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The Hottest Paint Colors of 2010

February 23rd, 2010 by Altaire Townhomes

Congratulations on your new home! Now it is time to personalize your space and make it your own. One of the easiest ways to add a little personality is with a fresh coat of paint. Picking a paint color can be a daunting task. It’s a tricky balance between lighting, personality, mood and current trends. Are you one of those people whot feels overwhelmed by the process and are left with a dozen swatches on walls and no direction? Have a look at what the experts are saying about the freshest colors of 2010 and browse the list of The Hottest Paint Colors of 2010 in this House Beautiful article.

Our personal favorite is Pantone’s 2010 Color of The Year – PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise. Pantone supplies and tracks color for fashion and home decor, among other industries. Experts agree that the color is both universally appealing & puts everyone in a positive state of mind – think “vacation”! Even in small doses turquoise can inspire a sunny disposition…

More about Pantone and the color of the year pick can be found in this online article.

Altaire is an Upscale Community located in beautiful Palo Alto. Now Selling New Contemporary-Style 1,2,3 and 4 bedroom homes.
Altaire Homes 3901 Fabian Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303 | 650.966.8881 Exclusively represented by: Pacific Marketing Assoc. #01220373

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Your partner has less than stellar credit, now what?

Posted in Our Community

February 18th, 2010 by Altaire Townhomes

Starting a life with each other can be both exciting and challenging. You’ve owned before, but your partner hasn’t. It’s time to find the perfect place to start your life together. So what happens when you begin looking for your first home together and find out that one of you is less than perfect on paper? Suddenly, you love everything about your significant other, except their credit score.

Usually when a couple applies for a mortgage, a lender will review the credit history of both applicants. A negative history of one individual is likely to have an effect on both. These days it is rare, but if one individual has sufficient income to obtain the mortgage on their own (as a sole applicant), then only one credit history may be used for the mortgage loan.

What can you do to move forward together?

If you are ready for the commitment, plan ahead. There is still time to improve your credit history and take advantage of home ownership in today’s real estate market.

Obtain a copy of your credit report. Credit Reporting Act guarantees you access to a free credit report from each of the three nationwide reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — every twelve months. It’s free here.
Eliminate issues – Pay down large sums of any revolving debt. Spot identity theft. Dispute any inaccuracies.
Practice good habits – Lenders will be looking at your rental payments, car payments, etc. Pay your bills on time! Most lenders look for 1 year’s worth of good history. Demonstrate to a lender you are capable of making monthly mortgage payments.
Establish a credit history – If you lack one, secure a credit card and begin making timely payments. Make sure the credit card company reports your payment history to credit reporting agencies.
Talk about your housing needs together – Do you have realistic goals? Do you share priorities and a vision of what your new home will be? Does the area include future employment opportunities? Your first home may not be your dream home, but it should be a place that you envision sharing for a minimum of 2-3 years.

Purchasing a new home in today’s climate certainly has its advantages, including historically low rates, competitive pricing, tax write-offs and tax credits. Don’t be discouraged by a less than stellar credit report. Make the changes today, so that you are prepared for tomorrow.

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Chinese New Year Celebration – Year of The Tiger

Posted in Events

February 15th, 2010 by Altaire Townhomes

Gung Hay Fat Choy! 2010 is the Year of the Tiger – Lunar Year 4708

Did you know that San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest outside of Asia? Lifestyle on the Peninsula allows us close proximity to so many international destination spots. So how will you celebrate the Chinese New Year?

One event not to be missed is the Chinese New Year Parade! The SF Chinese New Year Parade was originally introduced in the 1860′s to educate locals and introduce them to the Chinese culture. It is such a large part of the Bay Area’s rich history and there are so many ways to celebrate that it is difficult to keep track! Let us know your favorite events and we will add them to this post to share with others.

The 2010 Chinese New year Festival and Parade is on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 5:15 pm.

A San Francisco tradition since just after the Gold Rush, the Chinese New Year Parade continues to entertain and delight the many hundreds of thousands of people that come to watch it on the street or tune in to watch it on television.

Celebrate the lunar new year parade with gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes and exploding firecrackers. A crowd favorite is the spectacular 201′ Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”) It takes a team of over 100 men and women from the martial arts group, White Crane to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco.

This year’s Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade promises to warm your heart and electrify your senses, come rain or shine.

Want to celebrate locally in Palo Alto?
(Palo Alto Online listed this special Lion Dance event at Ming’s Chinese Cuisine and Bar to celebrate the Chinese New Year)

Ming’s Lion Dance Performances:
Ming’s celebrates Chinese New Year with special banquet lunches/dinners (Feb. 13-28) and traditional Lion Dance performances (Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m. & Feb. 21, 12:30 p.m.) by the Young Lion Dancers. Reservations recommended. For more information, call Ming’s at 650-856-7700 or visit www.mings.com. Ming’s Chinese Cuisine and Bar, 1700 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto

Don’t miss this! The Swinging Chinatown Exhibit looks amazing… A special exhibition featuring Chinese Nightclubs from the 1930′s to the 1960′s at the Old Mint, February 11 – 21, 2010

For a complete list of 2010 SF Chinatown Events – Chinatown Calendar

You can also follow information about San Francisco Chinatown on Twitter. @sfchinatown

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Feeling the need to get outdoors?

Posted in Palo Alto

February 8th, 2010 by Altaire Townhomes

View Larger Map

Spring is just around the corner. Don’t let the winter blues get you down. Button up and head out to visit these great parks within a few miles from our community at Altaire. We created a custom map to help you locate all of the great parks to enjoy the outdoors nearby.

Whether you enjoy bicycling, birdwatching, running or hiking, our good friends at Patagonia in Palo Alto have just what you need to enjoy the outdoors even more!

Patagonia Palo Alto is located at 525 Alma Street. (P.S. They are on Facebook + Twitter too.)

And when the weather clears up, you can even give rock climbing a try. If you’ve never given it a try, watch this video and be inspired!

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Hurry – Only 6 Remain at Altaire!

Posted in Our Community

February 4th, 2010 by Altaire Townhomes

Altaire-6-remain

Only 6 left…one of each floor plan remains! If you have been thinking about buying at Altaire, now is the time. Don’t miss out!

And if you purchase this weekend, you are still eligible to register your children in the Palo Alto school district for the 2010/2011 school year. School Districts are the #2 most desirable amenity when selecting a new home, second only to location. (According to our Altaire blog poll.) We’ve listed all of the important registration details below for your convenience.

Important Dates

2010/2011 School Year*

Priority 1 Status:

Registration must be submitted online between January 5 and February 10, 2010

Priority 2 Status:

Registrations completed after February 10, 2010 are date and time stamped based upon online submission date.

In October, 2009 we shared an article by Chris Kenrick from Palo Alto Online: Palo Alto fourth in state among K-12 districts.

“On California’s basic measure of academic achievement, the California Standards Tests (CST) in English and math, 85 percent of Palo Alto second- through eighth-graders scored “advanced” or “proficient.” More than 50 percent scored “advanced.” Read Full Article

If you would like more information on Palo Alto Unified School District and its strategic plan to provide a first-class educational program to all of its students, more information is on the PAUSD site. PAUSD Website

* Important dates taken directly from the PAUSD website (link above). Be sure to review all registration requirements carefully, as there is no guarantee of registration. If you have questions, contact Central Attendance at centattendance@pausd.org or (650) 329-3707.

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Altaire Don’t Miss the February Events at Oshman Family JCC

Posted in Our CommunityPalo Alto

February 2nd, 2010 by Altaire Townhomes

Just a short walk from the front doorstep of your new home at Altaire, you can enjoy Palo Alto’s Oshman Family JCC! With state-of-the-art facilities and organized programs serving preschoolers to retirees, and those in-between, there is something for everyone to enjoy in our amazing community!

The JCC has a variety of cultural events for the whole family. Check out their reviews on Yelp!
The following is a list of February events at the JCC:

MonthlyCalendar_Feb2010

The days of rushing in all different directions for work, school, daycare, culture, and recreation are over. Take a deep breath and reflect on a life well lived. Relax by the pool, in the yoga studio or at your favorite cafe. If you are seeking a more balanced approach to living, look no further than Altaire Townhomes in Palo Alto.

Phase Close-out! Only a few remain…

http://www.regishomes.com/altaire/

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Palo Alto is the “Biggest Gainer”as Housing Market Starts to Pick Up in Bay Area

Posted in Palo Alto

January 28th, 2010 by Altaire Townhomes

altaire_recovery

If you are still waiting for the “bottom” to hit, it may have already happened.

Per this recent article on the online Wall Street Journal, homes in the Bay Area are starting to show signs of a tentative recovery. According to DataQuick, a La Jolla-based data provider for the housing industry, cities closer to the Coast are recovering better than inland properties.

“We appear to be in the early stages of a fragile recovery,” said Andrew LePage, a DataQuick analyst. Coastal communities dominated the the increase in housing prices, accounting for 24 of the 29 regions that posted positive price gains.

Palo Alto led the way in price appreciation. The median home prices of Palo Alto more than doubled from a year ago to $1.1 million. According to the article, Palo Alto’s price per square foot soared 98.7% last year and area real-estate agents say homes sales are brisk.

This is good news for the peninsula as a whole, and Palo Alto in particular. So if you are still on the fence, you may want to revisit the idea of owning a new home in an economically stable area in a great neighborhood with excellent schools for your family.

Altaire offers homeowners more than just ownership. Our beautiful, newly constructed Townhomes are already updated with all of the features and finishes that you may find necessary when buying used, saving you from having to live through a remodel. Altaire also offers an ease of lifestyle with access to the beautiful new OFJCC just steps from your front door, where you and your family can enjoy fitness, culture, events and the arts.

Still undecided? Stop by our sales center for a tour! We’d love to meet you and show you around.

http://www.regishomes.com/altaire/

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Sigona’s Farmers Market

Posted in Palo Alto

January 22nd, 2010 by Altaire Townhomes

sigona's You don’t have to wait until the weekend to shop for local and fresh products.

Their website best describes the shopping experience that awaits you at Signora’s Farmers Markets:

We invite you to take a step back in time to an old fashioned open air market overflowing with all of your favorite fresh foods and produce! Connect with a vibrant, small family business that truly cares for people and our community.

Sigona’s carries an assortment of fresh-picked fruits, vegetables, flowers, and live, organic, healthy foods. They have been serving the Bay Area since 1975 and have stores located in Palo Alto and Redwood City.

You can get the latest updates from Signora’s by following them on Facebook, Twitter and their blog. Weekly specials, vendor spotlights, food and cooking tips can all be found on their website, including recipes like this these located on the Sigona’s blog (click here).

The Palo Alto Sigona’s is located at Stanford Shopping Center and receives raving reviews, like these on Yelp. Thank you Sigona’s Farmers Market! It is so nice to have local vendors with fresh produce and products conveniently located near Altaire Townhomes.

We love Sigona’s selection of fresh fruit!

What is your favorite item at Sigona’s? Share with us…share with the community.

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New Bicycle Sharing Program – Palo Alto

Posted in Palo Alto

January 18th, 2010 by Altaire Townhomes

According to a recent article in the Mountain View Voice, Palo Alto could be one of three transportation hubs to test a new bike ride share program thanks to a $500,000 grant secured by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The VTA envisions 100 bicycles to be involved in the program.

Bike sharing is a relatively new idea to the United States, but there are successful transit models in both Paris and Montreal. Basically it works like this: make bicycles accessible to anyone who wants to use them, without the hassle or worry of bike parking or theft. According to Jennie Loft of the VTA, “It’s more about the commute versus going to the grocery store. They can just kind of leave one (bike) behind and then catch up at the other side.”*

The program would involve bicycles being available at three major transit hubs including Mountain View, Palo Alto and San Jose. Smaller sharing stations would be located within a three-mile radius of each other.

Altaire is excited about this opportunity. What a great VTA initiative and wonderful program to add to the livability of our community in Palo Alto!

* Quote from January 1, 2010 Mountain View Voice article

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Images of Indochina – Rick Saal Photography Exhibit

Posted in EventsPalo Alto

January 14th, 2010 by Altaire Townhomes

Starting February 7, and running through February 25, the JCC of Palo Alto will be hosting the photographic exhibit of Rick Saal – Images of Indochina: Telling Fortunes Beyond the Beaten Path.

In the Fall of 2008, Rick embarked on a journey to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in an attempt to capture the people of this region in their daily lives. Equipped with basic linguistic skills, an alert eye and an open and friendly approach, he set out on one of life’s rare adventures. The result of this captivating journey is an engaging and amazing photographic record of these wonderful people and their historic culture.

Don’t miss this event!

More of Rick’s incredible work can be found on his website.

Sharing the best parts of our community and our greater community of Palo Alto is important to us. Let Altaire know if you have a favorite local artist or business that you would like to learn more about. We gladly feature interesting local works and events on our blog, Facebook page and Twitter!

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Posts Tagged ‘Build it Green’

The Hottest Paint Colors of 2010

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Your partner has less than stellar credit, now what?

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Chinese New Year Celebration – Year of The Tiger

Gung Hay Fat Choy! 2010 is the Year of the Tiger – Lunar Year 4708

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Feeling the need to get outdoors?

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Hurry – Only 6 Remain at Altaire!

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Altaire Don’t Miss the February Events at Oshman Family JCC

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Palo Alto is the “Biggest Gainer”as Housing Market Starts to Pick Up in Bay Area

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Sigona’s Farmers Market

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Images of Indochina – Rick Saal Photography Exhibit

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