Fabulous Friday Morning to all, Economic news: China raises the reserve requirement for banks but not rates. No earthshaking domestic economic news. Have a great weekend! 11/19/2010

Empire Realty's Holiday Santa Party in Walnut Creek, CA For kids of all ages (small doggies welcome too).  Join us on December 4, 2010 between 10am & 2pm to visit with our friendly Santa, have your picture taken with Santa (instant photo in a holiday frame), and enjoy refreshments.  There will be a gift for every child.  Our office is in the Downtown Walnut Creek Shopping District at 1261 Locust Street in Walnut Creek. After my daughter had such a good time volunteering at the First Annual GreenFEST in Walnut Creek (that's her as "Mr. Recycle"), I bought her an elf costume and she will be helping out at th is event as well.  It should be a lot of fun, and I am going to bring my grandmother and her little poodle to get their picture taken together with Santa.   - offering website design,... 11/18/2010

Terrific Tuesday morning to all, Economic news: Producer price index both for the month and year under expectations, Industrial production flat. The markets are very volatile… Is QE2 going to produce jobs, or improve the economy? Other nations are looking with the question are we using it to increase our competitiveness with foreign trade? Inflation is being sensed with other economy’s, and Europe is back on the radar again….debt issues Have a great day! 11/16/2010

Fabulous Friday Morning to all, Economic news: Reuters Michigan Consumer Sentiment slightly up. Have a great day! 11/12/2010

Walnut Creek (CA) on Ice Returns for its sixth season This year Walnut Creek on Ice is open from November 11 through January 17th. This is an outdoor ice skating arena set up in Civic Park in Walnut Creek, California. It is open to the public (though it may be closed for private events, check the calendar for more information): Monday through Thursday 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm   Friday 1:00 pm - 11:00 pm   Saturday 11:00 am - 11:00 pm   Sunday 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Tuesday nights are Family Nights, with admission being only $20 per family (up to six people). Otherwise the rates are:   Weekdays, Monday through Friday before 5:00 pm   $11    Weekends, Friday 5:00 pm through Sunday night   $15    Holiday Pricing valid November 22-25 and December 20-31   $15        Walnut Creek on Ice is also availabl... 11/04/2010

Terrific Thursday Morning to all, Economic News: Initial Jobless claims spike back up, Continuing Jobless claims slightly better than previous week, Non-Farm productivity was up. Have a great Day! 11/04/2010

Walnut Creek, California is home to an award-winning active adult community simply known as Rossmoor. It took over 30 years to build this fantastic 55+ community made up of a wide variety of home styles set amidst the beauty of California’s rolling country hillsides. Rossmoor welcomes resident’s age 55 and better to live an exciting active adult lifestyle in a mature community featuring beautiful landscaping and natural open spaces. The package of amenities at this popular California active adult community includes 5 clubhouses, 27 holes of golf and over 200 social clubs. The various clubhouses feature multiple swimming pools, tennis courts and more. There are 3 swimming facilities, 8 tennis courts, 3 lawn bowling greens, a fitness center with aerobics studio, bocce ball courts, horsesh... 11/03/2010

It's surprising how many people have not heard of Napoleon Hill. He is the author of Think and Grow Rich, Law of Success and more. "Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything. "Napoleon Hill  If you haven't heard of him find out. If you have and would like to learn more and apply his lessons through a Mastermind, contact me.   nhmm.wc@gmail.com     11/03/2010

Terrific Tuesday Morning to all, Economic News is lean this morning. The markets will remain choppy until elections and the FED meeting outcome is finalized. Have a great day! 11/02/2010

Terrific Thursday morning to all, Economic News: Both initial and continuing jobless claims show improvement. The markets are very choppy ahead of the FED meeting next week be very cautious. Have a great day! 10/28/2010

Many years ago, I read the book "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. Since then I have been studying writings by many successful men and women. A few weeks ago I decided to re-read "Think and Grow Rich," which led me to another of Napoleon Hills' books, "Law of Success." I have begun studying it diligently and the most important truth I have learned so far is the power of the Mastermind. I would like to continue my in-depth study of this book with other like-minded students of Napoleon Hill's teachings. From what I understand, a Mastermind is formed when like-minded people, with like-minded goals, attitudes, and ideas come together to achieve a single purpose.  The key is to find these people and bring them together. I am very capable of reading Napoleon Hill's books on my own. I'm n... 10/28/2010

It's getting cold out again, and this is a perfect time to clean out your coat closet and donate your gently used coats, jackets and sweatshirts to One Warm Coat. One Warm Coat provides free coats, jackets and sweatshirts to children and adults in need within the communty.  Between November 1, 2010 and January 15, 2011, there are drop off locations at both Empire Realty Associates offices in Contra Costa County. 380 Diablo Road, Danville1261 Locust Street, Walnut CreekOffices are open Monday - Friday from 8:30am - 5pm If you are in a different area of the country, no need to worry. You can find a donation point near you by visiting One Warm Coat's website. Thank you! - offering website design, maintenance, hosting and virtual assistance. 10/27/2010

Terrific Tuesday morning to all, Economic news: Case Shiller home price index down, Richmond Fed Manufacturing well above expectations, Consumer confidence up a tick. Be cautious Have a great Day 10/26/2010

The following numbers represent the comparison of homes sold from January through September 2009 versus January through September 2010 in Walnut Creek, CA 94596, 94597, 94598. Keep in mind that real estate markets are local in nature and there will be micro markets in every town.  Walnut Creek has experienced stabilized values, a nice increase in homes sold and a reduction in the days on market. Current market activity in Walnut Creek, California  Community information for Walnut Creek, California 94596 Community information for Walnut Creek, California 94597 Community information for Walnut Creek, California 94598  10/22/2010

October 2010, Mid Market Report - Homes Sales Walnut Creek, California, 94595 Note: previous month’s numbers are in parentheses. Walnut Creek, CA homes for sale that sold as of October 15, 2010 • Single Family Detached homes sold – 21(17) • Attached homes sold – 8 (11) Walnut Creek, CA homes for sale that went pending as of October 15, 2010 • Single Family Detached homes, pending - 22(5) • Attached homes, pending 19 (14) Walnut Creek, CA homes for sale as of October 15th • Total single family homes for sale in Walnut Creek, CA: 277 • Foreclosed/bank-owned homes (REOs) for sale in Walnut Creek, CA: 39 • Short Sale homes for sale in Walnut Creek,, CA: 70 Foreclosure and short sale listings make up 39% of the current homes for sale in Walnut Creek, CA. Detached homes sold are up so far thi... 10/20/2010

Foundations are always a problem in the expansive soils. Here are some examples that in most cases wouldn't have ever gone bad if we had merely kept the water away from the structure as it was originally graded. 1) I was doing an FHA 203k inspection with a contractor who was training to become a 203k consultant. He was a structural contractor, specializing in structural repairs on homes for over thirty years. I saw a teaching opportunity in the dining room area where we had settlement cracks that went from near the floor to the upper exterior corner of the front wall of the home. I saw that the width of the crack near the upper end was about 3/16" wide and it got narrower as it came down towards the floor in the middle of the room. I explained that there is an issue with the foundation ... 10/19/2010

A Terrific Tuesday Morning to all, Economic news: China raises rates to slow down growth, housing starts up, and building permits were down. W-St loses ground in early trading with China raising rates. Have a great day! 10/19/2010

Marvelous Monday Morning to all, Economic news: Industrial production was down, NABH Housing Market Index was up. The market has improved from Fri but is un-decided at this point.. Have a great day! 10/18/2010

Sounds funny to me too. Last evening I was wondering what to write about today. Reminiscing about my childhood for some reason when I thought about swimming in Walnut Creek. Yes, that is right. We were in high school where I attended College Park High in Pleasant Hill. I ran around with some pretty special people most of which I haven't seen or heard from in too long to say the least. I know for sure one of them, my best friend passed away about five years ago in a motorcycle accident, I'm sorry to say. Boy the stories I can't tell you about us. Wow. In any case we had a great group of friends and one very hot late afternoon someone had the idea that we would go to Walnut Creek and actually go skinny dipping. I had no idea what to expect but it wasn't what we got. When we got there it w... 10/18/2010

October 26th at Prospect Mortgage in Concord CA Brian Reeg, the manager will be hosting an "open to the public" 203k seminar  where you will learn the basics of the 203k but more importantly if you are a Realtor or Agent and bring with you a borrower, investor or a property in the Greater Concord area that is a fixer we will actually make every attempt at having you walk out of that meeting with a signed sales contract.  While these seminars are FREE to the public the space is limited so please get your ticket from one of our sponsors. FSBO sellers are welcome to bring their properties though we will ask you to agree to pay a 3-6% commission to the host Realtor if we sell your house that night. FSBO sounds like a great way to save some money on the surface but I have bought and sold ove... 10/15/2010