Compromise - 06/29/10 06:00 PM
In the Rain Drop today there was a great post on Compromise by Kristen Wheatley, "Is Compromise really the Best Idea?"
I think there are plenty of times in life when compromise is right and/or you should set down and examine what you really want out of a situation.  But the entire thing reminded me of a story:
 
One cold Winter day a hungry bear was out looking for some food and a cold hunter was out looking for a warm fur to wrap around him.  Well the hunter comes across the bear in a meadow and gets the drop … (4 comments)

Antioch Home For Sale - Great Price on a Great Home - 06/28/10 05:15 PM
Antioch Home for Sale!
Do you want a home with:
Classic Fireplace in a Cozy Living Room Single Story Single Family Home Three Full Bedrooms Covered Patio Large Lot Gas Stove Two Car Garage Quite cul-de-sac Close to Shopping A Small Price This Single Family Home may be for you.  Click here for more information on this Antioch Home for Sale!
Or call 925-260-4321 for an exclusive Showing!
This Antioch Home for Sale is priced at $95,000.00.
… (1 comments)

A Living Document - Provides only Dead Freedoms - 06/28/10 04:55 PM
The big clash over the US Constitution is a Living Document vs. a Permanent Document.
There are those that argue the Constitution is a Living Document designed to change with the times.  They feel it is a document that can be adapted to meet the changing culture and times.
On the other side are those that feel the document is a Permanent Document and you need to look for the original intent.  Most would agree there is flexibility to meet a changing world, but that the values, intent, and limitations of the Constitution are Permanent Features that can only be changed … (2 comments)

The Loan-Mod Myth - 06/28/10 03:52 PM
This is an excellent post that goes along well with my "Beware of Bankers Bearing Gifts" post.
Via Brian Bean, Inland Empire Real Estate and Short Sale Pros, SoCal, 951-354-1313 (IE Real Estate Pros):
This whole loan-modification thing is getting out of hand.
Are we really so easy to manipulate, or are desperate people just clutching at anything to keep from falling?
So many homeowners on the verge of losing their homes will do anything, listen to anyone, take any advice, as long as it's authoritative and the answer satisfies their wants. Why? Because even a flicker of hope can renew the enthusiasm … (1 comments)

The Banksters Are Smoking . . . HAMP?!?!? - 06/26/10 02:31 PM

Via Carla Muss-Jacobs Principal Broker/Owner EBA Portland LLC | www.EBAPortland.com | (Exclusive Buyers Agent Beaverton Portland):
The Banksters are SMOKING . . . HAMP!!!
Things bother me.  A lot of things.  When I can't sleep, I turn on TV, and the yawn feast found in the wee hours of early, early morning programming usually knocks me out faster than two shots of Grey Goose.
This morning, I watched -- WITH INTEREST -- the C-Span coverage of FORECLOSURE PREVENTION!
The House Oversight & Government Reform Committee hearing had the who's who of the banking world.
"Loan service executives testified on foreclosure prevention efforts, focusing on the implementation … (0 comments)

Happy Birthday Janson! - 06/25/10 12:33 PM
This is Janson (who I could not get to smile for a picture) wearing his favorite Dinosaur Jammies that is mom made for him a Christmas.

Today Janson is 6 and he is a big boy!  Janson is my 4th of 6 boys and was a big surprise and a real gift from God born 16 months after his brother Weston.
Janson says he is tough and "faster than a Raptor."  He likes Dinosaurs.  He wrestles and plays baseball and just completed his first year of Kindergarten being home schooled.  He wants to play soccer in the fall.  This year … (5 comments)

Beware of Bankers Bearing Gifts - 06/25/10 12:14 PM
Beware of Bankers Bearing Gifts
The other day I was talking with a client about Listing his home as a Short Sale.  As a responsible Realtor with an SFR designation I was also talking about the alternatives to a Short Sale and possible consequences. 
One of the things that came up is he had refinanced his home.  This was part of a loan modification effort and he had refinanced with his current lender and took no cash out.  The modification has not helped him with his basic problem of needing to relocate for family and work issues. 
An important fact about … (32 comments)

Discovery Bay Homes for Sale - 06/25/10 11:40 AM
Discovery Bay Homes for Sale
This Report focuses on single family Discovery Bay Homes for Sale by looking at currently available Discovery Bay Homes for Sale and comparing them to sales of Discovery Bay Homes for Sale in April and May.
Right now there are 78 Discovery Bay Homes for Sale with an average price of $596,034.00 and a median price of $474,000. The homes have been on the market an average of 65 days and are priced at $207.00 per SF.
In May 31 Discovery Bay Homes for Sale sold for an average price of $358,558.00 and a median price … (0 comments)

FANNIE MAE BRINGING DOWN THE HAMMER ON STRATEGIC DEFAULTS - 06/24/10 11:32 AM
This is a very good reason to go Short Sale if you can.
Via Harry F. D'Elia, Investor , Mentor, CSSN Radio Coach, REOs, Networker, ePRO (HomeSmart International):
FANNIE MAE BRINGING DOWN THE HAMMER ON STRATEGIC DEFAULTS
Fannie Mae announced today that they will make people who can make their payments and who do a strategic default will make them wait seven years before they are eligible for a Fannie Mae loan. It is estimated that there are 11 million homes acros America who are under water. That means the home owner owes more on the mortgage than the current market value of … (1 comments)

Brentwood California Homes for Sale - 06/23/10 05:56 PM
Brentwood California Homes for Sale
This Report focuses on single family Brentwood California Homes for Sale by looking at currently available Brentwood California Homes for Sale and comparing them to sales of Brentwood California Homes for Sale in April and May.
Right now there are 194 Brentwood California Homes for Sale with an average price of $467,829.00 and a median price of $359,450. The homes have been on the market an average of 65 days and are priced at $201.00 per SF.  However, there are 7 homes priced at $1,000,000.00 or more, some with land.  This homes really skew the stats.  … (0 comments)

Oakley California Homes for Sale - 06/23/10 05:19 PM
Oakley California Homes for Sale
This Report focuses on single family Oakley California Homes for Sale by looking at currently available Oakley California Homes for Sale and comparing them to sales of Oakley California Homes for Sale in April and May.
Right now there are 140 Oakley California Homes for Sale with an average price of $278,036.00 and a median price of $254,900. The homes have been on the market an average of 63 days and are priced at $131.00 per SF.
In May 69 Oakley California Homes for Sale sold for an average price of $227,107.00 and a median price … (0 comments)

Antioch California Homes for Sale - 06/23/10 05:01 PM
Antioch California Homes for Sale
This Report focuses on single family Antioch California Homes for Sale by looking at currently available Antioch California Homes for Sale and comparing them to sales of Antioch California Homes for Sale in April and May.
Right now there are 260 Antioch California Homes for Sale with an average price of $226,601.00 and a median price of $220,950. The homes have been on the market an average of 50 days and are priced at $117.00 per SF.
In May 148 Antioch California Homes for Sale sold for an average price of $180,717.00 and a median price … (1 comments)

Pittsburg California Homes for Sale - 06/23/10 04:49 PM
Pittsburg California Homes for Sale
This Report focuses on single family Pittsburg California Homes for Sale by looking at currently available Pittsburg California Homes for Sale and comparing them to sales of Pittsburg California Homes for Sale in April and May.
Right now there are 151 Pittsburg California Homes for Sale with an average price of $217,608.00 and a median price of $199,900.  The homes have been on the market an average of 54 days and are priced at $122.00 per SF.
In May 83 Pittsburg California Homes for Sale sold for an average price of $204,030.00 and a median price … (0 comments)

Marin County Horse Property Open June 27 - 06/22/10 04:09 PM
Marin County Horse Property open this weekend.
If you are looking for a Marin County Horse Property one of the best buys will be available for viewing June 27 from 1 to 4 PM.
The owner has told me to bring all offers. With the weather getting nice this pool home with a back yard that feels like a Park will sell. Get your offer in first.
This Marin County Horse Property is in Novato's Wild Horse Valley featuring a horse community and many riding trails.
Although this Marin County Horse Property has not been used for horses in many years … (1 comments)

A Moving Experience - The Nuts and Bolts - Part 3 - 06/22/10 03:56 PM
A Moving Experience - The Nuts and Bolts
As I have talked about in my prior post I am a junk collector I hate to throw anything away.  So moving, organizing and cleaning can be tough on me.  The other night after moving big stuff and going through boxes all day I decided to organize my tools while relaxing in front of the TV.  I had cleaned out the tool draws and have several tool boxes.  They were organized at one time, well you know how that goes.
Going through the boxes there were odd nuts, bolts, nails, screws, brackets, etc.. … (2 comments)

Real Estate Myth Busters - 06/20/10 12:29 PM

Via Mike Montague - Barrie Ontario Real Estate (Sutton Group Incentive Realty Inc. Brokerage):

Something relatively new to real estate in the past ten years is the private home selling company. The proposition of saving thousands of dollars is enough to catch the attention of anyone. The idea of listing a home for anywhere from $700 for a sign on the lawn and an ad on a website, to a couple thousand dollars if you want some of the additional services that a REALTOR typically provides such as setting your price, getting your house ready to sell, to assisting you in closing … (1 comments)

It is an Engineering Problem - Not a Legal Problem! - 06/20/10 12:19 PM
The response to many crisis these days, and now the Gulf Oil Crisis, is to treat it as a legal problem.  Now I have great respect for the rule of law, but it is no longer the rule of law we have so much as being ruled by lawyers. 
No doubt there should be some legal consequences in regard to the Gulf Oil Spill, but the solutions we have seen from the government have seemed to be more about the law than about practical solutions.
It has been about getting money from BP.  The sad thing here is the law actually … (10 comments)

A Moving Experience - A Job Half Done? - Part 12 - 06/20/10 12:03 PM
I had my son washing windows at the old house today, getting ready to put it on the market.  The windows do not look too bad, but he left his news papersthat he used to clean the windows laying all over the place. 

(Ranger does not like Hair Cuts and this job was left half done.)
I think this is typical of teenagers (especially the younger ones) and I explained to him that clean up was part of the job.  He is not finished until he has cleaned up. 
As a Realtor and a Broker my job is far more … (3 comments)

Every Day is Father's Day for me. - 06/20/10 11:59 AM
My wife and I do not put much into Mother's Day or Father's Day, except for my step mother out parents and grandparents are gone.  The older boys may do or say something and the younger boys will probably put together a little something with the other parent to teach them they owe respect and duty to parents.

I have 6 boys though and I can tell you everyday is Father's Day for me.  Being a father has been my highest goal in life.  It is a tougher job than I thought, but I would never go back.  Sometimes on … (4 comments)

What Kind of Desk do you Drive? - 06/18/10 01:41 PM
Even with lap tops and smart phones so we can work on the go almost anywhere, using the lap as a desk, I think most of us still have a work place.
I often hear the term, Work Station, Unit, Cube, and I am sure there are others.  For me it is an Old Fashioned Desk.
Desks come in many types and varieties, most designed as modern computer work stations and often module in nature.  Many desk look nice, but are little more than press board with a veneer over them.
I think for most of us our Desk reflects who … (8 comments)

A Moving Experience - Dead Beat - Part 11 - 06/18/10 01:28 PM
I have just about got the house cleaned out.  (Well except for the garage).  I need to wash a few windows and get the carpet cleaners in.  My Brother - in - law will spot paint for me over the weekend.  (I am not allowed to handle paint brushes).
The hardest part about the moving was not the big stuff - but the small stuff.  All the details of picking up stuff and cleaning, then the minor repairs.
I need to clean out the backyard still, not hard and hopefully have it on the market next week.  I do not have … (2 comments)

Can I Buy a Home Immediately After a Short Sale? - 06/17/10 02:49 PM

Via Markita Aldridge-Woods: "Your Woodbridge FHA/VA Lender" (WestStar Mortgage):
Can I buy a home immediately after a short sale? The answer is yes.  The other day I received a call with this exact question from a Woodbridge, VA short seller. I answered, "Yes you can with FHA, if you meet the following qualifications":
Home short sold cannot be a FHA loan Must have been current on mortgage at time of sale Sold home must not require deficiency payment for the difference 620 minimum credit score 3.5% down payment Short sale caused by extenuating circumstances and not just a person trying to take … (1 comments)

What Does Your Home of the Future Look Like? - 06/16/10 02:49 PM
What does your Home of the Future Look Like?

Home builders are constantly doing research about how taste are changing and what people want in homes.  New technology often influences these designers.  Here are some things I see being put in many homes of the future:
Most people think homes will get smaller.  I think they will get larger.  Although times are tough now and people are cutting back the long term trend it towards telecommuting and working at home.  This takes space.  Look for homes of the future to have 2 or even 3 spaces that can be used … (4 comments)

Baseball Champion for the 3rd Time! - 06/16/10 01:27 PM
In the past I have written about my son Corbin.  He is my baseball player.  Two years ago while in East County Little League his AA Team, the Giants won the Tournament of Champions.  Last year he moved to Continental Little League and his team won the Title for Continental at the AAA Level, but lost the first game of the TOC's.

Corbin is the Good Looking one Right Front (there left)!
This year he is on another winning team.  The Diamondbacks at the Major League level in the Continental Little League went 19-1 and won the Major League Title.  … (2 comments)

Please Help Find Missing 7 yr. Old – FEATURE THIS BLOG!!!! - 06/16/10 12:45 PM
This is important.  I would you feel if this was your kid.  It doesn't take much to reblog this.
Via Dean and Sonia Carver (United Brokers Group/Carver Home Team):
We know this blog isn't about real estate related per se, but who has a better network than Realtors to get the word out about something? Seven year old Kyron Horman, the son of a former co-worker of Sonia’s, disappeared without a trace from Skyline Elementary School in Portland, Oregon 11 days ago. Authorities find it very unlikely that he wandered off by himself. Somebody, somewhere, knows something. Please keep your eye out for … (0 comments)

Short Sales in California and Equity Purchases - The Answer. - 06/15/10 12:23 PM
A couple of weeks ago I wrote of post on Equity Purchases in California and how this law could impact Short Sales.  Even those there is no equity in a Short Sale purchase the Equity Purchase laws appeared to still apply.  The equity purchase laws protect the homeowner (and the homeowners equity) from predators when they are in Foreclosure.
I ran the issue past CARS (California Association of Realtors) Legal Hotline.  According to the Legal Hotline it is not a Equity Purchase if no Notice of Default has been filed.  Furthermore if the property is in escrow at the time the … (0 comments)

Very Bad Joke! - 06/13/10 09:10 PM
When the body was made all the parts of the body had an argument about who should be in charge.  The brain wanted to be in charge as it was the smart ones.  The eyes felt they should be in charge as they could see what was going on.  The hands thought they should be in charge as they did the actual work, and the feet felt they should be in charge sense they moved every thing about.
Well then the Ass said he should be in charge.  Well everyone laughed at the ass so the ass stopped working.  Soon the … (3 comments)

A Moving Experience - Finished, well kind of - Part 10 - 06/13/10 08:41 PM
Most of the heavy stuff was out, but there was just a lot of junk in the nursery and the bonus room we used as the class room and play room.  I was getting ticked as the kids seemed to think dad would handle everything.  My 13 year old has actually been pretty good help moving some big stuff.
So dad blew up and got them all moving.  The four oldest anyway that includes at 5 and a 7 year old.  Although the two little ones twaddled a lot every time they went up and down the stairs carrying a game … (4 comments)

Show me the Money! - 06/11/10 12:05 PM
There have been times (Oh this is one of them!) when we have gone through hard financial times as a family.  Sometimes it is so hard you do not even want to look at the check book.  But you have to look at the books and you have to get an idea of where you are so you know what you have to do.  It is easy to procrastinate on taking the hard look so you do not have to deal with the problem, but then it only gets worse.
I was listening to a commentator on the elections the other … (6 comments)

A Moving Experience - New House Same Issues - Part 9 - 06/10/10 02:22 PM
Well I am working hard on my move. 
There were some issues with the old house that I blamed on my kids not taking care of things properly and being to rough on things.  They include:
Some of the kitchen cabinets needed repair as the fascia boards came loose/off and I was to fix the drawers. The double doored Pantry has a spring mechanism to hold it in place when the door is closed.  Those springs tended to break and the doors started to split at the top. The Double doors on the Master Bedroom do not lock well and tend … (0 comments)

A Moving Experience - Let Go of My Legos - Part 8 - 06/08/10 10:28 PM
There is an old saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned."  Now how many people would bend over to pick up a penny today?  I don't know, I might in some circumstances for others it might not be worth it at all.
John Madden tells the story about him seeing John Matuzak throw a $20.00 in the toilet and then go in after it.  When he asked him what he was doing Matuzak said, "Well I dropped a quarter in by accident, but I was not going in after a measly 25 cents."
I cannot resist picking up little Lego … (2 comments)

A Moving Experience - A Hole in the Wall - Part 7 - 06/08/10 01:39 AM
You know those dings and dents around the house that have a special found memory?  Sometimes they are measurements of the kids on bedroom wall or hand prints in the concrete.  Well for me it is other things.
I am the father of 6 boys (13, 11, 7, 5, 2 and 4 months).  They are conniving, disobedient, noisy and dirty.  And yet you cannot help but love them.  When they finally fall asleep and you tuck them into bed they are beautiful.  As a father I have learned my magic kisses can heal wounds.  So I will take them as they … (2 comments)

A Moving Experience - Spring Cleaning - Part 6 - 06/06/10 10:58 PM
Well when you move you find dirt and things you never knew was there.  The dust bunnies get all excited and start hopping out from under the bed.  You begin to find all those "lost" items. 
As the house gets cleaned out you realize how roomy it actually was.
Even more fun, as you are packing the kids find old toys they had forgotten about and pull them out to play with.
I think everyone should move every 3 to 5 years just to get the house clean.
If you need to buy or Sell I would like to provide you … (5 comments)

If Dr Seuss Worked for the NAR ... - 06/06/10 09:28 PM

Via Paul Slaybaugh, Scottsdale AZ Real Estate (Realty Executives):
On the Island of Oncewas, there lived but one scamp.
One strangely stoic, scoundrelous scamp.
There used to be more, there used to be four.
There used to be four and eight thousand four more on this shore.
So many scamps scamping are hard to ignore.
 
But there was no need for eight thousand and eight.
Scamps all sold houses, and Oncewas lacked real estate.
So ten left, then twenty.  Then a hundred and two.
Then three thousand and sixty, and their brothers, too.
Until all had gone except Scampy Magoo,
… (0 comments)

Short Sale Problem in California - Equity Purchasers - 06/05/10 10:23 PM
In California there is a Law - Civil Code Section 1695 that was designed to protect homeowners equity when they were in foreclosure from Vultures trying to by up the property on the cheap.
As I read the law there is no need for there to be equity in the home for the home to be considered an Equity Purchase.
There are a number of exceptions to the law, people buying the home to live in are not Considered Equity Purchasers and the law would not apply.  There are some other exceptions too.
For an agent to be involved in almost … (4 comments)

A Moving Experience - A Shocking Development - Part 5 - 06/05/10 10:11 PM
I was rolling the Washer and Dryer into the Laundry Room yesterday and was looking for the 220 outlet.  There wasn't one.  Only a Gas hook-up. 
I was a little shocked and disappointed.  We have high end Washer and Dryer that I bought my wife for Mothers Day a few years ago (let the boos begin - but it was what she asked for!) 
Well we are probably only here a short time, year or less, so we are going to go buy a low end Gas Dryer, but I am saving the Electric one.  Who knows what the next place … (0 comments)

Tea Party Stunner...... - 06/05/10 09:55 PM

Via Alice Linahan (Keller Williams):
 One of the coolest parts of working with the Resolute Media Group
is the opportunity to meet and interview some amazing people like Herman Cain. One of my partners and I had that opportunity while we were in New Orleans for the SRLC. So, when I see a video such as the one below it gives me true hope in America. 
 
Herman Cain  lead a Q&A session at the Douglas County Tea Party when a young woman asked him about the attack by the Left on our Judea-Christian heritage in America. He addressed her question, then went to … (0 comments)

Marin County Horse Property - The Price Just Keeps Getting Better! - 06/02/10 07:34 PM
Marin County Horse Property
The owner just called me and told me to Lower the Price and get it sold Now!
Let's see what we got:
Marin County Horse Property Pool Hot Tub (There may be a Law in Marin requiring these.) Flowing Creek Gourment Kitchen Fireplace Plenty of Space Large Lawns Decks And so much more! This Marin County Horse Property is now Priced at an Amazing $770,000.00.  You could FHA Finance this home with 3.5% down in Marin County.
For more information go to www.2424Vineyard.com.
Did I mention we are open this Sunday (June 6th 2010) from 1 to … (1 comments)

A Moving Experience - A Sentimental Journey - Part 2 - 06/02/10 02:14 PM
A Moving Experience - A Sentimental Journey - Part 2
As I wrote in the prior post, I am trying to make this move on an organized basis.  These means going through the boxes and sorting everything out.  For me this has been hard.  I save all my cards and letters from friends and family going back to high school, I start reading and remembering.  Then I find my parents year books, not to mention my own.  Then I find all the old Boy Scout stuff. 
It was nice to read the letters from my dad he wrote me while I … (2 comments)

A Moving Experience - Getting Started - Part One - 06/01/10 09:35 PM
I am moving.  Since my job is to help people move I thought I would chronicle some of the challenges.  Unlike are last move where we closed escrow and had 3 days to be out, this is a slow move.  I have until June 30 to complete the move.  I can move into our new place now.
The advantage of this is that we are taking to time to organize and clean, and get rid of the clutter.  For me this is a challenge as I am a junk collector.  I never like to throw anything away that may be of … (1 comments)

 
Gene_head_shot_10-10 Rainmaker_large

Gene Riemenschneider East Contra Costa Home Sales 01492725

Brentwood, CA

More about me…

Home Point Real Estate

Address: Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Pittsburg,, Discovery Bay, Investors, Brentwood, CA, 94513

Office Phone: (925) 260-4321

Cell Phone: (925) 260-4321

Email Me

<!---- start copying here ----->Author Bio: Gene Riemenschneider is the Owner and Broker at Home Point Real Estate. He is a Realtor and a SFR (Certified Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource). Home Point Real Estate works with Home Buyers, Sellers, and Investors.<!-- insert your own bio between the <p> tags ---->   <!--- stop copying here. Paste all this into Notepad and change out the obvious stuff...like my name and the link to my Google profile. Then -------> Clicky Web Analytics

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