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Gerald Buten

Gerald specializes in property inventory in Santa Clara County and has extensive expertise regarding the Rivermark and River Oaks Village communities.  Gerald has a friendly and outgoing personality and is looking forward to using his professionalism, expertise and integrity to assist you with your real estate needs.

PROUD MEMBER OF BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU Gerald Buten, Remax Real Estate, telephone 408.944.0144, is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau. The BBB emblem and link at the bottom of this page will provide you with our business record.

There are 21 properties for sale in Rivermark/River Oaks Village, 10 in Rivermark and 11 in River Oaks Village. Please see the "Listings" section for details. I will be happy to promptly e-mail you additional details regarding these listings upon request. Contact me today at geraldbuten@aol.com or 408.944.0144.

Median prices and sales for all homes compared with the same period last year: Santa Clara County, median selling price $508,000 up 3.7%, transactions down 17.3%.

Median prices and sales for all homes compared with the same period last year, in the 95134 zip code (River Oaks Village), $525,500 up 48.4%, transactions up 150%. In the 95054 zip code (Rivermark), $525,000 down 5.6%, transactions down 37.5%.

MORTGAGE RATES (local averages)--30 yr fixed 4.53%, 1 ARM 4.82%, 5/1 ARM 3.86%--Review www.mtgeinfo.com (select SJ Mercury News Mortgage Guide) for rates from specific companies.

Thought for the week-- "Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days.... What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has Magic, Power, and Genius in it." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

MARKET ANALYSIS/RECENT SALES RIVERMARK--See "SOLD" section of this site. Monitor all the activity in your neighborhood and become a market expert. This section is updated every several days so your information is the most current available.

MARKET ANALYSIS/RECENT SALES RIVER OAKS VILLAGE--SEE "SOLD" section of this site. Monitor all the activity in your neighborhood and become a market expert. This section is updated every several days so your information is the most current available.

THOUGHTS FOR BUYERS AND THOSE CONSIDERING BUYING. If you have good credit, now may be a great time to buy. WHAT YOU NEED: 1. Steady income source. 2. Good credit. Scores in the mid 700s or higher get the best rates. 3. A down payment. Coventional loans require 5-10% down these days, with some banks asking up to 20%. WHAT TO DO: 1.Find a good real estate agent to help you research the market. 2. Be realistic about what you can afford and thoroughly understand the terms of the financing. 3. Get pre-qualified or pre-approved if possible. This can increase your negotiating position. 4. Educate yourself about the market and what to expect during the transaction. 5. Make sure you understand all of your costs, such as closing costs, taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.

BUYER'S AGENT--Buying a home is a major investment. The real estate agent you meet at the open house is generally working for the seller. Who is representing you? Buyers need a professional real estate agent representing them during the purchase of a home. As your representative, I will help you find the right home, and assist you with pricing, financing, preparing and negotiating your offer, and closing the transaction. I use a consultative approach with all my clients so you will not feel pressured to commit to any transaction. More information concerning my background can be found in the "Bio" Section of this site. Remember, these services cost you nothing, because buyer's agents are paid from the seller's commission. My core values are integrity, hard work and outstanding service for my clients. Call me today at 408.944.0144.

HONEST, EXPERIENCED, PROFESSIONAL, AND COMMUNICATIVE are words used by my clients to describe me. I am a longtime resident of River Oaks Village, currently serving on the Villagio HOA Board. I specialize in the River Oaks and Rivermark Communities. I have also been very successful as a buyer's agent finding homes outside of these areas for clients who are moving into other communities of the South Bay and the Pennisula. I use a consulting approach to provide you with relevant data so that you can make sound decisions regarding your real estate transactions. I am ready to provide you with exceptional service and save you money on commission. Contact me today at 408.944.0144 or geraldbuten@aol.com.

NEED AN EXCELLENT HANDYMAN? I highly recommend Jacinto "Hoss" Viramontes, www.siliconvalleyhomerepair.com, 408.807.0187, CA General Contractor license #937074. I have used him for personal and business services with outstanding results.

HELP FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS -- Santa Clara County Mortgage Credit Certificate Program for first time buyers is available for purchases anywhere in Santa Clara County. Please review the link below to determine whether you qualify. http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/oah/agencychp?path=%2Fv7%2FAffordable%20Housing%20Office%20of%20%28DEP%29%2FFirst-Time%20Homebuyer%20Assistance%20Programs]

THE EQUITY IN YOUR HOME is an important financial investment for most people in Silicon Valley. If you live in Rivermark or River Oaks Village, you can become a market expert and monitor the equity in your home by accessing the "Sold" Section of this website. Specific Information regarding sales for the past year is listed in this section and updated frequently. This section allows you to Identify the "comps" for your property. Why rely on the opinions of others when you can access the data and decide for yourself?

GREAT INFORMATION SITE FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/topics/buying_a_home.

IS IT A GOOD TIME TO BUY? WILL PRICES CONTINUE TO FALL? Generally, due to low prices and interest rates, I believe it is a good time to buy a home, provided you intend to live in it for 3-5 years. I recommend that you obtain an affordable mortgage at a long term fixed rate, so that fluctuations in the market do not affect your ability to remain in your home. Peter G. Miller, in a recent San Jose Mercury News article, describes five reasons why it is very difficult to predict the future real estate market. 1. Generally, prices will not increase until the large inventory of lender owned and distressed homes is liquidated. 2. Unemployment is a good barometer for the real estate market. We have substantial unemployment. 3. Most people do not have sufficient savings to survive a job interruption and maintain their current life styles. 4. Massive federal efforts to encourage home buying distorts current market data. 5. In down markets, recorded prices do no accurately report details of the transaction. Seller contributions are not reported in the data.

THE BEST WAY TO HOLD TITLE TO YOUR HOME IN CALIFORNIA. I recently read this article in the LA Times and found it interesting and informative. http://www.latimes.com/classified/realestate/buying/closing/la-re-hold-title,0,801894.story.