Doves and Open Houses

Before I present the local open houses and my personal opinions* of them I am compelled to take a stand on an issue that is related to keeping neighborhoods in order — no matter their location. Last week I had a couple of doves adopt my patio as their home base. At first I thought it was lovely and romantic. But then I began noticing just how messy birds can be. Our hot tub, patio furniture, and patio roof rafters were blanketed by bird droppings. And then to my horror the neighborhood cat gang got wind of the doves and started stalking them. Yesterday was absolutely horrible because they caught one and I had to listen to the pathetic whimpering bird chirps as the cats ran off with the dove.

Why do people feel the necessity to release these rather tame birds into the wilds of outdoors just because they think it makes a beautiful statement of love, death or some such thing. How can casting an innocent and ill-prepared creature into the outside world to be terrified and scared be a beautiful thing in any way? A lot of the doves are not homing pigeons so they don’t know where to go. A lot of places don’t allow the throwing of rice at the newly weds nowadays because uncooked rice is dangerous for birds to eat. But it’s okay throwing the birds at the couple? I don’t think so!

And keep in mind a lot of people want to let their cats outdoors. And cats, no matter how well they are fed by their humans, will hunt. But at least people should neuter their cats to keep the overall population down and this will reduce the number of stray and feral cats that will come into your backyard to hunt.

People should avoid the temptation to suddenly release captive birds and animals into the wild. They need time to acclimate to a life in the wild. Some never can. And messes made by various animals in your yard and not knowing how to avoid predators is an example of how this makes our neighborhoods less attractive.  Disoriented birds flying into windows and various cats attacking them is not a good selling point.

There is a related issue. We all know that throwing trash from our cars is ugly. But some people will throw out things like apple cores, thinking that they will simply compost into the earth. Well, they attract critters to the road. Trust me, deer love apples. Animals roaming around on the roads at night are dangerous, both to them and to us.

These are really very simple things to do. They don’t affect our enjoyment of the moment, and their overall effect is to improve the quality of our neighborhoods.

FREMONT
4572 De Silva St – 3/2 – 1148 sf ($374) $429,000 Sat/Sun 1:00-4:00
Just an average tract house in an average neighborhood.
481 D St – 4/3 -2304 sf ($377)  $868,000 Sat/Sun 1:00-5:00
This house is in Niles – ‘nuff said!
2851 Sanderling Dr – 5/3 – 2900 sf ($317) $920,000 Sat 1:30-4:00
A bit pricey but close to Alameda Creek for fun walks.
45241 Elk Ct – 6+/3 – 3150 sf ($486) $1,529,980 Sat/Sun 1:00-4:00
A big house, big lot and close to Mission Peak – a great area.

HAYWARD
23387 Hopper Rd – 3/1.5 – 1025 sf ($259) $265,000 Sun 1:00-4:00
Too close to the shopping mall and too close to the airport.

MILPITAS
22 Images Cir – 3/2.5 – 1683 sf ($386) $649,000 Sun 1:00-4:00
Nice roomy and airy house but not in my favorite neighborhood.
  1283 Fontainbleu Ave – 3/2 – 1644 sf ($406) $668,000 Sat/Sun 1:00-5:00
Too close to the dump for my nose. Awwww!
803 Kevenaire Dr –  /2.5 – 2412 sf ($301) $725,000 Sun 2:00-4:00
Well away from the dump in a nice area, with a pool.
  648 Costigan Cir – 3/2.5 – 1715 sf ($431) $740,000 Sat/Sun 1:30-4:30
Nice size house in a good area.
2266 W Seacliff Dr – 4/3 – 2074 sf ($362) $749,900 Sun 1:00-4:00
Ah – it’s the bright blue house again. And I still like it.

NEWARK
36535 Mulberry St – 3/1 – 984 sf ($308) $303,500 Sun 1:00-4:00
Not so good area but still might be a good rental investment?

UNION CITY
4548 Alvarado Blvd –  3/3 – 1889 sf ($328) $619,000 Sun 1:00-4:00
A nice place but all the houses are very close together. Maybe?
  32733 Belami Loop –  /3 – 2283 sf ($346) $789,000 Sat 1:00-4:00
A very spacious house but I would like to see a lower price, myself.

*The open house ratings are strictly my own opinions and should by no means be used to determing the true value of any property.