Elaine King's Real Estate Blog

At the beginning of each new year, I clean out file cabinets, cupboards, closets, drawers etc.  While cleaning out some old files, I came across this message that I kept under Misc to keep.  I thought it was worth saving and worth sharing, especially now since I have just clicked another year since becoming eligible to order off of Denny’s Senior Meal. 

“The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let him know.  

Old age, I decided, is a gift!

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be.  Oh, not my body!  I sometimes despair over my body: the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt.  And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don’t agonize over those things for long.  

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.  As I’ve aged, I’ve become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself.  I’ve become my own friend!  I don’t chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn’t need, but looks so avant-garde on my patio.  I am entitled to love! I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

 Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4AM andnd sleep until noon?   I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60’s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set.  They, too, will get old. 

I know I am sometimes forgetful.  But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten … and I eventually remember the important things. 

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken.  How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or when a beloved pet gets hit by a car?  But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion.  A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.  I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and  to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. 

 So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.  I can say “no,” and mean it. I can say “yes,” and mean it.  As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think.  I don’t question myself anymore.  I’ve even earned the right to be wrong.    

 So, to answer your question, I like being old.  It has set me free.  I like the person I have become.  I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.  

 And I shall eat dessert every single day! “

 ~Author Unknown~

Trilogy is a destination and a lifestyle that exceeds your expectations in a community.  Nestled in the hills of Brentwood, a setting of striking beauty, this destination for those 55 & over is a one-of-a-kind resort location to live.  Trilogy has fabulous home designs from 1734 to over 2800 square feet.  Shea is offering a select group of Designer Homes with incentives that are priced to sell quickly!  Here is a link  (link only lasts 30 days) to these homes that are packed with upgrades and are a terrific value. Surrounded by vines and located near shops, restaurants and medical facilities, Trilogy will have over 1000 homes when complete. 

The fabulous Club Los Meganos at The Vineyards is fast approaching completion.  Plans for the grand opening event are underway.  This resort location will have it all, and you can partake in its amenities by purchasing your dream home in Trilogy.  Once the Club opens and sales increase, Shea expects pricing  to appreciate.  Now is the time to get the best pricing and get in on the ground floor of this resort community.  You can partake of some wine tasting at Los Meganos, while the club is under construction.  Come and sample wines and cheeses from Europe on a guided tour of the Club.  Trilogy is offering this event on January 16^th and February 13^th at 2PM. Space is limited, so sign up soon. 

I would be happy to share with you the treasures of Trilogy, give me a call at 925-852-1659. In addition, here are two homes that are on the MLS and currently for sale.

I found an interesting article that just came out regarding Reverse Mortgages, entitled “Top 9 Reverse Mortgage Myths”.  Since it relates to my target audience, it was a must read for me; however I thought it would be good for all to review.  Whether you are looking at a reverse mortgage for you or an elderly parent/relative, reverse mortgages have their niche. 

My good friend’s mom took out a reverse mortgage so she could fix up her condo and add a stair lift.  She is very HAPPY with her decision.  If you plan or want to stay in your home your entire life, this may be a great tool to utilize.  As with any mortgage product, the client has to do their research and analyze that the product is right for them. 

The most interesting fact mentioned in the article is that a borrower is required to work with an independent/ 3rd party HUD approved counselor.  I did not know that, and it makes sense to me.  To view the complete article, click here!

As I mentioned in one of my earlier BLOGS, email is like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolate.  You never know what will end up in your inbox.  I received the email below from a friend and it made me smile.   I am sharing with you and I hope it makes you smile.  Nothing heavy, no hidden agenda, just a SMILE! 

• A penny saved is obviously the result of a government oversight.
• The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
• The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.
• The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a new replacement for it. 
• He who hesitates is probably doing the right thing.
• Did you ever notice:   The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are ‘XL”.
• If you think there is some good in everybody, you obviously haven’t met ‘everybody’.
• If you can smile when things go wrong, you must have someone else in mind to blame.
• The sole purpose of a child’s middle name is so that he can tell when he’s ‘really’ in trouble.
• There’s always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don’t hurt.
• Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words ‘The’ and ‘IRS’ together it spells ‘Theirs.’ 
• Aging: Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.   
• The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
• Some people try to turn back their life’s odometers. Not me, I want people to know ‘why’ I look this way. I’ve traveled a long, long way and some of the roads weren’t paved. When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.
• You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks. 
• One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.
• Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.
• Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today, it’s called golf!

It appears that China sold US builders toxic drywall that is “allegedly” emitting sulfur fumes, causing health issues and damaging HVAC and heating units.  Hands up to all that are surprised at this finding?  When will we stop buying solely on price? 

The most interesting item in this article on the Chinese drywall is that homeowners who file a lawsuit against the manufacturer potentially risk not being able to have a new loan against the home.  How nice is that?  You own a toxic home and you can’t refinance it or sell it.  Next question will be is how long can you insure it? 

This is fact: China has sold toxic items, including toys. China does NOT do this to deliberately harm, but to save money.  How many recalls will it take for us to learn? We are all trying to save in these difficult economic times, but will you pay more for US made? Do you check labels and make a conscious effort to buy US made?  Perhaps, if we all make that effort, we can potentially create more jobs in the US with our purchasing decisions, and live a less toxic life!

Have you thought about buying Bank-Owned homes in bulk?  I thought it was an interesting topic, and decided to hear the facts from four (4) investors who have actually purchased bulk bank-owned homes.  Below are the main bullet points….

• Homes are available from brokers who hold this list.  Finding out who owns the list is part of the mystery of the business.  You need to do the leg-work with banks and lending institutions.
• Once you get that list, you must respond in 24 hours.  Usually you CANNOT cherry-pick from the list that you are given.  You do purchase them through a title company.
• You buy homes with pricing starting at $100,000 to over $1 million for a block of homes. This group basically bought homes in the $100,000 bulk range for an average of $6,000/house.
• Most of these homes have been on the market for a couple of years, so they are NOT your “Home & Gardens” variety.  Some are burnt out, vacant lots, missing plumbing/walls/wiring.
• Many have liens on them from utility bills, water bills, tax bills etc.  Not all of these liens can be found out in advance if you purchased from a state that sells tax liens.  You need to expect liens on these properties.
• Most properties are in different states.  These investors no longer buy in certain areas because of urban blight.  Your homes will not be in California and NOT all in the same state.
• These homes are not easily insured and there are liability and insurance issues on these homes.
• There are different classes of bulk properties to buy. A – being most expensive.  These investors bought mostly the C class.
• You cannot sell until you get the deed.  This can take some time, even though you “technically” own the property.  (It can take up to 2 years to unload one of these properties.)
• The exit strategy after buying these homes is to list them on the MLS or Craig’s List.  The most common way to dispose of them is by SELLER FINANCING!  (They hire a company to do the collections of the monthly mortgage and to send out notices.) They sell for 70% of property value since they are being sold in rough shape.  They do mostly land contracts.
• They recommend you purchase out of your IRA and purchase in a LLC. 
• Be prepared to have a staff of people to handle the phones and assist with the selling process.  This process is NOT for the first time investor, nor faint of heart.

For more information regarding this and other investing questions contact the San Jose Real Estate Investment Association.  They meet in Pleasanton the first Wednesday of each month at the Four Points Sheraton.

If you are interested in purchasing an investment property in East Contra Costa County, please give me a call at 925-852-1659.

Brentwood has some GREAT places to eat and one of them is within walking distance of my home. The Nines  at Brentwood Golf Club is located at the entrance of Summerset Palms, and is owned by Trilogy.  It has fabulous salads/food, and a fun atmosphere.  It was also voted Brentwood’s Best Business Lunch and Best Patio Dining for the past several years.

For a delicious EARLY BIRD DINNER, come to The Nines on SUN- THURS from 4PM-6PM.  The early-bird selections were taken from their main menu, but differ only in smaller portion sizes & prices.  The normal dinner menu offers something for everyone.  You will NOT be disappointed with the choice or the portion.  The citrus salad, prime rib and meat loaf are my favorite!

On weekends, you can get breakfast starting at 7AM. You can have a great breakfast before hitting the golf course, located on the same property.   Brentwood Golf Club offers 27 Holes of Championship Golf Courses designed by world renowned golf course architect, Ted Robinson. Public play is welcomed.  A FREE Titleist Pro V1 Promotion is now being offered at The Brentwood Golf Club.  You receive a FREE sleeve of Titleist Pro V1X golf balls with your purchase of 18-holes of weeday golf.  Weekday golf is $40 and weekend golf is $55.  Call the club for details @ 925-516-3400.  Both the restaurant and golf club are located at 100 Summerset Drive, Brentwood, CA. 

Although the weather does not bring thoughts of patio dining, The Nines is a great place to come after work or golf to enjoy the summer nights.  Friday nights on the patio have a band, so plan a fun summer night now in your imagination!

Hi, all you animal lovers!  We all know that a pet can make a house a home!  The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily, so they can meet their quota of getting FREE FOOD donated every day to abused and neglected animals.

It takes less than a minute (about 15 seconds) to go to their site and click on the PURPLE BOX  ‘fund food for animals for free’. This doesn’t cost you a thing.  Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.

Here’s the web site! (CLICK HERE) Please go on it, and click for the animals and pass it along 10 friends that you know.  THANK YOU!!!

Also, per Snopes, this is a legitimate site!

APHORISMS are a short, pointed sentence expressing a wise or clever observation of truth.  Here are a few for you to ponder today.  What other ones can you come up with?

1.  The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow. 

2..  Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail. 

3.  If you don’t have a sense of humor, you probably don’t have any sense at all. 

4.  Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs. 

5.  A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you’re in deep water. 

6.  How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night? 

7.  Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without. 

8.  Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks? 

9.  Scratch a cat and you will have a permanent job. 

10.  No one has more driving ambition than the boy who wants to buy a car. 

11.  There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity. 

12.  There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 AM.  – Like this: It could be a right number. 

13.  No one ever says ‘It’s only a game.’ when their team is winning. 

14.  I’ve reached the age where the happy hour is a nap. 

15.  Be careful reading the fine print.  There’s no way you’re going to like it. 

16.  The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket. 

17.  Do you realize that in about 40 years, we’ll have thousands of wrinkled old ladies running around with tattoos?   

18.  Money can’t buy happiness — but somehow it’s more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than in a Yugo.

I hope you enjoyed this break from real estate.  Remember, life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

What is happening in the real estate market?  When will home prices increase?   This is the mantra that most real estate agents in Contra Costa hear on a daily basis.  Beacon Economics wrote an interesting report addressing these issues.   Although it was presented in September 2009, the data is  still relevant.

The East Bay benefitted more than other areas in the mortgage mark-up, and thus has been hit hardest.  The author believes that now that affordability is being restored to Contra Costa, we will be able to intice workers back to buy homes.

This report states that the East Bay stopped creating jobs in August 2006!  We are now at almost 11% unemployment. WOW!  They expect another loss of 19,300 jobs by mid 2010, at which time it will reverse.  Well, let’s hope so!!!  However, this report does not mention in what sectors jobs will increase.

Beacon Economics predicts that the recovery will be on the way for the Bay Area by year end!  HAPPY NEW YEAR! For a complete look at this report, click here and go to page 79 of page 175.

To look at the presentation that was given to the San Francisco Assoc. of Realtors, click this link.  If you ever get a chance to hear Christopher Thornberg speak, don’t miss the chance.  You will not regret it!