Economy

Jan

Real Estate Predictions for 2009

Posted In: Economy, General Real Estate News, Local Market Statistics

As promised I have put together my real estate predictions for 2009. Ok, if I could really make predictions, I’d be rich. Don’t get me wrong, I have my opinions, and I am certainly entitled to them. But just keep in mind, these are just predictions and while they aren’t terribly optimistic, take them with a grain of salt… 1. [...]

Jan

Krista’s list of what to read in 2009

Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, For the Heck of It, Foreclosures & Short Sales, Good ol' Fashion Humor

This just in, the ultimate reading list. I love to read. I love to be inspired. I love to learn. This list, in no particular order, combines a little bit of each. 1. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. This sly and lucid book discusses why we make the decisions that we do, including why headaches disappear after [...]

Dec

Fed Cuts Short-Term Rate to Nearly Zero

Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, General Real Estate News, Mortgage & Finance

Now that the world has admitted that we are in a recession the Fed thought they should step in and do their part. Yesterday, in an attempt to fight the recession and the downword pressure on consumer prices, the Fed cut the key rate to the bone. Huh? This is the rate which affects how much [...]

Dec

Redevelopment of Oakland Army Base

Posted In: Economy, Neighborhood Businesses, Oakland

This morning the crew from Federal Oakland Associates did a presentation about the future of the Oakland Army Base which is located at the southwest corner of the Bay Bridge and the 880/80 freeway intersection. While it isn’t yet approved, these guys have some grand plans for the “Grand Gateway.” Should the City of Oakland accept their approval (which they [...]

Dec

Forbes.com: 10 Best Suburbs to Sell A Home. Berkeley is #1!

Posted In: Berkeley, Economy, For Sellers, General Real Estate News, Local Market Statistics

Berkeley, Calif., known sometimes as a hippie haven, is becoming a hotbed for home sales. Prices in the Bay Area suburb are up 9% this year, with homes selling for a median price of $790,986. Properties are sitting on the market for 73 days on average, the lowest of any area with positive price trends within the confines of the [...]

Nov

Black Friday- get your FDIC coupons here

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

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, [...]

Sep

Ode to the stock market cloud

Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers

The stock market went bonkers today. I hope you aren’t flipping assets. How does someone who is looking to buy or sell a house decipher what is happening on Wall Street? How will all of this turmoil affect them? Sure, it could, and probably will, mean lower interest rates, but any benefit on the housing market could be shadowed by [...]

Sep

Bailout of Freddie Mae & Mac

Posted In: Economy, General Real Estate News, Mortgage & Finance

Rates dropped today about a quarter point, and are the lowest we have seen in 4 months. But just because money is cheaper, it still isn’t easy to get a loan. This article best articulates what all of this means: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/08consumer.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

Sep

Struggling homeowners worry about credit score

Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers, Foreclosures & Short Sales, Mortgage & Finance

Aye aye aye. It’s a sign of the times. Over the last year and a half, the mortgage market has undergone more changes than in any comparable period since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The current housing market malaise has some homeowners up in arms. With the threat of losing their house on their shoulders, the idea of burning [...]