Susan

That is way higher than 1 year ago at this time. I have been looking for the past 18 months or so and Ive noticed a huge price drop in Walnut Creek, many many more foreclosures in WC and immediate surrounding areas, along with a huge increase in inventory in all areas (WC, Alamo, Lamorinda, Danville) - Fri Oct 31 2008, 13:30

Actually the median LIST price might have gone up, but the median SALES price in both of those areas has gone way down. I suspect people must be offering a significant amount below asking price coupled with multiple price drops, which I see on almost every listing after it is 1 week old.

Market View for Lafayette Info

Avg. Listing Price

$1,805,020
Wk ending Oct 22 +$32,567
+1.8%
w-o-w Median Sales Price

$830,000

Oct '07 - Sep '08
-$235,000
-22.1%
y-o-y 95 Homes For Sale 5 Open Homes
183 Recently Sold 32 Foreclosures

As you can see, while the median LIST price went up 1.8% over last year, the SALES price went down 22%. There are also 32 foreclosures in this area out of 95 homes for sale which is 1/3. I think this area is definitely on the decline.

I guess I answered my own question and will continue to wait to buy. - Thu Oct 30 2008, 20:56

Actually Karen, the prices in Walnut Creek have got down a lot already, and Alamo and Lamorinda have almost double the inventory they had last year at this time. I notice several price cuts on the homes as well but I still think they are over priced. Im just curious how much longer it will take for the prices in those areas to come down.

Thanks. - Thu Oct 30 2008, 17:37

AD

AD,

As a typical liberal, you feel the need to put me down because I dont agree with you, make assumptions about me, and you have an extremely superior attitude. I havent been "run" out of anywhere, and your judgement of me is completely off. I am perfectly happy with my life.

Why dont you learn some tolerance and acceptance of other people views?

You are a very mean person, and I feel sorry for you. Get a life, and stop cyber bullying me. - Thu Oct 30 2008, 02:12

It really doesnt surprise me that someone from the bay area is blowing pro-obama smoke up peoples bums in this forum. I have to live with these people on a daily basis and it is truly tragic how they like handouts and wish to punish hard working small businesses and want the government to fix everything instead of taking responsibility for themselves. It makes me sick.

My husband opened a business here and he can BARELY find anyone who wants to work more than their 37 hours a week, and he owns a friggin law firm meanwhile we work 60 hours per week to make up for their laziness. When Obama wins, he will have to fire a couple of people to make up the tax increases, but a few of them deserve it anyway.

Here is a good indication of the tax INCREASES for people earning UNDER 250k with Obamas new plan:

Senator Obama's Four Tax Increases for People Earning Under $250k - http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/senator_obamas_four_t… - Wed Oct 29 2008, 20:35

George,

I think your post is the most ignorant I have ever seen on Trulia. Please take your hate elsewhere. - Tue Oct 28 2008, 11:19

Obama will raise your taxes. He is raising taxes on everyone, except the very bottom rung of people. For families like mine who work 60+ hours per week, save and invest our money, and waiting to buy a house until we have 30% to put down on a house in a good school district, our taxes will increase by at least 20k per year ....with 12.5k in his "limitless social security tax proposal" of which my generation will never see a dime of.

How would you like to lose 20k per year while trying to save for a house, working 60 hours per week running a business which employs 12 people, and have a newborn baby at the same time? This is Obamas solution for business owners like my family who actually EMPLOY people.

He is a classic tax and spend liberal robbing from the hardworking upper middle and middle class to give to the poor. Under his policies, there is no incentive to be a hardworking American if his plan is to keep most of what we earn.

Dont vote for Obama if you like keeping the money you earn on your home, income, and investments. - Fri Oct 24 2008, 11:32

A synonym for trailer park. LOL - Fri Oct 24 2008, 17:38

Have you considered Marina Del Rey? You cannot hear the airport noise at all, yet have the convenience of being super close to the airport if you travel a lot for business. It is literally a $13-15 10 minute cab ride door to door. - Fri Oct 24 2008, 17:36

Commuting to downtown san francisco from either area will be hell. Probably worse from Novato due to the traffic through Marin then through the city. Walnut Creek is also hell, but it is all highway hell, and you get off the freeway downtown whereas Novato you get off the freeway then have to drive another 20-30 min on city streets to get downtown. Both areas require bridge and tunnel commuting. One positive about WC if you commute to the city is it's 2 BART stations. You can take BART from WC to montgomery st. station in SF in 35 minutes. Novato has no train so you are forced to drive.

You will be able to get a small/average house in WC in an average school district for 700k currently. WC has a good school district, but it costs more to live in that one. WC is also VERY HOT in the summer. I think it was like 100 everyday from June until this week.

Brace yourself, if you are coming from affluent suburbs in Chicago, you might be disappointed on the quality of home you get in the bay area for the money. Pride of ownership is not a value with many homeowners here, so you see a lot of Beverly Hillbilly type properties around and they dont have regulations which force people to take care of their homes. You will see old cars/RV's in driveways, sometimes even broken down or parked on the front lawn, yellow lawns, chipped paint, unfinished back yards, old windows etc in million dollar plus neighborhoods.

Good Luck. I currently live in Walnut Creek, and also a newcomer to the bay area, so if you have any questions about the area, feel free to let me know. - Fri Oct 3 2008, 16:16