Dan Dianda - Acquire Properties

I just wanted to post a couple of slideshows of our beloved community.
The First is of the community's various gates, vistas, golf course, and a few homes. The Second is of compiled brochures and photos of Blackhawk when it was in its final phase of construction in 1986.

I hope you enjoy..... I wanted to post the photos I had already. I want to create a comprehensive tour of the community in the near future, profiling homes our two country clubs, and the many social aspects of the neighborhood. Also, Blackhawk Plaza has changed greatly since i last blogged about it so i want to create an update for all of you...

Stay tuned!

 

 

Blackhawk since it's establishment has been a high earning and exclusive community. Even in 1986 Blackhawk

was on the top 15 most affluent neighborhoods in the US, but now we're climbing the charts now at the number 7 spot among CNN Money's top 25 list. Dominating the top 25 national list is the Bay Area with Hillsborough(#1), Los Altos Hills (#3), Blackhawk(#7), Saratoga(#17), Piedmont(#21), and neighboring Alamo(#23). Here you can find complete data on our beloved community....

    Personally I think that Blackhawk offers much more than many notable cities and communities. The general quality of life and casual living is unmatched anywhere in the nation. Here people can go to San Francisco on a whim or go to ski or  boat at their cabin in Tahoe. The Community is far away from the hustle of the larger cities tucked up in the foothills of Mt. Diablo providing both tranquility and serenity.

    The exclusivity of the private gated community is notable, as well, boasting two championship golf courses and county clubs within it's main gates. If you don't prefer the social frills of the main gate then Blackhawk caters to those individuals with seven other gated communities to choose from.

Hidden Oaks- The first Blackhawk development, offering homes all over 1/2 and acre with a country charm.
Saddleback- Many of the largest estates of Blackhawk are found here most on five acres or more.
Oakridge- Mostly medium sized homes with a few Large Estate homes on private streets atop hills.
Tennis Villas- Mostly duet homes focused around the Blackhawk tennis club
Silver Maple- Medium sized homes focused around the stretches of the Lakes golf course, yet no streets are attatched to the main community.
Siver Oak- A luxury condo community.
Eagle Nest- A gated community within the main gates of Blackhawk. All the residences are behind their own private gates as well to their estates atop a ridge overlooking the entire golf community

 

 

 

 

Sometimes it takes something new to appreciate something that is older. All of the new large developments in the surrounding cities of Danville and San Ramon have done just that. Now, There is a revived appreciation and demand within the town of Blackhawk. What was considered outdated is now considered traditional, unique, and even quaint. 

    The Country Club Community of Blackhawk was built on the principles of true luxury living to meet any lifestyle, from comfortable condos to multi-acre park estates. Many of these homes were constructed as dream estates detailed down to wall coverings and even china patterns. Now these building styles are rare or incredibly expensive to duplicate or even mimic. Such features include parquets, moldings of plaster, unique stonework or clever brick pattens, terracotta chimney pipes and wooden paneled offices with marble floor inlays to name just a few of these characteristics.

   Blackhawk is known for its unique trademark building styles that is discernible only to this community. Among them are all are a creative rendition of classical styles including the French Provincial, the English Tudor, the Mexican Hacienda, the Georgian plantation, and many more. Also included is a unique take on luxurious modern living. 

    Now is a better time than ever before to invest within the community. Prices are reasonable with a nice amount of inventory. There are various styles to choose from for the more discerning of buyers to match anyone's lifestyle. The community of Blackhawk is, also, simultaneously experiencing revitalization. Within the past couple years the LPGA has made the Country Club's Lakes course an annual stop on their circuit. Meanwhile Blackhawk plaza, a luxurious shopping center, is undergoing a complete renovation and expansion to meet the communities needs and demands. Neighboring Danville, also seeing a spur of growth as thier downtown is experiencing growth as well.

      I foresee continual growth within our small community as outside buyers continue to come in from Southern California, back East, and Europe. As I posted before the communities median income outweighs that of most and is coveted by many retailers. Therefore, we may start seeing vendors and amenities that have been long needed for our small town. Yet, Blackhawk will remain the secluded get away for those who need comfort casual living and exclusion.

 

 

 

 

 

Blackhawk Plaza is in a full overhaul this summer, now showing great progress. The $40 million remodel and expansion will enhance and modernize the old luxury shopping center from when it opened its doors eighteen years ago.

Over a dozen unnamed stores are already signed to occupy spaces for the much anticipated grand re-opening.  Some are said to be national brands that are not already found in the East Bay or even the Bay Area.

The old plaza was a luxury complex meant to draw shoppers from all around the Bay featuring its grand water park and bridges teaming with beautiful fish, floating ducks and swans. The focal point was the modern Smithsonian Institute Behring Automotive Museum for vehicle enthusiasts.  The Plaza boasted 210,000 square feet of shopping space encompassing 45 acres. It grandeur impressed with it luxury and unique boutiques and chic Blackhawk grocery market that had baggers in tuxedos and was best known for gold plated shopping carts with mobile phones and its fashionable black and white tile floors and dim ambiance. Those days have long gone as buyer gawked yet did not buy forcing tenants to leave.

Now years Later Draeger's, a new casual chic grocery store has replaced Gottshalks as the new anchor store with already increased foot traffic and profits. The store draws buyers with its culinary store, cooking school, ready made foods made from scratch by gourmet chefs, a tasty bakery and cook book library with reading area. The food itself comes in a larger variety for every taste, and offers ingredients found nowhere else within its 43,000 square feet of shopping space.

Anthroplogie is set to open this summer in a new building expanding the shopping space with room for another tenant as well. Shelves are already being stalked as Blackhawk residents anticipate its opening. White House Black Market has already made its debut to the plaza for its sophisticated shoppers.

The shopping space and exterior itself will boast new amenities with comforts of outdoor fireplaces and seating areas and a playground and grassy areas for children to play and roam about. The water park that was the main attraction years ago is to be newly enhanced with sophisticated lighting that will be thus featured by fresh storefronts and dining patios.

Other stores have already taken up residence in the plaza including a very large and cozy Starbucks. This new location has a Blackhawk small town feeling to it with recognizable faces behind the counter and friends in business meetings or lounging within the multiple seating areas throughout the coffee shop.

The one thing that Blackhawk locals love besides their designer bags and shoes are there Sunglasses. Now Visual Expressions indulges these obsessions with a very personalized shopping experience for the eyeglass aficionado.

Catering to the smaller folk is a new G.R. Doodlebug opening its third local store, indulging children's love of toys, books and stickers. Hush Baby also serves the needs of mother and toddler with its extensive variety of specialty merchandise.

Residents could not be more excited about the promise of a new local shopping destination. Locals have had to travel as far as Stoneridge or Walnut Creek to find a decent shopping experience. The upgrade has been long overdue and very well deserved with a average local income to boast which rivals many of the most affluent neighborhoods. Such a demographic is a retailer's dream matched only by Palo Alto's Stanford and Beverly Hill's Rodeo Drive. The Goal for this luxury shopping destination is that it will be favored far beyond others and even draw buyers away from having to go as far as S.F.'s Union Square.

This is exactly what our community has been needing and for a long time. It should even refresh the housing market by bringing with it a  revitalized interest in the community. Buyers favor areas such as Palo Alto and Beverly Hills because of not only the dream homes but the luxury shopping which creates an aura of prosperity which draws buyers. Blackhawk already has the community to boast but now will have a Shopping experience to boot!

I Wonder what stores are comming? Any news let me know.....

 

 

 

    It’s like this new Fha loan burst onto the scene this year. Now it has become the sweet heart loan of the housing crisis even though the original had been around decades. The Federal Housing Administration was originated in 1934 for families that otherwise would have been excluded from the housing market. FHA maximum loan limits vary throughout the country by county.

    Previously these loans were used primarily in areas where housing prices were relatively low. But during the last housing crisis things changed. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac needed to raise there loan limits from $417,000. As a result, Congress raised them to $726,450 within our area. Due to the passage of the economic stimulus package, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may temporarily purchase loans beyond the company's prevailing conventional loan limit of $417,000 in designated high-cost areas to $729,750.

    The loan limits of $729,750 are available for most Bay Area Counties. These include: Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties. The new loan to value is at 96.5% for a new first loan. The remaining 3.5% down payment may either be savings, a gift, employer contribution.  It is also possible that the seller may pay all your closing costs up to 6%. It may appear to be to good to be true, but it is. Just see how easy the loan qualifying has been made.

        • Low fixed interest rate loan

        • Small down payment or no down payment

        • Low monthly payments

        • 15, 30, & 40 year loan amortizations

        • No credit score required

        • Less than perfect credit-derogatories ok

        • Past Bankruptcies, and Collections

        • Debt ratios to 55%

        • Seller credits for down and closing costs

        • Family gift funds, employer contribution, Grants

    Overall, the change in loan limits will help provide economic stability to American communities and give nearly 240,000 additional homeowners and homebuyers a safer, more affordable mortgage alternative. Nearly a quarter of a million families could be eligible this year to purchase or refinance their homes using affordable, FHA-insured mortgages. Thanks to the economic growth package, signed into law by President Bush last month, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 will allow HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to temporarily increase its loan limits and insure larger mortgages at a more affordable price within high cost areas of the country. Permanent changes to FHA the loan limits are being addressed in bills that will also lower minimum down-payment requirements.

What are your thoughts?

 

                                        

    There are serious plans in motion to build a three story mixed use project. Including condos, commercial office space, and retail all with underground parking. This project has been 4 years in the making. The historical facades of the McCauly House and Hotel are to be preserved as will as the storefronts on Hartz ave. However those on prospect and railroad are to be demolished. There are to be 8 condos on the second and third floors with commercial offices built around the interior pedestrian quad.  The projects plans are available for viewing and comments at 510 La Gonda Way in Danville offices.

    What concerns most is the height of the new structure which is set to be 41.6 ft even though the town limit is 35 to 35 ft. It will greatly alter the city's skyline. Many residents are concerned such a development would be uncharacteristic of our city and too much like that of it's economic and development driven neighbors.

  What do you think? I urge all of you to comment to the city and developers as well....

 

What good news!

As reported by PRLEAP, Harpermees & Associates of Danville are predicting that home sales are to take off, now, in the second half of 2008. They say that we are to have one of the best 4th quarters in the East Bay real estate market than we have experienced in a long time.

    Read the article here to find out more....

 

I have been waiting for this for a long time and saw it comming....

Can't wait to put my REO experience to good use!

Need something to do this summer evening with the family?

July 3rd Hay Days Celebration!

4:oo pm to 8:oo

Events Include:

-Hay Rides

-Carnival games

-Kid and pet costume parade

-Old fashion bathing suit show

-Coronation of Miss Pioneer Belle

-Arabian horse Expo

-Much more...

go to http://www.kiwanis-srv.org/parade.asp for more info.....

July 4th Danville Parade!

Begins at 9:oo am this year!

It has become increasingly common for home buyers and sellers to try and either find a home or sell their home without a Realtor. They feel as though they have a new authority with the aid of the Internet and know just as much as the common Realtor. Is the Real estate agent becoming obsolete...?

    You could say this about nearly every profession currently. People try to become the modern Renaissance man. There is fear within many industries that they will no longer be needed. An architect may be used as a good example. Nearly anyone can design their own home and just pay for an engineer to do the structural and then submit it. There are many intricacies, but the idea is that companies and individuals think they know what is best, but the truth is that they don't have the experience, training, or expertise in the trade. Architecture and many other fields reacquire a talent and ability that not every person possesses.  A Realtor is the same...

    Remember we deal with the real estate market every day every minute, we just may be at an advantage, and that advantage is for you.....

Buying Advantages:

    -  They will be able to get you the best home for the most advantageous price. They know markets and comparables that are up to the minute. Therefore you can make the best offer on a home. You don't want to low ball a home that is already priced to sell, but you can pay for less than asking on a place that is not priced based on market value.

    - An agent has the MLS at his service, granted the listing service is available now on the Internet, but more information is granted to an agent such as days on market, special disclosures, original asking prices, tax background, the homes selling and listing history and much more.  Also, a good agent will know about homes that are coming onto the market that are not listed or know of other unique opportunities.

    - You save time. People's lives are hectic in the modern world. An agent will narrow your home buying focus and present to you what you want and within your price range and help you make the tough decisions.

    - You could be taken advantage of. Let's say you go to an open house and you don't have an agent and you decide to purchase the home and make an offer with the selling agent. The selling agent is looking out for the seller not for you, the buyer.

Selling Advantages:

    -With the market the way it is, sellers want to save money. They think that by cutting Agent fees they will save money. This is typically not the case. A for sale by owner will typically put in too much money and effort into selling their own house and end up losing money instead of saving.

             - A selling agent will get your home more exposure, by communicating with other realator offices, listing your home on the MLS, featuring your home online, and present many other marketing tools.

             - Agents prefer to work with other agents. Many agents will not even show a home to buyers if it is  listed by an owner because they see owners as being to difficult to work with. They will especially not show your home if there is no commission involved.

             - Less Days on the market. With the tools and experience the Realtor has to their disposal they will sell that home faster than any for sale by owner (FSBO) would.

             - Higher selling prices. Many buyers will offer less to FSBOs. They think they are entitled to what agent fees there may have been and offer less.

                  - Agents have a built in client base and will try and first sell the listing to one of thier own buyers.   Also, your agent will only show your home to serious buyers. FSBOs will commonly get people through their home that aren't looking to buy or even looking for decorating tips.

 

    These are just a few of the reasons you want to consider working with an agent.... In the long run they will save you time and money.... Agents will be happy to help you and make your home buying/ selling process as enjoyable and easy as possible, so don't stress.....

  Very excited to find this out and am eager to share! Say goodbye to $5 /gallon gas!! let's cross our fingers!

  Several Companies in the Silicon Valley have been in a race to make Saudi oil obsolete.  The Senior Director, Greg Pal, of LS9 presented this new energy form. Essentially they are very very small genetically altered bugs that feed on agricultural waste and excrete crude oil! Deemed  as "Oil 2.0" it is even renewable and carbon negative.

Through normal processes it can be refined to make car or jet fuel. Within the month the team intends to start testing on cars....

Maybe The Bay area will become the Dallas!

Here's the article From the Times Online ...