Why, or why, will some realtors still use someone else's picture to use in a listing, without at least attempting to see who took the picture and getting permission? This is a pet peeve. ,,,,since we now have so many digital cameras of all shapes and sizes, at all budget ranges... ....and since many phones today have high-quality, high megapixel built-in cameras... It smacks of laziness, lack of effort, lack of imagination, and in my opinion, a broken promise to do one's best to service a listing if one simply copies someone else's work, be it a photo or text description. It's not that hard, folks!  Even a non-professional photographer with an old camera (some folks simply use their phones) can take decent pictures. I took this photo using an "old" circa 2004 Lumix digital camera It was... 06/09/2011

  Join Us THIS Saturday, 6/11 at Linden Street Brewery in Oakland for... A RANDOM PARTY FOR RANDOM ACTS A fundraiser for Oakland Fire Random Acts of Kindness and Linden Street's 2nd Anniversary Celebration!   Saturday, June 11, 2011 1pm to 5pm 95 Linden Street Oakland family friendly event featuring... Oakland Fire Department Parade Truck, OFD Color Guard, Fire hat giveaway for kids, Bounce House Bike Valet provided by Richmond Spokes   $10 entry fee **includes (2) food/beverage tickets** Children under 12 are FREE Additional Tickets Available for purchase  PLEASE BRING CASH (no ATM at brewery)    Accepting Tickets for food...  Adesso - (2 tickets) El Taco Bike (1 Ticket)     On Tap... Linden Street's Urban Common Lager Drake's, Dying Vines Periscope Wine Our Friends... East Bay Burner... 06/09/2011

TEMPORARY CONFORMING LOAN LIMITS EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30TH , 2011 Conforming Loan Limits were originally raised in February 2008 as part of the economic stimulus package. The Federal Housing Finance Agency is expected to reduce conforming loan limits on mortgages guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac this October. The limits will fall from $729,750 to $625,500. This will make mortgages more expensive and harder to get for buyers. (i.e., Higher down payment and interest rates) We are seeing that the higher end market is picking up as a result of this news. Rates over the last week have also been at an all time low since early December. A big thank you to Ayata Colbert, a lender here in Oakland who made sure to pass this news on to her network of Realtors so they could reach out to their c... 06/09/2011

Snap Judgement at the Oakland Museum - What an event!   Snap Judgment, is the new NPR show electrifying audiences nationwide and it taped a brand new special at the Oakland Museum of California  Friday June 3rd and Saturday June 4th. 8:00 pm. I bought tickets for Friday night and we are still talking about it 2 days later. With the host Glynn Washington, a smoking-hot live band, and the nation's finest storytellers drop audiences into the heart of what matters how can you go wrong. These story tellers are professionals, they bring you into their world and you take a ride through an emotional rollercoaster. They say it is raw, intimate, sexy, and hip, I say get ready to laugh, be shocked, and don't be surprised if a tear leaves your eye. Since you missed the show, why not go onlinefind o... 06/03/2011

My favorite pizza place in Oakland CA is Arzmendi Pizza on Grand Ave. Besides the pizza place being a collective, where all the workers are part owners, they make the best pizza ever. And what really makes it fun? They use fresh ingredients and you never know what the pizza of the day is going to be. Served hot out of the oven by the slice, the whole pie, or for those who prefer to eat at home, a half baked pizza pie to take a finish baking in your own oven.   Other locations are in Emeryville and San Francisco. Branch out from the chain pizza establishments and try local pizza from a local pizza place.I’m sure, like me, you won’t be disappointed.   Their website says: Visit all the delcious bakery cooperatives in our Association The Cheese Board - 1504 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley - (510)... 06/03/2011

Oftentimes, pictures say it better than anyone of us can. Oh, wait, there's a saying for this: "A picture is worth a thousand words." It may not be a seller's market, but buyers should take note that perhaps it's time to strike. Yes, interest rates are still low....but for how long? Yes, prices have come down....but will it keep going down? The buyer is perfectly positioned to make a move....and if you're looking to buy a condo in Oakland, this may be the time. Here's how the condominium market trends look the last three yeears. This compares median for sale versus median sold.   06/01/2011

All of us have some probable, possible, in-the-near-future listings that we hope we can bring to the market soon. It certainly wouldn't hurt to mention these possibilities to other agents in case they have someone who may have needs that your almost-listings may fill. Case in point: I had met with a young couple who were thinking of selling their lakefront condo. But when given a comparative market analysis, they realized that they wouldn't get the price they want for the property. I asked them what their bottom line is. And stayed in touch. At least a couple of months later, an agent from my office asked me if I have any upcoming listings in the same condominium complex where i had just recently closed a transaction. He said he has two clients specifically looking for a 2-bedroom unit,... 06/01/2011

I must get asked about once or twice per month "who does the FHA 203k loans for qualified non-profit organizations?" I've just been talking to a good friend of mine at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, "Ed Rogers" who informed me that he does them. There you go, for those who asked the question. That is the second one in CA that I told you about in the past six month. Why is this important? Non profits get the first look at new FHA foreclosures. In the 1990's we had catered to our non profit clients and found that they can do wonderful things for their neighborhoods. We used to knock on their doors when we saw run down homes located in the area of a local church. It was amazing to see how they responded. Why not? They make money, clean up their neighborhood, provide local jobs, and low cost ho... 05/27/2011

I was recently at a home inspection in Oakland CA and the home inspector was pretty jazzed to see an Eichler style home when he pulled into the driveway. Eichler homes are considered to be mid century.and there are quite a number of them in California. According to the home inspector, people either love them or hate them. While I had the listing agents and buyers would call with questions and at some point in the conversation it always came up, the buyers had targeted Eichler's as the style home they were looking to buy. Above is a photo of an Eichler home in the east bay. What was the best part of the home inspection? Finding out about this website that tailors to Eichler style homes and advertise vendors who are knowledgeable about the homes. The website is located at http://www.eichl... 05/27/2011

Service with a smile and a Latte from Pete’s coffee to start my day. One of the tools I use in Real Estate is the GPS in my Honda CRV. I love being able to enter my destinations for the day in my GPS prior to heading out to my appointments. Two things happen when I do this; one is I can keep track of my miles by referencing how many miles it is to each destination and two, on occasion, I find a new route and discover streets I have never traveled on in the city that I live in. Unfortunately today, when I got in my car, I realized some of my radio and GPS features were not working so on my way back from an early morning breakfast,I stopped at the Honda dealership. Gary Loudermilk is one of the Service Consultants at the Oakland location and he has the best laugh in town. He always servic... 05/26/2011

The Oakland Indie Awards were a smashing success!   A roof top garden, a DJ spinning danceable music all night, and $10 to get and eat all the food you want from a host of 25 vendors…what’s not to like!   The Indie Awards are in support of local independent businesses who have stood out of the crowd and been noticed. It was a great night held by all and the views were absolutely amazing!       Many people are not aware of the Kaiser Building in Oakland CA which has a roof top garden with mature trees, water landscapes, a restaurant, and stunning views of Lake Merritt. In the summer, they even offer free concerts in the afternoon. While we were there I was told the roof top garden has been around for 50 years and it was built in the days of Henry J. Kaiser. It’s said to be the first roof... 05/24/2011

I scream, You scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!   The ice cream hot spot in Oakland CA is Fenton’s Creamery on Piedmont Ave. Fenton’s has been around since 1894 , and after a kitchen fire, the ice creamery was rebuilt and has been busy ever since. Even on a rainy day there will be lines to get into the ice creamery. Although the wait may be long, the service is fast and it’s definitely worth a visit..     My favorite ice cream to order is the FudgeAnna, three types of ice cream, banana’s and fudge drizzle below the whipped cream and of course, the cherry on top. The portions are so large if I know I’m ordering a fudgeanna, I will make it my dinner- really!   The favorite ice cream dish to watch someone order is (enter any sunday creation you see from the gallery of photo's ). I’m alw... 05/23/2011

It appears, like everything else in  life, that the 203k has it's cycles as well. Why do I think that you might ask? Because it is heating up. Lots of action all of a  sudden in the Oakland area. Maybe it is due to the enlightenment of the masses there but whatever it is, it is clear that Oakland RE people are now awakened to this wonderful tool called the FHA 203k loan program.  It could also be that there are many more lenders offering it. It is clear the lenders who only do the "Streamlined k" were getting the word out but when the jobs would get close to the $35,000 threshold they were telling their clients, quite often, that there was too much work for the 203k... NOT TRUE, but that is what they were saying. What they might have said was "your construction costs  and fees exceed $3... 05/23/2011

Adesso on Piedmont Ave in Oakland CA has the Best Happy Hour in Town! It didn't take long before the word was out that Adesso on Piedmont Ave, Oakland CA was the place to go for Happy Hour. Adesso is located on the corner of Piedmont Ave and Pleasant Valley Road. It is very convenient to get to and a great way to start or end the night out on the town.   Hours: Mon-Wed. 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Thu-Sat. 5:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Aperitivo Hour: Mon-Wed. 5-6pm and 10:30-11:30pm Thur-Sat. 5-6pm and 11-12pm   Adesso is an Italian wine bar that is known for their house made salumi, small plates, pate varieties and their happy hour where they serve you free food while you enjoy a glass of bubbly, a cocktail, or a nice red wine. To see a complete list of lunch or dinner items take a preview online... 05/22/2011

  Verizon Store on Piedmont Ave, Oakland CA   We all have choices as to what Verizon store we go to when we need a new phone, or to change the service package we have. Personally I have been to a variety of Verizon stores and find myself with a favorite store.   The Verizon store on Piedmont Ave, Oakland CA is one of the newer stores in the area and the service is just wonderful. There is always someone available to help answer my quetions and there is free parking in the parking lot. I know a lot of people are not aware of the latest Verizon store so I thought it was important to get the word out.   The address is: 4364 Piedmont Ave (between Gleneden Ave & Brandon St) Oakland, CA 94611Piedmont Ave   05/21/2011

  The other day I decided it was time to try a new place to get a pedicure and found myslef at Polilsh on Piedmont Ave. It was so relaxing, the place is clean, the chairs are private, it's definitely a place I will find myself going back to.   I haven't had a chance to try their other services but the offer waxing and facials too. If you are getting nail services, don't forget to ask for a nial packet. It's your own personal nail supplies to keep and you get fifty cents off each nail service when you bring it in with you.   Located at 4319 Piedmont Ave, Oakland CA 94611 510-601-0909 www.polishspa.com   Just down the street from my house for sale at 4226 Terrace St, in Oakland!   05/18/2011

Whole Foods in Oakland CA Everyone has their favorite grocery store and mine is Whole Foods. Whole Foods Market is the world's largest retailer of natural and organic foods, with stores throughout North America and the United Kingdom and each store is unique. The Oakland location used to be a Buick/Cadillac car dealership but it sat dormant for many years. We are very fortunate as a community that Whole Foods took an eye sore and made it into eye candy. It’s located a block away from Lake Merritt which means, a nice three mile walk around the lake with a friend and lunch at Whole Foods makes for a nice, relaxing and healthy afternoon. In addition to organic vegetables and fruit, I love buying grains in bulk and not paying for all the unnecessary packaging. For when you are on the go, th... 05/17/2011

Life on the Sunny Side of the Bay Overview Maps Photos Open House Market Stats $599,000 Single Family Home Main Features 2 Bedrooms1 Bathroom1 Partial Bathroom1 UnitInterior: 1344 sqftLot: 2,970 sqft Location 4226 Terrace StreetOakland, CA 94611USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Elisa Uribe (510) 485-7272elisa@rockridgedigs.comhttp://www.rockridgedigs.com Listed by: Wells and Bennett Realtors Nearby properties for sale 05/15/2011

The Oakland Magazine and Alameda Magazine had a May/June 2011 Issue Launch Party at the Holistic Veterinary Care, 4382 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA, 94611.   It was a great time held by all and a wonderful chance to see the inside of the Holistic Veterinary Care’s where veterinary medicine and holistic principles come together. From Rehabilitation, Pulsed Signal Therapy, Chinese Medicine, Chiropractic Therapy to Fun and Recreational Swimming in the indoor pool, this facility and it’s employees work towards healing your pet quickly and helping your pet stay healthy.     I picked up a brochure on my way out, and it says “Our mission is to enhance your pet’s quality of life by providing a complimentary and holistic approach to healing and well-being.” If you would like to schedule a tour you ... 05/15/2011

Home buyers lack mortgage know-how Did anyone notice the new survey that shows home buyers are not prepared to take out a mortgage? Apparently the survey asked them to answer basic questions about mortgage information and 46 percent of the time they answered incorrectly. The survey was put out by Zillow Mortgage Marketplace. Taken from Zillow’s Mortgage Marketplace Survey Results • Over 1000 home buyers were asked to respond true or false to eight mortgage-related statements, including “The rates of 5/1 adjustable-rates mortgages always increase after years.” Although the correct answer is false, because 5/1 ARMs do adjust after five years, but the rates could go up or down, 57 percent of people surveyed answered this question incorrectly. • Forty-five percent of home buyers surveyed al... 05/14/2011