FSBO Sellers Decline as More Sellers Turn to Real Estate Agents to Sell the Home On December 12, 2011, in Did You Know, by Jessica Lautz, Survey Research Manager The method most used to sell a home has changed in recent years. A higher share of sellers are relying on the expertise of real estate agents and brokers to sell their home, rather than trying other methods. Fact #1 - From 1991 to 2011 the share of home sellers who used a real estate agent or broker to sell their home increased from 77 percent to 87 percent. Fact #2 - Over the same time period, the share of sellers who sold their home as a FSBO (For-Sale-By-Owner) decreased from 19 percent to 10 percent. Fact #3 - Sellers use real estate professionals to help them sell their home in a reasonable timeframe, to market their home ... 12/13/2011

I am tired and my last post of the week will just be a funny little story. The Local Church was having the ussualy Christmas play and the little boy chosen to play the Inn Keeper was very upset.  He had wanted to part of Joseph.  He was so ticked off he came up with the ultimate plan to ruin the play. On the night of the play Joseph and Mary come to the Inn and knock at the door.  When the Inn Keeper answers and Joseph ask him about a room, the Inn Keeper says, "We got plenty of rooms, come on in."   Well every one is in stunned shock. But the boy playing Joseph is a smart boy.  He sticks his head in the door and looks around back stage, pulls his head out and proclaims, "I'm not letting my wife in a dump like this!  Come on Mary we'll stay in barn!" I wish I was always as smart as that... 12/11/2011

Christmas Freedom! I love to go around and say Merry Christmas to people. Not Happy Holidays, Yule Greetings, or Wonderful Retail Shopping. Now I am not out to offend others. In fact if I know someone is Jewish and sensitive about the issue I will wish them a Happy Hanuka. But Merry Christmas says a lot. It is good wishes, a birthday greeting for the Lord, a reminder to people of a hope and faith in something larger than themselves or their circumstances. There are lots of stories about retailers not using the term Christmas and falling back on Happy Holidays or the even worse Seasons Greetings (If your a spice company that one might be OK) :). Well now I am finding those poor clerks not saying anything. Just the standard thank you and such. No greeting of any kind. Now to walk into the... 12/11/2011

Trilogy at The Vineyards is a fabulous active adult community by Shea Homes located in Brentwood, California. Residents of this luxurious 55+ community enjoy an amazing collection of world-class amenities in a prestigious Brentwood location surrounded by the stunning California countryside. This private, gated community is an elegant California retirement destination for the discerning active adult homebuyer.  The Trilogy Vineyards community opened in 2006 and is planned for 1,100 homes upon completion. Today, interest home buyers can select from new construction or resale homes priced from the mid $500’s to the high $800’s. There are ten unique floor plans to choose from all of which are single-family style homes. Sizes range from 1,719 to 2,843 square feet and all of the homes include... 12/08/2011

Christmas Music Out of the Comfort Zone! I Love Christmas Music and I like Traditional Hymns, religious Music and fun secular Christmas Music. I spend a lot of time on Pandora listening to Christmas Music. I have a mix going of all the types I like. Well there was a version of O Come All Ye Faithful that I had never heard before that I caught; and I loved it. Now the reason I had never heard it before is I would not normally listen to a group called Twisted Sister. They kept the lyrics but rocked it up. It is great. Not sure about the video, but not really offensive. But here it is: Last I checked everyone was welcome to come to Bethlehem. Merry Christmas to All! 12/08/2011

I would be willing to bet that a lot of my fellow agents out there have had this happen to them at least once.   You are out and about town hosting a great open house, for me that means that the Area Pro Realty Bay Area Villas company pens are out in plain sight,   Business cards and magnets are all around the property and we have lots of fancy flyers for the buyer's  sitting out in the Kitchen on the counter,   You have all the bases covered and it looks great or does it?????   Your half way through the day and what a super turn out you had, when suddenly it is a “Houston we got a problem” moment to borrow a phrase.   There is suddenly a huge language problem standing in front of you, now I don’t know about all of my fellow agents out there, but one thing is for sure I am not and never... 12/08/2011

Search Sale & Rental Listings @ MillionDollarLiving.com$7,950,000 - ARCHITECURAL DESIGNED ENTERTAINERS DREAM HOME WITH POOL, GYM, WINE CELLARBedrooms: 5Bathrooms: 8Parking Spaces: 7Year Built: 2009Lot Size: 14500Square Footage: 10100Agent Name: Ikem ChukumerijeBroker: Westside Premier EstatesPrice: $7,950,000Flexibility: FirmAdditional Pricing Information: Contact Ikem for showing instructions.Brinkley AveBrentwood, CA 90049View MapNestled in one of the most distinguished locations in Brentwood CA, 90049, this luxurious gated estate shadows the nearby Riviera Country Golf Course. This 5 Bed 8 Bath private estate features over 10,000sqft of living space, swimming ppol, upscale architectural designs, and the highest quality finishes throughout. State of the art media room and stage perfec... 12/07/2011

December’s Season of Celebrations & Sharing Contest – Imagine Christmas Imagine Christmas is a Christmas Production Featuring New Arrangements of many Traditional Christmas Songs. It is a fast paced and entertaining play with a traditional Christmas Message. The presentation is this weekend Friday the 9th of December, Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th. Friday and Saturday the shows are at 7 pm and Sunday it is at 6. The shows are at Cornerstone Christian Center; 1745 E 18th Street, in Antioch Ca. Call 925-779-2000 for reservation and advance sales. General Admission seating is still available for $6.00. Come out and enjoy Imagine Christmas! 12/06/2011

Area Pro Realty Bay Area Villas loves how More 2.0 makes Brentwood Housing reports look.......    Today we would like to take a moment and open your eyes to a couple great programs that when combined create a super informative CMA report, full of more information then you would believe. You say "well what programs are you talking about?" The first is the BayEast Association of Realtors Cloud CMA Program, its pretty cool because not only do you get a very nice CMA report for any MLS listing, you also get a great QR Code(check out the flyer portion of cloud, these are great for open house flyers). Now combine the Cloud CMA with the new More 2.0 Beta and you get a greatin your face "I didn't know that" very informative CMA report. Granted the More 2.0 does run a little slow (I move faster ... 12/06/2011

Market Statistics All MLS Statistics for:Class=RE (Residential) / Type=DE (Detacted)Statistics Date Range=11/01/2011-11/30/2011  Area=6400 (Brentwood)   Well here it is December, the end of another year and I bet you are going nuts waiting for the facts & Figures for residential home sales in Brentwood last month. So pull up a chair, pour a big cup of coffee and read them and weep. According to Bay East MLS statistics there where 18 homes listed last month and of those 12 homes sold (That’s 66.67% for those keeping score) The good news is that the avg. list price was $299,266 and the avg. sold price was $300,450(That's right score keepers that is a sale price/list price ratio of 100.40%, the good news is the selling price went up slightly) Unfortunately the avg. days on Market sold are ... 12/02/2011

the City of Brentwood's is having its: Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on December 2, 2011 at 6pm. Festivities include music, singing and a visit from Santa Clause. Official lighting of the Tree is at 7pm. It will all take place at the Brentwood Senior Activity Center: 193 Griffith Lane. This holiday event is sponsored by the City of Brentwood and the Brentwood Advisory Neighborhood Committee (BANC).   For more information on Brentwood California contact: Shannon Coe Realtor #01489731 WR Properties Brentwood Ca http://www.ShannonCoe.com ShannonCoe@comcast.net 925-997-5758 12/01/2011

You’re not just a busy person, you’re a 24/7 where has all the time gone busy person.So let Mike with Area Pro Realty Bay Area Villas help you find your Dream Home.Just visit http://www.michaelroache.areaprorealty.com click the contact tab and let Mike know where you would like to live and what you’re new Dream Home would be likewe will be happy to search for your Dream Home and forward the information to you. Finding your Drea Home is easy with Area Pro Realty Bay Area Villas           11/30/2011

Once again as I look over the morning's new MLS listings I am left shaking my head, I just can't understand what some of our current batch of home sellers are thinking. Do they want to draw a large crowd to their property? Do they want as many ready,willing and able buyers as possible? If the answer is yes then why am I seeing so many listings that say any or all of the following...... Does not come with Frig Does not come with Stove Does not come with Ceiling Fans Does not come with Garbage disposal I'm sure you get the idea and have seen the same listings, so my first question now is "how am I suppose to market this property when it is just a shell?"(Dear client I'm sorry but what you see is not what you get) My second question is do you realize Mr. or Mrs. Seller that you have just c... 11/29/2011

Reverse Mortgages are getting tougher! I do not sell Reverse Mortgages, but I think they are a good option for some people in order to keep their home. But I never recommend them for people unless they have no other option as Home Equity may be needed for other expenses at a latter date. With the drop in interest rates and home values the Reverse Mortgage is not the great option it was a few years ago. Now, per this article in the On-Line Wall Street Journal, other restrictions will be placed on Reverse Mortgages starti 11/27/2011

What's the Rate? People often ask what the interest rate is. There are so many variables it is hard to give a simple answer. However, in this on-line Wall Street Journal article the discuss the average 30 and 15 year loans across the country and the points involved for each loan. I will give you a hint they are under 4% and that is amazing. No two mortgages are a like. Comparing rates without looking at other factors is not a good way to do it. If you need a referral to a quality lender give me a call and I will put you in touch with the right person. 11/26/2011

As I set here enjoying a few days off and trying to get over this cold I am surfing a bit and finding cool things. I love Johnny Cash. This here is one of my favorite Johnny Cash songs. Not sure why, it is kind of sad. The imagery in it is amazing. I can visualize this guy he is singing about (no doubt himself). Enjoy the music! 11/26/2011

Normally this is the weekend I do the Christmas lights. (However, I am setting her with a cold/flu and barely getting my Blog done this year.) Christmas lights are not one of my favorite jobs.  It involved climbing on a ladder.  However while I am up there there is another critical thing to do. Clean out the gutters.  Cleaning the gutters is very important to keeping the house free of water damage.  With the rains coming if those gutters are filled with leaves and debris the water will not flow and can get into the structure.   It is the right time of year to clean too.  The leaves should be off the tree and the heavy rains are just around the corner. Remember to get those gutters clean. 11/25/2011

The Thanksgiving Song! Ever wonder why Thanksgiving doesn't have it's own music? Poor old Thanksgiving giving getting overshadowed by Christmas when it comes to great music! Well Thanksgiving does have it's own song – But Christmas Stole It! (Not Nice!) That great classic we think of as a Christmas song was actually written for Thanksgiving! Jingle Bells! Check Out the History of Jingle Bells! 11/25/2011

Area Pro Realty Bay Area Villas say's Don't forget tomorrow Nov. 26 is Small Business Saturday,   Go out, buy a Christmas gift, a nice lunch or just a hot coca and help support a home town business   They always need Us and We will always need them   11/25/2011

From Mike with Area Pro Realty Bay Area Villas    "May everyone have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving" from 11/24/2011