How to Buy Home Appliances the Smart Way

June 9, 2016 by Ray

Appliances and fixtures can become very expensive, very quickly. It is obvious that it’s in your best interest to buy wisely and carefully to stay on top of your costs. These items tend to be some of the largest ticket purchases around the home and you can easily waste money if you don’t buy the smart way.

The most important suggestion for buying appliances and fixtures is to decide before you even begin to shop how much money you wish to spend or what will fit in your budget. Surprisingly, this is often not completed until the customer is looking over the latest and greatest tech savvy model (with the price tag to match) and it results in the purchase of a much more expensive item than is actually needed. So take some time to figure out exactly what your spending limit is before you even start to shop and then stick to your guidelines on that decision all the way through the buying process.

It’s also a good idea to research your item before you start looking at the actual product. There are so many consumer publications and reviews available to help you make a wise choice on a huge range of consumer items, including home appliances and fixtures. In some sources, they extensively test the major brands and give their unbiased reviews on many different features and options related to each product. This is extremely useful information that can’t be obtained anywhere else, so take advantage of what you can find. This kind of research will also help you decide before you start physically product shopping which features are most important and which should maybe be avoided. The goal is to invest your money in the essentials and not features. Always opt for better quality over more features too.

Don’t assume that buying locally is going to be the best value. Sometimes, the same or similar item can be found online for a much better price. Be cautious when it comes to finishing out the sale- while you may avoid sales tax by buying online, you may need installation completed for an item you purchase. This cost should be factored into your purchase price as well.

It may seem like a basic step, but be sure to carefully measure the space you have designated for the appliance or item in your home. This is another aspect of the buying process that is sometimes overlooked, much to the buyer’s dismay. You don’t want to find out at delivery that what you purchased will not fit. Get the measuring tape out in advance and measure twice to save this headache from happening to you.

Finally, be sure to consider the warranty options on what you want to buy. Ask questions before you buy so that you know what the warranty will cover and how long it will last. Also, verify whether or not you will need to send the item out to be repaired under the warranty or whether home repair is covered.

If you take the time to follow these simple suggestions, you will find that you are buying appliances and fixtures the easy way. You will be able to make smart purchases that will last and give you great service for many years.

For all of you real estate needs; please don’t hesitate to contact me, Ray Marquez at www.RayMarquez.com or at 888.584.9427 Ext. 119.

Bay Area real estate: Everywhere you go, million-dollar homes

May 20, 2016 by Ray

In San Francisco and Silicon Valley, there’s about a 50 percent chance that it’s worth $1 million or more. The odds are less in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, yet the share of million-dollar homes there has nearly quadrupled since 2012.

“Once a rarity, the million-dollar home is now fairly commonplace” in numerous U.S. markets, said Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist for Trulia. He has authored a new report showing that the San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland metro areas — in that order — have seen the nation’s most dramatic increases in the share of million-dollar houses.

Titled “Million Dollar Creep: Where Seven Figure Homes are the New Norm,” the report says that:

In the San Francisco metro area (which includes San Francisco and San Mateo counties), the percentage of homes valued at $1 million or more has nearly tripled since 2012, from 19.6 percent to 57.4 percent.
In the San Jose metro area (Santa Clara and San Benito counties), the share of million-dollar homes has risen almost as sharply, from 17.4 percent to 46.3 percent.
In the Oakland metro area (Alameda and Contra Costa counties), the share has jumped from 5.2 percent to 19.7 percent.

Lagging behind are the Los Angeles, Honolulu, San Diego, New York and Seattle metro areas. Nationally, the share of million-dollar homes has modestly risen from 1.6 percent to 3 percent.

The price appreciation here reflects a Bay Area-wide problem: the lack of housing supply amid a robust tech economy that creates jobs — and the demand for more housing.

The cycle “is not sustainable,” said Matt Regan, senior vice president of public policy with the Bay Area Council, which recently conducted a poll showing massive frustration over housing prices among residents.

“My home has appreciated by double digits in the last four years,” said Regan, who grew up in Ireland and now lives in Pleasant Hill in Contra Costa County. “It’s nice to see all those euros added to my home value when I look at Trulia or Zillow. But at the end of the day, I am incredibly worried that our refusal to permit and build enough housing to accommodate our growing population will result in an economic downturn. “All that appreciation will evaporate very quickly in the next recession.”

These are the Contra Costa County municipalities where the share of million-dollar houses has risen the most, according to Trulia: Moraga (increasing from 21.6 percent to 70.8 percent), followed by Danville (from 22.2 percent to 69.9 percent) and Orinda (from 47.7 to 92.8 percent).

Trulia also has computed percentages for scores of neighborhoods in the 10 U.S. metro areas with the highest share of million-dollar houses.

In the Bay Area, the neighborhood with the steepest increase is Westwood Park, near St. Francis Wood in San Francisco. In 2012, only 2.9 percent of houses there were worth $1 million or more. Now, 96 percent are in the million-dollar club.

The other four of the top five Bay Area neighborhoods are in the city of San Mateo, including two in its Hillsdale section. All four are in proximity to the Caltrain station in San Mateo, as well as to Highway 101: Ease in getting to work clearly means something to homeowners and adds to the value of a house. The share of million-dollar homes has leapt from 4.9 percent to 85.4 percent in San Mateo’s Fiesta Gardens neighborhood.

The changes in San Mateo are “the epitome of what is happening in the Bay Area,” said Trulia’s McLaughlin. “Many of those are postwar homes that were built for middle-class families earning middle-class incomes. Those homes are no longer being occupied by your typical working or middle-class people.”

A few more examples from the report:

In Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood, the share of million-dollar homes increased from 16.7 percent to 84 percent.
In Sunnyvale’s Raynor Park, the share jumped from 19 percent to 94.4 percent.
In San Jose’s Almaden Valley, the share rose from 29.4 percent to 79.5 percent.

Some neighborhoods barely registered on the report: Their percentage change was minimal, because they already were so expensive in 2012. Take Palo Alto’s Professorville: Four years ago, 94.8 percent of its homes were worth $1 million or more. Its share today: 100 percent.

There are still homes out there for everyone, you just need an expert in your area to help you find them. Give me, Ray Marquez a call or visit my website at www.RayMarquez.com or at 888.584.9427 Ext. 119.

from: Monterey Herald Online

12 Great New Bay Area Brunch Spots

April 23, 2016 by Ray

Brunch is a combination of lunch and breakfast; a late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast or instead of lunch. It usually occurs in the late morning but can go as long as 3 pm. A typical brunch meal includes elements of both breakfast and lunch but lately; anything is fair game in this growing restaurant trend. Eggs Benedict topped with pork belly or lamb shank? Spiked hollandaise with sriracha. Waffles created carefully and topped with corned beef hash. These types of dishes of course need to be paired with creative cocktails though the mimosa is always an old standby. The Bay Area brunch scene is exploding. We’re offering 12 possible places with varied menus that you may want to check out this weekend.

SABIO ON MAIN, PLEASANTON

This still-newish downtown Pleasanton restaurant, with former San Francisco chef Francis X. Hogan at the helm, launched with Spanish-California small plates for dinner, then added brunch.

Menu options: Liberty Duck croque monsieur with goat cheese and fig jam; eggs benedict with jamon serrano; prime rib French dip with manchego; and a P-Town Fry of pork belly, piquillo peppers, shrimp fritto misto.

From the Bar: El Sabio sangria; Dirty Cougar (grapefruit vodka, St. Germain, fresh lemon, grapefruit twist).

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at 501 Main St., Pleasanton.

FLEMING’S, Palo Alto

The spacious steakhouse that anchors a key corner on El Camino Real at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto recently introduced Sunday brunch. (No word as yet on whether the Walnut Creek outpost will follow suit.)

Menu options: Filet mignon benedict, prime rib French dip, blue crab omelet, pancakes with housemade lemon ricotta.

From the Bar: Sonoma Sparkler (passionfruit mimosa); Fish and Chips (Fleming’s version of the Bloody Mary, with jumbo shrimp and homemade chips).

Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at 180 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. (Sorry, no brunch yet at the Walnut Creek location.) www.flemingssteakhouse.com.

MARLOWE, San Francisco

This San Francisco SOMA restaurant is convenient if your destination is an event at the Concourse Exhibition Center at 8th and Brannan streets.

Menu options: Crab-shrimp crepes with spicy hollandaise; housemade ricotta toast with raspberries, walnuts and chestnut honey; warm deviled eggs; bruleed winter citrus.

From the Bar: Marlowe Reviver (blood orange liqueur, Fernet Branca, prosecco); Pimm’s Cup.

Hours: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at 500 Brannan St. at Fourth, San Francisco. www.marlowesf.com.

THE BYWATER, LOS GATOS

Brunch made its debut last month at Manresa owner David Kinch’s New Orleans-themed hot spot in Los Gatos.

Menu options: Shrimp in a hole with andouille; fried chicken and butter beans; gumbo z’herbes with poached egg; hot link and egg sandwich; shrimp and avocado rémoulade; and, from the Manresa Bread bakery, chocolate-cherry pain perdu with cane syrup.

From the Bar: Creole Bloody Mary; Irish Channel (Irish whiskey, cognac, Verve cold-brew coffee, spices)

Hours: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at 532 N Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos.www.thebywaterca.com. No reservations, so get in line early.

CAFE EUGENE, ALBANY

This Northwest-inspired eatery in Albany has now added brunch — and not just on weekends. Daily brunch is “a Eugene thing,” says co-owner Ryan Murff.

Menu Options: Green eggs and sam (butter biscuit with kale-scrambled egg, avocado, house-cured salmon, hollandaise); strata layered with winter squash, hedgehog mushrooms, Gruyere and cheese curds, with chicory salad and poached egg; tomatillo-braised pork shoulder with cheesy grits; biscuit with marionberry jam.

From the Bar: White Bird (tequila, orgeat, absinthe, lemon, egg white); I-5 High Five (gin, Oregon marionberry liqueur, spiced pear brandy, lemon, rosemary)

Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily (except no brunch on Monday, March 14) at 1175 Solano Ave., Albany. www.cafeeugene.com

SHED, HEALDSBURG

If you’re in Wine Country, the brunch menu by Perry Hoffman (etoile, Domaine Chandon) offers a large array of both contemporary/seasonal and traditional dishes.

Menu Options: Duck prosciutto salad with Asian pears, squash, chestnuts and chicories; farro verde with heirloom beets, crema di lardo and red mustard; wild fennel soup with smoked trout; baked lemon ricotta pancake; heirloom grain waffle with housemade jam.

From the Bar: Fermentation specialist SHED offers kombucha and kefir on tap and several fruit-vinegar shrubs also made in-house. Among them: watermelon shrub with pink peppercorn and champagne vinegar, burgundy plum with ginger and rice wine vinegar.

Hours: Brunch, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. weekends (breakfast menu, 8-11 a.m.) at 25 North St., Healdsburg. www.healdsburgshed.com.

ALAMAR KITCHEN & BAR, OAKLAND

Owner-chef Nelson German is introducing shareable brunch tapas to his Uptown Oakland restaurant — it’s a seafood place with a Dominican flair — starting this weekend.

Menu Options: Carrot cake flapjacks; cast-iron chile prawns with baked farm egg; “Gregory’s Cinnamon Bun” French toast.

From the Bar: North Star (barrel-aged rum, apple cider, lime, black tea, egg, bitters); hibiscus fizz; house lemonade.

Hours: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday at 100 Grand Ave., Oakland. Reservations:www.alamaroakland.com.

TESSORA’S BARRA DI VINO, CAMPBELL

This downtown Campbell wine bar and bistro will serve a Sunday brunch (with specials for kids) launched brunch service earlier this month, a weekend celebration that continues through Oct. 2.

Menu options: Crepes with sweet or savory fillings du jour; housemade buttermilk biscuits; quiche; beignets; farmers market fruit bowl.

From the Bar: Peach bellinis; mimosas, sangria, French press coffee.

Hours: 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday at 234 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell. www.tessoras.com.

SALUMERIA, SAN FRANCISCO

This deli-larder-market in San Francisco’s Mission district (owned by the Flour + Water group) is a meaty newcomer to the brunch scene.

Menu Options: Fried chicken and egg sandwich with housemade prosciutto and chile hollandaise; poached eggs with pork cheek; avocado toast; apple cider doughnuts.

From the Bar: Blucher Creek (blood orange and rhubarb aperitif); Stinson (sherry, quince and citrus spritzer).

Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at 3000 20th St., San Francisco.

BLACK SHEEP BRASSERIE, SAN JOSE

Brunch made its debut at this classic brasserie in San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood earlier this month. Sunday dinner also starts this weekend. (Our reviewer raved about the rack of lamb and the mussels. Read her review at www.mercurynews.com/eat-drink-play.)

Menu Options: Braised pork hash with slow eggs and comte; oxtail poutine with whipped foie; beignets with maple-Calvados caramel; and the aforementioned lamb and mussels.

From the Bar: Hotel Nacional Special (white rum, pineapple and lime juices, apricot liqueur); Bonita Applebum (Calvados, Amontillado sherry, Swedish Punsch, Peychaud’s bitters).

Hours: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday at 1202 Lincoln Ave., San Jose. Reservations: 408-816-7251; www.blacksheepbrasserie.com.

BRIDGES, DANVILLE

This popular Danville restaurant, still remembered today for its role in the “Mrs. Doubtfire” movie, offers brunch on both weekend days.

Menu Options: Braised lamb shank benedict with horseradish hollandaise; 4505 chorizo hash with grilled scallion hollandaise; Mary’s Chicken Chop Chop with kale, romaine, pancetta, soy-glazed pumpkin, spicy pepitas and spicy kimchi dressing.

From the Bar: Morning Bell (tequila, red pepper, agave, lime juice); Daly Cocktail (vodka, sweet tea, lemonade, raspberry); blood orange mimosa with prosecco.

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 44 Church St., Danville. Reservations: www.bridgesdanville.com.

RESTAURANT ANZU, SAN FRANCISCO

Chef Philippe Striffeler has introduced new brunch dishes to the lineup at this elegant Cal-Asian restaurant inside San Francisco’s Hotel Nikko. Diners may order a la carte or choose the buffet options, which features both Japanese and American dishes.

Menu Options: Green tea waffle with chicken katsudon, spicy maple aioli and arugula; Maine lobster omelet with mascarpone cheese and charred tomato sauce; kimchi fried rice with eggs and grilled Kurobuta ham steak.

From the Bar: Sake Sangria (sake, elderflower, lemon juice, cucumber, strawberry, basil); San Francisco Gentleman (bourbon, mint, raspberries, simple syrup); and Bloody Mary bar.

Hours: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday for brunch buffet, until 2 p.m. for a la carte menu. Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St., San Francisco. Reservations: www.hotelnikkosf.com.

Have you been to any of these spots? Did the list miss one of your favorites? Let me know!

For all of you real estate needs; please don’t hesitate to contact me, Ray Marquez at www.RayMarquez.com or at 888.584.9427 Ext. 119.

parts of this article referenced from: http://www.eastbaytimes.com/alameda-county/ci_29771779/12-great-new-bay-area-brunch-spots

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with Oakland Bookstores

April 8, 2016 by Ray

April 30^th is Independent Bookstore day and several local stores plan to celebrate books, authors and the booksellers who make the magic come to life. There are 400 stores nationwide participating this year. California can claim 80 of them.

Each participating store is hosting its own activities and specials on the day of the event. Booksellers participating in Oakland include:

Walden Pond Books, 3316 Grand Ave.
Diesel, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave
Pegasus, 5560 College Ave.
Pegasus’ two Berkeley stores at 1855 Solano Ave. and 2349 Shattuck Ave, are also planning events
Laurel Books, 1423 Broadway

At Diesel, the Dusty Case Duo will entertain shoppers from 5-7 p.m. Diesel makes its home in a remodeled bowling alley and has been open since 1989. Their website claims that, “Bookstores are unique places in the chaos and hubbub of our modern times. They are places where you can come to disconnect, relax, and enjoy a moment of silence, yet simultaneously they are also places you can come to feel more engaged with and informed about the world around you.”

Luan Stauss, the bookseller/owner of Laurel Books moved into their historic location a year and a half ago. The landmark building located across from City Hall in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza is a 1905 Lionel J. Wilson flatiron building. Stauss says she has several things planned for the celebration- including a special merchandise sale for that day only and drawings for prizes every hour. Laurel Books sells books, cards, coloring and sketch books and the fancy pens that go with them. “We plan to have pages to color of Oakland sites and landmarks,” said Stauss.

On Saturday Laurel Books will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“I am glad to be the only general interest bookstore right in the downtown,” says Stauss. “We have every kind of customer, from government workers to people just enjoying the open space/park atmosphere of the plaza.”

“Since May 4th is Oakland’s 164th birthday, we are working on more special surprises,” to celebrate that event as well. There is going to be an expo out in the plaza that day in conjunction with Older Americans Month so the bookstore will be right in the heart of the activity.

You can find a list of independent bookstores planning events for the 30^th at www.indiebookstore.com.

For all of you real estate needs; please don’t hesitate to contact me, Ray Marquez at www.RayMarquez.com or at 888.584.9427 Ext. 119.

New Grocer in Antioch

March 12, 2016 by Ray

A new grocery experience is coming to Antioch. Delta Fresh Foods will open at 4036 Lone Tree Way, taking over where an old Fresh & Easy used to be. Owners Harley and Dennis DeLano are opening their customer-focused neighborhood market with more than 60 years of grocery experience between the father and son team.

Delta Fresh Foods will be coming to 4036 Lone Tree Way, the former Fresh and Easy Antioch location, in mid-April. The owners also have stores in Fairfax and Davis.

They plan to offer produce and meats, organic products, beer and wine, and pre-packaged and prepared foods as well. The new store will feature a sit-down area for on-site dining. There will be microwaveable products in a hot case with food that has already been prepared and ready for you to eat.

Harley has served as president of four different supermarket chains, and Dennis has worked for more than 40 years at Lucky and Ralph’s stores, as well as each of them have operated small stores in various areas. They already have successful Delta Fresh Foods locations in Fairfax and Davis.

“My son Dennis has intense background in produce and meat, and because we buy locally mostly, our prices may be better than the larger chain stores. We’ll concentrate mostly on fresh produce and carry a wide variety of greens not carried by other stores.” Harley DeLano said. “We’ll make accommodations if customers request special items, which many of the larger stores can’t do because they buy from their warehouses.”

DeLano likes Antioch and traveled through the area frequently when he lived in Danville and drove up to the Sacramento stores that he managed.

The 13,860 square-foot building is in need of some renovations in preparation for reopening as Delta Fresh Foods. They will be working on the layout so that they have more room for the fresh produce and meats, and will be replacing the self-serve check stands.

Once the renovations are complete, the final steps will be to obtain their alcoholic beverage license, get clearance from the Health Department, and then have the city of Antioch sign off on their business license. They hope “all the stars will align” by mid-April, they say.

New businesses with a customer focus are great for our community. If you are looking for outstanding customer service while you sell your home, give Ray Marquez a call. You can reach him at 888.584.9427 Ext. 119 or at www.RayMarquez.com.

Danville makes a move to prevent short term residential rentals

February 21, 2016 by Ray

Last week town council members addressed their support for banning short-term residential rentals, saying that Danville has a “small town” charm that needs to be preserved.

“That small-town atmosphere makes Danville what it is,” said Councilman Newell Arnerich, adding he has heard complaints from all over town about homes that rent out rooms through Airbnb, HomeAway and other websites. “It has become a problem.”

Arnerich was joined by three other council members in approving a ban on rentals of less than 30 days in residential areas. This ban effectively ends Airbnb-style rentals in town.

Mayor Karen Stepper called these types of rentals “commercial use in a residential place.”

The ordinance will be affirmed March 1^st and will be effective 30 days after that.

Cities all over the U.S. and California have been discussing this same issue as the sharing economy of lodging has become more popular. Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco and other cities have started regulating and taxing the rental hosts as a solution to the community concerns. Anaheim has limited the number of rental permits it issues. Monterey, Pacific Grove, Tiburon, Santa Monica, Ojai, Manhattan Beach and now Danville have banned the rentals completely.

There were more than 100 people attending the council discussion last week. Several attendees claimed that instituting a ban would infringe on private property rights, and one individual called it an overreach of government.

Melinda Malin, an attendee, claimed that Airbnb renters had been a lifeline for her family after they suffered a job loss. “This has been one way for us to stay in Danville,” she said.

Most claimed that the prospect of strangers in staying in their neighborhoods compromised the atmosphere in Danville. Some even claimed that they had already lodged complaints about the noise and traffic associated with people coming and going at all hours.

Lara Forbes spoke about living next door to a home that uses Airbnb and her concern about her property values. “We didn’t buy our house with the intention of living next to a motel,” she said.

The Town Attorney Rob Ewing said that police aren’t concerned that the 15 to 20 homes currently offering a short-term rental present a crime problem.

Dissenting Councilman Robert Storer said much of the trouble was centered in Alamatos. He believes the problem seems to come from one unpopular house addition that towers over a neighbor’s backyard, and the related resentfulness, than of people renting a room at that house.

“I see a great deal of fear but not many facts,” said Storer, adding that out of Danville’s 16,000 homes, about 20 do short-term rentals. “Frankly, I don’t see a problem here.” He favored more discussion.

Households violating the ban could be cited or sued.

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home, or if you have questions about the real estate options in your area, please give me, Ray Marquez, a call at 888-584-9427 ext 119 or by email at Ray@RayMarquez.com. You can also visit my website at www.RayMarquez.com.

6 Reasons You Should Never Buy or Sell a Home Without an Agent

February 7, 2016 by Ray

There are a ton of blogs, YouTube videos and even a few TV shows focused on the benefits of representing yourself in a real estate transaction. It is, of course, possible, to do it yourself. But you really shouldn’t. This could be the biggest financial decision of your life and you need a Realtor if you want to do it right.

Realtors have tons of experience

Real estate has its own language. Acronyms and related jargon can really confuse a layperson. Your Realtor is trained to speak that language fluently.

Plus, buying or selling a home usually requires dozens of forms, disclosures and technical documents. Realtors have the expertise to help you prepare the best deal for you- while avoiding the pitfalls that lead to delays or other costly mistakes that can mess things up for you.

They have amazing search powers

You can find almost anything these days on the internet. With real estate agents utilizing all of their tools- including posting their listings online, you can find listings any time you want. But Realtors have access to more listings than can be found online. Sometimes properties are available but are not actively advertised. A Realtor can help you find these hidden listings.

A good Realtor is going to know the search area much better than you ever could. The Realtor is equipped to know the ins and outs of every neighborhood in their area, so they can direct you to a home in your price range that you may not have considered.

They have major negotiating skills

Any time you buy or sell a home, you are likely to deal with negotiations. As the housing market becomes more competitive, negotiations are likely to get more heated.

In some markets, you may face all-cash offers and bidding wars. Wouldn’t you feel better with a knowledgeable and professional negotiator on your side to secure the best deal for you?

It’s not only about how much money you end up spending or netting. A Realtor will help to draw up a purchase agreement that allows time for inspections, contingencies and anything else that’s essential to your particular needs.

They have connections to everyone

Realtors may not know everything but they make it their mission to stay connected to just about anyone that can possibly help with the process of buying or selling a home. Mortgage brokers, real estate attorneys, home inspectors, home stagers, photographers, and interior designers- the list is massive- and they are all in your Realtors network. Put them to good use.

They follow a strict code of ethics

Not all real estate agents are Realtors. A Realtor is a licensed real estate agent that belongs to the National Association of Realtors, the largest trade group in the country.

Realtors are held to a higher ethical standard than licensed agents and must follow a Code of Ethics.

They can be your data analyst/therapist/parent- all rolled into one person

Realtors wear a lot of hats. Of course, they’re sales people, but they actually do a heck of a lot to earn their commission. They’re constantly driving around, checking out the posted listings for you. They spend their own money on marketing your home if you’re a seller. They’re always researching comps to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

And of course, they’re working all hours of the day and night. It doesn’t matter if you need some more information on a home or just need someone to talk to in order to feel better about the offer you just put in.

Ray Marquez understands that this is the biggest financial and in some cases, possibly the most emotional decision of your life. Guiding you through it isn’t a responsibility that he takes lightly.

If you’re in the market to buy or sell your home, or you just want some information from a reliable source, give Ray Marquez a call at 888-584-9427 ext. 119 or by email at Ray@RayMarquez.com. You can also visit his website at www.RayMarquez.com.

Explore Park Trails and Challenge Yourself

January 16, 2016 by Ray

Contra Costa County has a lot to offer for those that live here, or are visiting. One of the best things about this area is all the incredible natural beauty we have throughout a diverse range of landscapes. There are recreational opportunities year round for everyone to enjoy, making a healthy and active lifestyle easy to live. The East Bay Regional Park District manages the parks and trails within Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, bringing us 65 amazing parks to explore throughout the area. This year marks the 23^rd annual Trails Challenge, a self-guided program to encourage everyone of all ages and stages to get out, discover our parks, and improve their health and fitness.

The Trails Challenge is also a part of the International Healthy Parks Healthy People movement which was begun in Australia by Parks Victoria. The movement focuses on the importance and connections made between human health and mother nature, a healthy society and healthy environment. It has been shown that open spaces and parks provide health, economic, and societal benefits. The East Bay Regional Park District fully supports these ideas with programs such as Trails Challenge. The people of our area support these ideas as well. Last year’s challenge had over 10,000 participants. More are anticipated to join this year, especially now that the challenge has been made even easier since there is no longer a registration requirement.

The new rules are all based on the honor system. All you need to do is download the Trails Challenge guide, log into your trail excursions, and turn in your log by December 1^st, 2016 to receive a commemorative pin for your efforts. You must hike, bike, or ride by horseback at least 26.2 miles of trails however, and choose trails that are listed within the challenge guide book. There are different levels of difficulty to choose from, and some all access trails are included as well so anyone can meet the challenge, whatever their ability. The Trails Challenge is also a great opportunity to get the whole family involved. The park district has several guided walks, kids hikes, and activities included in the Trails Challenge, offering different ways to explore the parks and achieve your challenge goals. Some of the trails in the challenge are also dog friendly paths so you can center your challenge around walking with your pet.

Within the guide there is an at-a-glance section of all the trails included in the challenge, sorted by difficulty level, so you can easily plan which ones you want to explore. They denote which ones allow bicycles, dogs, and horses, and which ones are wheelchair accessible. There are also some wonderful tips, from safety to mapping, and planning your hike. The free guided walks that are a part of the Trails Challenge are also noted in the guide, and each park has information and a trail map included. You can download a mobile version of the guide so you can easily take it with you.

If you are up to a challenge, and love spending time outside, the Trails Challenge with the East Bay Regional Park District is just for you. Having incredible parks and trails easily accessible is one reason Contra Costa County is such a wonderful place to live and experience. If you are ready to make your home in the Danville area or nearby, the Ray Marquez Real Estate Team can help you find the right home. We care about our community and are here to provide you with our exceptional and dedicated services to turn your home dreams into reality. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us directly at 925-575-7605 or you can email me at ray@raymarquez.com.

35 Percent of U.S. Housing Markets Reach New Price Peaks in 2015

December 14, 2015 by Ray

35 Percent of U.S. Housing Markets Reach New Price Peaks in 2015

According to the October 2015 U.S Home Sales Report, among 94 major US metro areas analyzed, 33 housing markets (or around 35 percent) have now reached new all0time home price peaks in 2015.

The report also found that the median sales price of U.S. single family homes and condos in October 2015 was $207,500, up 1 percent from the previous month, and up 10 percent from a year ago. This is the highest year over year percentage increase since February 2014.

The 10 percent increase in October 2015 came following 20 consecutive months of single-digit annual increases in median home sales prices. This also marked the 44^th consecutive month with a year over year increase in median home prices. Despite nearly four years of increases, the US median sales price in October remained 9 percent below the previous peak of $228,000 in July 2005.

There were a total of 2,815,704 single family homes and condos sold in the first 10 months of 2015, according to public record sales deeds. That was a 9-year high for the first 10 months of the year, and a 6 percent jump from the same time frame in 2014.

Among 94 major metropolitan statistical areas, with 500 or more sales, with home price data available in October 2015, 89 percent saw an increase in sales prices from the previous year, while only 10 metros saw a decline in median sales prices from a year prior.

RealtyTrac analyzed 127 counties with at least 500 sales in October 2015, and where home price data was available on both the most recent purchase and the previous purchase. Counties where sellers, on average, sold in October for the biggest percentage profit since purchase were Alameda County, CA in the San Francisco metro area (75 percent gain), Santa Clara County, California in the San Jose metro area (61 percent gain), San Mateo County, California in the San Francisco metro area (58 percent gain), San Bernardino County, California in the Riverside metro area (52 percent gain), and Multnomah County, Oregon in the Portland metro area (51 percent gain).

Right now the market is strong for sellers and getting more competitive for buyers. If you are thinking about buying or selling your home, visit my website www.raymarquez.com or call me direct at 888.584.9427 ext. 119

Oakland Residents Plead With City Council

October 5, 2015 by Ray

Frustrated residents of Oakland are tired of talking about a plan to combat displacement as rents continue to rise in the city and the region. The special housing meeting was held this week to take some, or really any, action.

About 80 speakers told the City Council personal tales of unfair evictions, dangerous conditions in homes because of uncaring landlords and steep rental increases. But mostly, they worried about the basic cost of living in the area. Alameda County’s median rent is already $2,800, according to Zillow, with a median home price around $680,000.

Kit Vaq, a government secretary, said that she’s lived in Oakland for decades and is worried that she might soon be priced out of the market. The Council agreed with her plea for more action. Although sympathetic Council members listened to hours of public testimony, there was little done the day of the hearing. Council members formally accepted a city staff report that was initially filed in May, the housing equity road map, while acknowledging the action was just policy framework for possible future actions.

The work is in the pipeline. Several Council members were working on ordinances to protect tenants and ensure the city is building enough affordable and market-rate housing.

Councilman Kalb is working with Mayor Libby Schaaf on several proposed policies including one that would require landlords to complete seismic retrofits of dwellings, better enforcement to ensure evictions are valid and legal, and studying the prospect of new developer impact fees that many cities use to pay for affordable housing. Several legislative ordinances would be ready in the coming months.

Edward Del Beccaro, managing director of the East Bay office of commercial real estate firm Transwestern, told the Council that Bay Area companies are creating jobs much faster than cities can build the housing, and the problem is only expected to get worse in the next ten years.

Development has lagged in Oakland because there’s a construction boom across the region, but developers are getting a better turn by building in San Francisco.

The Council is optimistic about working with county officials and other cities to develop a regional housing bond to pay for affordable housing. The city’s goal of building 7,000 new affordable housing units in the next seven years might depend on it; a $250 million bond would pay for about 2,500 units.

Residents are hopeful that the meeting would inspire practical solutions to the problem that can be replicated across the region.

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home, or if you have questions about the real estate options in your area, please give me, Ray Marquez, a call at 888-584-9427 ext. 119 or by email at Ray@RayMarquez.com. You can also visit my website at www.RayMarquez.com.