Today I received my bib number (#5155) for the Skyline Ridge Half Marathon, which is only 15 days away!

Tomorrow morning Mark and I are running nonstop to the top of Windy Hill, something I never thought I’d be able to do. However, I think the 700 foot climb on the Chamise Trail at Rancho San Antonio has prepared me for it. I’ve been tracking our times at http://ourruntimes.googlepages.com

After playing around with the idea of running a marathon, Windy Hill and Skyline Ridge are not so intimidating. I’m a little concerned, however, on the damage a marathon might do to my body. It can’t be good for it!

A year ago today there were 71 single family homes in Palo Alto listed for sale on the mls. Today, there are only 42.   Mountain View is experiencing a similar market, where there are only 13 single family homes on the MLS. A year ago there were 36.  As a result, we’re seeing multiple offers more often than not.

The under $1 million market in Palo Alto is strong. Last night, a 784 square foot, 2 bedroom, 1 bath home on a 2614 sq. ft. lot in the downtown area, listed at $899,000, received 5 offers!  However, this is a special property, in that it’s zoned for commercial use. Last month we saw 11 offers on a charming 2 bedroom bungalow on Stanford Avenue in the College Terrace neighborhood. Listed at $759,000, it closed today at $949,000.

On a deal that closed yesterday, where I represented the seller, the agent representing the buyer failed to correctly fill-out the Transfer Disclosure Statement, known as one of the most important disclosures in a real estate transaction and required by Civil Code Section 1102.6.

The third page of this form, also known as the TDS, requires an “Agent’s Inspection.” Here, the agent discloses material facts “based on a reasonable, competent and diligent visual inspection of the accessible areas of the property.”

The agent representing the buyer left this section blank. I gave the agent two friendly reminders that his inspection was missing, but I guess it wasn’t important to him. I wonder how this agent, employed by a small private brokerage, handles “listings.” That is, how protected are his sellers?

I’d never be able to get away with this at Coldwell Banker. Sharon, our office administrator, has every legal disclosure memorized. She makes sure everything is complete and signed. Nothing slips by her.

I’m happy to be at Coldwell Banker!

The Annual Fund Raiser for the East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring Program takes place on Tuesday, May 1st. This year’s event is being held at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton and features an exhibition by EPATT kids and members of the Stanford University Men’s and Women’s Tennis Teams.

This is the program’s 15th annual dinner, and my 13th. It’s been time well spent! The most enjoyable part of the evening is watching the EPATT kids interact with the guests. It’s an unfamiliar environment for the kids, so at first they’re very quiet and reserved. By the end of the night, though, after making a bunch of new friends, the kids are extremely wound up and don’t want to leave.

Our steering committee has just one meeting left, a walk-through. We’re anticipating this to be our best dinner ever.

Pictured here with EPATT kids are Stanford players Richard Wire, Theresa Logar and Eric McKean.