Real Estate in Walnut Creek, CA, Concord CA Homes for sale

HELP for distressed homeowners

Catherine Myers — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:45:50 +0000

As the government settlements pressure the largest servicers to help more homeowners, we continue to learn about more programs that may help you keep your home, or to avoid foreclosure.

Here are some resources and websites for you including government organizations and the websites of the major servicers for help and options:

Making Home Affordable – know your options

Hope Now - free help for homeowners

Keep your home California

BANK OF AMERICA

Bank of America Short Sale Guide Bank of America Home Transition Guide

Bank of America Homeowner Counseling Resources – non-profit and HUD counselors

CHASE (and EMC)

Chase Home Ownership Center

Chase short sale center - do you qualify?

Chase short sale information packet – what documentation do you need?

Chase HAFA short sale information

Chase local Walnut Creek Homeownership Center

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo Help for Homeowners

Wells Fargo Short Sale information

Wells Fargo HAFA eligibility matrix

I’ve worked with all of the above servicers MANY times. Most short sales are successful. If you want to save your home, exhaust all your efforts first. Call your bank. OPEN YOUR MAIL. Some of these servicers are offering help to targeted “at risk” homeowners and as an example, Bank of America has started sending letters to some homeowners starting this week. Read Bank of America’s press release today 5/8/12 to read more about their new modification and principle reduction program. Other banks/servicers are announcing new ways they’re reaching out to homeowners too.

NEW! Concord Home for sale!

Catherine Myers — Sun, 06 May 2012 05:43:52 +0000

One of the nicest yards I’ve seen! This home is for those who crave lots of space! Over 10k square foot lot with shade and fruit trees, lush lawns, flowering bushes and lots of room for garden and play. Patio, rv/boat parking and storage.

3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1310sf +/-. Updates throughout. Paint. Carpet. Molding. Flooring (tile and wood).

Much more!

Concord CA Home Virtual Tour here

3860 Concord Blvd, Concord, CA 94519
Offered at $275,000

NEW! Pleasant Hill Home for sale

Catherine Myers — Sun, 06 May 2012 04:43:08 +0000

Absolutely stunning home for sale in Pleasant Hill.

400 Saddlebrook Lane, Pleasant Hill
4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2497 square feet

Virtual tour link

Granite gourmet kitchen
Dual pane windows
Wood lam, tile and w/w carpeting
Fireplace in family room
Formal dining/living rooms
Hot tub in rear yard
Paver patio w/ gorgeous redwood shade trees
Large corner lot
Lots of extras!
Offered at $650,000

Check out these links:

Pleasant Hill home virtual tour

Search for more Pleasant Hill real estate sale

Pleasant Hill home market trends and stats

Pleasant Hill real estate information and more

Clayton Valley new charter high school appoints Executive Director

Catherine Myers — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:32:40 +0000

If you live anywhere in or near the Mt. Diablo School District, AND have children, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the new Clayton Valley Charter High School. The charter high school was approved, after a somewhat long, and very complicated fight, by the Contra Costa Board of Education earlier this year and has been hard at work readying the “NEW” school to open in August. Today, Clayton Valley Charter High School has released an announcement that they’ve hired their new Executive Director. You can read their press release here: CVCHS Announces Inaugural Executive Director.

I’m writing today about this topic as schools are probably at the top of almost every home-buyer’s lists of “must-haves.” And yes, even those without children in school yet welcome the opportunity to live in an area with high scoring, well respected schools. I had a buyer during the charter approval process state that she specifically wanted to look in within the boundaries of the new charter school as she felt strongly it was a new and innovative program within the Mt. Diablo district area. In fact, the charter high school is no longer a part of the MDUSD, which in itself, is a bonus for some. Unfortunately the school district has had some challenges in recent years, though there are some EXCEPTIONAL schools within the MDUSD.

It is no accident, the correlation between good scores, and higher home prices. Quality of nearby schools is critical when you think of resale and area desirability down the road.

Clayton Valley Charter High School serves students in Clayton and some areas of Concord (in fact most of the 1800+/- students enrolled are from Concord). For students within the boundaries of Clayton Valley, they can also choose to apply for a transfer for any one of the other school district schools, and space available, they can go to another high school i.e. Northgate, College Park, Ygnacio Valley, Concord High or Mt. Diablo High School. For students outside of the Clayton Valley boundaries wanting admittance, the lottery for entry for 2012-2013 has already been held, but check the charter website for more information: Clayton Valley Charter High

Here’s information on transfers here: CVHS Transfers

Coming soon! Pleasant Hill Home for sale!

Catherine Myers — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:17:21 +0000

GORGEOUS home coming soon in Pleasant Hill. This neighborhood rarely has any home for sale offerings! RARE availability of this 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, just shy of 2500 square feet. 2 story. Updated gourmet chef’s kitchen with granite counter, commercial grade gas range, dual pane windows, wood floors, new paint and carpet. Wonderful corner lot with beautiful curb appeal. Quiet cul-de-sac location with easy access to open space and trails! Close to all points commute, shopping and dining. Contact me for more information on this property coming first week of May 2012!

Search Pleasant Hill Homes for sale here

Pleasant Hill CA information

Pleasant Hill real estate market stats

When selling your home, should you stay while buyers visit?

Catherine Myers — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:40:02 +0000

I just wrote a blog post for the Concord, CA real estate section at the local patch news blog. It’s been exciting to blog for the local Patch and today, the editor of the Concord Patch, cross posted my article to Walnut Creek’s Patch as well. All great news!

I enjoy sharing about the topics important to the clients I work with, and whether to stay in the house, or to leave during buyer showings is one of the top questions I get when selling an occupied home.

I have experienced both sides of this coin. I’ve had sellers that may very well have cost themselves a buyer by sharing too much, and I’ve had the other extreme of a buyer and seller getting along so well that they actually became friends after the house closed escrow ! You just never know. Mostly though, it’s best to leave the buyer alone, let them talk in piece to their real estate agent, and let them be honest. You want people to feel comfortable in your home, not like they’re intruding.

You can find the article about whether you should stay or go during buyer visits at Concord CA Patch.

I have a free e-book available if you’re thinking of selling your home. Request “450 Ideas for Selling your Home Faster” by contacting me here and I’ll get it right out to you! Just let me know what e-book you would like. I have two bonus books as well, Moving with Pets, and Moving with Children. I’m happy to send all three if you like!

If you like the article, please comment at Patch, recommend it to friends on Facebook or tweet! Thanks for your support!

It’s going to be a while for a Contra Costa Housing rebound

Catherine Myers — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:25:09 +0000

As I described in one of my last blog posts, Contra Costa continues to be one of the hardest hit counties in the Bay Area, in fact, the entire state of California. We’ve seen median price drops from the peak of a low of 36% to a high of 70%. That is astonishing to think, isn’t it? The distressed home market continues to drive many areas of our Central and East Contra Costa housing markets, though we are seeing a bit more of a push by some banks to short sale, vs. a foreclosure.

Here is some historical information on foreclosures and defaults from Foreclosure Radar:

Contra Costa foreclosure filings over the last 3 years have been declining:

Contra Costa foreclosure inventories have also seen drops over the last 3 years:

The Contra Costa Times, using data from Zillow also put together a nice map of the Bay Area median pricing changes. The interactive map does show that some areas of the Peninsula are almost back to pre-peak pricing, while Contra Costa remains with some significant drops from the peak.Walnut Creek down 34 – 35% (depending on zip code)
Clayton down 43.4%
Concord down up to almost 50% (again, depending on zip code)
Pleasant Hill down 43.9%

The biggest drops are in East County, no surprise there:
Antioch down 64 – 67% (94509 and 94531 respectively)
Brentwood down 55%
Pittsburg down 69%

Check out the rest of the Times article here.

PENDING! 4521 Bison Way, Antioch CA 4+ Bedroom

Catherine Myers — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:20:35 +0000

PENDING w/ 17 offers! This really is a WOW house! Beautifully appointed home with near 3000 square feet, 4+ bedrooms, 3 full baths. Truly a gourmet chef’s kitchen with GE Profile and Electrolux quality stainless appliances. More information and photos coming soon! NOW AVAILBLE! Perfect for FHA, first time buyers or those wanting lots of house for the money. Huge bonus room upstairs offers enough for a large pool table and more (could be large 5th bedroom too!)

Oh, and the rear yard! WOW, gorgeous paver patio, lawn areas, fruit trees, and a beautiful enclosed hot tub!

Offered at $255,000.

4521 Bison Way, Antioch 94531

Contact me to see this home!

In the meantime, you can search for other Antioch homes for sale

Or get Antioch real estate information

Pleasant Hill home for sale

Catherine Myers — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:42:23 +0000

Move in by May! GORGEOUS single level home in desirable area of Pleasant Hill. What a comfortable home! Updates throughout including dual pane windows, NEW roof, gleaming hardwood floors, NEW lawn, fresh designer paints and more. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, covered patio, fruit trees, fireplace, 2 car garage and more. (Dining room/office was a 4th bedroom, could go back)

Click for> PLEASANT HILL HOME TOUR.

Offered at $450,000 – available now! REGULAR sale, not a short sale or foreclosure – very lovingly maintained! Make this home your own and be in by May!

If you want more information about this, or other homes in Pleasant Hill or even the surrounding areas of Walnut Creek, Concord, Clayton or Martinez, contact me!

Concord – Clayton Real Estate Market, a look back

Catherine Myers — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:49:29 +0000

The trends of Concord and Clayton Real Estate over the past 5 years of our volatile market have certainly been very interesting to watch. Let’s take a look back at the activity in single family homes in both Concord and Clayton. Check out our previous post on our Central Contra Costa Real Estate market 5 year trends here.

Scroll through the charts to find average pricing, inventory levels and activity levels through the last 5 years.

Concord CA Real Estate Trends – Last 5 Years

Concord For Sale vs. Sold Activity

Concord Average Price For Sale vs. Sold

Concord Months of Housing Inventory

Clayton CA Real Estate Trends – Last 5 Years

Clayton For Sale vs. Sold Activity

Clayton Average Price For Sale vs. Sold

Clayton Months of Housing Inventory