I just found out I passed my Broker Exam I took on Wednesday.  I must say the California DRE is very prompt about getting back to you on the results.  I found them posted on line today. I have spent months preparing for it.  I had to take 5 courses on different aspects of real estate and pass on line course exams.  I then spent a couple of months doing test preparation.  You do learn a lot about real estate and the job of being a Broker while getting ready for the test, but there is a lot of esoteric information: Do you know how long a Chain is?  It is 66 feet or 4 Rods. Well if you read the above you now know that a Rod is 16.5 feet.  There are 100 Links in the chain.  Do the math to figure it out in inches. Probably learning how big an acre is and what a commercial acre is is more imp... 02/19/2010

Short Sales in Brentwood California This post looks at the Short Sales in Brentwood California, it compares the active Short Sales market with Pending Short Sales and Sold Short Sales for the last 6 months. Click here for Free Reports on things you need to know about Short Sales, buying or selling. This report only looks at Single Family Home Short Sales. Right now there 60 active Short Sales in Brentwood with an average asking price of $342,041.00 and a median asking price of $325,000.00. The average asking price per SF is $137.00 and they have been on the market an average of 69 days. In the last 6 months (August through January) 161 Short Sales have sold in Brentwood with an average selling price of $298,580.00 and a median asking price of $275,000.00. They sold for an average or $12... 02/19/2010

Robert Herzog at Active Rain is doing a great job of digging some stuff up and explaining this Short Sale Mess. Link his original post here! Last week I posted a Link to a Video Think Big Work Small did on this that has now gone viral. The FDIC is denying the story! The denial is like Blood in the water to all concerned.  Here is a link to the Indy Mac Shared Loss Agreement referenced in the video.  It is 38 pages wade through it at your peril.  Here is an updated TBWS video with some new commentary at the end. No need to comment here.  Go to Robert's Blog subscribe and give him the credit.   02/15/2010

Brentwood California Homes This market report looks at Homes for Sale in Brentwood California. It compares the Active Market of Brentwood California Homes to sold homes for the last two months. It only looks at single family homes. Right now there are 149 Homes for Sale in Brentwood California with an average price of $508,520.00 and a median price of $349,900.00. This is an average price per SF of $214.00 and they have spent an average of 80 days on the market.  However, there are 9 Brentwood California Homes on the market priced over $1,000,000.00 that skews the market.  Much of this pricing is based on land.  If you remove these 9 homes the average price drops to $381,125.00 and the median drops to $342,450.00.  This is an average price per SF of $162.00 and they have spent an averag... 02/10/2010

The entire family is sick and my wife is eight months pregnant.  The cold is sweeping the family and my wife can barely move.  This morning when I could get up and going I headed over to Target to stock up on stuff. I got some decongestant for my wife, generic Zycam, and generic Day Quil and Night Quil.  I bought cough drops and other stuff.  All designed to keep us moving and help us feel better.  I noticed much of the stuff was not on the shelf and you had to get it from the pharmacist, that is fine by me.  Everything I seemed to want was out on the shelf.  I did speak to the pharmacist about what would be safe for my wife to take with the pregnancy. Now here is what shocked me.  When I got to the cashier they demanded my ID.  I handed over my driver's license expecting them to check ... 02/10/2010

Garin Ranch Homes in Brentwood Brentwood's Garin Ranch Homes offers an affordable community in one of East Contra Costa's finest communities. This report looks at sales of Garin Ranch Homes. Currently there are only 6 Garin Ranch Homes on the market priced from $200,000.00 to $349,950.00. The average price of the homes is $262,791.00 and a median price of $246,900.00. The homes have spent an average of 15 Days on the market and have an average price of $116.00 per SF. In the last 6 months 38 Garin Ranch Homes have sold priced from $211,000.00 to $375,000.00 with and average price of $266,475.00 and a median price of $251,175.00. This is an average of $125.00 per SF and they spent an average of 12 Days on the market. A big part of this market is Short Sales and Short Sales can spend a lo... 02/07/2010

Rose Garden Homes in Brentwood Brentwood's Rose Garden Homes offers an affordable community in one of East Contra Costa's finest communities.  This report looks at sales of Rose Garden Homes. Currently there are only 12 Rose Garden Homes on the market priced from $239,000.00 to $399,000.00.  The average price of the homes is $307,241.00 and a median price of $297,500.00.  The homes have spent an average of 27 Days on the market and have an average price of $128.00 per SF. In the last 6 months 32 Rose Garden Homes have sold priced from $217,000.00 to $525,000.00 with and average price of $300,433 and a median price of $295,000.00.  This is an average of $122.00 per SF and they spent an average of 18 Days on the market. A big part of this market is Short Sales and Short Sales can spend a ... 02/07/2010

Selling a Luxury Home - Part 12 - When to Show Your Home! This is Part 12 in a Series. You may wish to look at the other parts first: Selling a Luxury Home - Part 1 - Defined Selling a Luxury Home - Part 2 - A State of Mind Selling a Luxury Home - Part 3 - Make a Plan Selling a Luxury Home - Part 4 - The Team - Home Inspector Selling a Luxury Home - Part 5 - The Team - The Termite Inspector Selling a Luxury Home - Part 6 - The Team - The Stager Selling a Luxury Home - Part 7 - The Team - Putting it together Selling a Luxury Home - Part 8 - Living Through the Sale Selling a Luxury Home - Part 9 - Picture This! Selling a Luxury Home - Part 10 - Selling When Empty! Selling a Luxury Home - Part 11 - Make Your Showings Safe! When to Show your home might seem like a question with an obvious a... 02/05/2010

So far I have called 7 out of 10 of the playoff games which is pretty good for me.  I would have done better if I had gone with the facts rather than my hopes.  (I had hoped the Ravens would knock the Colts out.)  This leaves me with a dilemma for me at the Super Bowl.  I do not hate the Colts like I do some teams (Patriots, Steelers, and the Eagles) but I do like to pull for the under dogs. Payton Manning is a great guy and probably the best quarterback in football.  The Colts are everyone's favorite to win and they have won it before. The Saints have been a door mat in the NFL for decades, how old are they?  That is how long they have been a door mat.  I remember Saint fans wearing paper bags.  I remember when people in New Orleans were not going to have sex until the Saints could sco... 02/05/2010

Pool Homes in Brentwood California Pool Homes are one of the most popular types of homes in Brentwood California.  As spring comes more and more people will be wanting Pool Homes.  This report looks at Pool Homes currently on the market in Brentwood California and the sales for the last 6 months. As of last Friday there were 20 Pool Homes for sale in Brentwood.  Two of these Pool Homes are large luxury homes on huge estates and I have pulled these two out before running the stats on the Pool Homes as the skew the numbers way up and the value is not primarily based on the pool.    The average price of these homes is $418,777.00 and the median price is $399,450.00.  These homes are priced at an average of $171.00 per SF and have been on the market an average of 92 days. In the last 6 mont... 02/01/2010

Apple Hill Homes in Brentwood Apple Hill Homes are some of the most prestigious homes in Brentwood California.  Offering the security of a gated community with amenities in East Contra Costa's finest community.  Apple Hill Homes are hard to come by and this report focuses on that niche market. Right now there is only one home for sale in Apple Hill and that home is 3547 SF and priced at $480,000.00.  This is $135.00 per SF.  The home has been on the market 18 days. In the last 6 months there have been six Apple Hill Homes sold.  Those homes had an average price of $373,166.00 and a median price of $340,000.00.  This is an average of price per SF of $138.00.  The homes spent an average of 20 days on the market. There are nine Pending Apple Hill Homes.  Seven of these homes are short sale... 01/29/2010

Summerset Homes in Brentwood Summerset Homes is part of an exciting retirement communities in Brentwood California that includes Sommerset Homes and the new Trilogy Homes. This report looks at sales of Summerset Homes, Sommerset Homes, and Trilogy Homes in Brentwood California. There are currently 19 Homes for sale in these communities ranging in price from $220,000.00 to $666,869.00 with an average price of $427,299.00 and a median price of $427,000.00.  This comes out to an average price per SF of $225.00 and they have spent an average of 108 days on the market. In the last 6 months 36 Summerset Homes and Sommerset Homes have sold at an average price of $328,873.00 and a median price of $289,750.00.  This is an average of $193.00 per SF and the homes spent an average of 20 days on the... 01/29/2010

Brentwood Real Estate Sales are looking great for the month of January 2010.  There were a total of 50 homes sold in Brentwood this month.  The average list price was $291,621 and the average sales price was $301,676.  Meaning that property vaules are on the rise again. Below is a list of all real estate that sold in Brentwood this January.  Please feel free to contact me to discuss your Brentwood real estate needs. www.soldbynicole.com www.homesincontracosta.com www.stopmyforeclosurebayarea.com Address List Price Sales Price Square Ft Bedrooms Baths 874  VILLA TER $94,100 $102,500 948 2 1 732  HEATHER PL $125,000 $145,000 788 2 1 588  TWINBRIDGE CT $149,900 $165,000 977 2 2 1351  EISENHOWER WAY $154,900 $178,178 1573 3 2 895  ANTELOPE TER $159,900 $154,000 1063 2 2 146  SYCAMORE AVE $1... 01/29/2010

Brentwood California Bank Owned Homes This report looks at Bank Owned Homes in Brentwood California. I compares the Bank Owned Homes currently active on the market to sales of Bank Owned Homes in November and December. The report focuses on Single Family Homes. There are currently 20 Bank Owned Homes for sale in Brentwood with an average asking price of $286,155.00 and a median price of $276,400.00. They have been on the market an average of 24 days at an average price per SF of $134.00. In December 46 Bank Owned Homes sold in Brentwood with an average sale price of $288,668.00 and a median price of $279,900.00. The average selling price per SF was $128.00 and they spent an average of 15 Days on the Market. In November 41 Bank Owned Homes sold in Brentwood with an average sale price of ... 01/27/2010

Selling a Luxury Home - Part 11 - Make Your Showings Safe! This is Part 11 in a Series. You may wish to look at the other parts first: Selling a Luxury Home - Part 1 - Defined Selling a Luxury Home - Part 2 - A State of Mind Selling a Luxury Home - Part 3 - Make a Plan Selling a Luxury Home - Part 4 - The Team - Home Inspector Selling a Luxury Home - Part 5 - The Team - The Termite Inspector Selling a Luxury Home - Part 6 - The Team - The Stager Selling a Luxury Home - Part 7 - The Team - Putting it together Selling a Luxury Home - Part 8 - Living Through the Sale Selling a Luxury Home - Part 9 - Picture This! Selling a Luxury Home - Part 10 - Selling When Empty! Now that we have talked to the experts, had the home staged and any repairs completed that need to be completed it is time to... 01/21/2010

Football Conference Title Games Two weeks ago in Football Time I picked 3 out of 4 right and began to think I actually knew something about Football. So I got Cocky and wrote More Football Time and only picked 2 of 4.  What went wrong last week?  Two things I got sentimental and I did not want to be boring and pick all the home teams.  I actually thought the Charge and Jet game would be the best and it was; but I thought the Charges would pull it out (Sorry Russel Ray).  I picked the Ravens because I am just getting tired of the same old teams.  I do not want to see the Colts in the Superbowl again. So I have two games to pick and I will be cautious and boring.  Both home teams will when; the Colts and the Saints.  The Saints and the Vikings will be the best game.  I will be routing for... 01/21/2010

Short Selling a Home in Brentwood California Short Sales can be a difficult way to buy or sell a home. However, there are ways to successfully Buy and Sell Short Sales. I want to look at the Short Sale market in Brentwood California then provide you with tools for Short Selling a Home or Buying a Short Sale Home. This report looks at Short Sales of Single Family Homes in Brentwood California. We look at Active, Pending and Sold Short Sale Homes for the last 6 months. Currently there are 74 Active Short Sale Homes on the Market in Brentwood with an Average Price of $332,417.00 and a Median Price of $313,250.00. The Average List Price Per SF is $132.00 and the Average Days on Market is 66. There are 225 Short Sale Homes Pending with an Average List Price of $316,287.00 and a Median List P... 01/20/2010

More Football Time I am feeling real cocky after calling 3 out of 4 last week in my post Football Time and I was a facemask away from calling 4 out of 4. So here is this weeks picks. The Cardinals go the visit the Saints in New Orleans and although the Saints crawled into the end of the season the Cardinals are not consistent.  The Saints will take it at home. I like the Jets.  They have a good offensive line (which to me is the key for any team) and a good defense.  But the Charges were the hottest team in the NFL at the end of the season.  Sanchez is a good quarterback and will get better in the future; but not this week.  The Charges take at home.Baltimore took the hated New England Patriots to pieces.  The Colts are very good, but not as good as they were a few years ago.  I also do... 01/15/2010

Selling a Luxury Home - Part 10 - Selling When Empty! This is Part 9 in a Series. You may wish to look at the other parts first: Selling a Luxury Home - Part 1 - Defined Selling a Luxury Home - Part 2 - A State of Mind Selling a Luxury Home - Part 3 - Make a Plan Selling a Luxury Home - Part 4 - The Team - Home Inspector Selling a Luxury Home - Part 5 - The Team - The Termite Inspector Selling a Luxury Home - Part 6 - The Team - The Stager Selling a Luxury Home - Part 7 - The Team - Putting it together Selling a Luxury Home - Part 8 - Living Through the Sale Selling a Luxury Home - Part 9 - Picture This! In Part 8 I talked about the problems of Selling a Luxury Home while living in it.  Although there are also some advantages.  This time I want to look at Selling a Luxury Home while it ... 01/15/2010

Brentwood California Housing Market Report This Housing Market Report focuses on Homes for Sale in Brentwood California. In the report we focus on Homes for Sale currently and compare the sales figures for November and December 2009. The Housing Market Report only looks at Single Family Home sales. Currently there are 117 Homes for Sale in Brentwood. The average asking price is $540,444.00 and the median asking price is $349,950.00. The average asking price per SF is $233.00 and the homes have an average of 105 days on Market.  However, there are a number of luxury homes in Brentwood with a lot of the value based on the land that skews the market up.  If you take out the homes listed at over $1,000,000.00 Homes for Sale in Brentwood have an average asking price of $369,292 and the media... 01/11/2010