Living in Contra Costa County: California: Antioch

Buying a Home in Antioch Ca – Three Things Impacting Price – Part 2

There are so many variables when Buying a Home it is hard to figure out how all the variables should impact the value of any one house.

These numbers are based on sales of Single Family Homes in Antioch in December 2011.

One thing that impacts the Price of an Antioch Home on a SF basis is the age of a home. Generally the older a home the less it will cost on a SF basis. Look at the attached Chart.

Now generally the older Antioch Homes on this chart would seem to be cheaper on a SF basis, but prices tend to drop of on a SF basis again for the newer Antioch Homes. That is because there are other variables and trends that also effects the price. Those two variables would be size and the type of sale. Older homes tend to be smaller (and therefore more expense on a SF basis) and many of the newer homes in this market are currently sold as Short Sales or Bank Owned (which tend to be cheaper). We have looked at those in the other post in this series.

Naturally other variables such as lot size, location, condition and such will also impact the Price of Antioch Homes For Sale. But when Buying a Home you need to understand that unit cost tends to go down for older homes.

Look at these fine Antioch Homes for Sale and give me a call at 925-260-4321.

Buying a Home in Antioch Ca – Three Things Impacting Price – Part 1

There are so many variables when Buying a Home it is hard to figure out how all the variables should impact the value of any one house.

These numbers are based on sales of Single Family Homes in Antioch in December 2011.

One thing that impacts the Price of an Antioch Home on a SF basis is the size of a home. Generally the smaller a home the more it will cost on a SF basis. Look at the attached Chart.

Now some smaller Antioch Homes on this chart would seem to be cheaper on a SF basis, but another variable also effects the price – that is the age of a home and smaller homes tend to be older. We will look at those numbers in my next post.

Naturally other variables such as lot size, location, condition and such will also impact the Price of Antioch Homes For Sale. But when Buying a Home you need to understand that unit cost tends to go down as the size of the home gets larger.

Look at these fine Antioch Homes for Sale and give me a call at 925-260-4321.

Antioch Short Sales – 2011 by the numbers!

Short Sales are a pain the neck. We all know this. Lately there is a feeling that Short Sales are getting easier and it may be true, but not easy enough. Looking at these numbers it also leads me to question the stated success levels of many Agents.

Right Now Here are The Short Sale Numbers:

Active: 92

Pending: 334

Sold December 53

Sold November 51

Sold October 44

Sold September 37

Sold August 49

Sold July 46

Canceled or Withdrawn form Market in 2011 441

Short Sales may be picking up a little but the number of pending vs how many are sold every month and then looking at the Canceled and Withdrawn indicates Short Sales are still problematic. 

Real Estate Investing in Contra Costa County - The Cult of Real Estate

For those of us in California we study the Gold Rush of 1849 in school as it is a significant part of our heritage. One of the truths of the Gold Rush is that although some did get rich most did not. For many the Gold Rush was personal tragedy and failure. For others it got them to California where they found our real prosperity was our abundant natural resources and entrepreneurial spirit. (Oh How Times Change.)

However, there was one group that in general did very well in the Gold Rush. People selling things to the Gold Miners; two that jump to my mind are Levi Strauss and Wells Fargo. (Yes Blue Jeans owe their origin to California Gold Miners and the fact the Levi Strauss found that once people got to California they no longer had a need to buy his Wagon Covers – so he turned them into durable pants.)

Others merchants made a fortune selling dreams and expectations – many of them not reasonable. This pattern has repeated itself a number of times in history. Seattle made itself selling supplies to those on the way to Alaska.

Sadly for many of these dreamers the more they invested in the dream the harder it was to walk away. Many never could and poured their entire lives into a false dream.

It seems on a regular basis I get a call from someone wanting to invest in Real Estate and they have just finished a real estate seminar of some sort that they have paid good money for.

There are some things all these courses tend to have in common:

1. The initial promises is easy riches with little or no money out of pocket.

2. They teach realistic things that can happen but are not likely to happen. For example we have all heard about the divorcing couple that sell a home below market value, real quick and carry the note. Getting an option from some unsuspecting seller and doing the double close. Perhaps you have done one of these things or seen them happen. But they do not happen easy or often and there are no lots of people fishing those waters.

3. They are often encouraged to borrow money from family or friends to get these investments. Sometimes this is combined with Hard Money Loans for Buy and Flip scenarios. I wonder if the sellers of the program are tied in with the Hard Money Lenders?

4. When the initial success does not come or is not as big as expected they are sold another seminar-program- or class.

5. When things do not work they are told to be patient and work harder.

6. They are encouraged to get friends and family to buy into the program. They might even be offered discounts or cash to get others to buy into the program.

7. Frequently they are taught to disdain or undervalue Real Estate Agents. Partly because a quality agent will tell them why the system they are trying to work is not working. And because they can often get for free from a Real Estate Agent what they are paying others to give them.

8. They will keep selling you until you are broke.

9. Many of these “investors” are so committed to the system (and Gold and Sweat they have put into it) that they cannot admit they have made a mistake.

These pedlars of “Real Estate Success” are not making money buying and selling real estate. They are making money buying and selling Real Estate Systems – often bad ones.

For Real Estate Investing success get The Free Book of Real Estate Investing.    

Reaching People Across a Culture

I have a friend named Matt Vance. Matt came from a pretty rough background. I will let him share his story with you if he wants. But Matt met a man named Jesus and it turned his life around and saved his family.

I got to know Matt when he was one of my sons leaders back in Ranger Kids five or six years ago and latter him and I had some heartfelt talks at a men's retreat. Matt ministers and works with other men coming out of the gang and inner city culture.

Matt is a man to be admired. Matt's stage name is Least of All (His Group is Not By Sight - apparently there are a number of groups with that name.) to reach people that like this type of music with the message of Jesus Christ. Now Matt and I have different taste in music. Let me be Blunt – I don't like to listen to his style music. But there are a number of people that do and they need to hear what it has to say.

The Apostle Paul sets the example for us in 1Corinthians 9:22 by encouraging us to become all things to all men. Basically we have to meet people where they are at.

Here is a Video he released on Youtube. I guess it is a Music Video although there is a story line along with it and I understand there are to be more parts to this story released.

If this is your type of music great. If not it might be what your kids like or what someone you know likes to hear. Please share this with them. And go to Least of All's Facebook Page and give them a LIKE.

Santa Claus Sighting in East County Mall – Antioch Ca

Last night I took the five youngest boys to see Santa at East County Mall in Antioch Ca. This Santa is very good, the best part was there were no lines at about 7:30 PM.

Now there was a time we dressed them all up and where very formal about. However, we are now worn out parents of 6 kids and feel lucky to even keep them in the same place for brief moments. For some reason my 15 year old son felt this trip was beneath his dignity.

There were a lot of pictures snapped trying to get smiles on all their little faces – This is as good as it gets.

Merry Christmas from Gene and his crew!

December's Season of Celebrations and Sharing Contest – New Years Eve Service Cornerstone Christian Center!

Are you looking for someplace to Ring in the New Year on New Years Eve? Cornerstone Christian Center in Antioch Ca has an early family friendly service on New Years Eve at 6:00 pm on December 31, 2011.

Come and make a fresh start in the New Year at Cornerstone Christian Center. New Years is a time for New Beginnings and Fresh Commitment.

We have young kids and we find this New Years Eve service to work perfect for us. It is very kid friendly and early enough the kids are not too tired.

Cornerstone Christian Center is at 1745 E. 18^th Street in Antioch Ca. Go to CornerstoneChristian.net or call 925-779-2000 for more information.

Merry Christmas &

A Happy New Year

December's Season of Celebrations and Sharing Contest – Christmas Eve Service Cornerstone Christian Center!

Are you looking for someplace to celebrate the Birth of the Lord Jesus on Christmas Eve? Cornerstone Christian Center in Antioch Ca has an early family friendly service on Christmas Eve at 6:00 pm on December 24, 2011.

Come and sing Christmas Carols, here the message of the Gospel, join us in a Candle Lighting, and Celebrate the Birth of Christ.

We have young kids and we find this Christmas Eve service to work perfect for us. It is very kid friendly and early enough the kids are not too tired.

Cornerstone Christian Center is at 1745 E. 18^th Street in Antioch Ca. Go to CornerstoneChristian.net or call 925-779-2000 for more information.

Merry Christmas

Flipping an Antioch Property

If you are thinking of Flipping a Property here is a great post to read on how to do it and some important Property Flipping Considerations.

Go here for more information on Flipping Properties in Antioch or Beyond and The Free Book of Real Estate Investing.

Antioch Ca Real Estate Investors – When the Numbers do not Equal the Facts!

As a Realtor working with Investors in Antioch Ca and Beyond I often get a gut feeling about the market and what is happening in it; but then I run the numbers and they say something else.

A popular home with Investors in Antioch Ca are the single story, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 car garage home. Generally for a buy and hold Investor the older homes built in the 60's to the early 90's offers a great price for a solid home.

My impression is that the prices on these type of homes dropped in early 2010 but over the summer the prices tightened up. I am constantly looking at market reports and pricing trends, but there are lots of sub markets. All Real Estate is very local and different types of homes can be trending different directions. My opinion was formed by what homes my investors were finding and buying.

Well I took a hard look at the numbers for sale of 4/2 single story homes in Antioch with 2 car garages built before 1995. (Talk about a niche!) I looked at the sales for the prior 4 quarters compared to what is on the market now. Based on a price per SF basis the trend was as follows:

• 4^th Quarter 2010: $117.34

• 1^st Quarter 2011: $105.48

• 2^nd Quarter 2011: $107.89

• 3^rd Quarter 2011: $101.92

• Active:                $105.87

Other number like average and medium price reflect the same trend. Although sales are up and down it is about 13 homes per month.

The price trends certainly reflect the price drop off I saw, and a slight tightening up of prices; but not the long term tightening and price adjustment I felt. In fact the numbers show prices dropping again.

So why the difference? At some point you cannot break down the numbers enough to figure it out. You can only go on the gut reaction from looking at hundreds of homes. The price drop reflects the drop in the quality of some of the homes sold. My clients do not mind fixer uppers, but there are a lot of lower end properties on the market that take more work. I suspect the value of Like for Like is holding up fine.

Click here for a Free Book on Real Estate Investing. Take a look at some of the properties below and click on the slide show to do your own search. Give me a call at 925-260-4321 to see some great homes or for more information.