The official publication of

Bay East Association of REaltors®

AUGUST 2007

Realtors®
Giving Back to
the Community
• The Dictionary Project
PRST STD
US Postage
• Habitat for Humanity
Paid
Permit #66
Paradise, CA
• OneChild
• REALTORS® Getting Real
About Schools
 Their calling card.
Shelley Despotakis
Vice President • County Manager
Alameda County
San Joaquin County

4255 Hopyard Road Suite 1

Pleasanton, CA 94588
(925) 399-4000
(925) 399-3027 Fax
(925) 580-1459 Cell

sdespotakis@nat.com

Ours.
North American Title. Delivering hot, fresh value every morning, noon, and night. How sweet it is.
fromthePRESIDENT
Chuck Edell
2007 president
Bay East association of realtors®
R E A LT O R S ® A re a G i v i n g B u n c h

This month’s Bay East REALTOR® Magazine is

about giving back – REALTORS® giving back to their
neighborhoods, communities, schools, and favorite
causes. I suspect many of our Bay East members
donate hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to
worthwhile causes, and it mostly goes unnoticed.

Many critics of the real estate industry would have

the public believe that we make excessive amounts
of money, own expensive homes, drive new luxury
cars and not give back to our community. Sadly,
this is the image that is portrayed in the media and
If you volunteer in any manner or are a regular
we haven’t done enough to change this opinion. As
financial supporter of a cause, please take a moment
successful members of the community, we are more
to email Joseph Smith, Bay East Communication
likely to participate in charitable acts of kindness than
Coordinator, at josephs@bayeast.org. Please provide
the average person on the street. We see on a daily
him with your full name, your firm’s name, the name
basis how the needs of a society have a direct impact
of your cause, and how you participate. We would like
upon our neighborhoods and daily lives. Whether it’s
to highlight you in upcoming issues of the Bay East
assisting a needy family to find a home or providing a
REALTOR® Magazine and possibly find a way to have
dictionary to a young mind, we, both as an Association
the media recognize your cause and efforts.
and as individuals, are constantly striving to find
solutions for our community.

I personally enjoy the intangible benefit of giving. It

gives a pleasant feeling of connectedness and the
satisfaction of making the world a better place. On
February 24, I had the honor of representing Bay East Chuck Edell

as a set of keys to a new Habitat for Humanity home 2007 President

in Livermore was presented to the Jimenez family. Our

contribution to this family’s future extends beyond the Please feel free to contact me at any time regarding

financial donation that Bay East made to the housing any issue you may have. I will do my best to answer

development. Many of our fellow Bay East members your questions and resolve any difficulties. It is best to

contributed their time, expertise, and money in a reach me by email at chuck@realtyexperts.com.

collective effort to assist families to participate in the

American Dream of homeownership. That is who we
are, what we are about and what the public needs to
know about REALTORS®.

3
Volume 6, Issue 7 • AUGUST 2007
Bay East Association of REALTORS®
Board of Directors
Chuck Edell, President
AUGUST2007
INSIDEthisissue..
Melrose Forde, President-Elect
Jean Powers, Treasurer columns
Gib Souza, Past President
Central County page 3 From the president
Otto Catrina, Director page 5 CEO Notes
Michael Godfrey, Director
PAGE 14 MEMBERS GIVING BACK PAGE 7 GAD DESK
Pam Winterbauer, Director
Tri-City
Whether it’s assisting a needy family to find a home PAGE 13 EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
Tom Cree, Director or providing a dictionary to a young mind, we, as an
Dorothy Jackson, Director Association and individuals, are constantly striving to DEPARTMENTS
Shawna Jorat, Director
John Juarez, Director
find solutions for our community.
PAGE 8 EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS
Miguel Velazco, Director
PAGE 15 WAYS TO GIVE BACK PAGE 8 NEW MEMBERS
Tri-Valley
Pete Conley, Director Let your efforts make your corner a little brighter. PAGE 10 HOUSING REPORT
Jeri Jorgenson, Director
Tammy Pryor, Director PAGE 16 EMBRACING ONLINE LEADS PAGE 11 MEDIATION
Mike Fracisco, Director As long as you know how to speak the language of PAGE 12 MARKETING MEETINGS
At-Large online leads, you’ll never have a shortage of clients. PAGE 18 TECH TIPS
Jeanie Reitzell, Director
Don Faught, Director
PAGE 17 THE RIGHT WAY TO ASK FOR FEEDBACK
Pat Huffman, Director
Surveys can fuel ideas for new service offerings to help
Affiliate
Cathy Campbell, Director you improve your selling skills and fix problems that
ON THE WEB
you didn’t even know existed. SPEAKERS’ BUREAU
STAFF Bay East, in conjunction with its Professional Standards Council, has
Chief Executive Officer developed a Speakers’ Bureau. The Speakers’ Bureau is designed to
Tricia Thomas ABOUT THE COVER increase industry professionalism by presenting timely topics in a well-
Vice President of Administration Alex Rooney proudly displays a dictionary provided researched and informative manner for new and veteran members. For
Pam Barnes more information, explore the Speakers Bureau section of the website at
to Mrs. Borris’s third grade class at Walnut Grove
Technology Training Director www.bayeast.org/programs/speakers/ or contact Pam Barnes at pamb@
Larnett Eckles Elementary School in Pleasanton, CA as part of The
bayeast.org.
Chief Financial Officer Dictionary Project. For more information about this
Francoise Jordan community outreach program, visit us online at MEMBERS DISCOUNT PROGRAM
Government Affairs Director www.bayeast.org/programs/dictionary/. Bay East members enjoy the benefits of the Association’s Discount
David Stark
Program which offers them practical solutions for their business and
Member Programs Director
personal lives on products and services they use every day. This program
Toni Wilson
includes offerings from more than 30 companies recognized as leaders in
MLS Support Services Director
their respective industries. For more information regarding the companies
Jason Woods
involved in this program, visit the Discount Program portion of bayeast.org
Information Technology Director
at www.bayeast.org/programs/discounts/.
Mark Flavin
Communications Coordinator/Editor
New Service for Political Junkies
Joseph Smith
Bay East Realtor® Magazine is the official Can’t get enough info on how local government is involved in real estate?
publication of Bay East Association of REALTORS® Then you need to sign up for the new Bay East Government Affairs Weekly
and is published monthly. Although every effort has
Report. This email newsletter is published every Friday and provides a
been made to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness
of this publication, errors may occur. Bay East brief, informal update on all the current local government action that can
Association of REALTORS® shall not be held liable for impact your business. To receive the Government Affairs Weekly Report,
misinformation, typographical errors, omissions and/
or misprints in editorial and/or advertising materials. To please paste the following address into your browser: http://takeaction.
advertise in Bay East Realtor® Magazine, contact realtoractioncenter.com/cabayeast/join.tcl. If you have any questions,
Central Valley Communications:
please contact David Stark, Government Affairs Director at davids@
bayeast.org or call him at (925) 730-4068.

HomesOpenToday.com
Bay East is excited to announce the debut of a new online home searching
Michelle Manos, Executive Director
tool HomesOpenToday.com. This free resource will allow REALORS®
(209) 981-1414
to post search Open House information throughout the greater East bay
Bryan White, Business Development
(209) 598-5040 region. Visit this exciting site at www.homesopentoday.com.
Jaye Stevens, Account Executive
(209) 712-0857
Shaina Pijl, Marketing Assistant
(209) 858-1700
CEOnotes
TRICIA THOMAS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Happy 60th, Bay East! It seems like just a few years ago we
were celebrating the Association’s Golden Anniversary. Yet, here we are
again, getting ready to celebrate 60 years of service to REALTOR® and
Affiliate members. And boy, have things changed in the past sixty years.
When Bay East received its charter in 1947 from the National Association
of REALTORS®, there was no multiple listing service; no unilateral offer of
compensation between agents in this area; listing information was written
on note-cards that were stored in shoe boxes; and most people had never
seen a computer. Today, we have a state-of-the-art system support center;
we’re moving toward a regional MLS; we offer over 100 education programs
annually; we promote the REALTOR® image through our own television
show; and we offer an expansive menu of services and programs to help you
succeed in business.
Since most of our members have been with us fewer than ten years, I
thought you might enjoy a brief glimpse at what the real estate industry
looked liked 60 years ago. Some of what I want to share with you is just
fun trivia. But some of the history is illustrative of the vision implemented by
the 22 brokers who came together to create an organization dedicated to
fostering the success of its members.
The association opened its doors in September 1947 in a dusty loft located
over a feed store in Hayward. Formed as the Southern Alameda County Real
Estate Board (SACREB), it grew to 67 members in its first year. (Today, we
have over 6,200 REALTORS® and Affiliates). Members celebrated that year
with a gala event of dinner, music, dancing, and prizes for an admission cost
of only $2.75. But the association had a more serious side. It was active in
local politics and zoning issues; it entered into a reciprocal MLS agreement
with neighboring associations and it was recognized for outstanding service
to the community.
This early involvement provided the framework for our mission today. Our
Government Affairs Department is actively involved in public policy issues in
all of the nine jurisdictions we cover. We are close to consolidating our MLS
with three other organizations to create one of the largest Regional MLSs in
the state. And the association and our members continue to make significant
contributions to the community. In fact,
this month’s issue of the Bay East
REALTOR® Magazine features the
ways in which some of our members
are making a difference.
Fast forward from 1947 to 1957. That
year, the first Marketing Group was
formed. Named the “Traders Club”,
it met once a month for brokers to
discuss new listings and to caravan to
open houses. Today, there are five “Traders Clubs”, or Marketing Groups,
operating in Bay East. Each of them covers a specific area and is a
tremendous resource to our members. They’ve also grown far beyond simply
exchanging listings. They now provide up-to-date information on critical real
estate issues and trends as well as community, city and school data. If you
haven’t attended a local marketing meeting, I encourage you to do so. You
can find a list of their meeting dates and locations on our website at www.
bayeast.org/mem_svc_mp_markmeet.html.
Technology also leapt forward in the late ‘50s. Lockboxes were introduced to
agents and new MLS equipment was purchased (an electronic paper cutter
and collator!). By the end of 1957, the total volume of listings sold via the
MLS was $26 million--a drop in the bucket compared to today’s numbers.
Year-to-date, our MLS members have sold $1.8 billion.
These days, we’ve progressed far beyond paper cutters and collators.
Thanks to ever-improving technology, agents operate virtual offices and
can do business anywhere at anytime. Keeping our members current on
emerging technologies and providing system support for tech tools has
become central to Bay East’s mission. We have a staff of technology
trainers, system support representatives and technical repair experts to meet
our members’ needs. Last year, our Call Center handled 43,280 calls and
fixed 463 computers; one of the only MLS Support Centers in the nation to
offer this level of service.
Over the years, we have had several different names (Southern Alameda
County Board of REALTORS®, Southern Alameda County Association of
REALTORS® and ten years ago, Bay East Association of REALTORS®).
But, throughout the past 60 years, we have remained true to our goal of
providing quality service to our members. We look forward to doing the same
for the next 60 years.
5
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GADdesk
David Stark The benefit of what we do
as real estate professionals
Government Affairs Director
extends far beyond the
No matter who you work for as a real estate professional, no clients we serve. Each time
matter whether you’re an agent, broker, lender, title officer or we create a homeowner,
home inspector, no matter if you’ve just passed your DRE test our neighborhoods and
and joined Bay East or if you’ve been in this business for 30 communities benefit.
years, you all have something in common – you give back to our Homeownership means that
communities as part of the housing industry. our clients have a stake
in their city. They’re more
You may be wondering about that statement. You may be likely to pay attention to the
thinking, “Hey, I’m just a sales person. What’s all this about the ‘housing industry’?” quality of local schools, to the
True, the nature of your business may be sales, but in reality you’re in the housing safety of neighborhoods and to the responsible management of their city.
industry. I make this point to demonstrate how proud each of you should be in Homeownership breeds civic pride and civic leadership. It is REALTOR®
making the American Dream possible for so many. and Affiliate members that make homeownership and the associated
community benefits possible.
Our theme for this issue of the Bay East REALTOR® Magazine is “giving back.”
The reason I find so much satisfaction in working for the REALTOR® community is The next escrow you close could lead to that client running for the school
that the work you do, by its very nature, “gives back” to our communities. board or being appointed to the planning commission or even running for
city council. Community leadership has to start somewhere and helping
someone invest in a piece of their community is major first step. We “give
back” by creating residents who care about where they live.

Clearly, our business is all about “giving back.” Specifically, I’d like to
recognize those of you who give back by helping first-time homebuyers.
Assisting a new homebuyer can be challenging. However, every
REALTOR® and Affiliate member that I speak with regarding first-time
homebuyer transactions always mentions the personal satisfaction that
comes from helping these clients. Along with that satisfaction is the reality
that you’ve also “given back” to the community by creating a new owner/
resident who will take pride in their home and community.

I’m also very proud of what the Bay East Association of REALTORS® has
done to “give back.” Through our Housing Opportunity Program, Bay East
continues to be a leader in affordable housing advocacy. We’ve provided
financial and “sweat equity” support to the East Bay Habitat for Humanity
and created new affordable housing. We’ve made the Tri-Valley Housing
Opportunity Center a reality and made ownership a reality for more
than fifty first-time homebuyers in its first year of existence. Through our
Housing Assistance Forums we’ve educated hundreds of REALTORS®
and Affiliates about city home ownership assistance programs and made
those programs succeed. Plus, participants at those events have gone on
to close transactions with first-time homebuyers.

If you want to get learn more about how to “give back” either through
helping first time buyers or by getting involved with the Housing
Opportunity Council, please contact me at (925)30-4068 or
davids@bayeast.org.
7
EDUCATIONhighlights
Gone are the days when you could carry on with the same routine that resulted in some
success. The real estate industry is constantly changing and mandates that we change with
it. Bay East offers an array of exciting and informative live seminars, classes, and events
designed to keep you up-to-date on the latest trends. Please remember our classes are
subject to change or cancellation; always check class status with Member Services at
(925) 730-4060.
Professional development
August 9 (1:30 - 3:30 pm)
Legal Updates with Gov Hutchinson
C.A.R. Attorney Gov Hutchinson will be at
Bay East for his yearly Legal Updates. Come
join us to hear what’s new with C.A.R.,
contracts and any legal issues affecting the
real estate community.
August 15 (9:00 am – Noon)
How To Handle An
Upside Down/Underwater Sale - a
Seminar on Short Sales This seminar on
how to navigate the waters of short sales
is approved for 3 hours of DRE consumer
protection continuing education credits.
August 20 (9:00 - 11:00 am)
Blogging – The Big Secret (with Pat
Kitano) What is blogging and why is it the
next big thing? Will you be left behind in this
technological world of ours? Join us to learn
the why and the how of blogging.
Technical Training
August 1, 2, 7, 8, 13, 14, 20, 23, 27, and 29
Paragon Essentials is a mandatory three
hour class which covers Searches, Saved
Searches, Views/ Reports, Email Listings,
Print Reports, Listing Input, and Quick and
Easy CMA. Please call or visit our website
for class times.
August 6 (1:30 – 3:30 pm)
Create Simple Flyers Using Word
Learn simple techniques that will help you
learn how to create attractive flyers using the
MS-Word program.
8
August 9 (1:30 – 4:30 pm)
August 22 (9:00 – Noon)
Paragon Listings is a three-hour class
which covers everything you need to know
about entering/changing listings, putting
properties on Tour/Open House, uploading
photos, and associated documents.
(Prerequisite: Paragon Essentials)
August 15 (9:00 – 11:00 am)
Popular Bells & Whistles, part of the Grab-
It-&-Go Series, is a fun-packed two hour
class comprising of the following: “Resize
Digital Pictures”, “Radius/Rubberband/
Polygon Searches”, “Customize Reports”,
“Market Monitor”, and “Driving Directions.”
August 15 (1:30 – 3:30 pm)
Paragon - Contact Auto-Email Notification
is a two-hour class that covers entering
Contacts/Prospects, assigning searches,
setting up auto email notification, and more.
(Prerequisite: Paragon Essentials)
August 16 (1:30 – 4:30 pm)
August 30 (9:00 am – Noon)
Paragon - Create a CMA Presentation is a
three-hour class which covers all the steps
in generating a CMA Presentation packet.
(Prerequisite: Paragon Essentials)
August 21 (9:00 – Noon)
Basic WINForms® Desktop/Online is
a three-hour class covering creating and
saving a template for a Purchase or Listing
transaction, and e-mailing forms. After
exploring how to use the Desktop version,
the On-line version will be covered.
August 21 (1:30 – 3:30 pm)
Advanced WINForms® Take your
WINForms knowledge to the next level! This
2-hour class covers additional functionality,
such as: creating & using clauses, sticky
notes, importing forms to Desktop/
Online, electronic signatures, and more!
(Prerequisite: Basic WINForms)
NEWmembers
REALTORS®
Central county
Andrea Albertario, Prudential Calif. Realty
Carl David, Keller Williams/Castro Valley
Dolores Alvarez, Advance Adobe Properties
Felix Wong, Wisco Investments LLC
Jasmine Dominguez, Robert Jones & Assoc
Jonathan Ybarra, Casas Ybarra
June Lu, Bay Home Investments & Loans
Kathy Anwari, Century 22 Real Estate & Mortgage
Lorraine Lewis, California Pacific Realty
Luis Tan, California Builders Realty
LuLu Alforque, Columbia Prime Properties
Marsha Belen, Via Real Estate
Myriam Allouko, ECapital Realty
Tri-City
Adrian Miller, Realty World-Viking Realty
Al Idos, ACN Realty
Alice Oregana, Re/Max Tri-Valley
Allen Mao, Prudential Calif Realty
Amy Cheng, Coldwell Banker
Amy Yu Zhang, Intero Real Estate Services
Angela Pi, Universal Marketing Group
Armando Rodriguez, Intero Real Estate Services
Brenda Fisher, Prudential Calif. Realty
Cammie Salazar, Legion Real Estate
Carolyn Rafael, Exit Covenant Realty
Catherine Shen, Realty World - A & A Prop.
Danilo Embernate, At Home Realty
Danny Chen, Realty World - A & A Prop.
Derick Thompson, Primestar Financial Services
Digna Robles, Coldwell Banker Platinum Group
Elizabeth Carcallas, Blue Horizon Realty Group
Ernestine Castro-Martz, Complete Realty
Harvey Ottovich, Action-A Realty
Imelda Blanco, The Mili Realty Group
John Leung Hui, Cal Home Investments, Inc.
Jose Bonete, All State Homes
Jose Luis Velasquez, Century 21 Mission-Bishop
Lijun Gu, RE Realty Experts
Margie Laforteza, At Home Realty
Maria Jimenez, Community One
Maria Luisa Bagwell, Century 21 NeoTech Realty
Melissa Guzman, Mid Knight Mortgage, Inc.
Mike Banci, At Home Realty
Monica Guerrero, RE Realty Experts
Nadra Troop, Re/Max Executive
Namita Dalai, New Century Executive, Inc.
Nausheen Khan, New Century Executive, Inc.
Nelly Tendencia, Prudential Calif Realty
Noah Chiu, RE Realty Experts
Parveen Sharma, New Century Executive, Inc.
Reema Bharti, Star Investment Realty, Inc
Regina Luyon, Keller Williams Benchmark
Robert Zepeda, Realty World Centennial
Ruth Hosain, Century 21 Banner Realty
Sara Alvarez, Pacific Real Estate Network
Serena Zou, Tower Mortgage & Realty
Shuwu Song, MAXREAL
Susan Kelly, Connects Real Estate Services
Teresa Castro, Intero Real Estate Services
Timothy Kersting, At Home Realty
Tri-Valley
Amandeep Sandhu, Paradise Bay Properties Inc
Annie Reuben, Prudential Calif. Realty
Anthony Cabeza, Superior Investments Realty
Benoni Mocanu, MW Associates
Bonnie Chopra, First Fidelity
Brady Hobby, Hobby Associates
Brett Andrade, Prudential Ruby Hill Realty
Carolyn Cook, The Lennox Realty Group Inc
Cecilia Manzo, ERA Premier Realty
Celeste Plate, JEI Real Estate
Connie Mok, Realty World - Elite Realty
Cynthia Dake, Keller Williams Tri-Valley
Doreen Hicks, Barkley Platinum Properties
Eric Holmgren, Alain Pinel, REALTORS®
Harmeet Kalra, Prudential Calif. Realty
Harry Deluna, Windermere Welcome Home
Jason Kanalakis, Prudential Ruby Hill Realty
Jay Pak, New Standard Real Estate Co.
John Andersen, Andersen Properties
Joseph Clark, Excel Realty
Lien Utsumi, JEI Real Estate
Lisa Rocha, Coldwell Banker/Vintage Group
Maria Arevalo, Bay Mortgage & Real Estate
Megan Tomasello, Star Team Realty
Michele Haynes-Watts, RTA Real Estate & Loan
Michelle Daniel, Windermere Prop of East Bay
Michelle Ramirez, Pacific Rim Financial & Inv
Naomi Nguyen, Century 21 Lincoln Realty
Pietro Ignacio, iStar Real Estate
Richard Lum, California Home Realty
Ryan Cox, Stratus Land Development
Sammy Chilson, Prudential Calif. Realty
Tara Medeiros, Keller Williams Tri-Valley
Tina-Marie Monterroza, Global Realty Marketing
Tom Jun, New Standard Real Estate Co.
Platinum Affiliates
Tri-Valley
Alberto Gomez, Harmon Homes
Kathleen Davis, Golden State Mortgage
Kirk Bailey, Impress Publishing
Paula Iacomini, Vintage Mortgage Group
Affiliates
Central
Doris Peacock, Creative Solutions & Management
Gary Silverman, Creative Solutions & Management
Tri-City
Brian Linhart, Xchange Solutions, Inc.
Bruce Factor, TopEnvoy, Inc.
Gretchen Lewis, TopEnvoy, Inc.
Joe Difu, Xchange Solutions, Inc.
Joe Ganeff, Xchange Solutions, Inc.
Tri-Valley
Aaron Sansing, Harmon Homes
Brenna Magill, Harmon Homes
Detra Ahmed, Harmon Homes
Katharine Davis, Harmon Homes
Marlena Bay, Harmon Homes
Shannon Blankenship, Golden State Mortgage
Steve Lera, Harmon Homes
Stuart Smart, Stuart Smart, Appraiser
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 HOUSINGreport Did You Know ...
July 2007 Housing Report Bay East offers downloadable
reports and statistics for the
The median price for an existing home increased 1.02 percent in July 2007 in
following cities in the Housing
southern Alameda County compared with the same period a year ago.
Report section of bayeast.org.
• Castro Valley
The inventory of existing, single-family dwellings increased 8.65 percent in • Dublin
July 2007 from the previous month. Year-to-date, there has been an increase • Fremont
of 30 percent from the same period last year. • Hayward
• Livermore
• Newark
Days on Market (DOM) continues to increase for existing homes in • Pleasanton
comparison to last year. The average year-to-date DOM for a single family • San Leandro
detached home is currently 35 days, an increase of eight days from year-to- • San Lorenzo
date 2006. List to sale ratios remain strong with sellers getting an average of • Union City
98.26 percent of the list price. Online visitors can find number of sold homes, inventories, sell price/list
price ratio and much more. To view these reports, visit
www.bayeast.org/stats/.

June 2007 Single Family Residence

Castro Valley Dublin Fremont Hayward Livermore Newark Pleasanton San Leandro San Lorenzo Union City
April $700,000 $846,732 $712,000 $560,000 $644,975 $729,000 $895,000 $554,000 $517,500 $660,000
Median Sales Price

May $741,000 $819,500 $725,000 $573,000 $665,000 $673,500 $832,000 $539,000 $555,000 $786,000
June $681,345 $685,000 $735,000 $579,000 $631,250 $609,000 $895,000 $549,000 $574,818 $690,000
Year 2007 $675,000 $745,000 $719,000 $570,000 $655,000 $645,000 $830,000 $545,000 $547,000 $695,000
to
Date 2006 $715,000 $750,000 $705,000 $585,000 $645,000 $650,000 $849,975 $575,000 $558,000 $700,000
April 23 20 111 42 74 11 50 36 12 29
May 31 34 115 44 69 26 70 47 15 19
Units Sold

June 27 30 108 37 66 21 67 47 11 24
Year 2007 170 157 656 288 421 119 349 257 74 141
to
Date 2006 610 306 1,402 1,017 974 329 662 778 256 399
April 36 28 19 45 30 25 21 33 31 31
Days on Market

May 27 22 18 32 25 36 19 33 26 38
June 37 31 19 36 29 24 32 37 33 22
Year 2007 38 35 26 42 35 36 33 37 37 33
to
Date 2006 27 25 24 30 29 28 26 28 28 28
MEDIATION
Doreen Roberts
Professional Standards Chair
Working in the real estate business is exciting, rewarding,
exhausting, and frustrating. And sometimes as hard as you
try to do everything just right, things still go wrong. That is
every REALTORS®’ nightmare; to be working with another
agent or client and have communications break down and
the other party threatens an arbitration or ethics hearing, or
maybe even a lawsuit.
Within the Association, the Professional Standards process
allows REALTORS® or members of the public to have
disputes decided by a hearing panel. The results are win or
lose; one party walks away with a victory, the other party is
not so happy. That unfortunate dynamic prevents many from
pursuing some glaring issues; after all, we still work in the
same community.
There must be a better way to get issues resolved - there is
- “mediation.” The Association has implemented a Mediation
program for issues arising from real estate transactions.
Mediation is a fair, efficient and confidential process to
help you resolve your real estate dispute and reach an
agreement. A neutral mediator panel assists you in reaching
a voluntary, negotiated agreement.
Choosing mediation to resolve real estate disputes promotes
better relationships and reduces the stress, costs and time
involved in other dispute resolution methods. Additionally,
you remain in control of the outcome and can either agree
to mutually acceptable settlement terms or decide against
coming to an agreement and then pursue other options.
Association mediators are REALTOR® members,
specifically trained and experienced in dispute resolution
through the mediation process for real estate related
disputes, including but not limited to:
• Deposit disputes
• Contingencies not met
• Specific performance
• Non-disclosure issues
• Commission/arbitration disputes
• Boundary disputes
• Any other issue subject to the “mediation clause” arising
from the listing contract between a REALTOR® and seller or
from the purchase contract between buyers and sellers.
Attempting mediation first is not only a wise approach to the
resolution of any dispute; but if the parties are involved in a
contract requiring mediation (e.g. CAR Listing Agreement,
CAR Purchase Contract), the parties have agreed in
advance to submit the issue to mediation before other
proceedings, subject to some exceptions.
There are many benefits to the mediation of disputes;
including a considerable savings of time and money. Our
experience is that when the parties come to mediation with
a mindset to resolve the matter, there will be an agreement
reached in over 90% of the cases.
Even if mediation does not resolve your dispute entirely, you
may reach some agreement on some elements, and at the
very least will have narrowed the focus of the dispute for any
future proceedings.
Mediation is a member service available to all members and
their clients at special rates to resolve disputes arising from
the real estate transaction at any point during or after the
transaction.
If you need help or have other questions, contact Pam Barnes, Professional
Standards Administrator at (925) 730-4074 or pamb@bayeast.org.

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B AY E AST M A R K E TIN G M E E TIN G S
Wednesday
Central County Marketing Meeting
Knudsen’s Ice Creamery
3323 Castro Valley Blvd.
Castro Valley
Member information and officer
contact information can be found on
our website, www.centralcounty.org
Thursday
Tri-City Marketing Meeting
Golden Peacock Banquet & Bistro
3681 Peralta Blvd., Fremont
Member information and officer
contact information can be found on
our website,
www.tricitiesmarketing.com
Livermore Marketing Meeting
Robert Livermore Community Center
4444 East Avenue, Livermore
Member information and officer contact
information can be found on our website,
www.livermoremarketing.com
Friday
Valley Marketing Meeting
Tommy T’s Restaurant
5104 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton
Member information and officer contact
information can be found on our website,
www.valleymarketing.com
Hispanic Association of Real Estate
Carrows Restaurant
2723 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley
Member information and officer contact
information can be found on our website,
www.ahbr.org

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emergingTechnology
Mark Flavin
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR
New emerging technology trends are on the verge of
making the traditional virtual tour obsolete. They have, in
my opinion, needed an upgrade for a long time, and the
industry has been slow to change. Google’s Street View
made news recently by allowing users to view pictures
as they navigate a map of a city. This, however, is just
the beginning of what we can come to expect as newer
technologies emerge that can bring interactivity to virtual
locations.
I am really excited about a web-based software currently
being developed by EveryScape (everyscape.com/).
Their technology will allow you to navigate a two-
dimensional image as if it were real. Currently, they
have limited tours of major metropolitan areas, such as
San Francisco and New York. Imagine the day when
you and a client can sit down and take a virtual tour of a
neighborhood together before even stepping out of your
computer. You can view local shops, eateries, and more
all from your office along with links to review sites and
neighborhood information.
But, wait - there is more...
How do you tell what relationship one photo has with
another? Microsoft is working on a technology called
“photosynth” (labs.live.com/photosynth/) which could
make that connection. Photosynth will create a symbolic
relationship between groups of photos with the end
result allowing you to navigate two-dimensional photos
in a three-dimensional space. It is pretty amazing and,
if you have time, you should head over to the site and
experience it.
Traditionally, our bandwidth limited the delivery of
some technology. Years ago, Quicktime VR tours were
introduced to the real estate market, but never really
took off due to the time they took to download. Many
authors were forced to compromise the images’ quality
to produce a smaller file size and quicker loading time.
The developers at Microsoft are currently working on a
product called “Seadragon” (labs.live.com/Seadragon.
aspx) which promises to speed up download times,
improve image resolution, and ease navigational issues.
Their work is quite impressive to see in action (www.ted.
com/index.php/talks/view/id/129).
After reviewing these emerging technologies, I hope you
agree the virtual tour is due for a massive upgrade. As
our society’s technology advances, it becomes easy to
understand why our clients and future homebuyers will
expect more from us. The upside of these developments
is that REALTORS® will be able to add value to their
services without increasing the cost of doing business.
I hope you enjoyed the first of what promises to be
an exciting new series of articles in the REALTOR®
Magazine that will highlight emerging technology trends.
Also, I would encourage you to participate in one of Bay
East’s emerging technology classes and learn how this
knowledge can benefit your business.
What’s In my Browser:
www.screencast-o-matic.com
Ever wanted to record a video of your
actions on the computer without purchas-
ing expensive software. Here is a free and
easy way to record your computer screen
using your web browser. This technology is
extremely helpful for training and support
purposes.
MEMBERSGIVINGBACK
REALTORS® Giving Back
Most people never think of themselves as philanthropists
who can make contributions that affect countless people.
Actually, the great thing about giving back to a community
is that it doesn’t require a large fortune – contributions can
be time, services, goods or a financial donation. Anyone can
make a real difference that will have an enduring impact for
generations to come.

“REALTORS® are in the business of building and supporting

communities,” said Chuck Edell, 2007 President of Bay
East Association of REALTORS®. “Through the numerous
charitable efforts of our members, we are often able to make
lasting positive difference in our neighborhoods. Giving back
is not only good for real estate, it satisfies individuals on a
personal level.”

The following are just a few of the charitable efforts

participated in by Bay East and its members:

The Dictionary Project

In 2007 Bay East members provided dictionaries or atlases
to school children in more than 300 classrooms through
the Dictionary Project. The Dictionary Project is a nonprofit
organization whose goal it is to assist all students in
Union City REALTORS® present dictionaries to a classroom as part of The 2007 Dictionary Project.
completing the school year as good writers, active readers
and creative thinkers by providing them with their own
personal dictionary. The books are a REALTORS® Getting Real About
gift to each student to use at school Schools
and at home for years to come. Held at the Castlewood Country Club, this event features
Members of Bay East purchased real estate company managers and owners serving as
and delivered the books to schools “celebrity waiters” for the real estate professionals seated
throughout Alameda County. For more at their tables. The goal of each waiter is to win the coveted
information about sponsoring a class “Most Appreciated Celebrity Waiter Award”, earned by
in the upcoming school year, contact receiving the most tips. Proceeds from the dinner and
Sheena Francisco at (925) 730-1071 the silent and live auctions go to support the schools
or sheenaf@bayeast.org. in Pleasanton, Dublin and Livermore. Approximately
300 people are expected to attend this year’s event on
Habitat for Humanity September 7. Nearly $40,000 was raised at last year’s
Bay East has partnered with the event. For more information about this event, please contact
East Bay Habitat for Humanity on Dorothy Hearn of Prudential California Realty at
several projects including a 22-unit (925) 218-1208.
development in Livermore. Through
our member’s donations and hard Chuck Edell, 2007 President, presents keys to the Bay East sponsored Habitat for OneChild
work, two families are now proud Humanity home to the Jimenez family. OneChild is a non-profit organization committed to providing
new homeowners in Livermore. For disadvantaged children with new clothes and school
more information about the East Bay Habitat for Humanity, supplies in the Fremont and San Francisco Bay Area. Born
visit them online at www.habitateb.org. If you would like from the personal experiences of Bernadine Dutra and her
information regarding volunteering or making a financial husband, former REALTOR® and Assemblyman John Dutra
contribution, contact David Stark, Government Affairs (20th District), OneChild has helped over 800 children and
Director, at (925) 730-4068 or davids@bayeast.org. expects to increase the number of children it touches. Many

14
of our members continue to support this very worthy cause.
For more information, visit their website at
www.onechildca.org.

23 Simple Ways to
Give Back to Your
Community
Not every volunteer effort has to change
the world. Let your efforts make your
corner of the world a little brighter. Here are
some simple ways you can improve your
community:
1. Help an elderly neighbor rake leaves, shovel
snow, or do home repairs.
2. Plant flowers in the town center.
3. Give away free flowers or seeds in the spring.
4. Put out flags for the 4th of July in neighborhood
front yards or the town center.
5. Sponsor a Little League team where there
wasn’t one already.
6. Become active in the chamber of commerce.
7. Organize a garden walk.
8. Speak at career day at the elementary school.
9. Repaint a playground.
10. Take your pet to the local senior center.
11. Organize a summer cleaning or painting of
the local school.
12. Ask past clients to take part in a house tour.
13. Give a free first-time homebuyers seminar.
14. Collect customer donations in your office.
15. Encourage sellers to donate clothing and
furniture rather than throw it out.
16. Sit as a member of your city capital
improvements task force.
17. Use your real estate contacts and skills
to identify property that might be donated or
purchased for charity use: building low-income
homes, local schools, hospitals, or group homes.
18. Bring a carload of newspapers, towels, and
blankets to an animal shelter.
19. Ask a local teacher what supplies his or her
class needs most, then donate them.
20. Hold a canned food drive, then deliver the
goods to a soup kitchen.
21. Organize a town clean-up day.
22. Take a lonely child with you when your family
goes to the movies.
23. Join the PTA.
stuffed animal in homeless shelters.  By providing objects of
reliable comfort, Project Night-Night seeks to advance the
emotional and cognitive well-being of each child they help.
Donations from local REALTORS® help support this project
to benefit Bay Area shelter kids. For more information, visit
their website at www.projectnightnight.org.
Livermore Marketing Association
Livermore Marketing Association does several charitable
projects throughout the year. In October, they auction
decorated pumpkins with the proceeds going to the Open
Heart Kitchen. In addition, Halloween costumes are
REALATOR® Ailynne PeBenito helps clean up a classroom. collected for underprivileged children. During the holiday
season, the association delivers gifts to local families. For
more information about their efforts, visit them on the web at
Community Service Day
www.livermoremarketing.com.
On the third Friday of June every year, the entire
Windermere Properties network shuts down and
lends a hand to the community. Offices close,
REALTORS® put down their cell phones and
everyone goes out into their local neighborhoods
in which they work and live to give back. The
Pleasanton office adopted Martin Luther King Jr.
Elementary School in Oakland. REALTORS®
assisted teachers and staff to prepare the school for
the summer.
Project Night-Night
Project Night-Night is dedicated to improving the
lives of homeless children, one sweet dream at
a time.  To this end, Project Night-Night donates
Livermore REALTORS® label books as part of The Dictionary Project.
individual tote bags each filled with a security
blanket that can be cuddled, an age-appropriate
book that encourages reading and family bonding, and a
Community Outreach
Bob and Deb Cilk have been
involved with the Community
Outreach in Pleasanton for
years. Their contributions include
organizing drives for Halloween
costumes, blankets, coats, and
care packages for the troops. To
donate costumes, coats or blankets
or for more information about their
numerous efforts, please contact
them at (925) 417-7129 or cilks@
comcast.net.
REALTORS® Sharon Luther & Peter Fletcher choose paint at the
15
Martin Luther King Elementary School.
broker’scorner
Embracing online leads; Your
Very Own Pond of Prospects
MICHAEL RUSSER
In the pre-Internet days, it used to be hard work to get
good leads. It would sometimes require months of door
knocking, cold-calling, and cultivating stay-in-touch
programs. And, if the general market slowed down, like it
recently has done in many parts of the country, your flow
of leads would tend to slow down, too.
The Internet, however, never slows down and it never
gets tired. It continues to deliver qualified leads regardless
of current market conditions. This makes it the most
prolific and reliable source of new business in the industry
— period. You may think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not.
As long as you know how to speak the language of your
online leads, and you know what to do with them until
they’re really ready to buy or sell, you’ll never have a
shortage of clients.
Third-Party Lead Generation • There are two
primary sources of Internet leads: your own Web site and
third-party services. Generating leads from your Web site
is a topic I have covered extensively in this column, so for
now I’m going to focus on third-party lead generation. The
following are several different categories of these kinds of
services:
• Franchise-Based. Examples include RE/MAX’s
LeadStreet, Coldwell Banker’s LeadRouter, and
Prudential’s affiliation with Yahoo! These are programs
that franchise real estate brokerages offer for the benefit
of affiliated agents.
• Fee-Based. This includes HomeGain, Reply!,
HouseValues.com, and many more. These companies
spend a great deal of money to capture online real estate
consumers and then sell them back to you as leads.
• Free Services. This is a relatively new hybrid lead
generation model in which the lead generation company
makes money on advertising and provides leads free
to agents. The most recent of these is Zillow’s Home
Q&A feature. This allows any agent to answer consumer
questions about any property (even if another agent has
it listed) and therefore become the area “expert.” This
service costs nothing to the consumer or participating
agents.
16
Clearly, with these types of services (and, of course,
a targeted Web site), online lead generation is not a
problem. Instead, a much bigger problem — some would
even call it a headache — is knowing what to do with the
leads once you have them.
Can You Speak the Language? • Have you
ever been trained to work with the Internet Empowered
Consumer (IEC)? Many agents haven’t been, which puts
them at a big disadvantage when it comes to turning
those often-anonymous emails from online consumers
into real business. Here’s what you need to know.
To successfully convert these leads requires an
understanding of human behavior within the online
context. Here are some of the fundamental principles of
that behavior:
• IECs want control, so give it to them. Because of their
anonymity, the online consumer is in control and likes it
that way. The more you try to take control (as you might
do in a typical sales situation), the more you will push
them away.
• IECs value their privacy. Take every opportunity to
reassure your online prospects that their privacy will be
absolutely protected by you and your staff.
• Few are ready to buy or sell. I estimate that 19 out of
20 online leads are from consumers in the information-
gathering stage, and are not ready to explicitly declare
their needs. These folks are easily converted to
transactions, but only if you know how to nurture them to
the point at which they are ready to move.
First Response Is Key • How you first respond to
an online inquiry, regardless of its source, can make or
break your chances of ever converting that lead into new
business. Frankly, this is where most agents typically
blow it. To provide some guidance, I created two email
scripts that I call “critical first response” emails. These
are designed to be totally consistent with the wants,
needs, and behavior of the IEC. There are two versions
of this script, one for instances in which no phone number
is provided in the inquiry, the other if there is a phone
number provided. However, I would personalize them to
fit your style and corporate image.
• Phone Number Isn’t Provided: “I realize that
you’re in the information gathering stage, and may not be
ready to open up about who you are or what your needs
are at this time. When you are ready to explore your real
estate needs further, I will be happy to assist you. PS: As
a way of saying ‘Thanks!’ I’ve given you a complementary
subscription to my information-packed monthly newsletter.
• Phone Number Is Provided: “Since you provided
a phone number in your original message, it appears
that you are ready to discuss your home buying needs. If
this is not the case, please let me know via a reply email.
Otherwise, we can discuss your needs in detail over the
phone.
These scripts can do wonders, but they’re really just the
first step. That’s because most of your online leads are
not ready to do something now — they’re 3, 6, maybe
even 12 months away from being ready to take action.
Here’s how to make sure you don’t lose them between
now and then.
Your Private Pond of Prospects • If you’ve ever
done any fishing you know that unless the fish you caught
is at least a certain minimum size, it must be thrown back
into the water. Now think about your chances of ever
catching that same fish again once it has grown to legal
size. Not very good odds, is it?
Yet, that is what the vast majority of agents do when they
get an online lead that isn’t ready to move. They simply
throw it back — or worse, ignore it. Now imagine that you
have your very own private fish pond. And every time you
caught a fish that was not quite ready, instead of throwing
it back, you put it in your special pond. There, you have
someone tending to the fish all the time, feeding and
nurturing them until they were ready. This would mean
you are practically guaranteed to convert all the “fish” you
catch into business, at some time or other.
The most effective way to accomplish this is to hire an
assistant or a virtual assistant who is adept at managing
online leads. They will continue to “feed” your leads with
appropriate drip email until they are ready to be taken
over by you. This strategy allows you to focus on listing,
selling, and negotiating, yet guarantees a high online-lead
conversion rate. In essence, you get to enjoy the best of
both worlds, without being stuck in front of a computer.
Invaluable Skills • Online leads are a dime a dozen.
Lead management and conversion skills are far more
valuable. If you can learn to be a great online-lead farmer,
you’ll reap more business than you ever thought possible
— no matter what is happening to the general market.
Mr. Internet is the alter-ego of Michael J. Russer, an Internet
speaker, trainer, author, and consultant. Send questions to help@
askmrinternet.com. Mr. Internet, Russer Communications, and its
staff and officers receive no compensation from any third-party
vendors and make no recommendations as to the suitability of the
products or services mentioned in this article. Always thoroughly
investigate any product or service before purchase.
marketingtips
The Right Way to Ask for
Feedback
John D. Mayfield
If you’re like most real estate practitioners, surveying your
customers isn’t at the top of your to-do list. After all, what’s
the use of sending out a survey when only the unhappy
clients respond?
Unfortunately, those preconceived notions will only hinder
your success. If you don’t make an effort to measure your
clients’ experience and satisfaction with your services, you’ll
fail to gather key facts that can help your business grow.
Surveys can fuel ideas for new service offerings to help you
improve your selling skills and fix problems that you didn’t
even know existed. But, in order to gain value from customer
feedback, you have to know what to ask and how to ask it.
Danger of Unsatisfied Clients • Have you ever
noticed that one unhappy customer will tell more people
about their gripe than a satisfied customer will tell about
their positive experiences?
10. The number of customers companies lose for every one
that complains of poor service.
7. It costs seven times more to get a new client than to keep
an existing one.
13. Percentage of people who will tell more than 20 people
about their bad experience.
90. Percentage of unhappy clients who will not do business
with the same company again.
95. Percentage of unhappy customers who will return if an
issue is resolved quickly and efficiently.
As you can see, failing to recognize and correct bad experi-
ences can lead to lost business and dwindling referral
income.
THREE Ways to Survey Clients • A brief survey is
a convenient way for customers to tell you what they think
about your services. There are several ways to implement a
survey to customers and clients you have worked with.
• Do it yourself. If keeping costs down is your top prior-
ity — and you don’t mind taking time to manually tabulate
the results — you can create and send out your own survey.
If you’re sending the survey via mail, be sure to include a
self-addressed stamped envelope. Respect your clients’
time by keeping the survey short. Fewer people will respond
if it takes too long complete.
• Use a Web-based survey provider. There are
many such services that make it quick and easy for you
to create surveys and send them to clients. Prices vary,
but you’ll find at least some affordable options. Some of
the many vendors to explore: SurveyMonkey.com (www.
surveymonkey.com), Key Survey (www.keysurvey.com), and
Zoomerang (info.zoomerang.com). These services allow
you to create and email surveys to customers. The survey
software tabulates your results so you can view feedback in
real time.
• Outsource it. Hire a company, which can build and
deliver surveys customized to your clients. You may be able
to track down a similar company near your hometown that
can provide these same services at possibly a lower cost.
What to Ask, How to Ask It? • What to ask your
clients — and how you allow them to answer the question —
will determine whether the responses will be accurate and
valuable to your business plan. Here is an example of one
question to ask, in two different formats:
Were you satisfied with the agent’s service provided to
you during your real estate transaction? 
Yes / No 
Please
explain:
Please rate the agent’s service provided to you during your
real estate transaction on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being
poor and 5 being excellent. 
Comments?
Other question topics to consider should revolve around:
• Communication between client and agent
• Image and dress
• Professional conduct
• Marketing resources
• Advertising of listing
• Follow-up
• Price and value for services rendered
• Would you recommend agent to others?
• Most liked about working relationship
• What needs improvement
Use open-ended questions to gain additional information
from clients, rather than brief responses that come with yes
or no questions. It’s OK to sometimes ask yes/no questions,
just be sure to provide an “additional comments” field after
each question.
Remember, the goal of your survey is to gain information
that can help you improve your selling methods and incor-
porate new ideas into your business. The more information
you obtain from your client, the more meaningful the results
become.
If you’re building your own survey, ask colleagues or friends
to read the questions and let you know if the wording is clear
and the format is easy to understand. A fresh set of eyes
can alert you to awkward phrases or ambiguous questions.
Timing is Crucial • When is the best time to send out
your survey? Try to do it as soon as possible after closing,
when the transaction is still fresh in your customers’ mind.
Let clients know before the closing that you’ll be sending
them a survey, and consider offering some type of small in-
centive (enter a raffle, win a T-shirt, etc.) if they complete the
survey promptly. Sometimes, if surveys don’t come back in a
timely manner, it’s a good idea to send a reminder postcard,
email, or letter.
Once the survey results are returned, take time to review all
of the responses and think about how you can improve the
customer experience next time.
If you find that you’re getting lots of high marks from satis-
fied consumers, pat yourself on the back. The input shows
that you’re doing a good job, and you can highlight this
information during your presentations to potential clients.
Bad remarks are inevitable, so don’t take them too person-
ally. It presents you with a chance to follow up with the
unhappy clients and possibly remedy their situation. Such
comments also help you think of ways to improve your busi-
ness so your next client has a better experience.
John D. Mayfield is broker/owner of Mayfield Real Estate in
Farmington, Mo. He is creator of the “5 Minutes” series of
real estate books and a frequent contributor to the National
Association of REALTORS®’s newsletter, “The REALTOR®
Magazine;” his latest book is titled “5 Minutes to a Great
Real Estate Ad.”
John Mayfield’s
“5 Minutes”
series of real
estate books can be
found in the Bay East
REALTOR® Store.
17
TECHtip
MONITOR YOUR MARKET AREA
Larnett Eckles
TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING DIRECTOR
It’s quick and it’s easy! • Use the Market Monitor
feature in Paragon to stay on top of the listing
changes in your favorite market areas. Know when
a listing has expired, changed price, just been listed,
sold, or has changed status – just by taking a look
at the home screen of Paragon when you login.
Customize your market areas today!
Here’s how to get it done…
1. Login to Paragon.
2. On the home page of Paragon, click Change Area
on the Market Monitor.
3. Select all desired areas from the left menu.
4. Click “Add”; then click “Save.”
Well that’s cool
Putting a Face WITH the Voice
Jason Woods
Technology and Support Director
What
Recently I switched my family phone and Internet service brought
from SBC to Comcast Communications. Although SBC had you to Bay
done a fine job for my family in the past, Comcast offered a East?
extremely compelling financial incentive for switching to their I was working
ISP and VOIP phone service. Being a frugal consumer, I at CompUSA
decided to switch services. when Jeff
Nagle,
While consolidation was my objective in the beginning, I a former
was quickly impressed by the amount of services offered by System
Comcast. Instead of just being able to check my email from Support
a remote location, the webpage also allowed me to check lead, came Bryon Smith
my phone messages. Accessing my voice mails is fairly in and I helped System Support Representative
user-friendly with the messages being stored as wav files him. He was
and heard by clicking the file. In additionally, I can view a log so satisfied with my customer service that he
of all ingoing and outgoing phone calls. recruited me for this position.
The coolest thing? I can now check for important calls How long have you been with Bay East?
coming into my home phone from any location that has an I’ve been with Bay East for more than two and
Internet connection. a half years.

Check it yourself at www.comcast.net. What do you enjoy most about your job?
I really enjoy my interaction with the members
Cool Points? and learning about the real estate industry.

Bay East Association of REALTORS® and its staff and officers

5. You will be prompted that your Market areas have
been saved successfully!
6. Click “OK”; then click “Close” to return to the
Market Monitor.
7. The Paragon home page will refresh, and your
Market Monitor will now reflect activity in the specific
areas you’ve chosen.
At a glance, or perhaps with one click, you can
easily monitor your specific MLS Market for the
last 24 hours, 3 days, or 7 days!
receive no compensation from any third-party vendors and make
no recommendations as to the suitability of the products or
services mentioned in this article. Always thoroughly investigate
any product or service before purchase.
WINForms Recertification
Symposium
Renew your WINForms certification at the 2007 Northern
California WINForms® Recertification Symposium on
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at the Bay East Conference
Center.
This day-long course is aimed at those WINForms®
Certified Trainers who were trained more than 2 years ago
and wish to become recertified. Activities include WINForms
Online, WINForms Desktop, DocuSign® Trainer access, live
speakers, advanced tips and much more.
Attendees should have been certified in at least one
WINForms® product prior to attending. This course covers
advanced topics only. Cost is $199 and seating is limited.
One piece of advice that you give our
members?
I would like our members to know that there
is no such thing as a stupid question when it
comes to technology. If you have a question,
regardless of your feelings about it, feel free to
ask. It never hurts to get the answers you need. 
Name the favorite five songs on your
iPOD?
• Layla -  Eric Clapton
• All You Need is Love -  The Beatles
• God Called in Sick Today – AFI
• Master of Puppets – Metallica
• Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana 
A’s or Giants?
I am a diehard Giants fan. No other team
matters after that, including the A’s.

18 To register online for this seminar, go to www.winforms.com/

recertification/.
 E S TAT E H O ME S F RO M
THE LOW $1 MILLIONS.

play - relax - enjoy

life at stonebrae
Carefully chosen by three of America’s leading luxury builders for its
peerless surroundings and designed to offer the ultimate country club
lifestyle, Stonebrae sets a new standard for the discerning homebuyer.
M O NTR O SE VI L L AGE
To put it simply, Stonebrae is a living experience like no other in Warmington Homes California
the East Bay. 2,532 – 3,475 Sq. Ft.
510.727.6951
Mon. 2-5, Tues.-Sun. 10-5
•Private, gated setting
•Elevated hilltop location with breathtaking Bay views
•18-hole championship golf course by acclaimed architect David McLay Kidd
•30,000+ square foot clubhouse featuring pool, tennis and health spa
•Over 1,200 acres of preserved natural spaces
•State-of-the-art elementary school onsite

CARRI CK VI L L AGE
Toll Brothers
3,412 – 5,050 Sq. Ft.
510.583.0197
Open Daily 10-5

STI RL I NG VI L L AGE
Standard Pacific Homes
3,123 – 3,798 Sq. Ft.
510.538.5663
Open Daily 10-5

Located in Hayward, CA, south of 580 atop

the East Bay Hills - for directions or info call
510.728.7878, or visit us online at
www.stonebrae.com
Photographed on location at Stonebrae.

Square footages are approximate. Models do not depict ethnic preference.

Pricing effective date of publication and is subject to change without notice.

3% BROKER REFERRAL Broker co-op requires Broker to accompany buyer on first visit. SB1183