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About

Doug Buenz
Real Estate Broker
Alain Pinel Realtors
(925) 463-2000 Email me!


I am a local Real Estate Broker with Alain Pinel Realtors serving the Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley area. I am an avid watcher of the local real estate market, as well as cultural and political events. But that is what I do, not who I am... » read more

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The Market is “Dead” in Marin County

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Here’s a chance for all you Dead Heads to show your loyalty. The former home of Jerry Garcia, the one-time lead singer of the Grateful Dead, is up for sale in Nicasio, in Marin County. For only $4 million you can own a piece of history!

picture courtesy of SFGate.com
SFGate.com reports that the home

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A garage more valuable than living space?

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What is more valuable… living space or a garage? The answer, of course, depends on where you live. In Manhattan, one homeowner set off shock waves when he converted the street level of his home into a garage. The city also moved lightening fast to institute new rules and zoning to prevent

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Hello Norma Jean

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Here’s a chance to live like Marilyn Monroe. The Brentwood (Southern California) home where she died is up for sale. Party like it’s 1962. Imagine the stories this place could tell if it could talk. And imagine the fun you’ll have telling your own stories at the parties you could have

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Cinco de Mayo Celebration Roundup

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It might come as a surprise to some that Cinco de Mayo is primarily celebrated in the United States and has been observed in California since 1863. In the spirit of fiesta, we thought it might be fun to do a roundup of local Cinco de Mayo celebrations! If you don’t already have plans, these Tri-Valley locales will help you get in the festive mood.

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Don’t Cry For Me – I’m in Argentina

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Well, not really. But it looks pretty tempting, especially after looking at Cafayate, Argentina, a new 1300 acre luxury home enclave that will ultimately have 360 homes built. It’s a bit remote though. After flying to Buenos Aires, you are still another two hour flight and three and a half hour drive away.

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Cartoon Break

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When the going gets tough, the tough turn to cartoons! A few new ones courtesy of .

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Are We Happy Yet?

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Of course we are! We live in the Tri-Valley! And a new Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey confirms that we are perhaps the happiest place on earth – with apologies to Disneyland (cue up “Shiny Happy People” from REM).
download fair game film

Silicon Valley was rated as the happiest big metro region, with San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont

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Mt. Diablo in Spring

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Mt. Diablo is a wonderful place to explore all year round, but this time of year is a particularly beautiful time to see the mountain in all its springtime splendor.

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Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

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Great post from called “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” about keeping things in perspective. Roberta is a fellow Pleasanton resident and Channel 5 Weather reporter. If you don’t follow Roberta, you should. She has great insights into weather and life in the East Bay. Add her blog to your RSS reader.

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Get Your Kit Together

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Have you ever had a hard time finding the tools and other items needed for a home repair job? If you have teen age kids, I know the answer to that is yes. They start with “I promise I’ll put it back” when they are younger and graduate to just not telling you

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The Mt. Diablo Saga - What's in a Name?

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One of the hot topics around the 680 Corridor these days is a the proposed changing of the name of Mt. Diablo, our most well known landmark. An Oakley resident filed a petition with the United States Board on Geographic Names to change the name of Mt. Diablo, which in spanish means “devil”.

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$2.1 Million for Nine and a Half Feet?

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Talk about expensive real estate. The “skinniest” house in New York City sold for $2.1 million. The house, originally built in 1873 is a mere nine and a half feet wide and 42 feet long. That’s 400 sq ft, or $5,250 per sq ft. Ouch.

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Stupid is as Stupid Does

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Okay, lenders these days are getting absolutely ridiculous, if not down right stupid. Us REALTORS are a pretty pliable bunch, and we have learned to roll with the punches as lenders struggle to cope with new regulations and edicts from the all-knowing federal regulators, who are largely responsible for this mess in the first

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Buying That China Dream Home Just Got Tougher

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So you were eying that beautiful little bungalow in Shanghai or perhaps a country estate in Hangzhou. Maybe you had your eye on a rental property in Jinan. Not so fast. According to Reuters, China is moving to prevent “hot money “ from causing real estate prices from rising too fast.
want to

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More Fun with Cartoons

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Some political cartoons just for fun. Courtesy of town hall

robin hood movie full

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