Living in Contra Costa County: California: Brentwood

Many people wonder how they can make an impact with Facebook and what difference it can make in their business.

I myself struggle with this and want to know how I can really use it to get my face out there to generate buzz and hopefully business.

One you need to figure out how to do something right (and you haven't a clue) sometimes the best thing to do is look at the examples of others.

Well here are some examples of Facebook Status Entries with Impact!

Brentwood California Pool Homes

Pool Homes are one of the most popular type of homes in Brentwood.  When you go to look for Pool Homes a lot of agents list homes that have an association pool, a non functional pool, or an above ground pool as a Pool Home.

I sorted through the MLS to find true Pool Homes - Single Family Homes with their own Functioning Pool. 

Right now there are 23 Pool Homes for sale in Brentwood, 3 of them are estate homes priced over a million dollars.  Those homes are not selling at this time and I pulled them out of the numbers.  Of the 20 remaining homes they range in price from $239,000.00 to $695,000.00, with an average price of $383,314.00 and a median price of $379,500.00.  These homes have an average asking price per SF of $143.00 and have been on the market for an average of 90 days.

In 2010 90 Pool Homes have sold from $177,000.00 to $515,000.00 with an average selling price of $370,410.00 and a median price of $370,000.00.  The Pool Homes sold for an average of $134.00 per SF and spent an average of 22 days on the market.

The pricing on Pool Homes is not very much higher than the average Brentwood Real Estate Market.  If you need to buy or sell a Pool Home or any Home in Brentwood or Beyond please contact me directly.

Summerset Homes in Brentwood California

Brentwood California has some of the finest 55+ Communities in California in Summerset Homes.  There are several Summerset Homes communities in Brentwood.  These fine 55+ Communities all feature gated security, club houses, pools, excersize rooms, golfing, and many social activities.

Most but not all of the Homes in the Slide Show are from Summerset or 55+ Communities.   

Summerset Homes range from affordable duets to large estate style homes.  Summerset Homes are close to shopping, entertainment and fine dinning.  These 55+ Communities have dial-a-ride services available.

Right now there are 36 Summerset Homes for sale priced from $175,000.00 to $665,859.00 with an average price of $457,034.00 and a median price of $479,200.00.  The average asking price per SF on Summerset Homes is $219.00 and the average days on market is 80.

This year 51 Summerset Homes have sold from $172,000.00 to $550,000.00 with an average price of $315,517.00 and a median price of $276,000.00.  The average price per SF in these 55+ Communities was $196.00 and the sold homes spent an average of 44 days on the market.

This is approximately 6.5 sales per month and a little over a 5 month supply.  Summerset Homes priced right do sell fast.  The homes in these 55+ Communities take a little longer to sell than most homes in Brentwood as they are limited to people in the 55+ Communities.  However they retain their value well and sell at higher prices than homes in the surrounding areas.  A 5 month home supply is considered a Balance Market.

If you are looking to buy, sell or just have questions about Summerset Homes or 55+ Communities please contact me directly.

It has been said if it is Good News it is not News.  It has also been said Figures don't lie but liars figure.

The economy and the housing market news is not positive, but there is no reason to make it seem worse than it is.  Just like Chicken Little screaming that the Sky is Falling the News Networks love to talk about July Housing Slump without putting it in context.

Few people mention that there was a huge surge of closings in June due to the original deadline on the First Time Buyer Tax Credit Deadline of June 30, 2010.  After a huge surge a fall off should be expected.  With incredibly low interest rates and prices I expect the trend to smooth out over the months ahead. 

Each market is local.  Our market is a "Sellers Market."  The prices have already been lowered to reflect the down turn.  The housing supply in local communities is 3 months at best.  Anything under 4 months is a sellers market.

Take a look at this Video.  It has been around for a few years.  I thought Youtube had dumped them at the request of the Movie Owners.  However, here it is.  It may have been edited sense I saw it the first time.  There is a line about Government Bailouts I do not think was there before.

When things are going bad sometimes all you can do is laugh.

Brentwood California Bank Owned Homes

Bank Owned Homes have dominated the market for the last couple of years. At this time Short Sales may be more prevalent, but as banks begin to unload inventory we may see more and more Bank Owned Homes on the Market. (Click Here for Free Report on Bank Owned Homes!)

This report looks at market trends of Single Family Brentwood California Bank Owned Homes by looking at the current market and comparing it with sales of Bank Owned Homes in June and July.

Right now there are 39 Brentwood California Bank Owned Homes on the market with an average asking price of $343,050.00 and a median asking price of $309,900.00. The average asking price per SF is $139.00 and they have been on the market an average of 37 days.

In July 24 Brentwood California Bank Owned Homes sold for an average of $298,811.00 and a median selling price of $290,000.00. They sold for an average of $127.00 per SF and were on the market for an average of 16 days.

In June sales were higher and this is probably due to the scheduled deadline of June 30 for the Federal First Time Buyer Tax Credit. There were a total of 34 Brentwood California Bank Owned Homes sold for an average of $306,958.00 and a median selling price of $287,500.00. They sold for an average of $127.00 per SF and were on the market for an average of 23 days.

We would like to help you with your Bank Owned Home purchase. Please get our Free Report on Bank Owned Homes and let us know what we can do to help you.

Nelson Riemenschneider - Football Player

My son Nelson went out for Freshman Football at Liberty High School this year.  He is a good kid, but has struggled with school and sports in the past.

However, this year he is doing very well.  It looks like he will be starting when they play the first game in a couple of weeks.  At 6'1" about 250 lbs he is playing left tackle.  He has wrestled for the last 3 years and I think it has helped him.  The conditioning hurts him a lot and I think he is the slowest kid on the team, but he keeps going and does not quit.  I suspect that if he keeps it up in years ahead it will pay off good for him.

As a dad I have pushed him and prodded him in sports, even when he was doing poorly and wanted to quit.  It is hard to know the balance between when to back off and when to make them keep going.  (He latter thanked me for making him play baseball.)  Watching him succeed and enjoying himself I feel like I the rewards of being a parent are starting to come in.  I know there is a lot of hard work ahead for both of us.

This year he seems to be doing good in school and taking responsibility for things.  He was elected to Student Government, even though he came from outside the district and does not know a lot of the kids.

I love football, and really look forward to the NFL season, but this year I am really looking forward to 5:00 PM on Thursdays when the Liberty Lions Freshmen take the field.

Brentwood California Short Sales

Short Sales are becoming the dominate part of the market. You cannot ignore what is going on in with the Short Sale Market.

This report looks at Single Family Home Brentwood California Short Sales by comparing the Active Market to the Pending Short Sale Market and the Short Sales for the last two months.

There are 96 Brentwood California Short Sales on the market now with an average asking price of $313,901.00 and a median price of $323,875.00. These Short Sale Homes are listed at an average of $127.00 per SF and have been on the market an average of 42 days.

In July 24 Brentwood California Short Sales closed escrow with an average price of $310,495.00 and a median price of $290,750.00. The average price per SF on the Short Sales was $127.00 and the homes were on the market for an average of 44 days.

In June Short Sales were brisker, probably due to the anticipation of the deadline on the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit on June 30. A total of 40 Brentwood California Short Sales closed escrow in June with an average price of $309,607.00 and a median price of $288,950.00. For Short Sales this is an average price per SF of $123.00 and on average they spent 28 days on the market.

Right now there are 209 Pending Brentwood California Short Sales with an average list price of $306,840.00 and a median list price of $299,500.00. These Short Sales were on the market for an average of 28 days and had an average list price of $129.00 per SF.

There are too few sales to say there are any trends at this point. However, what is of concern is the number of Pending Short Sales compared to the number of Short Sales that actually happen. The Short Sale process is supposed to be stream lined, but it does not seem to be picking up.

What does this mean for people buying or selling a Short Sale? It means you better get a Realtor®/Broker who has an SFR (Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Trained) Designation from the National Association of Realtors®. You should also down load or Free e-book that Tells You What You need to Know about Short Sales.

Please Contact me directly with any questions regarding Short Sales or other Real Estate issues.

Brentwood California Homes for Sale

This market report looks at Brentwood California Homes for Sale. The focus is Single Family Homes for Sale. The report compares current Brentwood California Homes for sale to homes sold in June and July.

Right now there are 220 Brentwood California Homes for Sale with an average price of $457,633.00 and a median price of $353,500.00. The average price per SF is $192.00 and these homes have been on the market an average of 63 days.  However, these numbers a skewed upwards by 8 homes priced over $1,000,000.00.  If you look at the other 212 Brentwood California Homes for Sale the average price was only $361,492.00 and the median price was $349,900.00.  This is only $153.00 per SF and these homes were on the market for an average of 61 days.

In July 74 of the Brentwood California Homes for Sale sold with an average price of $325,689.00 and a median price of $312,500.00. The average price per SF was $141.00 and the homes spent an average of 34 days on the market.

In June 102 of the Brentwood California Homes for Sale sold with an average price of $326,469.00 and a median price of $310,000.00. The average price per SF was $131.00 and the homes spent an average of 26 days on the market.

The reason June appears better in terms of the number of sales is there was a big rush to purchase and close on homes in June due to the end of the Federal and State Tax Credit. Although I expect business to fall of a little with the end of the tax credits there should be a bonus back in August. Even based on July sales we still have about a 3 month supply of homes.

If you are interested in Brentwood California Homes for Sale or interested in buying or selling elsewhere I would like to offer you quality service as your Broker and Realtor®.

I am always being bombarded with "Free Offers."  No doubt as real estate professionals you are too.  In fact we get hit with the stuff in all walks of life.  Well Free stuff is costing me a fortune!  In fact the surest way to turn me off is tell me you are offering something for FREE! 

What has set the curmudgeon off in me this time?  Well my 7 and 6 year old got free tickets for Six Flags Wild Kingdom and admittedly they sent two along for the parents.  But I got a family of 8, the two younger ones are free to get in but I still need to feed the 2 year old.  I had hoped (very unrealistically) the older ones would not want to go as they have been before.  But I could not say no to the sad pleading faces; so two more tickets to buy. 

My wife is now on line looking at Meal Packages and parking.  My wallet is begining to scream.  I am figuring by the time all is said and done this day trip is going to cost me between $150.00 to $200.00.  Part of my pain may be the thought of hanging out with 6 kids at an amusement park all day on a Sunday in August.

I think I would have felt much better about the situation if someone had offered me a deal up front all expenses included for the family of 8 at $200.00 for the day.  I would be paying the same thing, but somehow would feel better about it. 

People like certainty, they do not like to feel like they are being nickled and dimed.  There is no Free Lunch or Free Drinks in Vegas.