This is a Spotted Towhee we caught along the Mitchell Creek trail at Mount Diablo singing his fool head off. Yes, spring is upon us. There is only so much sitting in front of my computer and selling Sacramento real estate one can do before one finally decides to get out in nature. This is the thing that keeps me sane. Which is odd because when I was younger, like between my 20s and 40s, I would never be caught dead in State Park or hiking along windy mountain trails. Not when I could be living large urbanwise. My how things change when we get older. I have developed such a deep affinity for hikes, especially through meadows and forests (not so much going straight up, gotta tell ya that). Mount Diablo is less than a 90-minute drive from Sacramento to the Mitchell Creek Visitor's Center. ... 04/24/2017

Rent Payments Can Really Add Up!No matter how much you pay in rent, you might be surprised what it adds up to over the years. Investing your money in a home may be a wiser financial choice. With the current home prices and mortgage rates, this is an excellent time to look into buying your own home in Clayton,California.Common Concerns of Renters and Homeowners - Advantages and ConsiderationsBUYINGProperty builds equityResponsible for maintenanceTax deductible mortgage interest*Responsible for property taxesFree to change decor and landscapingResponsible for hazard insuranceNot dependent on landlord to maintain propertyRENTINGLandlord is responsiblefor maintenanceNo equity gainsLandlord is responsible forproperty taxesRent payments are not tax deductiblePossibility of evictionNo control ... 01/20/2016

DESIRABLE ONE STORY CLAYTON CA HOME Highly sought after single story home will be available in the Oakhurst area of Clayton, CA on February 1st.  Last single story home sold in this neighborhood one year ago, so if you you have been waiting, now is your chance. This beautiful 2505 square foot home will be available on February 1st.  Call me to make an appointment to see this desirable single story, corner lot home. 4 bedrooms (4th bedroom is adjacent to front entry, with another door opening to hallway.  Perfect setup for an in-home office.) 2 baths, with jet tub in master bath Spacious walk-in closet in master Granite counters in kitchen with an abundance of storage Plantation shutters on all windows  Hardwood floor throughout; carpet in bedrooms 2 fireplaces - gas fireplace in living/... 01/27/2015

VA Mortgage Loans in Clayton CA and 100% VA Loans -the best loan program in the country! VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today for both honorably discharged Vets and active duty military personnel. Here are some of the great features of this fantastic program: - Up to 100% financing, with no down required. - No monthly mortgage insurance added to your payment. - More lenient credit qualifying standards than other types of mortgage loans. - Low rates compared to other loan programs. So how do you qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Clayton CA? The first step is to verify your eligibility. Eligibility is verified by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. You can work with an approved Clayton CA VA mortgage loan lender to order your COE quickl... 11/03/2014

VA Mortgage Loans in Clayton CA and 100% financing on VA Loans - the best loan program and loan payment in the country! VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today for active duty and honorably discharged Veterans. Here are some of the main features of this great program: - 100% financing, no down payment required. - Monthly mortgage insurance is not tacked on to your payment. - More lenient credit qualifying standards than other types of mortgage loans. - Low rates compared to other loan programs. Here's how to qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Clayton CA: You must first verify your eligibility. Eligibility is verified by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. An approved Clayton CA VA loan lender can order your COE for you, or you can contact... 08/04/2014

I  have posted the monthly MLS Statistics for both attached and detached homes in Martinez, California.   Easy to read charts and graphs to provide you with accurate up-to-the-minute information for the local Central 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. Contact me at (925) 297-5335 (PST) or send an email to Pete@ContraCostaLiving.com. Visit Pete's web site www.ContraCostaHomeSearch.com 07/11/2014

I  have posted the monthly MLS Statistics for Clayton, California real estate for both attached and detached homes. Easy to read charts and graphs to provide you with accurate up-to-the-minute information for the local Central 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. Contact me at (925) 297-5335 (PST) or send an email to Pete@ContraCostaLiving.com. Visit Pete's web site www.ContraCostaHomeSearch.com     06/02/2014

VA Mortgage Loans in Clayton California and 100% Contra Costa County VA Loans - the best loan program in California! Designed for both active duty military and honorable discharged Veterans, VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today. Here are some of the great features of this fantastic program: - Up to 100% financing, with no down required. - Monthly mortgage insurance is not tacked on to your payment. - Easier credit qualifying compared to other types of mortgage loans. - VA Mortgage Rates are low compared to other types of home loans. Here's how to qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Clayton California: First of all, you must verify your eligibility. You can verify eligibility by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. You can work with an ap... 05/15/2014

I  have posted the monthly MLS Statistics for Clayton, California real estate (detached and attached properties).   Easy to read charts and graphs to provide you with accurate up-to-the-minute information for the local Central 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. Contact me at (925) 297-5335 (PST) or send an email to Pete@ContraCostaLiving.com. Visit Pete's web site www.ContraCostaHomeSearch.com - See more at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/4273902/contra-costa-county-real-estate-supply-and-demand-comparison-for-clayton-california-november-2013     12/13/2013

VA Mortgage Loans in Clayton CA and 100% financing on VA Loans - the best loan program and loan payment in the country! VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today for both honorably discharged Vets and active duty military personnel. Here are some of the main features of this great program: - Up to 100% financing, with no down required. - Monthly mortgage insurance is not tacked on to your payment. - Easier credit qualifying compared to other types of mortgage loans. - VA Mortgage Rates are low compared to other types of home loans.   How do you know if you qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Clayton CA? First of all, you must verify your eligibility. You can verify eligibility by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. An approved Contra Costa V... 11/30/2013

VA Mortgage Loans in Clayton California and 100% financing on VA Loans - the best loan program and loan payment in the country! VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today for active duty and honorably discharged Veterans. Here are some of the main features of this great program: - 100% financing, no down payment required. - Monthly mortgage insurance is not tacked on to your payment. - More lenient credit qualifying standards than other types of mortgage loans. - Low rates compared to other loan programs. Here's how to qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Clayton California: You must first verify your eligibility. Eligibility is verified by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. An approved Contra Costa County VA loan lender can order your COE fo... 11/06/2013

2010 Real Estate Market Summary for Clayton, California, 94517 Clayton, California is a wonderful community located at the base of Mt. Diablo, 9 miles east of Walnut Creek, a 35 minute ride on BART to San Francisco and a 41 mile drive to the beautiful wine country of Napa.      I invite you to view the virtual tour of Clayton, California.     144 Clayton, CA homes sold in 2010; Of the total homes sold, 113 were detached homes: Highest sold price = $1,650,000 Average sold price = $593,403 Lowest sold price = $340,000 There are currently 41 detached homes for sale. Of the total homes sold, 31 were attached homes (duets, townhomes, condos): Highest sold price = $490,000 Average sold price = $434,808 Lowest sold price = $255,900 There are currently 10 attached homes for sale.      I invite ... 01/05/2011

Thanksgiving Crafts & Stories at the Clayton Community Library (Clayton, CA) This month at our local Clayton Library, there will be a Thanksgiving event for little ones between 3 and 6 years old.  The event will be held on November 18th between 11am and noon, and they would like you to register if you plan to bring the kids. Their phone number is 925.673.0659. We are lucky to be close enough to the Clayton Community Library to walk there.  Their normal hours of operation are: Monday from 1-9pm Tuesday from 10am-6pm Wednesday from 1-9pm Thursday from 10am-6pm Friday, Closed Saturday from 10am-6pm Sunday from 1-5pm Check out their website for more events, they have a lot of good programs for kids! - offering website design, maintenance, hosting and virtual assistant www.VirtualAssistantFo... 11/01/2010

A Ghost Story I Heard Often While Growing Up - a haunted restaurant in Clayton, CA As Halloween is approaching, I started to think about a haunted restaurant in the town next to mine, La Croquett. I remember hearing this ghost story as I was growing up here in the area.  I believe La Croquett is now Moresi's, but the story remains. Apparently the building was standing in 1857, one of the first buildings when the town of Clayton was founded. Across the street is a saloon (still there, I believe, but certainly with a different name). According to the story, a miner from the Black Diamond Mines area got into a fight there. When the argument turned into a shoot out, one of the bullets went through the window and struck a little girl playing in the street. The people on the street brought th... 10/26/2010

A Terrific Thursday morning to all, Economic news: Initial Jobless Claims slightly better than expectations, Continuing Jobless Claims still high, Leading indicators up, Philly Fed Manufacturing Survey positive. Market Emotion: W-St extends yesterday's rally, positive economic news will put heat on bonds today. Have a great day! 10/21/2010

Clayton Community LibraryAutumn 2010 Children's ProgramsAll Programs are FREE I visited our local library over the weekend and learned that they have a lot going on for kids!  They have drop in story times for babies to 3 year olds on Tuesdays at 11am between September 28-December 7.  For kids 3-5 years old they have picture book story time on Thursdays at 11am between September 16 - November 4.  What a great way to give your child something entertaining to do and connect with other parents. Between September 28 and October 27, you can drop by to see the library's giant pumpkin and guess the weight.  The person with the closest guess without going over wins the pumpkin!  All children up to age 12 may enter this contest. For children in grades 1-5, you can read aloud to a dog in their ne... 09/20/2010

I NEED TO SELL MY CLAYTON CA HOUSE There comes a time when almost everyone will need to sell their Clayton house.  If could be because you have outgrown it with an increasing family or you want to downsize because you find yourself an empty nester.  You may have been transferred, promoted or found a better opportunity further away.    In these tough economic times, you may find that for one reason or another; you can no longer maintain the payments and have to explore the option of a short sale. Whatever the reason, I'm sure your goal is to sell it in the shortest amount of time, at the best possible price and with the least amount of stress.  This is where my expertise can help you sell your Clayton  house.  During and after the sale of their Clayton homes, my clients have remarked "I ... 04/27/2010

Did you know in the City of Clayton we have wildlife??? Ostriches on the Seeno Property in the Oakhurst country club... when you walk along the trail, sidewalk that sides where they are resting, walking, grazing... they will follow you.  I tried it the other day, walk, stop and they walk and stop with you .  they are quite large and fascinating to my grandkids, as they are not often seen outside of a zoo or animal preserve. 04/12/2010

Clayton, California Oakhurst Country Club walk On a walk through Oakhurst Country Club, Clayton California...you miss a lot when you just drive through Oakhurst in Clayton.  The area is a well thought out series of communities surrounded by greenbelts and beautiful scenery that is part of our Mt. Diablo Foothills experience here in Clayton, California. For example.  The waterfall that is part of the golf course. The waterfall is not running every day so it's a treat to see it flowing .  Here I am just about to climb the BIG hill which is what we walkers call it...along side the golf course going up toward the SEENO home at the top of the hill and several luxury home subdivisions in the country club. Some golf course shots seldom seen if you don't walk just about 10 steps off the trail...   04/08/2010

                                  Clayton home sales are similar to Walnut Creek in that sales have exceeded new inventory for several weeks, putting an upward pressure on pricing. Detached Homes: There are 40 Active listings of detached homes for sale in Clayton, of which 3 are short sales and 4 are bank-owned. The highest list price is $3,000,000 The average list price is $870,731 with the median list price at $687,000 (this is the mid-point of the market at which half of the listings are higher than this and half are lower) The lowest list price is $450,000 There are currently 21 Pending transactions, of which 6 are short sales and 2 are bank-owned. There were 9 closed transactions in March, 2010, of which 3 were short sales and 1 was bank owned. The highest sold price was $700,000 ... 04/06/2010