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The Real Estate Informer

Email
Bernard@BernardGibbons.com

Direct Line
(925) 648-5354

Web Site
www.BernardGibbons.com

September 2005


Is The Market Slowing- Or Just Taking A Break?

As I write this column at the beginning of September, most real estate agents in our area are asking themselves this question.

Typically, during the peak summer months when school is out, real estate activity slows significantly. Many people are focused initially on family vacations and then after the vacation, on preparing for the new school term. Only then do they once more start to think about moving to another home.

Similarly, people with families who are relocating to a new area generally try to time the sale of their existing home and purchase of a new one so that their physical move is in the period while school is out. Again, the sales activity takes place before the summer really gets under way.

This summer has been no exception. Many homes that were listed for sale in July are still offered for sale and Open House attendance and showings figures are much reduced. And many of those sellers expecting to get multiple offers for their home as soon as it was listed for sale have been sorely disappointed.

The busiest time of year for real estate sales for many agents is spring time – from around mid-February until the end of June. The second busiest is from the start of the new school year in September up until Thanksgiving.

We know that record sales activity took place this year between March and July. Much of this was due to a shortage of homes for sale in most areas combined with an abundance of buyers. A glance at the table at the foot of Page 2 will demonstrate that we are no longer short of homes for sale (although neither do we have a major surplus).

Provided that buyers come back on the scene in reasonable numbers we can anticipate another active time ahead. If not, then perhaps the recent pattern of double digit percentage annual price increases is over for a while.

There is nothing anybody can do to influence this situation but within two or three weeks we should be able to see where the market is going. And even if prices were to fall (which seems unlikely), this is not necessarily a catastrophic state of affairs. Remember that unless you are relocating, you buy and sell in the same market. It is primarily the difference in price between your existing home and your new one that you should focus on. Not the absolute sale or purchase price.

 


 

Restaurant Review

 

Yang’s at Canyon Lakes, 500 Bollinger Canyon Way, San Ramon

Yang’s is the latest addition to the restaurant scene in San Ramon and very welcome it is indeed. Yang's at Canyon Lakes is a modern Chinese restaurant. Their blurb says that they pride themselves in serving traditional and modern Chinese cuisine with the best quality in food, service, and atmosphere and I find it hard to disagree. The space was previously occupied by a Japanese restaurant but Yang’s has remodeled it completely and the first impression on entering is of a very contemporary, fairly minimalist style although instantly recognizable as a Chinese restaurant. Uncle Yu’s meets PF Chang perhaps.

This is a very spacious restaurant with seating for over 100 people and also an attractive and well-stocked full bar. The menu is less than extensive by Chinese restaurant standards but they do have some very interesting dishes as well as a number of “standards”. Sylvia and I opted to share an order of Mu Shu Pork as an appetizer. That is Stir-fried pork with shredded vegetables, served with Hoi sin sauce and thin pancakes for those unfamiliar with this dish. It was delicious. As good as any I have tasted.

For our main courses, Sylvia chose the Szechwan Beef while I chose the Braised Sea Bass. Yang’s identifies both of these as “Chef’s Specials”. The beef was delicious and the Sea Bass was absolutely superb. So good, that I will have difficulty in choosing anything else from this restaurant when I dine here in the future.

Other dishes on the menu that sound interesting are Mango Chicken and Coconut Curry Shrimp as well as a few old favorites like Chow Fun and Kung Pao Chicken.

Chinese restaurants are not really noted for desserts and neither of us had the space for one but it was interesting to note that Yang’s again avoids the stereotype, instead offering such choices as Tiramisu, Raspberry Cheesecake and Triple Chocolate Mousse – maybe next time!

The wine list is short but well chosen with new world wines being well represented as well as the usual California varietals. Prices are reasonable too. We selected a bottle of Toasted Head Chardonnay that cost $30.

Service was friendly and efficient, even though the staff were still inexperienced here (the restaurant had only been open 2 weeks) and it was pleasing to be given the choice of white or brown rice. Our waitress also offered an ice bucket for the wine which was appreciated. Another thing I liked – there was no feeling that the wait-staff wanted you out of there as fast as possible. I do like to have a relaxing, unhurried meal when I go out to dinner. All in all, this was a very pleasant experience and a great addition to the San Ramon dining scene. Find out more at their web site at www.YangsRestaurant.com.

Reviews such as the one above are included as a service to introduce people to interesting restaurants in the San Ramon Valley. They should not be taken as any form of recommendation. We have no connection with any restaurateurs in the area and all opinions expressed are strictly those of the writer.

 


 

Homes Currently Offered For Sale on the Contra Costa MLS as of September 1st, 2005

(Figures in parentheses show the numbers at the middle of last month)

 

 

City

# of Homes

Price From

Price To

Alamo

49 (44)

$759,000

$12,500,000

Blackhawk

42  (38)

$775,000

$10,999,000

Danville

119 (120)

$4369,000

$7,998,000

Diablo

13 (13)

$1,695,000

$6,199,000

San Ramon

151 (130)

$389,000

$2,980,000

Walnut Creek

132 (129)

$260,000

$2,495,000

 

 


 

 

LISTING ALERTS: Click here to get details of all new listings that could interest yousent from the Contra Costa / Alameda Multiple Listing Service direct to your email in-box



San Ramon Valley Market Update

Information To Help You Understand The Value Of Your Biggest Investment

Most Recently Closed Sales In Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville , San Ramon and Walnut Creek

(Sorted By City and Price)

Address

City

Cross Street

BR

Bth

½ Bth

SqFt

Lot Sq Ft

Sold Price

DOM

985  Danville Blvd

Alamo

Camille Ave

2

2

0

1339

13068

$790,000

15

261  Livorna Heights Rd

Alamo

Livorna Road

5

3

0

3052

25570

$1,200,000

13

1285  Danville Blvd

Alamo

La Serena

4

3

0

2700

20328

$1,250,000

7

5  Cypress Point Ct

Alamo

Peake

4

2

1

2404

18225

$1,275,000

23

163  Cross Road

Alamo

Smith

4

3

1

3225

51836

$1,875,000

78

101  Kingswood Cir

Blackhawk

Kingswood Drive

3

2

1

2258

4320

$895,000

18

30  Live Oak Way

Blackhawk

Live Oak Dr.

3

2

1

2666

8925

$1,075,000

12

3211  Blackhawk Meadow Dr

Danville

Blackhawk Drive

4

3

0

2587

8624

$1,300,000

40

4085  Eagle Nest Ln

Danville

Eagle Nest Place

5

4

0

3647

9095

$1,715,000

6

5235  Blackhawk Dr

Blackhawk

Blackhawk Meadow

4

3

1

4289

16512

$1,899,000

0

3440  Quail Walk

Blackhawk

Blackhawk Drive

4

6

0

5767

35625

$2,750,000

8

4499  Deer Ridge Rd

Blackhawk

Blackhawk Drive

6

8

2

12308

87991

$6,890,000

91

1157  San Ramon Valley Blvd

Danville

Srv Blvd.

3

2

1

1301

1050

$554,000

1

61  Leeds Court East

Danville

Tunbridge

3

2

1

2022

0

$729,000

26

735  Ynez Cir

Danville

Contada Circle

2

2

0

1373

6095

$740,000

4

226  Abigail Cir

Danville

Maison

4

2

1

2396

4000

$799,950

5

284  Valle Vista Drive

Danville

Cameo Drive

3

1

1

1191

11875

$825,000

13

404  Greenbriar Ct

Danville

Norbert Street

3

2

0

1865

8800

$867,000

6

82  Stowbridge Court

Danville

Adobe

4

3

0

2344

7665

$940,000

16

114  Siena Pl

Danville

Fontaine

4

3

0

2407

7150

$990,000

5

620  Morninghome Rd

Danville

Sycamore Valley

4

2

1

2801

10400

$1,149,000

6

112  Blackpool Court

Danville

Cheshire Circle

4

3

0

3401

7000

$1,160,000

3

324  Del Amigo Drive

Danville

Emerald

4

2

0

2640

15090

$1,267,500

5

60  Sunset Ct

Danville

Park Haven

5

3

0

3409

9360

$1,375,000

21

106  Compton Cir

San Ramon

Twin Creeks

2

2

0

995

1058

$432,000

4

2949  Fountainhead Dr

San Ramon

Fountainhead

2

1

1

954

1287

$445,000

20

9915  Mangos Dr

San Ramon

Montevideo

3

1

1

938

15680

$649,950

31

3741  Norris Canyon Rd

San Ramon

Marsh

4

2

1

1965

2610

$661,000

8

165  Landsdowne Loop

San Ramon

Windemere Parkwa

4

3

0

2369

0

$819,000

25

9528  Broadmoor Drive

San Ramon

Belle Meade

4

3

0

2012

9600

$875,000

16

406  Arlewood Ct

San Ramon

Kenwick

4

3

0

2365

0

$960,000

7

712  Birdwood Ct

San Ramon

Barossa

4

3

0

2378

4269

$960,000

2

2450  Canyon Lakes Drive

San Ramon

Bollinger

4

2

1

2424

3600

$965,000

1

1121  Overlook Ct

San Ramon

Alcosta

4

2

1

2602

11875

$1,020,000

1

5325  Canyon Crest Dr.

San Ramon

Crow Canyon

4

3

0

2804

6100

$1,160,000

7

2564  Walnut Blvd

Walnut Creek

Ygnacio Valley

1

1

0

710

0

$350,000

44

617  N Villa Way

Walnut Creek

Olympic

1

1

1

844

0

$430,000

31

487  Geni Ct

Walnut Creek

Le Jean

3

2

0

1307

25375

$690,000

0

1032  Burlington Ct

Walnut Creek

Castle Rock

3

2

0

1926

11000

$1,006,000

5

2795  Cherry Ln

Walnut Creek

Treat Blvd

2

2

0

2966

20473

$1,017,000

12

 


For more detailed information on home sales anywhere in Contra Costa or Alameda County , contact Bernard Gibbons on (925) 997-1585 or by email at Bernard@BernardGibbons.com


JUST LISTED – 176 Valdivia Circle, San Ramon

This attractive 4 bed, 3 full bath tri-level home is in absolutely impeccable condition throughout.
Click here for full details and a Virtual Tour.

Offered For Sale at $842,500


Community Calendar – September 2005

 

Fri 2nd

Concord – Earth, Wind & Fire – Chronicle Pavilion

Fri 2nd

Pleasanton – Concert in the Park – Public Eye

Sat 3rd, Sun 4th

Pleasanton - 140th Annual Scottish Games – Alameda Fairgrounds

Sun 4th, Mon 5th

Livermore Wine Festival

Tue 6th

Livermore - Huey Lewis & The News – Wente Winery

Wed 7th

Livermore - Bill Cosby – Wente Winery

Fri 9th

Concord – Jesse McCartney – Chronicle Pavilion

Sat 10th, Sun 11th

San Ramon Arts Walk & Festival

Sun 11th

Alamo - 22nd Annual Music & Wine Festival

Sun 11th

ConcordTori Amos – Chronicle Pavilion

Tue 13th

Livermore - Johnny Lang – Wente Winery

Sat 17th

Danville’s Arts on The Green

Sat 17th, Sun 18th

Lafayette Art & Wine Festival

Thu 22nd – Sun 25th

Walnut Creek - Walnut Festival

Sat 24th

Concord – KBLX Soul Music Festival – Chronicle Pavilion

Mon 26th

Livermore - Seal – Wente Winery

 


This newsletter is produced and distributed by Bernard Gibbons of Intero Real Estate Services. It is provided for information purposes only and nothing herein is offered as advice. It is not Intended to solicit any properties currently listed for sale with a broker. All content is believed to be accurate but is not verified or guaranteed.

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Intero Real Estate Services, 15 Railroad Avenue, Danville, CA 94526


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