing shed became Village Fair Antiques.

has population of just under 10,0000 people. It sits at 108′ above sea level, and is 7 square miles. Aptos is surrounded by hills and forests and

The climate is generally the same as Santa Cruz county with the exception of some years there is a little more fog, especially in Rio Del Mar township. But typically it burns off , unless the whole coast is socked in and then the day is bright with sunlight.

For more information regarding Aptos and the coastal area market, please contact Terry Ballantyne at tballantyne@comcast.net.

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By Terry Ballantyne – June 16, 2011

LOS GATOS CREEK TRAIL CLEAN-UP DAY

Recently, Sereno Group had the opportunity to give back to our community by putting together an impromptu Los Gatos Creek Trail clean-up day.

In Los Gatos, we organized a morning of trail beautification of the Los Gatos Creek Trail.  The trail is a wonderful public venue that offers a mix of paved and dirt pathways, travelling from the border of Willow Glen in San Jose through Vasona Park to the top of Lexington Dam at the foot of the Los Gatos Mountains.

You can find walkers, runners, cyclists, dog walkers, families and friends on the path every day of the week, with larger numbers on weekends and warmer days.  If you have not visited the trail, you should plan to do so.  I am sure once you visit the trail, you will return often, discovering something new each time.

On a recent Saturday, a group of Sereno Group agents decided to clean up the segment of the Los Gatos Creek Trail between Downtown Los Gatos and Lexington Dam.  The dirt trail is a favorite of local residents as it is wide with several path options, offers easy and challenging terrain, and gets away from the buzz of town quickly.

As users of the trail who love all that our area has to offer, we thought it would be a great idea to walk both sides of the trail to pick up trash and help with the sustainability of an important community hub.  The trail is well-maintained and respected by visitors, but small pieces of garbage and dropped items do accumulate.

With garbage bags, rubber gloves and a good spirit, we slowly walked the trail and picked up enough garbage to fill four 13 gallon garbage bags.  We made the time very social, saw and visited with friends on the trail and felt great about giving back in a small way to the community we serve.

To learn more about Sereno Group and about the ways in which we are trying to redefine real estate, please visit www.serenogroup.com.

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By Ryan Iwanaga – June 12, 2011

Santa Clara County Market Update Through April 2011

Ral Estate Market Dynamics April 2011 Santa Clara CountyHere are some highlights of the Santa Clara County real estate market  through April 2011:

1. Median Price- The Median Price increased substantially for the second month in a row from $480,000 in March to $515,000 at the end of April.  April 2011′s median price is somewhat lower than the same month last year ($531,000) and higher than April of 2009 ($430,000) .  The two year average Median is $501,000 and we are north of this level now.

2. Supply&Demand (Units)- We continue to see trend variations and more balance in the two year comparisons than we have observed for the past 12-18 months; Here is where we stand in making the month over month/two-year comparisons (April 2009 versus April 2011) in the following categories; For Sale (supply/inventory), Under Contract (pending sales) and Sold (closed escrows).  When we compare 2009 with the same month in 2011 we see the following- For Sale properties/inventory is down considerably @ -11.4%.  The number of under contract properties (pending sales) is also down -9.1% and the sold/closed escrows declined further @ -19.4 %. We continue to highlight that year over year under contract properties (for April) continue in a positive, upward trajectory;  in April of 2010 there were 1698 under contract/pending sales, this April there were 1766 pending sales at month end… Continued…

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By Chris Trapani – May 30, 2011

SURF SPOTS OF SANTA CRUZ

Santa Cruz is one of the most diverse wave riding regions on the planet. It has all the factors serious surfers seek and is open to all swell directions which results in consistent waves throughout the year.  The winter and fall produce serious Northwest swells traveling from the Aleutian Islands near Alaska, while the summer produces Southern Hemisphere swells from New Zealand as well as hurricane swells originating off of Mexico. Also, given the curvature of the Monterey Bay, favorable wind conditions can be found regardless of the direction of the wind.  Few surfing regions can boast the number of quality surf breaks in such a small geographic area, ranging from body snapping big wave spots to gentle rollers perfect for learning.

The sport of surfing is deeply entrenched in the culture and community of Santa Cruz.  The first documented surf session in the continental United States took place in the late 1800’s when a trio of Hawaiian Prince’s who were attending school in San Mateo County, made the trek to Santa Cruz to surf the waves at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River adjacent to today’s Boardwalk. This has led to the labeling of Santa Cruz as “Surf City”.

Santa Cruz is divided into five distinct surfing regions, starting with the rural beaches north of town, then moving to the west side, mid town, the east side, and finally the beach breaks of south county.  The west side of town is home to the most famous and recognizable spot in Santa Cruz, Steamer Lane. It is located near the northern tip of Monterey Bay and has the historic lighthouse on the point.

“The Lane”, as it is known to locals, actually consists of four different spots:  The Point; The Slot; Middle Peak; and Indicators.  All can be world class depending on swell direction and size, but The Lane’s reputation was forged at Middle Peak in the 1960’s as a training ground for the massive waves of Oahu’s North Shore.  Some of history’s greatest big wave riders cut their teeth at Middle Peak.

Continued…

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By Craig Springbett – May 25, 2011

A Puppy For Your New Home!

If you are settled into your new home and wondering what’s next, maybe it’s time to get a puppy!  One of the wonderful aspects of home ownership is having the freedom to have a pet and not have to answer to a landlord.  And nothing brings a family closer together than a pet you can all dote on!

But picking the right breed can be a challenge. We all have different lifestyles and personalities, and so do dogs. Big dogs require longer walks than small dogs. Some breeds like to play more than others. So I recommend doing a little research first.

The best fit my family ever had in a pet is our current dogs, Boston Terriers. In fact we started out with one and liked him so much we went back to the same breeder for another one! We decided on a Boston by researching a dog encyclopedia that included compatibility charts for each breed. This way we could pick the dog that required the amount of walking and exercise we have time for, the level of play we desired, and the level of intelligence and attentiveness that we were looking for.

Whatever puppy you end up getting, whether it’s a full breed or a mix, I’m sure he or she will bring a wonderful new element to your home!

www.joybender.com

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By Joy Bender – May 20, 2011

LOS GATOS/SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS: WHERE IS SPRING?

A big thought on everyone’s minds these days is . . . Where is Spring?

But, no one community has endured more over this winter than the good old Los Gatos/Santa Cruz mountains.

When flowers should be blooming and sun should be shining, the mountain community is freezing, drowning and sliding. Not to mention, trying to protect our homes and families from falling trees, dirt, rocks, failing roads and loss of power.

The last thing anyone wants to do in the middle of a down pour is tread through the mud and slush to power up the generator, but we all do.We live in the mountains because we know even when the rain is falling and the roads are wet, there is no other place in the world we want to live.

Why do we love the Mountains so much, some may ask?

Well, we’ll tell you.

There is something about the sound of the wind in the trees, the smell of forest after a warm spring rain, and the feel of your first breath of the day in the fresh clean morning air that puts the stresses we create at bay.

The peace and serenity of sitting on our back decks after a long day of work gives us the feeling we are the only people in the world. Though we are only a ten to fifteen minute drive to downtown Los Gatos or Santa Cruz, when you drive along Summit Road, you feel as if you are instantly travelling to a great far off vacation. Not to mention, our schools are some of the top rated in the state.

I think mountain residents all agree mountain living is the best Silicon Valley has to offer.  Just remember when you are hunkered down in your home with the wind whipping, a fire in the fireplace, (because the power is out), spring IS just around the corner and it’s the most beautiful time of year for us!!

The “real” spring is arriving.  Enjoy it and we will keep you updated on mountain news, events and of course, Real Estate.

For information about Los Gatos Mountain living and real estate, please contact us at marisa@serenogroup.com.

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By Sharon and Marisa Thompson – April 29, 2011

5 GREAT STAGING TIPS WHEN PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE

1.)  De-clutter, De-clutter, De-clutter.  No prospective Buyers want to see your spoon collection from Aunt Martha’s car travels to the Midwest, or your menagerie of refrigerator magnets and family photos.  Box them up and move them out.  Emotional items such as family photos and your kids’ school awards prevent Buyers from actually seeing themselves living in “your” house.

2.)  Put yourself in the Buyer’s frame of mind.  Complete a “Porch to Patio” check of your house.  Clean as you go, and move unnecessary items to the garage. Start at the front curb and work your way towards the backyard fence.  Curb Appeal is huge!  HGTV doesn’t have a hit show called “Curb Appeal” for nothing.  It could be the difference between a prospective Buyer stopping and previewing your home, or speeding on by, knowing that the surprises inside your home will probably be as dreary as the lack of appeal of your front yard.

3.)  Don’t be afraid of a little paint color.  Each of the living areas (kitchen, living room, dining room, and powder room) should have their own identity.  If you are afraid of bold colors, use a soft color such as Kelly Moore’s Lemongrass, and have your painter cut it down to create lighter shades of the one color for the different rooms.  And please, no-one wants to see what you read while sitting on the throne.  Loose the books and magazines, and while you’re at it, loose the 4 pack of cello wrapped toilet paper and crusty hand towels.  A quick trip to the local dollar or discount store for new neutral colored towels is a huge plus!

4.)  Your walls should be fresh with one focal point showcasing a painting or picture as needed with detail given to the actual purpose of the room.  A velvet painting of Elvis or dogs playing poker is a definite “no” in any room in any house, except maybe a man-cave in a home in one of Aunt Martha’s Midwest travels.  Think about only fresh flowers for the tables.  Silk flower arrangements belong in a cemetery, not on your dining room table.

5.)  Let your Real Estate Agent recommend a good Home Stager or Room Re-Organization specialist.  It is money well spent, and may make the difference between listing your home to “sell or sit”!

Michael Perrelli has been a successful Silicon Valley licensed Real Estate Agent and Home Stager for the past 15 years.  He can be reached at mperrelli@serenogroup.com.

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By Michael Perrelli – April 25, 2011

What a difference a school district makes!

It is very tempting to think of cities, towns as districts in Santa Clara County as a monolithic whole – one giant, uniform beast.  But in truth, “the market” is really just a compilation of micro-markets.  What’s true for entry-level housing in Cambrian may not be true for the luxury home market there.

So too with sale types (distressed vs regular sales), price points, zip codes, architectural type and school district.

On my Live in Los Gatos blog I have a post that I update every 2-4 weeks on the real estate market in Los Gatos.  A couple of times a year I do the painstaking grunt work of tallying listings and home sales by price point or school district or zip code to get the absorption rate of months of inventory.  I did that again today and wanted to share it here since it can show you “what’s hot” in the Los Gatos real estate market.

As a reminder, the lower the number, the “hotter” the market.

As you can see, the housing market is amazingly different from the low end to high end and from one school district to the next.  Many homes never sell and I’m convinced that it’s because the owners do not understand how important it is to drill down to the market that matches their homes – not the market in general in town or in the county.

This kind of thing can be used with sale types (short sales vs regular ones), acreage, view homes, or any other criteria.  It is slow going but gives the most accurate gauge of the market conditions for any given home.

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By Mary Pope-Handy – April 19, 2011