Alameda County

Feb

Magical Mushrooms Moments

Posted In: Alameda County, Albany, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids

Magical mushrooms around the bay? Yes! It used to be that you would have to head to the hills to see mushrooms, but not this year! The rains brought on some incredible fungi around town. After a friend showed me photos of some incredible mushrooms, I gathered up my family to go on a magical mushroom walk through the [...]

Jan

Ladybugs are everywhere!

Posted In: Alameda County, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids, Oakland

We have all seen a ladybug here and there, but have you ever seen thousands of ladybugs in one place? Every winter these “lady beetles” surf on over to the Oakland Hills and drop down at the exact same spot in Redwood Regional Park. They gather to keep warm and perhaps make a “friend” or two. Where to find the [...]

Jan

Where is the East Bay Real Estate Market Headed in in 2020

Posted In: Alameda County, Contra Costa County, First Time Home Buyers, For Boomers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Investing, Local Market Statistics

It’s a new year, time to dust off our crystal ball and gaze into the future of the East Bay real estate market. Will the new year be a good time to sell a house? Can you finally afford to buy that starter home? Should you invest in a rental property? The good news: As we head into 2020, we [...]

Mar

2261 38th in Oakland – A Gem Of All Gem’s w/ Before + After’s

Posted In: Alameda County, For Sellers, Home Improvement, Listings, Oakland, Our Sales, Success Stories

We have a listing located at 2261 38th Avenue in the Harrington District of Oakland. Our Seller bought this home several years ago and completely turned it upside down. The house needed a lot of love, which is what she gave it. Here are some of the updates she did while owning it. new electrical :: new floors :: new [...]

Dec

City Transfer Tax Update

Posted In: Alameda County, Berkeley, Contra Costa County, El Cerrito, Oakland, Taxes

Happy December! Last month voters passed some ballot measures that will affect transfer tax rates within certain cities. If you intend to buy or sell a home in the following cities next year this could apply to you. Starting next year, possibly as early as January 1st, the following changes will occur: ALAMEDA COUNTY Berkeley (Measure P) For sales above [...]

Sep

Who Should Vote for Prop 5, Property Tax Law

Posted In: Alameda County, Contra Costa County, General Real Estate News, Legal, Taxes

(as reposted from the Abio blog) Proposition 5, a measure developed by the California Association of Realtors, is headed to the ballot Nov. 6, and advocates say it could ease not only the property tax burden on seniors, but also relieve the state’s housing crunch. Here’s what you need to know before you vote on Prop. 5, also known as the Property Tax Transfer Initiative: [...]

Apr

Mid-Century Masterpiece

Posted In: Alameda County, Listings, Oakland, Our Sales

We are so in love with our newest listing! Have you ever been to house where each time you visit it you feel happy? THIS is that house! You can check out the details here: 5900Ostrander.com [arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v7Zfb0cLhI” thumbnail=”3937″ /]

Mar

Three Reasons to Visit Lake Merritt

Posted In: Alameda County, Arts and Entertainment, Community, For Buyers, For Sellers, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids, Oakland

Posted by the cool peeps at Berkeley Hills Realty So you’re thinking to yourself, “What should I do today where I can get great exercise and do some people watching while I am at it?” Or you think to yourself, “My kids need to get out today and I want to go somewhere that is fun for them and not [...]

Jan

What Kind of Market is THIS

Posted In: Alameda County, Berkeley, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Foreclosures & Short Sales, General Real Estate News, Investing, Listings, Local Market Statistics

Multiple offers, oh my! No contingencies, oh my! As long as you aren’t in Berkeley, Albany or Oakland, then it might be considered normal. Normal is defined as a market where buyers and sellers have equal bargaining power. Yah right, not here! But all joking aside, even in these very competitive markets we are starting to see some normalcy. Indeed [...]

Jan

Calendar of Local January Events in the East Bay

Posted In: Alameda County, Arts and Entertainment, Community, Food and Dining, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids, Good Eats

Here is a calendar of fun, local events in January throughout the East Bay. The marketing team in my office does a great job of putting this together each month so make sure to check back next month for more events! January Calendar of Events