Buying An Oakland Or Piedmont Home This Year-The Best Plan

If you and your family have a serious intent to purchase a new Oakland or Piedmont home this year, it is especially important to have an efficient plan in place, since you will be competing, in some neighborhoods, in a marketplace with very limited housing stock to work with, so your competition may be challenging.  

Here are some steps to take to place yourself in the best possible position to be considered immediately by sellers:

1. Before You Begin Your Search--Be very clear about your needs from the outset. Be specific as to what you must have, and what you can waive when viewing a potential home.  What things are the most important to your family, and thus nonstarters, and what would be nice, but not mandatory?   

2. Know Your Financial…

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Buying An Oakland Condominium or Townhouse-An Excellent Idea

Oakland has always offered a wide variety of single-family homes, but in many neighborhoods the supply of available houses has often been lower than buyer demand. That imbalance can create serious competition, especially in popular areas close to BART, Lake Merritt, downtown Oakland, Jack London Square, Piedmont Avenue, Rockridge, and other established neighborhoods.

For many buyers, Oakland condominiums, townhomes, and lofts can offer a smart alternative. These properties often provide a lower-maintenance lifestyle, convenient locations, and a more accessible entry point into the Oakland real estate market compared with many single-family homes.

Oakland has also seen continued growth in condo, townhouse, and loft options, especially around…

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Oakland Neighborhoods Offer Outstanding Homes For Sale

Search for Oakland Real Estate By Neighborhood

Use this list to search the diverse Oakland neighborhoods for homes and condos. Oakland is a great city, and offers unique experiences and architecture in each and every community. Here are just a few of the 100+ neighborhoods in the city. 

Oakland Neighborhoods

E-mail or call me on my direct line (510) 517-6280. I can arrange immediate viewings or provide additional information any Oakland…

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Selling Your Oakland Home-Four Problems To Solve

When it comes time to sell your Oakland or Piedmont home, there are four guaranteed problems that future buyers will be concerned about.  These are not surprising, but are often overlooked while you looking for a new home, and preparing to move forward elsewhere.

1. Clutter-As I have indicated in the past, paring down your home to its most basic design, and showing off it's original floor plan it highly desirable.  Potential buyers want as little of your influence in the rooms as possible.  They want to see lots of space, and also want to imagine their things in the home to see if it will fit their needs.  Keep the rooms handsome, but simple.  

2. Outdated Fixtures-Many times, especially if you have been in your home for years, you have…

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Holiday Ice Skating Opportunities In The East Bay and San Francisco

For much of the rest of the United States, snow and ice are not much fun during the holiday season.  But for those who have moved here from colder climes, or have always wanted to ice skate in the San Francisco Bay area, opportunities exist for friends and families to don skates and glide around an ice rink especially designed to bring winter to town.  All of these venues have hours that should meet the needs of the most determined skater, and many offer skating lessons as well.  

1. San Francisco--Union Square Ice Rink-This rink makes an appearance during December, and is a classic site each year for those shopping in downtown San Francisco.  Sitting in the middle of wonderful shops, stores and boutiques and facing Macy's famous Christmas…

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Selling Your Oakland Home-How To Determine The Best Price

When the time comes to sell your Oakland or Piedmont home, you will receive all kinds of advice from friends and family as to the price that you should be selling it for.  While all of this advice is well meant, the final price should be based on hard facts that take into account the current marketplace which includes your neighborhood, your competition, and the vitality of the area economy.  

If you are going to move ahead in the most effective manner, you need information, and lots of it.  Here are some excellent sources:

1. Start With My Website: www.brucewagg.com- Here is where we begin work together to begin your pricing process. My site allows you to view the most comprehensive, and up to date Multiple Listing Service information about…

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Oakland's Historic Dunsmuir Hellman Estate's Holiday Celebration

 Each year the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate holds a memorable Christmas holiday celebration at this handsome 37 room mansion in the Oakland hills.  In keeping with the history of this home, an Edwardian holiday theme has been created so you can experience the Christmas of the period.  Each room will be decorated with holiday trees, festive decorations, garlands and antiques to truly put you into the mood of the season.  It will be held on December 13th and 14th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  

After your tour, there are a number of places to visit and browse.  You can have a lunch at the Winter Cafe, and, if you reserve a space ahead of time, you and your family can share a Morning Brunch With Santa, which also includes planned activities for…

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Selling Your Oakland Home--How To Create Outstanding Curb Appeal

Whether you are selling a Montclair view home, or an cozy Oakland bungalow, you want to create instant appeal for potential buyers.  No matter how handsome your home is on the inside, if the outside creates a poor initial impression, buyers will never want to see the inside.  With the advent of websites listing homes for sale in every area, they are going to drive right by your home well before they put it on a list for viewing, so be prepared for them.

Many of the suggestions below do not cost a great deal of money. The most difficult part in this process is to step away from your home, and view it as a neighbor or future buyer might see it for the very first time, and be willing to accept that changes may have to be made to sell the home.…

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Oakland's Jack London Square 2014 Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

There are many annual tree lighting ceremonies in and around Oakland, but one of the most consistently popular ones has been the annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree in Jack London Square, located at the foot of Broadway in Oakland.  There will be so much going on from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. designed for all ages, that the choices will be difficult.   

If Christmas shopping is your intent, local artisans will be on hand with their crafts at 90 Holiday Pop Up sites for your consideration.  If you are looking for delightful entertainment, you can choose from the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees, the Oakland Ballet Sugar Plum Fairies, a  Jingle Bell Dance Contest, plus seasonal music and costumed Christmas characters to put you in the holiday mood.  Other…

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The Oakland Mormon Temple Christmas Lighting-Come Enjoy The Magic

Every year, a month or so before Christmas, the Oakland Mormon Temple enchants all of Oakland with its amazing hillside lighting of the Temple and its grounds.  Visible for miles around because of this prominent location, these enchanting lights help celebrate the Christmas Season.  Many families make the annual trip to tour the grounds, and to see the views of the holiday lighting around the San Francisco Bay.  This year, as always, the "Magical Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony" will be accompanied by holiday music presented by singers, dancers, a choir and an orchestra, which promises a special event.  

If you would like to be a part of this delightful event, make plans to attend Saturday, November 29th, at 6:00 p.m. at Temple Hill, 4770 Lincoln…

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