Terrylynn Fisher, Realtor Staging Consultant, EcoBroker, CRS, Etc.

Whenever I take a new listing, I include a home website. One of the pages is for community (schools, local interest, etc.). I always include the local farmers markets. Now that we are budgeting ourselves more, I believe it's a good idea to buy locally and support our local farmers. Also - visiting the farmers market is fun. It's a great way to socialize with your neighbors and find fresh, delicious food. It's always a better to eat fresh, in my opinion. I found this schedule of Contra Costa County markets at the Contra Costa Department of Agriculture. Hope to see you at one of these in the near future! All of the markets listed below must be licensed by Contra Costa County Environmental Health.

Tuesdays:
Concord Todos Santos Park 10am-2pm Year Round
El Cerrito El Cerrito Plaza 9am-1pm Year Round
Walnut Creek 1425 South Main St. 10am-2pm Year Round

Thursdays:
Antioch 4501 Sand Creek Rd. 10am-2pm May-November
Concord Todos Santos Park 4pm-8pm May-October
Danville Railroad and Prospect 4pm-8pm May-September
Martinez Court and Main 10am-2pm May-October
Martinez 200 Muir Road 10am-2pm Year Round

Fridays:
Richmond Civic Center Plaza 11am-5pm Year Round
Walnut Creek Rossmoor Clubhouse 9am-12pm May-October

Saturdays:
Danville Railroad and Prospect 9am-1pm Year Round
El Cerrito El Cerrito Plaza 9am-1pm Year Round
Orinda Avenida de Orinda at
Orinda Way 9am-1pm May-November
Pinole Civic Center Parking Lot 9am-1pm Year Round
Pittsburg Railroad and 6th 9am-1pm Year Round
Pleasant Hill 100 Gregory Lane 10am-2pm May-November
Brentwood 2nd and Maple 8am-12pm May-October
Clayton Diablo Street between
Main & Center 9am-1pm May-October

Hercules Creekside Shopping Ctr 4pm-8pm May-October
San Ramon Forest Home Farms 9am-1pm May-November
19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd

Sundays:
Crockett Pomona and 2nd 10am-2pm April-November
Kensington Arlington and Amherst 10am-2pm Year Round
Martinez 600 Block Main St 10am-2pm May-October
Moraga Moraga Rd & Way 9am-1pm Year Round
Walnut Creek Broadway and Lincoln 8am-1pm Year Round

- Terrylynn Fisher
Contra Costa County Realtor
Terrylynn-n-Team.com
StagersLISTExpo.com
terryshomes@astound.net
925.876.0966

Join the Contra Costa Association of Realtors on June 14, 2009 at Heather Farms Park. We will be walking to benefit the Moses Guillory Perpetual Scholarship Fund and celebrating Green Fest to promote energy efficiency!

Click here for a GreenWalk Registration Form.
Click here for a GreenFest Sponsorhsip Form.

Expect fun, camaraderie, sunshine, a lovely setting, and exercise at the CCAR GreenWalk5K! Participation fee is $20. Registration is at 8am, with snacks, water, a t-shirt and group photos provided for the walk, which begins promptly at 9am.

Organize a team for your organization, prizes will be awarded!

The CCAR GreenWalk5K benefits the Moses Guillory Perpetual Scholarship Fund.

Location: Heather Farms, 301 N. San Carlos Drive in Walnut Creek, California.

8am Registration, 9am GreenWalk Begins! GreenFest immediately following.

For more information about the GreenWalk5K, email joel@ccartoday.com. Register online at http://www.ccartoday.com/797.

Platinum Sponsors include Diablo Realty and Oakhust Properties.

10am - 4pm

After the GreenWalk5K, attend the first ever CCAR GreenFest from 10am-4pm. This FREE event will feature food, music and green vendor sponsors who will provide rebates, incentives, money-saving products and free green products! Art Thomas Locker Room will conduct an auction of Raiders memorabillia, with a share of the proceeds going to the CCAR Scholarship Fund. Learn the benefits of going green, including how to make homes healthy and green.

Vendor sponsors receive a 10' x 10' booth and event directory listing.

We will be accepting donations for the Contra Costa County Food Bank!

For vendor and sponsor information, email terryshomes@astound.net.

Sponsors and Endorsements:
Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce
Pacific Gas and Electric
Bay Area Green Business Program
Contra Costa Water
City of Walnut Creek
Concord Disposal

- Terrylynn Fisher
Contra Costa County Realtor
Terrylynn-n-Team.com
terryshomes@astound.net
925.876.0966

There is a terrific and one of the most balanced articles I've seen regarding the housing market and potential for people buying now...while the market is nearly bottomed out. It is Dave Kansas, editor at large for FILife and former WSJ editor, who wrote the "Wall street jounral Guild to the end of Wall Street as we know it" YOU GO DAVE, this one article today may have put the balance we've been seeking into our marketplace. Real estate is always a good investment, you just need to know why you are buying and be realistic about your expectations. What a concept!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124010083844932175.html This link takes you to a very nice printable version and ability to email it to clients. THIS is one that is going out to my clients...because it's a darn good article. Happy Sunday the end is in sight. Dave starts the article with...

"Some people think it's a good time to buy a house. Is it?

In the past few weeks, home-sales data have perked up from very low levels. At the same time, home prices continue to fall in most parts of the country and mortgage rates, while ticking up, are at remarkably low levels.

All these data raise an intriguing question: Is now a good time to purchase a home?"

Lisa Haney

DAVE - It's important to address the salient caveats. First, we are extremely unlikely to return to the boom-boom era of home investing reached earlier in this decade when prices soared 20% and more per year. Long-run historical data indicate that homes generally match the inflationary trend, rising about 3% a year.

Terrylynn - You really want to read this, the highlights of the article are explained in depth for the buyer or seller to understand completely - take it away Dave... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124010083844932175.html

Buy Carefully (ohhh you'll love what he says about this)

Don't Hunt for the Bottom (what Realtor doesn't want the client to understand this)

Know what you want. (sooo important to the buying process, people think they know, when do they know)

Be ready to pounce. (how long the market conditions last??? this is good for buyers to understand in order to get the best buy they can)

Negotiate closing costs. (often sellers WILL do this but as multiple offers on foreclosures come into play how long will that be a possibility...Dave explains this very well)

Get an inspection. (OHHHH YES, important to do when buying anything!!! Tips here on what to do with what the inspection tells you.)

Terrylynn - then Dave finishes with..."Real-estate investing can still be pretty dicey in the current market. There may -- or may not -- be money to be made. But buying a home is all about providing a place for you and your family to live. And as home prices settle at lower levels, you just might become a homeowner much more economically than anyone has in a long time."

Don't you just love it when you call a client and they are upbeat and positive about what you are doing? The post I wrote about the http://activerain.com/blogsview/1016230/First-home-Ive-ever-listed-that-didnt-need-to-be-staged-first the first home I've listed that didn't need to be staged first, is not entirely accurate, they actually DID do everything that was required to make the home show staged and ready. Thank you to them for listening and doing what they trusted would work.

SO when I call today to see how they are doing, they are just as excited and upbeat as the day we listed. WHY? Because they have a wonderful home and are confident that when we take it on broker tour next week, someone will have a buyer who appreciates all they have done. What if that doesn't happen? Well, it's likely to happen, because I find happy homes generally sell. they must be well priced of course...

Have you ever noticed how unhappy circumstances in a home can cause a sort of "negative" energy in the home and surroundings? It is subtle, sometimes not so subtle, but definately affects buyers going through the house. I try when I list a home to be sensitive to some of that and have had counselling sessions with sellers who may be resisting the move, or one spouse or child resists, and it casts a sort of "spell" on the house. Clearing the air can relieve alot of the house stress and lighten the flow of energy. Sound funny? Not really, feng shui experts and others will tell you it is true.

My previous posts on this topic illustrates how hard it is for the buyer to see your home as a potential home for themselves... http://activerain.com/blogsview/700391/YOUR-Home-or-OUR-Home-We-want-to-buy-OUR-home And, clutching your memories can be just as devastating to a home potential home sale... http://activerain.com/blogsview/394860/Clutching-your-memories-keeps

Terrylynn and Bob Fisher, Diablo Realty, Walnut Creek, California If you are looking for persistent and hardworking Realtors who will tell it like it is and guide you through the reality of the market we are in, we're here, ready, willing and able to help you assess your real estate needs in 2009. Call us, won't you? 925 876-0966 Terryshomes@astound.net

Specializing in Happy Clients

I believe this is the message many of us want to deliver. Sometimes we just grow weary of being the bearers of not such good news. However, I believe our clients want and need to hear us say.

Dear trusted client, (and friends),

It is me, your Realtor. I have often told you that I want to be your realtor for life...I have been in real estate 32 years and think I used that slogan long before it became everyone's slogan. But it is still a good one for me. What does that mean to you? It means I'll be there in good times and in bad. I'll be there for the counsel and questions. It means I"LL BE THERE (or HERE in this market right now)!!!

So in today's market what does that mean? It means that I want to be your first phone call if you have something to discuss about your real estate. Don't be embarrassed and don't worry about judgment, it's me here, just as I've always been. Everyone has something in life, if you have a situation that is not particularly easy to discuss, be assured I will be discreet and hold your information in confidence. If you have a friend or coworker who needs advice on shortsale or foreclosure or just general questions I would be honored to be that resource. Your referral is a compliment that means more than I can tell you. It is why I still do what I do after 32 years. It IS my reward.

My goal is as it's always been, to treat you fairly, with respect and honesty and assist you in whatever your real estate need. Much like a marriage, I'll be there for those tough conversations, and without judgment help you to explore the way through this market we find ourselves in. The solution may not always be what you want to hear and certainly may not be the message I want to deliver but I promise to do so, so that you can move on. I believe that is why you have called me.

You see, I am here in this profession I love for the duration. Are these easy answers and easy times to be a Realtor? NO, certainly not. But I will not abandon you just because times are tough. I owe you that, I honor my profession by being here to help those who need good, honest real estate advice, perhaps to hold your hand, or cry with you. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

Blessings to you...we'll all get through these times with a little help from our friends. Your Realtor