Mary Robbins's Blog

Greenbrook Neighborhood in Danville California CA 94526

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 06:51:03 -0800

Want to buy a home in Danville, California but can't decide which neighborhood is right for you and your family? You might consider the Greenbrook neighborhood - a seasoned community with lots of benefits:

Club House

Greenbrook was developed in the 1970's. The beauty of the neighborhood is that it has lots of parks, a wonderful swimming pool and club house to which people who own in this area automatically belong. The clubhouse has lots of activities for family and children like an Easter egg hunt and holiday festivities - the club house is a great community gathering place.

Open Space

As you can see, there is lots of green open space that meanders throughout the Greenbrook neighborhood. People love to walk their dogs along here....run...and walk. There are over 3 miles of meandering trails and greenbelt running through Greenbrook, as well as the adjacent communities of Danville Station and Sycamore. It's a great asset to all these communities.

Lawn Mower Brigade

There's history here. The men of Greenbrook have, what they call, The Lawnmower Brigade. Every year, they enter the Danville 4th of July parade with their lawnmowers and fun hats. I guess the grass is gonna have to mow itself that day!

Remodeling

There's been a great deal of remodeling done in this neighborhood over the years to bring these houses up-to-date. In the video below, you'll see an example of a house that's been remodeled in this neighborhood. It has all new windows and stone steps going up to the front door - it has character. They also added a considerable amount of square footage to this house.

Love

People love this neighborhood for its meandering streets, good location to downtown Danville and close - but not too close - proximity to the freeway. It's a very family-oriented, community-centered neighborhood.

Schools

Located in the boundaries of the Greenbrook neighborhood is the Greenbrook Elementary School. It was recently remodeled and it's an excellent school academically.It has lots of activity fields for different sports like baseball, basketball and soccer. They have a Kids' Country program here for mom's who work so their children can stay after the school hours are complete. You will also find the Charlotte Wood Middle School in this neighborhood.

Prices

The median home price for homes in Greenbrook is $818,000 in today's market. Houses generally range in price from $750K-$950K. Contact me if you would like to know what other Danville neighborhoods fit your price range and family needs. My number is 925-217-5048.

To see more video tours of areas surrounding the Greenbrook community, please visit my video library. In addition to a number of city and neighborhood videos, you will find helpful community links and a unique tool for comparing communities on values like crime and school scores. To search homes in this community, please connect to my MLS search tool.

I raised my own family in Danville and Alamo starting in 1979. While raising my two children, I volunteered for the PTA and was closely involved in community activities like The Devil Mountain Run. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Greenbrook or any other neighborhoods in the San Ramon Valley. Thank you for your time.

Mary Robbins, Partner and Co-founder

Empire Realty Associates of Danville

Homes For Sale | Neighborhood Tours | About Mary

Notes

1.I'ld like to thank my son Eric Robbins who helped me create this video, provides me with great video tips at MoveVideos.com and also produces my branded video library through his relocation website CityTourVideo.com.

2. This post is written as a submission to the ActiveRain Kodak Video Challenge contest. I have the chance to win the KODAK PLAYTOUCH Pocket Video Camera, great for realtors looking to create wide angle home tours and real estate marketing videos!

Sky Hy Ranch, Lafayette, CA

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:04:41 -0700

Sky Hy Ranch is an exclusive gated neighborhood located on the western edge of Lafayette, near Moraga and close to top rated Campolindo High School. There are approximately 29 large custom homes and several green belt areas within the community. The lots are large and most homes have beautiful views including Mt. Diablo, forests and pasture lands. This is considered a prestige neighborhood, and is among the few gated communities in Lafayette. There are currently two homes for sale in this community: 657 Sky Ranch Ct is approx 3262 sq. ft 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. List price is $1,095,00 and 674 Sky Hy Circle is approx 2824 Sq. t. 5 bedrooms 3 baths. List price is $1260,000. This property pended in 6 days.

See video below of this beautiful home

DIABLO, CA open house extravaganza

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:37:29 -0700

DANVILLE, CA NEIGHBORHOOD HIGHLIGHTS - CIMARRON HILLS AND WOODRANCH

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:48:29 -0700

Cimarron Hills and Woodranch are very popular upscale neighborhoods off Camino Tassajara Road in between Sycamore Valley Park and Diablo Vista Park., and close to Blackhawk Shopping Center. Cimarron Hills was built by Davidon Homes in the years 1989 - 1994. The homes range in size from 2500 sq ft - 4000 sq. ft. Many of the homes have 3 or 4 car garages and are on lots ¼- ½ acres. Many of the homes back to open space or have fabulous views of the hills and Mt. Diablo. Woodranch was built by Ponderosa Homes in the years 1987 - 1989. The homes range in size from 2500 sq ft - 3100 square feet and yards are smaller. Community facilities include pool, cabana, club house, play ground and tennis courts.

The local schools are all part of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District: Sycamore Valley Elementary, Charlotte Wood Middle School and San Ramon Valley High School.

There are five active listings:

410 Liverpool St. $ $1,074,000 4 bedroom/ 2.5 baths approx 2484 sq ft, and 13,500 lot

3 Auburn Ct $920,000 5 bedroom/ 3 bath 2896 sq, ft approx and 6550 lot

30 Carlyle Ct $889,000 4 bedroom/ 2 bath 2488 sq. ft approx and 6000 lot

30 Foothill Ct $1,379,000 4 bedroom/ 3 bath 3136 sq. ft approx and 29620 lot

57 Woodranch Circle $1,124,900 4 bedrooms /3 baths approx 2797 sq ft and 14,600 lot

Diablo, California

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:47:36 -0700

Forbes magazine rated Diablo the fourth most expensive ZIP code in the United States

The town is named after Mt.Diablo it stands alone on the edge of Califonia's Great Central Valley. The Coast Range at this point consists only of low hills so the view is spectacular. Look to the west, beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, you see the Farallon Islands; south-east to the James Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton at 4,213 feet elevation; south to Mount Loma Prieta in the Santa Cruz Mountains at 3,791 feet elevation, north to Mount Saint Helena in the Coast Range at 4,344 feet elevation, and still farther north to Mount Lassen in the Cascades at 10,466 feet. North and east of Mount Diablo the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers meet to form the twisting waterways of the Delta. To the east beyond Califomia's great central valley is the crest of the Sierra Nevada

Mt. Diablo Country Club The Club's 128 acres were originally part of the 6,000-acre Oakwood Park Stock Farm that stretched from Green Valley Road to the top of Mt. Diablo and included what is now the Blackhawk area.In 1914, Robert Burgess converted the farm into Mt. Diablo Country Club as an incentive for people to buy lots of summer homes. He built the Chalet in 1916 as a 39-room inn for members and their guests. An overhead passageway connected the Chalet to the Clubhouse which is now a private residence at 1925 Alameda Diablo. Up the hill, where our present Clubhouse now stands, was a pool hall. It also served as a gambling casino, Movie Theater and dressing rooms for the swimming pool. The pool dates from the Roaring '20s, when it was called "The Plunge". A new, larger state of the art pool opened in May 2002.

18-hole Diablo golf course at the Diablo Country Club features 6,640 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71 . The course rating is 72.1 and it has a slope rating of 130 on Bermuda grass. Designed by Jack Neville, the Diablo golf course opened in 1914.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 988 people, 341 households, and 308 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,016.6 people per square mile There were 348 housing units at an average density of 357.0/sq mi . The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.64% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 2.94% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 3.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 341 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 85.3% were married couples living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.4% were non-families. 8.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.03.The median income for a household in the CDP was $197,904, and the median income for a family was $220,000.

There are 15 active listings in Diablo today

1675 El Nido

3328

$850,000

2067 Alameda Diablo

2383

$1,475,000

101 El Nido Ct

3645

$1,475,000

2233 Caballo Ranchero Ct

2817

$1,495,000

2308 Alameda Diablo

5262

$1,795,000

1956 La Cadena

2484

$1,795,000

2369 Caballo Ranchero Dr

4523

$2,198,000

1531 Avenida Nuevo

4390

$2,575,000

1811 Club House Rd

4304

$2,695,000

2345 Mt. Diablo Scenic

5761

$2,950,000

2530 Caballo Ranchero

8801

$3,390,000

1868 El Nido

4602

$3,875,000

1789 Calle Arroyo

4100

$3,899,000

1845 El Nido

3546

$1,999,000

Check out my new listing at 2315 Caballo Ranchero -Spectacular Mediterranean style home . Six bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half baths; plus two separate living areas. Gourmet cooks dream kitchen includes hickory wood flooring, custom maple cabinets and the 12 ft. center island. Three downstairs bedrooms, a second family room and an additional media room. Also included is another full kitchen- great set up for au-pair, relatives or guests.

Beautiful lagoon pool with 49 palms and lovely gardens adorn this One of a Kind Country Estate. This is the perfect home for elegant entertaining and casual relaxation- California Style! Listed for $2,095,000.

TODAY'S LOCAL MARKET CONDITIONS

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:13:18 -0800

Properties that are priced to sell and are presented well are selling quickly and within 5% of their list price. Those that are priced too high and are not staged to sell, still sit on the market. There is a shortage of GOOD inventory and homes that are priced too high are staying on the market in ALL areas.

It is definitely NOT a seller's market.

However, it is a market favorable to the SELLERS if they are realistic with their pricing and are willing to get their properties prepared to sell. Once in escrow, the sellers and buyers are trying to work everything out. This process still favors the BUYERS (but not as heavily as in the past).

We are seeing more BUYERS getting into back-up offer position right now. So, you can see, if a property is not priced to sell and competitively presented, the buyers will wait for the next reasonable choice.

This home is one of my recent listings in Alamo:

Priced to sell
Professionally staged
Pending sale in 10 days

SPOTLIGHTING THE GREENBROOK NEIGHBORHOOD, DANVILLE , CA

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:44:53 -0800

GREENBROOK is a wonderful neighborhood. Amenities include greenbelts, Iron Horse Trail and wonderful parks. One of the nicest parks in the area is Osage Park; known for its beautiful memorial Rose Gardens with childrens play area, train station and water attraction. This 35 acre park includes four tennis courts, four baseball diamonds, several soccer fields, plus a walking trail around the park which includes a fitness course. The tennis courts and sports fields can be rented. There are also twenty picnic tables and five barbecue pits that can also be rented out. Greenbrook offers something for everyone.

GREENBROOK is in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and includes two top rated schools, Greenbrook Elementary School and Charlotte Wood Middle School. It is close to I-680, the Iron Horse Trail and walking distance to these two schools.

GREENBROOK has a Homeowners Association with a clubhouse, large pool, tennis courts, play ground, barbecues and volleyball court . It is an association with many social activities, including a neighborhood tennis competition. The HOA dues are only $768 a year.

MARKET UPDATE FOR GREENBROOK - Homes for Sale

157 Summerside Circle , 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths town home -$415,000

122 Summerside Circle, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths town home - $437,500

162 Lawnview Circle, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths town home- $469,000

1580 Harlan Drive, 3 bedrooms 2.5 baths - $784, 950- Single story- remodeled throughout

11 Junewood Ct , 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths $799,000-contractors home -remodeled throughout- cul-de-sac with pool, built-in barbecue, RV parking

1398 Brookside Dr. 4 bedrooms ,2.5 baths $799,000-single story with great curb appeal- updated kitchen and private backyard

1635 Harlan Dr., 4 bedrooms, 2 bath $860,000 - upgrades throughout- three car garage

Click below to see details of listings:

http://maxebrdi.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=f3ff7923-06ab-4af6-b665-04f4c1acb2d6&Report=Yes

NEW WESTSIDE ALAMO LISTING

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:29:29 -0800

JOIN ME AT MY OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY FEB 14th 1:00-4:00!

148 Leona Court Alamo California CA 94507

MORE GOOD NEWS

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:17:21 -0800

MORE GOOD NEWS....

Thinking about buying your next home?

You might not realize it, but the Home Buyer Tax Credit is no longer just for 1^st time home buyers.

You may also qualify for this credit if you have owned another home and have occupied it as your principal residence for at least five consecutive years out of the last eight. If you sold your primary residence three years ago and have been renting ever since, you still qualify for this credit. You don’t even need to occupy the home- you can rent it out.

The only stipulation is that the new home can cost no more than $800,000.

The credit is 10% of the purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000 for those that have not owned a home during the past three years and $6,500 for those who have. This amount is for joint filers. Single filers will receive half the amount. You must close escrow before April 30, 2010. This can be extended if you are in contract by April 30th. The new home must be your principal residence for three years - or credit becomes repayable.

While they believe this information to be correct, Mary Robbins and HouseYaYa.com make no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of this information. All users of this information are encouraged to conduct their own independent investigations and rely solely on those results. Please consult a tax attorney prior to acting on any of this information.

Mary Robbins

GOING GREEN ONE DAY AT A TIME

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:07:23 -0800

My son was ahead of the times when he wrote his book, The Casual Conservationist, four years ago. Today, people are much more receptive to contributing to the conservation of our planet Earth because of him and countless other people who cared to make a stand.

Did you know that if we recycled 32% of our garbage we would save 49 million metric tons of carbon from being being emitted into the air? That's the energy-equivalent savings of 11 billion gallons of gasoline. Wow - that certainly would help!

There are other ways you can contribute around the house:

1. Reuse your disposable water bottles more than once. They should not be dish-washed but should be recycled after a few rounds of reuse.

2. Carry reusable bags with you when you go shopping. If you don't have these bags handy, use the bags from your last trip to the store.

3. Try cleaning your home with non-toxic and natural cleaning products like white vinegar and baking soda. Add a few drops of lemon for that fresh-clean smell. How to make organic cleaning products video here.

4. Replace your regular incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs when they burn out. They don't cost that much extra

and save a lot on those increasing energy bills.

5. Turn off your screen saver and put your computer into sleep mode when not in use.

These are just a few things we can ALL do that will make a BIG DIFFERENCE. Remember the 3 R's - RECYCLE, REUSE AND RENEW!

Tips courtesy of Mary Robbins, Empire Realty Associates

http://www.Houseyaya.com and http://www.MaryRobbins.com

Danville Hot August Nights Auto Show

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:55:27 -0700

Last night was the first of two Hot August Night events in the Town of Danville. It was so fun walking through the streets viewing old cars and other vehicles that were made pre 1968...classic 1957 Corvettes, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Airs...

Valuable Home Improvements - The Kitchen

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:16:41 -0700

The kitchen is the heart of the house. It's where the family gathers to cook meals, bake cookies and talk about the days events. It's also one of the best places to improve the value of your home.

This kitchen is big, with lots of work surfaces. It has a great 2nd prep sink and a bar for entertaining family and guests. This also acts as a peninsula so the family room and dining area seem seperate, retaining a sense of space for each area.

In the kitchen, buyers often expect stone countertops, stainless-steel appliances, and finished cabinetry. This homeowner could upgrade this kitchen by replacing the stove top, refrigerator and oven with stainless-steel appliances.

While this kitchen is big, it's not quite big enough to install a prep island in the middle. But this smaller portable island does the job and helps solve the space issue.

Because it is on the top floor, this part of the house gets really warm in the summer. Installing a whole house fan in the attic can help keep summer electric bills down.

Disclaimer: While I believe this information to be correct, I make no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of this information. I am not a licensed contractor or appraiser. People using this information should conduct their own independent investigations and rely solely on those results.

Best Wishes,

Mary Robbins

Partner, Empire Realty Associates

Danville, CA

MIMiC Group, Blog Camp

Orinda, California

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:00:07 -0700

Here's a few of the local attractions in Orinda, California. Stay tuned for more in depth, local information about this bedroom community near San Francisco, California.

Neighborhoods: Orinda Country Club, Castle Gate and Glorietta

Schools: Schools, API scores

Public Transportation: Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)

Business Parks: Shadelands (Walnut Creek), Bishop Ranch (San Ramon)

Farmers Market: Orinda Farmer's Market

Food and Entertainment: Orinda Theatre, Casa Orinda, Serika, Siam Orchid

Shopping: Orinda Square, Safeway, Beverages and More

Recreation: Lafayette Reservoir, Briones Reservoir

Nearby Golf: Orinda Country Club, Tilden Park (public), Moraga Country Club

Events: 4th of July Parade, Orinda Film Festival

Cool hotels: Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa

Mary Robbins, Partner

Empire Realty Associates

www.MaryRobbins.com

Serving the real estate needs of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties

Briones Reservoir, Orinda

Mary Robbins (Empire Realty Associates) — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:01:01 -0700

Briones Reservoir is one of my favorite hiking finds in the East Bay....not too far from the communities of Orinda, Lafayette and Moraga. Its picturesque beauty, wonderful hiking trails with an occasional wildlife siting help me to feel one with nature. Lamorinda, as these three communities are often referred to, is a most desirable location because of its beautiful neighborhoods and exceptional public schools. There is something for everyone: single family homes that range in price from $750K to $1M and above and townhomes and condominiums which start in the low $400K and apartments to rent.

My husband and I have found another exceptional recreational area in Lamorinda..the Lafayette Reservoir which is owned and maintained by the East Bay Municipal Utility District. It offers numerous hiking trails, boating, fishing, picnic areas and a playground that is designed for both tots and older kids.

(

While hiking the trails in the East Bay, you will most likely come across Poison Oak. BEWARE! Right now this plant is very green and very poisonous. Many people are allergic to this plant and an itchy rash can result. Later in the summer the coloration turns an orangy red. If you come into contact with poison oak, be sure to wash the suspected area with soapy water. Happy Hiking!

1675 El Nido	3328	$850,000
2067 Alameda Diablo	2383	$1,475,000
101 El Nido Ct	3645	$1,475,000
2233 Caballo Ranchero Ct	2817	$1,495,000
2308 Alameda Diablo	5262	$1,795,000
1956 La Cadena	2484	$1,795,000
2369 Caballo Ranchero Dr	4523	$2,198,000
1531 Avenida Nuevo	4390	$2,575,000
1811 Club House Rd	4304	$2,695,000
2345 Mt. Diablo Scenic	5761	$2,950,000
2530 Caballo Ranchero	8801	$3,390,000
1868 El Nido	4602	$3,875,000
1789 Calle Arroyo	4100	$3,899,000
1845 El Nido	3546	$1,999,000