Northern California Real Estate

With Thanksgiving safely "in the can," it's time to prepare for my favorite secular holiday of the year - Festivus.  Though it lacks the historical background of that other, and grudgingly more popular, December holiday (founded year 0), Festivus (founded 1966) has a growing following among those...

Buyers, sellers, investors, welcome back to another installment of Real Estate Jargon, aka, simple explanations of real estate terms not normally found in nature. Have you ever needed to be out of your present home before you close escrow on a new one?  If so, you may have two options:   1.  Mov...

On a recent warm California afternoon, I took an out-of-town buyer and her friend on a tour of condos for sale.  As luck would have it, all were confirmed vacant and I plotted a route that would get us through 5 or 6 properties before afternoon commute traffic would clog the streets. At the first...

An early morning breakfast at Rick's Cafe accomplished, I cross State Street in the soft autumn rain and glance west.  A gift of light that transforms a new day to living art. Los Altos, California November 23, 2010   "nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands" E.E. Cummings

Real estate agents spend endless hours and lots of $$$ to make a property look good as it goes on the market.  Exterior upgrades, landscaping, interior de-cluttering, window coverings, fresh paint, and even staging.  Glossy color flyers, booklets and print advertising.  Video tours, photo galleri...

Buyers, sellers, investors - welcome back to another installment of Real Estate Jargon, aka, simple explanations of real estate terms not normally found in nature. Ever walk up to the front door of a property and see a blue box hanging from the doorknob, a nearby pipe, or other part of the buildi...

The mountain of paperwork involved in buying or selling real estate can be intimidating.  From the presentations we review to pick a broker to the final transfer deeds, just a list of the documents that will be read and signed could fill a few pages. Is it really necessary to read everything?  Ye...