Contra Costa, California Real Estate

Thank you Pamela for posting this true story.   Renters, if a rental is advertised by an individual versus a property Management company, please be aware of another rental scam:  homes that are listed For Sale are being copied by scammers and posted For Rent in order to get security deposits from unsuspecting renters.

For several years I spent Thanksgiving day with a group of people who prepared and served a free Thanksgiving Dinner.  It was always a wonderful day spent with interesting people but shocking to learn the extent of hunger in our community.  From Senior citizens who had to choose between medication and nutritious food to young families whose primary wage-earner was unemployed, it was a significant eye-opener to a young woman (me, at the time) who never faced a hungry day.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I would ask you to remember the "Giving" in Thanksgiving and donate to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano counties.  Every $1 dollar you donate provides two meals for children, adults or seniors.  Really think about that for a minute....a $20 donation would provide 40 meals and over 1/3 of the food distributed is fresh produce (often the first food sacrificed when money runs short).

The Food Bank has an additional - and very creative - donation opportunity called Tiny Tickets.  Save all of your BART tickets that have nothing but change left on them - a penny, 5 cents, 20 cents - we all have them stashed in drawers somewhere.  Please send them to the Food Bank so they can be redeemed for cash.

With unemployment still above 10%, the need for your donation is greater than ever - and sadly that's true even in our affluent Walnut Creek community - so please remember the "Giving" in Thanksgiving.

I met my sister when she was 9 and I was 11.  We each had very annoying brothers (they have since improved enormously) and decided the very day we met that we had to get her mother and my father married as soon as possible.  We actually spent the day scheming to get it done and felt quite smug when a few short months later the wedding happened.  We learned years later that we weren't even introduced until the relationship between our parents was well underway but for a time we felt all-powerful. 

From that day forward, my sister has been a gift in my life;  a co-conspirator against the sibs and a best friend. 

We attended college on opposites coasts - I went to the state of Washington for college and she went to Maine -  and remained on opposite coasts as we built our lives and careers.  At one point, we went 5 years without seeing each other but never lost the "sister link". 

A few months ago, my sister called and said she applied for a job in California.  I tried not to be hopeful in case it didn't work out but the chance of having my sister and her family within driving distance for the first time in 30 years made it hard to tamp down hope.

Today my husband and I are driving a mere one hour to spend the afternoon with my sister and her family at their new California home.   51 miles versus 3000 miles.  My best friend is now local.  I'll bet we get in trouble again for whispering and giggling at the dinner table. 

 

 

The Walnut Creek Soccer Club is offering a course for the "E" coaching license on August 19-21.  As a licensed soccer coach who went through the system to obtain my national "C" license, I can attest that the courses are a wealth of great information.

Classroom:  Friday, August 19; 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., at the Civic Park Community Center, 1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek

Field Training: Saturday-Sunday August 20-21; 8:30 a.m., Tice Valley Park, 2055 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek

More information and License Application

 

Search Walnut Creek homes for sale

 

Walnut Creek Real Estate Market Report
July, 2011

Search Walnut Creek Homes For Sale

Condos and Townhomes

34 closed sales, of which 6 were short-sales and 13 were sales of bank-owned properties.

The average sales price was $278,716

There are 97 pending transactions and 76 actively for sale.


Detached homes under $1 million

55 closed sales, of which 3 were short-sales and 8 were sales of bank-owned properties.

The average sales price was $649,943.

There are 72 pending transactions and 125 actively for sale.

Detached homes at $1,000,000 +

4 closed sales, of which 0 were short-sales or bank-owned properties.

The average sales price was $1,211,749.

There are 4 pending transactions and 31 homes actively for sale.

 

Walnut Creek's first Community Service Day is October 1, 2011. 

The day begins with a free pancake breakfast at Heather Farm Community Center.  Volunteers will then fan out to complete a variety of half day projects that range from Animals, Creeks and Open Space, Schools, Arts & Library, Community Assistance and Gardens and Parks. 

Support Walnut Creek and sign up to volunteer.

Search Walnut Creek Homes For Sale

There are four Walnut Creek homes for sale that are over 3000 s.f., priced under $1 million.  Since the median price for this size Walnut Creek home is $1.4 million and curious minds want to know, I headed out with my camera to preview each home to answer the burning question, "Why are these homes priced below $1 million?"

156 Del Monte Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 - $999,995

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watch the visual tour for this home

• 3439 s.f. gorgeous custom home in Stone Ridge Estates. 

• 4 bedrooms plus an office

• 3 bathrooms

• 2 fireplaces

• huge updated kitchen that opens to the family room, high ceilings with a ton of windows

• 3 car garage

• Private setting conveniently located less than a mile from the wonderful restaurants and shopping in downtown Walnut Creek.

• Schools:  Parkmead Elementary, Walnut Creek Intermediate, Las Lomas High School. 

Why the price?  The only possible reason this home is priced under $1 million is that the main living area doesn't access the back yard (due to a downward sloping lot) but has a large deck (great for entertaining).  The back yard is accessed from the lower level.  This type of lot is very common in the Orinda area, so if you want great schools, a gorgeous custom home with an "Orinda lot" without the Orinda price tag, and easy access to both the Walnut Creek and Lafayette BART stations, you need to see this home!  Call me to schedule a viewing appointment 925.917.1135.

719 Northgate Place, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 - $968,999

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 3320 s.f. home located on a cul-de-sac of beautiful homes in the desirable Northgate area

• 5 bedrooms

• 3.5 bathrooms

• Updated kitchen adjoins a wonderful great room with 3 sets of sliding doors to backyard

• 2 fireplaces

• 3 car garage

• Pool

• Schools:  Valley Verde Elementary, Foothill Middle School, Northgate High School

Why the price?  This home is proof that many buyers have a difficult time envisioning a home as it could be.  Here are the issues:

• The sellers haven't entirely moved out so there is quite a bit of remaining clutter

• The carpet smells a bit "doggie"

• Two of the three bathrooms have dated, dark brown tile floors and counter-tops.

• Back yard landscaping is overgrown

This is the type of home that I LOVE to find for my buyers.  Doesn't show terribly well so vision is required but the upside potential is huge.  Seriously, run the numbers.....the home is basically priced approx. $400k under fair market value (FMV) of equivalent (but spruced up) homes in the immediate area and the expensive upgrade (the kitchen) is already completed.  If you entirely re-carpet or really go for it and upgrade to hardwood floors, update two bathrooms, repaint the entire home to your preferred colors just because you want to and spruce up the landscaping, you still win big on the fair market value!  Call me to view this home 925.917.1135.

641 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 - $949,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 3378 s.f. home built in 2005

• 4 bedrooms

• 3.5 bathrooms

• Gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances and eat-in kitchen area

• Large formal dining room

• Living room, family room with sliding door to backyard

• 2 fireplaces

• Arched hallways

• Beautiful paint colors

• 2 car garage

• Schools:  Bancroft Elementary, Foothill Middle School, Northgate High School

Why the price?  The backyard is small (which isn't necessarily bad because not all buyers love to work in the yard) and the home is adjacent to a fairly busy street, Walnut Avenue.  If you want a gorgeous home, minimal yard work and fast access to downtown Walnut Creek (the trade-off for a busy street), call me to view this home 925.917.1135.

2520 Larkey Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94597 - $935,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 3714 s.f. home built in 2005

• 4 bedrooms

• 3.5 bathrooms

• Gourmet Kitchen

• Hardwood floors

• 2 fireplaces

• 2 car garage

• Located on the Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill border with an easy 1.3 mile drive (according to Google Maps) to Walnut Creek BART Station via Buena Vista Road

• Schools:  Pleasant Hill Elementary, Pleasant Hill Middle School, Ygnacio Valley High School

Why the price?  This large, lovely, recently constructed home is located in a neighborhood of smaller homes so the market is proving the principal of Price Regression......the opposite of being the smallest home in a neighborhood of larger homes which is Price Progression.  Oh, and there is a telephone (?) pole in the front yard. That being said, if you want a lot of house for the money, this is one to see.  Call me to view this home 925.917.1135.

346 Westaire Blvd., Martinez, CA - Open Sunday 4/25/2010 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

I welcome you to visit the visual tour gorgeous, impeccably maintained, 3 bdrm, 2.5 bath, 2044 s.f. home and then come see it in person!

Entire home repainted with designer colors in July, 2009, large master suite, crown molding, fireplace, most rooms wired for Direct TV, family room wired for 4 TV's - watch multiple sports channels at once!, dual pane windows, deck, patio and spa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reasonable HOA Dues include the maintenance of your front yard, pool, tennis court, basketball court and play area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a proud Clayton, California resident and a Realtor, I am pleased to announce the new Clayton community website:  EverythingClayton.com

This website was designed as a centralized internet site to bring all of the community resources together:

• Community calendar of events
• Clayton Business pages
• Clayton Groups, Clubs and Recreation
• Local phone numbers
• Volunteer opportunities
• Clayton Schools
• Links to Clayton government and services
• Clayton real estate

If you are from out of the area and would like to view a visual tour of our wonderful Clayton community, click here.

Events in The Grove park and Downtown

Saturday, June 6:    
     Farmers Market, 8:00 a.m - noon

Saturday, June 13:  
     Farmers Market, 8:00 a.m. - noon
     Concert In The Grove, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
          Mamaluke:  Classic Rock Dance Band
          This is a FREE community concert!

Saturday, June 20: 
     Farmers Market, 8:00 a.m. - noon

Saturday, June 27: 
     Farmers Market, 8:00 a.m. - noon
     Concert In The Grove, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
          The Sun Kings:  Beatles songs
          This is a FREE community concert!

Events at the Clayton Community Library

Monday, June 8 (through August 17):
     Summer Reading Program

Thursday, June 11, 11:00 - 12:00 p.m.:
     Z-Man's Paper Airplane Workshop
      Ages 6 and up, please sign up in advance

Thursday, June 18:
     Father's Day Stories and Crafts
     Ages 3 - 8, please sign up in advance

Thursday, June 25, 11:00 a.m. (through August 13):
     Picture Book Time! Ages 3 - 5 years
     Child may attend without caregiver

 

 

Saturday, June 27

     Tip a Cop Fundraiser to benefit
       Special Olympics!

      Location:  Ed's Mudville Grill

 

 

 

City of Clayon Events

Tuesday, June 2, 7:00 - 10:00:
     City Council meeting, Clayton Community Library

Tuesday, June 9, 7:00 - 10:00:
     Planning Commission meeting, Clayton
     Community Library

Tuesday, June 16, 7:00 - 10:00:
     City Council meeting, Clayton Community Library

Friday, June 19 - Monday, June 22:
     Fourth of July Parade Entries are due! 
     The Parade Entry Forms must be postmarked
     by June 19th or faxed by June 22nd.

 Tuesday, June 23, 7:00 - 10:00:
     Planning Commission meeting, Clayton
     Community Library