Photo by Tony Kukulich

JUNE 24, 2016

ESTATEGUIDEREAL

THE PRESS

Tyler Richey925.759.4293LIC#02000310

Noelle925.759.4917Broker/Owner LIC#01833825www.MerrillSignatureProperties.com

As local Top Producers and 5th generation residents of East Contra Costa County, we are driven to serve and here to help you with buying or selling your home. Our market is changing quickly so contact us today to get a free market analysis of your home’s value!

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JUNE 24, 2016 REAL ESTATE GUIDE THEPRESS.NET | 3B

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DISCO. BAY $499,900No rear neighbors only views of the lake! Home has a ton of upgrades. Stainless, Granite, Hardwood fl oors, one bedroom & full bath down. Mas-ter w/retreat & fi replace! Upgraded bathroom, jetted tub, large walk-in closet. Loft upstairs, 2 more bed-rooms, & another full bath. Laundry upstairs. Private backyard w/patio.

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Treating every listing like a million dollar home

Hit TV shows, like Bravo’s

“Million Dollar Listing,”

give glimpses into the

luxurious, high-end, real-estate market

and the savvy realtors who navigate

the purchase and sale of big-ticket

properties.

Contra Costa County has it’s own million-dollar realtor, known for her creative approach to selling homes and treating every property like a million-dollar listing.

“Home prices continue to be very strong in East Contra Costa County overall; however, million-dollar plus homes have risen substantially,” said local real-estate expert, Noelle Charles Merrill, broker/owner of Merrill Signature Properties.

Charles Merrill, a top producing realtor for million-dollar plus homes in East Contra Costa County, has a thorough grasp of the

market as a fifth-generation Contra Costa County resident who has seen the market undergo many changes.

“The market has changed dramati-cally over the past six to seven years,” said Charles Merrill. “It is currently in transition and appears to be balancing from a seller’s market to both a seller’s and buyer’s market.”

With the change in the housing market, Charles Merrill has rebranded her business from Accurate Real Estate Services, Inc. to

Merrill Signature Properties, reflecting the change in their business model, which has moved from selling homes in a declining market to delivering lavish services that make their listings stand apart from others, as well as assisting buyers in every step of the process of purchasing new homes.

“Our desire to serve and unique approach to buy and sell homes based on value leaves our signature of world-class luxury service on all homes, not just the

million-dollar estates,” said Charles Merrill. “We focus on selling value, not price, and offer state-of-the-art services to all of our clients.”

Merrill Signature Properties uses cross-platform marketing, custom print and digital-marketing materials, professional pictures and video, virtual property tours and other global tools to market their homes.

“Merely placing a sign in the yard and hoping the buyers will come will not maxi-mize your results,” said Charles Merrill. “We have highly educated buyers and sellers in today’s market. We focus on thinking glob-ally and acting locally.”

If you’re thinking the realtor’s methods are reminiscent of “Million Dollar Listing,” you’re right. Charles Merrill has even recently rubbed elbows with Josh Altman, of “Million Dollar Listing L.A.”

“We share a passion for what we do and love being able to be creative and overcome obstacles on our transactions,” she said. “Thinking outside the box on every transaction is our secret sauce.”

Unlike Altman’s show, Charles Merrill brings her world-class service to every home and every buyer, regardless of the price tag.

“Our home wasn’t a million-dollar home, but it absolutely felt like it was, based

A M Y S C H R A D E R

Photo by Tony Kukulich

ON THE COVER: Merrill Signature Properties’ Noelle Charles Merrill, pictured with a member of her team Tyler Richey, is one of the top-producing realtors for million-dollar plus homes in East County. Photo by Tony Kukulich.

Tyler Richey and Noelle Charles Merrill, of Merrill Signature Properties, treat every property like a million-dollar listing.

see Listing page 14B

4B | THEPRESS.NET REAL ESTATE GUIDE JUNE 24, 2016

How to buy during a hot summertime market

I t’s no secret that summer has

arrived, which has warmed-up

local temperatures as well as the

housing market, making summer the

optimum time to buy or sell a home.

According to Trulia.com, the median sale price for homes in Brentwood, from March 9 to June 8, was $510,000, based on 225 home sales; a 9 percent year-over-year rise in median sale prices. The median sale price for homes in Discovery Bay, for the same period, was $491,000, based on 93 home sales; a 9 percent increase, as compared to the same time frame last year.

While median sale prices have increased, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that home values have increased.

“It’s eye popping to say that the aver-age sold home is 73 percent higher than four years ago, but that does not mean that any one particular home in Brentwood is worth 73 percent more than it was four years ago,” said Brentwood Realtor Brian Sharp, broker and owner of Sharp Realty. “We are just adding more expensive homes into the mix.”

Real-estate expert Cathie Marples, broker and owner of Marples & Associates, added that while the market is up, it is still

in recovery.“The market has been very interest-

ing,” said Marples. “It has continued to improve in value since the crash of 2006, but still has not recovered to where it was in 2005.”

Both local realtors expect the market to continue to heat up during the summer months. According to Sharp, low interest rates, a climbing inventory of homes avail-able for sale and plenty of buyers indicate the market will likely remain brisk and prices may continue to rise, although not at a rate as fast as they have been the past few years.

“It’s a little bit of both a buyer’s and

seller’s market,” said Sharp. “Homes that are priced right, show well and are in good locations will sell quickly, possibly with multiple offers and over list price. Homes that are (priced) too high, don’t show well or are not in great condition will sit. So, buyer’s are jumping on the hot ones, but they aren’t buying anything and everything.”

David Yetter, who recently sold his home in Brentwood with Sharp’s assis-tance, put his family’s home on the market May 26, and he had four offers, all above asking price, by May 30.

“It was an amazingly efficient process,” said Yetter. “We selected what

we believed was the best offer, which was followed by a 14-day escrow.”

With houses moving fast, Sharp recommends buying sooner rather than later.

“It’s true that more homes sell in spring and summer, and you’ll have more competition, but if you think the market is going to continue to increase, and you’ve definitely decided to buy and expect to be in the home for at least three to five years, then buy as soon as you can,” he said.

Marples agrees that conditions are prime for buyers.

“With historically low interest rates and great loan programs, it has been the greatest opportunity to buy in the almost 40 years of my real estate career,” she said.

Ultimately, both realtors recommend buying a home when you need to, instead of trying to ‘time’ the market.

“When you really need to buy a home, do your research, negotiate the best deal you can, buy it and stop looking at the ads,” said Sharp.

Sharp Realty is located at 320 Fairview Ave., in Brentwood. For more information, call 925-240-6683 or visit www.sharp-homesonline.com.

Marples & Associates is located at 2453 Discovery Bay Blvd., in Discovery Bay. For more information, call 925-634-2224 or visit www.marplesteam.com.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

A M Y S C H R A D E R

Photo courtesy of Marples & Associates

This Apple Hill Estates home, listed with Marples & Associates, is one of the many high-end homes currently for sale in Brentwood.

http://www.denovahomes.com

6B | THEPRESS.NET REAL ESTATE GUIDE JUNE 24, 2016

Pulte debuts Zero Net Energy home in Brentwood

Local officials, dignitaries and

area business representatives

recently attended the

unveiling of PulteGroup, Inc.’s newly

completed, Zero Net Energy prototype

home in Brentwood.

The first of its kind in northern California, the house is designed to minimize its environ-mental impact by generating as much energy as it uses. It will be monitored for 12 months to evaluate its performance and identify opportunities for future enhancements.

“PulteGroup’s Zero Net Energy prototype is at the forefront of innovation,” said Ryan Marshall, president of the company. “It has the potential to dramatically reduce overall-energy use to benefit homeowners and the broader environment. Our goal for this prototype is to help define the most efficient path to building more energy efficient homes that effectively balance constructability, cost and quality.”

The home is in the Botanica develop-ment and is equipped with such green and energy-saving items as a tankless hot water heater, a Wi-Fi thermostat, low-flow toilets and fixtures, LED lighting, induction cooktops in the kitchen and solar panels. The proto-type aligns with California’s long-term zero net energy goals by leveraging advanced

design, construction and on-site renewable energy solutions. The home’s design combines airtight building methods, highly efficient insulation, HVAC, lighting technologies and more with on-site, solar-energy production to offset the home’s greatly reduced energy consumption.

Pulte is the largest builder to partici-pate in Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s

(PG&E) Zero Net Energy Production Builder Demonstration program, aimed at building new homes that maximize utility grid load reduction. The prototype allows Pulte and its partners to measure and analyze the home’s energy performance, actual cost savings and impact on the energy grid.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/PulteZNEvideo.

Photos by Tony Kukulich

Left, employees of the PulteGroup, who are involved in the Net Zero Energy program, recently cut the ribbon on the Brentwood prototype home. Below, an energy-efficient, induction stovetop is demonstrated in the kitchen of the Pulte Net Zero Energy prototype home. The water is quickly brought to a boil without creating enough heat to ignite the $5 bills on the stove.

http://www.heidyhurstfirst.com

8B | THEPRESS.NET REAL ESTATE GUIDE JUNE 24, 2016

How to improve your home’s curb appealHomeowners who have tried to sell their

house are likely familiar with the phrase

‘curb appeal.’

Curb appeal is similar to getting ready for a big date, only you’re not dressing yourself up to make a strong first impression. Instead, you’re dressing your home up to make a strong first impression on prospective buyers, many of whom will have a strong opinion about the property before they even get out of their cars to have a look around.

A home with strong curb appeal can entice buyers, who are likely to believe that a home with a well-maintained exterior is likely to have an equally impressive interior. Homeowners who want the process of selling their home to go smoothly can improve the property’s curb appeal in a number of ways, many of which don’t necessitate a substan-tial home improvement budget.

♦♦ Clean up. The most effective way to improve curb appeal is to clean up the property. Many homeowners are savvy enough to remove toys and other items from the yard before showing a home, but cleaning up goes beyond removing clutter from the property. Make sure all hedges are trimmed and remove weeds, sticks and other debris from any flow-erbeds. Lay mulch in the flower beds and garden, as mulch prevents weed growth while helping the soil retain moisture, resulting in more attractive gardens to catch a buyer’s eye.

♦♦ Get an ‘edge’ on other sellers. Edging is another easy and effective way to improve curb appeal. Edge driveways, sidewalks and other walkways around the property, remov-ing or trimming anything that is hanging over the driveway or walkways. If the boundary between your driveway and lawn is not distinct, consider installing edging materials such as stone or bricks. The edging can be level with the driveway

or elevated, but keep in mind that elevated driveway edg-ing can protect the lawn, preventing kids from riding their bicycles onto the lawn or cars from driving onto it. Adding edging is an easy do-it-yourself project.

♦♦ Take to the trees. Many homeowners grow accustomed to overgrown trees around their property and may not notice low-hanging, unsightly branches are hiding the home from view. Buyers want to see the house, so take to the trees and trim any branches that hang too low or obscure your home.

♦♦ Clean the gutters. Leaves and sticks hanging from the gut-ters are a red flag to buyers, who tend to associate clogged gutters with roof damage. Clean the gutters thoroughly before putting your home up for sale, and keep them clean throughout the selling process. If your property includes trees, install guards to keep twigs and leaves out of the gut-ters.

♦♦ Make the home accessible through the front door. Many homeowners enter their home through a side door or through their garage. If you fall into this category, keep in mind that prospective buyers will be entering through the front door, so make this area accessible. Clear any clutter, such as overgrown hedges, away from the front door, and consider upgrading the door handle to a more modern feature. In addition, make sure the lock on the front door doesn’t stick, forcing the realtor and buyers to immediately struggle before entering the home. You want buyers and their real estate agents to get in and out of the home as smoothly as possible.

♦♦ Make sure all plants, including flowers, are living. Dehy-drated or dead plants and flowers are eyesores, and they will give buyers the impression that you didn’t pay much attention to your property. Make sure all plants are alive and thriving, and replace those that aren’t. You can replant new flowers or plants or just use potted plants instead. When purchasing new plants, choose low-maintenance varieties that appeal to buyers who want vibrant plants, but might not want to put in much work into the garden.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

Courtesy of Metro Creative

Ensuring a home’s primary entryway is welcoming and well groomed is one way homeowners can improve curb appeal.

JUNE 24, 2016 REAL ESTATE GUIDE THEPRESS.NET | 9B

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10B | THEPRESS.NET REAL ESTATE GUIDE JUNE 24, 2016

JUNE 24, 2016 REAL ESTATE GUIDE THEPRESS.NET | 11B

What to look for in an investment propertyHistorically, the appreciation

rate for real estate is very

strong. Even when the

housing market declines, long-term

investors in real estate can rest easy

knowing that property values tend

to rebound rather quickly, rewarding

patient investors in the process.

The following are a few additional considerations prospective investors should contemplate before buying an investment property.

Location Many people are familiar with the

real-estate industry axiom, ‘location, location, location!’ When buying an investment property, location is everything. A great location should outweigh your own personal feelings about the home, especially if you do not intend to live on the property. You will likely define a great location for an investment property differently than you would a property you intend to occupy, so don’t let your own desires in a home cloud your judgment when choosing an investment property. Properties in

safe neighborhoods that boast good schools and offer easy access to public transportation tend to make great investment properties.

DécorDécor is another thing to consider

when looking for an investment property. If you don’t plan to reside in the property, your opinion of the décor should not carry much weight. When viewing a property,

try to imagine how much it might appeal to prospective tenants. Quirky properties typically do not appeal to as many prospective tenants as properties whose décor are similar to other homes in the area. Though you might find a tenant who prefers properties with unique interiors, a property that appeals to as many prospective tenants as possible often makes for a better investment and a lot less stress when the time comes to find tenants.

ConditionThe condition of the property must

also be considered before buying an investment property. Some investors want a fixer-upper, while others prefer turnkey properties that won’t require any elbow grease. The former type of property likely won’t cost as much as a fully renovated property, but those cost savings might be lost when it’s time to renovate. Find a property that’s in the type of condition with which you’re comfortable. If you decide to go with a fixer-upper, learn the cost of your potential projects before submitting an offer.

CostReal estate makes a great investment,

but don’t go overboard when buying a property. Before making an offer on a property, research rents in the area and

the cost of insurance in that particular neighborhood. You want a property that essentially pays for itself, so make sure the rent you’re likely to collect is enough to cover your monthly costs, including the mortgage on the property, insurance and the costs associated with managing and maintaining the property.

Real estate investors often reap great rewards when selling their properties, but it’s still important for potential investors to consider a host of factors before investing in a property.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Looking at real estate as a long-term investment is just one way to approach a potential investment property.

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12B | THEPRESS.NET REAL ESTATE GUIDE JUNE 24, 2016

Factors to consider when selling a home

Nowadays, homeowners

looking to sell their homes

know there are myriad

factors associated with securing a

successful sale - some are obvious, but

some aren’t.

♦♦ Location: A home’s location is arguably its best or worst selling point. A home in a great location won’t be as difficult to sell as a home in a bad neighborhood. Location goes beyond a neighborhood’s reputation, however, especially in recent years. Homeowners who live in a neighborhood or development with many foreclosures might find those foreclosed properties are hurting their own home’s value. Lots of foreclosures could negatively effect a neighborhood’s reputation, which might make a home within that neighborhood less attractive to prospective buyers.

♦♦ Appearance: A home’s appearance is another obvious variable that might affect its resale value. Homeowners might want their home to reflect their own individuality, but that’s not going to help when the time comes to sell the home. If the exterior paint is unusual, it might be wise to choose a more traditional or conservative color before erect-ing the “For Sale” sign out front. The same goes for a home’s interior. If the interior design is especially unique, a more traditional interior

decor might help the home sell faster.♦♦ Size and style: Another thing to consider

when selling a home is its size and style. A home that stands out on the block might be an attention grabber, but that’s not always attractive to prospective buyers. For instance, a colonial sitting in the middle of a street filled with contemporary homes will stand out, but likely for all the wrong reasons. It will appear

dated and out of place, which is something buyers might not want. In addition, if the home is considerably larger or smaller than the surrounding homes, this could hurt its value.

♦♦ Nonconformity: In many ways, conformity is not considered an admirable trait, but when selling a home, conformity could make the difference between a home selling quickly or

remaining on the market for months, if not years. When shopping for a home, buyers of-ten shop in certain neighborhoods and towns and might see many different homes within a given zip code. Homeowners with homes that don’t conform to others in the area might find it difficult to sell their homes. For instance, homeowners trying to sell a two-bedroom home in a neighborhood filled with three-bedroom homes might notice their home’s value is not as high as that of surrounding homes, regardless of the neighborhood or how similar the home’s exterior is to surround-ing homes.

♦♦ Age: Older homes might have character and a sense of nostalgia, but appraisers take age into consideration when determining a home’s value. And buyers tend to lean toward newer homes for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the feeling that newer homes have far more modern amenities than older homes.

When it comes to a home’s value, there are a host of things that could ultimately increase or decrease that value in the eyes of prospective buyers.

– Courtesy of Metro Creative

Photo courtesy of Metro Creative

Selling a home isn’t always easy. There are a number of factors that can impact the success of a potential sale.

A home’s location is arguably its best or worst selling point.

http://www.kiperhomes.com

14B | THEPRESS.NET REAL ESTATE GUIDE JUNE 24, 2016

on the service we received from Merrill Signature Properties,” said Oakley resident Taj LeRoy. “Noelle was an expert on market trends in our specific neighborhood and helped stage, market, promote and show our house so beautifully that we started getting offers above asking price within two days.”

According to LeRoy, working with some-

one so knowledgeable and trustworthy put her and her husband in a great position to buy the home of their dreams.

Byron resident Gretchen Adcock also used Charles Merrill’s expert services on several occasions, both selling and buying.

“Regardless of the market you’re in, there is no comparison to the level of exper-tise, professional attention, negotiating skills

and knowledge of real estate that she brings to the table,” said Adcock.

Part of Charles Merrill’s team includes realtor Tyler Richey, as well as a full staff to support the needs of their clients. 

Whether you are a first-time home-buyer looking for a starter home, looking to downsize for retirement or are ready to move into your dream home, Merrill Signature

Properties is ready to serve your needs in the real-estate market.

Merrill Signature Properties is located at 14810 California 4, in Discovery Bay. For more information, visit www.merrillsignatureproperties.com, email therealresults@gmail.com or call 925-759-4917.

To comment, visit www.thepress.net.

Listing from page 3B

According to the National

Association of Realtors®

(NAR) 2015 Profile of Home

Staging, 49 percent of realtors repre-

senting buyers say home staging

impacts most buyers’ final decisions.

Home staging is the act of preparing a home for sale by presenting it in such a way as to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. Professional staging

firms often address a home’s interior to reduce clutter and rearrange furniture with a goal toward making a strong impres-sion during open house events or private showings.

The NAR Profile found that the living room is the most important room to stage, followed by the kitchen and the master bedroom. Of realtors featured in the profile, 81 percent said staged homes make it easier for prospective buyers to visualize properties as their future homes.

In addition, 10 percent of realtors said homes decorated against buyers’ tastes will negatively impact the homes’ values, further emphasizing the poten-tial benefit of staging homes rather than showcasing existing homeowners’ personal

preferences.

Green homesEco-friendly real-estate trends are

growing in popularity, as more and more homebuyers are looking for ways to protect the planet and reduce the often-considerable costs associated with home ownership. In a survey of more than 1,000 consumers in the U.S., SurveyMonkey.com, working in conjunction with Blueshift Research, found that one in three consum-ers prefer eco-friendly products, and 35 percent are willing to spend more money on products that are good for the environment.

Such trends are reflected in the real-estate industry, where many buyers

are looking for tinier homes that produce smaller carbon footprints. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average new home in 2015 was expected to be roughly 2,200 square feet. That’s roughly 10 percent smaller than the aver-age new home built in 2010.

Smaller homes consume less energy, appealing to homeowners looking to save money and live more eco-friendly lifestyles. In addition to smaller homes, homeown-ers are increasingly looking to sustainable materials when building or renovating their homes. Products that conserve water, including low-flow toilets and water-conserving showerheads, have also grown in popularity.

– Courtesy Metro Creative

Did you know?