Archive for Market
Mortgage Broker info for home buyers
Home buyers that are considering purchasing a home in Oakland, Piedmont or Berkeley California will inevitably find themselves communicating with a mortgage broker or a retail bank about obtaining a mortgage. This short video answers some basic questions about the differences between banks and brokers, what are loan points, reasons to use a local institution […]
How does a late mortgage payment affect my FICO score?
Even in the better parts of the Oakland Hills such as Piedmont, Montclair and Rockridge homeowners occasionally get into a financial pinch that can lead to a late mortgage payment. If you’re delinquent on your mortgage, your credit score will suffer. Everyone knows that. The question is, by how much? Until recently, those answers were […]
Homes Sold in Upper Rockridge Q1 2010
This Upper Rockridge real estate sales report covers single family homes that have sold in Oakland’s Upper Rockridge district during the fourth quarter of 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlLXsY-JR10 Brian Santilena is a resident and has been selling Upper Rockridge 1998. If you would like more details about buying or selling in Upper Rockridge please call Brian directly […]
Upper Rockridge Q4 2009 Homes that have Sold
This Upper Rockridge real estate sales report covers single family homes that have sold in Oakland’s Upper Rockridge district during the fourth quarter of 2009. I am a resident of Upper Rockridge and a long time real estate agent that specializes in the area. You are welcome to contact me via email or call me directly […]
Want to find out if Fannie or Freddie owns your Mortgage?
In the past it has been much more difficult to find out if federally owned mortgage giant Fannie Mae or her brother, Freddie Mac, is the owner of your mortgage. It has become important, because only their loans are eligible for the fedrial governments new refinancing program for people that have less than 20 percent […]
Best house on Brokers Tour November 2, 2009
Monday’s Brokers tour consists of properties in southern and eastern Oakland and the city of Piedmont. There are lots of good properties out there but the one that stood out to me was 6300 Estates Drive in Oakland CA 94611 Oakland’s Piedmont Side of Montclair. It’s a smaller Spanish Mediterranean style home very close to […]
Oakland Real Estate Market 10/13/09
At our Pacific Union office meeting this morning in the Oakland Montclair office some interesting topics were discussed. It is sounding more and more likely that the first time buyer’s tax credit that was implemented as part of the stimulus package will be going away on November 30, 2009. The government has extended the […]
How to successfully negotiate as a home buyer
I can’t believe how many of today’s home Buyers and home Sellers believe that “take it or leave it negotiations” are productive. I’ve negotiated over 200 transactions of my own as well as another 100 for other agents as a real estate office manager in the city of Piedmont. A simple rule that I recommend […]
Pitfalls of purchasing a REO forclosed home in Oakland and Berkeley Hills CA
Though REO (bank owned) properties, foreclosures and short sales are much less common in the Oakland Hills, Berkeley Hills and Piedmont real estate communities, the worsening economy is resulting in these type transactions becoming more prevalent. Many of today’s Oakland Hills home buyers want to see how they can take advantage of this situation. Finding […]
What is a shortsale in oakland hills and berkeley CA
A short sale is a situation when a homeowner is trying to sell their home for less money than they owe on thier mortgage. Economic conditions being what they are, short sales are becomeing more prevelant, even in trophy real estate districts like the Oakland Hills: Montclair, Upper Rockridge, Broadway Terrace, Berkeley: North Berkeley, Elmwood, Claremont […]
BRIAN SANTILENA
