Selling a Luxury Home - Part 3 - Make a Plan This is Part 3 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 As we discussed in prior before Selling a Luxury Home is about Uniqueness, Status, and Luxury.  So what is important is find the best way to treat the home as a Unique and Luxuries Status symbol.  Your first impulse is going to be to start fixing things up and cleaning things.  No matter how nice your home there are always those little things that need taking care of or things that have just become dated with time.  It always strikes me as odd that we will leave in a home for years and put up with things then as soon as we are ready to move we fix it for someone else to enjoy. Bu... 12/13/2009

Selling a Luxury Home - Part 2 - A State of Mind In Selling a Luxury Home - Part 1 - Defined I went over some of the things that defined a Luxury Home.  One of the biggest issues with Luxury Homes is State of Mind.  People that are shopping for a Luxury Home are looking for Status, Maybe Uniqueness, and well Luxury.  A big part of Selling a Luxury Home, or Elevating a Home to Luxury Status is Presentation or Having a Luxury State of Mind. I want to use some examples from our celebrity culture.  Even if we do not like to admit it we put a premium on appearance in our culture; especially in the Entertainment Culture:  Oprah is one person that comes to my mind, she has struggled with her weight publicly in a culture that demands thin, especially from women.  But she always carries herself ... 12/11/2009

Brentwood Housing Market Report November 2009 This Brentwood Housing Market Report focuses on single family Home for Sales in Brentwood California in November 2009 and compares them to the October Sales and the Current Active Homes for Sale in Brentwood CA. Currently there are 165 Homes for sale in the Brentwood California Housing Market with an Average Asking Price of $511,557.00 and a Median Asking Price of $355,000.00. The Asking Price Per SF for Homes in Brentwood CA is $217.00 and those homes have been on the market for an average of 85 days.   However, the figures on Active Homes for Sale in Brentwood is skewed by the luxury home market.  There are a number of Brentwood Homes for Sale over $1,000,000.00 many of these are ranches and the price is driven by land. If you remove the h... 12/08/2009

Selling a Luxury Home - Part 1 - Defined This series is going to focus on selling Luxury Homes.  The first question that comes to mind is what is a Luxury Home.  Some may say this is obvious but it needs to be defined as Luxury Home is a subjective opinion.    To people in the 3rd world everything in this country might seem Luxuries.  When I bought my first home, a condo is was a Luxury compared to the apartment I had before, then when I sold the condo and bought a 2300 SF Home with 5 bedrooms and 3 baths that seemed Luxuries; but then I moved to a bigger home which seemed even more luxuries and I would not consider the prior two to be Luxuries.  (I don't even consider the one I am in Luxuries now.) As I see it Luxury is something that sets a Home apart from the others.  There are Five ... 12/05/2009

Rose Garden in Brentwood Market Report for November 2009  The Rose Garden in Brentwood is a collection of Putle Home Developments in one of Brentwoods most exciting planned communities.  Currently there are seven homes for sale in The Rose Garden in Brentwood priced from $256,500.00 to $424,900.00.  The Average Price of these homes is $326,742.00 and the Median Asking Price is $319,000.00.  The Average Asking Price Per SF is $106.00 and the Average Days on Market is 45. In October there were only four sales in The Rose Garden in Brentwood ranging from $275,000.00 to $410,000.00. The Average Sales Price was $339,250.00 and The Median Sales Price is $336,000.00.  The Average Price Per SF was $116.00 and The Average Days on Market for the Sold Homes was 23. In November the homes sales acce... 12/04/2009

I am ready for Christmas!                                                  Photo by GraceFamily on Flickr I don't mean I am ready for Christmas in that everything is done that needs to be done; I am ready for Christmas in my heart.  I have been ready for Christmas for weeks, so ready I feel like a department store.  One of my kids told me I had to stop signing carols as it was not time yet. There is a lot to be glummy about this year, the national economy, my personal economy, the direction of our country, and worry over the future; but I am filled with joy right now.  I just want to proclaim and celebrate the birth of our Savior. Scholars say that Jesus was probably actually born in the spring.  Christmas was the day picked to celebrate his birth by the early church, probably to compet... 11/28/2009

When I was a kid growing up in El Cerrito California on Sea View Drive we played a lot of street football.  I think we played it almost every day.  But rather than have a boring game of Telephone post to Telephone post we painted a field directly onto the street.  Needless to say the cops were not happy about it, but could not really pin it on anyone and we did our best to wear the paint off. Now our field was particularly unique in that it curved and the telephone wires crossed over the street at this point.  This called for a number of house or street rules.  Footballs thrown or kicked could go out of bounds and come back and be legal.  Any ball hitting the telephone wires was a do over at the pass/receiving teams discretion.  Finally out Field was a little short so 1st downs were 15 ... 11/26/2009

Where is Santa Claus? I told the boys that on this Tuesday we were going to see Santa Clause early this year.  Well my older two rolled their eyes and wanted to stay home, but my little boys were very excited.  They know that dad is a friend of the big guys and it is important to talk with him. The older boys got more in the spirit when I told them about where we were going to see Santa - The Bass Pro Shop in Manteca, Ca.  Now I know a bunch of you are all ready saying, "You know your a Red Neck if . . ." I had never been to a Bass Pro Shop before, but my sister told me they have a fantastic Christmas set up and as all my boys are home until Wednesday night I wanted to go as a family during the week when there would not be any crowds. From the outside the store looks like a Giant Huntin... 11/24/2009

Things I am Thankful for and the Holiday Weight Challenge. With this Post I kill two proverbial Turkeys with one stone.  Posting on thinks I am thankful for and weight loss tips.  Many of you on Active Rain know I post my diet struggles on the member side and use this as a place for accountability. In our instant information and fast food culture we often do not enjoy food as it was intended.  Food and eating is a very intimate thing and that is being lost in our culture.  We eat on the run, we rarely eat as a family, we grab fast food, and microwave snackes. If like me you are struggling with your weight you might do several things this Thanksgiving:  1) Make special diet foods and abstain from the normal fair; 2) take a day off from the diet and go for it; or 3) straddle the two. I am... 11/23/2009

This week I am going to write about somethings I am thankful for.  At the top of my list is my family and my kids, but there is one of my five (and soon to be six) boys I want to tell you about. My second son Corbin.  Corbin is from my first marriage (we had two together).  Corbin is a family name on my mothers said and my son always laughs when he sees a picture of Great Great Grandpa Corbin at prairie sod house with beard like ZZ Top. My oldest son lives with me (his mother had trouble getting him to do well with school - I don't).  Corbin is an excellent student and strives for perfection.  I almost which he would fail some so he could learn my love for him does not depend on him always being right and not making mistakes.  I have been through the many hops with custody and I will n... 11/22/2009

Royal Rangers My two oldest boys, Nelson and Corbin, and I just completed a first aid and CPR course through Royal Rangers provided by the National Safety Counsel. First Aid has not changed much sense I took my Scouting First Aid badge, but it has changed some and the refresher course is always good.  My sons took this course to Earn their Gold Merit for First Aid (and becsue when I have my heart attack I want them to know what to do).  This is just one of the great things they learn in Rangers.  Not only does it provide the basic skill but it gives them confidence and teaches leadership. If you are around here and want to know more about Outpost 5 of the local Royal Rangers or about Royal Rangers in general let me know. 11/20/2009

Fishing with the Rangers. This morning Outpost 5 of the Royal Rangers went on a Fishing Trip to Lafeyette Resevior in Lafeyette CA.  About 12 kids came along and an equal number of parents.  It was primarily the younger kids.  They got their feet wet (some literally) fishing, BBQ'd some Hot Dogs, enjoyed some other snacks and had an all around good time. I took my two middle boys Weston (6) and Janson (5). NO FISH WERE ACTUALLY HARMED IN THE PREPERATION OF THIS BLOG POST.  Maybe next time. If you want to know more about Royal Rangers in this area or in your area contact me and I will let you know how to get involved and what the program is about.     11/14/2009

Brentwood California Housing Market Report - October 2009 The Housing Market in East Contra Costa County is still very tight. There are some very slight price decreases, but they might be simple seasonal anomalies and certainly are not an indication of the market going soft again. This Brentwood Housing Market Report for October 2009 compares the sales of single family home sales in October to those in September and the Active Housing Market in Brentwood California. Currently there are 162 Single Family Homes for sale in the Brentwood Housing Market. The Average Asking Price on those homes is $543,822.00 and the Median Asking Price is $379,450.00. The Average Asking Price per SF is $227.00 and the Average Days on Market is 82.  However, this numbers are skewed upwards by 11 estate home... 11/10/2009

                                     Are you struggling to make your mortgage payment every month?  Do you owe more than your home is worth?  Have you received the Notice of Default and are facing foreclosure?  Foreclosure is not your only option.  A SHORT SALE in BRENTWOOD might be the best way to save your credit and your home from foreclosure.   If you are asking yourself if you should even bother with a short sale.  Or if you feel it would be easier to let your home go into foreclosure and just walk away...the answer is usually NO.  A foreclosure will stay on your credit from 7 to 10 years.  You may not be able to purchase a new home for up to 5 years.  I can help you work through the process.  Banks are now cooperating with sellers and the Short Sale process is much smoother than i... 11/09/2009

Are we all headed for Public Housing? The Feds have announced Thursday under Fannie Mae that homes in default would be taken over and leased back to the defaulters or the current tenants.  The stated claim is that they are trying to stabilize neighborhoods and provide a transitional arrangement. The occupants will be given a one year lease then go month to month.  On one level this sounds very nice and practical but it raises big concerns.  With the governments taking over the banks will they soon just take over the entire housing supply? The Obama Administration admits they want government control of vast portions of the economy.  They have taken over two car companies, regulated wages in some companies, bailed out banks and or financial service industries to only make them subservient... 11/06/2009

First Time Buyers There has been a lot of debate about the $8,000.00 Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers.  Should we keep it?  Does it create home sales?  Are we borrowing against future sales?  Is it causing price increases? However, right now there is something that should motivate everyone to buy a home as soon as possible.  In 2010 the Bush Tax Cuts Expire.  Why should this be a big concern?  Because it will effect every tax payer in the country and it will make it harder to save for a home.   But if you get into a home now the tax deduction for Mortgage Interest and Property Taxes may actually save you enough money to make ownership more affordable than renting.  The other consideration is that interest rates are still low but will probably start to go up at some point soon. So i... 11/05/2009

Don't Let this Happen to Your Photos    -    Why is there no Photo here? I want to make a point about taking care of our photos.  About a year ago my wife's computer began to have trouble.  I told her to back up.  She quickly began to upload all of her photos.  But the computer went before she could finish.  She got another computer and I procrastinated on taking her old computer in.  When I did they told me the hard drive was damaged.  To even see if stuff can be recovered they need to send it out to a clean room and that starts at $1,500.00.  She lost a year and a 1/2 of baby photos for one of my kids.  I have the hard drive still and maybe sometime I will have $1,500.00 to spend on this project. Maybe someday the recovery can be done cheaper. Just a reminder - BACK UP.  Put your phot... 11/03/2009

Brentwood Short Sale Homes - Why you cannot ignore this Market! First off I want to get this out of my system and say what all my buyers say, "I HATE SHORT SALES!"  I also hate Big Banks, Broccoli, and the New England Patriots; but they are still here and like Short Sales are not going away. In the Brentwood Market there are 148 Homes for sale as off today.  Of those 56 are Brentwood Short Sale Homes.  While there are 56 Short Sale Homes on the Market there are only 27 Bank Owned Homes. On every Bank owned home there is an average of 12 offers right now. Now there is probably someone out there saying, "Good now that means there are 65 homes that are not Short Sale or Bank Owned."  And right you are math genius, but there are some other numbers you need to see. Of the 65 Homes for Sale i... 10/30/2009

Tax Strategies – Real Estate Investing – Part 15 - And In Conclusion This is Part 15 of my Real Estate Investing Series. You can view the first 14 Parts here: Are you planning for your Future? Real Estate Investing – Part 1 Starting at Home! Real Estate Investing – Part 2 Maintain Your Leverage! Real Estate Investing – Part 3 Picking Your Investment Property – Real Estate Investing – Part 4 Location * Location * Location – Real Estate Investing – Part 5 Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 A Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 B Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 C Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 D Passive Losses – Real Estate Investing – Part 7 Gross Rent Multiplier – Real Estate Investing – Part 8 Capitalization Rate ... 10/26/2009

Tax Strategies – Real Estate Investing – Part 14C - The 1031 Exchange III This is Part 14 of my Real Estate Investing Series. You can view the first 13 Parts here: Are you planning for your Future? Real Estate Investing – Part 1 Starting at Home! Real Estate Investing – Part 2 Maintain Your Leverage! Real Estate Investing – Part 3 Picking Your Investment Property – Real Estate Investing – Part 4 Location * Location * Location – Real Estate Investing – Part 5 Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 A Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 B Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 C Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 D Passive Losses – Real Estate Investing – Part 7 Gross Rent Multiplier – Real Estate Investing – Part 8 Capitalization ... 10/24/2009