Blog

Nov

Move over Joe the Plumber- Starbucks has a better Joe

Posted In: For the Heck of It

Starbucks Offers Free Coffee to Voters on Election Day Move over Joe-the-Plumber. This election just got a better Joe. What if we all cared enough to vote? Not just 54% of us, but 100% of us? What if we cared as much on Nov. 5th as we care on Nov. 4th? What if we cared all of the time the [...]

Nov

Berkeley Burglars Kicking in Doors in the Hills

Posted In: Berkeley, Home Maintenance

COMMUNITY CRIME ALERT – BURGLARS KICK DOORS IN THE HILLS Berkeley, California (Friday, October 24, 2008) – City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) Property Crimes detectives are alerting the community about a series of daytime burglaries that have been plaguing the North Berkeley Hills in the past two months. I have clients and friends in the hills. They know people [...]

Oct

Rally for Laurie Capitelli, Marin Circle, Berkeley

Posted In: Berkeley, For the Heck of It

Yesterday some fellow “Oakies,” as we call ourselves (people who work for Red Oak Realty), and I met at Marin Circle in Berkeley to show our support for our Broker, Laurie Capitelli, who happens to be running for re-election in Berkeley’s City Council District #5. We, along with some good ‘ol tummy warming Peet’s, met at the circle at 7:30am [...]

Oct

Top 10 WORST Halloween Treats

Posted In: Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids

Is this your first Halloween in your new digs? Well, here is a list of what NOT to hand out: 1) Toothbrushes Dentists and orthodontists should not be allowed to celebrate Halloween if they’re going to get all tooth doctory on us. Do not bring your work home with you, folks! We all have a personal responsibility to brush, and [...]

Oct

Some Halloween Fun

Posted In: For the Heck of It, Foreclosures & Short Sales

Happy Halloween!

Oct

Homes Sold Berkeley, Oakland, El Cerrito Aug 04-Aug 08

Posted In: Local Market Statistics, Neighborhoods

Home sales in the East Bay and Bay Area, including Berkeley, Oakland, El Cerrito and surrounding areas have seen a dramatic decline over the past four years. However, since February of this year, sales have begun to gradually increase. Those areas hit hardest by foreclosures are the same areas seeing the largest increase in sales. Currently median home values are [...]

Oct

Alameda County Area Statistics, including Berkeley & Oakland

Posted In: Local Market Statistics, Neighborhoods

Here are the area statistics for Alameda County for August 2008. Note that the median price/square foot is down across the board from the same time last year.

Oct

Berkeley Financing Update from Chet Gohd, RPM Mortgage

Posted In: Mortgage & Finance

I asked one of the mortgage brokers that I often work with to provide my readers with a market update from his perspective. Please read below to see what he has to say. (Click the image to read a larger version) Questions? Call Chet Gohd, Branch Owner, RPM Mortgage, (510)524-1526

Oct

Need a chimney cleaning?

Posted In: Home Improvement, Home Maintenance, Neighborhood Businesses

(sing to the tune of the Calomine Lotion jingle) “Icky, sticky, drippy, crusty…oh I see that shiny stuff-y!” (end song) You know what I am talking about, right? Huh? CREOSOTE! That black stuff that sticks to the inside of your chimney. The stuff that, when you open your flue, sometimes trickles down in a fine, powdery substance. Did you know [...]

Sep

Real Estate is like the San Francisco 49ers

Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers

I love the 49ers. I’ve been a Niner’s girl for a long time. Each week I watch with hope, excitement, and anticipation…anticipation for that almighty touchdown. Of course, most weeks they don’t come through. But look at the history of football…football can be categorized in cycles: some weeks you are up, some you are down. Some seasons you are up, [...]