Elaine King's Real Estate Blog

I just found that perfect 2010 calendar in my after-Christmas online shopping.  Just in case you forgot a holiday gift, I recommend the 2010 Hooter’s calendar.  Write me a line and let me know if you find other calendar’s of interest. ENJOY!

From my home to yours, I send to you my sincere wishes for a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Each home celebrates this holiday differently, which makes this day so special.  Most of our traditions did not start in the US, but came from others.  Perhaps that is why this season is known for its sharing?  Below are some fun facts of this wonderful winter celebration. ENJOY!

Christmas is from Christ Mass. In the 4th century, the celebration of Christ’s birth on December 25 was gradually adopted by most Eastern churches to counteract the effects of two “pagan” winter festivals: 1)Saturnalia, a well-known festival in Rome and 2) the birthday celebration of Mithra, the Iranian god of light.

We can thank Santa Claus’ birth to Clement Clarke Moore, an Episcopal minister.  In 1822, he wrote a long Christmas poem for his three daughters entitled, “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas”.  This poem created a new and immediately popular American icon. In 1881, Thomas Nast drew on Moore’s poem to create the first likeness that matches our modern image of Santa Claus. His cartoon, which appeared in Harper’s Weekly, depicted Santa as a rotund, cheerful man with a full, white beard, holding a sack laden with toys for lucky children.

We adopted the Christmas card from England and the Christmas tree from Germany.  (FYI – there are 30-35 million real Christmas trees sold in the US alone.)  Also, construction workers started the Rockefeller Christmas Tree tradition in 1931.

Rudolph, “the most famous reindeer of all,” was the product of Robert L. May’s imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.

Finally, Poinsettia plants are named after Joel R. Poinsett, an American minister to Mexico, who brought the red-and-green plant from Mexico to America in 1828.   Did you know that one million poinsettias are used to decorate Walt Disney World each Christmas season?  WOW – That is a lot of plants!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and enjoy the celebration.

Two new books just came out that chronicle our recent financial disaster.  The first book, by Andrew Ross Sokin, is called “Too Big to Fail”, and the second by Charles Gasparino is called “The Sellout”.  According to the review below, by Greg Jahnke, both of these books move rapidly.   

“The Sellout” apparently does a better job going into the origin of the crisis, but “Too Big to Fail” gets somewhat personal, mentioning at the height of the crisis, Secretary Paulson’s personal actions behind closed doors.  According to Jahnke, “Too Big to Fail” gives the reader an insider’s version of the various meetings that took place.

Here is the link to a more complete read of the article:

http://www.prudentbear.com/index.php/guestcommentaryview?art_id=10320

Please note Kanjorki’s reply to a caller regarding the bailout:  “If they had not done it, their estimation was that by two o’clock that afternoon, 5 ½ trillion dollars would have been drawn out of the money market system of the US, and it would have collapsed the entire economy of the US, and within 24 hours the world economy would have collapsed.”

 I guess I shouldn’t feel bad when my checkbook doesn’t balance! 

 An hour from San Francisco, in the city of Brentwood, Trilogy at the Vineyards is a place of exquisite beauty and magnificent views of Mt. Diablo.  Trilogy is a unique and exclusive wine country setting with active vineyards and olive tree orchards.  The resort lifestyle at Trilogy anticipates every need and gives owners a chance to relax the mind and rejuvenate the spirit.    

The focal point of The Vineyards is the community’s spacious 34,000 sq foot clubhouse, Club Los Meganos.  (The name of John Marsh’s ranch house.)  This facility is scheduled to be completed around June 2010.  It will have four restaurants: a cafe, gourmet cooking studio, poolside cabana service, spa lounge, and full-service catering kitchen. A full-service spa is included, with an indoor and outdoor treatment rooms for nails, skin & massage.  There will be two (2) pools (inside and outside) and an expansive fitness center with dedicated areas for cardio, strength training and women’s-only workouts.  Finally, a complete events center designed to accommodate parties large or small including weddings, concerts, and more. Trilogy utilizes Brentwood Golf Course, located within the Summerset development.

Trilogy is a destination and a lifestyle that exceeds your expectations in a community.  It is a location for new beginnings.  Here are the current Trilogy homes on the MLS; (link lasts only 30 days) for more information, please call me at 925-852-1659, and I will show you the Trilogy lifestyle.  Just like its neighbor, Summerset, Trilogy is an OVER-55 Community.  When complete, Trilogy will have over 1000 homes.

The real estate changes have affected homeowners over 55, too.  Currently in Summerset, there are eighteen (18) homes for sale: five (5) are SHORT SALES and three (3) are BANK OWNED.   Prices range from$225-$550K.  The best values per square foot are a SHORT SALE located on Baldwin, priced at $335,000, and a BANK OWNED on Bismarck at $389,900.  Most homes in Summerset need are gently used, but most consumers want to update with granite countertops or stainless appliances that were not so important when these homes were built 10 years ago.

Summerset is located in Brentwood and made up of 4 communities: Summerset 1, Summerset II (The Palms), Summerset III (Vista), and Summerset IV (The Orchards).  Each community has its own home owner’s association (HOA), recreation center, pool/hot tub, work out area, and activity director.  Once you are a resident of Summerset, you will receive a monthly activity calendar, and can attend activities at any of the four Summerset locations.

The Nines at Brentwood Golf Club is located at the entrance of Summerset Palms, and has fabulous food and a fun atmosphere.   Brentwood Golf Club, located at the entrance of Summerset Palms is proud to offer 27 Holes of Championship Golf Courses, and public play is welcomed.

Please contact me at 925-852-1659 for more information on Summerset or to schedule a showing of these homes.

Yesterday and today, I was awed by our tallest geographic beauty, Mount Diablo. At 3864 square feet, she is mostly ignored. However, last night (12/7 in honor of Pearl Harbor), the aircraft beacon was lit. As I walked my dog last night and early this AM, the beacon was evident and it kept drawing my eyes to the top. I wish it was lit more often than once a year, for the sight brings back a time long ago when beacons were symbols of bringing people home.

Later this morning, I shot this photo of Mt Diablo dusted in snow.  Its beauty is evident!  Please take time today to appreciate the beauty of our area, our freedom and maybe even serve as a beacon of light to another.  Have a great day!

If you are looking for a fun weekend, head to Benicia this weekend.  The Benicia glass studios will be open for tour; it  is a fun event for young and old!  The Nourot Studios have been a favorite of mine to go to, and it is not uncommon to spend hours at their studio watching the craftsman at work.  It is amazing watching them craft a beautiful vase or bowl from this red hot burning cylinder.  The event is Thursday, December 3rd thru Sunday, December 6th.  There will be signs and maps at each of the locations.

Also on Sunday, world famous pipe organ manufacturer Schoenstein & Company will be hosting an open house from 2:00-5:00 PM at their Benicia plant.  On display will be a three manual, 24 rank organ in the final stages of assembly that will be installed in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, in January. You will be able to play this organ as well as its companion instrument, a three rank, one manual organ to be installed in the chancel of the same building.   Schoenstein & Co. is located at 4001 Industrial Way in Benicia’s Industrial Park.

If you can make it on Friday night, December 4th, Benicia is having their tree lighting ceremony in the city park on 1st street and yearly Downtown Open House from 6PM-9PM.  First Street merchants host this ever-popular open house at the beginning of the Christmas Season.  Merchants offer beverages and treats and show off their holiday goods while costumed carolers sing traditional Christmas music.  Live entertainment, wagon rides, and wine tasting add a festive atmostphere to this family event.  Dress warmly and be prepared to enjoy the holiday spirit!

For more information on Benicia events, click here!  If not this weekend, you owe it to yourself to enjoy the many fun events that this city hosts.  If you are interested in Benicia real estate, please let me know.

HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

If you have been an FHA Buyer in the San Francisco East Bay, looking to purchase a property the past nine months, the process for buying a home has been very difficult.  Most bank owned homes will not consider FHA offers; they are only selling to Conventional (20% down) or all cash/investor offers.  WHY?  Because they can!!!  There is so much interest in the investment community to purchase entry level homes at 1999 prices.  It is not uncommon to have 8-30 offers come in on a home.  In addition, inventory is extremely low.  (See Shadow Inventory blog below)

This blog will not offer a solution, but offering some humor. :)  The below video, although some “tongue –in-cheek” does characterize the journey of an FHA Buyer…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM7oWKgCVo4&feature=email