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Brentwood, CA Real Estate News

By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Reasons to Sell your Brentwoood Ca Home Reasons to Sell: Move up to a larger home.Now is a great time to move up.  You can get a whole lot more home for not much more money. Job change.Lots of people are taking jobs in other locations.  Tired of a long commute.  Maybe it is time to move. Relocate for other reasons.Maybe you want to be closer to family?  Like the greener grass in another area? Retirement.Time to move to your dream retirement location?  Or maybe you just want to move over to Summerset or the Vineyards for your new home in a retirement community. Down Size.Kids gone?  Want less to clean? Financial troubles.I think a lot of us have had those recently; Job Loss, Loss of Income, Medical Issues Short Sale.Still upside down on the loan and need to move.  Short Sales are easier ...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Why are you Selling Your Brentwood California Home?  Part 2 Before Reading this you may want to read:  Why are you Selling Your Brentwood California Home?  Part 1 Traditional Sales with no sense of urgency are another matter. We want to maximize the price in the current market (but this does not mean over pricing). To maximize pricing many sellers are open to making repairs in advance, staging, and other enhancements that might cost money up front. Time Frame may create a sense of urgency for the sale and yet the seller will still want to maximize the selling amount. The seller may have a relocation issue, they may need to close fast to get the new home they want, they may need to sell fast for family reasons or to raise cash. There are any number of reasons to sell your home, but why d...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Why are you Selling Your Brentwood California Home?  Part 1 This is an important question and your Realtor needs to know the answer to help you effectively Sell Your Home. There is no right or wrong answer – but the answer will effect many things. Including pricing, market timing, how the home is marketed, and many other factors. For example if your home is being sold in a Short Sale as a Real Estate Broker I will know that you are not price driven in terms of trying to get as much from the house as you can. However, we do want to get a price that will be acceptable to the bank and will appraise for the buyers financing. I also know that as a seller you are probably not interested in spending money to get the home ready for sale. Probably the primary factor in a Short Sale is finding th...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Making a Difference – The Royal Rangers Way There are a number of things I have done over my life in regards to community service. But right now the primary thing I am doing to serve is working as a Royal Ranger Commander in my church. As a young man I was an Eagle Scout and was an active back packer and outdoors-man well into my 30's somewhere in there I stopped back packing and found myself just car camping, but I still enjoy the outdoors. My older kids became involved in Royal Rangers when they were younger. I became a Commander. Royal Rangers is a scouting type program that is part of the Assembly of God church. I found this a place to use many of my skills from Scouting, but I also do Bible Studies and coach young men on life. My oldest son earned his Gold Medal of Achievement, and...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Three Key Factors in Selling Your Home - Exposure, Exposure, Exposure! Everyone talks about Location, Location, Location, but I cannot change the Location of your Home. The Three Key Factors in Selling Your Home will be Exposure, Exposure, Exposure. There are three things to consider when it comes to exposure for selling your home: Exposure Quality – Make sure the home is presentable and ready to sell. Get quality photos and descriptions of your home for the marketing material and web exposure. The quality of the presentation is very important. Exposure Quantity – Where is your Home shown to potential buyers. It starts with the MLS, but there are a lot of other ways to get your home out there, other web sites, blogs. Fliers, signs, open houses, broker tours, advertising, e-mails, and br...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Brentwood California - American Legion Post 202 My good friend Roger Cocksedge is Chaplain for American Legion Post 202. When my brother-in-law Ralph passed we were at a loss on how to handle some things. When Roger heard he called me up, of course the first thing he did was chew me out for not calling him right away. Roger told us the American Legion was there to help (Ralph served two terms in the Army) even though Ralph was not a member. Roger helped us with so many details at the VA, the funeral home, and making arrangements of the services at the National Cemetary. I had tried to get Ralph to join the American Legion as I thought it would do him good to meet with other service men, but he backed off. I told Roger he was a little anti-social, Roger said he would fit in perfect. But ...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Brentwood Funeral Home – 94513 This is the sort of business none of us want to call but at some point we will probably need for ourselves or a loved one. If you need Funeral Arrangements in Brentwood California or nearby I want to take a minute to tell you what a great company this is. Brentwood Funeral Home is located at 839 1st Street in Brentwood, CA 925-634-2171 I have written several posts on the recent passing of my brother-in-law Ralph. I hope none of you are getting bored and will be patient with me. There are a number of people I need to thank, friends and family enjoy seeing some of the things a I post on Ralph, and it just helps me to feel better when I write about things. I will be writing 3 or 4 post this week on aspects of the Funeral. When Ralph passed it was at home. It ...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Why Young Renters Want Homes! The California Association of Realtors (CAR) prepared this great infographic on young renters and why they want to own a home.  They are Optimistic and they want to own a home.  Here is why: Young Renters need to be talking to qualified and knowledgable lenders and REALTORS now to prepare to buy.  Some of them might have the ability now and may not realize it.  But if you are truely not ready there are certain steps you can take in advance to help you get ready and put you on the path to home ownership. You can get into a new home with 1/2% down with some programs.  So if you are a first time Home Buyer or some one who lost a home during the down turn and is ready to get back in you should start planning now and consider buying while interest rates are low ...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Brentwood California Fixer Uppers Everyone says they want a Fixer Upper. A home they can work on and actually ad some equity too. A place that is Affordable Home that they can call their own. Right now it is a challenge to find an Affordable Home that a person can get into with a minimal down payment. The low end up of the market is being snatched up by Real Estate Investors, and some investors are finding ways to make money on Flipping Homes, but the profit margins are thinner. Just Show Me Some Great Brentwood California Homes! If you are looking for a Fixer Upper in Brentwood California to actually live in there are ways to get a loan and build equity. The best way is to Buy a Fixer Upper with a 203k Loan. A 203K Loan is an FHA backed loan that only requires 3.5% down and also provid...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Is your Listing Agent Ripping You Off? So time to sell your home. You list with an agent, but spend a couple weeks getting the home in order before the grand opening. Perhaps you agent drops by with a few people to look over the home. You do a lot of work and it is ready. The Home goes on the MLS and boom you have an offer that day, maybe in hours. It is even a full priced offer. Of course this is great. Sign the contract, get into contract and close all very fast. So what could be wrong with this? Did you leave money on the table? Did the offer also come from your listing agent or someone else in their office? Is there an outside agent/broker representing the buyer or is it all one firm? Should it matter to you? In real estate we call this Double Ending. When you sign the listing agree...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
What Brentwood California Home Buyers Want! If you are Selling a Home in Brentwood California you will want to know What Home Buyers Want when Setting your Home Price. The California Association of Realtors (CAR) has put out this great info graphic showing What Buyers Want: If you are a Home Buyer what do you want in a home?  Let Home Point Real Estate point you in the write direction.  If you are a Seller let Home Point Real Estate help you maximize your homes appeal and find the right buyers. Home Point Real Estate is located in Brentwood Ca and provides service to the East Contra Costa County Communities of Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Antioch, Pittsburg and beyond. Give us call regarding Buying a Home, Selling a Home, or Real Estate Investing.  Ask us for a Free Home Value Eval...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Estate Sale in Brentwood CA 94513 – 7/12/14 Estate Sale 248 Broderick Drive, Brentwood, CA on July 5, 2014. Starts at 8:00 AM. Items for sale include: Power Tools - Yes lots and lots of tools. Industrial Tools Table Saw  (oops sold) Hand Tools Clothing Electronics - Flat Screen Computer Monitors GMC s15 Pick Up Household Items Kitchen Stuff Collectables and more   Many items lightly or never used.      This is an update of an early Post for another Estate Sell.  There is a lot to sell and we will be having several. 
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Yet Another Scam! It seems like there is always a new scam and clever way of taking peoples money.  Where ever there is money there will be dishonest people.  Sadly Real Estate is no Exception.  Here is an alert I got from my Title Company: We would like to alert you to a fraud scheme that could result in the theft of money from you or your customers. Here is how the scheme works:1. The fraudster hacks into the e-mail accounts of a person related to a real estatetransaction (e.g. real estate agent or mortgage broker) without their knowledge.2. The fraudster monitors e-mails to find details of upcoming closings.3. The fraudster learns the parties’ names, the amount of the deposit, the entity holding thedeposit, and other details.4. The fraudster sends an e-mail to the buyer from the real...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Today a great man died in Brentwood California Ralph Edward Birchfield; September 6, 1961 to June 12, 2014. To many, Ralph's greatness is not apparent. Even by those who love him “Character” might be a term applied. Sometimes he was hard to deal and he had a lot of pain and loss in his life that was hard to deal with. He was full of exuberance and often went over board with projects and things in his life. When he set his mind to it he could fix about anything. He was a craftsman that new how to build and could make creative décor; like the candle holders at Hannah-Nicole Vineyards were he worked before his health problems became too great. He served his country with the US Army in Grenada and Central America and all that love this country and our freedom should be grateful to him for h...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Are the Kids Bored of Summer Vacation Already? – Try VBS All over this country kids are going to VBS – Vacation Bible School – at least one week if not two. Churches all over the country and of many denominations sponsor Vacation Bible Schools. Most VBS have a theme for the week. And kids have FUN! They meet Challenges and they Learn. Our VBS at Harvest Time Church is this week. But other churches will be doing it different weeks; probably a number of churches in your area are doing VBS. Some are all day and some are half days. The Good News is that they are generally very inexpensive and often if you do not have the money arrangements can be made. Don't let them be bored – Send the to VBS – Vacation Bible School!    
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
The Grad and the Dad! Last week I told you my son Nelson Riemenschneider's Graduation was on Friday.  He made it!  Liberty High School in Brentwood California 2014.   Here is a picture of him and I after the ceremony.  Right now he is in Hawaii with his mom, but starts college on August 9.  He will be playing football at Sterling College in Kansas.  
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Congratulations Class of 2014 Thirty-Five Years ago Today June 6 1979 I graduated from The El Cerrito High. One of the great classes of all time. Today my son graduates from Liberty High School – June 6, 2014. I think I take more pride in his accomplishments than I did in my own, and hurt more for him than I did for myself when he hurts.   Like all of us my still has his rough edges but I see him becoming a man. My wife said of him, “He has been a lot of work, but not a lot of trouble.” Although I will celebrate with him and give him counsel as a father should give a son, I wanted to outline here Seven Things for All High School Graduates to know: Although this may be viewed as a major milestone it is just a beginning, not an end. There is a lot more race to be run. All of us aim to do ...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Home Point Real Estate – Pointing you in The Right Direction. What sets Home Point Real Estate apart from the many other agents and brokers in this market? There are two words: Personal Service. Most agents work in large offices/brokerages and many of them are on “Teams” so when you call the John Doe Team at ABC Real Estate after you get past the receptionist and leave a message on Voice Mail someone will call you back. You will be put in touch with one person to set you up with on line home searches and another to take you out to see the homes, then an assistant will walk you through the disclosures (and I have seen this before – they have no idea what is needed they just go through a template and give you a stack of forms, needed or not, and sometimes miss critical forms.) If you need...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
The Brentwood California Housing Market Does Not Negotiate Sadly it happened again to me this week. I showed a home to some clients. They were looking for something prices low that they could fix up. I showed them the property that best fit what they wanted that was within the budget. It was priced well under what other properties of that size in that area are priced at. However, it needed fixing up. We ball parked that it would take maybe up to 25K to get the home where it needed to be. Even with the cost of the homes and the repairs the home was a good buy. But my client felt they needed to negotiate, after all the home was in bad shape. They called me the day after the showing and wanted to know what I thought of an offer x amount under asking, all cash and quick close. I told them I...
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By Gene Riemenschneider, Turning Houses into Homes
(Home Point Real Estate)
Getting my Brentwood California Home Ready to Sell. I heard from an out of area prospect today I met at an open house a couple of years ago. Even though she is not currently in Brentwood the advise I gave her is true for any community. She wrote: Gene, In about three years I plan to retire and sell my old home to live in Brentwood, CA.  However I need some professional advice.  In order to sell my house.  I plan to remodel my home, not in huge amounts of money.  Exterior painting and Interior Painting, Replace a shower with tub, replace a toilet  and add a shower upstairs, Roofing, renovate the garage, what advice can you give me in order to sell this house and make a profit so I can buy my next home in Brentwood. Here is my answer: Dear Ms Client, I would like to get your address so I ...
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