Krista and Rosie

Dec

04

Berkeley’s Fourth Street is primed for the holidays

Posted In: Berkeley, For the Heck of It

I went down to Fourth Street in Berkeley last week to do my part to stimulate the economy (ha!). I arrived just as the sun had set, and as I turned the corner from Hearst onto 4th, I was suddenly overcome with joy. Surrounding me was a spectacular parade of lights. Beads of blue and white lights speckled the sky; [...]

Nov

26

Black Friday- get your FDIC coupons here

Posted In: Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, For the Heck of It, Good ol' Fashion Humor

Nov

25

Something to be thankful for

Posted In: For the Heck of It

Have you heard that the holidays are upon us? Chances are you have. Thursday is Thanksgiving and here in the Bay Area, despite falling home prices and falling leaves, the weather is still warm. At 9am this morning my daughter and I left for our daily walk to her daycare wearing only light jackets. Later that morning my sister called [...]

Nov

20

Berkeley bungalow cute as a button

Posted In: Berkeley, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Listings, Neighborhood Businesses

Broker’s Tour today didn’t produce much. Inventory is down, WAY down. Perhaps people are wanting a place to live to cook their turkey’s. I don’t blame them! But I did see something worth mentioning: 2705 Mathews in West Berkeley. This 1 bedroom Craftsman bungalow is located on a wonderful tree-lined street in Berkeley’s Left Bank. It has been remodeled with [...]

Nov

20

Hooray! A new Berkeley Bowl is on its way!

Posted In: Berkeley, Neighborhood Businesses

Berkeley Bowl is back in the news. Not because John G. was banned, and not because nuts are flying off of the shelves, but because Berkeley Bowl Marketplace has just given birth, well, almost. This second store, expected to open early 2009 will be a full-service, one-of-a-kind, green, environmentally friendly, and sustainable marketplace at the corner of 9th Street and [...]

Nov

18

New Conforming Loan Limits set for 2009

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage & Finance

Word on the street is that the new loan limits have arrived for 2009! (I know you just can’t contain yourselves!) For Alameda and Contra Costa Counties: 1 unit-$625,500 2 units-$800,775 3 units-$967,950 4 units-$1,202,925 Now go buy a house!

Nov

13

Hello Berkeley: Are sellers giving up?

Posted In: For Sellers, Local Market Statistics

  Today is Thursday. Each Thursday, fellow agents and I shuffle into our cars and drive around Berkeley, Kensington, Albany, El Cerrito, Emeryville and Oakland to check out all of the new listings. Today we saw 9 houses. That is down by 50%. To entice agents to view a house, most will provide food and tasty treats; one house offered [...]

Nov

12

Mountain House, the highest underwater town

Posted In: Foreclosures & Short Sales, Local Market Statistics

Highest underwater town? Huh? Mountain House, California. Mountain House is located about 60 miles east of San Francisco. It is a master planned community designed to promote community, family and lifestyle. But there is something of real interest here: despite being 59 feet above sea level, most of the community is underwater. It is here where the average homeowner is [...]

Nov

11

Albany/Berkeley: Restaurant on Solano Ave., with outdoor seating!

Posted In: Albany, Fun for Grown Ups, Good Eats, Neighborhood Businesses

Great things are happening on Solano Avenue. Despite these trying economic times, there are some businesses that are managing to hang on, and others that have decided to brave the rapids. Rendez-Vous Cafe Bistro touts itself as “delicious affordable french cuisine.” Affordable indeed. It hasn’t been opened long, but I have driven by several times at night and the place [...]

Nov

06

Fabulous homes on tour today, Albany, Kensington and El Cerrito

Posted In: Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Kensington, Listings

Not much on tour today, but I did come across some very sweet treats. 1022 Evelyn, Albany Originally listed for $599,500, this house has a SUPER new price, $535,000. 2beds, 1bath, beautiful hardwood floors. Albany schools, walk to Solano. I don’t think it will last at this price. 7302 Gladys, El Cerrito This super cute, 3bed home is fully updated [...]