Karen Crowson's Blog

INTEREST RATES that is. For any of us that had mortgages in the 8% range once upon a time, or even second loans in the 12’s, it’s incomprehensible that rates have fallen to the lows that they currently have. News reports show rates at a low not seen since 1971. No wonder so many renters are scram...

Dec.1st and 2nd, 2012 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Livermore, CA The first weekend in December has WAY too many choices for ways to kick off the holiday season. Hard to choose what to do….. Go to the new Paragon Outlet Mall and start shopping? Head off to the Vine Theater for a special showing hosted...

You just don't realize how dependent you are on technology until it's not available to you. Earlier this year I had a TON of challenges, but eventually they were all solved. But today I woke to no Conncectivity. It can really tweak your day. Now, mind you - this was a planned day off, so I didn't...

Another in the series of artistic utility boxes in the City of Livermore's Urban Artist Program. This particular box sits at the intersection of Livermore Avenue and First Street, at what is commonly referred to as Flagpole Plaza. Through a collaborative effort, the Livermore Arts Community has r...

Making the mundane attractive is at the cornerstone of Livermore's Urban Artist Program. All cities have basic needs to keep the city running, and utility boxes are just one of those things. Through a collaborative effort, the Livermore Arts Community has rallied around to give artists a 4 sided-...

My recent insurance claim after a leaky dishwasher was a royal pain, prompting me to write a blog last week.  Now that it’s finally over, I have a few key things I learned from the entire experience. It Will Be More Important to You, Than to Them. Insurance companies are big operations, and they ...

The Holiday Season in Livermore kicks off on the first day of the month, in signature style. December 1st is when it all starts and where of course, is Downtown Livermore. December 1st, 2012 Downtown Livermore Noon to 4:00 p.m. Home For the Holidays is a fabulous event for the whole family, but o...

Median price for attached homes in Pleasanton has experience more volatility than detached homes, showing an 11% decline over October of last year. But it's noteworthy that other months were higher. Notice that 4 months of 2012 have shown increasing median sales price. It's always helpful to see...

It's hard to miss the upward trend in pricing for detached homes in Pleasanton. Driven by inventory shortages, there was a 20% gain year over year. That's welcome news for home sellers, but not so great for home buyers as they encounter fewer choices and strong competition in this multiple offer...

This market segment had a lot of volatility when the market first dropped, but boy, is it making a comeback. A 31% increase in median sales price, compared to October of last year. This is a popular segment for First Time Buyers in Livermore as well as investors. But many of condo complexes have...