Benicia, CA

Today's weather is predicted to be beautiful. Why not bring your blanket, low beach chairs, and picnic baskets for delightful evening watching the popular movie "Kung Fu Panda" outside in our wonderful downtown City park.

The Blues Defenders, a Sonoma County music group will start the festivities by playing their brand of "gritty roadhouse style West Coast Blues" from 6:30-8PM.

This event is sponsored by Benicia Parks and Community Services Department along with Benicia Performing Arts. Movie night downtown has been going on for quite some years. I can remember taking a blanket and sitting on the lawn watching movies played against the side of the historic Capitol Building at least 7 years ago with my twin daughters.

It is an opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors and meet new friends!! The location in the downtown City park provides ample space for adults to mingle and children to run free playing on the famous playground which my daughters loving called the "wood park".

If you forget to bring a snack, popcorn will provided by local volunteer groups. Or just walk across the street to Safeway. Just remember this is an alcohol free event! For more information you can call 707-746-4285.

Another reason to consider living in Benicia, CA. Free Movie Night in the summers!

With summer starting full tilt and people deciding what can we do this summer for a "staycation", think of visiting Benicia, CA June 13th. Experience a French Theme Event along our famous promenade next to the Carquinez Straits. Sponsored by our wonderful Benicia Street Program this will start at 10AM and run til 4PM. Come browse the vendor booths filled with delicious treats, arts and crafts, jewelry....plenty to keep your interest piqued! Listen to the sounds of Paris by several local musicians.

"Marche Benicia" is a new event for our lovely city. Sip wines imported from France staffed by our local Soroptimist International of Benicia in the wine garden. Add some Champagne and mimosas and OH LA LA!! C'est Bon!!

The last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific railroad was welcomed by several hundred history buffs, train buffs and curious Benicians as it rolled through Benicia earlier today as part of a 32-day tour celebrating the 140th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike.

Benicia planning commissioner Rick Ernst organized the event and said he didn’t expect more than 50 people to attend. To his surprise, four or five times that number showed up, including Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, Vice-Mayor Tom Campbell and Councilmen Alan Schwartzman and Mike Ioakimedes.

Ernst set up an impromptu Benicia train station (a tent) in hopes that the train would make a temporary stop along its way from Roseville to Oakland — the Western-most destination on its 32-day round-trip journey from Cheyenne, WY.

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It’s been a few months since President Obama announced his Making Home Affordable housing plan. Unfortunately, in many parts of the country, including right here in Benicia, Vallejo and much of the rest of the Golden State, the plan likely won’t have much of an impact.

And, judging by what many of my colleagues in other parts of the state or country are saying, the program may be one of those that sounds good but has little impact in some of those areas as well.

In case you missed it, the Making Home Affordable Plan is supposed to help up to 9 million U.S. homeowners refinance or modify their loans in an effort to prevent responsible owner-occupants from instead becoming foreclosure casualties.

The program targets two different types of borrowers:

1. Those who have been unable to refinance and take advantage of today’s low interest rates due to their home’s drop in value; and,

2. Those who are either behind on their payments or struggling to stay current.

Part I — Refinance Assistance

The first program allows those who owe up to 105% more than their home’s current market value the opportunity to refinance into a lower-cost loan. Unfortunately, here in Solano and Contra Costa Counties as well as pretty much the rest of the Bay Area, most of the homes that are under-water have lost so much equity that they’re worth far less the 105% maximum that the Making Home Affordable plan allows.

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Our inventory of homes for sale in Benicia, CA has dropped tremendously since the last year. HUGE drop in inventory. As I have written previously this is now a seller's market with multiple offers on homes time and time again-as soon as they hit the market.

As of 4/19/09 per the Bay Area Real Estate Information (MLS), Benicia has 106 homes for sale (single family and condos). We had almost twice as many last year.

19 of these listed homes for sale are foreclosures and the new news from several months ago is the number of short sales has gone up. There are 36 short sales listed. And short sales are going through. I recommend to my buyers that if a short sale home for sale appeals to them, go for it. It will be a long bumpy road, however, could be worth the wait. Every month we as Realtors become more adept in navigating the short sale process and getting the banks to approve a sale. It is important the buyers agent and sellers agent work closely together and communicate every week, even if the bank is not doing anything at that moment.

The interest rates are still great and there are some lovely homes for sale!! Until more foreclosures get released, as the news has indicated, it is still a great time to buy. Prices are not going up nor are they going down with all the multiple offers. They are hovering!

Remember -- use a trusted Realtor to assist you!