Tag: Walnut Creek Lifestyle

Broadway Plaza summer concert series kicks off tonight!

If you’re looking for a good activity to get out of the house this evening, I have good news for you. The Broadway Plaza summer concert series is back in downtown Walnut Creek!

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Tonight, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., marks the first in a series of shows played at Event Plaza. If you like what you hear and see, you can go again on any Thursday in August.

First up tonight is SuperHuey, followed by The Purple Ones on August 10th, and Fleetwood Mask (that’s “Mask,” before you get too excited…) on August 17th. Festivities include the music, vendors, shopping, and more.

It’s a perfect family outing for people of all ages. Bring a blanket or chair and a few dollars for a glass of wine, and enjoy the summer air with your fellow East Bay music lovers!’s

Note:  with the new development, the events plaza is in front of Macy’s and I find the area not that welcoming to large crowds.  it gets really tight with limited seating, so many people are just standing around.  If you are there to shop, you will find yourself in tight quarters and a swarm of people.  Personally I miss the old parking lot space.

Congratulations to Mckenzie!

I recently closed a home for my client, Mckenzie. She currently lives in the city and will be moving to Clayton. Thus, we met at the Legion of Honor to see the Monet exhibit, celebrate her closing and give her the house key, as seen below.

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IMG_1020The tenant doesn’t leave for another six weeks so this was a great way to celebrate and she was very happy to have closed! The process became a bit stressful as the family wanted to use their local bank in the valley, and the parents were co-signing. However, this bank was primarily an AG bank and did not close on very many condos.

Buyers rarely understand at the onset what a difference a great lender can make and the lasting experience everyone involved will have. If it is a great experience, the impression is minimal, but when it is not so great, it can become one of your worst nightmares. This ultimately ended well because of the family’s relationship with the local bank, yet, we still needed an eight-day loan contingency extension (but only closed four days late).

If you want to be the next client who buys or sells a property with me, I will help you navigate the process to a successful close! Just reach out at www.kristinlanham.com or call me direct at (925) 899-7123.

Pizza My Heart has my heart

Yo. If you’ve ever hung out at the beach in Capitola, you’ve probably jumped in the long line for a slice of $4 pizza from Pizza My Heart.

If you’re a true customer and not just a lowly shoobie, you’ve probably even paid $7 for the pizza/t-shirt combo! Well, now those killer beach vibes have landed in Walnut Creek. On the corner of Broadway Plaza on S. California Blvd., the moment has finally come.

Even if you’ve never been to the famous location in Capitola, I’d highly recommend riding the swell into this downtown Walnut Creek shop and chompin’ down on a delicious slice and salad. Don’t miss the Maverick’s Pizza, named for the local big-wave surf competition.

Personally, I was super amped to hit it up. And when I ate it (literally, not in the “crashing” sense), I almost caught myself yelling “cowabunga!” There’s no way you can leave this place without throwing down a sick hang loose sign.

It gets 5 out of 5 Mt. Diablo’s from me, dude!

Road Trips: Surprise Valley

If you’ve been to Burning Man, you know a little something about today’s Road Trips post. I recently visited Surprise Vally with a friend, which literally sits on the California/Nevada border by Cedarville – an hour and a half drive from the Black Rock Desert.

Our mission was to pick up a piece of artwork from an artist who lives out there (and to stay at a friend of a friend’s who owns Bare Ranch, where we had a BBQ with a group of friends who were also in the area).

The area is simply stunning. A mix of high desert, mountains and ranch land. If you get the chance to road trip up there, whether for the Festival or not, I’d highly recommend it. The drive is east of Reno on I-80; you turn off at Nixon, which is an Indian Reservation, after passing the turn-off for the new Tesla Battery Factory.

You first have to go through Gerlach, and those who know Burning Man will recognize this as the turn-off, as well as a place to get gas and something to eat. Bruno is a bit of legend who passed this year at the ripe age of 94. He had the oldest ongoing gambling license in the state. There was no gambling at the time I was there because it was in the process of being transferred, but Bruno’s is also known for their ravioli, which we did order!
After Gerlach, there is Pottery X, where a group of people live, make pottery, paint and sell those items to the public. It’s worth a stop – I picked up a birthday gift for a friend. Finally, there are natural hot springs, so if you are looking for a real getaway, you can book a hotel and indulge in the hot springs after a long day’s hike.

Don’t hold your breath for another recession

According to an Inman.com article, Kevin Thorpe (Global Chief Economist at Cushman & Wakefield) says we are going to have a very long economic expansion.

At the National Association of Real Estate Editors conference, Thorpe said, “The U.S. will not be going into recessions anytime soon. Recessions don’t just happen. First, we need to see imbalances somewhere in the economy — too much credit, too much exuberance in any particular sector.”

A frequent speaker in the local real estate arena, Carol Rodini and some Bay Area economists agree that some changes Donald Trump’s Republican cabinet will make – redoing the tax code, trying to replace Obamacare, etc. – will be good for the economy.

Carol recently noted the top 10 tech companies in Silicon Valley are sitting on about $3 trillion in cash between their domestic and foreign accounts. Those companies grew about 7 percent last year and they believe that will continue this year.

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So, if and when we end up in a recession, she believes it will be about a 4 percent dip. The Bay Area, because of Silicon Valley, will not feel it like the rest of the nation. For those buyers who are hoping for a dip so housing will be more affordable, you might want to buy now, before interest rates go up. For sellers: now and the near future is a good time to list!

Tips for surviving the next drought

Last winter, the rains were plentiful. This spring and summer, the rivers have been gushing, lakes have been full and waterfalls have been crashing.

It’s a scene we haven’t had in the Bay Area in quite some time. But since the drought ended, all the regular water usage has returned – flushing normally, watering our gardens more than once a month, leaving the water going occasionally and not worrying about it…

That said, we’re still in California and we’re still in an accelerated state of global warming (according to most climatologists, anyway). So, there will be another drought. Here are some Bay Area-specific tips from the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) for surviving the next one:

Know your water provider’s Drought Program and its requirements

Every water provider should have a Drought Program. Contact them to make sure you know what their requirements are, ahead of the next drought. If you have CCWD, you can sign up for their newsletter to get updates.

Know how much water you are using

You can read your water meter to better understand how much water you’re using. However, that can be tricky. Here are some tips on CCWD’s website: www.ccwater.com.

Check for leaks

You can also utilize your meter to check for leaks. One of the most common leaks and wastes of water comes from the toilet. Check regularly!

Use efficient fixtures and appliances

You should always get EnergyStar appliances if possible, and you should have a toilet with 1.28gpf or less. Check if yours does at www.map-testing.com. Also, make sure your laundry loads are always full and don’t leave faucets running!

Convert lawns to gardens

Some water providers offer rebates for converting a lawn to a garden. For example, CCWD offers $1 per square foot of lawn converted ($1,000 maximum residential, $20,000 maximum Commercial/HOA). And California will give you a state rebate for front and back lawn conversions as well. Plus, it just looks prettier!

If you irrigate, do it efficiently

If you irrigate or have sprinklers, make sure the system is in good shape (no blocked or broken heads) so there’s no water waste. Try to water after the sun goes down or before it goes up to avoid evaporation. And turn the system off when rain is coming.

There are a million different simple ways to avoid water loss when the next drought occurs. Water is a still a precious commodity!

The smallest decisions can make your house more valuable

When selling a home, oftentimes the goal is to maximize financial return on the deal. Everybody wants to make as much as they can off their home sale, and even the slightest changes can increase what a home sells for.

Take this article on Inman.com for example. It’s about how homes with blue bathrooms sell for $5,400 more on average than others, according to a Zillow study. Crazy, right? Literally just changing the color you’ve painted a wal or two can add thousands of dollars to your wallet!

The article goes on to list a couple other color choices that can add or subtract from the sale price; for example, grey (and other neutral) exteriors sel die about $3,500 more than homes with other colors.

It really goes to show that small aesthetic decisions can play a huge role in netting you some extra zeroes on your home sale. It’s always wise to cater to the current trends when painting, decorating and remodeling your home to go on market – even if it means just a couple grand more in your pocket.

I try to stay tuned in to what’s popular so I can help you make those decisions. I am committed to maximizing your value as a seller, and on the flip side, getting you the best deal possible as a buyer. Give me a call if you’re interested in a real estate transaction!

New review from a happy customer!

One of the greatest joys of working in real estate is sharing in the excitement (and relief!) of buying or selling a home with a client.

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Oftentimes, I become close with my clients just by virtue of developing a personal connection while I vet houses for them. Throughout the process, we usually text, call, email and meet in person dozens of times. So, when we succeed together and find the perfect buyer or the perfect property, it’s extra special for me to get a great review!

For example, I recently helped my client and friend Mckenzie with a transaction, and here’s what she wrote for me:

Kristin is amazing-she went above and beyond as my real estate agent; as a first-time homebuyer, I am SO lucky that I found her!! I found Kristin on Zillow, I was interested in a specific property and sent an email. She followed up and was immediately so helpful over the phone. As I said, I am a first time home buyer, and she gave me lots of advice. She met with me in person to go through the home buying process (like a crash course) which was VERY helpful, and something she didn’t have to do, as I wasn’t even looking at properties yet. She went out of her way, she knows her stuff, she is quick, gives good advice that isn’t biased, and made sure through the whole process I was finding what I wanted. She has a great reputation with other agents in the area and has lots of people she works with that she recommends in terms of home repairs etc. Even after escrow closed, she is still talking with me making sure I have what I need, helping me find handymen and other things I hadn’t even thought of. On top of how capable she is-she is also so fun and has personality plus! It was actually an enjoyable process for me (who would have thought!?!?) I have already been recommending Kristin to friends looking to buy in the area, and if I ever buy/sell again, will definitely be contacting Kristin to be my agent!

What a sweet note from Mckenzie! I loved working with her. If you want to be like Mckenzie, and be my next satisfied client, please give me a call or shoot me an email!