Melanie Ross, GRI, e-PRO Benicia CA & Vallejo CA Real Estate

Start your own holiday tradition in downtown Benicia at the Camellia Tea Room. Every year for at least 10 years that I know of, the local hot spot for tea and lunch takes reservations for two sittings. One is Sunday 11/10 and the other is Sunday 12/7.

I can remember a cold, rainy morning in 1998 waiting in line before the shop opened to secure coveted tickets to the tea. My twin daughters and I would make a big production of what to wear. All of us eagerly waited for THE DAY. Dressed in our finery we made our way downtown. Children are encouraged to bring their teddy bears along with them!

What a warm cozy tea room, festive with Christmas trees, and decorations everywhere. The aroma of freshly baked goods, tea brewing, soft music, and the voices of excited children are wonderful memories I share with my daughters.

My girls were treated to sing alongs and story book readings, while sipping a fragrant tea, daintily snacking on a deliscious assortment of goodies.

As a memento of the occasion we would buy a teacup ornament to put on our tree at home.

Make your own memories this year, call 707-746-5293 and reserve a spot!! I guarantee you a delightful time that you will want to do over and over again.

This last week of October don't miss out on the First Street Scarecrows!

Stroll the sidewalks on First street and pick your favorite scarecrow. Local businesses have dressed a scarecrow. Some are truly scary and others are fun. You might recognize some of the "crows". Edward Scissor Hands is one of my favorites. Of course my very favorite is in front of Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific!

You can pick your favorite scarecrow for the contest sponsored by the Benicia Main Street Program. Stop by any business for a ballot.

The fall season is one of my favorites as Downtown Benicia is forever having events and activities to satisfy any picky person or family! Drop by the Benica Main Street Depot at the end of First Street for first hand information.

Or visit: www.beniciamainstreet.org

Have you heard of Proposition 8? This is a proposition that allows a homeowner to seek temporary reduction of their assessed value of real property if the market value of the property as of January 1st is less than its assessed value. This could apply to buyers who purchased homes in the past several years.

Deadline submissions are important to know. Call Solano County Real Property Division of the Assessor's office at (707)784-6210 for more information or go to WWW.solanocounty.com.

There is a form to submit for an assessment review. Click here for a copy of it.

For more information about real estate please visit me at www.melanierossrealestate.com.

Foreclosures are top of mind in today's news. Neighbors, friends, relatives, clients, people in the grocery store, customers waiting in line at the bank, you name it if I wear my badge they will ask about the current market. This is an update to the foreclosure market as of January 12,2008.

What is going on in Benicia? We do not have the same degree of foreclosures/bank owned properties as some parts of the state and country. That is a fact. What is here must be sold. That is a fact. Banks are not in the business to own homes. And that is a fact!

As of 1/12/2008 the multiple listing service for Benicia listed 144 homes for sale. These include condos and single family homes. 10 are foreclosures. They range in price from $259,900 to a high of $859,900. The foreclosure median price of $494,900 compares to $552,500 for a "regular" home. This information is fluid and most likely will change tomorrow as people put in offers this weekend or new homes come on the market.

And guess what? Whether it is bank owned or not, the bottom line is... there are wonderful choices out there. In every size and price. In the hills and down by the water, single family and condos. Benicia is a wonderful place to live so come check it out!

For information about Napa or Vallejo read these blogs: Napa or Vallejo

Foreclosuresare a hot topic. Solano County certainly has its share of foreclosures. When misfortune happens and people lose their homes for what ever reason, something has to happen to the homes. The banks are not in the rental business nor want to own homes. They are in the business of lending. This is an update to a previous blog last year as to the state of foreclosures.

So how many foreclosures are there in Vallejo? Our local multiple listing service as of 1/12/2008 indicated there are 358 single family homes or condos that are now owned by the bank and listed with a Realtor to sell in Vallejo out of a total of 1070 homes on the market. Their price range is from a low of $113,900 to a high of $869,900. The median price is $299,700 for a foreclosure. That compares to a home not foreclosed on at $359,000 median price in Vallejo.

Vallejo certainly has some lovely neighborhoods to choose from, all the way from contemporary to historic homes. Close to San Francisco, Napa Valley, and the Lake Tahoe region, Vallejo has something to offer everyone.

With the incredible selection of homes to meet any buyers pickiest needs, come check out the homes in Vallejo.

You may also be interested in foreclosures in Napa or Benicia.