Blog

Jun

Ignore the news

Posted In: General Real Estate News, Local Market Statistics

Usually it is important to ignore the headlines, especially surrounding real estate. Why? Typically they are 3 months behind. But right now, with Berkeley and the surrounding areas down 30+% in inventory, the media is currently caught up. Because we have so few sales there is not much else to report. But here are a few things the media may [...]

May

Closed on this sweet condo in Berkeley

Posted In: Berkeley, Investing, Lofts, Condos, & Townhouses

Just sold this sweet condo near Cal, on Channing Way. During an open house, a Cal football player walked in and said “I’ll take it when it becomes available to rent.” If students are searching open houses for apartments near Cal, don’t you think this would make for an awesome investment? I do!

May

Wanna Know About East Bay Schools?

Posted In: Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Kensington, Richmond, Schools

I am at the Berkeley Board of Realtors and learning about the plans for WCCUSD, AUSD, BUSD. Major topic across the board? How to close the achievement gap. Did you know that… – 92% of Albany High kids go on to college – all 3 districts have “academy” schools which teach vocational skills. WCCUSD has 21! – all 3 districts [...]

May

I have the greatest clients…

Posted In: El Cerrito, For Buyers, For Sellers, For the Heck of It

What I love about my job are the amazing people I meet. This job is very much about relationships. Buying or selling a home is a very intense experience and there is a lot of communication throughout the process. Recently I had the privilege of helping a wonderful family sell their home in El Cerrito. The house had been in the [...]

Apr

Berkeley Association of Realtors Gives Away Over $30,000 In Grants

Posted In: Arts and Entertainment, Community, General Real Estate News, Neighborhood Businesses

Yesterday the Berkeley Association of Realtors gave away $30,010 to 32 local community groups. I am proud to say that every agent in my office contributes a portion of each commission to this wonderful cause. I was at yesterday’s reception and couldn’t have been more humbled by all of the grant recipients. What amazing work these local groups do. The [...]

Apr

New Listing: 7343 Schmidt, El Cerrito

Posted In: El Cerrito, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Listings

I am so excited about my new El Cerrito listing. It isn’t everyday you come across a family who has lived in their house since it was built. It isn’t everyday you come across a person who physically built their retaining wall in the backyard out of rocks from the old El Cerrito rock quarry. It isn’t everyday you sit [...]

Mar

Coffee in an Aerobus

Posted In: Community, Food and Dining, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids, Good Eats

L O V E Love = coffee Love = local coffee So you can imagine how elated I was when I heard that Flowerland in Albany was going to park an aerobus at the entrance and open up a Local 123 Coffee annex. I originally stumbled into Flowerland in October 2012 to grab a cup of the delectable richness. I [...]

Mar

Top 10 Wealthiest Cities

Posted In: Uncategorized

Advisorone just posted their annual top 10 wealthiest cities list. Our local hoods, San Jose and San Francisco, made the cut. Check out the original article here. 10) Detroit 9) San Jose 8) Houston 7) Philadelphia 6) Boston 5) San Francisco 4) Washington 3) Chicago 2) Los Angeles 1) New York

Mar

Where to Recycle Oddities

Posted In: Albany, Community, Home Maintenance

Did you know that… Berkeley Horticultural Nursery recycles plastic plant pots and plant trays. Pots should be empty and clean. Drop off outside nursery anytime. The nursery is located at 1310 McGee Avenue, in North Berkeley, between Hopkins and Rose. The drop-off location is on Rose near Monterey. Look for the sign. Need to get rid of clean, wearable clothes? [...]

Mar

Tuesday restaurant review: Kiku Sushi in Berkeley

Posted In: Berkeley, Good Eats

Kiku Sushi in Berkeley is a new sushi joint located on Gilman near Santa Fe (across from La Lime’s). This little hole-in-the-wall first caught my eye a few weeks back when there was a line out the door at lunch. Not sure if that was opening week or what, but where there is a line something must be right. I [...]