Homes For Sale Walnut Creek CA May 2014 Market Report June 6, 2014 Walnut Creek CA Real Estate Monthly Commentary Homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA as of June 6, 2014 total 46 single family (down from 48 on the same date last month) and 57 attached up from 50 last month) currently on the Walnut Creek CA real estate market. Homes sold in Walnut Creek CA during May 2014 totaled 40 for single family, up from 33, while attached homes closing escrow decreased to 37 from 41 last month. The median price for single family homes sold in Walnut Creek CA in May 2014 was $900,000 which was up from $830,000 last month while the attached home median sold price was $450,000 up from $401,000 last month. Remember to consider the small number of homes sold when evaluating these price trends. Homes For Sa... 06/07/2014

Walnut Creek real estate is in high demand. The city has changed so much over the last year and median sale prices continue to rise. Year over year, the median sale price increased by 14%, from $790,500 to $900,000. In contrast, the number of sold units in Walnut Creek has decreased, nearly 20% from 48 homes last May to 40 homes this May. This is very typical for most Bay Area cities and is due to the lower inventory levels this year. Last year there was more inventory so in relation there were more properties sold. With that being said, the inventory levels are continuing to rise.  Since January. the number of new inventory by month has increased 103%, from 32 to 65. And properties in Walnut Creek are not lasting very long on the market, with the average for May being 21 days. May was... 06/04/2014

I  have posted the monthly MLS Statistics for Walnut Creek, California real estate for both attached and detached homes.  Easy to read charts and graphs to provide you with accurate up-to-the-minute information for the local Central Contra Costa County real estate market.  To learn how to interpret this information or further discuss, please feel free to contact me directly or post a comment to the blog. Contact me at (925) 297-5335 (PST) or send an email to Pete@ContraCostaLiving.com. Visit Pete's web site www.ContraCostaHomeSearch.com     06/02/2014

      Get Real With Curb Appeal      This day and age, people are busier and technology has provided access to make decisions based on a downloaded snapshot.  With more and more people searching for their dream home online, potential buyers could shy away from viewing your property simply based on the featured photo within your listing.  Studies show that most buyers won't even exit their car, just based on the curb appeal alone.  It is important to note that buyers associate the feel of the exterior with the condition of the interior. HGTV has even dedicated an entire show just on 'curb appeal', and has been successfully airing since 2002!  Therefore, addressing your home's exterior appearance, including the landscaping and front of the home itself, is a must in marketing and selling y... 05/24/2014

    House Hunting Hazards     With the housing market's ups and downs throughout the last five years, it is alway best to keep on your toes when looking for your next home.  House hunting can be both exciting and exhausting.  During this process, there are some common mistakes buyers tend to fall into, sometimes putting them into homes needing more work or that were overpriced.  For some excellent information on house hunting don'ts, click here: Six House Hunting Pitfalls to Avoid.    House hunting in the Walnut Creek area?  Please contact me, and I will do my best to find you the home that is right for you! Renee White     Keller Williams Realty East Bay     Top Producing Team 2011/2012 925-876-2411     renee@reneewhite.com       www.ReneeWhite.com     05/18/2014

The median sale price in Walnut Creek remains steady with a 4% increase year over year, from $800,000 in April of last year to $830,000 in April 2014. Throughout the past year the median sale price in Walnut Creek has remained very consistent. The month to month variance is quite low with no major dips or rises. In contrast, the number of properties sold in Walnut Creek throughout the past year has seen many ups and downs. In April 2013 the number of sold properties was 61, compared to 35 this April, a 43% decrease. That number is starting to trend upwards so let’s hope that continues. Another aspect of the Walnut Creek real estate market that is on an upward trend are the number of new properties coming on the market. Year over year, new listings are down 27% but since January that nu... 05/12/2014

Spend an Hour - Gain 20 Seconds   In the span of 20 seconds, a person can: *Become annoyed waiting for an elevator. *Get bored with a Web page and click away. *Fall in love with someone. ...And even fall in love with a house.      A new study shows that sellers have just seconds to attract an interested buyer online.  Curb appeal should really be thought of as 'Main Internet Picture Appeal'.  The study, by the Institute for Behavioral and Experimental Real Estate at Old Dominion University Norfold, VA., confirms what real estate agents know: The main photograph of the house's exterior is the make-it or break-it feature of online advertising.        According to a new study, internet house shoppers, which this day and age is just about everyone, actually spend two seconds evaluating the... 05/10/2014

Homes For Sale Walnut Creek CA April 2014 Market Report May 6, 2014 Walnut Creek CA Real Estate Monthly Commentary Homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA as of May 6, 2014 total 48 single family (up from 36 on the same date last month) and 50 attached up from 38 last month) currently on the Walnut Creek CA real estate market. Homes sold in Walnut Creek CA during April 2014 totaled 33 for single family, up from 29, while attached homes closing escrow increased to 41 from 31 last month. The median price for single family homes sold in Walnut Creek CA in April 2014 was $830,000 which was down from $905,436 last month while the attached home median sold price was $401,000 down from $420,000 last month. Homes For Sale in Walnut Creek CA Currently on the Market* The newest listing of homes for sal... 05/06/2014

Walnut Creek has remained steady throughout the last year, no real highs and no low lows. March was an exception with spikes in median sale price and the amount of new inventory. The median sale price in March was $915,000, compared to $825,000 in February an increase of 10%. And last March the median sale price was just under $800,000, a nice increase year over year. And the number of new properties month to month went from 36 to 48, a 33% increase. The market is starting to turn and really balance out in the Bay Area. Its been a steady and slow increase but it is shifting with more buyers entering the market and more inventory. Time will tell but things are going strong for Walnut Creek in 2014 so far. 04/15/2014

Homes For Sale Walnut Creek CA March 2014 Market Report April 7, 2014 Walnut Creek CA Real Estate Monthly Commentary Homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA as of April 7, 2014 total 36 single family (up from 30 on the same date last month) and 38 attached up from 33 last month) currently on the Walnut Creek CA real estate market. Homes sold in Walnut Creek CA during March 2014 totaled 29 for single family, up from 23, while attached homes closing escrow increased to 31 from 26 last month. The median price for single family homes sold in Walnut Creek CA in March 2014 was $905,436 which was up from $825,000 last month while the attached home median sold price was $420,000 up from $396,500 last month. Homes For Sale in Walnut Creek CA Currently on the Market* The newest listing of homes for sal... 04/07/2014

Homes For Sale Walnut Creek CA February 2014 Market Report March 6, 2014 Walnut Creek CA Real Estate Monthly Commentary Homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA as of March 6, 2014 total 30 single family (up from 25 on the same date last month) and 33 attached up from 23 last month) currently on the Walnut Creek CA real estate market. Homes sold in Walnut Creek CA during February 2014 totaled 23 for single family, down from 24, while attached homes closing escrow increased to 26 from 23 last month. The median price for single family homes sold in Walnut Creek CA in February 2014 was $825,000 which was up from $814,375 last month while the attached home median sold price was $396,500 up from $390,000 last month. Homes For Sale in Walnut Creek CA Currently on the Market* The newest listing of ho... 03/06/2014

  The Four DON'TS of an Open House      Most of us are all too familiar with the television channel HGTV (Home and Garden Television) with its lavish home remodels and spunky hosts.  Although it has given the common man both first-hand glimpses into the ins and outs of home maintenance and great tips for buying and selling a home, it has also provided a dramatic exaggeration of real life residences and home owners.  And when it comes to Open Houses, the TV entertainment may have on display fine art showings and free-flowing champagne.  Even though everday home owners and their agents have upped the ante on hospitality, the focus of the most successful Open Houses is still the same: showcasing the house to the right population of prospective buyers and staging your house to sell.      So... 03/04/2014

       Mug of Chocolate?      February was the perfect month to shower those you love with affection and gifts from the heart. With chocolate being at the top of the list, did you know that centuries ago chocolate was strictly a beverage? Yes, that is how it was enjoyed for ages!      Chocolate has been around for about 2000 years and although it is probably the most popular candy, not many people know its origins. The ‘cacao’ plant was named by the Mayans as early as 500 AD. Both they and the Aztecs believed the cacao bean had magical properties. They also enjoyed drink-ing it in a frothy bitter form and using it as currency. It wasn’t until the Spanish invaded the Aztecs that the cacao drink was brought to Europe and became well accepted after honey or cane sugar was added to the mix-... 02/28/2014

　 'Cool Runnings' - Again?        Go back a decade into a time when the late John Candy was cracking up audi-ences with films such as ‘Uncle Buck’ and ‘Planes, Trains & Automobiles.’ Another popular film was made based on a true story of the first Jamaican bobsled team trying to make it to the 1988 Winter Olym-pics in Canada. ‘Cool Runnings’ not only had audiences cracking up at the comedic dialogue, it also brought to the screen a real life struggle to get to the top. Alt-hough it did end with a crash and ulti-mately not even qualifying for the Olym-pics, the four-man team were graciously applauded by local Canadians as they walked with their sled to the finish line.      Well, they’re back! For the first time since that fateful wreck in Canada, the Jamaican bobsled team has finally qu... 02/22/2014

     Those Crazy Presidents!      Since President's Day is upon us, I decided to share some interesting (and silly) facts about our beloved past presidents.  Enjoy reading, and here is to celebrating our presidents past, present and future!   GEORGE WASHINGTON - Teeth made from elephant and walrus tusks (not wood!) ANDREW JACKSON - First president to ride on a train JAMES MADISON - Smallest president at 5'4'' and under 100lbs ABRAHAM LINCOLN - Made it into the wrestling Hall of Fame ULYSSES S. GRANT - Fined $20 for speeding with his horse and carriage WILLIAM H. TAFT - Heaviest president at 332lbs GERALD R. FORD - Held his daughter's High School Prom in the White House GEORGE W. BUSH - Has a collection of over 250 signed baseballs   If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the Walnut... 02/16/2014

Walnut Creek has become a Bay Area destination for many; with hiking, bike trails, high-end shopping, great golf courses, a performing arts theater, museums and much more. All of this has enticed visitors but also homeowners. Over the last year, Walnut Creek has seen a solid and steady growth in home sales and prices. In January 2014 the median sale price was $814,375, up 21% from last January. In addition, Walnut Creek has seen an spike in the median price of for sale properties with an 11% increase when comparing this January to January 2013. Walnut Creek real estate has been on a consistent climb and so far 2014 is no different. Click Here for more updates.  Community Event Get the scoop on the joys of caring for dogs or cats, kittens or puppies in your home. Hear about the realities... 02/09/2014

Homes For Sale Walnut Creek CA January 2014 Market Report February 6, 2014 Walnut Creek CA Real Estate Monthly Commentary Homes for sale in Walnut Creek CA as of February 6, 2014 total 25 single family (up from 20 on the same date last month) and 23 attached up from 22 last month) currently on the Walnut Creek CA real estate market. Homes sold in Walnut Creek CA during January 2014 totaled 24 for single family, down from 39, while attached homes closing escrow decreased to 23 from 32 last month. The median price for single family homes sold in Walnut Creek CA in January 2014 was $814,375 which was up from $777,000 last month while the attached home median sold price was $390,000 up from $387,500 last month. Homes For Sale in Walnut Creek CA Currently on the Market* The newest listing of... 02/06/2014

Open House or Open Pocketbook?      You are selling your home and of course you want it to look attractive and tempting to a potential buyer.  However, sometimes that attraction is also luring in thieves, looking for homes that have valuable and sell-able items.  Open houses are great marketing tools, but they also expose your home and family to countless strangers and possible burglars.  It is important to keep in mind that not every person attending an open house is a potential home-buyer.  Security must be a focus when staging your home.  Below are some simple security tips for open-houses; ensuring safety for both your family and your belongings. 1. Hide valuables - Lock-boxes are recommended for valuables such as jewelry, cash, firearms and all prescription medication.  Remember t... 01/31/2014

2013 was an interesting real estate market for Walnut Creek. Inventory levels were low throughout the year and demand was very high, shown by multiple offers on properties; there were bidding wars like we haven’t seen in quite some time. Above asking offers became the norm. Overall, the median sale price was $780,000 which is up from $700,000 in December 2012, an increase of  11%. For 2014 we can expect to see a similar market, with demand to remain high, which bodes well for home sellers. Mortgage levels are expected to increase which will in turn limit pricing for some buyers. 2014 is suspected to be a steady market so let’s all rejoice for positivity this New Year! Click Here for more housing market updates in Walnut Creek.   Walnut Creek Community Event - January Don’t miss Flappers... 01/22/2014

Not so fast there Bucko. A lot of my colleagues will tell you they are selling the American Dream.  Client’s get in the car and go looking for their Dream Home.  I hear that and I want to throw up a little bit.  If I am selling someone their dream home, either they need to dream bigger or I’m lying to them.  Or I’m finding Cher her next estate. My dream home is an estate on the bluffs in San Diego overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  The entire back of the house is glass and opens up to let the ocean air in.  It’s got a Spanish or Tuscan feel to it.  The floors are hand cut stone, the ceiling are high.  The yard is gorgeous thick wonderful grass and the pool is an infinity pool.  And tennis courts.  And a basketball court.  I watch sunsets from the balcony of the master that overlooks the en... 01/17/2014