Archive for Buyers

Buy an Oakland, Piedmont Berkeley home with cash now and finance it later

October 19th, 2013

Delayed financing is as good as all cash. Needless to say, the Oakland, Piedmont and Berkeley real estate markets are super heated.  Low inventory and pent up buyer demand combined with low interest rates are making for heavily competitive environment.  Even when a Buyer steps up and offers a seller thousands, tens of thousands or […]

Buying a home in today’s Oakland, Piedmont and Berkeley’s real estate market.

May 29th, 2013

5 things you need to know about- Buying a home in today’s Oakland, Piedmont and Berkeley’s real estate market.   1- Get Pre approved.  What’s the difference between Pre approved and Pre qualified?  Pre approvals are based off answers to questions, pre approvals are based off of what you proven via documentation.  In other words, […]

Oakland’s Piedmont Ave. Neighborhood

May 28th, 2013

While Oakland’s Rockridge seems to get most of the press, Oakland’s Piedmont Ave. Neighborhood has lots of the same desirable features.  Great restaurants, plenty of coffee shops, local independent stores and homes that offer loads of character.  Known for its tight “neighborhood feel” and highly walkable, Oakland’s Piedmont Ave. has a little something for everyone.  […]

Oakland CA Ranks Among Nation’s Top Ten “Green” Cities for Real Estate and more

May 7th, 2013

Did you know that Oakland, CA has been ranked as one of the nation’s top ten “greenest cities”?  Oakland has the country’s cleanest, freshest tap water; access to an abundance of fresh, locally-grown, organic food; and a hydrogen-powered public transit system. Growing food locally reduces waste and carbon emissions.  Oakland already gets 17% of its […]

City of Oakland real estate transfer tax?

May 5th, 2013

Does the city of Oakland have a real estate transfer tax?  The answer is YES.  It is equal to 1.5% of the sale price. ($15/ thousand of sale price)  In a typical real estate transaction it is customary for the Seller to pay 50% and the Buyer to pay 50%.  The county of Alameda imposes […]

Writing an offer letter when purchasing a home in Oakland, Piedmont & Berkeley CA

April 28th, 2013

I’ve been selling homes and real estate in Oakland, Piedmont and Berkeley California for 15 years and one thing for sure is that the real estate market is constantly changing.  One thing that remains the same is that home Sellers tend to want to do business with people they like.  That is why an offer […]

The Bay Area real estate market is HOT!

January 18th, 2013

The Bay Area real estate market and especially homes for sale in Oakland, Piedmont and Berkeley.  They are HOT, HOT, HOT!  And it’s heating up even more as we enter the spring market.  SF Gate just did a story on this exact topic.  Low rates and low inventory are combining for one competitive market.  Multiple offers are […]

Top tax questions homeowners must ask

January 10th, 2013

Anybody that ownes a home or is considering buying a home in Oakland, Piedmont or Berkeley should consider the answers to the following important tax questions: What tax benefits did homeowners get in the recent ‘fiscal cliff’ budget agreement? What are the home related tax deductions people most often claim? What is the #1 mistake […]

Video of Homes in Oakland, Piedmont & Berkeley CA

November 14th, 2012

So where do you want to live?  Homes in Oakland, Piedmont and Berkeley come in all sizes, shapes and price points.  From Contemporary view homes to Beaux Arts estates to Mediterrinean Bungalows, the area offers something for everybody.  And, at a value when compared to San Francisco prices.  See available area homes for sale.https://vimeo.com/51715564  

So how do you get the best deal when buying a home in Oakland Piedmont or Berkeley CA?

October 1st, 2012

So how do you get the best deal when buying a home in Oakland Piedmont or Berkeley CA? Here is what I think. You just need to do one or more of the following things: #1 Buy a home that is not attractive to other prospective buyers. #2 Be willing to put up with a […]