real estate: Greenspan Weighs In
- 09/13/07 08:25 AM
Throughout the mortgage industry mess of the last few months, I've been wondering what former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has to say about all this. For years and years, through Clinton and Bush, his word had been gold. But I couldn't help thinking that some of the policies he put into place led to the current situation--of lenders giving to people who weren't qualified and consumers accepting loans they couldn't handle or couldn't understand. Well, Greenspan weighs in today as part of an interview that will be airing on 60 Minutes this Sunday night. The Associated Press reports.... "Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan … (4 comments)
real estate: More Berkeley Regulations
- 09/12/07 08:36 AM
Nearly every town has its own unique real estate regulations to abide by, and last week I wrote about Berkeley's RECO--Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance--guidelines that require properties to be energy efficient. Well, there is more where that came from! What other issues do you need to be aware of when participating in a real estate transaction in Berkeley?Seismic Upgrades and Transfer Tax: The City of Berkeley has imposed a transfer tax equal to 1.5% of the sale price. But, the good news is, up to one third of the tax (0.5% of the sale price) may be rebated to pay for … (0 comments)
real estate: Great New Google/NAR Widget--Desktop Listings
- 09/11/07 09:34 AM
I just discovered a useful new widget created by Google and the labs at Realtor.com. It is an application that allows you to search and view listings quickly and easily from your desktop. Click here to check it out.
I'm usually quite happy with Google products, and this one looks promising. After you download it, click on Edit Settings and key in the zip code you would like to monitor, and other basic parameters. You can view the listings as a quick list, a detailed list, or a slide show. A tool like this is perfect for me. Our brokerage doesn't just focus on … (7 comments)
real estate: Curb Appeal
- 09/11/07 08:21 AM
A few years ago, no one ever seemed to talk about "curb appeal," but now it comes up all the time with my buyers and sellers. Thanks HGTV! In case you don't know, curb appeal is how appealing your home looks on the street. Does its appearance invite you in with a warm embrace, or would it be a perfect place to film a horror movie?Here are a few basic tips to help maintain your home's curb appeal:*Every time you mow your lawn, change the cutting direction. If you are showing your home, mow it in one direction, then once again … (0 comments)
real estate: Berkeley's RECO Guidelines: Save the Earth...and Money
- 09/07/07 09:21 AM
Berkeley's RECO GuidelinesAs we all know, Berkeley is always ahead of the curve on many socio-political trends, especially on environmental issues. So, if you are selling a home in Berkeley, make sure you are in compliance with the City of Berkeley's RECO guidelines.RECO stands for Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance, and the guidelines apply to all homes and apartment buildings being sold or transferred. It is the seller's responsibility to get the property in compliance and provide proof to the city. For the full rundown on Berkeley's RECO requirements, please visit the RECO website.The compliance guidelines are fairly reasonable and will save … (3 comments)
real estate: The Coolest House on TV
- 09/06/07 08:04 AM
Friends and colleagues know that I love reality shows, and I'm currently very into watching Big Brother. Not only do I love the drama, but, as a real estate agent, I love this house! Hmmm, I wonder what it would list for? The house has an Alice in Wonderland theme that is very fun. There are small doors to fall through, oversized beds and furniture, and teacups and chessboards galore. It would be very cool if they opened the house up for fans to wander through once the season is over. Hmm, maybe I can hire CBS to do my staging … (4 comments)
real estate: New to Market--East Lake Lofts in Oakland
- 09/05/07 08:12 AM
If you are in the market for a very cool loft in Oakland, well today is your lucky day. Our brokerage is just now bringing to market the East Lake Lofts near Lake Merritt in Oakland. If you are familiar with the popular Mutual Creamery lofts, these are similar in style and are just around the corner.These impressive brick and timber lofts feature large open floorplans and double-height ceilings, all with that cool industrial live/work loft look and feel. There is a wide variety of floorplans. The "West Wing" is a one-story brick-exterior building with soaring, arched rooflines. The second warehouse-type … (0 comments)
real estate: If You Build It, They Will Come...For Permits!
- 08/30/07 06:39 AM
Have you been following the story of the Danville, CA man who built a baseball practice field for his son's little league team in his back yard? Sounds sweet doesn't it? But it is also a good reminder to get those permits when you are making any additions or alterations to your home--from upgrading a bathroom to building a miniature AT&T Park in the back forty.Here's the basic information. The Danville man spent about $300,000 to transform 18,000 square feet of his lot into a baseball field and practice location with batting cages and more. However, he did not get the proper … (3 comments)
real estate: Labor Day on the Bay
- 08/29/07 08:16 AM
So, what are you going to do this weekend? Remember, the Bay Bridge will be closed, so keep alternate transportation in mind. As I wrote yesterday, you can get all the 411 right here. Here are some ways to have fun and avoid the freeways. If you are in the East Bay, I highly recommend the annual Art & Soul Festival in Downtown Oakland. Six stages of music (including Lucinda Williams and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy), rides and activities for kids, an artisan marketplace, food and wine tasting, and more. This is a great event each year!Or take the Ferry to … (0 comments)
real estate: Bay Area Bridges--Good News / Bad News
- 08/28/07 08:02 AM
Well, there are a lot of developments with Bay Area bridges, and I just had to weigh in. I've written about the bridges (and public transportation) before, and here is an update. So the new Benicia Bridge opened this past weekend, and it is a wonderful thing! In addition to having an expanded capacity, the bridge features "open road tolling" allowing FasTrak users to glide on by at the speed limit with no slowing down. There are no toll booths to slalom through. Previously, when I took this bridge during the evening commute, there would be a traffic jam waiting to get … (0 comments)
real estate: Oakland Market Report
- 08/27/07 07:50 AM
The media continues to spread a message of gloom and doom about the real estate market. While the reports should be listened to and deeply considered, always keep your individual situation in mind if you are currently active in the real estate market.CNN reports that the "glut of homes hits 16-year high." Keep in mind that this statistic is on a nationwide basis. That information is helpful for a large snapshot of the market and for a look at macroeconomic trends, but you are presumably buying or selling a home in the Bay Area. Well, today the San Francisco Chronicle calls … (0 comments)
real estate: 3312 Adeline--A GREAT Condo Deal in West Oakland
- 08/27/07 07:47 AM
While there are many large homes on the market, sometimes a smaller, lower-priced residence is the best choice for first time home buyers--especially in today's ever-changing market!. Here is a terrific 2 bedroom / 1 bath condo for sale on the Oakland/Emeryville border for just $239,000. This is one of the best deals in town! It is in an intimate newly-remodeled building with a new foundation, roof, electrical and plumbing. The unit features cool granite countertops in the kitchen, sleek floors and off-street parking. Plus, it is SOOOO close to everything that Oakland, Emeryville and Berkeley has to offer, and it … (0 comments)
real estate: "All the World's a Stage..."--especially in the East Bay
- 08/24/07 08:32 AM
You might be wondering if you need to stage your house to help sell it. I can tell you right now that you do indeed need to stage your house. You might be thinking, "Hey, she hasn't even seen my lovely home. What does she know?" I know that you need to stage it. Let me tell you why. You are trying to sell your house, not your home. While I am sure your home is lovely, but it is <em>your</em> home and it is full of <em>your</em> personal taste, furniture, and memories. To sell your house, you need to present it as … (1 comments)
real estate: A New Way to HOA?
- 08/22/07 06:14 AM
I recently worked with a client to help him find a new home after the condo he bought turned out to be problematic. Many of the brand-new units were completely infiltrated by mold. The HOA took the matters seriously, and discovered that many of the developer's condo buildings in the Emeryville area had similar problems and generally poor constructions standards. My client became very involved in the HOA and the ensuing legal battle here in Emeryville. (And he loves his new home in the China Hill district of Oakland.) My client, Bryan Wong, used this experience in combination with his career … (2 comments)
real estate: Put Me In, Coach!
- 08/17/07 07:32 AM
Friday is here, and I'm about to head off to Mastermind in San Diego to energize my life and career. Coaching and retreats like this through Buffini & Company have made a significant difference for me, and I highly encourage it. Whether you use the Buffini approach or not, coaching is a great thing.A coach is someone you can meet with to help you establish a strategy for your work and your life. It might sound like therapy, but it is not. A coach helps you identify goals that you want to achieve and then create a plan to tackle them. … (6 comments)
real estate: Neighborhood Focus--Temescal in Oakland
- 08/08/07 10:54 AM
Oakland's Temescal District Temescal is one of my favorite East Bay neighborhoods, plus I believe it is a great place to buy real estate in this turbulent market. This district is right at the beginning of growth spurt, and it should really be hopping--culturally and economically--in the next 2-3 years. This is exactly the kind of growth that has been promised in many East Bay areas, but it is really happening in Temescal. Situated along Telegraph Avenue in Oakland just south of the Berkeley border, Temescal stretches from 40th to 55th Streets. The old Temescal Creek flowed through here on its … (0 comments)
real estate: The Return of the Loan Contingency to the East Bay?
- 08/03/07 10:39 AM
The Return of the Loan Contingency?In the East Bay's go-go-market of the last few years, loan approvals happened without a second thought. And, since buyers have to be competitive in that market climate, they often dropped the loan contingency from their offers. Well, now we know the credit market is tightening up--especially with American Home Mortgage and others like them closing their doors--and loans won't be so easy to come by. I think this means we'll start seeing the return of the loan contingency here in the East Bay. Buyers are going to have to cover themselves, as in the past, … (0 comments)
real estate: Weekend Fun in the East Bay!
- 07/27/07 07:43 AM
Alrighty, enough talk about real estate....time to take a break and have some fun this weekend! The East Bay always has so much to do that it can be hard to decide! Here are some of my picks for fun in the East Bay this weekend:The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival makes its annual trek to Berkeley for a week of screenings at the Berkeley Rep. Highlights include the magical drama AVIVA MY LOVE and the romantic comedy GORGEOUS! Lyle Lovett and His Large Band take the stage with kd lang at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord. What a great … (1 comments)
real estate: Green in the City
- 07/26/07 11:00 AM
The modern homebuyer can often be conflicted when buying a new home about increasing their "carbon footprint." But, there are many solutions to investing in your personal future, as well as the future of the planet. One solution is to invest in newer buildings built to advanced green standards. Gate 48, a new condo development in Oakland's Temescal district, is one of the best green buildings in the East Bay--and one of the best deals around, period! Gate 48 is a new 12-unit building developed by Ron Kriss and my colleagues here at Lawton Associates...and it is among the first multi-family residential … (0 comments)
real estate: Neighborhood Focus--Maxwell Park
- 07/24/07 05:57 AM
Neighborhood Focus--Maxwell Park Looking at the market these days, I am seeing more and more great deals in the Maxwell Park section of Oakland, which is one of the most on-the-rise sections of this town.Maxwell Park was created in the 1920s and is generally situated along the western side of the 580 between the Fruitvale/Laurel districts and Mills College. The architecture is a charming mix of period bungalows and single family homes with old world touches. Plus, it is close to BART and has many services and great schools. Just this spring, Oakland Magazine named Maxwell Park as one of the … (0 comments)
Throughout the mortgage industry mess of the last few months, I've been wondering what former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan has to say about all this. For years and years, through Clinton and Bush, his word had been gold. But I couldn't help thinking that some of the policies he put into place led to the current situation--of lenders giving to people who weren't qualified and consumers accepting loans they couldn't handle or couldn't understand.;)
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