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Tri-Valley New Year’s Eve Ideas for Livermore and Pleasanton

Livermore:

Rockin’ In The New Year

Doo-wop performances, comedy and a complimentary wine, champagne and dessert reception immediately following really cover your bases at this New Year’s Eve festive event at the beautiful Bankhead Theater. Showtime is at 8PM. Tickets are $98, $88, or $78.  For more details, visit Livermore Performing Arts or call 925.373.6800.

Boomers! New Year’s Event

From 9PM - 1AM on New Year’s Eve at Boomers!, $17 will get you unlimited Go-Karts, Lazer Tag, Miniature Golf, Bumper Boats, and Video Games (excludes tickets games).  A prize balloon drop at midnight for all guests!  And… for the fist 50 people there will be complimentary tiaras, hats, noisemakers and sparkling apple cider.  For more details, visit boomersparks.com or call 925.447.7275.

Pleasanton:

New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Hilton Pleasanton at the Club

See a live performance of Ryze the Band and enjoy DJ Jammin J spinning tunes to make you “move & groove.”  Individual tickets and room packages available. For more information, visit the Hilton Pleasanton  or call 925.737.5623.

Start Planning for the follwing Year - New Year’s Eve Ball at the Mall - 12/31/10

A gala event at the Stoneridge Mall benefiting Axis Community Health, Tri Valley Haven, School of Imagination, and Valley Humane Society. From 9PM-1AM, featuring two live bands, a variety of games, hors d’oeuvres, party favors and a glass of champagne at midnight (in a souvenir glass). Three ticket packages available, starting at $75. For more information, visit Ball at the Mall or call 925.292.8058.

Christmas Lights Galore

Last night the family and I went Christmas light looking.  This is one of our sacred holiday traditions, as I am sure it is for many of you.  We just drive around San Ramon hunting for our favorite light displays.  Everyone has their favorites, and over the years we have narrowed down our top vote getters. The interesting thing is that they are the same homes that keep topping our list.

As I was driving, I thought about the reliability of these homes and their owners.  Year after year, they put in what must be countless hours building their displays, hanging their lights, setting out their inflatables - for the enjoyment of their fellow Tri-Valley residents.  What kindness! What holiday spirit!  I am amazed at the dedication.  It is because of you homeowners that we are able to enjoy our Christmas light viewing tradition, and we thank you.

A Few Light Looking tips:

• You can always go to lightsofthevalley.com to plan your route first.  We now have our family’s favorites down pat and pay visit to them year after year, but if you haven’t gone light looking much or are on the hunt for a new favorite, give this website a try.  One of our favorite homes is on the website for San Ramon on Ascot Drive.  Gotta love the light show and radio combo!
• Try letting your kids plan your route.  You may not travel in a concise geographical order, but they’ll feel great about getting to plan a holiday tradition.
• It’s not really necessary what with car heaters these days, but you could encourage your kids to bring blankets to snuggle with on the drive. My wife suggested this one year, and, every year after, the kids remember the blankets for these trips.  Proven to add to your Light Looking excitement!
• Make sure to play that Christmas music!  It’s easy to forget to turn on the radio or bring the CD, but it will add the extra sparkle to your evening of fun.

Happy Holidays to you and yours!!!

This Winter: A Test for Tri-Valley Home Sales

Despite recent figures showing that house prices have increased for the last three months, concerns for this winter are starting to appear that housing may be in for a deep freeze. Two main factors are at the focal point of the debate: default and distress sales and artificially low interest rates.  One or a combination of the two could slow down home sales and shift home prices downward.

In the Tri-Valley area, default and distress properties have been waning. The last few months have seen less foreclosure and short sale properties come on to the market.  Six months to over a year ago, these default and distressed homes where primarily found in the lower to middle price ranges. Many of the homeowners in this price range had secured subprime mortgages which later resulted in big problems and consequently led to foreclosures and short sales. Now, things are beginning to shift away from the lower to middle priced homes.  More homes at the middle to upper price ranges are expected to become default and distress sales according to a recent New York Times article.  “Plenty of pain yet to come,” said Joseph Shapiro, chief United States economist for MFR.

In talking to homeowners, I have identified that some homeowners at the higher price points have been more equipped financially to survive the downturn in the market.  Despite job losses or reduction in income, they have been able to live off savings or the liquidation of stock for a longer period of time.  Some have been able to adjust their lifestyle while others have found jobs to replace lost income. However, for those who have not been able to overcome their hardship, they are faced with the grim reality that their life savings is being wiped out.  They may be left with no choice but to consider giving up their home to short sale or foreclosure.

On top of the potential for more default and distressed sales, another factor that could weigh in on home sales is Read more