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East Bay Real Estate: Capt. Sully & Lorrie Sullenberger To Lead Hike July 24th

Obviously, all of the Bay Area knows that Capt. Sully and Lorrie live in Danville. The are avid supporters of the projects that Maria Shriver leads, one of which is Best Buddies Challenge September 11^th at Hearst Castle. This is a major fundraiser with Audi as the sponsor. Sully and Lorrie will be participating in the Best Buddies event which is a bike ride from Carmel to San Simeon along the coast. To be a rider you need to raise funds as your entry ticket.

So, today I received an email from Lorrie asking if I would help spread the word about a hike they are hosting on July 24^th at Oak Hill Park, in Danville which starts at 9AM and ends at noon.  It is a fund raiser for the Best Buddies – Team Maria event. The hike’s donation is $45 a person or $150 for a family of five. To RSVP send an email to bjibby@deweysquare.com. It will a fun morning of hiking with friends and neighbors as you get the latest updates of what Sully and Lorrie have been doing since he became the “Hero Of The Hudson”. Until next time…I remain on duty as your lifestyle detective in the Bay Area.

East Bay Real Estate: 2010 Update – Short Sales Replacing REO’s!

Banks do not want to repossess homes anymore! They have more bank-owned homes than they ever wanted and there are too many more foreclosures sitting in the wings . Banks have learned that a Short Sale is probably less costly in the long run and instead of taking the home back they would rather work through the Short Sale as a much better alternative. ( A Short Sale is where the amount owned to the lender is more than the home is worth, and the bank is willing to less to satisfy the loan.) The real estate market place has changed dramatically in 2010 because of this banking-wide decision. Even the Federal Government has created ways for Short Sale sellers to be able to come back into home ownership quicker with new lending guidelines that don’t cause such chaos with these sellers credit ratings as long as they have been current with their mortgage payments – Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives, or HAFA.

Our first Short Sale was in January 2008. We found a buyer with an acceptable purchase offer and began the negotiation process with the lender. It was such a cumbersome and confused process that the escrow did not close until July of 2008 – seven months!  Today, the time it takes to secure a lender approval for a Short Sale has gone from months to sometimes less than a week. Banks are now putting people and streamlined processes in place to handle short sales just in time. There are thousands of adjustable-rate mortgages set to convert over the next few years, with the Short Sales numbers expected grow -  borrowers who can’t make their mortgage payments with the higher interest rates after the adjustments.

“Distressed” homes already make up a large chunk of the local real estate market. Nearly half of the homes sold in the Bay Area between September 2009 and this past February were short sales or foreclosures.  And the market share of Bay Area short sales rose from 15.65 percent in September 2009 to 18.64 percent this past February.  And, we still see some softening of prices in the $1 million+ price range in our region which may create a result of an increase of Short Sales in this price point as the year progresses.

Banks have a huge financial incentive to keep those homes out of foreclosure. The cost of maintaining such properties, which has been estimated at $50,000 or more per house, is their responsibility if a home goes into foreclosure. And the federal government has stepped up to the plate too, starting a new federal program that offers cash incentives for lenders who help to push short sales through – Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives, or HAFA

The sales are easier on borrowers, too. Short sales have a much smaller impact on a borrower’s credit score than foreclosures do, and borrowers are eligible for government loans sooner if they’ve sold their home as a short sale, instead of a bank foreclosure. But, just because someone has successfully completed a Short Sale, it may not mean that the forgiven debt on the home is now in the past. Click on this link for some Q&A on this topic.

We are available NOW to answer any of your questions about Short Sales and if this method of selling your home would apply to your situation.

East Bay Equestrian Update: SonRise Equestrian Foundation Changing Kids Lives!

If you love horses can you imagine the impact a horse could make in the life a child at risk or who is disabled in some way?  Well, that dream is coming true every day for some very special kids in the East Bay everyday!  Melanie Buerke had this idea several years ago and the dream is now a realty – SonRise Equestrian Foundation at Charles Wilhelm’s horse training center on Crow Canyon Road.  Here is their mission statement:

“SonRise Equestrian Foundation is a non-profit organization making a positive difference for children and youth living with social, emotional, or physical challenges including terminal illness. Participating children develop confidence, integrity and responsibility through mentoring and peer relationships centered around the care and enjoyment of horses.”I first met Melanie at our Rotary Club’s Tuesday morning weekly breakfast meeting.  She was our presenter that morning and all of us were moved by her story and what the results her program is getting.  That morning we learned that causes of the struggles in some cases of these kids are organic and in others environmental. Regardless of the cause they are helping these kids to transform their lives and to become productive citizens within our community. All of their services to kids is free and funded by donations from people who share their commitment to address the needs of these special kids. Our Rotary Club is now part of their funding team.

At SonRise we believe that strong, loving relationships are a necessary ingredient of a contented heart. We see time and time again, children thrive simply by receiving the unconditional love of a concerned mentor and a special horse. We believe in the necessity of belonging to a nurturing community.

SonRise Equestrian Foundation offers four distinct programs:

• In the Saddle—a one-on-one horseback riding program that teams up one child, one mentor, and one horse 100% of the time. This ensures no hurting child gets lost in a crowd, and keeps our program extremely safe.
• Team Rehab—a working ranch program where children work in teams doing ranch chores and caring for horses in need of rehabilitation.
• Traveling Tails—a miniature horse hospice program which brings minis to children’s hospice care homes to visit children who are near the end of life.
• HorsePlay Day— they offer HorsePlay Days quarterly, where children from their program and those on the waiting list are invited to the ranch for a day of group fun. In these four hours children participate in horse related games, crafts and activities ranging from roping to bareback riding to red/light green/light on horseback.

SonRise also has a program for unwanted or abused horse. When one of these horses is taken in the SonRise staff immediately begins a careful rehabilitation process, which addresses the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of their equine companions. During the rehabilitation period which can last from as little as one month to as long as a year or more, each horse is tested to see if their temperament will allow them to become an “equine angel” that joins the SonRise team as a partner for the in-need and at-risk children enrolled in the horsemanship program.

Finally, SonRise Equestrian Foundation believes that the joy and the love of horses shouldn’t just be for children who can afford them. All children should have the privilege of the healing love that comes from horses.  CONTACT ME for more information on this important project in our East Bay Community.

2010 ReBarCamp – East Bay: Best Practices Of Social Media Marketing

Last Wednesday, the East Bay had it’s first REBarCamp held at the brand new condo complex at 555 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek. BarCamps have been produced all over the country for the last several years by dedicated volunteers.  But, none have been delivered to the East Bay until last Wednesday with Nate Ellis from Keller Williams Realty as one of the key leaders of the event.  It is a very odd “non-conference” of exchanging ideas of the latest technologies related to internet marketing and the effective use of Social Media as part of creating relationships with people who need to Buy or Sell real estate, or are in need of any other service related to the transaction such as escrow/title, mortgage services, and various suppliers.

The sharing that happens at a BarCamp is meant to accelerate all of the participants skills related to the effective use of internet marketing and social media strategies in order to grow that individuals business. During the day-long event each person looks at the board for the time slots that have a topic they want to attend.  At the East Bay event I was one of the presenters on the topic of “Blogging As A Lead Generation Machine”.  The intense 30+ minutes of sharing strategies allows the audience to gather the information they specifically want to integrate into their business practices and then allows them to quickly move on to their next chosen session. Another one was Team Building using The Marshmallow Challenge as the method of learning.

A representative from Carpet Now wrote about their experience at ReBarCamp this week and said, “We had the chance to see and hear from many of the visionaries and thought-leaders in the area of Social Media and Internet Marketing.  Then, when more top agents show up, it’s something special – Jim Walberg,  for example, a highly respected international real estate agent from our area, just bolstered and amplified the credibility of ReBarCamp – East Bay.”

The one day event is not structured as a typical planned conference would be. Every BarCamp is not planned out in advance. Nobody is paid to deliver a session. Anybody can deliver a session and attendees are strongly encouraged to participate. My first REBarCamp was in San Francisco last year and was held at the Trulia headquarters in SF.  When I arrived at 8AM in the morning it appeared to be controlled chaos.  As you enter the event you are asked if you will be a presenter or a participant.  A presenter writes the topic of their short session on a 3X5 card and hands it in. After registration is over, a board will be put up that details each session and what room they are located in throughout the day. The length of the sessions are typically from 30 minutes to 45 minutes depending on the RE BarCamp event.

Look for the next one coming in the East Bay this summer.  Contact me today for more information about the Summer ReBarCamp.  Until next time…your East Bay lifestyle detective remains on duty.

East Bay Real Estate: Danville Is Still Horse Country!

Have any of you wondered how The Bay Area Team became the top real estate group selling equestrian property in the East Bay? Well, the answer to that question began to unfold 40 years ago in Danville.  OK, close your eyes and see if you can imagine the 40,000+ horses were packed into Contra Costa County in 1970 when I first arrived in Danville from Redondo Beach. In 1970 Contra Costa County had the highest number of horses per person than any other county in the U.S.A.!  Surprised?  Yep, I was, too. So, I decided that this “surfer kid” who loves all things connected to the ocean better get with the program and get into the world of horses, wells, septic tanks, fences, horseshoes, and hay.  Within a short period of time I had two quarter horses and a big old draft horse.  We kept them at a 40 acre horse boarding ranch owned by Mrs. Freitas.  She and her family had owned the property since the 1870’s.  It was about a half mile from the 680 freeway and Sycamore Valley Road. 

That era in Danville was the very beginning of the development explosion that happened all over the East Bay.  In 1970 the farthest out development in Danville was less than one mile from the 680 freeway.  Flannigan’s Tack Shop right in front of the Big Oak Tree on Diablo Road was the largest retail store in town. Almost all of the horse community was Western riders.  The Shoe Stable on Diablo Road owned by John May and his wife was THE place you would shop for women’s shoes, and the Village Theater on Front Street was actually showing featured films.  The Rising Loafer on Hartz Avenue was the fire station, and Primo’s Pizza on the corner of Hartz Avenue and Diablo Road was a gas station.  We would ride down town and tie our horses the hitching posts located all over town – even in front of Diablo Foods that is now BevMo. We would casually take off in the afternoons and ride all over Mt. Diablo State Park. How 40 years has changed the entire landscape and experience of our Valley.

Because of the speed of the housing boom within the San Ramon Valley, the horse community had to keep moving east of the freeway out to Tassajara Road in order to afford land for their horses and homes. Today, the Tassajara Valley is THE center of the horse world in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.  The access is now from three different directions – the 680 freeway coming from Danville, the 580 freeway coming from Pleasanton, and from Highland Road coming from Livermore.  The horse country also changed to mostly Hunter/Jumping, Eventing, and Dressage events.  The Western riding community is a small fraction of what it once was. But, you can still run into horse riders on Mt. Diablo who are training for the Tevis Cup – 100 mile endurance ride non-stop from Tahoe to Auburn.

Today when you drive out Tassajara Road or Highland Road you will still discover some of the most beautiful horse properties, gentlemen estates, and horse training centers in the Bay Area. Just for fun drive down the many of the roads off of Tassajara and be amazed at what you discover -  Finley, Bruce, Johnston, Highland, and Marciel. If you are considering any aspect of horse property in the Bay Area, please contact us.  We have represented the vast majority of the equestrian properties sold and purchased in the East Bay the last three years.  We would be glad to be of service.

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