For Buyers

Aug

Hiring A Contractor? Read This.

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

Have you ever been put into that awkward situation where your clients have hired someone who is an expert in their field, and the information they are providing is just plain wrong? I was recently showing property to some buyers who brought their contractor along to look at the kitchen. We were looking at the stove, and the contractor made [...]

Jul

It is what it is but it isn’t…

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

I love Mary’s Gone Crackers, but I am not sure that this is the best use of their marketing dollars. Comparing these crackers to a rock? Who would want to eat a rock? These crackers are crunchy, earthy, and healthy, and they go great with hummus. But if I hadn’t already tried them, this ad, posted on the side of [...]

Jun

Albany, CA Real Estate Stats

Posted In: Albany, For Buyers, For Sellers, Local Market Statistics

Here are the latest stats for single family homes in Albany.

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 [...]

Jan

Albany Market Snapshot

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

Albany Market Snap Shot The Albany market is getting hotter now that the New Year is underway. Based on current levels of supply and demand I don’t see the trend in price increasing much, if at all. I can’t believe that last month the Average Sales Price for Albany was in the mid-$350k range. But with a large amount of [...]

Jan

East Bay Real Estate Predictions for 2012

Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Foreclosures & Short Sales, General Real Estate News

During tour today my colleagues and I were discussing what we thought the market would do in 2012. One said she felt that the Berkeley market, specifically, would see an increase in appreciation of 2% – 3% due to a lack of inventory. “There are so many buyers looking for homes and without inventory, we will see a lot of [...]

Nov

Albany Prices

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

Albany prices are still on a downward trend. However if you look at the last 2 years prices start to go up around late January/February. In the market? Time to catch the bottom of the wave before it goes back up.