A smart weekly look at the East Bay

through the lens of local life, housing, and development.

What the market is telling us

Mortgage rates moved higher again.

The average 30-year fixed mortgage is now 7.40%, up from 7.28% last week and 7.03% just two weeks ago.

That’s a meaningful move in a pretty short period of time.

What I think it does more than anything is make buyers even less willing to compromise. They may still stretch for a house they really love, but they’re increasingly unwilling to stretch for one that feels overpriced, dated or just okay.

For sellers, that makes the first couple of weeks even more important.

The market isn’t dead. It’s just becoming much less forgiving.

The local read

Walnut Creek gives us a pretty good example of what’s happening.

The latest three-month numbers show a median sale price of about $869,000, with homes taking a median 28 days to sell.

But here’s the interesting part:

35.7% of homes still sold above asking.
32.4% had a price reduction.

Those are two very different markets happening at exactly the same time.

A house buyers love can still move quickly and get pushed above asking.

A house that misses on price, condition or presentation can sit.

That’s why the headline numbers only tell you so much right now. The individual property matters more than ever.

What I’d actually put on the calendar

Walnut Creek

Trivia & Line Dancing Thursdays
Oct. 15 & 22 | 6:30–11:30 PM | Bourbon Highway
Trivia downstairs followed by line dancing upstairs.

DLUX Puppets’ Wonderland
Oct. 15 | Lesher Center for the Arts
Final day of the Alice in Wonderland-inspired production with life-size puppets and digital scenery.

Free Hearing Screening & Hearing Aid Cleanings
Oct. 16 | 9 AM–Noon | Civic Park Community Center
Free screenings and hearing-aid cleanings.

Bridge & Chess Drop-In
Oct. 16 | 10 AM–1 PM | Civic Park Community Center
Casual bridge and chess for the 50+ crowd.

Folk Music Jam Session
Oct. 16 | 1:30–3 PM | Civic Park Community Center
Community folk-music jam.

TOX Happy Hour
Oct. 16 | 5–8 PM | V Aesthetics
Downtown beauty and wellness happy hour.

Live Country Music Fridays
Oct. 16 | 6:30 PM–1 AM | Bourbon Highway
Live country music, line dancing and karaoke.

The Kuumba Experience: Jazz Fusion
Oct. 16 | 7:30 PM | Lesher Center for the Arts
Jazz-fusion performance at the Lesher.

3 Queens of Motown
Oct. 16 | 8 PM | Lesher Center for the Arts
Tribute to Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross.

Diablo Improv Festival
Oct. 16–18 | Lesher Center for the Arts
A weekend of improv performances and programming.

Public Art Walking Tour: Route 3
Oct. 17 | 10–11 AM | Walnut Creek
Guided tour of public art around BART, California Boulevard and North Main.

Once Upon a Street: Broadway Plaza Turns 75
Oct. 17 | 11 AM–2 PM | Broadway Plaza
Live entertainment, circus performers, princesses and ballerinas, kids activities, pet adoptions and a Royal Parade at 12:30 PM.

Live Country Music Saturdays
Oct. 17 | 6:30 PM–1 AM | Bourbon Highway
Country music, line dancing and karaoke.

The Best of The Second City
Oct. 17 | 7:30 PM | Lesher Center for the Arts
The legendary Chicago improv and sketch-comedy troupe comes to Walnut Creek.

Kids Face Painting at Duck Donuts
Oct. 18 | 2–6 PM | Duck Donuts
Free family face painting downtown.

Heroes and Villains
Oct. 18 | 2 PM | Lesher Center for the Arts
An afternoon of orchestral musical storytelling.

Steak Board Sunday
Oct. 18 | 4–10 PM | Fleming’s
Sunday two-course steak-board special.

Pinochle Drop-In
Oct. 19 | 11 AM–1 PM | Civic Park Community Center
50+ card-game drop-in.

After School: Wildlife Care & Rehabilitation
Oct. 19 | 4–5:30 PM | Lindsay Wildlife Experience
Hands-on animal care, enrichment and rehabilitation for ages 9–12.

$3 Servicemen & Industry Tuesdays
Oct. 20 | 6:30–11:30 PM | Bourbon Highway
Tuesday-night country entertainment downtown.

Wild Wednesday Preschool: Australia
Oct. 21 | 10:30–11:30 AM | Lindsay Wildlife Experience
Preschool exploration of Australian wildlife.

Qi Gong Drop-In
Oct. 21 | 12:30–12:50 PM | Civic Park Community Center
Short meditative stretching session.

Mah Jong Drop-In
Oct. 21 | 1–4 PM | Civic Park Community Center
50+ Mah Jong.

Boots & Bingo Wednesdays
Oct. 21 | 6:30–11:30 PM | Bourbon Highway
Bingo followed by country entertainment.

Newsmakers: Colonel Eileen Collins
Oct. 21 | 7:30 PM | Lesher Center for the Arts
The first woman to pilot and command a Space Shuttle mission.

Bingo Drop-In
Oct. 22 | Noon–2:30 PM | Civic Park Community Center
Weekly 50+ bingo.

Pleasant Hill

Storytime + Stay & Play
Oct. 15 | 11 AM–Noon | Pleasant Hill Library
Stories, songs and movement followed by open play.

Off the Grid
Oct. 15 & 22 | Evening | Pleasant Hill City Hall
Thursday-night food trucks.

Pleasant Hill Night Market
Oct. 16 | Evening | Pleasant Hill City Hall
Food, music, local vendors and community activities.

Pleasant Hill Farmers Market
Oct. 17 | 9 AM–1 PM | City Hall
Weekly Saturday farmers market.

Lego Builders Club
Oct. 17 | 2–4 PM | Pleasant Hill Library
All-ages drop-in LEGO building.

Halloween Keychains for Teens
Oct. 19 | 3–4 PM | Pleasant Hill Library
Make a personalized Halloween keychain.

Gaming for Teens
Oct. 20 | 2:45–3:45 PM | Pleasant Hill Library
Nintendo Switch games and snacks.

Spooky Stories Open Mic
Oct. 20 | 6:30–7:30 PM | Pleasant Hill Library
Family-friendly spooky storytelling.

United Against Hate Storytime
Oct. 22 | 11 AM–Noon | Pleasant Hill Library
Special storytime presented with the Pleasant Hill Diversity Commission.

Lamorinda

Lafayette

Lafayette Res Run for Education
Oct. 18 | 7:30–10:30 AM | Downtown Lafayette
5K, 10K and 2-mile run/walk benefiting Lafayette schools.

Read to a Dog
Oct. 20 | Lafayette Library
Kids practice reading aloud with certified therapy dogs.

Cinemaniacs: Teen Movie Night
Oct. 20 | 5–7 PM | Lafayette Library
Movie and snacks for grades 6–12.

Tai Chi
Oct. 20 | 6–7 PM | Lafayette Library
Weekly low-impact Tai Chi.

Read to a Dog
Oct. 21 | Lafayette Library
Another chance for kids to read with a therapy-dog team.

Meditation
Oct. 21 | 6–7 PM | Lafayette Library
Weekly guided meditation.

3D Printing Studio
Oct. 22 | Lafayette Library
Hands-on Tinkercad and 3D-printing workshop.

Sock Gnomes
Oct. 22 | 6–7 PM | Lafayette Library
Make a no-sew fall sock gnome. Waitlist may apply.

Sweet Thursday with Vanessa Hua
Oct. 22 | 7 PM | Lafayette Library, Don Tatzin Hall
Vanessa Hua discusses Coyoteland.

Moraga

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Magic!
Oct. 15 | 4–5 PM | Moraga Library
Alan the Amazing combines real science with stage magic.

Wizards, Witches and Workouts
Oct. 15 | 4:30–5:30 PM | Saint Mary’s College
Halloween-themed Pilates, treats and crafts.

Open Play Pickleball
Oct. 15 & 20 | 4–6 PM | Saint Mary’s College
All-level drop-in pickleball.

Career Connect: Healthcare with UCSF
Oct. 15 | 5–6:30 PM | Saint Mary’s College
Career discussion with UCSF representatives.

Bootcamp x Circuit
Oct. 15 | 6–7 PM | Saint Mary’s College
Circuit workout using TRX, kettlebells, ropes and boxing stations.

Over Thinkers Club
Oct. 16 | Noon–1 PM | Saint Mary’s College
Creative wellness drop-in.

Find Your Footing
Oct. 16 | 3–3:45 PM | Saint Mary’s College
Campus walk-and-talk wellness group.

Fall Preview Day
Oct. 17 | 9 AM–1 PM | Saint Mary’s College
Campus tours, admissions information, faculty and financial-aid programming for prospective students and families.

Saint Mary’s Women’s Soccer vs. San Diego
Oct. 17 | 3 PM | Saint Mary’s Stadium
The Gaels host San Diego.

Bootiful Mugs & Spooky Cinema
Oct. 17 | 6–9 PM | Saint Mary’s College
Mug decorating, a spooky movie, pizza and popcorn.

Monday Meditation
Oct. 19 | 11:30 AM–Noon | Saint Mary’s College
Guided half-hour meditation.

Goblin’s Grocery List
Throughout October | Moraga Library
Halloween scavenger hunt for kids.

Orinda

Free Movie Night: Psycho
Oct. 15 | 6:30 PM | Orinda Theatre
Free screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Seating is first come, first served.

Orinda Farmers’ Market
Oct. 17 | 9 AM–1 PM | Orinda Way
Saturday farmers market in the Village District.

Lord Blood-Rah’s Halloween Party
Oct. 17 | 6:30 PM | Orinda Theatre
Halloween-themed movie event at the historic theatre.

English Learners Conversation Group
Oct. 20 | 4:30–5:30 PM | Orinda Library
Casual English conversation practice.

Toddler Storytime
Oct. 21 | Orinda Library
Stories and songs for toddlers and caregivers.

Murder Over Easy: October
Oct. 22 | 10:30 AM | Orinda Books
Discussion of The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson.

Women Director Series: The Love Witch
Oct. 22 | 7:30 PM | Orinda Theatre
Screening of the 2016 film The Love Witch as part of the theatre’s women-director series.

Concord

Fall Travel Showcase
Oct. 15 | 10–11:30 AM | Concord Senior Center
Preview upcoming day trips and travel programs.

Community Partner Pop-Up: Stand Together Contra Costa
Oct. 15 | Concord Library
Community-resource pop-up at the library.

Storytime at Concord Library
Oct. 15 | Concord Library
Stories and early-literacy activities for young children.

Halloween Costume Booo-tique
Oct. 17 | 11 AM–4 PM | Concord Library
Free new and gently used Halloween costumes, one per person.

Vinnie’s Open Mic Night
Oct. 19 | Vinnie’s Bar & Grill
Monday-night open mic downtown.

11th World Congress on Food Science & Beverages
Oct. 19–20 | Concord
Two-day food-science and beverage conference.

Todos Santos Farmers’ Market
Oct. 20 | 10 AM–2 PM | Todos Santos Plaza
Year-round Tuesday farmers market.

Vinnie’s Country Night
Oct. 20 | Vinnie’s Bar & Grill
Tuesday-night country music.

Halloween Costume Booo-tique
Oct. 20 | 4–7 PM | Concord Library
Second free Halloween-costume giveaway session.

Little Oak Family Music: Music Together
Oct. 21 | 3:30–4:30 PM | Concord Library
Interactive music for ages 0–5 and caregivers.

Sidegate Trivia Night with Geeks Who Drink
Oct. 21 | Side Gate Brewery
Wednesday-night team trivia.

Storytime at Concord Library
Oct. 22 | 10:30 AM | Concord Library
Weekly storytime.

Read to a Dog
Oct. 22 | 4 PM | Concord Library
Kids practice reading aloud with a therapy dog.

Martinez

Martinez Library Halloween Happenings
Through Oct. 22 | Martinez Library
Halloween crafts plus a guess-the-weight-of-the-pumpkin contest.

Computer Docent Help
Oct. 15 | 10 AM–Noon | Martinez Library
Drop-in help with basic computer and technology questions.

Sound Healing & Guided Meditation
Oct. 15 | 7–8 PM | The Artisan Market
Guided meditation and restorative sound-healing session.

Bay Area SunShares Informational Webinar
Oct. 16 | 11:30 AM–12:30 PM | Online
Information on rooftop solar, battery storage and clean-energy upgrades.

Friday Night Magic
Oct. 16 | 4–8 PM | Ember Rest
Magic: The Gathering for beginners and experienced players.

Aire Libre Weekend
Oct. 16–18 | Downtown Martinez
Outdoor dining and pedestrian-friendly streets.

Sesquicentennial Hike: Alhambra Hills
Oct. 17 | 10 AM–Noon | Martinez
Guided hike tied to Martinez’s 150th anniversary programming.

Martinez Farmers’ Market
Oct. 18 | 9 AM–1 PM | Main Street
Year-round Sunday farmers market.

Meetings that matter

Walnut Creek

City Council | Oct. 20 | 6 PM

Walnut Creek City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month, putting the regular October meeting on Tuesday the 20th. The agenda should be posted the Friday before the meeting.

Arts Commission | Oct. 19 | 6 PM

The Arts Commission holds its quarterly meeting Monday evening.

Pleasant Hill

Lafayette

Planning Commission | Oct. 19 | 7 PM
Transportation & Circulation Commission | Oct. 19 | 7 PM
Code Enforcement Appeals Board | Oct. 21 | 11 AM
Creeks Committee | Oct. 21 | 7 PM
Senior Services Commission | Oct. 22 | 2:30 PM

Concord

Commission on Aging | Oct. 21 | 1:30 PM
Planning Commission | Oct. 21 | 6:30 PM

One correction from the earlier draft: the Oct. 22 Design Review Board meeting has been canceled.

Martinez

Parks, Recreation, Marina & Arts Commission | Oct. 20 | 7 PM
City Council | Oct. 21 | 7 PM

The scoreboard

Latest available three-month snapshot, ending August 2026:

The price differences are huge, but the speed is almost as interesting.

Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda are still averaging roughly two weeks. Pleasant Hill is under three. Walnut Creek is closer to four.

And that’s before you get down to individual neighborhoods and properties.

The farther you zoom in, the more useful the numbers become.

5 Star For Sale Property

**3183 Wayside Plz, #311**

1 bed | 1 bath | 726 sqft
$435,000

Walnut Creek is planning for 2050.

**One smart add-on**

The City is updating its **General Plan**, the roadmap for future housing, transportation, parks and development.
The big questions: Where should new housing go? What should happen around BART and downtown? And how do we grow without losing what people already love about Walnut Creek?
The conversation is just getting started.
**Follow the General Plan 2050 process**

If there’s an East Bay neighborhood, project, local issue, event or market question you want me to cover in a future edition, hit reply and send it my way.

– Brendan

A Few Things I Wanted to Pass Along This Week