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Real Estate Informer

Real Estate News of the San Ramon Valley and Lamorinda

from Bernard Gibbons of Intero Real Estate Services

 

January 2006

 

 

925-997-1585 – Direct                    Bernard@BernardGibbons.com

 

Happy New Year 2006

In this, my first Real Estate Informer newsletter of 2006, I want to take the opportunity to say welcome to all new readers as well as wishing all readers, old and new alike, a Happy and Prosperous 2006.

Many of you are already accustomed to getting my newsletter on a monthly basis as I have been producing it now for over 2 years. This issue marks a change in design so that I can streamline the production and substantially increase the number of people who receive it. I look forward to keeping all of you informed with real estate matters and statistics here in the East Bay and entertained with the restaurant reviews that form a part of every issue.

On this the editorial page, I will let you know where we see the market going; what changes are taking place and what is predicted for the future. As I write this column towards the end of December, there are more homes for sale than is usual at this time of year and in the main, they are taking a little longer to sell than earlier in the year. But then the Holiday Season is often unpredictable. We will have a much better idea of how the market is shaping up by this time next month.

I am a long-time resident of the East Bay and I am proud to serve the community as a successful real estate agent, having listed and sold many homes here over the past few years. Please consider me as your personal resource should you have any questions even remotely regarding real estate where I may be able to be of assistance. For example, if you need a contractor of any kind, just give me a call. I can refer you to somebody who is personally recommended by me or one of my colleagues. Far better than resorting to the Yellow Pages!

Finally, if you have any thoughts about selling your home here or buying a home here or elsewhere, please let me know. I will be happy to give you the benefit of my experience by giving you a Valuation and making recommendations about preparing your home for sale so that you can get the best price when you sell - all without any obligation.

 


 FREE Home Valuation

Thinking of selling? Home prices have increased at a phenomenal rate over the past few years. To get a Free Up-To-Date Valuation of your home without any obligation, together with suggestions for what you can do to maximize its appeal, visit www.BernardGibbons.com or for an immediate response call Bernard Gibbons on (925) 997-1585.

 


Restaurant Review

The Crown Pub, 331 Hartz Avenue, Danville.

In it’s own words, the Crown is an upscale London style pub where local people of all ages meet to eat, drink and socialize. Certainly they seem to have discovered the formula for success, as on a mid-week evening, many restaurants in downtown Danville have few tables occupied, while the Crown is unquestionably busy. And that is not because of any shortage of space. The ambience is comfortably “pubby” with a constant chatter of background noise. There is a traditional bar with stool seating and a stone fireplace in the center of the pub with tables on all sides. Down the right hand side are a number of booths, all capable of seating six people and there are outside seating areas both at the front and the rear. The covered outside front area is particularly popular and people choose to sit there even in Winter when it’s not too cold(!)

Brits, in particular, will be impressed with the range and quality of British beers, yet they also have a decent selection of reasonably priced wines available by the glass or by the bottle including La Crema chardonnay and Firestone Cabernet. Beers on tap include Fullers London Pride and ESB, Marston Pedigree and Boddingtons plus Blackthorne cider and Stella Artois lager. The Crown has also taken the novel step of offering beer in a choice of regular (American) pint glasses or in the larger, Imperial pints as sold in Britain.

Even with average food, the ambience would probably ensure the Crown’s popularity. Fortunately though, their food is better than most. Their fish and chips is advertised as “the best in the Bay Area” and few would argue the point. The bangers and mash is outstanding. They don’t offer traditional pies anymore but they do have a lamb hotpot and shepherd’s pie on offer as well as grilled Salmon and New York steak plus a selection of burgers and sandwiches. There is also a good range of children’s meals as this is very definitely a family restaurant.

As if all this is not enough, the Crown has “specials” nights such as Monday $6 fish and chip night and Tuesday $6 burger and fries night. They also have live music at the weekend. Their web site at www.crownpub.com has full details of all activities and plenty of photos together with a copy of the menu and wine lists. 

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.

 


 JUST LISTED FOR SALE

1919 Ygnacio Valley Rd, #36, Walnut Creek

Investors, first-time buyers and others - who do you know that could be interested in buying this pristine 2nd floor condominium in Walnut Creek’s Ygnacio Gardens? Located next to Ygnacio Plaza shopping center and across from Heather Farm Park, this immaculate 2 bed, 1 ½ bath home is convenient for everything and has the added benefit of Northgate schools.

Listed for Sale at $385,000

Visit www.BernardGibbons.com for much more information and a Virtual Tour, then call Bernard Gibbons on (925) 997-1585 to arrange a personal showing.


Seasonal Home Maintenance Tips

Home Maintenance is always in season and at this time of year more than any other, a little time spent on preparing your home for the coming months can result in big cost bsavings in the longer term. The following tips can really save you money:

1. Clean out gutters and downspouts

2. Store firewood at least 30 feet away from your home

3. Clean the exhaust duct on your clothes dryer

4. Clean the kitchen exhaust hood and air filter

5. Check the water hoses on the clothes washer, dishwasher and refrigerator icemaker for leaks or cracks

6. Change the air filter on your furnace

7. Replace all the batteries in your smoke detectors

8. Test all GFCI type electrical outlets for proper operation

 


Thinking About Moving? – Get This FREE e-Book

Before you put your home on the market, get a copy of my FREE e-Book, “450 Ideas To Help Your Home Sell FASTER”. This is no lightweight brochure – 52 pages of useful information on preparing your home for sale.

For your FREE copy, point your web browser to www.BernardGibbons.com and click on the “FREE Home Preparation e-Book” link or just send an email to Bernard@BernardGibbons.com and I’ll send you a copy by return.

 

 


 

LISTING ALERTS: Click here to get details of all new listings that could interest you sent 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

110  Paseo Del Sol

Alamo

Livorna

4

2

0

1862

24500

$995,000

40

910  Escondido Ct

Alamo

Camille

4

2

0

1806

19575

$1,250,000

7

1285  Danville Blvd

Alamo

La Serena

4

3

2700

20328

$1,250,000

7

15  Oak Crest Ln

Alamo

Crest

4

3

1

3453

30797

$1,449,000

3

3127  Deer Meadow Dr

Danville

Blackhawk Club

4

2

1

2706

11200

$1,195,000

38

61  Blackhills Pl

Blackhawk

Deer Meadow Dr

4

3

0

3700

18513

$1,825,000

7

3077  Fostoria Cir

Danville

Camino Ramon

2

2

0

990

0

$450,000

30

81  Fawn Pl

Danville

Ridgeland

3

2

1

1590

3008

$715,000

8

701  Senca Court

Danville

Contada Circle

3

2

0

1598

6600

$790,000

36

226  Abigail Cir

Danville

Maison

4

2

1

2396

4000

$799,950

5

426  Woodbine Ln

Danville

Adobe Dr

3

2

0

2263

10396

$949,000

20

690  Glasgow Cir

Danville

Camino Tassajara

4

2

1

2813

5000

$949,000

19

3531  Shadow Creek Dr

Danville

Camino Tassajara

4

3

0

3278

7400

$1,020,000

7

976  Richard Ln

Danville

Gatetree

4

3

0

2696

11408

$1,070,000

30

72  Rock Ridge Ct

Danville

Hill Meado

4

2

1

2686

10384

$1,160,000

42

130  Westwich St

Danville

Liverpool

5

3

0

2981

10300

$1,340,000

2

814  Tunbridge Rd

Danville

Ambleside Ct

4

3

0

3300

12900

$1,397,000

15

636  Stevens Ct

Danville

Oakgate

4

3

3380

15380

$1,530,000

21

331  Norris Canyon Terrace

San Ramon

Alcosta

2

2

0

1164

0

$490,000

-62

504  Destiny Lane

San Ramon

Prestige

3

2

1

1325

0

$600,000

7

1515  Arianna Ln

San Ramon

Bollinger-Albion

2

2

0

1211

0

$605,000

0

6176  Lakeview Cir

San Ramon

Crow Canyon

3

2

1

1960

6000

$650,000

5

610  Weatherly Place

San Ramon

Springdale

3

2

0

1542

7225

$650,000

93

3068  Lakemont Dr

San Ramon

Crow Canyon

3

2

0

1778

0

$657,500

5

501  Ivy Pointe Cir

San Ramon

Dougherty

3

2

1

1587

2560

$700,000

55

3340  Roma Place

San Ramon

Santa Rosa Avenu

3

2

0

1471

7000

$725,000

33

112  Triana Way

San Ramon

Triana

4

2

1

2109

3540

$790,000

8

2729  Marsh Dr

San Ramon

Norris Canyon

5

3

0

2227

10000

$815,000

4

340  Civic N Dr

Walnut Creek

Parkside Drive

1

1

0

776

0

$325,000

21

1511  Villa S Way

Walnut Creek

Olympic

1

1

0

746

0

$400,000

44

1340  Las Juntas Way

Walnut Creek

Oak

2

2

0

1114

0

$475,000

17

2570  Walnut Blvd

Walnut Creek

Ygnacio Valley

2

2

0

1071

0

$479,000

6

359  Kinross Dr

Walnut Creek

Siskiyou Drive

2

2

0

1101

2450

$555,000

7

15  Vartan Court

Walnut Creek

2nd Ave

3

2

1096

7140

$625,500

6

838  Savannah Cir

Walnut Creek

Arkell

3

2

0

1720

9944

$649,000

4

145  Montanya Ct

Walnut Creek

Overlook

4

3

0

1836

7260

$681,000

14

161  Gordon Rd

Walnut Creek

Marshall

3

2

0

1425

9775

$690,000

110

1721  2nd Ave

Walnut Creek

N.Main/Buena Vis

3

2

0

1678

17860

$690,000

20

1611  Mendota Ct

Walnut Creek

Cayucos(Holland)

4

2

0

1861

11200

$840,000

19

1731  Mendota Way

Walnut Creek

Pico

4

3

0

1948

10000

$860,000

20

756  Beale Ct

Walnut Creek

Savannah Circle

3

3

0

2754

12000

$1,135,000

6

3318  Whitehaven Dr

Walnut Creek

Arbolado

5

3

0

3111

11700

$1,150,000

26

 


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


 

PS: I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter as much as I enjoy producing it but it is very much a one way affair most of the time. I really would appreciate an email from you now and then with comments, questions or suggestions for improvements or just to say “Hi”.

 

All The Best

 

Bernard Gibbons

bernard@bernardgibbons.com

 

 


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.

You have received this email newsletter because at some time in the past you have given me your email address and indicated an interest in buying or selling real estate. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please send an email to unsubscribe@BernardGibbons.com with your name in the body of the email.

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


Please Visit My Web Site at www.BernardGibbons.com