East Contra Costa County and Brentwood in Particular are filled with a number of nice parks. If you own a home in Brentwood you will find this to be a nice feature. Loma Vista Park is a very nice park on the corner of Highland Way and Meadowgate way on the back side of Loma Vista School off of San Jose Ave. Living in Brentwood is something my wife and I enjoy. With five boys having a variety of parks for them to play in is important to us. My son Jansen (Pictured his Borg name is just 4 of 5 – Trekies will get it!) here accompanied me to Loma Vista for the review. He works cheap, just for ice cream. There are some benches and picnic tables, and three play structure areas geared for different areas. There is also a large open grassy area that is good for playing games and just running. I... 04/07/2009

People have suggested I publish this on the public side.  Not just for Realtors so here it is.  I want to emphasis that I sympathize with most people that are foreclosed on.  I have had my financial challenges in the last several years too. I’m going on another rant and not sure if I should post this on the public side. I am really ticked off by what I see people doing to homes when they are foreclosed on. Wait before you tune out. I am going to suggest a solution at the end of this. We have all seen or heard about the following acts. Counter tops ripped off. Hammer taken to walls, counter tops, fire place surrounds, patio, plumbing cut, wells and septic systems destroyed, tubs left on for water to overflow throughout the now empty house, AC and heating units taken, built in appliances ... 04/06/2009

One of the most frustrating experiences for buyers is when they find a great home at a great price. Frequently these are Bank Owned Homes priced low to attract multiple offers. The bank gets multiple offers then sends out a multiple offer counter asking each potential buyer to put in the highest and best offer they can. Buyers love the thought of getting one of those cheap Bank Owned Homes, but when there is a low priced high quality home everyone sees it. There is no secret or special deal and this is the part buyers hate. They want the property, but they do not want to pay a dime more for it than they have to. They ask me what they should pay. I can only tell them what other house like that are selling for, what the current market it like, and provide them with a little psychological ... 04/03/2009

I have a current short sale with Countrywide and it's a townhouse in the city of Brentwood. Is it typical for the lenders to only pay back property taxess and not the delinquent HOA dues? If or if not have you had any experience with any lenders forgiving the HOA dues that are owed? I'm trying to negotiate the dues but I was told immediatley that they do not pay them at all.   FIND A FORECLOSURE 04/02/2009

As a Realtor I work 24/7 to keep my clients informed and happy. I only succeed when they succeed. So what is going on with the Title & Escrow Companies? In these days of Bank Owned Homes dominating the market the banks are dictating who handles Title & Escrow. These transactions are being centralized in a few select Title & Escrow companies. The back log is slowing down the process and the files are being handled like a hamburger at the fast food joint. Before the banks took over and began to dictate the process Title & Escrow companies were very responsive because they knew that their business depended upon customer service. I recently had to call the home office of a large Escrow company to even get a return phone call on a file that ultimately set around for weeks. I currently have a... 04/01/2009

After a significant slide it seems that one market is turning around, at least for now. It is hard to tell what will happen long term. The Financial Crises is a mess and the steps to resolve it are not coordinated or sometimes even effective. However, the combination of the mortgage bail out plans, lower interest rates, lower prices, and tax credits may be starting to work. Long term the current financial policies may lead to inflation and higher interest rates. Many buyers perceive now as the right time to buy. This is true of investors and first time buyers. Lending for investors has eased up dramatically allowing investors to buy multiple homes. In January of 2009 there were 65 home sales in the city of Brentwood, CA. Brentwood Home Sales had and average price of $316,482.00 and a me... 03/18/2009

Has anyone else encountered a lender negotiatiating a short sale that will not allow any seller concessions. I just found out today that Bank of America will not allow any credit for closing even if the buyer goes above the approval amount. I actually lost this buyer today and was stunned that they would not entertain the offer even though they are going to net more than the other offers I have. So now I'm scrambling to find a buyer to help close this short sale soon. I learned something new today I hope you did too.   FIND YOUR NEXT FORECLOSURE HERE 01/28/2009

Own this home with as little as 3.5% down- FHA and Brentwood, CA First time home buyer program Free FHA Pre-Approval for this Brentwood, CA Bank Owned and foreclosed Homes Call today to receive a list of Brentwood, CA Foreclosed REO property. Many of Brentwood foreclosure property can be purchased with FHA financing. I can expidite your viewing of  properties that are qualified in Brentwood, CA. Lean how it really matters who you wok with when writing offers on foreclosures and Short Sales. My team of EXPERIENCED Realtors will guide you through the process of buying Bank Owned, foreclosed and short sale homes. Call 925-484-5363 with any questions. Click to continue reading “Own this home with as little as 3.5% down- FHA and Brentwood, CA First time home buyer program” 01/27/2009

After living in Las Vegas in recent months, the King of Pop has returned to Southern California wanting to be closer to "where all the action is" in the entertainment industry. Michael Jackson has leased himself a huge mansion in one of the most exclusive areas of Los Angeles, Bel Air Holmby Hills for $100,000 a month. The $38 million Bel Air home is a French chateau estate built in 2002, one of the most expensive houses listed for sale last year in Los Angeles but was withdrawn from the market after Michael signed a year lease. It has seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces and a theater. There is a multistory grand entry, hardwood floors, a formal dining room, wood-paneled den and adjoining library with coffered ceilings. The state-of-the-art kitchen has an adjacent butler's pantr... 01/11/2009

    STATUS   TYPE ADDRESS     BEDS BATHS   SIZE LOT AGE   SALE DATE PRICE        SOLD    HOUSE 511 N BRISTOL AVE     4 4.50   3,298 23,500 1936   12/12/08 $5,000,000        SOLD    HOUSE 355 S THURSTON AVE     3 2.00   1,691 6,900 1949   12/08/08 $850,001        SOLD    HOUSE 11402 BURNHAM ST     3 3.00   2,182 6,300 1949   12/05/08 $1,310,000        SOLD    HOUSE 916 GRANVILLE AVE     3 2.00   1,238 3,746 1952   12/12/08 $751,000        SOLD    HOUSE 580 MORENO AVE     4 3.00   3,768 16,560 1940   12/10/08 $3,914,000        SOLD    CONDO 11947 DOROTHY ST #103     2 1.75   1,123 0 1978   12/05/08 $530,000        SOLD    CONDO 11627 Chenault ST #1     2 2.00   1,353 0 1962   12/04/08 $440,000     Luxury properties are still selling! To view the finest real estate in Brentwood, Beverly H... 12/13/2008

How fun we get to turn our clocks back one hour at midnight on Saturday, November 1st, and wake up to bright sunshine and leave work in the dark. But here in Santa Fe that will also signal that it is time to start lighting the fires. How wonderful the smell of pinion and cedar wood burning is. It is a smell almost as wonderful as the roasting of green chile in August. The best time for me is coming home and my wonderful husband has a fire going. I don't even mind starting dinner then. So if your here in Santa Fe you know what I'm talking about and if not - come to my town and inhale the beauty. 10/31/2008

I feel like the issue of Robb Report, or Fly fishing has landed inmy mailbox every monday morning, as I walk into the office and I pick up the MLS Open House guide for Los Angeles. The official guide of www.themls.com our agent/broker owned multiple listing system in Los Angeles. All the beautiful houses, the architectural's , the mansions, the ginormous mansions that have mansions for guest houses and all the condos, townhomes and lofts in between, it is exciting to see what on the market and who has got the listings of the week nailed. This week the cover is graced by an architectural Bel Air house www.BelAirArchitecturalVilla.com is its website located at 1852 Bel Air Road, you should see the pictures of this house, amazing attention to detail, a heavenly outdoor area with pool and b... 08/25/2008

                 1 SOLD   HOUSE 558 N BRISTOL AVE     5 5.50   3,819 12,260 1925    08/05/08 $5,115,000      2 SOLD   HOUSE 926 S GRETNA GREEN WAY     3 2.00   1,928 7,800 1929   08/01/08 $1,650,000      3 SOLD   HOUSE 934 TEAKWOOD RD     3 2.50   2,233 8,075 1959   08/04/08 $1,550,000      4 SOLD   CONDO 11740 W SUNSET BLVD #43 #43   2 2.50   2,139 0 1997   08/05/08 $1,150,000      5 SOLD   CONDO 1176 WELLESLEY AVE #102 #102   3 2.50   1,732 0 2000   08/05/08 $805,000      6 SOLD   CONDO 1000 GRANVILLE AVE #304 #304   2 1.75   1,687 0 2007   08/01/08 $1,060,000     08/09/2008

  The real state industry has undergone tremendous change in the past couple of years. The problem is, most industry practitioners don't know it!    Reasons for Change The industry has changed more dramatically than in the past due to the convergence of several significant trends and changes that together have revolutionized not only real estate but nearly all consumer-facing inductries:   ·        Instant Communications - voice, email, text, instant messaging, etc. ·        The Great Opening of Data Sources - listings online in hundreds of sites ·        Consumer Education - learn all about any topic through simple searching - including real estate transactions ·        Tightening Market Conditions - fosters price and fee competition ·        Over-abundance of practitioners - the shrin... 08/06/2008

Luxury homes are still selling on the Westside in Brentwood.   1 SOLD HOUSE 540 CRESTLINE DR 6 10.00 10,171 23,426 1991   07/09/08 $5,740,000 2 SOLD HOUSE 156 S Bristol AVE 7 7.50 10,000 19,514 2007 07/08/08 $14,350,000 3 SOLD HOUSE 156 S BRISTOL AVE 7 7.50 10,000 19,514 2007 07/08/08 $14,350,000 4 SOLD CONDO 12115 SAN VICENTE #115 #115 2 2.50 1,831 0 1974 07/08/08 $627,000 5 SOLD CONDO 12218 MONTANA AVE #106 #106 2 2.50 1,567 0 1996 07/09/08 $892,000 6 SOLD CONDO 11755 MONTANA AVE #105 #105 2 2.00 1,435 0 1981 07/09/08 $690,000 07/12/2008

  Thinking About Buying in Brentwood? (edit/delete) Now is the time.  If you have the money and you are thinking about it, you should seriously consider it.  We are in a buyer's market and it does not come along too often, perhaps every 15 years.  Opportunity is knocking and it is knocking hard!  Don't let this opportunity pass by.  Purchase in this market and you will be giving yourself high-fives in 3 years as the cycles reflect.   Contact me for Brentwood Listings and home buying. http://westsidehomefinders.com/home.asp ginnymcgonigle@westsidehomefinders.com 06/24/2008

One of the latest gimmicks to sell homes is the Home Tours, often pitched as Home Tours of Bank Owned Homes.  The Agent will get a van or small bus and load a number of people onto the van/bus or what ever and drive them around to homes that the Agent wants to sell them.  To go on the tour you may have to get pre-qualified or sometimes there is a lender representatives on the tour to get you pre-qualified.  I've heard stories of buyers having to actually pay for tickets to go on these rides.  I'm sure on the surface this all sounds like a lot of fun.  Maybe you even think it is a good way to get those good home buys.  But who is this system really serving.  Let's see: the Agent gets multiple clients at one time: the Agent can take you to the homes the Agent needs to sell (Either that Ag... 04/01/2008

THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET (CONTRA COSTRA) SEEMS TO BE PICKING UP.  THE LOCAL MLS IS REPORTING THE FOLLOWING PENDINGS.  BRENTWOOD--173        ANTIOCH--100       OAKLEY--64        PITTSBURG--61       DISCOVERY BAY--33.      FORECLOISERS ARE STILL AT THE FORFRONT OF THE MARKET. WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT HISTORY SHOWS US THAT AT SOME POINT  THE MARKET WILL BE BACK AS STRONG AS EVER. 03/24/2008

 Asking Price $289,995MLS # 40303751Gorgeous 3 bedroom 2 bathroom single family home with approximatley 1428 living square feet, that shows well. Open floor plan with the kitchen and family room combo. Conveniently located close to Highway 4, and in a quiet neighborhood. Citi mortgage is the second lien holder and  has approved on the short sale currently waiting for the first lenders approval which is with Wachovia. For a prequalification or showing of this home log onto http://www.rentersapply.com/ or call Mike Jackson at 925-225-7126. Virtual tour link: http://client.rw.imprev.net/390/5123You tube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFUs4JrhuaUFree Home Search 03/20/2008

Brentwood CA Subdivisions 94513 ZipcodeI have been working on a list of real estate subdivisions for Brentwood, CA in the 94513 Zipcode. Please let me know if I have missed any good ones....1000 Oaks |Altessa |Antioch |Apple Hill |Belfour |Belvedere |Birchwood |Brentwood Hills |Brentwood Park |Brentwood Villa |Byron |Ca Spirit |California Orchard |Campanella |Confetti |Country |Deer Ridge |Deercreek |Downtown |Edgewood |Garin Ranch |Harvest |Havenwood Common |Hawthorne Landing |Inspirations |Knightsen |Laurelwood |Legacy |Lyon Groves |Meridian Pointe |Morrison Homes |Providence |Pulte |Rural/Ranch |Shadow Lakes |Solano |Sterling |Summerset |Sunset Crossing |The Gardens |Town Square |Tuscany |Valley Green |Villa Terrace |Village |Walnut Meadows |Walnut Woods | Also if anybody knows any g... 03/18/2008