Tina To's Real Estate Blog

The newly paved resting area at the sidewalk marks the newly improved Leland Street which is the major commercial area of Visitacion Valley district in San Francisco.

On September 25, 2011 (Sunday) from 10am to 4pm, the annual Visitacion Valley Street Fair finally come out.  Due to budgetary reasons, there was no street fair last year.  However, this year what I saw was still a major cut in the entertainment sessions as I did not seen any blow up play structure at the Bank of America parking lot as seen in the past Street Fair.

In 2006 and 2007, I had participated in the Street Fair and held up a booth there.  I got a lot of interested parties looking at the house pictures that I posted up and received a lot of inquiries.  The most welcomed one is the give away of the pocket diary and one old lady had literally lined up several times to get it.  I understand in the relatively poor area, many visitors liked to check if there were any “free” giveaways.  I remembered one year PG&E had given away free night light and Pacific Medical had given free emergency pocket packs.  This year, I did not see too much “free” giveaway but the weather is blessing, not windy.

Many non-profit organizations play a significant role in improving the livelihood of Visitacion Valley.  One obvious result is the improvements on Leland Street.  Currently San Francisco Water & Sewer Department had started updating all the sewers at Sunnyvale Street.  Visitacion Valley is notorious for its high crime rate.  Although there are many, many plannings in the development lining for this district, the most important issue is still how to lower the crime rate in the area.  Do you have any suggestions that we can do to help?

最近當我去借書時，無意間發現三藩市居民可以憑有效圖書証去取一個免費旅遊紙，圖書館職員會告訴你有什麼參加的單位尚有位讓你一家人（二位大人，四位低於１８歲小朋友）一起免費去的勝地。地點包括有：免費船河﹑科學館等。。詳細情形請上以下網頁www.SFPL.org/checkoutSF

I was inspired by reading the book “Journey of a Thousand Miles: My story” by Lang Lang.  I read this in Chinese version.

For those who are not interested in music, particularly piano, may not know who is Lang Lang.  Lang Lang is the youngest famous pianist in this century so far.  I am not going to summarized his story because you can check it out from his book by which I believe should be the English version and/or should be the original.

Lang Lang won the first place as young as 5 years old.  After he watched the cartoon “Jerry and Tom”, he could replay the background music when he was only 3 years old.  Before he could read words, he could read notes.  He was recognized and had been set a goal as “the great pianist” as young as he was 3 years old.  I said set the goal because this goal was not set by him but by his parents.  His parents had sacrificed a lot to help him to reach where he is now.  Aged 9, Lang Lang left his mother and moved to Beijing together with his father.  His mother had to stay at work in Sheng Yang to support them financially.  In order for Lang Lang to be further trained and reach his parents? Lang Lang’s? goal, Lang Lang’s father became Lang Lang’s full time supervisor – to supervise and gaurantee Lang Lang had practised to his maximum ability and strength.  Lang Lang had practised mimumum 7 hours daily, 7 days a week since childhood.  All Lang Lang has is piano practice and nothing else. 

Lang Lang is very talented but unfortunately to say, Chinese has too much political reasons to restrain his growth and development.  Lang Lang’s father finally took Lang Lang to USA and Lang Lang’s talents and efforts had successfully earn himself the scholorship into the famous Musical Institute at Philapdelphia.  He later became very successful and recognized by the world.  HOWEVER, WHEN HE WANTED TO RETURN CHINA TO PERFORM, HE HAD BEEN VIGOROUSLY REFUSED TO DO SO.  The reason is he had not earned enough competitions and was not famous in China.  In China, an artist’s role has to be realized by the number of  trophy that artist has. !!!

The real reason:  Lang Lang is not from a rich family.  He does not has any Chinese official to back him up.  In the strong sea of competition, not only in piano, or in music but in all areas, athelets and other competitors may be pre-selected already.  If Chairman X’s son has certain talent, the selective board should make him the first place and if only the first place can join the international competition, then he has to be the one and try all the streams to block other OSTACLE “Lang Lang” OUT.  As throughout this book, you will see Lang Lang had met many people (all are Chinese, a few even his teachers)  said “Lang Lang, for sure you will not win!”  trying to down put him, making him not to win.

I, myself, am Chinese but fortunately I was born and raised in Hong Kong.  I could not say that I have the best education, but I have the freedom to speak, to think and to act.  I bet Lang Lang, in some way, is quite disappointed with his ‘MOTHER” – China because only recently his talent and achievements were recognized.  China, actually, has the resources and abilities to help Lang Lang to achieve what he acheives today, but refused to do so despite Lang Lang and his father’s vigorous efforts.  I feel shame on this and the pain is, this has not ceased yet.

China has literally abandoned Lang Lang in his early years.  On the other hand, it is America who saved him and allowed him to be what he is.  This is many Chinese’s American dream and this is also many immigrant’s dream.

I was impressed by Tina’s interview at “Dine with Stephen Chen” at the TVB show.  Tina became the movie star as young as 16.  Without training, without experience, Tina ventured to go to Thailand.  Once she stepped down the isle from the airplane, she was greeted by her “fans”.  This pissed her off right away.  How in the whole world could she be recognized and welcomed since she was so green as an actress (not yet acting)?  From that moment, she looked down on movie making.  She did not hold up the minimum ethnics of an actor should have.  She would disappear and let the whole team waiting for hours in shooting movie.  I consider this as intelligent because if I were her.  I would make believe that I really am a great movie star.  That is what we call “the Star came out of Commercials”.

What do you think?

你不能決定生命的長度，

但是你可以控制它的寬度。

你不能左右天氣但你可以改變心情

你不能改變容貌但你可以展現笑容

你不能控制他人但你可以掌握自己

你不能預知明天但你可以利用今天

你不能樣樣勝利但你可以事事盡力

April 4th is Easter – to celebrate Jesus Chris come back to live.

April 5th is Ching Ming – to memorize the ancestors.

During Ching Ming, usually it is drizzle as if weeping for the loss of our ancestors.  Many cemetaries will hold a free prayer memorization party to their clients as to thank you for their business as well as to promote new business.  Funny thing is they respect different religions so hold different ceremonies.  They also provide free buffet.

Both my parents are buried at Cypress Lawn which is located at Colma City.  Like its name Colma is a place for people to fall in colma and death in some way resemble a never wake up sleep.  As we want to stay close to our parents, my siblings and myself had purchased the designated space around my parents.   Land for the dead is more precious than land for the live (real estate ).    The ”dead spot” , once taken, is rarely or never sold again because “previously occupied” tomb is not allowed to be sold.  For living persons, we are free to move and sell our house but not for the dead.  Also the price of the tomb appreciates way faster than that of live person’s.  For example, my parents’ tomb is $8000 but two years after, I bought the exact size similar location is already $17,000.  For Asian, it is a taboo  not to mention the word “dead” and to curse  another person we will say such a “dead head”.

Believe it or not, gambling can make your understand yourself better.

As we all know, gambling is a risky game and a game about taking risk.  If you live in San Francisco, you may join the senior club, especially the Asian senior club, to take the gambling tour bus weekly.  The tour bus usually departs at least 4 times daily from some hot public location such as Misstion & 16th (close to the bart station), China town (where a lot of senior homes located).  The seniors by playing $13 may get back $10 coupon for slot machine plus food.  Overnite trip to the casino s at Reno is about $23 per person and one can get back about $32 coupon from different casinos in total plus 2 or 3 meals.  This is obviously a great deal if one does not lost money or just lost a little bit. 

When my parents alive, joining the gambling tour are their favorite.  While my father is very afraid of losing money, he only played penny machine and he would like to switch machines if nothing came out after 10 bets.  On the contrary, my mother liked to play with dollar machine and would not want to leave machine until she won sort of jackpot or losted all her money.  As we can see here, two very different character. 

What about you?  Have you thought about your gambling habit?  Would you stay until you hit a jackpot or at least a small one before you quit that machine?  For me, it is very tempting to stay until I can strike some “bonus play”.  There are different types of bonuses which are very amusing.  I remember one even sychronize children’s video game as the slot machine is about driving an airplane and the jackpot would allow you to shoot the enemy’s planes and the chair can actually move.  I was quite pissed off at that as I was never good at playing video games and of course, could not knock down too many planes, hence would not win much.

Some people are very discipline such as my sister.  She set a limit of her losing and if she lose straightly half of her limit, she would stop and just watch other people play.  She would take a break, get a drink, walk around and try other machine maybe an hour later.  If after an hour’s break, she still cannot win, she may quit totally.  In conclusion, she seldom lost money.  She also would budget how much she can gamble for a year and record her winning or lost.  In reality, she does not earn much money but she is never poor because she knows how to budget her income and expenses.

For myself, I am quite an adventuous person and many times do not want to leave the slot machine until I see the “bonus”.  I am also not very discipline as like many losers, I always tell myself the next one will be the jackpot and that is exactly how so many people lose money.  When I win, I do not want to leave because I think there will be more to come.  When I lose, I still do not want to leave because I think the next one will be the “hit”.  Fortunately, I also set a limit and no matter what, if I reach my losing limit, I will stop.

Have you thought about gambling can really reflect your character?  Do you agree?

經過一倫辛勤工作，我的客人終於在Pleasanton選中了一間銀行屋。我的一貫所風是會提供該屋的詳細資料及附近相似房屋近三個月的成交價給客人參考，並且強力要求客人驗屋以保不失。

賣屋經紀代表提供了驗屋及環境報告，報告中有以非常重要的負面因素

１）房屋曾經移位

２）附近有水霸，缺堤可水染或沖走該屋主

３）房屋位處地震段層帶一哩內

４）房屋坐落在由河流沖積的沙泥，承托力不佳

雖然我的客人很喜歡該屋曾經月租２５００，且已翻新，白蟻維修只是數百元，但將心比心，假如我是買家，我是不會買危屋的，所以我便建議他放棄。

我認為作為一個良心經紀比一個多不義之財經紀，你同意嗎？

１０月１１日，本人以街坊委員身份被邀請參加高鐵研究會議，政府準備批準高鐵總站設於訪谷區日舊鎖廠對出空地。

高鐵債券法案於２００８年１１月獲得通過，工程準備於２０１１年動工，２０３０年完成。

由於三藩市缺乏空地，西南角連接Brisbane及Daly City俗稱Bayland一帶便被視為三藩市高鐵廠地，所有停泊及維持準備在此進行。這一個舉動令有關居民非常不滿，居民用了許多年時間才盼望得舊鎖廠清拆及開始處理土地污染問題，好事未協妥，現在又出現高鐵問題。

據官方資料，高鐵時速２００哩，由三藩市去聖荷西只需半小時。

政府預期動用，需９億８千萬增加４３２００職位，在Bayland選址會停泊１２架高鐵？高鐵的污染﹑噪音等問題是否會降低訪谷區價格歡迎發表意見。

許多屋主都面臨一個兩難局面：他們是否應如期供款好讓銀行正視他的困難，積極處理他們的貸款重組要求。無言許多屋主看見新的買家可用一半價錢買得和他們屋宇相約房屋並且在利率上享有七折優惠（因許多現屋主的貨款利率是７，８，９厘不等，但現時的３０年貸款利率只是４厘８７５左右）。但是假如現屋主不供款會破壞他們的信用面達不到債務重組的目的。

成功的秘訣要注意以下的要點

1.屋主要自問假如他們如期供款，為什麼銀行要視他們的供款為一項要解決的問題所以要適當地引起銀行的關注，屋主應該付以部份供款，以他們能力所在的銀碼為佳。

2.向銀行提供一切所需資料，包括最近兩期銀行存款，近兩年報稅表，最近兩個月糧尾存根，困難解釋信，收支平衡預算，務求銀行理解及批准低利息貸款

雖然不同銀行有不同審批要求，但一般可接受的常理是仍然生效的。