When I was thirteen, I took the bus to the Julia Morgan Center for my bi-weekly dance classes.  If I had the chance, I would stop by Sweet Dreams and spend a dollar of my allowance on super sour gummy candies.  The Elmwood was always an idyllic neighborhood to me.  Even at age 13 I [...]

The other day, I showed this property…perfect neighborhood, fantastic price, (bank owned) and potential!  There was one big problem, water damage.  I emailed these pictures to one of my favorite lenders and she said this damage could make it difficult to obtain a home loan. (If a buyer purchases this property with a loan, the [...]

It is a buyers market, right?  Foreclosures and short sales are on the rise,  so buyers get out and buy properties at rock bottom prices!  Well I will definitely not dispute the data that the news provides, but I will say in the Oakland and Berkeley area, I am seeing things that the news is [...]

When you are buying an older house it is common for a property to have $10,000 – $20,000 worth of needed repairs.  If a seller has owned their home for many years often there is newly found damage that is discovered during an inspection.  In many cases it is not that the seller intentionally neglected [...]

Berkeley:

Sold properties Median Price $726k down from $762k in Nov 2008
Sold units 43 up from 25 in Nov 2008
Current for sale properties Median price $699k same in Nov 2008
Units for sale 131 down from 159 in Nov 2008
Months supply of inventory at 1.7 down from 3.3 in Nov 2008
Days on Market at 65 up from [...]

The two charts, provided by Altos show this week in real estate in Oakland and Berkeley.  This is an overview so it includes homes in excellent and in poor conditions, (and every  neighborhood).  To get a better sense of the market, email me.  Some properties are still flying off of the market due to high [...]

When buying a home in the Oakland – Berkeley area you need to understand that our properties are sought after as many home buyers like that fact that that the majority of our homes are older with tons of charm.  When buying a house it is important to thoroughly inspect it before you complete the [...]

Often people ask me if I am still in real estate.  The media will paint a picture of doom and gloom.  I am not negating the problems, and yes people are struggling.  I think it will that sometime before the economy recovers, but this chart shows how resilient the Bay Area is.

At Red Oak Realty, the real estate brokerage I hang my license, most of our agents were busy this summer!  At almost every weekly meeting  we would discuss the market and talk about the multiple offers that were taking place.  Red Oak has about 80 full-time Realtors and does a great deal of the Bay [...]

The blue areas on the map above = 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom homes priced above $800,000.
The dark brown area on the map above = 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom homes priced between $500,000 and $800,000.
The light brown area on the map above = 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom homes priced at $500,000 and below.
This chart applies to [...]