Will The China Stock Market Crash Affect California? Some Experts Say Yes

There’s no denying that the stock market crash in China on Monday sent ripples around the world as the markets in China have now lost well over 20 percent of their values or any gains they’ve made in the last year and investors are now labeling China as a “bear market”.

Although the stock market may be a major concern to most people, should people living in California or across Pleasant Hill be concerned about the stock market crash in China especially if you don’t own stock? The answer is yes.

Part of the Pacific Rim

Unless you are in High School or College right now you most likely will have forgotten that California is part of the Pacific Rim and this means our economy will feel some major blows from the recent Chinese stock market crash compared to other states.

Besides being part of the Pacific Rim California also has major tech companies who call the Golden State home but also have big connections to China.

Some of the major players in the tech world with a footprint in China include Qualcomm and Apple. The recent pop of the China stock market bubble could also affect jobs, Real Estate prices and scores of other industries in California, especially in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

Tim Cook Tries To Calm His Investors Fears

On Monday Apple CEO Time Cook immediately launched an offensive to calm his investors’ fears by going on the offensive when he said the following to Jim Cramer, well-known investment analyst with CNBC’s Squawk Box:

“I get updates on our performance in China every day, including this morning, and I can tell you that we have continued to experience strong growth for our business in China through July and August,”

Learn More about Pleasant Hill

To learn more news affecting Pleasant Hill or to view homes for sale contact us today by clicking here to connect with us online or by calling (925) 300-8000.

California Roads Are Crumbling – Now What?

PLEASANT HILL, CA – If you drive through Pleasant Hill or elsewhere in the East Bay during any day of the week there’s no denying that California roads are in bad shape and the big question drivers have is what is the State of California going to do about it?

This week Governor Brown and California’s elected officials met at the Port of Oakland to talk about the state of California roads and discuss plans to get them back in shape but the big issue which wasn’t addressed was exactly how the state planned to fund road improvement projects.

Governors Approach

Governor Jerry Brown said this about his ideas for fixing the states ailing roads: “My approach is not to prematurely close the door”.

Huh?

Hopefully Governor Brown intends to make good on fixing California roads but it’s not looking like we will see any major progress with road improvements in the Golden State for possibly months or years since some of the options the Governor is considering to fix Pleasant Hill Roads and others across the state include:

• Laying off over 3,000 Caltrans employees
• Raising gas taxes, again…..
• Hitting electronic vehicle owners with more fees
• Redirecting close to $1 billion dollars from the general fund to fix roads

Among The WORST Roads in the Nation

Sadly recent studies have shown California roads rank among the WORST in the nation.

Some politicians like State Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins have said that some of the reasons for the poor shape of California roads include the increase in fuel efficient vehicles (which means less money from gas taxes) and inflation.

At their recent meeting in Oakland Governor Brown and Atkins seemed eager for turning to their time tested methods for raising revenue which include increasing gasoline taxes but, in this economy would increasing gasoline taxes or raising DMV fees be the right thing to do to a state where residents are already struggling to survive?

When pressed again for his ideas on what could be done to fix California roads all Governor Brown could say was that he was there to be a “looming omnipresence” and remain “above the fray” while our politicians and business leaders hashed out ideas.

What are your thoughts on fixing Pleasant Hill Roads and funding road repairs across the state? Leave us a comment below!

Learn More about Pleasant Hill

For more information about life in Pleasant Hill including information on homes for sale in the area contact us today by calling (925) 300-8000 or click here to connect with us online.

Things To Do In Pleasant Hill – Don’t Miss These Fun Summer Activities

Are you searching for fun things to do in Pleasant Hill for your child?

If your child loves sports don’t miss your chance to enroll them in one of these fall sports youth leagues.

Flag Football

NFL Youth Flag Football Registration Now Open!

Co-Ed, Grades 3–8

Hut! Hut! Hike! Join our Youth Flag Football program sponsored by the

National Football League. Season begins play mid October for six weeks. Games are always on Saturdays. Practices are not predetermined, coaches will coordinate with families. All participants receive sports jersey and football.

Instructor – Rec Staff

Location – Pleasant Oaks Park: 2 Santa Barbara Road

Duration – 6 weeks

Cost – $145/$130

Click here for more details:

https://apm.activecommunities.com/pleasanthillrecreation/Activity_Search/nfl-youth-flag-football/17780

Swimming

Mt. Diablo Dolphins is our Fall Swim program and is a registered USA Swim Club. Swimmers will be competing in USA swim meets in the fall (short course season). Age group is determined by the swimmer’s age for the 2016 summer season. Registration fee includes USA Swimming membership.

Click here for more details:

http://www.pleasanthillrec.com/aquatics/dolfinsswimteam.html

Learn More About Pleasant Hill

To learn more about things to do in Pleasant Hill, or to view homes for sale, contact us today by clicking here or by calling (925) 300-8000.

6 Things You Should Do BEFORE Moving Into a Pleasant Hill Home

By Pleasant Hill Times

PLEASANT HILL, CA – Are you planning on moving into a Pleasant Hill home in the coming weeks? Before you move in there are 6 things you should do to insure that your home is ready for you to live there.

#1 – Change The Locks – This is the most important thing to do when you move into a Pleasant Hill home because it’s easy for the previous owner to say that they gave you all of the keys to the home but since anyone can make a copy of a key you want to have confidence that only you have the keys to your home.

#2 – Find The Main Water Valve – Finding your main water valve is important because if you ever have a plumbing emergency at your Pleasant Hill home turning off the water immediately may be necessary.

#3 – Find the Electrical Breaker – Although you won’t use it very often, finding the electrical breaker at your Pleasant Hill home is also important since you may need it sometime in the near future.

#4 – Clean out Your Cabinets – Take the time to clean out the cabinets in your kitchens and bathrooms because you want to have confidence that they are clean, sanitary and ready for you to place your plates or personal items in them.

#5 – Call A Pest Control Company – This should be done immediately if you see rodent dropping when moving into your home but it’s also a good step to take to guard your home against ants and other pests.

#6 – Look For Leaks – Last of all, check all plumbing in your home for leaks and leave your home for at least two hours then come back because, if the water wasn’t used in your Pleasant Hill Home while you were away it will be easy to see that your home has a water leak somewhere.

Learn More

For more tips on things you should do when you move into a Pleasant Hill Home, or to view homes for sale across the East Bay, contact us today by calling (925) 300-8000 or click here to connect with us through or website.

Grab These Toilet and Turf Replacement Rebates for Your Pleasant Hill Home

By Pleasant Hill Times

PLEASANT HILL, CA – If you’ve been thinking about replacing the toilets in your Pleasant Hill Home or your landscaping with drought tolerant plants now is the right time for you to take action thanks to rebates being offered by the State of California.

Rebate Details

The State Department of Water Resources recently announced that their rebate program will pay out $100 per toilet that you replace in your Pleasant Hill home and $2 per square foot ($2,000 per home) if you replace your water sucking yard with drought tolerant landscaping.

Program Details.

The turf and toilet rebate program is courtesy of Proposition 1, $24 million dollars in funds which were approved voters last year.

Thanks to this program the State Of California may be able to accomplish its goal of replacing over 10 million square feet of turf across the state and up to 60,000 old toilets which are not water efficient.

Saving California Water

With the toilet and turf program many people predict that the state will be able to make significant progress with Governor Jerry Brown’s mandatory water reductions across California.

There’s no denying that the toilet and turf program with benefit you if you own a Pleasant Hill Home and it will also have a huge impact in parts of California like the Central Valley which have been hit the hardest by the drought.

To see if you qualify for the toilet and turf program visit www.SaveOurWaterRebates.com. Today.

Learn More about Pleasant Hill

For more information about life in Pleasant Hill, or to view homes for sale, contact us today by clicking here to connect with us through our website or by calling (925) 300-8000.

5 Tips for a Faster Pleasant Hill Home Sale

By Pleasant Hill Times

PLEASANT HILL, CA – Are you planning on selling your Pleasant Hill home in the coming months? If so, now is a great time for you to sell since most people will slow down their home buying in the fall because their kids are back in school.

Here are five tips you can use to insure a faster Pleasant Hill Home Sale.

#1 – Get Your Pleasant Hill Home Ready for Sale

Start working on improving the curb appeal of your Pleasant Hill Home by planting new flowers, shrubs or trees, painting fences and replacing your mailbox.

Besides focusing on burb appeal you should also focus on the following:

• Paint your front door.
• Power wash your driveway and the exterior of your home.
• Clean your windows inside and out.
• Hire a professional cleaning company to clean your home.
• De-clutter your home.
• Stage your Pleasant Hill home for sale.

#2 – Hire a Pleasant Hill Realtor

Once your home is ready to sell it’s important to hire a Pleasant Hill Realtor® as soon as possible because your agent will be able to make recommendations for things you can do to make your home better as well as point out which aspects of your home which should be fixed if you want to sell it for the most money.

Tip – Consider hiring an interior decorator for one hour because this will also give you ideas for things you can do to improve your home.

#3 – Price Your Pleasant Hill Home to Sell

Although you may be tempted to overprice your home since East Bay homes are in high demand right now you should always price your Pleasant Hill home first so it will sell.

When pricing your home it’s best to consider one of the following strategies:

• Price your home at just under its value. Example – if your home is worth $195,000 you should consider pricing it at $190,000.
• Price your home at market value.

#4 – Be Open to Negotiation

Yes, you want to sell your home for the most money but, you should still be ready to negotiate if buyers have counter offers because, many times a home will sit on the market for a lot longer than the owner expected if they are unwilling to negotiate with buyers.

#5 – Prepare the Financial Resources to Sell Fast

Last of all, but most important you should prepare the financial resources to sell your home fast because although your home may have recently come out from being underwater, it’s possible that you won’t have enough equity in the home to cover additional selling costs, that’s why you should have additional funds available if you’re serious about selling fast.

Contact Us

To learn more about the Real Estate market in Pleasant Hill contact us today by calling (925) 300-8000 or click here to connect with us through our website.

Don’t Miss the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic – September 28th 2015

By Pleasant Hill Times

Get your golf clubs ready for the 2015 Pleasant Hill Community Foundation Golf Classic on Monday, September 28^th 2015 at 9:30 am.

This event will be held at the recently improved Contra Costa Country Club and all proceeds will benefit the Pleasant Oaks Park Youth Playground including Community Foundation Youth Grants

Event Details

By enrolling your foursome to play at this even you will get the green fees and cart, Free use of driving range, Tee package and gift, breakfast burritos, beverages on course, BBQ dinner, prizes, awards, Four-person scramble/handicap format and so much more.

Registration Information

To register for this event contact Bob Berggren today by calling him at (925) 682-0896 click here to view the invitation form online.

Learn More about Pleasant Hill

There’s no shortage of fun things to see and do in Pleasant Hill all year long. For more information about this event or to view homes for sale in Pleasant Hill or across the East Bay contact us today by clicking here or calling (925) 300-8000.

Pleasant Hill California – Simple Tips for Understanding a Heat Emergency

By Pleasant Hill Times

Did you know that there are close to 700 deaths each year due to heat related events?

Thanks to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control we know that most people are still not using their heads on very hot days and before they know it, they have succumbed to the heat, or worse, they passed away because of the heat.

In this post we will share with you the symptoms of heat related illness so you know that to look out for especially this week when the temperature is going to be passing the triple digit mark across California.

Heat Related Illness Symptoms

#1 – Very hot body temperature that passes above 100°F

#2 – Hot, red or dry skin with no sweating

#3 – Rapid pulse rate.

#4 – Upset stomach or nausea.

#5 – Headache

How to Treat Heat Related Illness

If you or someone you love or a friend is showing signs of heat related illness it’s best to follow these steps to help them.

Step 1 – Call 911 immediately to report the problem and get medical help on the way to your location.

Step 2 – Offer the individual water.

Step 3 – Fan them or try to cool them off in any way until emergency personal arrive.

Learn More about Pleasant Hill

To learn more about Pleasant Hill, or to view homes for sale in the area, contact us today by calling (925) 300-8000 or CLICK HERE to connect with us through our website.

Don’t Miss the American Iron Car Show – August 9th 2015 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

By Pleasant Hill Times

Are you searching for fun to do in Pleasant Hill this weekend? If so, don’t miss out on the American Iron Car Show this Sunday, August 9^th 2015 from 10:00 am to 3:00pm.

Location

The 2105 American Iron Car Show will be held off Crescent Drive in Downtown Pleasant Hill.

This annual event is free to the public and will feature many classic cars owned by residents in the East Bay and across the country.

What can be described as “Hot Rod Heaven”, the American Iron Car Show is the best destination for finding some of the best hot rods from the 1950’s through the 1980’s including models by Ford, Chevy, GMC and more!

If you come out this weekend be sure to wear your sunscreen and bring plenty of water because temperatures in Pleasant Hill are expected to be in the 80’s and 90’s this weekend.

Learn More about Pleasant Hill

To learn more about life in Pleasant Hill, including things to do, or to view homes for sale contact us today by calling (925) 300-8000 or click here.

Don’t Miss National Night Out In Pleasant Hill – August 4th 2015

National Night Out is right around the corner and you can participate in the fun on Tuesday August 4^th 2015 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on the lawn at the Pleasant Hill City Hall.

National Night Out is an annual event since 1981 and it’s a perfect opportunity for local police to build a great relationship with the community.

What to Expect

At the 2015 National Night Out there will be free hot dogs, hamburgers, K-9 demonstrations, police and fire vehicles will be available for inspection and so much more.

Bouncy Houses and More!

Besides being a great way for children and the community to interact with the Police force, the 2015 National Night Out in Pleasant Hill will also offer children plenty of opportunities for fun including a bouncy house, face painting, entertainment, snacks and desserts.

National Night Out

The 2015 National Night Out event in Pleasant Hill will also be joined by similar events in Pacheco and Martinez so if you don’t live here there should be opportunities for you to enjoy National Night Out elsewhere.

Available Nationwide

What’s great about the 2015 National Night Out is that there will be similar events across the country and there will be close to 20,000 events like the one we will have in Pleasant Hill.

Learn More about Pleasant Hill

To learn more about the 2015 National Night Out, or to view Pleasant Hill homes for sale, contact us today by CLICKING HERE or calling (925) 300-8000.