Homes For Sale Benicia—Homes Sold in Southampton December 2011 There were eight homes sold in Southampton this month.  Nearly three time as many as Waters End.  Buyers are pleased with the size and price of Southampton homes and the fact that their children can attend Benicia schools at an affordable price. Half of the homes were REO/bank owned/foreclosures, two were regular sales and two were short sales.  The homes sold for 98.1% of asking price. Some sales were purchased with all cash.  It is a great time for investors to get in on some good deals in Southampton. Street  Address           Listing Price         Selling Price Barton Way Benicia, CA 94510 325,000 320,000 Bolton Cir Benicia, CA 94510 329,000 329,000 Hastings Dr Benicia, CA 94510 340,000 310,000 Heather Ct Benicia, CA 945... 01/09/2012

Benicia Homes For Sale--Homes Sold In Waters End December 2011 Well it was an interesting December in Water’s End this month.  Only three homes sold in the neighborhood.  One was an REO /foreclosure/bank owned, one regular sale and one new construction.  The regular sale got over asking and the new construction and REO got under asking.  It’s a trend that I am seeing in other markets too; buyers tend to bid higher on regular sales.    Street Full Address Listing Price Selling Price       606 McAllister Dr Benicia, CA 94510 697,494 625,000 704 Kearney St Benicia, CA 94510 500,000 490,000 632 McAllister Dr Benicia, CA 94510 620,000 622,000 There are currently seven active properties in Waters End, four that are contingent and six that are pending. To find out what I can do to sell your WA... 01/09/2012

Are you looking for a condo for rent in the Southampton Hills neighborhood of the City of Benicia, California?  Delgado Property Management presents a premier Benicia condo for rent  - check out Benicia Cambridge Highlands Condominiums.  We have several of these condos under management.  So, at any given time, there is a good opportunity that we may have one or more of these excellent condos for rent.     PROPERTY LOCATION Delgado Property Management often has a condominium for lease at Benicia Cambridge Highlands Condominiums in the Southampton Hills neighborhood of Benicia, California. The Benicia Cambridge Highlands condominiums are located just minutes from Interstate 780 which connects to both Interstate 80 and Insterstate 680.  This cental location allows you to easily reach: - Sa... 01/08/2012

  21 New Benicia and Vallejo rental homes now available!   At Delgado Property Management, in Benicia, CA, we are starting the New Year with 21 new Benicia and Vallejo rental homes now available!   Our current inventory includes:   • gorgeous homes and condos, large and small • condos  and homes with breathtaking views • classic Victorians • located near First Street in Benicia • condos in gated communities • homes near walking trails • homes with waterfalls in the back yard   • homes and condos with granite kitchens and other features   You get the idea.  We have so many homes, and more coming, that we are sure to have what you’re looking for.  In fact, other property management firms in town with only a few listings are actually sending potential renters to us since we have so many li... 01/01/2012

  Best Benicia Property Management Blogs of 2011   As we bid farewell to 2011, it is only fitting to honor the tradition of looking back on the year gone by.  At Delgado Property Management, our chosen way of honoring 2011 is to revisit the best blogs of 2011.   As it turns out, there aren’t many folks blogging Benicia Property Management topics.  In fact, I’m the only one that I know of.  So, that admittedly simplified the process a bit.  I chose the following blogs as “Best of” based purely on my own thoughts, not taking into account blog posts that received the most comments or generated the most phone calls.  I picked these simply because I think they are a good read.   In David Letterman fashion, we provide the Top Ten Blogs of 2011, counting from number 10 to number 1 (except that... 12/31/2011

Short Sale Sharks, they are circling and moving in for the kill.  I often get calls from people who just want to ask questions about short sales.  They are trying to figure out what is best for them.  My business partner and my mantra is be educated, be informed, and be engagaed. We never try to push someone into selling their home short. But there are Short Sale Sharks circling.  I hear about these stories but this past week I got actual proof.  A person we have been chatting with for over a month about short sales and modifications called and told me this story. Short Sale Shark contacted the homeowner, probably because he saw a notice of trustee sale coming up soon and the home is in an area hot for investors.  Mr. Shark informed the owner, I can buy your house now, which is better t... 12/11/2011

Once upon a time... (well, not THAT long ago. I mean, I’m only in my 40's and she's in her 30's (but looks like she's early 20's))   In a land far, far away... (well, a couple exits down the freeway)   A handsome young prince... (that would be me, just play along would you?)   Journeyed far from the Kingdom of his youth to find his fortune... (just graduated from college and got a job)   Lo and behold, during the travels I stopped for lodging... (needed a place to rent)   And there, like an oasis in the hot desert... (well, she was one darn cute leasing agent)   Stood a Fair Maiden of such beauty as I had never seen before (maybe darn cute was an understatement)   She took me on a tour of the estate (umm, property) and showed me the view (I was enjoying a view, but not the one she was t... 12/10/2011

Benicia's Holiday Market is set for Saturday Dec 10th from 10am to 3pm.  Located at the foot of First Street between B and D street, this annual event has something for everyone.  Even though our Farmer's Market is over for the winter, this is the last chance to pick up some gourmet gifts, flowers, and handicrafts. Benicia's Annual Christmas Parade is also taking place that day starting at 10am at D Street and traveling up first to H Street.  Make it an all day event by watching the parade and shopping at the Holiday Market. Benicia is a great place to visit! 12/07/2011

Benicia's Annual Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday December 10th.  This is the 17th year for this local event that thousands turn out to watch.  The parade will start at First and D St and ends at H street.  First street will be shut down to local traffic. There are local bands, car clubs, service clubs, dancers, floats, and of course Santa will be there too.  Bring a chair and grab a seat along First Street.  Come early and get a bite to eat at the First Street Cafe or Sailor Jack's. The parade starts at 10AM. So far the weather report shows no rain.  After the parade, stroll the Holiday Market from 10am to 3PM located on First street between B and D Street.    12/07/2011

  The Proper Care and Feeding of Property Managers, a guide for Realtors   No, I’m not going to get all personal or mushy (or "vocal") like Dr. Laura.  In fact, beyond spoofing her book title the rest of this blog is straight from you local property manager. You may wonder why you’d even worry about properly caring for and feeding your local property manager.  I could tell you several reasons but the biggest hook is: Even though we operate in a small town, we’ve referred 10 (as in ten.  You know, more than nine) separate buyers to Realtors just since the kids returned to school in September.  Each of these 10 buyers were investors purchasing multiple properties.  Just yesterday we referred a cash buyer planning on buying four investment homes. I’m being completely honest here.  Interest... 12/07/2011

Benicia Rental Homes -  “Like a box of chocolates” Searching for Rental Homes in Benicia or Vallejo is very much like the old Forrest Gump quote of “like a box of chocolates.”  From the outside, many homes may look appealing and tempt you, just like those candies in the candy box.  Just like with those candy store chocolates though, you never know what you’re going to get inside.   Of course, with a rental home, you can’t just wait until no one is looking, grab and poke the bottom to find out what’s inside.  With a rental home, you want to be able to take your time and find what you really want.  You are also going to want to go inside and not just commit based on the tempting outside. This is where Delgado Property Management can help you.  In a sense, we are the “box” and our availabl... 12/04/2011

Benicia Tree Lighting and Open House today, 12-2. Don't miss our annual tree lighting service tonight at the end of First Street near the Carquinez Straits and pier.  First Street is closed off from 530-9PM.  Most stores will be open, carriage rides, pictures with Santa, pictures with Tinker Bell, goodies and hot chocolate and wine for the adults.  Strolling musicians and dancers will be entertaining along the way.  This is not to miss event.  I think this is the one time you catch up with everybody you know in town. Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific has Santa visiting and free pictures with you and him will be taken.  Grab some popcorn and cotton candy from elves out front and continue your stroll downtown. We are located at 900 First street. Today the weather has been mild so we do not e... 12/02/2011

For several years running Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific in Benicia is a Toys for Tots Drop Off.  We have a huge box waiting for toys to delight the children of less fortune.  Our box does a great job in getting loaded up, so please, if you are downtown please stop by and make a deposit.   Your heart will be joyful and the Toys for Tots program will be thankful.  You have plenty of time to contribute but don't wait til the last minute.  Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific is open 7 days a week and even if it is before 8:30AM and after 5PM, knock hard and I am sure someone will be around to let you make a drop in the box. Our address is 900 First Street Benicia.  After dropping by our office, meander down the street for some unique shopping at antique stores, one of kind shops, and for a brea... 12/02/2011

  Spotless Carpet Cleaning, Benicia Small Business Spotlight   We can confidently say that Spotless Carpet Cleaning is the ideal local business to be the very first of our Benicia Small Business Spotlight periodic series.      Our relationship with Spotless pre-dates Delgado Property Management and goes back 15 years to the days when my wife and partner Veronica managed a local apartment complex and used Spotless Carpet Cleaning exclusively due to their great service and great pricing.  Through all of this time, we have known the owner, Richard, to be hardworking and always willing to help in a pinch.   We are not alone in our accolades for Spotless as evidenced by their not once, but twice being voted the #1 Carpet Cleaner in Solano County in the yearly Times-Herald competition.  That ... 11/27/2011

    Have you ever had a listing that made you sad? There is a certain “corner house” that my wife and I pass by every day on our way to our own home.  It’s on the main street to our own house so we pass this “corner house” every time we run into town, head to work, go out with the kids, etc.    Over the years we watched the owners slowly build up the home.  Paint, landscaping, unknown interior work, a nice stone wall and more.  These things didn’t happen all at once but slowly, over time.  We never got the impression that the owners took a huge second mortgage and suddenly turned their home into a mansion.  Rather, it seemed that as they saved up some money, they gradually improved their home and turned it into their own dream home.  We’ve never met the owners but the “corner house” has... 11/26/2011

  Delgado Property Management, the largest Benicia Property Management company in town that focuses exclusively on property management and home rentals, and   Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific, the largest and most successful real estate brokerage in town,    …have joined together in a strategic partnership to capitalize on each of our strengths to provide better service to Benicia, Vallejo and surrounding areas.    Delgado Property Management, just having opened our new office at 917 First Street in Benicia, has earned a reputation of renting homes quickly and providing reliable service to owners and to renters.  We also have a special understanding of the needs of investors and are willing to offer advice on good candidate homes for rentals and are knowledgeable in those improvements tha... 11/26/2011

  Delgado gets the nice Benicia Property Management rental homes We have heard that comment from many interested renters who have been looking on-line for their next Benicia rental home.  In fact, we’ve even heard the comment “we’ve been following your website for a while now” as they wait for a home that suits their needs.   These comments interest me for many reasons:    First, it does seem that word has gotten out about Delgado Property Management.  Our goal hasn’t been to “get the nice rental homes” but rather to provide the best possible service.  Over time owners and investors have recognized that trait and starting approaching us to represent them for their “nice homes.”   Second, the fact that folks “follow” our website bidding their time until we list a home that fits their nee... 11/25/2011

Food, heat or house payment---what as agnoizing decision to have to even think about making.  Holidays are fast approaching and it is that time of year most people spend a little more. This puts even greater pressure on any sane adult. Make an early New Year's resolution, talk to a Benicia Short Sale agent. If you are upside down with your mortgage, the best Holiday gift you can give yourself is information and education on the steps you can take to be in charge of your future. What if you are that person who has to choose between food for the family or maybe gas to heat your home now that winter is upon us or the house payment?  You choose food and heat for your family.  Soon your lender will start calling and sending mail asking you to make your payment.  You might try to catch up by ... 11/20/2011

An Early New Year’s in Benicia   As I wrote about earlier, Delgado Property Management has moved our offices to 917 First Street in Benicia.  We are proud to take our place among so many prominent local businesses and provide our service to the community as the only Benicia Property Management company that ONLY focuses on property management and does not get involved in selling homes. First Street in Benicia really is the Main Street with many businesses, restaurants and energy.   We’ve already been welcomed to the neighborhood by many of our new neighbors and are really enjoying the atmosphere.  It’s as if we’ve started our New Year’s early!   We’ve had moving challenges including difficulty with our phones, a broken conference table and haven’t had time to put much up on the walls ye... 11/17/2011

It has happened to us all.  A moment of inspiration when suddenly, when you weren't expecting it, you just "see" it.  Those moments are great and I had one this weekend as I drove around with my camera shooting photos for our new listings.   There is a certain spot overlooking San Pablo Bay right where the Napa River flows in that I just KNOW has good views on a clear day- except that I’ve never actually caught the shot that I just know is possible from that location.  I once had a very accomplished photographer share with me that one of the “secrets” of great photographers is going back.... and back.... and back to a spot until they get the shot that they just know is there.   All around town the sky was blue with white puffy clouds.  Since the weather was right and the sun was in the ... 11/14/2011