Bernard’s Danville Real Estate Blog

Local restaurateur Rodney Worth made his name in Danville with his popular Peasant And The Pear restaurant but last year he expanded his horizons to Alamo with the opening of The Peasant’s Courtyard in a space previously occupied by the Courtyard Café. Sylvia and I decided it was time to check it out.             I remembered the Courtyard Café as a pleasant breakfast and lunch venue with a small interior but a large patio which was certainly appealing in the summer months. I found it hard to imagine how such a small space could become a profitable restaurant though. Of course I had reckoned without Rodney’s thoughtful take on the situation.Sylvia and I visited on a Friday evening late in April and we immediately headed for a table in the sheltered courtyard. From the moment we sat down, we felt totally relaxed and having ordered a bottle of Chardonnay, began to peruse the menus.

We immediately realized one of the reasons why this restaurant should be destined for success. This really is a menu with something for everybody. There are sandwiches, burgers, omelettes, salads and more, plus a selection of Specials, which always included Fish and Chips on a Friday.

We decided to share a portion of Calamari to start and this was an excellent choice. A generous portion, lightly battered, and deliciously fresh. Sylvia went for the Fish and Chips Special for her main course, while I had another special, a rack of barbequed ribs, also served with fries.

By this time it was getting decidedly chilly outside and after a word with our waiter, we retreated indoors to finish eating our entrees there. The waiter was totally unfazed by our request and we were seated at a cozy table in the corner in no time.

My ribs were really meaty (an enormous portion) and the barbeque sauce was delicious and plenty of it. Sylvia’s fish and chips were good but not quite what she expected. The better was not quite so light as the traditional English style fish and chips (as served at the Crown Pub in Danville).

We passed on desserts and relaxed while we finished our wine and listened to the singer-guitarist. They have live music on a Friday and Saturday evening, yet another attraction.

The inside really is tiny with only ten or so tables, but what a great ambiance. It has the feel of a European bistro or wine bar. There is also a very attractive bar.

Both Sylvia and I agreed that this was one of the most relaxing evenings we had spent in a restaurant in a long time. The staff are absolutely top-notch and there really is something for everybody on the menu. Prices are very reasonable and portions are generous, plus they open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It really does seem that Rodney Worth knows what he is doing here and we look forward to visiting his next restaurant that is about to open in Blackhawk Plaza.

  From its peak in 2005/2006, the real estate market fell at an alarming rate for 3 years. Now, most people are of the opinion that the market bottomed out at some point in 2009.             By examining and analyzing recent sales in different parts of the San Ramon Valley, I hope to be able to show what is happening right now. As for the future, this should help you to draw your own conclusions.

Don’t Believe What You Read In The Papers

The national press continues to report doom and gloom in housing markets across the U.S. and they may be right when the country is considered as a whole but this is somewhat meaningless. Real estate is local. Even the East Bay comprises a number of micro-economies such that a blanket view can’t possibly tell the whole story.

Developing A True Picture

If we take an average home, say a 4 bedroom 1800-220 sq.ft detached single family residence with a 2-car garage, and look at the changing price per square foot over the last two years, we should be able to see which way prices are trending.

If we then do the same thing for different areas within the San Ramon Valley, we should be able to see which ones, if any, are experiencing higher rates of increases in prices. So this is what we can see in the first chart below. The area covered is the San Ramon Valley from Concord to San Ramon.

This paints what looks like a fairly clear picture. A steady decline from 2007 through the first half of 2009 when prices appear to have bottomed out and from what we can see, prices are presently stable.

So now lets take a look at two very disparate markets, Concord and San Ramon, specifically San Ramon’s zip code 94582 (notably Gale Ranch and Windemere) which has seen an amazing amount of activity recently. The results are in the two charts that follow.

Real Estate Is Local

Now we can really see what the phrase “Real Estate Is Local” means. To all appearances, prices in Concord may still be headed downwards despite an apparent recovery towards the end of 2009. San Ramon, on the other hand, is now experiencing rapid growth in the 94582 zip code.

Finally, let’s take a look at San Ramon 94583. This should demonstrate if real estate price trends can vary within a city, let alone a county.

In 2007, both San Ramon zip codes were valued at similar levels. Now, the 94582 zip code is clearly outstripping 94583. Will this last? I suspect it may as the schools appear to be the big attraction here.

In the 94583 zip code, prices appear to have stabilized faster than in the San Ramon Valley as a whole though, and this should be seen as a good indication that the worst is now over.

The California Association of Realtors has launched the C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund Mortgage Protection Program, for first-time home buyers in California.

Through this Program, first-time home buyers who lose their jobs due to lay-offs could to receive $1,500 per month, for six months, to help make their mortgage payments. A qualified co-buyer can also participate in the program, and receive $750 per month for up to six months.  Program benefits also include coverage for accidental disability and a $10,000 death benefit. 

C.A.R.’s Housing Affordability Fund is dedicating $1 million toward its Mortgage Protection Program, and estimates that as many as 3,000 families will benefit from the program this year. To qualify for the Mortgage Protection Program, applicants must: ·          Be a first-time home buyer – someone who has not owned a home in three          or more years·          Open escrow April 2, 2009, or later, and close on or before Dec. 31, 2009·          Use a California REALTOR® in the transaction·          Purchase the property in California·          Be a W-2 employee (cannot be self-employed) To apply for the program, home buyers must request an application for the H.A.F. Mortgage Protection Program from their REALTOR®.

This is a short video I have just produced to show off some of the sights and homes of Danville, California, the nicest town in the San Francisco East Bay.

More details available at ZIPVO.com.

Picture yourself living in this cozy 1960s character home in a quiet secluded location just above downtown Lafayette. Enjoy the charming ambience created by the well-proportioned rooms with beamed ceilings and gleaming hardwood floors.

This exceptionally well-maintained home has been tastefully updated and remodeled to a high standard and significant improvements include the installation of high quality dual-pane windows, a composition shake roof and a particularly attractive remodeled master bathroom. Outside, there is a large wooden deck at the front of the home, ideal for catching the last rays of the setting sun, and an attractive well-stocked garden at the rear filled with a wide variety of trees and shrubs including oranges, figs, olives and pomegranates. All this together with a completely private seating area and also a sheltered side garden with raised vegetable beds.

Sierra Vista Way is a quiet lane in a country setting, within walking distance of downtown Lafayette with its wide range of restaurants and shopping facilities to meet your everyday needs.

Freeway access is only minutes away and it is generally accepted that Lafayette schools are among the best in Contra Costa County.

1149 Sierra Vista Way, Lafayette, California

Offered For Sale at $817,500