Elaine King's Real Estate Blog

Hello 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 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!!!

(Per Snopes, this is a legitimate site!)

Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 26^th at 8PM.  Brentwood’s Relay for Life Benefit concert is taking place at the beautiful and historical El Campanil Theatre (602 W Second St in Antioch CA).

This year’s benefit concert features FOREVERLAND, the BayArea’s 14 Piece Tribute to Michael Jackson.  Foreverland is direct from sold-out performances in San Francisco, at Yoshi’s & Bimbo’s.  For tickets & more information please contact the El Campanil Theatre at (925)757-9500 or online at www.elcampaniltheatre.com.  Tickets are priced at $40 for Premium Seating and $30.00 Adults ($25.00 Seniors/Juniors) for general seating.  There is not a bad seat in this theatre and ALL PROCEEDS will benefit the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life in Brentwood!

Relay For Life of Brentwood is scheduled for June 11-12 at Liberty High School. For more information, please call Ron at 925 550-1182.

Halloween is a great time to dress up and be a kid; no matter what your age.   Do you remember the joy of putting on a costume once a year and going out at night and getting all those treats!  WOW!  Now, kids have to be careful on where they go and what they receive as a treat.

To make this time of year more enjoyable, below is some info on events taking place in the East Bay Delta Area to celebrate this Day of the Dead.  ENJOY!

Sanctuary of Evil Maze & Haunted House – Oct  24 -31 7-10PM; A corn maze, coffin ride and more.  For more info call (925)206-3339.  OAKLEY

Antioch Church of the Rock Fall Festival – Oct 30 4-7PM Carnival Games, prizes, face painting, music. For more info call (925)757-4359 ANTIOCH  www.antiochotr.org

Brentwood Trick or Treaters Welcome – Oct 31  1-6PM; Children welcome to receive free Halloween goodies.  Sand Creek & Highway 4 Bypass.  BRENTWOOD

Day of the Spooky Streets – Oct 31 noon-4:30PM  Streets of Brentwood celebrates with crafts, games and a pumpkin patch.  www.shopstreetsofbrentwood.com/events.cfm.  BRENTWOOD

Hoops & Horror – Oct 31 7-9PM A fun night of basketball, candy games and movies at the Delta Valley Athletic Club. $25.  (925)238-8434.  BRENTWOOD

On September 17, 2010, I again attended a fundraising event for the Susan G. Komen foundation at the Nixon Library.  This year the food was again incredible; prepared by White House catering!  A panel of  well- respected real estate professionals gathered to discuss the current real estate market and possible solutions to the perceived issues of the industry.  The panel consisted of  Bruce Norris (President of The Norris Group),  Christopher Thornberg ( Beacon Economics), Daniel Phelan (Mortgage Bankers Assoc.), Joseph Magdziarz (Appraisal Institute), Peter Wayman ( Freddie Mac), Sarah Letts (Fannie Mae), Sean O’ Toole ( Foreclosure Radar) and Tommy Williams (Williams & Williams Auctions)

This is my third year attending this breast cancer benefit.  I enjoyed the honest opinions of the panel on how they are dealing with this challenging market.  This is the first year that speakers from Fannie & Freddie attended talking about bulk REO purchases.

Please click on this link to hear this worthwhile program.  It is in five (5) segments which will allow you to digest all the meat of the discussions.  (Allow 4 hours to hear the total event.)  IT IS WELL WORTH IT!!!!

Brentwood’s Relay for Life event was held yesterday at Liberty High’s Ohmstede Field.  Teams gathered early in the morning with the Survivors Lap starting at 9:30 AM.  As I walked with hundreds of other purple shirted “survivors”, I was humbled as fellow team members cheered us and clapped for our journey and success.  It was a day (24 hours) of sharing, crying and laughing.

Our small but mighty team from Summerset, the Summerset Originals, raised over $8000 for patient support, risk reduction, and detection/treatment.  The blowing winds kept the temperatures nice, but eliminated many tarps/temporary team covers.  Teams sold and donated services for the cause.   My vet, Brentwood Family Pet Care was there offering animal cancer screenings for a small donation and donated several raffle items for the cause.  Team “Doodle Paws” had a raffle for a new born puppy and a beautiful quilt.  Two churches (Brentwood Community United Methodist Church and Kaleidoscope thru Byron United Methodist Church) also donated quilts.  Kaleidoscope Programs offer hope and assistance to cancer patients.

At dusk, the luminaries were lit remembering all who have passed.  It was truly touching as I walked past the decorated and lit luminary bags with names.  In addition, all of those honored had their names scrolling on a large screen in the darkness and quiet of the evening.  Treasure your health and your family, and if you have an opportunity to participate in Brentwood’s 2011 Relay for Life, DO IT!

Are you ready to shop for bargains?  Brentwood this weekend is all about YOU saving money at these yearly events.  Tomorrow, May 22^nd is Summerset’s ANNUAL GARAGE SALE.  Summerset has four communities: Summerset 1, Summerset II (The Palms), Summerset III (Vista), and Summerset IV (The Orchards) and each community will be open to the public.  (A great way to see life behind the gates!  )  The hours are 8AM – 2PM, but go early for the deals!    I love living in Summerset!  For more information, give me a call.

Brentwood will also host the SPRING YARD SALE for the Soroptimist’s at 1201 Dainty Avenue (Central near Griffith)

The Oakley Ranch development (Brentwood Blvd & Charles Way) is also hosting a weekend GARAGE SALE from 9-4 on 5/22 and 5/23.

Need Fido washed?  There will be a dog parade, dog wash and walking to benefit HARP (Homeless Animals Resource Program) at the Shops at Fairview (1301 Balfour Road) This location is between all four (4) Summerset locations.

Don’t forget to buy your fresh fruits and foods from the Brentwood Farmer’s Market!  Located in downtown Brentwood on 2nd street; the street vendors offer fresh fruits/vegetables, organic eggs and meats, breads, plants, and prepared foods. They open at 8AM!

So, come to Brentwood to find some old treasures to enjoy and have a great weekend!

This blog is a summary of  upcoming weekend events in Brentwood….

For your IRIS lovers, the Brentwood Iris Garden (195 Payne Ave) is opening this weekend (3/20) to showcase the early blooming dwarf iris.  Brentwood Gardens grow irises, day lilies, and chrysanthemums.  The tall bearded-iris should be growing around 3/27.  Keep your calendars open for the weekend Iris festival on 4/17 and 4/18.  

Remember, while enjoying the flowers of Brentwood, allow time to enjoy the wineries (Hannah Nicole, Tamayo, and Bloomfield) and McCauley Olive Groves for some olive oil tastings. 

Speaking of wine, the CO.Co. Wounty Wine Company is having a Wine & Chocolate Fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on Sunday, 3/21.  The cost is $30 to benefit a worthy cause and sample wines & chocolates!  YUM!

Summerset 4, at the Orchard View Lodge is hosting  a Spring Boutique to benefit Garin Elementary School’s Library.  The event is Saturday, March 20th.  There will be 25 Bay Area Vendors  displaying  their wares.  For more information on Summerset, Brentwood’s original Active Adult Community, please email me.

On Saturday, March 20th, at Liberty High School; there will be a Diabetes fundraiser from 9AM – 5PM.  The money raised from the event will go toward education at schools on how to deal with emergency diabetic situations and promotion of a healthy lifestyle.  Come and support a worthy cause.

For you local historic fans, the East County Historical Society holds its annual Opening Day Celebration on Saturday, March 27th at Byron Hot Springs.  Be there from 11AM-4PM for a classic car show, to view John Marsh paintings and family enertainment. The Museum is open every Saturday and the third Sunday of the month from April thru October.

Speaking of John Marsh,  the only remaining relic of this cattle baron & pioneer is his home.  This week, the first phase of stabilization of the house  will take place thanks to a recent grant. The home, located on Marsh Creek Road, the home is fenced and needs serious renovation.   The $800,000 grant will be used to install temporary steel supports, tracing the outside walls and strengthening the roof and floor joists.  

Before the heat is upon us, come and explore Brentwood’s gardens, wineries, olive oil plants, vendors and shops.  If you have any Brentwood real estate questions, please call me.  Enjoy the weekend!

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!

On September 11, 2009, I attended a fundraising event for the Susan G. Komen foundation.  The event was called “I Survived Real Estate”; hosted by TNG of Riverside CA. 

At the Nixon Library, a panel of eight (8) well- respected real estate professionals gathered to discuss the current real estate market and possible solutions to the perceived issues of the industry.  This symposium talked briefly on each of their subjects and then sparred in a lively discussion.  The team consisted on the head of the mortgage bankers association, a former NAR President, a principle at Beacon Economics, a VP of the CA Builer’s Industry, a 2008 President of the National Auctioneer’s Assoc, a VP of the Appraisal Institute and the Sr. VP of Realty Trac.

This is my second year of attending this breast cancer benefit.  I enjoyed the honest opinions of what is happening in the housing market, how they are dealing with this challenging market and how they are navigating their team of people relying on them for answers.

Please click on the link below to hear this worthwhile program.  It is in three (3) segments which will allow you to digest all the meat of the discussions.  (Allow 4 hours to hear the total event.)  IT IS WELL WORTH IT!!!!

http://www.thenorrisgroup.com/blog/video-blog/i-survived-real-estate-2009/