It is an exciting time as you begin to look for your new Alameda or Alameda Bay Farm Island Home.  There are so many issues to be considered.  My job, as your real estate agent is to place you in the very best home that meets both your financial and personal priorities. 

If you are like most future home owners, you have created a rather extensive list of ideal things that you would like to see in your new house. The key to getting what you want in the most practical and affordable manner is to isolate your highest priorities, and work with them first.  If you can tell me, as your agent, your most important issues, we can focus on them first, and move you ahead quickly.  With fewer homes on the market right now in many areas, a prompt and…

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When we put your Alameda home on the market, there will be many potential buyers and brokers wanting to view it to see if it will meet their needs.  Together, we will create a plan to present your home in the most attractive way possible, but there is one step that makes a huge difference in the overall look--getting rid of clutter.

While this seems obvious, it is often a very difficult thing to do, because of the emotional attachment that family members have towards the items in their various rooms.  However, it becomes necessary because it is important that buyers can envision themselves in your home.  It needs to be as open and inviting as possible to achieve this goal.

Here are some simple, and inexpensive ways to get the job done:

1. Remove…

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While most Piedmont homeowners are used to commuting to San Francisco and Oakland by car or BART, the early 1900's offered an efficient trip as well. Begun in 1903, utilizing 4 car trains, the Key System collected passengers from all over the East Bay and took them to ferry piers in Berkeley, and later Oakland, for their final passage by water to San Francisco.

The term "Key System" came from the concept of the image of a key with three loops at the top, a shaft for the key which was the system's pier, and the teeth of the key was seen as the various ferry berths at the end of these piers. The three loops were the cities of Berkeley, Oakland and Piedmont.

 Below is a picture of the early station at 41st Street and Piedmont Avenue.  Note the two…

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When shopping for a Berkeley home, it may look as though the prices are quite high in some neighborhoods, but they are rather low when compared to the recent list of America's Most Expensive Homes that was compiled by the website 24/7 Wall Street.

California cities compose five of the top ten on this list of the nation's most expensive homes.  Interestingly, many of these locations are not well known nationwide, because many are small suburbs of larger, more familiar, and wealthier cities. Below is information about the final tallies, but listing only the California homes.

An example of this relationship of small to larger city is the Number Two Most Expensive Home Neighborhood of--Ross, California.  A tiny town across the bay from San Francisco…

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To get the full value for your Oakland home, you will need to present it to potential buyers at its very best.  While this seems obvious, there is often, in some homes, a feature that will often deter many future buyers from seriously considering the purchase.  That feature is the presence of damage or odor due to problematic pets in the home--whether dogs, cats, birds, etc.. 

All of us have had puppies and kittens, and know that it takes time for them to settle into their new homes.  There is often a lot of damage that can be caused during this short period of time, however, and the issues need to be dealt with before the home is placed on the market.

Additionally, the day to day issues surrounding pets need to be prepared for as well.  Here are…

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It is typical for all of us to start a new year with high hopes and determined plans.  If your plan is to purchase an Oakland home this year, you should know what your options will be, so that you can move towards your goal sooner, rather than later, in 2013.

If you would like to have a general idea of the type of home that you can afford, there is a quick and easy way to determine this by going to www.bankrate.com, and then to their calculator section.  While the information here is very generic, you will have something to consider.  As your Oakland real estate agent, I will be assisting you in much more specific and detailed ways as we begin your home search in earnest. 

Here are the steps that you will follow:

1. Enter your expected mortgage…

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When it comes time to consider selling your Piedmont, CA home, you will want to have a realistic expectation as to its value, especially if you need to sell it to purchase another home.  You do not want it to sit on the market for weeks, or even months, because it has not attracted buyers.

Here are a few things that you should do before settling on any firm pricing:

1. Compare and Contrast--With the amazing availability of real estate web sites showing  homes for sale in your area, coupled with a detailed description and picture of each, you should have an excellent overview of what the price range should be for homes in Piedmont, or even nearby Oakland homes. 

2. Take a Hard Look At The Facts--While it might be nice to imagine your home bringing…

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While it is my job as your Berkeley real estate agent to assist you in selling your Berkeley home, and then find you a new home in a new location, it is also important that we analyze your future plans to make sure that you have a full awareness of all these selling and buying implications, and how they will meet your needs.

Here are some issues we will consider:

1. What Are Your Future Plans For Next 5-10 years?   While no one can predict the sale price of homes in the next few years, some neighborhoods are obviously overpriced, and some are the opposite, and will show a profit if purchased now, rather than later.  If your present or future home will fall into either of these categories, it is important to know that at the outset to make sale or…

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If you have been reading any information about preparing your Piedmont home for sale, you will have learned that the most important elements that impress potential buyers are new hardwood floors, upgraded kitchens, and fresh new bathrooms.  While these are certainly ideal projects to develop, there are some unexpected projects that impress buyers as well:

1. A Simple, Well Thought Out Entryway--Since this is one of the very first things that guests see in your home, take the time to research and develop an attractive home entrance.  Have it be light and airy, simple yet tasteful, and one that fits the design of the home.  It will make a wonderful first impression to assist in your sale.

2. Upgraded Lighting--Most home improvement centers have a…

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This weekend, Saturday, December 15th promises holiday fun for Piedmont families.  Three events are scheduled that should start the holiday season off with a smile:

a. Highland Partners Breakfast With Santa--I am pleased to say that my real estate firm, Highland Partners, has invited Piedmont families to drop by and meet with Santa, and have a picture to take home showing Santa with each child who wants to speak with him.  There will be good things from our espresso cart, and all ages are welcome.  Drop by 342 Highland Blvd. from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00.p.m. to join this annual holiday event.  There is no fee for all this fun.

a. 4th Annual Santa Breakfast--Piedmont Park and Exedra Plaza--711 Highland Avenue-- from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m..  Lots of…

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