Liberty High Lions Cheerleaders Rock! I wrote a post last week on Libery High Cheerleaders and what talented Athlete they are.  But I did not have video. Well at last weeks Bell Game I video what they were doing.  And they were working with the JV Squad.  There are some technical difficulties with my phone so I only have about half of it.  But you can see how good they are. I do not know if they will be on the road with us at James Logan High Tonight.  But I hope so. Go Lions - Pride Matters. By Gene Riemenschneider   11/15/2013

The last time the Lions were in the Playoffs was 2003 - Well Welcome Back Lions. Tonight our Lions go to James Logan High in Union City to start their Playoff Trek. Be there at 7:00.  November 15, 2013.   Go Lions - Pride Matters Me with my Favorite Lion By Gene Riemenschneider 11/15/2013

Are East Contra Costa Housing Prices Still Going Up? They answer is maybe, probably, somewhat.  But let me give you some more detail.  I did a quick look at the sales for the last 6 months for Bay Point, Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley, Brentwood, Knightsen, Bethel Island, Discovery Bay, and Byron -  looking at all the Single Family Homes in East Contra Costa County. Click Here to just look at homes! The Sales of History of East Contra Costa Homes are in the following chart: Month Sold High Low Average Median Per SF May 307 $1,750,000.00 $77,850.00 $339,260.00 $317,500.00 $161.61 June 302 $890,000.00 $93,000.00 $327,656.00 $308,500.00 $164.17 July 329 $838,000.00 $90,000.00 $353,974.00 $331,000.00 $165.19 August 321 $801,975.00 $95,000.00 $347,023.00 $330,000.00 $168.90 September 314 $840,00... 11/08/2013

Brentwood Ca Liberty High School Cheerleaders are Unbelievable. Right of the bat I am going to tell you I do not have photos or video but if any does and wants to send them to me or send me a link I will put them right here in the post. Please E-Mail Me! I had never paid much attention to Cheerleaders, other than the fact they are a cultural part of football in America. But as I started attending my sons Football game I began to notice how talented they really are. A few years ago a commented on this to one of the other dad's at the game and he went on a rant about the sexualization of young girls and moral indignation. I think there is a problem in our culture of overly sexualizing girls and them focusing too much on body image. I think this problem with Cheerleaders is more prevalent ... 11/06/2013

VA Mortgage Loans in Brentwood and 100% Contra Costa County VA Loans - the best loan program in the country! VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today for both honorably discharged Vets and active duty military personnel. Here are some of the great features of this fantastic program: - Up to 100% financing, with no down required. - No monthly mortgage insurance added to your payment. - More lenient credit qualifying standards than other types of mortgage loans. - Low rates compared to other loan programs.   So how do you qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Brentwood California? The first step is to verify your eligibility. Eligibility is verified by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. You can work with an approved Contra Costa County VA mort... 11/05/2013

 Five Great Reasons People are Buying a Home in Brentwood in 2013 People that Live in Brentwood love it. Here are Five Reason why people are Buying Homes in Brentwood. High end affordable housing. Homes in Brentwood are very affordable on a SF basis and over all cost. Most homes are newer with many upgrades and find amenities. Brentwood Homes are in a very fine community on a solid financial footing. Brentwood avoided many of the cut backs in police and public services that other communities have had to endure. Gene I am Ready to Move to Brentwood – Just Show me the Homes! Your Brentwood Home will be near a great park. There are large parks that everyone seems to know about, but there are also many very small neighborhood parks that are a pleasant surprise. We have a wonderful downtown.... 11/04/2013

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go – Enjoy OK Halloween is past. Now I know it is fun for kids and I appreciate that. Who would not enjoy dressing up and getting candy; but it is a kids holiday and some those that are turning it into an adult holiday have made it too adult. But now it is November 1 and this is where the joy of the season really begins. There seems to be a peace in the air. Even with all the political turmoil and uncertainty in the air there is a sense of peace. It is a time of charity, good will, and brotherly love.  I know but you try geting them all to smile at one time. I love Thanksgiving. My wife is no doubt got a huge menu put together in her head and will start preparing and cooking together. But what makes it nice is the focus is on family and fellowship and lacks much o... 11/01/2013

Pumpkins in Brentwood California 2013 It is the time of year for Pumpkins. I took my little Slobbits (Sloppy Hobbits) over to pick some in the heart of Brentwood. There are lots of places to get Pumpkins around here, but if you are in a hurry and want to still make it fun (and cheap) there is a Pumpkin Patch right on Brentwood Blvd in the large vacant lot next to the Jack in the Box and across from KFC/A&W/Taco Bell.   The Pumpkins are 3 for $5.00 and the kids were able to wonder through the field and pick them out. There are some going bad or damaged, but lots of nice ones too. None are huge or even big, but there are plenty of nice sized kid Pumpkins. I let each of my 4 little Slobbits pick out one each and then I had hoped they had Blue Pumpkins that my wife likes to cook with. They ... 10/28/2013

The Great Pumpkin Comes to Brentwood Ca October 2013! Well what else would you expect a very large man to be for Halloween. The Great Pumpkin will be handing out candy as part of Trunk or Treat on Circus Night at Harvest Time Assembly of God from 6 to 9 PM.   I wrote a big post on Circus Night yesterday and you do not want to miss it.   If you read this post come on over and say hello to the Great Pumpkin who by day is really just a very good Real Estate Broker. But admittedly a Big One! 10/23/2013

Where are the Slobbits? And why do they like California? As you know I like to play a game called “Where are the Slobbits?” Slobbits are like Hobbits only they are sloppy. They eat a lot, are basically lazy, and don't like to wear shoes. The tend to get into all kinds of mischievous and are really very lovable. Well when Slobbits travel I take pictures of them and post them. People get to guess where the Slobbits are at. California is a great place for Slobbits. There are so many things in California from beaches to mountains, from sandy deserts to snowy peaks. Vast rivers and deltas, the ocean, and waterfalls. Big Cities and Wide Open Spaces. Skyscrapers and Farms. You can find it in California. Even our beaches are different. In the south you have sandy traditional bikini babe wearing... 10/23/2013

A Spirit Filled Halloween in Brentwood Ca 2013 As a child I loved Halloween – getting to put on a costume and getting all that candy it was a blast. As a parent I worry about my kids. I do not think I would let them roam the streets late at night like I used to do at that young age.  Fortunately there are some great alternatives for parents. Many local East Contra Costa County Churches hold carnivals and other similar Halloween events. The premier event in Brentwood is Circus Night at Harvest Time Assembly of God on 22 Ventura Drive in Brentwood. Lots of cool stuff will be going on – Jumpy Houses, Rock Wall, Hay Rides, Games, Prizes, Clowns and more. But what do kids want most? Why Candy of course. There is hundreds of pounds of Candy and they can Trunk or Treat around the parking lot t... 10/22/2013

Summerset Homes in Brentwood – October 2013 Summerset Homes in Brentwood California offers some of the best Senior Adult Community Living at affordable prices in the state. Summerset offers four fine gated communities setting on a wonderful Golf Course. But you don't have to Golf to live in Summerset because there are so many other things to do. Each Summerset Community has a club house with pool, gym with weights, pool tables, library, card rooms, community kitchen facilities for meetings and socials; and is the center of a number of social gatherings and community activities. Gene – Just show me the wonderful Summerset Homes for Sale! You are probably asking yourself, “What will it take to find the perfect home for me in a Summerset Community in Brentwood.” The first thing I would tel... 10/08/2013

Top Five Reasons to Buy a Home in Brentwood California Before the end of 2013! There are lots of Reasons for Buying a Home in Brentwood California. It might be our wonderful community full of parks and fun things to do. Or maybe it is our well run solvent community with great police and public service. Perhaps it is a desire to live in Summerset, and warm and inviting 55+ Gated Community. We even have golf. But here are the Top Five Reasons to Buy a Home in Brentwood Now! Gene I am Ready to Buy – Just Show Me the Homes! Prices are going up. They may not climb as fast as in 2012 and 2013, but they are still going up. Interest Rates are going up. Loans will be even harder to get and do in 2014 as new Federally imposed Lending Standards kick in. Get tax right offs for your 2013 Taxes. This... 09/30/2013

Buying a Home in Brentwood California – Like a Pawn Star? Looking to Buy a Home in Brentwood California? Some Buyers think they are Rick on Pawn Stars or worse the Old Man. They can stand around and make low offers, respond to counters with small increases, and explain to the seller what is wrong with the home. Well Rick and the Old Man can do that in a Pawn Shop and I enjoy watching them do it. But when you go to buy a home there are some differences. First off Rick is paying them cash on the spot. But even if you are paying cash there are some other issues.     The primary issue is this is a known market. Unless you are dealing with a fool the values of homes and what the market is doing is not hard to discern within certain parameters. Most sales stats are readily available. It is an... 09/25/2013

Why Are You Selling Your Home? [NOTE:  This is taken from the first chapter of my book on Selling a Home that we hope to have out by the end of the year.  If you are in the East Bay and would like a Free Copy when it is complete E-Mail me Directly or call 925-260-4321.] Why are you Selling Your Home? 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 w... 09/10/2013

Summerset in Brentwood – The Active Adult Community – Market News August 2013 Summerset Homes in Brentwood California are a popular and affordable gated adult retirement community. Each of the four Summerset Retirement Communities offers a Club House, Pool, and many other amenities, and they are all on the Golf Course. For a long time there have not been many Available Brentwood Summerset Homes, but that has changed, of course sadly the prices have gone up from last year too. Not just in Summerset, but all over. With the prices up more people are willing/able to put their home on the market.   Right now there are 16 Summerset Homes for Sale ranging in price from $265,000.00 to $499,000.00; the average being $387,478.00. These homes have been on the market from 2 to 73 days. For those sh... 08/29/2013

As I have written about before my son received is GMA award in Royal Rangers.  This is not the video of the ceremony, but one they made for the award that night that is just kind of a montage of his life.  It tells a story using photos.  Some of the photos are old and scratchy or just not that good, but it is heart warming at least to me. Bonus Quiz - Towards the end of the Video a very Large African-American man is standing with my son and has his arm around him.  Who is it?  Hint - He wears Superbowl Rings!  And he is a really great guy.     08/01/2013

Nelson Riemenschneider to Receive Gold Medal of Achievement My son Nelson Riemenschneider will be awarded his Gold Medal of Achievement on Sunday July 7, 2013 at Harvest Time Church at 2200 Ventura Drive in Brentwood Ca. The ceremony starts at 6 PM. The Gold Medal of Achievement is an award given by the Royal Rangers that is the equivalent of the Eagle Scout Award. Nelson has been in Royal Rangers for 10 years and has worked very hard through the advancement requirements; earning 48 Bible Merits and 27 other Merits focusing on outdoor skills, sports, citizenship, and other areas of life. Currently he is a Junior Commander in Out Post 206 in Brentwood California. Nelson is entering his Senior Year at Liberty High School in Brentwood CA where his is an honor roll student, leader on the fo... 07/02/2013

Let's highlight an FHA 203k lender in Walnut Creek We have a 203k lender in Walnut Creek that is one of the top 5 FHA 203k lenders in the USA for WFHL renovation loans. I'd like to say I'm proud to be on his team and have him on mine. Ed Rogers and I have a unique distinction of closing every single 203k loan we have started together minus only one where it wasn't our fault but the borrower backed out of the deal at the last minute. Not to many lender / consultants can say that.  Ed has a system and underwriting team in place that gets these loans closed very quickly though he must tell you it will take 45 days per his company's rule and he would like to beat your expectation rather than tell you 28 days, take 30 and have you mad at him.                      FHA 203k Lender in Lafayette... 07/02/2013

Can You Super Size that Home Please! For the longest time people have been talking about going small in home purchases. Part of this has been the economy and of course the Green Thing! The entire  Now CNN Money reports that McMansions are back! I think the term McMansion is condescending, but what it means is larger, quality, track homes, at affordable prices. In 2012 the Median Home Size was 2306 SF, the largest ever. In Brentwood California the Median Size of the Homes sold in 2012 was 2307 SF. I have always known we were an above average community in Brentwood Ca.propaganda machine of the government and the PC has been pushing smaller is better. Transit villages, urban living, and mass transit are touted at the one size solution for all our problems. Although I think Transit Villages... 07/01/2013