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Concord, CA Real Estate News

By Terrylynn Fisher, HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.
(Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com)
Untitled Document <!-- body,td,th { font-family: Humanist531ATT BT, Architect, Arial; font-size: 12px; } .style1 { color: #017CC2; font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; } .style2 { font-size: 10; font-style: italic; } .style3 {color: #ffffff} .style4 { font-size: 14; font-weight: bold; } --> Higher Energy Costs Need Not Dim Your Holiday Cheer Fun yet practical energy efficiency tips from the Alliance to Save Energy can help reduce holiday stress and home winter energy costs. •Don't let "Ole Man Winter" keep you from lounging around in that slinky new holiday nightgown and robe set. A well insulated house will keep you cozy - and lower your heating costs by as much a...
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By Mike Mueller
(Tech and Social Media Consultant)
Saturday, November 17th:  Over 58,000 volunteers participated in over 1,000 projects in more than 450 cities across 100 countries.    Really?  That's the line from the Citi issues press release.  Does that mean it really happened?  I can't say.  Is this just another large company pumping out pseudo propaganda in an effort to bolster it's image?  Maybe.  I tend to be a little cynical when it comes to the big guys.  Instead of throwing out wild accusations I'll report on what I actually witnessed. The stage was set.  Saturday at dawn, we were to meet at down at the old High School.  The Kids were warned.  The Parents and Teachers were notified.  Would Citi even show?  Only time would tell. The plan was to band together to clean up the school.  55 Acres, 1,500 students, 2 district paid Cus...
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By Chris Fisher
(Your Virtual Assistant)
The citronella bark collar has saved my poodle from being poisoned by a neighbor while I'm at work!  I am so happy with this product, I can't even tell you.  She was/is a constant yapper and this just gives a spray when she barks... and she stops.  It's fantastic... and I no longer have to worry about poison hamburgers being thrown over the fence!  : )  (She can't be in the house without supervision due to behavior issues and I don't think it's fair to leave her in a crate all day).  So, just wanted to share that for other friends of yappy dogs.  Happy Holidays!  Chris
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By Chris Fisher
(Your Virtual Assistant)
The summer camp this group go to did a How's Your News show for themselves with people of different levels of disability doing the interviews, sound, etc. They really loved doing it. The guys who make South Park found out about it and gave them the money to tour the country doing their Hows Your News show. So they took a big road trip and interviewed people across America. It was very interesting to see how people reacted so differently to them. And it looks like they had a very good time making the movie. It's news from a different point of view, and from people who don't always get a lot of attention in our society. Netflix it, it's very heart warming. I posted it on my movie blog on the Inspirational Movies because it is inspirational.
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By Chris Fisher
(Your Virtual Assistant)
INGREDIENTS3 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 1/2 cups chopped zucchini 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh mushrooms 3/4 cup chopped onion 1 clove garlic, minced 6 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup milk1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, diced 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper DIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large skillet or frying pan, heat oil over medium high heat. Add zucchini, mushrooms, onion, green pepper and garlic; saute until tender. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs and cream. Stir in cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and sauteed vegetables. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well and pour into prepared baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for one hour...
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By Chris Fisher
(Your Virtual Assistant)
INGREDIENTS2 eggs, beaten 1 (15 ounce) can cream-style corn 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies, drained 1 (8.5 ounce) package dry corn muffin mixDIRECTIONSPreheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, cream style corn, sour cream and melted butter. Stir in whole kernel corn, cheese, onion and chilies. Stir in the corn muffin mix until just moistened. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 75 minutes; or until an inserted knife comes out clean and the top is golden. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Oh by the way... I am available to des...
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By Chris Fisher
(Your Virtual Assistant)
INGREDIENTS 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 egg 1 (9 inch) unbaked pastry shell FILLING: 1 (16 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin 1 cup evaporated milk 2 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg DIRECTIONS In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla; mix well. Add egg; beat until smooth. Spread over bottom of pie shell. Chill 30 minutes. In a mixing bowl, beat filling ingredients until smooth. Carefully pour over the cream cheese layer. Cover edge of pie with foil. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake 35-40 minutes longer, until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Store in...
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By Mike Mueller
(Tech and Social Media Consultant)
    I'll be a "Band Dad" again this weekend.  The Ygnacio Valley High School Marching Band will be loaded and on the Bus before dawn Saturday. They'll be marching in beautiful Napa Valley in the Vintage Reserve Band Festival.  They are a small but wonderful group of kids.   I just hope it doesn't rain. Last weekend they finished FIRST in the Lodi Grape Bowl!  Go Warriors!  Incidentally, if you have a kid in the band, I have 500+ photos uploaded in a private website.  Call me and I'll send you the link.  (925) 639-1078  
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By Rafael Quintero, Your friend in the real estate business!
(Sandbars to Sunset Team at Future Home Realty)
I received a call from a friend who has a home in a declining value neighborhood in Concord, California.We discussed her various options, specifically, the pitfalls of a Deed in Lieu. It’s surprising to me how many people are presently in foreclosure, especially in the Bay Area. While she is current on her rising mortgage payments, due to the declining values in her area, she thinks she is currently upside down in her mortgage. I met with her and listened very carefully to her particular situation. She is expecting a baby and knows that in the very near future, her husband’s income alone is not going to be enough to cover all the anticipated expenses. As a Short Sale Specialist, I carefully explained to her the consequences of a foreclosure, or, as a lot of people do, giving the keys b...
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By Owen Hennefer
(Ionways)
Concord. Pleasant Hill, Lafayette and the Hispanic Chambers are hosting the  3rd Annual Tri-Chamber Business Expo on November 8. I'll be there with two real estate professionals from Keller Williams Realty in Danville, CA. Aggie Rucker, Keith Brown and I will be there to help consumers understand how they can still buy a home in spite of all the turmoil in the housing market.More details on the Business Expo can be found at the Concord Chamber of Commerce website. 
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By Mike Mueller
(Tech and Social Media Consultant)
  It's Blog Action Day and it came at just the right time.This weekend we helped with the Ygnacio Valley High School Electronic Waste / Recycle Event and I am happy to report it was a success! I saw many of my local real estate agents.  In case you missed it - the parking lot at the high school was turned into a giant drive through recycling center for all items that shouldn't go to the landfill.    The event was a fundraiser for the YVHS Music Department.  As you might guess, the Music Programs have all had serious funding issues lately with little chance of a brighter future.  Since the Feds and State are cutting back - fund raisers like this will become more critical in the near future to the continuation of the entire music department.  While the heavy lifting and sorting was left ...
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I have posted the monthly MLS Statistics for Concord, California real estate (detached properties). Easy to read charts and graphs to provide you with accurate up-to-the-minute information for the local Contra Costa County real estate market.To learn how to interpret this information or further discuss, please feel free to contact me directly or post a comment to the blog.
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I have posted the monthly MLS Statistics for Concord, California real estate (attached properties). Easy to read charts and graphs to provide you with accurate up-to-the-minute information for the local Contra Costa County real estate market.To learn how to interpret this information or further discuss, please feel free to contact me directly or post a comment to the blog.
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By Wendy Cutrufelli, Contra Costa Realtor
(Alain Pinel Realtors)
The city of Concord, California in Contra Costa County offers up to $25,000 to first time home buyers as a 0% interest, 45 year loan with no repayment until tce home is sold or at the end of 45 years.  The dollar amount of the loan is determined by the annual household income of the first time buyers.  If the annual household income is at or below 100% of the Median Income for the area, the first time home buyer can received 20% of the sales price up to $25,000.100% of Median Income by Household Size is:1 = $58,7002 = $67,0003 = $74,5004 = $83,8005 = $90,5006 = $97,200If the annual household income is between 100% and 120% of the Median Income for the area, the first time hom buyer can receive 20% of the sales price up to $15,000.120% of Median Income by Household Size is:1 = $70,4002 =...
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By Catherine Myers, Walnut Creek, CA Real Estate
(Windermere Bay Area Properties)
Just to keep you Concord Residents up on the latest: If you live within the City of Concord and have a security alarm system, you will now have to go apply for an alarm permit.  The 'alarm use permit issuance fee' is $38.00, and you must apply in person at the Concord Police Department.  In a letter I received from a local alarm company, it notes that response to an alarm at a property without a valid alarm permit may result in a misdemeanor charge.   In the Concord Police Department informational brochure, it states that of the 2800 alarm calls Concord PD responds to , 98% are false.  This brochure also sets forth the false alarm fees that will be charged - from $135.00 (for false alarms 4, 5 or 6 within a 60 day period) and up to $401.00 (after the 13th false alarm in any 360 day peri...
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By Catherine Myers, Walnut Creek, CA Real Estate
(Windermere Bay Area Properties)
You can learn alot about the City of Concord right here on my website:  Concord Real Estate Information .  Concord is a delightful town that has a wonderful and thoughtful downtown re-vitalization over the last few years.  From dining, shopping and farmers markets - its all here in Concord.  There is more affordability in the real estate market here too.  Looking to get "more for your money?"  Look at Concord.  In any price range, you'll get more for your money than you'll find in Walnut Creek, or even in Pleasant Hill.The city of Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County boasting a population now of over 130,000 people.  The downtown area of Todos Santos park plays host to a great many of the City's sponsored activies including the annual KidFest, Farmers Markets, Music in the...
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By Catherine Myers, Walnut Creek, CA Real Estate
(Windermere Bay Area Properties)
Those of you in Concord may know that the City of Concord, in conjunction with 'MetroFi' is building out a "free" wireless network to connect Concord residents to the big world of free wireless access.(Thanks MetroFi for calling me to say I had it wrong, MetroFi is one word, not two, so I've corrected it thru-out the article here)Per the press release you can see here, MetroFi says: "We commend the City of Concord for its foresight and leadership in bringing free Internet access to its constituents through a partnership with MetroFi," says Chuck Haas, MetroFi's President and CEO. "There are numerous social and economic benefits with a municipal Wi-Fi network. For instance, MetroFi's network can provide significant cost-savings to residents, visitors, and local businesses, while helping ...
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By Catherine Myers, Walnut Creek, CA Real Estate
(Windermere Bay Area Properties)
Folks in Concord will no longer be able to park their trailers, RV's and boats in their driveways or on city streets for longer than one day.  The city code has been there, but it simply wasn't being enforced.  Concord Mayor Mark Peterson realized that city enforcement practice and the city code weren't the same.  While City Code has prohibited parking these vehicles in plain site for more than a decade, more lenient practices were instituted in 1994 to quell unhappy residents saying the policy was too strict. The more lenient practice allowed that as long as the vehicles were in "good condition, uninhabitated, registered and were not blocking any sidewalk or line of site" - they could stay.  Mayor Peterson asked for the more strict enforcement as of June 1st and said :"People don't wan...
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By Joseph Cleary
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Long Term Rates Up on the Week    Main Economic Calendar reports: Core CPI Housing Starts Building Permits  Initial Jobless ClaimsThe Core CPI came out on Tuesday.  The estimate was at .2% and that is exactly where it came in.   So that brings the year over year Core rate closer to the Fed's target number.  What is the number we are shooting for again?  Do you remember from my past newsletters?  If so claim your prize by reading the contest at the end of this newsletter!So the bond market is getting the tame inflation information that  it wants, but technical trading factors are keeping them honest and long term rates actually went up a little this week.  It is possible that traders did not like the fact that jobless claims were down, since that might show a trend towards wage pressured...
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