Real estate blog entries tagged with oakland realtor by Pacita Dimacali, Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA (Alain Pinel)

Home : Blogs : Pacita Dimacali : Pacita's Quick Bytes of Real Estate : Tag "oakland realtor"

oakland realtor: Who’s at fault if clients/agent don't adhere to contract provisions - 05/07/14 05:31 PM

Who’s at fault? Seller or Listing Agent
Listing agent claims to have over 25 years of experience…yet, she is embroiled in a tedious, contentious and continuous process because there appears to be a serious failure to communicate. Something is terribly out-of-synch,

Request for Repairs
Sellers agreed to a list of repairs based on specific items on the home inspection. When they were finished, listing agent informs buyer agent who then proceeds to get re-inspections done. Lo and behold, the re-inspection finds one item that was not done. Listing agent said the electrician told the sellers that it wasn’t necessary to … (35 comments)

oakland realtor: Homebuyers: compare cash outlay/monthly payment, not just list price - 01/23/14 04:37 AM

When home buyers are timid about writing a stronger offer, it’s almost always about price.

Should they walk away?

Perhaps they should take a closer look at the numbers especially if they really like the house .

It helps to illustrate what the differences are in terms of total cash outlay and monthly payments.

This illustrates a 10% down payment 4.5% interest rate for a conventional 30-year mortgage in Oakland CA, which was featured in 2013 by CNNMoney as one of the 5 best markets to sell a home and by Huffington Post as one … (0 comments)

oakland realtor: Hillside Montclair home with fabulous bay views. Seismic upgrades. - 05/24/13 04:01 PM

Just listed, a hillside home in Montclair (Oakland CA).
Fabulous bay views.
2-story contemporary home with rustic flair. 3 bedrooms/2 baths/formal areas/kitchen and breakfast nook on main level; expansive multi-purpose room and 4th bathroom on lower level.
Hot diggity dawg -- a hot tub! Terraced garden with flowering and fruit trees (Meyer Lemon and Pomegranate). Hardwood floors, saltillo tile and a vintage Wedgewood gas stove/oven all contribute to the homey ambiance. Add views to the mix, and you have a fantastic home to enjoy whether you choose to entertain indoors or outdoors, or simply luxuriate, this home offers … (6 comments)

oakland realtor: Don't be surprised if property sells for more today than a year ago - 03/24/13 09:02 AM

List price: Too low? Too high?
It was a buyer's market in 2011. And yes, back then, buyers had more opportunities to negotiate lower offers, credits, and/or repairs.
But starting in 2012.....prices started improving. Buyers started getting off the fence.
And now, in 2013....it's turned into a full-fledged seller's market. Even if our CMA shows recommends a certain list price, the final value is whatever the buyer is willing to pay.

Out of area agent
A realtor from out of the area has a listing at Alameda's The Willows condominium complex where I sold a property about a year … (3 comments)

oakland realtor: Real estate disclosures.....must provide, must complete. - 03/13/13 02:05 PM

Real estate disclosures.....must provide, must complete.
Knowing what the required disclosures are is critically important in the process. We already know the rule:
When in doubt, disclose, disclose, disclose!
Review the Nolo.com article on Required Disclosures When Selling U.S. Real Estate.

So what if there’s a ton of disclosure? They must be done!

In our state of California, we have a ton of disclosures that both the sellers and buyers must complete. Refer to California’s required disclosures in real property transactions.
Additionally, there are the state and local ordinances to which the parties must comply, most of them by close of escrow. There … (5 comments)

oakland realtor: Historic Beaux Arts building: The Regillus faces Lake Merritt - 12/09/12 03:16 AM

The Regillus -- the grand Beaux Arts building facing Lake Merritt in Oakland CA
The first time I saw this 8-story condominium building, I was in love. It was like being transformed in time and place. It harkens to a New York state of mind.

Everything about this property is first class. Circular drive with cobbled stones. Beaux Arts architectural style with balconies and balustrades. Delightful gardens. Marble grand entrance. Formal lobby attended by a concierge. Formal salons overlooking the garden and Lake Merritt. A carriage building serving as parking garage. Luxurious estate in an exquisite setting.
Rare opportunity to buy … (8 comments)

oakland realtor: Oakland CA top 5 real estate stories in 2011 including surge in sales and prices - 01/06/12 09:46 AM

We always say real estate is local.
So how do the top 5 real estate stories in 2011 look at the local level? I took a look in Oakland CA, specifically at detached single family residences (SFR) and compared them to 5 Top Real Estate Stories in 2011as blogged by Steve Harney)
Interest rates remained at historic lows Sales are up over 2010 Contract cancellation rate surges Foreclosures were delayed Prices move up, then down Interest Rates remained at historic lows Mortgage-X has some of the best graphs to to show the historical trends.
I checked rates for Oakland CA and … (5 comments)

oakland realtor: Oakland CA 2011: Short Sales and Bank-Owned Properties are 54% of total sales - 01/06/12 05:46 AM

Oakland CA Year End Report 2011: Short Sales and Bank-Owned PropertiesIt is essential to recognize the market trends in order to prepare buyers and sellers on what to expect. This is a year-end report on residential sales inOakland CA.
People looking to buy in Oakland should not discount distressed properties which comprise the bigger share (54% in 2011) of the market.How does 2011 compare with 2010?Upward trend in distressed properties.
It appears that in 2011, we had slightly more properties sold.

But it also shows an upward trend in the number of distressed properties (short sales and foreclosures) inching from … (2 comments)

oakland realtor: Top Ten ActiveRain Posts 2011: who is the target audience? Measure by number of comments and by number of views - 01/03/12 05:13 AM

In any type of business, it is a necessity to set the metrics -- parameters to gauge success, efficiency and results.So when David Popoff asked What Were Your Top 10 ActiveRain Posts of 2011? ...
I asked myself: who is my target audience? Active and potentital clients? Or Active Rain members for future referrals?
Should I measure by the number of comments, or by the number of views?
Top 10 posts by number of comments
Measuring by number of comments: should our own comments should even be counted? If we respond to each comment one at a time instead of grouping … (8 comments)

oakland realtor: December 18, 2011. Slow open house doesn’t mean an unproductive day. - 12/18/11 04:59 PM

December 18, 2011. Slow open house doesn’t mean an unproductive day.Just because there were few people who came to my open house isn’t reason to call this day a loss. Au contraire!From my conversations with those who came, I found out that one couple currently owns a condo at The Essex on Lake Merritt in Oakland CA, and literally just one door away from one unit that I recently sold, and one floor below another sale this year. This is the view from those units.

We had a good conversation about their wanting to move to our island … (13 comments)

oakland realtor: MARKET REPORT Oakland CA: Months Supply of Inventory is 3.1 Months. It's a seller's market! - 10/18/11 06:39 PM

OAKLAND CA Market Report: Months’ supply of inventory down to 3.1 months

MainStreet newsletter headline: Inventory: The Key to Understanding Your Local Housing Market

The article states that “A market with more than six months supply would usually qualify as a buyer's market, the realtor says. And a market with less than six months of supply is defined as a seller's market.
Months’ Supply of Inventory

Looking at the entire market and concentrating only on detached single family homes, I was pleasantly surprised that Oakland has 3.1 months inventory of homes for sale. The days on … (5 comments)

oakland realtor: Months' Supply of Inventory --- down to just 2.7 months in Oakland CA - 09/27/11 08:50 PM

OAKLAND CA Month’s Supply of Inventory at 2.7 months in August 2011?
Taking a look at ALL of Oakland CA’s inventory of homes – detached single family homes, condos, townhouses, duets, etc --- I had to do a double take. As of end of August, the month’s supply of inventory is down to 2.7 months, compared to 4.5 months in August 2010. But what’s notable is that with the exception of the fourth quarter 2010, it’s been a downward trend for a year.
The blue line represents average days on market.

Under contract per month
This chart shows an upward … (4 comments)

oakland realtor: MARKET REPORTS: OAKLAND CA If you're not working on short sales and foreclosures, you're missing half the market - 09/20/11 09:04 PM

Oakland CA Current market report as of Sept 21, 2011
It is worth noting that 45.6% of total listings for sale are distressed properties.

Why is this worth noting?
From a REALTOR’s point of view, this provides a clear picture of what the market looks like --- i.e., where the buyers and sellers are. If 25.5% of the listings are short sales, doesn’t it make sense that we should be fully educated and equipped to handle this type of sale both as a listing agent as well as a buyer’s agent? If one isn’t well-versed with short sales, that … (7 comments)

oakland realtor: PIEDMONT WALK of arts and crafts every third Thursday, Oakland CA - 09/12/11 09:20 PM

Oakland's Piedmont Avenue merchants are proud to present the beginning of a new tradition, every THIRD THURSDAY of each month --- ART WALK --- held from 6 to 9 pm. Stroll along Piedmont Avenues (Oakland CA) and meet local artists and crafters who sell their wares and art.
Date: September 15, 2008
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Place: Piedmont Avenue, Oakland CA
Visit: www.PiedmontAvenue.org
And as a bonus, take a look and see the places and things you can enjoy in Oakland CA
… (2 comments)

oakland realtor: Why I chose real estate when I was jobless, homeless and friendless - 07/29/11 10:23 PM

Did I choose real estate, or did it choose me? It seems that there were signs that this would be my ultimate and final profession, but I was too blind to see it.
Love of architecture
As a little girl, I was fascinated by the models that my playmate's architect father would have of a house or building he was designing. And no, I didn't look at these models as doll houses.
In college, I had a moment of insanity when I thought I could make it in Fine Arts. In the library, I'd wander from the Art and Humanities section of the … (14 comments)

oakland realtor: Urbanite's delight -- Downtown condo in Oakland City Center, built in 2007 - 06/15/11 06:21 PM

… (8 comments)

oakland realtor: Short Sale Cottage in Melrose area of Oakland CA - 06/01/11 01:31 PM

… (1 comments)

oakland realtor: Oakland CA condo trends --- buyers, it's time! - 06/01/11 12:36 PM

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 … (0 comments)

oakland realtor: Talking up your buyer and your seller needs among yourselves reaps tremendous value - 06/01/11 12:27 PM

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, … (3 comments)

oakland realtor: Oakland CA real estate market --- foreclosures mean opportunities for buyers and investors - 10/16/10 11:07 AM

Oakland CA real estate market report shows that in the last three years, the number of foreclosures increased.
Since everyone interprets information in different ways, it seems easier to paint a picture. These charts are from a macro level, i.e. they represent the movement among resale (not new) and detached single family homes in all zip codes, in all sizes.
Sold properties Third Quarter 2007 through Third Quarter 2010.
The lined portion of the chart represents the percentage of bank-owned properties out of total sold during that period of time. For example, in Q3 2010, 48% of total homes sold were … (0 comments)

Related Links: