Many of you know that I retired from Delta Airlines almost two years ago. The airlines are all over the news these days with soaring fuel prices hammering Delta and all the others back into the very red zone.

I rarely follow the airlines or Delta anymore. It seems like that was a past life and my present incarnation is full of interesting work and people. Also, as I tell everyone, I don’t miss those three snowblowers I left in Park City, UT at all.

It’s not just the Internet that keeps dragging me back to my airline past (I rarely read newspapers or watch news on TV). Paul Mees used to work for KLM, and it’s impossible to get two former airline employees together without talking about the airline industry.

But, life also has an interesting way of bringing your past into the present.

A few night’s ago, we were down at the Buckhorn Grill in Walnut Creek CA for our usual (me – Roadhouse Salad with Chicken. Jane – Tri-tip small plate) and a bottle of wine. We’ve started buying the bottle because two glasses has you most of the way to the bottle price.

Anyway, there we are sitting outside enjoying the warm night, food and wine and I notice the guy at the other table has an empty glass. Well, I think it is better to share than drag a glass of wine home. So, I tell Jane to offer the guy a glass of ours.

We strike up a conversation and because of the food, wine, warm weather and sidewalk cafe ambiance – Italy comes up. And then the price of travel – which is where I mention I’m retired from Delta Airlines and can still fly for free.

At which point – Captain Mike Hatfield (retired Delta) breaks into a big grin, stands up shakes my hand, introduces himself and his lovely wife, Nancy. We then discover we both wound up at Delta Airlines via the Western Airlines merger.

Turns out Mike is a Realtor also! Small world…

I can’t tell you how many times over the last couple of years I have talked to home owners in the East Bay that feel trapped in their home of 20 to 30 years.

These homeowners are getting ready to retire and the mortgage is low or paid in full. But, these California boomers felt trapped by high California real estate prices and their low property tax base. What I kept hearing was – We can’t afford to move.

Well – NO MORE – the situation has totally reversed! Working-class boomers can't afford to not move in this market. Now is the time to sell that home of 20 years in San Ramon, Dublin or Walnut Creek and look to Brentwood or some other hard hit community in Contra Costa County.

Property values in some California communities have fallen 50% and one Contra Costa neighborhood has seen property values drop back to 1998 levels.

Imagine selling your 1500 square foot home in San Ramon for $700K and buying a 2200 square foot home in Brentwood for $300K. Transfer your property tax base and that is a lot of left over cash for retirement living.

East Bay boomers looking to retire in the next five years MUST explore this option. This is not going to last. You are looking at a perfect scenario to stay in the East Bay area, buy a retirement dream home, keep your low tax base and walk away with a boatload of cash for retirement.

Even if you are going to wait several years to retire, prices are so low in the east county, you can lease your retirement home out for a few years until you are ready for it. Rents are still rising in the East Bay.

Knowledge is Power. Contact our team’s relocation expert – Ginny Mees at 925–699–3328 to explore how you can leverage today’s housing market to your advantage.

According to DataQuick, foreclosures accounted for 25% of Bay Area homes purchased in April. We’ve seen a lot of press over the last year on foreclosure activity in Conta Costa County and the Greater Bay Area. This is the first report, I have seen on the impact foreclosure purchases are having on home sales.

We’ve reported on foreclosure activity in San Ramon & Danville, Dublin, and Concord CA. We also noted how investor activity is increasing with foreclosure purchases. And, we have have also been reporting on how lenders are trying to help expedite the purchase of REOs (bank owned properties).

It is no surprise to us to read this news from DQ. In fact, it’s not really news to those who have been following the local real estate markets except for the actual figure.

Every week at the local Realtor marketing meetings in San Ramon, Pleasanton and Concord, we hear reports from our fellow professionals on increased home sales activity in Contra Costa County.

Craig, our foreclosure expert, has been talking with as many past clients as he can about the investment opportunity that exists today with all of the available REOs on the market. We are also noticing more buyers approaching us with an interest in bank owned properties.

We expect this 25% figure to rise. It will come as no surprise to us to see foreclosure sales account for 40% of all home sales in Contra Costa County by the end of the year.

If you have an interest in purchasing a foreclosed property (REO, bank owned), contact Craig – (925) 984-4910

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Walnut Creek CA News Flash !! - Is a broken water main responsible for this flooding in downtown Walnut Creek CA?

We know it isn't the heavy rains because we haven't seen any rain in months.

It isn't the melting snow pack or the creeks of Walnut Creek overflowing either.

How then to we explain all of this water at the recent ground-breaking ceremony in Walnut Creek.

Blame it on WaterEfect.net where you can upload any image to create this effect. Whew! I don't know what we would do with that kind of flooding in Walnut Creek.

Maybe we can solve the San Joaquin Valley's water problems with some Internet magic.

My friend, Holly Beck, called yesterday and said they (The Balloonman) were doing a big balloon arch for the ground-breaking ceremony for the new library in Walnut Creek CA. She wanted to know if I was interested in stopping by – so I did.

I don’t know how big this sucker was, but the winds came up and we were hard pressed to keep the balloon arch looking like an arch.

Walnut Creek Mayor Gwen Regalia and the City Council were on hand to give speeches, dig dirt and have pictures taken to celebrate the launch of the construction phase of the project.

After the speeches, we had to move the arch to the bare dirt area of the site where everyone grabbed a shovel and dug a little dirt while photographers on top of the building across the street took pictures.

The Balloonman is extremely busy right now with graduation events. Holly tells me the next six weeks are the busiest time of the year for them, though New Year’s Eve remains the single busiest business day for them. The Balloonman is in their twentieth year of business.