A Nearly Century-Old Closing

I recently helped a client close on a lovely, 97-year-old home in Antioch. The 3-bed, 1-bath house at 315 W. 7th St. has original built-ins, original flooring, and a huge basement. There is some deferred maintenance and yard clean-up to do, but with time and money, my client plans to restore the home to its original grandeur.

My client was working with a tight budget and homes of a similar style with more modern updates were selling in the $575,000 range (the war in Ukraine, higher rates, and inflation have all shifted the market!). This home was originally listed at $499,000 but had no offers after 25 days on the market, when the price was lowered to $459,000.

About a week after that price reduction, my client saw the home and we called the listing agent to see if there was any interest. He said they had an offer, but it was low. We came back with a higher offer of $465,000. After the seller did a multiple counter to us and the other offer, we bumped up to $470,000 and won the house!

When they did inspections, we also got a $6,500 credit. There is nothing more fulfilling than helping somebody get into a home – especially one they did not think they could afford!

… and how cool is the rotary phone that when you got to chatting you could pull down a lever and sit to talk. It reminds me of old movies where the wife was chatting for hours with a neighbor.

Congrats to two happy clients!

I want to offer my sincerest congratulations to Amanda and Siubhan on their recent closings!

Amanda, a past client of mine, decided she wanted to pursue her dream of having land, horses, chickens and a big garden. When a piece of land became available in Vacaville, she decided to make an offer and it was accepted! We then rushed to get her Concord home ready over the Thanksgiving holiday and were in contract by December 9th. Whew!

Siubhan is another past client who had bought a condo in Antioch four years ago, but had not been living in it for the last year or so and could not rent it out due to rental restrictions. She felt now was the right time to sell. Twelve offers and $26,000 over asking price later, Siubhan is excited to take a trip back to Scotland to visit family.

I would love to know your story and help you accomplish your dreams, reach out to me or visit my website: www.kristinlanham.com.

Where to See Fireworks in Contra Costa County this Weekend

4th of julyFor the 24 years I have lived in Walnut Creek, there have been no public 4th of July fireworks displays. According to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, fireworks are illegal in the county, so good luck trying to put on your own show!

However, you can buy fireworks in Alameda County – Dublin is not that far away – but with the drought, the law is probably a good thing to abide by.

Luckily, some cities close by are shooting off fireworks, so grab a spot on a hill, go to the location itself, or maybe a friend has a bird’s eye view from their house:

  • Antioch – Contra Costa Fairgrounds (Dusk)
  • Benicia – Benicia City Park (9:00 p.m.)
  • Berkeley – Berkeley Marina (9:30 p.m.)
  • Concord – Mt. Diablo High School & Todos Santos Plaza (9:00 p.m.)
  • Livermore – Downtown (Dusk)
  • Martinez – Waterfront (9:30 p.m.)
  • Moraga – Moraga Country Club (Dusk)
  • Pittsburg – Pittsburg Marina (Dusk)
  • Pleasant Hill – College Park High School & Pleasant Hill Country Club (9:10 p.m.)
  • Pleasanton – Alameda County Fairgrounds (9:30 p.m.)
  • Richmond – Marina Bay Park (9:15 p.m.)
  • San Ramon – Central Park (9:30 p.m.)

Have a safe, happy 4th of July!