Baxter's Berkeley and East Bay Blog

Ultra Charming New Listing in North Berkeley Hills, Berkeley CA

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:25:30 -0500

I am delighted to present a wonderful home not far from my house in North Berkeley. Right now there is a regatta in the San Francisco Bay, and you can watch that from the living room of this new listing at 923 Creston Road in Berkeley, CA.

You will find the utmost of charm, calm and quietude in this split-level North Berkeley hills home! Only a few minutes to Monterey Market or the Gourmet Ghetto, and yet you feel as if you're a million miles away from the cares of everyday life once you arrive on coveted Creston Road. San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge look beautiful from this retreat in the hills! Tilden Park and Lake Anza are close at hand, and the UC Berkeley campus is easily accessible.

This home provides delightful architectural details: beamed wood ceilings in living and dining rooms; arched openings, nooks and alcoves add to the appeal. Besides three bedrooms, a full bath with both tub and shower and a very convenient half bath in the master suite, you'll benefit from a stand-alone studio building in the garden. What an ideal office, writer's cottage or studio space!

I'll be there tomorrow and it should be super weather with great views!

Open Sundays January 29th: 1:30 - 4 pm and
February 5th: 12:30 - 3 pm (earlier because of Super Bowl!)

Listed for $685,000

Ultra Charming Split-level Home with Cottage in North Berkeley Hills!

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description
Open House
Market Stats

$685,000

Single Family Home

Main Features

3 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
1 Partial Bathroom
Interior: 1,332 sqft
Lot: 4,950 sqft

Location

923 Creston Road
BERKELEY, CA 94708
USA

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate
(510) 7171799
eastbay.bungalows@gmail.com
http://www.GreenBungalows.info

Listed by: McGuire Real Estate

Our recent listings

Spacious Duplex near UC Berkeley campus

Subscribe to our listing feed

Nearby properties for sale

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Spacious Queen Anne Duplex near Berkeley's UC Campus

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:30:10 -0500

Spacious Duplex near UC Berkeley campus

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description
Neighborhood
Open House

$655,000

Multi Family

Main Features

4 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
2 Units
Interior: 2,366 sqft
Lot: 4,506 sqft

Location

2326 Parker Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
USA

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate
(510) 7171799
eastbay.bungalows@gmail.com
http://www.GreenBungalows.info

Listed by: McGuire Real Estate

Our recent listings

Spacious Duplex near UC Berkeley campus

Subscribe to our listing feed

Nearby properties for sale

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Lovely Views from Tudor-Revival in El Cerrito Hills-El Cerrito, CA

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:08:35 -0400

For anyone looking for a view home with traditional charm, updated kitchen and bath, and a great location, I have a recommendation for you. Visit 2530 Edwards Avenue, in El Cerrito. A significant arched picture window frames beautiful views of Mt.Tamalpais and the Bay from the living room. The home has a stylish, urban chic aesthetic that should appeal to many buyers. Those who would love a view home in Berkeley will feel very much at home here—and will especially appreciate the value! One of my favorite pocket parks is right down the way; Poinsett Park is one of those great local secrets, a little unexpected treasure. And for more serious outdoor activities the Mira Vista Golf Course and Country Club is nearby, another under-appreciated gem of the region.

This home has more thano offer than the usual starter property: it has a third much-desired bedroom in addition to an extra-spacious living room with fireplace. The eat-in kitchen has been updated in cheerful blue tiles, combining with white cabinetry to create a crisp, clean effect. The updated bathroom features tasteful stone tiles and custom finishes. It’s easy to imagine entertaining friends on the inviting stone patio.

You can check out this home on Sunday, November 6, from 2-5 pm, or by appointment. It is listed by my colleague Parisa Samimi at McGuire Real Estate; offered at $435,000.

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Homes for Sale in Rockridge Neighborhood of Oakland CA on a Rocky Ride

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 19:58:40 -0400

Sales prices of single family homes in one of our favorite neighborhoods--Rockridge in Oakland, CA--have seen a series of rises and falls over the past three years. From this time in 2008, median sold prices in this popular area saw a fairly percipitous fall from the mid-$900's to the mid-$700's, and back up to the mid-$900's nine months later. From a median of $780K at the beginning of 2010, they zoomed up by almost $200K to $975K, dropped back to around $800K, soared again last quarter to the $900K range, only to drop back again this quarter to a median of $818K. What an exhausting ride! Over the course of three years median sold prices are now down 16%, but we won't be surprised to see them take another swing upwards! While median sold prices ended down 6% as compared to this time last year, over the past three months median prices have been on the rise. Inventory has been relatively high, with 81 properties for sale, of which 35 sold.

Part of the erratic price behavior is based on the disparate nature of the inventory: a combination of the vintage homes that are found on both sides of College Avenue, and the large, mostly new homes in the Rockridge hills. Both types of construction fall within the 94618 zip code, and there is a broad range of prices.

We've seen an additional swing in behavior in list price vs. sold price in the homes for sale in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, CA. This past quarter sold prices(in green) fell below median list price(in red) by $44K, whereas the previous quarter sold prices were in excess of list by $47K.

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

A look at the New Fall Real Estate Market in Berkeley, CA

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 23:36:32 -0400

Despite national and state-wide news to the contrary, our extended Berkeley area market feels quite active, with lots of new buyers hoping to take advantage of record low mortgage rates. We continue to suffer primarily from a dearth of desirable inventory. The most attractively presented, well-located homes continue to attract multiple offers. All-cash offers seem to have tapered off as one would expect with the low rates, but we still hear of one or two each week, usually in one of the multiple-offer scenarios. An all-cash offer still is tremendously attractive to a seller! This was the second week of the new fall season, with a reasonable number of properties to see. Of the 88 properties on tour, most were new, with only four coming back with price reductions. Tour covers Albany (7 properties this week), Berkeley (36), El Cerrito (8), Emeryville (3), Kensington (3), and Oakland (31, from Montclair, Rockridge and other North Oakland locations). That's a fairly typical Thursday tour. A few properties appeared "new" in our multiple listing system, but were in fact properties that had not sold during the summer, and are now back on the market at a reduced price, after a hiatus. The chart below shows overall activity for Berkeley. Looking at this a buyer would understandably assume that there was no rush to make an offer, as on average, homes are sitting on the market for more than three months. But here is where buyers need counseling. There is an enormous disparity between the well-presented homes (like my listings and those of my active colleagues) vs. homes that appear on the market over-priced and under-represented! It is still the case that the most desirable properties come on the market, have a brokers' tour and two open houses, and then hear offers on a scheduled day. Their elapsed days on the market is in the range of 14-18. Of the current pending sales (61 in Berkeley) two-thirds of those are properties that had been on the market a month or less. Buyers must be ready to take action, with a loan pre-approval, as well as the psychological readiness to take action quickly, rather than waiting for a price reduction. Frames not supported This material is prepared by a commercial firm, and includes some properties not in our Multiple Listing Service. If I compare that data about days on market to what we agents see within our MLS, there are some considerable differences: within the MLS, the average DOM is 60, but the median of 38 is more reflective of what most buyers will experience. Advice from a good local agent is imperative to know which properties will go into contract quickly, and which ones will be sitting for months to come!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Celebrating the Last Pleasures of Summer

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:31:56 -0400

On this of all days, we celebrate the simple joys of life: heirloom tomatoes, cling peaches, blackberries, sweet corn. . . . and community. Visiting a farmers’ market provides the pleasures of top-quality products with the added satisfaction of talking with the vendors, hearing their stories and details about their products. The aromas and the sounds are vibrant. You feel part of a community, rather than just being an isolated shopper.

One of my favorite ways to spend time on a Sunday morning, before heading off for an open house, is to visit the Kensington Farmers Market. It’s small but has everything I usually want: great coffee from Catahoulie (I use their Butkus or Lola for espresso). There are always several great fruit and veggie options. And this past week I enjoyed speaking with two vendors in particular:

For the carnivores among us, Fifth Quarter was selling some intriguing pate, confit and other specialty charcuterie items. I took home some ground duck crepinettes, patties of duck and pork, seasoned with mustard seeds and dried figs. We grilled them and they made lovely, rich burgers.

There will be live music from Suska Varda, and as a special treat you’ll be able to get wood-fired pizza from Fist of Flour. What a gentle and yummy way to spend some time on this on Sept. 11^th.

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Islands of Strength in a Sea of Trouble

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:25:51 -0400

Heading to an Association breakfast meeting, I turned on the car radio to hear a national real estate market update. The reporter was commenting on the fact that the housing market recovery was going to be much slower than originally anticipated, lasting at least through next year, if not longer. The number of foreclosures nationwide is being talked about in the range of 5-6 million still on the books in the "shadow inventory" we all hear about. Foreclosures are being absorbed at a rate of about 1M per year. Could it really take five or more years for us to see a recovery? Speculation is that recovery will come sooner, as a result of foreign investment increasing, and a natural increase in the number of households requiring housing.

An interesting point was made about the fact that fewer new households are being formed now than a year ago. Speculation is that with such financial pressures, and especially with the fear that they could not sell a home if they own one, couples are less likely to split up and form new households. Adult children are less likely to leave home and start their own households under current economic restrictions. Imigration rates have also slowed.

Jobs are being created at a slower rate than expected, and unlike in previous recessions, many employers are willing to eliminate jobs even at the risk of not being able to replace them when the economy begins to recover. Unlike in previous downturns, now a very large number of positions are occupied by contract workers, without benefits.

That's the fairly grim macro picture. As I listened, I considered that some of my clients or future clients could be listening to this same story. And how do I reconcile this nation-wide picture with my current local experience? This week I spent five hours at a pre-offer inspection with a buyer, inspecting a $1 million home, so that my buyer could make the strongest possible offer in a multiple offer situation. He was already planning to write an all-cash offer, but having no inspection contingency would make the offer significantly more compelling. We were competing against three other offers. (He didn't get the house). That is the kind of pressure that buyers face here in the hot parts of the Berkeley, Rockridge and Piedmont markets right now, where multiple offers and quick sales are again the norm. It's both odd and difficult to counsel clients when our market appears to have hit bottom, picked up, and gone back to the kind of activity level that we experienced at the top of the market. Now prices are 10-20% lower than the peak, but the competition is stiff. Right here. In my neighborhoods. It's all about micro-markets!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

FREE E-Cycling Thursday April 21 and Friday April 22 in Berkeley, CA for Earth Day!

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:39:34 -0400

All residents of the Berkeley, CA area are invited to bring their lifeless laptops, sick cellphones, tired TVs and moribund monitors to the Berkeley Association of REALTORS® this Thursday from 1 - 4 pm or Friday from 10 -noon and their electronics will be recycled for FREE. This is the annual Earth Day tribute I organize on behalf of the GREEN Council of the Berkeley Association of REALTORS®. Last year we filled the conference room -- help us do that again this year!

The office is conveniently located at the corner of MLK and Cedar Streets in Berkeley (1553 MLK Jr. Way for those with GPS!). Please, no major appliances. As an added bonus, all donors will receive a reusable lunch bag filled with Green Goodies and tips on saving energy. It includes a CFL, bio bag, outlet gaskets, as well as information about how to recycle CFLs. It's our way of saying Thank You for e-cycling with us on Earth Day!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Summary of Distressed Properties in the Berkeley, CA area

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 02:20:02 -0400

We've all heard about the "shadow inventory" of distressed homes, that large number of properties that may dump into our market at any minute from the banks' stash of foreclosed properties, commonly called REOs. It's impossible to know how much of an issue that will be in this area. Below I show the distressed property activity in the areas I cover since the beginning of the year. The Berkeley numbers remind us that we are not unscathed. Seven of the 21 foreclosures were in North Berkeley and the hills.

Distressed Property Activity: January 1 - April 15 2011

	Short Sales	Foreclosures	Total Distessed	Total Sales	% Distressed
Berkeley	16	21	37	130	28.5%
Oakland	129	326	455	804	56.6%
Albany	1	3	4	27	14.8%
Kensington	0	2	2	14	14.3%
El Cerrito	1	7	8	45	17.8%
Piedmont	1	2	3	26	11.5%

Nationwide, Fannie Mae, in its most recent annual report to investors, said it acquired 262,078 homes in 2010, up 80 percent from 2009. REO sales picked up 51 percent, to 185,744, leaving Fannie Mae with REO inventory of 162,489 homes valued at $14.9 billion at the end of the year. The company also said $212.8 billion in mortgages guaranteed by the company were delinquent by 60 days or more.

"Given the large number of seriously delinquent loans in our single-family guaranty book of business and the large current and anticipated supply of single-family homes in the market, we expect it will take years before our REO inventory approaches pre-2008 levels," Fannie Mae warned.

In order to help sell off some of that inventory, Fannie Mae has recently re-instated a bonus program to buyers within California. Buyers who enter into contract on a Fannie Mae owned property from now through May 15^th, and close by June 30th, will be eligible for $1000 in credits towards closing costs. The program is called HomePath, and closely resembles a program available last year, but this year's program is less generous. The deal only applies to buyers who will owner-occupy their purchase.

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Rain, rain, go away!

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 14:17:39 -0500

We know we need rain, at least in some global sense of “need.” But today, right now, I do not NEED it to be raining. My seller most certainly does not WANT it to be raining in El Cerrito on the first day that his house is on the market. Especially not after weeks, really months of preparation, which is what is required of conscientious sellers to prepare a home for sale, especially in a rocky market. This seller has done a great deal, not just in the time immediately before the sale, but over the entire five years that he and his family have lived there. We’re talking about all new windows, a new electrical system, a very tastefully remodeled bathroom, refinished floors and mostly new paint. The front porch and exterior paint is so new that the front of the home will look different to those who attend my open house than it looks on the website and flyers—all the exterior photos will change the next time the sun shines! So after weeks, months, truly years of work to get to the point of being ready for the debut of a this property, it hardly seems fair for a crucial event in the sale of a property to be so impacted by the weather gods and godesses!

So let’s hope there will be those hail and hearty souls looking for three bedroom homes in El Cerrito who will still come visit. They’ll find this thoroughly updated home in a very commute-friendly location at 808 Richmond Street, not far from El Cerrito Plaza. And it’s priced at quite a friendly price as well: $498,000, hoping to attract lots of interest. I’d be delighted to show you this handsome home, as well as the garage/storage building. What tremendous potential for conversion to an artist studio, home office or the like! Much too nice to put a car in! And you’ve got oodles of space in the driveway to park several cars anyway.

Dellums the cat and I would love to show you around starting at 2 pm!

Meticulously Maintained Home in Convenient Commute Location!

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description
Open House

$498,000

Single Family Home

Main Features

3 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Interior: 1270 sqft
Lot: 5,000 sqft

Location

808 Richmond Street
El Cerrito, CA 94350
USA

To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate
(510) 7171799
eastbay.bungalows@gmail.com
http://www.GreenBungalows.info

Listed by: Arlene Baxter

Our recent listings

Meticulously Maintained Home in Convenient Commute Location!

Subscribe to our listing feed

Nearby properties for sale

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

A Christmas snapshot of the Berkeley, CA housing market

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 17:38:16 -0500

You've all seen the headlines: Plunging Prices, Stagnant Sales, Foreclosures lurking. The Berkeley, CA area market has remained stronger than most during this market correction. But this past month most of the extended Berkeley area has seen very limited activity. In the past three weeks less than one property has closed per day in Berkeley, CA. Of those 20 sales, 6 closed above list, 8 closed at list, and only one was more than 10% below. Thirteen of those sales were between $200K and $510K, with high price at $1,175K (two of those). Sold prices are more than $100K below last December, and for the first time in several years our median is below $500K ($498K median vs. $603K a year ago) and down substantially from last month's median of $745K. Of the single family homes under contract in Berkeley, CA last month, 1/3 were foreclosures. Sold prices per sq. ft. in Berkeley started the year around $375, rose to a high of $430, and are now back down to approx. $380. The all-time high was over $575/sq. ft. at the beginning of 2006.

This Christmas Eve there were 112 single family homes on the market in Berkeley, CA, on average for more than three months. And a median price of just below $500K is 20% below last year's at this time. Albany has 10 single family homes on the market, one a foreclosure, one a short sale, and most have been on the market for more than two months.

For many buyers I was still writing two or more offers before getting into contract, but this fall I was fortunate to get two sets of buyers into contract without competition on lovely homes in great neighborhoods -clearly a sign of a changed market. But at the same time a buyer had to compete against three other offers to purchase an especially nice condo on the Rockridge border.

Here's my summary of what's been happening lately on the buying side:

Even the gorgeous interest rates weren't enough to motivate buyers unless there was some factor in their lives compelling them to buy now. Job uncertainties are trumping low interest rates
Normally when rates start to rise after being at a low point, that triggers activity among buyers. That didn't happen this time, perhaps partly because it hit in December
Buyers are counting on prices dropping further, and are waiting for that to happen, even in areas where we seem to have already hit bottom and are starting to see prices inch up
Most buyers assume it's their market, and want homes to be priced as bargains
Cash is not always king in this area. In strong hold-out neighborhoods, like Thousand Oaks or Northbrae where multiple offers are still occurring, price may win over all-cash offers

On this rainy Christmas day I'll take the rest of the day off to bake pumpkin bread and enjoy the company of friends (actually several of them former clients), their dogs and cats and my dear husband. Hope this is a day full of warmth and friendship for you as well!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Very Special Guest Arlene Blum to visit Berkeley, CA Green Council

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:58:16 -0500

Master Speaker Arlene Blum at the Green Council this Week**Wednesday, December 8th, 2 pm** Light refreshments provided by JMC Building Inspection Services

I am very excited, and somewhat in awe that we will welcome Arlene Blum to speak at the B.A.R. GREEN Council this week. She was recently part of the Master Speaker series at GreenBuild, the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. She will speak about The importance of removing toxic chemicals from our buildings, especially in the forms of insulation and furniture cushioning. The impact of these chemicals is long-term, and did you know that we in California are particularly impacted?

Arlene speaks both with tremendous passion and authority, having a PhD in Bio-Physical Chemistry. She will share anecdotes of her involvement with the Green community in Washington DC, and her invitation to be part of the Greening of the Obama Administration. Arlene will also talk about her experiences of working with legislators to ban toxins from crucial products. She has the wonderful ability to crystallize the most technical material to a level that makes us all understand why it is important in our own lives. Arlene is founder and Executive Director of the Green Science Policy Institute here in the East Bay. She is famous as a mountaineer, and is the recipient of numerous awards, among them being selected as one of the National Women’s History Project’s 100 “Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet.” Members of the public are very welcome to join us for this valuable presentation. Admission is free for BAR members and affiliates. $10 charge for guests, payable at the door. Berkeley Association of REALTORS is located at the corner of MLK and Cedar Streets, Berkeley, CA.

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

A milestone: 33-1/3!

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:13:33 -0500

When I was 33 years, three months and the appropriate number of days old, I held a party for myself with invitations done on round paper disks, with the details included like songs on a record. You know, those big black vinyl things. . .OK, I'm really showing my age! Well today, before submitting this post, I noted that I had earned 33,332 points with Active Rain! So here's to reaching a third of 100K in this great on-line real estate community. And appropriately enough, just this morning I had an email from a prospective buyer who had found me here on Active Rain, asking about the market in Rockridge, in Oakland, CA, one of the neighborhoods I actively track. Thank you, Active Rain!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Change is Hard! Change is Good!

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:00:14 -0500

I began last week and the month of November in a manner I won't soon forget: yes, watching the Giants win the World Series! But I was actually referring to something of importance to a somewhat smaller audience: I switched brokerages and have joined the new Berkeley Office of McGuire Real Estate. McGuire has been a luxury real estate firm in San Francisco, California, since 1919, and has just established a presence in the East Bay within the past year. It was flattering to be approached by a manager I like a great deal, but I was also impressed by the support systems they provide their agents. I started off with a new listing as well, so I got to put their systems, including the use of a professional photographer for all listings, to the test right away. So far, I definitely believe I made the right choice!

The Berkeley Office occupies the space on College Avenue near Ashby between Trattoria Siciliana and Gordo's Taqueria where ERI used to be. It's been remodeled and had a change of colors to a peaceful mossy green palette. There's a small garden in the back and on warm days we can entertain clients outside by reaching across the bar in back to order. I have a desk upstairs under a skylight with a view of the garden, and I look forward to settling in. If you're in the Elmwood neighborhood of Berkeley, drop in and say hello!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Real Estate Market Update for the Rockridge Neighborhood of Oakland, CA

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 02:27:03 -0400

Median Home Price, Single Family Homes for sale in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, CA Real Estate Market Update October 15, 2010

As I took our snapshot of the Rockridge neighborhood real estate market this month I saw a slight decrease in median price of the active listings, but a substantial decrease in the sold prices from August to September of this year. Overbidding continues on the most desirable homes, but multiples may be two or three offers, and that may not bring the offer price even to the list price.

Homes for sale in Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland CA as of October 15, 2010

37 single family detached homes are for sale in Rockridge, in Oakland CA or homes for sale in 94618 are on the market
- Median list price in Rockridge is currently $848,000 for detached homes for sale, down from $869,000 last month.
- Prices range from $390,000 to $2,539,000 for detached homes for sale in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland CA
- Average days on market for detached homes for sale in Rockridge is 41 day
- Distressed properties (Potential Short Sales and REOs) represent only 4 of the single family homes currently for sale in Rockridge, in Oakland CA:
  - 1 property is a Potential Short Sale
  - 3 properties are REOs (Real Estate Owned by banks)
22 attached (condos, townhomes, duets) homes for sale in Rockridge in Oakland CA
- Median home price in Rockridge is currently $390,000 for attached homes for sale
- Prices range from $219,900 to $795,000 for attached homes for sale in Rockridge
- Average days on market for condos & townhomes for sale in Rockridge is 76 days
- Six attached properties are currently distressed properties, 4 potential Short Sales and 2 REO's

Homes that sold in September 2010 in Rockridge, in Oakland CA

8 single family detached homes for sale in Rockridge, in Oakland CA sold in September 2010, compared with 13 homes sold in August 2010 (and 11 homes in September 2009).
- Median home price in Rockridge (94618) was $872,000 for detached homes that sold, compared to $980,000 median sold price in August. In both months the median sold prices were in excess of the median list price.
- Prices ranged from $266,500 to $1,999,500 for detached homes that sold.
- Average days on market was 24 days for the detached homes that sold in September 2010

4 attached (condos, townhomes, duets) homes for sale in the Rockrige neighborhood of Oakland CA sold in September 2010, compared with 6 attached homes sold in August 2010.
- Median home price in Rockridge was $397,600 for attached homes that sold in September, compared to $517,500 median sold price in August.
- Prices ranged from $242,000 to $737,000 for attached homes that sold.
- Average days on market was 25 days for the attached homes that sold in September 2010.

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

The Rockridge Neighborhood invites you to get "Out and About" on Sunday 9/26!

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 02:24:22 -0400

Rockridge continues to be the hippest, hottest neighborhood in Oakland, CA with the best in small shops, destination restaurants and public transit. The neighborhood wants to encourage you to get Out and About tomorrow with a festival called exactly that! College Avenue will be closed off from Alcatraz to Lawton Avenue, with cross traffic at Claremont, Miles and Keith, so you can party in the street and enjoy a European-style pedestrian thoroughfare.

There will be lots of food vendors, community organizations as well as the normal terrific shops showing you their goods. The only problem will be parking, so take BART! Then walk just two block from the Rockridge BART station up to my wonderful Arts & Crafts listing at 5591 Lawton Avenue from 1:30 - 4 pm, right near the New Style Stage of the festival! Hours of the festival are Noon – 6 pm. Enjoy this great community event!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Rolling out a Bungalow with the Best Arts & Crafts details in Rockridge, in Oakland, CA

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:07:16 -0400

It has been my pleasure over the past few weeks to prepare an especially wonderful bungalow for sale.

My clients purchased 5591 Lawton Avenue, Oakland as their first home eight years ago. They were then newly-married and looking to establish a first home with a distinctive Arts & Crafts look. They studied books on the movement, and enlisted the finest artisans in the area and beyond to enhance the period details of their home: Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper designs by Paul Duschscherer, window coverings by Dianne Ayres, leaded glass windows by Ted Ellison and a hand-hammered copper sconce by Michael Adams. For a touch of whimsy one of the bedrooms features a hand-painted mural of bears at play!

With their children growing older the bungalow feels too cramped, and we found a larger home just a couple blocks away. They were hesitant to leave the neighborhood as they've found it to be a really special and sharing community. This is a block that regularly has get-togethers, and where neighbors know one another.

This three bedroom, two bathroom bungalow has an updated kitchen, newly updated bath and many careful upgrades. The garage was thoughtfully converted, with permits, to an studio/office with skylights and ceiling fan, and custom hardwood doors. It is nestled in the professionally landscaped garden with evening lighting. The patio, garden swing and deck provide ideal spaces for entertaining.

While the block is tree-lined and quiet, it is less than two blocks to the heart of the Rockridge urban buzz! Destination shops and restaurants abound, and it is within close proximity to the Rockridge BART station.

This extraordinary bungalow debuts next Thursday for Brokers from 11 am - 2pm, and will then be open the two following Sundays, Sept. 19th and the 26th from 1:30 - 4 pm. To view photos and community information visit LawtonBungalow.com, or send me a message!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Creative Re-Use: Tennis, Anyone?

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:40:39 -0400

Creative Re-Use: Tennis, Anyone?

I get a monthly newsletter from my favorite home warranty company, Old Republic Home Protection, and may favorite rep., Alex Quinzon. Part of this month's newsletter was right up my alley as it gave tips for reusing a common item that either gets thrown out, or stuck in a cupboard because it seems wrong to just throw it out. This month's post was about reusing tennis balls. Here were some of the tips:

Cut an X in a tennis ball and slip it over the end of an old broom handle. Rub the ball over scuff marks on your wood or hard surface floors, and voila...they're gone...with no bending, stooping or scrubbing!

Got a light bulb that broke off in the socket? Carefully clear away any remaining shards of glass, then gently push a tennis ball against the light socket and twist to remove the bulb's embedded stem.
Cut an X in a tennis ball and slip it over the head of a hammer. Now you're less likely to ding up fragile or expensive wood.
Cut a tennis ball in half and use one of the sides to open those stubborn jars.
In the garage, hang a tennis ball on a string from the ceiling so that the ball touches the top left corner of your car's windshield (or a bonnet ornament, if you have one). Now you have a marker and know exactly how far to pull the car in every time!
Cut an X in a tennis ball and slip it over the end of an old broom handle. Rub the ball over scuff marks on your wood or hard surface floors, and voila...they're gone...with no bending, stooping or scrubbing!
And my personal favorite because it makes creative use of two old items: put two tennis balls in the foot of an old sock. Tie the remaining sock in a knot, and you have a great physical therapy aid. I've found relief for sore muscles by rolling the sore area over those tennis balls!

These tips are, of course, for families that have no dogs. Everyone knows that tennis balls are every canine's favorite toy, especially nice new fluffy ones!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Median Home Price, Single Family Homes for sale in Berkeley CA July 2010 and the Berkeley CA Real Estate Market Update August 12, 2010

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:31:25 -0400

Median Home Price, Single Family Homes for sale in Berkeley CA July 2010 and the Berkeley CA Real Estate Market Update August 12, 2010

As I took our snapshot of the Berkeley real estate market this month I saw some decrease in median price of the active listings, but a substantial decrease in the sold prices from June to July of this year. Overbidding continues on the most desirable homes, taking the median sold price 5.5% over the median list price for single family homes. Distressed properties now make up a surprisingly high percentage of the active single family homes at 23%.

Homes for sale in Berkeley CA as of August 12, 2010*

104 single family detached homes for sale in Berkeley CA or homes for sale in 94701 - 94710 are on the market
- Median list price in Berkeley is currently $625,000 for detached homes for sale, down from $649,000 last month.
- Prices range from $250,000 to $6,495,000 (the Spring Mansion) for detached homes for sale in Berkeley CA
- Average days on market for detached homes for sale in Berkeley CA is 45 days

• Distressed properties (Potential Short Sales and REOs) represent 23% of the single family homes currently for sale in Berkeley CA:

•o 11 properties are Potential Short Sales

•o 13 properties are REOs (Real Estate Owned by banks)

52 attached (condos, townhomes, duets) homes for sale in Berkeley CA
- Median home price in Berkeley is currently $427,000 for attached homes for sale
- Prices range from $189,000 to $764,000 for attached homes for sale in Berkeley CA
- Average days on market for detached homes for sale in Berkeley CA is 80 days
- Only two attached properties are currently distressed properties, 1 potential Short Sale and 1 REO.

Homes that sold in July 2010 in Berkeley CA

49 single family detached homes for sale in Berkeley CA sold in July 2010, compared with 60 homes sold in June 2010.
- Median home price in Berkeley was $685,000 for detached homes that sold, compared to $780,000 median sold price in June. In both months the median sold prices were in excess of the median list price by more than 5%.
- Prices ranged from $266,500 to $1,999,500 for detached homes that sold
- Average days on market was 24 days for the detached homes that sold in July 2010

6 attached (condos, townhomes, duets) homes for sale in Berkeley CA sold in July 2010, compared with 8 attached homes sold in June 2010.
- Median home price in Berkeley was $377,500 for attached homes that sold in July, compared to $384,000 median sold price in June. In both months the median sold prices were below the median list price by more about 2%.
- Prices ranged from $242,000 to $520,000 for attached homes that sold.
- Average days on market was 24 days for the attached homes that sold in July 2010.

Please feel free to contact me for any specific information about sales in the Berkeley, CA area!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Green Home Expo in Alameda July 17th -- and I'll be speaking!

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:49:00 -0400

Saturday the 17th, there's an Alameda Green Home Expo taking place at the Alameda Town Centre. The expo is free, and starts at 10 am, with talks on a number of great topics. I am honored to be included, and will be speaking on "Busting Green Home Myths." My talk is scheduled for 11:45 (or so).

The Green Home Expo will showcase the latest environmentally friendly products, services, and technology used in the homebuilding and home improvement industries. There's an impressive list of nearly 50 vendors, including contractors, landscape designers and architects, plus vendors who sell organic food and plants, children's toys and clothing and furniture. And it will host speakers who will talk about green landscaping, building and home restoration, and lowering energy costs.

For Berkeley residents the timing is ideal, as it coincides with the short window of opportunity to apply for Money for Energy Efficiency (ME2) grants. Next Tuesday, July 20th, is the deadline to get your address included in a lottery for up to $8500 in grants from the City and PG&E. For more information, visit my blog: GreenBungalows.info

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

City of Berkeley Offers Money for Energy Efficiency

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:12:33 -0400

Finally there may be Money for Energy Efficiency (ME2) in Berkeley!

Federal stimulus funding will be available for whole-house energy retrofit programs, beginning July 6th. The City of Berkeley will be coordinating cash incentives to increase the energy efficiency of your home, apartment building or business. Funding is provided by the US Dept. of Energy and is available for all types of buildings and income levels! Energy retrofits help you save money, improve building comfort, safety and durability as well as reduce your carbon footprint!

Rebates:
·         Up to $8,500 for single-family & duplex homes (including rebates through PG&E)
·         Up to $30,000 for commercial & multifamily properties

The City is holding  public workshop so homeowners can learn how you can qualify for this funding!

South Berkeley Senior Center
Thursday June 17th 6-8pm
2939 Ellis Street, Berkeley CA 94703

Funding exists for grants for only 120 single family home and duplexes, so a lottery will be held to determine who will be given the early applications. It will be fascinating to see if, like the earlier solar program, all those spaces disappear in a heartbeat!

The City of Berkeley is still updating their information about the energy efficiency grants. Check out the current information, and be ready to pounce on the 6th of July if you are serious about making energy improvements to your home. It's a shame that those of us who care deeply about making these improvements in our older, drafty but charming Berkeley homes must be in such tight competition for such limited resources. I'll be seeing you in the queue on the 6th!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Snapshot of the Realestate Market in the Rockridge Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sun, 16 May 2010 14:28:12 -0400

Rockridge has been one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the East Bay of the San Francisco, CA area for many years. A decade ago I remember speaking with clients about how expensive it was relative to other parts of Oakland especially. "Those prices can't keep going up," said I with confidence. I have lived to eat those words! For all the reasons I discussed in my earlier post about Rockridge, this is a neighborhood which continues to increase in demand as more people become more conscious about desirability of an urban lifestyle. Living in proximity to College Avenue in this neighborhood of Oakland, CA allows people to abandon their cars most days, as public transit is accessible, and shops, restaurants and all manner of amenities are close at hand. You can read more about the Rockridge neighborhood in my earlier post.

The result is a real estate market that has remained remarkably steady for the past two years, after seeing some decline in values from the high of 2007. The graph of listing and sold prices in the Rockridge zipcode of Oakland is a compelling picture:

Days on the market tends to be right around one month for the sold properties, though DOM dipped to 16 during the month of April. April was also the first month where the number of sold units reach double digits this year, reaching 15 sales, up from seven in March and only four in February. With such small samples sizes, putting too much faith in the statistics is risky. What is clear, however, is that this is a neighorhood where demand is high, and buyers are willing to pay for the priviledge of being close to amenities. In roughly half of the months over the past two years, median sales price exceeded median list price, and in some cases by a substantial margin.

Buyers are especially willing to pay high prices for tastefully upgraded kitchens and baths in their Rockridge bungalows (read more about that in my previous post). Last year posted several cases of bungalows selling for more than $650/sq. ft. and in one case more than $700 sq. ft. The norm is more in the $450-550/sq. ft. for the area.

As more and more people try to reduce their carbon footprints, homes near to amenities, and especially close to public transportation, should only increase in demand. And it doesn't hurt if those amenities are especially fashionable shops, highly rated restaurants, and even the chicest places for groceries and sundries. Rockridge has all that and more!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Snapshot of the Rockridge Neighborhood in Oakland, CA

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sat, 15 May 2010 14:26:16 -0400

It was a true pleasure to hand over the keys yesterday to my lovely clients who just purchased their first home in Rockridge, in of the most coveted neighborhoods in Oakland, CA. Rockridge has a dual identity: what REALTORS call Rockridge extends roughly from Broadway down past College Avenue to 51st St to the South and nearly to Telegraph Avenue to the West and to Woolsey to the North. "Upper Rockridge" exists above that to the East, and includes both lovely big vintage homes, and new construction that resulted from the fire of 1991. That area has a very different look and feel, composed primarily of four bedroom+ homes, many with views. While they share a zip code and an MLS code, these two faces of Rockridge tend not to share buyer populations. Upper Rockridge is a haven for quiet streets, low crime and a consistently affluent feel. Rockridge proper, those streets that surround College Avenue, attract buyers for just the opposite aspects.

Rockridge is one of Oakland, CA's most popular neighborhoods, both for home buyers and for visitors. The many eclectic shops, first-rate restaurants, bookstores and cafes make it a destination, and on weekends College Avenue is buzzing with activity. The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station is right across the street from two culinary destinations. Oliveto's has won numerous awards for its locally-sourced California cuisine with a Mediterranean accent. Below the restaurant is a very popular cafe, surrounded by the Market Hall, an epicurean garden of delights. There you can find the full range from a morning pastry and latte, to all of the finest ingredients for the feast you will prepare: fresh pasta, organic produce, cheeses from around the world, locally-sourced fish or meat. . .the choices are dizzying as are some of the prices. Excellent quality is the standard, and the market is a feast for all the senses. A wonderful flower market adds to the ambience with a tapestry of colors. For those who are more than a BART ride away, you still can enjoy some of the pleasures of the Market Hall through the mail. Across the street is a less expensive but still high-quality and very popular choice, Cactus Tacqueria. This is a family-friendly home of burritos, tacos and home-made agua frescas. Even the most sought-after groceries and pharmaceuticals are nearby, at Trader Joe's and Pharmaca.

All of these urban amenities create the kind of buzz, or high latte factor or walkscore that clients like my latest couple want, and are willing to pay for. My buyers are a classic example of that profile: young professionals who are used to life in a major metropolitan area and want to be able to walk to a cafe, grab a latte and take public transit to work. In the evening or on weekends they want to leave their cars behind and walk to a restaurant, or just soak up the experience. Rockridge also boasts an especially nice, recently constructed library that serves as a community hub.

Long before College Avenue in Oakland was brimming with the latest shops and restaurants, it was a neighborhood known for the consistency of Arts & Crafts architecture. The styles of this movement are my passion, and that passion is shared by many buyers who want to make a bungalow their home. These homes are characterized by classic floor plans including a living room with a fireplace bracketed by bookcases below, and windows, often with leaded or colored glass above. Formal dining rooms are essential and many include a built-in buffet, often with leaded or beveled glass, box beams in the ceilings and wainscoting on the walls. The most desirable of examples will have unpainted wood and often the frieze area above the wainscoting will feature a stencilled pattern or a wallpaper frieze. The most common floor plan features a hallway off the dining room from which you access the two bedrooms with a bathroom in the middle. In the larger or remodeled versions there may be a stairwell to access more bedrooms upstairs. Many of the homes in Rockridge now have updated kitchens and baths that combine modern expectations with period aesthetics.

My clients were fortunate to purchase a wonderful brown shingled bungalow with an especially inviting broad porch that runs the width of the home. When I pulled up to their new home yesterday I noticed their neighbor sitting on his porch, and I suspect my clients will be spending many happy hours porch sitting, and watching the neighbors walk by!

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

Real Estate Market Snapshot of Berkeley, CA for April, 2010

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Thu, 13 May 2010 02:03:16 -0400

Inventory picked up, as did the sense of optimism in the Berkeley, CA real estate market last month. Many first time buyers were out, trying to get into contract before the April 30^th deadline to capitalize on both the Federal and State home buyer credits.

Total supply of inventory in Berkeley for single family homes remained unchanged at 2 months.

Days on the market grew from an average of 22 in March to 31 in April.

Median sales price for Berkeley, CA was down 7% from two years ago. But at $722,500 that was a 20% increase from the April 2009 median, and a $45.5K increase over the median for March 2010, or 6.7% for the month.

The number of properties sold for the month stood at 36, up from 31 in March, 23 in February and 20 in January of this year. That was down from April of last year, but March and April of this year combined saw sales just slightly below the levels of last year.

Buyers in North Berkeley, the Berkeley Hills, Elmwood and Claremont neighborhoods needed to be prepared for multiple offers on most well-priced, well-presented properties. For the last two months the median sold price has exceeded the median list price in Berkeley, by three or four percentage points.

The feeling in the Berkeley, CA market is that we have an increasingly active market. With the prospect of low interest rates continuing into the year longer than we originally expected, this should be a strong year for sales in Berkeley.

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552

The origins of Mothers' Day: a Mothers' Day for Peace

Arlene Baxter, CRS, GREEN (McGuire Real Estate) — Sun, 09 May 2010 22:20:02 -0400

It's good for us to remember that, rather than a conspiracy by Hallmark Cards as some think, Mothers' Day was originally a peace movement by women. A Mothers' Day Proclamation was written in 1870 by Julia Ward Howe, author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. She proposed an annual Mothers' Day for Peace, and her proclamation rings with strong calls for action:

Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.

Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach
them of charity, mercy and patience.

Mothers living during the aftermath of the Civil War would be astonished to see the commercialism that has replaced activism. The ubiquitous messages in commercials is that we need to buy "the perfect gift for Mom." What guilt applies should we not buy (and send with time to spare) the ideal card, send the dozen perfect roses? Honoring our mothers is an excellent activity. But just as everyday should be Earth Day in order to be effective, if the emotions come from the heart, honoring Mothers should be a universal, constant activity. Just as we all like to be honored on our birthday, or at least have an excuse to celebrate, celebrating moms at least one day a year is a swell idea. But let's be sure the heart is opened, before the wallet.

It's a shame more Americans don't know that for the first 30 years of its existence, Mothers' Day was celebrated on June 2nd as Mothers' Day for Peace. Historian Ruth Rosen comments on the role of women in 19th c. America:

Many middle-class women in the 19th century believed that they bore a special
responsibility as actual or potential mothers to care for the casualties of
society and to turn America into a more civilized nation. They played a
leading role in the abolitionist movement to end slavery. In the following
decades, they launched successful campaigns against lynching and consumer
fraud and battled for improved working conditions for women and protection for
children, public health services and social welfare assistance to the poor.
To the activists, the connection between motherhood and the fight for social
and economic justice seemed self-evident.

It wasn't until 1913 that Congress declared the second Sunday of May to be Mothers' Day. By then women were the primary consumers for their families, and with the change of date came a change of focus from activism to consumerism. But it's striking to read the words of Julia Ward Howe from 1870:

Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts,
whether our baptism be that of water or of fears!

Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by
irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking
with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be
taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach
them of charity, mercy and patience.

We women of one country will be too tender of those of another
country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs. From
the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says "Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance
of justice."

Blood does not wipe our dishonor nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons
of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a
great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women,
to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the
means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each
bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
but of God.

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a
general congress of women without limit of nationality may be
appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at
the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the
alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement
of international questions, the great and general interests of
peace.

Julia Ward Howe
Boston
1870

Happy Mothers' Day to all who raise, nurture and care for all living creatures.

Arlene Baxter

McGuire Real Estate

Berkeley Office, 2991 College Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799 GreenBungalows.info DRE#01209552