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Whether you are just browsing, or have specific real estate needs, I hope you find the tools and content here helpful.
Please take your time to look around, and I sincerely hope to hear from you, or answer any questions you have regarding real estate in the Bay Area.
Sincerely,
Faye Weng |
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Latest trends in kitchen cabinets
Fri, 16 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Denied short sale, struggling homeowners look for way out
Fri, 16 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Be careful what you say about landlord online
Thu, 15 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Neighbor sabotage kills home sale
Thu, 15 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Moving to a new city? Web's got you covered
Thu, 15 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Buying house before marriage can be risky
Thu, 15 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Home buyer sues when appraiser misses leaky roof
Wed, 14 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Seniors, leave apartment painting for the pros
Wed, 14 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Homeowners react to falling real estate values
Wed, 14 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Best way to divvy up house after failed relationship
Tue, 13 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Unpermitted upgrades put seller in pickle
Tue, 13 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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Homeowners avoid tax on $1 million capital gain
Mon, 12 May 08 00:00:00 -0700 |
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| I am a realtor who believes in continuous education, and I am committed to perfecting my services. Here are some of the on-going awards and designations I’ve earned: |
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| Browse Blogs |
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Buyer FAQ |
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Condominiums & Townhomes |
 Are
condominiums risky to buy?
Are condos a good investment?
Are one-bedroom condominiums a good investment?
Can a condo association ban nudity?
Can condos ban smoking?
Do condos have to be made accessible
to the disabled?
How do I figure out the homeowners association?
How
do you choose between condos and
single-family homes?
Where
do I get information on condo association
laws?
Where
do I get information on condos? |
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Question: Are
condominiums risky to buy?
Answer: While
condos never had the kind of appreciation
experienced by single-family homes in the
go-go 1980s, most ultimately have not lost
value, say some experts. And with high prices
in many urban markets and more single home
buyers in the market than ever before, the
market for condos is strong.
As with any home
purchase, you should do your homework about
the neighborhood or development before you
buy. In the case of condominiums, it is important
to read the past six months of homeowners
association minutes to see how effective
the board is and to learn about any possibly
detracting issues (such as protracted litigation
with the developer).
The condominium
community has worked hard in the last few
years to overcome image problems brought
on by disputes and lawsuits. Associations
are becoming more sophisticated about property
management and taking steps to prevent legal
problems and disputes. |
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Question: Are
condos a good investment?
Answer: Condominiums
have held their value as an investment despite
economic downturns and problems with some associations.
In fact, condos have appreciated more in the
past few years than when they first came on
the scene in the late 1970s and early 1980s,
experts say.
While there are lots of reports
about homeowners association disputes and
construction-defect problems, the industry
has worked hard to turn its image around.
Elected volunteers who serve on association
boards are better trained at handling complex
budget and legal issues, for example, while
many boards go to great lengths to avoid
the kind of protracted and expensive litigation
that has hurt resale value in the past.
Meanwhile, changing demographics
are making condominiums more attractive investments
for single home buyers, empty nesters and
first-time buyers in expensive markets. |
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Question: Are
one-bedroom condominiums a good investment?
Answer: One-bedroom
condominiums historically have not been considered
as good an investment as condos with two bedrooms
or more. But in high-cost markets, such as
Manhattan or the San Francisco Bay Area, one-bedroom
condos have proven to be equally good investments.
Helping that along are changing demographic
trends. With more single home buyers in the
market today than at any time in history, there
is more demand for one-bedroom condos. |
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Question: Can
a condo association ban nudity?
Answer: Could
you sunbathe in the nude on your own balcony?
Not necessarily. In a condominium development,
a balcony is not considered private property
but common property assigned to your exclusive
use - but a common area nonetheless.
Covenants, codes and restrictions
(CC&Rs)
usually spell out what activities can and
cannot be conducted on common property. Some
associations prevent people from barbecuing
on their balconies or hanging large plants
from the railings. However, the larger issue
of regulating personal conduct is not so
clear-cut. It literally depends on what side
of the fence you're on.
If the sunbather can
be seen from a public vantage point -- not
by someone who must climb a tree or peer
through binoculars -- then the rule probably
would be considered reasonable, say legal
experts.
Incidentally,
there are places where nudity is tolerated
but again, only out of public view. |
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Question: Can condos ban smoking?
Answer: A
homeowners association's board of directors
can restrict smoking if it applies to indoor
common spaces such as hallways or recreation
rooms. Outdoor spaces are a different story,
say legal experts. Any restriction would
probably hinge on local laws (i.e. if a city
banned smoking outdoors, a homeowners association
probably could restrict smoking in its outdoor
spaces).
Typical covenants, codes and restrictions
(CC&Rs),
which govern condo associations, give the board
authority to make and enforce reasonable rules
for the use of common property. But that would
not apply to interior spaces owned by smokers
themselves. |
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Question: Do
condos have to be made accessible to the disabled?
Answer: The
1990 Americans with Disabilities Act does not
require strictly residential apartments and
single-family homes to be made accessible.
But all new construction of public accommodations
or commercial projects (such as a government
building or a shopping mall) must be accessible.
New multi-family construction also falls
into this category.
In all states, the Federal
Fair Housing Act provides protection against
discrimination for people with physical or
mental disabilities. Discrimination includes
the refusal to make reasonable modifications
to buildings that aren't accessible to the
disabled. |
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Question: How
do I figure out the homeowners association?
Answer: Learn
everything you can about the homeowners association
before you buy into a development governed
by one. The association's financial, political
and legal conditions are very important to
your investment and quality of life.
When
run properly, homeowners associations maintain
the common grounds and keep civility in the
complex. If you follow the rules, the association
should not intrude on your privacy or cost
you too much in association dues.
Poorly managed associations can drag
down property values and make living there
difficult for residents. Start by studying
the association's covenants, codes and restrictions,
or CC&Rs,
and find out if you can live by them. For
example, if the rules prohibit loud music
after a certain hour and you like to play
your CDs late at night, this may not be the
place for you. Don't move in thinking you
can get away with violating the rules or
change them later because you may find yourself
in turmoil with determined neighbors firmly
in control of the association board.
Find
out all you can about the association's finances.
Beyond reviewing the budget, talk to the
association treasurer and find out if dues
are expected to increase and if any special
assessments are planned. Ask if special inspections
have revealed problems with roofs or plumbing
that may cause a dues hike or special assessment
later on.
Call and meet
with the association president. If you are
the type of person who despises intrusions
into your private life and the president
seems more interested in gossip about the
residents than maintaining the property,
this may not be the right condo complex for
you.
Speak with residents to get
their views on the association's finances,
its property manager, how it operates and
any politics. Associations are volunteer
organizations with elected boards, like a
mini-government, so politics can enter the
picture and spoil a good thing.
Lastly, take some time to understand
how homeowners associations are organized
and how they conduct business. Like all real
estate investments, the more you know the
better off you are. |
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Question: How
do you choose between condos and single-family
homes?
Answer: Using
appreciation as a measure, condominiums in
some areas have been as profitable an investment
as single-family homes in the past five years.
And in some markets, condos appreciated even
more, according to some experts.
While single-family
homes have been the preferred investment
by home buyers, changing demographics are
helping make condos more popular, especially
among single home buyers, empty nesters and
first-time buyers in high-priced markets.
Also, the condominium community has
worked hard in the last few years to overcome
image problems brought on by homeowners association
and developer disputes as well as all too frequent
construction-defect litigation. |
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Question: Where do I get information on condo association laws?
Answer: Resources:
- "The Condominium Bluebook" by
Branden E. Bickel, B& Piedmont
Press; 2000.
- Community Associations Institute,
Alexandria, VA; (703) 548-8600.
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Question: Where do I get information on condos?
Answer: The
major interest group for condominium projects
and other so-called common-intereset developments
is the nonprofit Community Associations Institute,
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 360, Alexandria,
VA 22314; (703) 548-8600; caionline.org. |
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HOME VALUATION |
| Monitor the value of your property, get an
idea of what your home is worth today. |
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Faye Today |
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LETTERS FROM CLIENTS |
| Nothing makes me more proud and satisfied
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FEATURED PROPERTIES |
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| City |
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San Mateo |
| Bed/Bath |
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2/2 |
| Sq ft |
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N/A |
| Asking Price |
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$549,000 |
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| Virtual Tour |
| Contact Faye |
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| City |
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San Mateo |
| Bed/Bath |
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2/2 |
| Sq ft |
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1,434 |
| Asking Price |
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$698,500 |
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| Virtual Tour |
| Contact Faye |
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| City |
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San Mateo |
| Bed/Bath |
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2/2 |
| Sq ft |
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1,024 |
| Asking Price |
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$486,000 |
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Virtual Tour |
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Contact Faye |
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| City |
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San Mateo |
| Bed/Bath |
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2/2 |
| Sq ft |
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1213 |
| Asking Price |
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$535,000 |
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Virtual Tour |
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| City |
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San Mateo |
| Bed/Bath |
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3/2.5 |
| Sq ft |
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1312 |
| Asking Price |
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$775,000 |
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Virtual Tour |
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| City |
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Redwood City |
| Bed/Bath |
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5/3 |
| Sq ft |
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N/A |
| Asking Price |
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$1,399,950 |
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Virtual Tour |
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Contact Faye |
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| City |
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San Mateo |
| Bed/Bath |
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2/2.5 |
| Sq ft |
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1,254 |
| Asking Price |
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$750,000 |
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Virtual Tour |
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Contact Faye |
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| City |
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San Mateo |
| Bed/Bath |
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2/1 |
| Sq ft |
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1,130 |
| Asking Price |
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$935,000 |
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Virtual Tour |
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Contact Faye |
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| City |
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Redwood City |
| Bed/Bath |
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4/3.5 |
| Sq ft |
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2,951 |
| Asking Price |
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$1,626,000 |
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Virtual Tour |
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Contact Faye |
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| City |
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S. San Francisco |
| Bed/Bath |
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4/.3.5 |
| Sq ft |
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2,783 |
| Asking Price |
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$1,275,000 |
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Virtual Tour |
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Contact Faye |
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