Cool App – Pay It Forward

By John Thompson, Executive Vice President, Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.

Looking for a great and easy way to make a resolution come true this year? Well, if you’re looking for a way to give a little back to the amazing world we live in, but don’t know where to start here is your app. Here at Intero, we’re always talking about giving back to the communities in which we serve so I was excited to find an app that did just that. Based off of the idea of doing one good deed a day, Pay It Forward was developed to remind us that helping others is the best way to make this world a better place.

Every day, Pay It Forward will send you a suggestion with an act of kindness that is designed to be simple, fun and effective. If you didn’t get a chance to do the act of kindness that day, the app will hold onto that task until it is completed. You can easily track your progress as you go and share your progress with your friends and family. Get motivation from others by viewing where other good deeds are being done all over the world.

The app provides an extremely easy way for you to check off the “give back” item on your list of resolutions and just think what a difference it will make. If everyone downloaded this app and did what it said on a daily bases, I think we would definitely succeed in making the world just a little better. Such a simple thing with the potential for an amazing result. Download it now and start giving back today!

Weekend Wellness

By Tammy Parkinson, CPT, ACSM, NASM, Nutritionist, Body Firm Personal Training & Nutrition

This past week, I’ve been reconnecting with several clients I’ve worked with over the last year.  In doing this…I simply cannot believe how fast this year has gone by!  “They” say time goes by faster as one gets older…which might be a true perspective; however with the right nutrition and fitness plan, it may go by faster, but at least we are healthy enough to keep up!

Here are my 5 top Fitness and Nutrition tips for 2013 as a recap to help slide into 2014 on the right foot (or hands, depending how you slide!)

Fitness:

Never let a 3rd day go by without some kind of activity. Ever.  This builds momentum and inertia…so you never feel that you’ve lost ground.  Your motivation stays strong and you always feel somewhat fit because truly…you’ve worked out consistently!

Realtor Satisfaction

This post dedicated to making Realtors feel valued and feel good.

Home Sales to Remain Steady as Prices Expected to Rise in 2014

By Gino Blefari, President & CEO, Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.

Now is the season when we start hearing a lot of predictions for the housing market in 2014. So what’s the prognosis?

I was at the National Association of Realtors conference in San Francisco last week and the group’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yundropped some numbers to paint a picture of what he expects going into next year.

So far, Yun is expecting a flat pace of sales – not a huge jump or a decline – and a 6% increase in prices. He’s also expecting interest rates to climb from their current average of 4.16% to 5.4% by the end of 2014.

Thanksgiving Pre-Prep

15 days until Thanksgiving. Time to talk Turkey. Let’s start with the pre-prep and get that oven ready for the big day. Here are some tips.

A Salute to a Very Special Veteran

This is Rick’s boot camp picture. He’s just as handsome today.

2013 Marine Corps Birthday Message: “Enduring Fortitude, Unfailing Valor”

Team Patereau is made up of a lifelong Marine, and a lifelong Marine supporter. Happy 238th Birthday Marine Corp. Semper Fi!

Electronics Recycling Opportunity

Gilroy Intero is sponsoring an E-Waste Recycling Day. Bring all your old and unwanted electronics by the office parking lot. So easy!

Delinquent Borrowers More Optimistic on Housing

By Gino Blefari, President & CEO, Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.

Homeownership is a value that seems to be under constant assault in the media. Between the recent Nobel Prize winner who claims that owning a home is a bad investment to the frequent reports that our younger generations aren't equipped to buy homes, you'd think the real estate market was tanking.

That's why a recent survey of the ownership attitudes of delinquent borrowers caught my eye.

Fannie Mae's national survey finds that delinquent mortgage borrowers' views toward the housing market have become more favorable in 2013 compared to 2012, and the majority believes in the personal and financial benefits of homeownership.

This is significant news because this is a group of owners whose views on housing we would assume would be negative because of the bad feelings associated with falling behind on house payments.

But in 2013, delinquent borrowers' attitudes were positive overall and moved closer to that of the general population. The survey found that this group expects home prices will go up; they believe buying a home is a safe investment and say that it's highly likely they'll buy a home on their next move.

What Buyers Don't Want

This is pretty much what buyers want in the Gilroy area. Tell us what you don't want in your next home.