My Piedmont and Oakland Real Estate Adventures. History, Architecture and Homes - Bruce Wagg

Christmas lights at Oakland's Mormon Temple in Lincoln Heights

No matter what your belief or religion, if you have never seen the Christmas light display that Oakland's Mormon Temple puts on, be sure to drop by this season. Although easily seen from many areas of the East Bay, the temple is located at 4770 Lincoln Blvd in Lincoln Heights. Just west of Woodminster, Joaquin Miller Park and Highway 13. I must admit that when I was a kid, I thought that the temple was a castle and a king and queen use to live there. Drop by with your own kids, it is quite a sight.

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Thinking of leaving Oakland and the East Bay behind? Try Hawaii! Luxury Condo for Rent In Kapaula

If your thinking Hawaii might be a nice place to go this winter, look no farther than this beautiful place in the Kapalua resort on Maui. Watch the whales and dolphins from the lanai while you sip your Mai Tai. You might not want to ever see the rest of the island.

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Stately Colonial Revival in Alameda's Gold Coast $1,385,000

Still known to many as Dr. Boone's house, named for the Alameda fixture who owned it for years, 1000 Grand St. in Alameda's Gold Coast has come on the market for $1,385,000. The sprawling 4 bedroom 3 bath Colonial revival home sits on over a 1/4 acre with an abundance of original details that were retained over the years. The architech was C.H Russell who also designed the Joseph Leonard House at the foot of Union St. Theporte cochère that used to sit on the West side of the home has been turned into a sitting room, but portions of the wrap around porch are still used today. Alameda's Fourth of July parade passes right in front of this massive home. The carpets have recently been removed to reveal the quarter-sawn parquet oak flooring. The dining room's…

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How buying an Oakland REO property really works

It would be funny if it wasn't so true!

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Green Day's singer puts his Oakland CA mansion on the market for $4.85 Million

Green Day’s frontman, guitarist Billy Joe Armstrong, has just added his Oakland, California estate to the luxury market. The 5 bedroom Mediterranean / Normandy estate was built for Armstrong back in 1998 by architect Mark Becker and features over a half acre lot, pool with pool house and an open floor plan. Located in the Claremont Pines area of Oakland, the mansion has wonderful views for the San Francsico Bay. Boasting lots of unique ironwork, a rough-hewn beamed rotunda and, of course, a music studio, the home also includes a winding brick staircase. The remains of a 1911 'Red Gate' mansion designed by Julia Morgan.

While most of the house has been redecorated, there are a few vestiges of Billie Joes' taste, including a bathroom adjacent to the…

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Vintage Oakland Film - Alaska Packer's sailing ships and the 'new' Oakland Airport

This is the next part of the vintage Oakland real estate developer movie from the 1920's that documents the building of Oakland's 9th St pier and the famous Alaska Packers Fishing Fleet of sailing ships with their big masts. They also show the "new" Oakland airport which cost over a million dollars to built. The lineup of biplanes and old aircraft are great to see.

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Oakland real estate film from the 20's and Heinold's Saloon

I found some great vintage footage from the 20's that a real estate developer made of the Oakland area. It was trumpeting all of the great things about the Oakland in regards to shipping and transportation. Oakland had one of the largest train hubs and continues to have one of the largest shipping ports on the west coast. There are some great shots of Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon built in 1883, it looks the same today as it did back then. The name was based upon the fact that Alameda was a 'dry' town. If you were coming or going to Alameda on the ferry, Heinold's was your first and last chance to get a drink. There are also some great shots of the Tribune tower and downtown Oakland as well as the shipping ports that made Oakland famous. I will…

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My 15 minutes of Fame -- The Internet and Real Estate on NBC channel 11 at 6pm

I just finished filming a feature story for NBC Channel 11 with Tech and Business reporter Scott Budman about the Internet and Real Estate. It should be on tonight at 6pm during the Business segment. Hopefully I don't end up all over the editing room floor. Scott is an old friend from Oakland, an award winning journalist and father of two. You can see the video here. Click Here

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1st Quarter housing figures are in for Bay Area home sales

The figures for the 1st quarter have come in with some predictable results. Housing sales are way up (almost 200% in Hayward!) with the bulk of these sales in the lower end markets. Foreclosures have been the bread and butter of this market with Short Sales and REOs bringing in buyers from all over. I've had one eager man in New Zealand who has been buying up properties in Richmond.

The low interest rates combined with the $8000 tax credit has made first-time buyers and investors dive into affordable East Bay and Oakland Real Estate. The median sales price of homes sold has dropped dramatically because of the focus on the lower end market. The median price of a Oakland home sale has dropped 70% since the same quarter last year. While many areas of…

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Somali Pirates invading Oakland!?!

 Ok forgive the sensationalism I just wanted to  welcome back Capt. Richard Phillips who was held hostage by the Somali pirates. What an ordeal, I can't imagine. It was just a nice day at the Union Point Park in Oakland again. I caught site of this beautiful ship tied up at the harbor and . The pirates wish they could command a boat this regal.

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