berkeley: Help Me Help You--Part Two - 04/22/08 05:33 PM
Last time, I blogged about what sellers can do to "help me, help you" --and now it is the buyer's turn. I'm going to be doing a lot of work researching properties, putting together tours for us, creating offers, negotiations, scheduling inspections, and more. And, there is a lot that buyers … (3 comments)
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berkeley: Help Me Help You--Part One - 04/18/08 11:20 AM
There is that great line in the movie Jerry Maguire where sports agent Jerry pleads with his only client Rod Tidwell to do things that will help him be a better agent on Rod's behalf. He tells him "Help me help you!" Well, as a real estate agent, I often have … (3 comments)
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berkeley: Choosing a Mortgage Broker - 04/16/08 03:13 PM
When you are getting ready to buy a home, one of the toughest decisions is choosing a mortgage broker to work with. This is especially true in today's rocky mortgage market where you don't know who to trust. These are confusing times, so you need to make sure that you are … (5 comments)
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berkeley: The Top East Bay Restaurants - 04/08/08 04:15 PM
The San Francisco Chronicle just came out with its annual list of the Top 100 restaurants in the Bay Area. Of course, most are in The City itself, but they included 14 East Bay restaurants. Of the 14, several are old favorites of mine and others are now on my list … (0 comments)
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berkeley: Lock Bumping--Home Security Concern or Urban Legend? - 04/08/08 11:55 AM
I've recently come across the phenomenon of "lock bumping" (also known as "key bumping") as a method used by thieves to break into locks. At our friendly, local locksmith, they even had handouts about lock bumping and what you can do about it. A quick internet search demonstrated, however, that it … (1 comments)
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berkeley: Moving Day Tips - 04/02/08 05:58 PM
Today is the big day--moving day--are you ready? Moving is one of the most stressful things a person can endure. But, some planning ahead can help make things go smoother.Before the big day, make sure you have taken care of changing your utilities, changing your bank accounts, and submitting an address … (1 comments)
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berkeley: Spring Cleaning Tips - 04/01/08 03:16 PM
Spring has sprung, so let's get that house of yours looking beautiful for that first gathering or party of the season! I'm not talking about vacuuming and doing the dishes. I'm talking about those little things you always think you should do someday.
First of all, get yourself organized and de-clutter … (0 comments)
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berkeley: My Favorite Real Estate Statistics - 03/28/08 03:40 PM
The media is full of information and reports and statistics and projections and forecasts about the real estate market. And, it can get a little confusing. Is it a crisis or a correction? A meltdown or a slowdown? Is it a good time to buy or a bad time to sell? … (6 comments)
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berkeley: Save Money by Going Green - 03/21/08 01:12 PM
I like to check in from time to time with ways to go green, and this month I will be mailing to my clients a list of helpful tips on ways to save money by going green. Yet another reason that going green is great is because it appeals to both … (3 comments)
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berkeley: Home Design Deals in the East Bay - 03/19/08 04:27 PM
Well, I'm back from a little break. This time we hit the Rhine River from Amsterdam to Frankfurt with stops in Dusseldorf, Cologne and more. Now, back to the real estate market...and real estate blogging!I love Ikea as much as the next person, but sometimes you need something a little different. … (0 comments)
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berkeley: Countrywide Foreclosures in Oakland - 02/27/08 12:45 PM
As I've written about before, a lot of people still ask me about buying foreclosures. Due to the media's coverage of real estate market and the sub-prime fallout, there is a belief that there are tons of foreclosure deals out there just waiting to be snapped up. But think again. The … (1 comments)
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berkeley: The Inspection Contingency Period - 02/26/08 05:06 PM
So, you've made an offer on a home and it has been accepted. Congratulations! Within the escrow period, there is the inspection contingency period for you to look into all of the nooks and crannies of the house to make sure it is the perfect home for you. And, if you … (1 comments)
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berkeley: The ABCs of PMI - 02/20/08 01:39 PM
With all of the seismic changes happening in the mortgage markets, one aspect to keep in mind is PMI, aka Private Mortgage Insurance. PMI is when you buy insurance to cover your lender (not you) because you are taking out a loan deemed to be riskier than most.PMI is usually needed … (3 comments)
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berkeley: Below Market Rate Condomimiums - 02/13/08 01:43 PM
One terrific option for first time homebuyers in any market is the purchase of a "below market rate" condominium. These are generally city-run programs to provide affordable entry to the real estate market for low and moderate income earners, especially in areas where housing prices can be high.Every program is different, … (0 comments)
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berkeley: Why I Haven't Blogged in Two Weeks... - 02/12/08 03:28 PM
Why haven't I blogged in two weeks? Because I'm so busy with my clients! They say the market is busting, but I am not seeing too much evidence of that in our market. This just goes to show you that the real estate market is truly a neighborhood-by-neighborhood market.Here in Berkeley, … (4 comments)
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berkeley: The Highly Touted Jack London Square Revival - 01/31/08 04:47 PM
Living in the East Bay for the last 15+ years, it seems like the powers that be are always talking about a revival of Jack London Square. And, it looks like it might actually be on the verge of happening!First, there is the highly anticipated California Harvest Hall, which is planned … (1 comments)
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berkeley: Keep Renting? Or Buy? How About a Lease Option! - 01/28/08 05:27 PM
As most people are now realizing, this is a terrific buyer's market--possibly the best buyer's market in over a decade. With home prices staying steady and even going down in parts of the Bay Area, now is a great time for first time homebuyers to to make a reasonable entry into … (1 comments)
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berkeley: Getting Ready for Tax Season--Part 2 - 01/24/08 01:24 PM
Yesterday, I blogged about getting ready for tax season by helping you decide whether to hire a CPA or do it yourself. Today, I'll provide some tips on getting yourself organized to make your work go smoothly. Of course, everyone's tax situation is different, but these are some basics to … (0 comments)
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berkeley: Getting Ready for Tax Season--Part 1 - 01/23/08 04:41 PM
Each month, I send my regular clients a selection of tips and advice on real estate, home ownership, finances and other life issues. This month, we focus on getting ready for tax season. Today in the blog, I will look at whether you should hire a CPA or do your … (2 comments)
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berkeley: The Candidates on The Housing Market - 01/16/08 06:21 PM
Last night, I was watching the Democratic Presidential Debate, and they discussed the topic of the subprime mortgage meltdown and the housing market. If my memory is correct, this was the first time I had seen the topic discussed in depth at any of the presidential primary debates. So, it made … (4 comments)
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