Brentwood, CA

Royal Rangers

My two oldest boys, Nelson and Corbin, and I just completed a first aid and CPR course through Royal Rangers provided by the National Safety Counsel.

First Aid has not changed much sense I took my Scouting First Aid badge, but it has changed some and the refresher course is always good. My sons took this course to Earn their Gold Merit for First Aid (and becsue when I have my heart attack I want them to know what to do).

This is just one of the great things they learn in Rangers. Not only does it provide the basic skill but it gives them confidence and teaches leadership.

If you are around here and want to know more about Outpost 5 of the local Royal Rangers or about Royal Rangers in general let me know.

Fishing with the Rangers.

This morning Outpost 5 of the Royal Rangers went on a Fishing Trip to Lafeyette Resevior in Lafeyette CA. About 12 kids came along and an equal number of parents. It was primarily the younger kids. They got their feet wet (some literally) fishing, BBQ'd some Hot Dogs, enjoyed some other snacks and had an all around good time.

I took my two middle boys Weston (6) and Janson (5).

NO FISH WERE ACTUALLY HARMED IN THE PREPERATION OF THIS BLOG POST. Maybe next time.

If you want to know more about Royal Rangers in this area or in your area contact me and I will let you know how to get involved and what the program is about.

Brentwood California Housing Market Report - October 2009

The Housing Market in East Contra Costa County is still very tight. There are some very slight price decreases, but they might be simple seasonal anomalies and certainly are not an indication of the market going soft again.

This Brentwood Housing Market Report for October 2009 compares the sales of single family home sales in October to those in September and the Active Housing Market in Brentwood California.

Currently there are 162 Single Family Homes for sale in the Brentwood Housing Market. The Average Asking Price on those homes is $543,822.00 and the Median Asking Price is $379,450.00. The Average Asking Price per SF is $227.00 and the Average Days on Market is 82.  However, this numbers are skewed upwards by 11 estate homes on the Market selling for $1,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00 plus.  If we take out 11 Homes out of the Brentwood Housing Market the numbers look different.  The Average Price is now $387,001.00 and the Median Price drops to $375,000.00.  The Average Price per SF goes way down to $175.00 and the Average Days on Market drops to 74.  Quite a change!

The Brentwood Housing Market was very active in October with 96 sales of Single Family Homes. The Average Price of the Sold Home in the Brentwood Housing Market for October was $317,090.00 and the Median Price was $302,500.00. The price per SF was $130.00 (Asking Price for those sold was $127.00.) and the Average Days on Market was 25.

The Brentwood Housing Market went up in October compared to the Brentwood Housing Market in September in all but one area. The Average Home Price in September was $298,939.00 and the Median Price was $282,200.00. The Average Price Per SF was $130.00 (Asking price for those sold was $127.00.) with an Average of 26 Days on the Market. There were 77 Homes Sold in the Brentwood Housing Market in September.

The Price Per SF stayed level which is probably an anomaly caused partly by seasonal market changes. Average Price and medium price were up. The number of sales is up and we only have about a 1.5 month supply of homes which indicates a tight seller market. The Days on Market is decreasing.

Click to see other area Housing Market Reports.

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Are we all headed for Public Housing?

The Feds have announced Thursday under Fannie Mae that homes in default would be taken over and leased back to the defaulters or the current tenants. The stated claim is that they are trying to stabilize neighborhoods and provide a transitional arrangement.

The occupants will be given a one year lease then go month to month. On one level this sounds very nice and practical but it raises big concerns. With the governments taking over the banks will they soon just take over the entire housing supply?

The Obama Administration admits they want government control of vast portions of the economy. They have taken over two car companies, regulated wages in some companies, bailed out banks and or financial service industries to only make them subservient to the government programs.

The banks are holding on to a large amount of inventory. I do not think it far fetched for them to start this type of program. Will it soon be like what they want for health care where we go to a board to see what we are allowed to live in (rented to us) at the government housing bank? Will they be deciding where we live and how? Barney Frank has changed his tune from making sure everyone can own a home (pre-housing melt down) to everyone has a home.

Right now there are not enough homes on the market. The market should take care of itself. Put the homes out there and get people in them. By limiting the supply of homes the only people that are profiting is those with cash, not middle class buyers looking for a place to live.

The housing policies are further eroding the middle class. Home ownership is an important part of building a strong country and community. Public housing is a disaster and the dream of social planners.