First Time Home Buyers

Apr

To arm or alarm?

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Maintenance

One of the worst things about showing a house is when there is an alarm on it. Sure, the listing agent does their best to explain to you how to deactivate it, but that doesn’t always help when your heart rate is shooting through the roof and all you can hear is the “beep…beep…beep.” At one house, neither the client [...]

Mar

The East Bay market- it’s on fire!!

Posted In: Berkeley, El Cerrito, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Listings, Local Market Statistics, Oakland

It’s hot, hot, hot! Despite what the media has portrayed over the past 6 months, our market still has its game. Last week a 2 bedroom/1 bath home in El Cerrito had 8 offers. Two weeks ago a condo in North Oakland had 5 offers. This week a 2 bedroom/1 bath home in the Berkeley Hills had 16 offers. Next [...]

Nov

Payback for remodeling?

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance

“Help! If I remodel my kitchen will I recoup the cost when I sell?” The “Cost vs. Value Report” is published each year by Remodeling Magazine and gives you a city-by-city guide on what 25 common remodeling projects will pay back at resale in 60 U.S. markets. The project with the highest resale potential in the Bay Area? Replacing wooden [...]

Oct

Mr. Bubble is for the tubs: 2007 Market Forecast

Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Local Market Statistics

Hmmmm…so the results are in. The median home PRICE in California is expected to drip, er, drop 2% in 2007 while home sales will drop 7% compared to 2006. But what about us here in the Bay Area? Chris Thornberg, an economist with Bay Area-based Beacon Economics claims “The market is flat and the bubble has popped.” Ouch, that is [...]