Leona Greenlow-Turner's Blog

Bay Area Real Estate Today: New Ross in FootHill Square Shopping Center

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:57:08 -0700

A few more stores will be added to FootHill Square Shopping Center. On the horizon are several new stores: Ross Dress4Less, Foods Co (the Ralph’s/Kroger grocery chain), Anna’s Linens and Subway Restaurant. Initially, I knew about Ross and Subway. Foods Co is a wonderful addition to the FootHill Square redevelopment model. There is ample parking and the mall is easily accessible from I-580 freeway.

To buy homes surrounding FootHill Square, click here.

Driving past Foothill Square has been heart breaking FootHill Square has been a commercial ghost town for a number of years. Albertson’s closed and that eliminated a large grocery chain for many residents in the hills and the San Leandro border. After losing Albertson’s, Walgreens closed its doors. Pizza Hut and Churches Chicken followed suit and closed their retail locations.

Many of the current stores are scattered in the shopping mall have moved to one side to start the construction of Ross Dress For Less. Ross Dress For Less is speculated for the end of summer 2012.

Home values should increase with the addition of new stores attracting more revenue and positive interest in the community. I’m also looking forward to increased job growth in Oakland. Let’s patronize these new stores in FootHill Square and bring revenue back to Oakland. Foothill Square is located at 10700 Foothill Oakland, CA 94605.

Talk to you soon. Leona Greenlow-Turner (510) 712-6537 Leona@LeonaTurner.com

See listings in your area at: www.ISellSanLeandroHomes.com

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Bay Area Real Estate Today: East Oakland Welcomes CVS Pharmacy

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:20:33 -0700

East Oakland welcomes a new CVS Pharmacy at the Eastmont Mall. This is a welcome change to this area. After speaking with the manager, Sunny, he said the scheduled grand opening is Sunday, April 5, 2012. I spoke with local area resident and she’s extremely excited about the new pharmacy. For many living in East Oakland, including myself, it’s difficult to find commercial, big box type stores in close proximity. The nearest CVS is on East 14^th St in San Leandro.

This CVS is large with ample parking and a drive-thru pharmacy.

Currently, Eastmont Mall has two clothing stores, a gas station, Subway, Taco Bell, Burger King, Sheik (shoe store) , Bank of America, East Oakland Branch Public Library, Gazzali’s Market, DD’s, McDonald’s, Auto Parts and a few other small stores and county offices.

Let’s patronize East Oakland’s CVS Pharmacy at 7200 Bancroft Ave. (510) 569-2795

Store Hours: Sun-Sat 8 am - 8 pm

Pharmacy Hours: Mon-Fri 8 am - 6 pm; Sat 9 am - 6 pm; Sun 10 am - 6 pm

Talk to you soon. Leona Greenlow-Turner (510) 712-6537 Leona@LeonaTurner.com

See listings in your area at: www.ISellSanLeandroHomes.com

Like Bay Area Real Estate Today on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/BayAreaRealEstateToday

Bay Area Real Estate Today – New Listing: Oakland Apartment Complex

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:28:34 -0700

Coming Soon:

30-Unit Apartment Building
$42,000 Monthly Income

Please email me, Leona@LeonaTurner.com, for details and availability and pricing.

Talk to you soon. Leona Greenlow-Turner (510) 712-6537 Leona@LeonaTurner.com

See listings in your area at: www.ISellSanLeandroHomes.com

Bay Area Real Estate Today: New Listings Needed Right Away

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:30:47 -0700

What is going on in the current market? Well, new listing are needed right now.

I’ve noticed more and more how qualified buyers are looking for homes to buy and there are NO HOMES OUT THERE. Are sellers holding back on selling waiting for a better market price? New listings are needed as soon as possible. In a lot of areas its a seller's market. Now, is a good time to sell because in many communities buyers are bidding well over market. I guess you didn’t read what I wrote: “bidding over market.”

Contact me for a free market analysis.

A recent report in the Oakland Tribune, on the front page, made mention about how many homes are being over bid be as many as 20+ offers. Summer is coming and more buyers are ready to make a move to a new home. The school year is coming to a close and families are on the hunt for homes. Interest rates are on their way up again and this is the best time to place your home in a hot market. Get your home ready for the summer buying season.

Talk to you soon. Leona Greenlow-Turner (510) 712-6537 Leona@LeonaTurner.com

See listings in your area at: www.ISellSanLeandroHomes.com

Like me on FaceBook www.FaceBook.com/BayAreaRealEstateToday

Bay Area Real Estate Today: Top Elementary Schools in Oakland

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:14:24 -0700

The deadline has passed to enroll your child in some of top elementary schools in Oakland. This blog will discuss top public elementary schools; no charters schools were included in this list. Charter schools will be discussed in a future blog.

Here are the current rankings and API scores of Top Elementary Schools in Oakland:

School Name	Location	API Score	Rank
Montclair	1757 Mountain Blvd. Oakland, CA 94611	967	10
Hillcrest	30 Marguerite Dr. Oakland, CA 94618	964	10
Thornhill	5880 Thornhill Dr. Oakland, CA 94611	956	10
Lincoln	225 11th St. Oakland, CA 94607	953	10
Anthony Chabot	6686 Chabot Rd. Oakland, CA 94618	941	10
Crocker Highlands	525 Midcrest Rd. Oakland, CA 94610	922	10
Redwood Heights	4401 39th Ave. Oakland, CA 94619	913	9
Cleveland	745 Cleveland St. Oakland, CA 94606	911	9
Peralta	460 63rd St. Oakland, CA 94609	910	10
Joaquin Miller	5525 Ascot Dr. Oakland, CA 94611	897	9

Academic Performance Index (API) Scores are range from 0 to 1000 points. Top points - 1000

Sellers, remember if your home is near one of these top elementary schools in Oakland, you’re in a great position to put your home on the market now. Families are looking during the summer months and may be willing to pay over asking for these desired areas. Contact me for a free market analysis of your home, (510) 712-6537.

If your school is not on this list and you love the school FIGHT FOR YOUR SCHOOL. Join the PTA and help make your school the top elementary school in Oakland. Get involved with everything going on at the school. Don’t be a wallflower waiting for others to take action. Ghandi said “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Looking to buy near these top elementary schools in Oakland? Contact me.

Note: To parents of new kindergartners, now is a good time to make sure your child knows the basics:

Say the alphabet
Count to 20
Identify their colors
Spell their name
Sit quietly for increasing periods of time

Read to your babies every single day.

Talk to you soon. Leona Greenlow-Turner (510) 712-6537 Leona@LeonaTurner.com

See listings in your area at: www.ISellSanLeandroHomes.com

Bay Area Real Estate Today: Rainstorms and Your Home

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:02:03 -0700

The rain is finally making an appearance in the Bay Area. March and April are slated to be the rainiest months of the year. I’m glad for the rain. I also want you to understand how the rain can make you aware of problems with a leaky roof and a cracked foundation. Many homes in the Bay Area are over 100 years old. As I examine properties on a daily basis, many homes are not maintained to keep up with the forces of nature.

I was in Berkeley, CA this week and the homes on Grizzly Peak were one medium-sized earthquake away from total collapse. For those of you that don’t know about the Grizzly Peak/Cragmont section of Berkeley, the streets are primarily on a hillside with breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay. I’ve had hillside listings where there were definite cracks in the foundation and driveway. Cracks in your driveway are a clear sign of foundation issues.

Rainstorms present a good opportunity to check your homes for leaks. Rain is a big factor in homes sliding off hillsides ,if they are not maintained properly. The maintenance of your home affects your neighbors as well. With significant foundation problems, your home can slide. It may slide into the home next door or into the street. Can you imagine a home in the middle of your street?

The rainy season, believe it or not, is a great time for home-buyers to check out property. Cracks and leaks are clear during and right after heavy rains. Make sure when you are listing or buying a home to watch out for leaks and foundation problems. Money spent on repairs now can save a lot of pain later.

Contact me for a free market analysis of your home.

Talk to you soon. Leona Greenlow-Turner (510) 712-6537 Leona@LeonaTurner.com

See listings in your area at: www.ISellSanLeandroHomes.com

Anyone using the Palm Treo 680 and BPO

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:21:01 -0700

I have heard many positive comments on other forums regarding how great blackberry is for receiving BPO orders? Anyone using Treo? Or specifically the Treo 680 for those broadcast BPO orders?

Getting BPO Assignments

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:19:55 -0700

I have registered will at least 50 BPO mills, asset managers, and others for BPO assignments. I have received 6 so far and completed them. Any suggestions? I missed a few so far because when I see the email blast and log in the order is already gone. {See post on Treo 680}. I live in the SF Bay Area.

San Francisco Bay Area Agent wants REFERRALS!

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:00:04 -0700

Living and working in the wonderful San Francisco Bay Area. I would love referrals for homeowners or home sellers. And yes I do answer my phone. I am working on BPOs to pass the time between deals. I am also a real estate instructor (Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, Mortgage Loan Brokering) and I never leave clients in the dark about the sales process.

Find me in the "rain."

Leona.

"Bringing Families Home"

More Listings and Chruch Commitments

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:52:00 -0700

What is a good strategy for increasing listings while having increasing church responsibilities?

I am very active in my church from Sunday school teacher, choir leader, intercessory prayer, and nursery worker. I haven't taken a lot of listings because of my minimal availablity for open houses on Sundays. I have two Sundays a month where I am not doing a church work outside of being a saint and I can have an open house in the afternoon. First service lets out at 11 am.

I want more listings but I also want to be fair to my seller. I have been working with buyers mostly. It is a better advantage to have listings because the Realtor is in control of any market.

Any advice?

One Million Dollars

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Sat, 26 May 2007 00:58:16 -0700

I am contacting a client with a million dollar listing. This will be my first listing over one million dollars. Does anyone have any advice for me? I am in the SF Bay Area and a listing at that price is not uncommon. But it still my first.

Lease Option

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Thu, 17 May 2007 18:22:00 -0700

I have a buyer that found my website and wants a lease option because he has poor credit. How am I able to help him and receive a commission?

Leona

Give Clients What They Ask For

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:49:33 -0700

I was out with clients over the weekend and they were found from this lead generation company. They mentioned to me they were starting their search for investment property. In their car there was a business card from another agent. That sparked my curiosity and I asked if they had worked with other agents. They said yes and were not statisfied because the agent gave them a lot of properties they had no interest in. What the buyers wanted was a single story, 4 bedrooms, and a specific city in a set price range. The agent gave them 5 -6 bedrooms, way over priced and two stories. We have MLS services that allow us to narrow down specifically what the client wants down to minute detail. I even searched for homes that were vacant - another request by the client.

I personally make it a practice to keep everything positive. But, how hard is it to give the client want they want?

Short Sales for Fun and Profit?

Leona Greenlow-Turner (Keller Williams Realty, Danville) — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:40:22 -0700

The definition of a short sale in real world terms would be: The seller has arrived in a situation where there is no equity in the property when they decide to sell. I am using a lot of license when I say "decide" to sell. If the seller has lost a job, recently divorced, or any of the many issues that could plague a seller, there is the realization that this house payment is something they cannot afford at the current time. With that said, the seller may owe more on the property than the property is worth. For example, Mr. and Mrs. Seller bought a home for $400,000 and five years later they owe $500,000 with interest. They must sell and the real estate market has changed course. Instead of homes increasing in value in their area, home values have fallen. Now their home is worth $430,000. The lender obviously wants $500,000 but if Mr. and Mrs. Seller can manage to find a buyer for their home then the lender will agree to take a loss on what is owed to them.

Lately the market has changed with the rise in interest rates, the foreclosure of homes that had adjustable rate mortgages and the reduction of jobs to off shore workers. These are all contributing factors to why Mr. and Mrs. Seller are in this position. Not inclusive of other personal circumstances they may be facing.

If the lender agrees to take less then the buyers and realtors can continue their livelihood of buying and selling; economics at its finest, right? Well, is this the best idea for the client if the realtor doesn't know all the facts?

Fact #1: What if the lender does not agree to the offer the buyers present for the short sale? For example, a buyer offers a lower price than the current short sale price.

Fact #2: When the lender pushes back on the buyer's offer price, where does that leave our client that may not be able afford the increased counteroffer?

Fact #3: Buyers have needs and timelines, too. The timing for a short sale escrow could be 45 days and beyond, what is the touch factor for the buyer? In other words, how many ways can you say "I am waiting for the lender to get back to me?"

It is not about commission anymore it about what is best for the buyer (client) we service.

Any thoughts?