First Time Home Buyers

Aug

NEW LISTING :: 1630 Belvedere Ave., Berkeley

Posted In: Berkeley, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Listings

New Listing – 1630 Belvedere Ave. in Berkeley! You know how sometimes it just feels good? When the house has a certain je ne sais quoi? This is one of those, the house that my 7 year old has deemed “The Coolster House.” 1630 Belvedere in Berkeley is a sparking, 2 bed/1 bath home, completely remodeled top to bottom. It [...]

Apr

New Listing: 7343 Schmidt, El Cerrito

Posted In: El Cerrito, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Listings

I am so excited about my new El Cerrito listing. It isn’t everyday you come across a family who has lived in their house since it was built. It isn’t everyday you come across a person who physically built their retaining wall in the backyard out of rocks from the old El Cerrito rock quarry. It isn’t everyday you sit [...]

Jan

Sean O’toole’s California Forecast for 2013

Posted In: Court and Auctions, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Foreclosures & Short Sales, General Real Estate News, Local Market Statistics, Mortgage & Finance

Interesting article from www.foreclosuretruth.com http://www.foreclosuretruth.com/blog/sean/california-forecast-for-2013-more-of-the-same-save-the-black-swan/#comments I actually agree with most of this article, with my key thoughts being: In our neck of the woods trustee sale investors (think large suitcases full of cash on the courthouse steps) are seeing more competition but still finding amazing deals. Most are not banking on large ROI’s anymore, just looking to make a few [...]

Nov

Low Inventory Nationwide

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

In my last newsletter I talked about the super crazy low inventory, not just here in the Bay, but nationwide. It seems that low inventory is a problem in many areas across the country. We are fortunate here in the Bay Area because we are recovering a lot faster than many of these other areas with appreciation rates averaging 8% [...]

Sep

Low Low Inventory!

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

Prices up, multiple offers up, buyers up…BUT Inventory is down. Check it: This is why I am no longer just in the business of selling homes, I am now in the business of offer-writing!

Sep

Happy House Hunting Humor

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Good ol' Fashion Humor

Mar

Thursday Broker’s Tour

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

43 homes on tour this week from Richmond – Oakland. Up a tiny bit from last week, but not much. Low inventory continues to lead to multiple offers on many homes. It also seems like there are more traditional sales and less distressed in the past few weeks.

Mar

Best Year to Buy in Decades?

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, General Real Estate News

I just posted an article from aol real estate entitled “Could 2012 be the Best Year to Buy a Home in Decades” to my Facebook page, but wanted to dive into it here. Here is the short of it: Y E S!!! The answer is yes. According to the article “home prices have plummeted 34%,” “mortgage rates continue to hover around [...]

Mar

43 Homes Open Today for Broker’s Tour

Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, General Real Estate News

T I M E T O S E L L Low low inventory means fewer houses for us to preview. I don’t recall, with the exception of nearing a holiday, the numbers ever being so low. Unbelievable. It is no wonder we are seeing so many multiple offers. Click here to see a copy of this weeks tour: [...]

Feb

Expired Rate Lock Can Cost You

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

Just received this from a mortgage broker with RPM Mortgage in Berkeley: “Keep in mind that there will be a pretty hefty lock extension fee if an escrow extends past the original lock period. Any delays could be quite costly to the buyer.” Attention buyers: don’t delay on jumping in and starting your inspections and negotiations, and be you and [...]