Realty World – BLUE | Property Group, Inc.

Brentwood has two “sister” golf course communities located just east of the Highway 4 Bypass on the north (Shadow Lakes) and south (Deer Ridge) side of Balfour Road.  These homes can range in size from under 2,000 to over 4800 sq ft.  Many of these homes had values over $1 million+ at the height of the market, and now can be purchased from the low $300K to just under $600K.  Not every home is located on the golf course, but those homes that are located on the golf course are highly desirable.
Current homes range from $295K to $629K, with most priced below $425K.  Here is a link to Deer Ridge & Shadow Lake homes currently available. (Link lasts only 30 days)  The community is located near schools, shopping, sidewalks for walking, and health care facilities.
Recent Sales in Deer Ridge & Shadow Lakes had 46 homes SELL from $225K to $631K, with most homes selling under $410K.  Buyers like this area for its amenities, the value for the money and the age of the home (built in 2001-2005).  Here is a link to homes SOLD in Shadow Lakes/Deer Ridge since April 1st; link lasts only 30 days.
Rated BEST GOLF Value 2008 in Northern California, Deer Ridge & Shadow Lakes golf courses are a treat to practice your swing at the driving range, enjoy a quick meal or play 18 holes.  The golf courses also have “e-specials”, so be sure to sign up!   Here is the link to the Deer Ridge/Shadow Lakes Golf courses.
So, if you are looking for a golf course community set against the backdrop of Mount Diablo, think Brentwood’s Deer Ridge & Shadow Lake golf course communities!

Are you having trouble making your mortgage?  You are not alone!  Eight percent of mortgages under $1 million are delinquent and almost 15% of mortgages in excess of a million dollars are seriously delinquent! The next wave of foreclosures could well be the over $1million homes!  Not because they cannot pay, but because it is now a bad investment.  It is called strategic default, and the numbers of participants is growing.  . The delinquency rate on investment homes where the original mortgage was more than $1 million is now 23%, and 10% for less-expensive investment properties. Here is a link to the complete article by the New York Times.  It may be smart to drop a bad investment, but is it ethical to trash a neighborhood?

The unsold inventory index for homes in California rose in June to 4.8 months from 4.2 months in June 2009, according to a report released Thursday from the California Association of Realtors. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate. Home [...]

Hello My Beautiful, Wonderful Bay Area!… Today …Isi’s Fav Spots is highlighting a fun place to go have food and drinks and general merriment… Another one of those places in the Eastbay thats been around for a long time and enjoys a clientele made up of old timers – new timers and once in awhile timers… but always a great place to enjoy some food and drinks and friends or do business… hope you’ll put it on the calendar to go try it out … its a nice place…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwQz1I9MQLw
 Cheers!.. Thanks for checking in…
Isi
Isi Wu
Serving Clients All Over the Eastbay…

Click on the stats to see more Willow Glen Market Stats.
95125, San Jose Homes For Sale

Here are 10 ways to keep your lawn healthy and happy:
1. Remove leaves and sticks. A chipper/shredder can convert most small lawn debris to usable mulch or compost.
2. Prune dead or diseased limbs from trees and shrubs. Deadhead or remove spent annuals.
3. Clean up any edging that has started to look ragged [...]

Click on the page to see more Cambrian Area Market Stats.
95124, San Jose Homes For Sale

There appears to be a  new catch phrase among aging homeowners and that is “aging in place.” Instead of selling their homes and moving into retirement villages or assisted-living quarters, a growing number of older Americans are modifying their homes to make them more user-friendly as they age. This concept has caught [...]

Lender Repossessions have climbed 38 percent in the first six months of 2010 compared to 2009 and were up 5 percent from the first quarter, foreclosure listing service RealtyTrac has reported. In all, lenders repossessed nearly 528,000 homes in the first six months of the year. If that rate continues through the [...]

Nelson Mandela via last.fm

Hellooooo My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area… just had to share this with you… “the greatest glory in living… lies not in never falling… but in rising everytime we fall.” ~ Nelson Mandela

Housing Inventory Snapshot
June 27, 2010

Average List Price
Median List Price
Average Days On Market

Santa Clara County, CA

Single Family under $1M
$598,373
$595,000
58

Single Family over $1M
$2,190,878
$1,698,000
71

Condo/Townhome under $600K
$353,696
$340,000
70

Condo/Townhome over $600K
$818,549
$738,000
62

San [...]

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Hello My Beautiful Wonderful Awesome Bay Area!!… I dont know if you’ve noticed… have been attempting to use a portable handy dandy video camera to share my favorite spots with you… we have in our gorgeous bay area so many places to enjoy… from now on as I share them with you… they will be categorized as “Isi’s Favorite Spots by the Bay”... Please pardon my commentary or lack thereof… as I dont prepare a script but rather speak off the top of my head as I’m filming… Today I’d like to bring to your attention “4th Street in Berkeley“

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37dkqA572LI

So you think green fees are expensive?  Check out The Golf Club at Brentwood’s Grand Re-opening.  18 holes of golf for a $15 cart fee and 9 holes FREE if you walk!  Great deal and good exercize!   They are under new ownership, and plan to make the facility a PGA venue course.  Here is a link to that article.
Want a FUN weekend event for your family?  Then plan on coming to Brentwood’s Corn Fest!  There will be lots of food, fun and activities for the whole family.  For us active adults, it will bring you back to our youth.  The event is a major fund raiser for Brentwood’s chamber of commerce.  Tonight is firework’s night, too!  Corn Fest takes place in downtown Brentwood.  Plan on stopping in for some wine tasting at Co Co Wine Company; the atmosphere is fun and wine selection is great!
Wishing you a FUN Summer weekend!

Below you will find an updated snap shot for our county.
Sales Statistics
for SANTA CLARA County CA

Realist’s most recent sale date for this county is 06/28/2010

Single Family Residence

Time Period
Number of Sales
Median Sale Price

May 2010
1,377
$600,000

May 2009
1,075
$490,000

Apr 2010
1,063
$590,000

Apr 2009
1,039
$460,000

2010 YTD
5,723
$570,000

2009
12,684
$520,000

Condominium

Time Period
Number of Sales
Median Sale Price

May 2010
602
$405,000

May 2009
408
$350,000

Apr 2010
383
$360,000

Apr 2009
383
$341,000

2010 YTD
2,375
$388,000

2009
5,317
$375,000

Happy July 4th Weekend from Summerset at Brentwood!  Picnics, Bocce, BBQ’s, Tennis, & golf  are all being experienced at Brentwood’s fun active-adult community.  What fun to come to the pool for water aerobics, exercise, cooling off, or sharing talk with your neighbor.
New homes come on the market almost weekly and there is a strong demand for detached homes priced under $300K.  Currently in Summerset, there are 27 homes for sale; sizes from 984-2857 square feet, with prices ranging from $179-$599K.  The best value per square foot is a 1905 square foot home in Summerset 3 @ $173 sq foot.  This is NOT a short sale, but a traditional sale, so the price is valid!   As with this home, most homes in Summerset are gently used, but most buyers will want to update with granite countertops or stainless appliances that were not so important when these homes were built 7+ years ago.  To view all current Summerset homes for sale click here!  (Link good for 30 days)
Summerset is located in Brentwood and made up of 4 communities: Summerset 1, Summerset II (The Palms), Summerset III (Vista), and Summerset IV (The Orchards).  Each community has its own home owner’s association (HOA), recreation center, pool/hot tub, work out area, and activity director.  Once you are a resident of Summerset, you will receive a monthly activity calendar, and can attend activities at any of the four Summerset locations.
This past quarter, 22 homes SOLD in Summerset.  Of those 22 homes that SOLD, 17 were priced under $335K.  For a complete list, here is the link.  (Link good for 30 days)
I LOVE this time of year and I love living in Summerset!  For more information, give me a call.

Hellooooo My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area!!…  Happy Day to You!!… You may or may not have heard… but its Happy Hallelujah Day for all First Time Homebuyers who have ratified contracts in place as of  April 30, 2010!!… As of last nite the Senate passed the bill and the House of Representatives passed the same bill earlier this week to EXTEND the closing deadline for Homebuyer Tax Credit Eligibility from June 30, 2010 to the new date of September 30, 2010… The bill now goes to the President for his signature..
To be clear… the extension applies only to transactions with ratified contracts by April 30, 2010 that have not yet closed?  (Nearly 180,000 homebuyers would have missed out on the tax credit had Congress not taken action to extend the deadline to close escrow… Estimates from the National Association of Realtors show as many as 17,700 home buyers in California would not have received the tax credit without this extension…)
Will keep you posted… Thanks for checking in…
Cheers Everyone!…
Isi
Isi Wu… the realtor for you…
Serving Clients All Over the Eastbay!
 
Related articles …

Congress extends closing deadline for home buyer tax credit  sfgate.com)
Home buyers must scramble to claim federal tax credit  sfgate.com)
House votes to extend homebuyer credit 3 months  seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Rush on to meet tax credit deadline  lansner.ocregister.com)

 
Hello My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area!!   Happy Sunday to you…  Summer is here, the sun is out, the days are longer, the kids are out of school, lots of great activities swirling all around our Beautiful Bay Area… and the nagging question remains… just what are you going to do with that old frig… its old and ugly, but still works but its costing you up to $100 or more a year for electricity… what to do… what to do… there’s plenty of folks not happy with PG&E’s  “smart meter“.. in fact there’s quite an uproar going on currently about the effectiveness of this program… I’m sure it will get ironed out in some way in the not too distant future… HOWEVER…  did you know PG&E has an “appliance recycling program”?…  They will actually come and pick up your old refrigerator for FREE, Recycle it and PAY YOU $35.00… if you recycle an old air conditioner at the same time you’ll receive an extra $25.00…  Find out more and Schedule a Pick Up at…
http://bit.ly/c8jIjy
Sounds like this will not only help you,  but help the environment and help someone else as well… whats not to like??… Go ahead be kind and nice… Make Someone’s Day… share this info with your family, friends and neighbors…
Happy Sunday & Cheers Everyone…
Thanks for checking in…
Isi
Isi Wu… the realtor for you
Serving Clients All Over the Eastbay!
Related articles by Zemanta

PG&E customer refuses to take smart meter, locks up old meter  sfgate.com)
San Francisco public power plan hits snag  sfgate.com)
Calif. utility giant under fire for ’smart meters’  seattletimes.nwsource.com)

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Over the past month I have been approached by many telling me they want to buy foreclosed properties and/or a short sale.  Unless you are an experienced investor with a lot of cash on hand , forget the Foreclosure.  When a bank forecloses on a property it is slotted for auction on the city steps.  There are dozens of investors waiting there to purchase these properties with cash…yes cash…some with over $1 million dollars in cash.  Those investors have done their homework as far as value and some have not even seen the inside of the home.  To them, it is strictly a numbers game.  If you are looking to purchase a home where it fit’s your lifestyle, this is not the avenue for you.
As for a short sale, this might be a good option if you are flexible.  There are two kinds.  Approved and Semi-approved.  You need to work with an experienced agent to have them determine which one it is.
When a homeowner goes into default and cannot qualify for a loan modification (attempts to save the home with the bank) then another option for them is to short sale.  It is a lengthy road.  Some agents put the house on the market immediately without the “go ahead” from the bank and attempt to solicit offers.  This can last for up to 6 months as the lender may run values and determine if the homeowner qualifies.  In short, you never want to be in this position.  The agent is using your offer to get the process started.
The approved short sale is different.  The agent has already received written approval from the lender.  She has had the bank do it’s own appraisal and the bank has AUTHORIZED the short sale in writing.   This position is best but even still has numerous road blocks or warning signs that your agent (if their good) may detect which will save your financial and emotional health.
Depending whom you work with will determine the speed at which you will obtain the home.  You, in essence need a Pitbull agent…on both sides of the equation.  It takes endless calls to the lender, appraiser, sellers…and the list goes on and on.  Pay attention….if you have an agent that is not calling you back immediately or seems disorganized…stay away.  These are serious red flags if you are entering into a short sale situation.  I have advised clients NOT to place offers on certain properties because agents on the other end are not efficient nor seem capable to handle the  relentless pursuit required to move the deal along.  I have done short sales in SF, Oakland, Berkeley and the Peninsula…and the story is the same.  It is the game, not the location.

Foreclosure Radar that tracks California foreclosure activity reports that NOD’s are down 43%, Notice of Trustee sale are down 36%, but cancellations are UP 142%.  WOW!! The increase in cancellations could be that the banks want to work with owners to sell as a short sale. 
BofA is now focusing heavily on working with the client for a successful short sale.  They have hired over 800 agents to get more homes sold as a short sale, because they net more for a short sale then if it is left to become a foreclosure.  The chance of vandalism is also lessened.   If you are in distress and need to sell your home, please call or email me.
Only 600 homes in Contra Costa went back to the bank last month; 23% LESS than 2009. Here is a link to the complete report for all California Counties!

Hi! My name is Charlie, and I need a new home and someone to love me; my human dad just died.  (His human dad was my friend and former neighbor.) I was found under a porch on a cold wet day in Oct 2003; taken from my mom and left to fend for myself.  I was nursed to health with love from my human parents near Willits.  Before I turned 2, my human mom died, so my human dad & I moved back to the Bay Area.  
For the last 5 years, I lived in Martinez with my own yard.  I love to catch a ball and cuddle up next to my owner at night.  I am 6 ½ (7 at the end of September), weigh 72 pounds and a TERRIOR MIX.  My name is CHARLIE and I was spoiled by my human dad who loved to throw the ball for me to catch and take me on car rides.  I need someone to give me love & play catch with me, and I will keep you company.
 I LOVE kids, car rides, playing ball, and Pupperoni. Charlie is very social, and the people currently housing him would keep him, but they do not have a yard. Please call 925-324-0143 if you can help. Thanks!