General Real Estate Tips and Advice

This design concept of a 26 story residential tower at Jack London Square furnished by Ellis Partners.

Recently, Oakland Tribune writer Matthew Artz wrote an article relating that the development company Ellis Partners is interested in placing two residential towers amid the current hustle and bustle of Jack London Square shops and restaurants.  One tower would be 17 stories tall, and the other is projected to be 26 stories.  (see above)

Sides have been drawn up among supporters, and those not in agreement with the project.  Downtown Oakland has been, over the years, slowly growing and changing.  Within the last 7-10 years, the Fox Theater area, the Jack London area and adjacent neighborhoods have seen new homes, restaurants, entertainment and…

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 If you want your Oakland home to stand out among the competition, you will want to make it attractive and memorable.  To do that,  take some basic steps that can, with a little planning, be reasonable financially, and can cause your house to be remarkable.  Although I will have suggestions to help you get ready for your Open Home, here are some basic concepts that work well:

1. Create Outstanding Curb Appeal--This means refreshing your front yard, trimming trees and bushes, planting flowers and weeding gardens.  Don't stop there, however.  With a little bit of paint, touch up the front door (consider an attractive, contrasting color) and window trim.  Add new house numbers, and upgrade your outside porch lamp.  This first step is extremely…

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If you have yet to spend time at Oakland's Jack London Square, this weekend would be an outstanding time to visit.  Traditionally, on Sundays, you will always find the Jack London Farmer's Market that features fun, music, and food of every description--fruits, vegetables and greens, nuts, baked bread and pastries, and a wide sampling of food to eat.  But that is just a start this weekend.

The artists of the East Bay Open Studios at Jack London Square are inviting you to come and see the truly amazing and varied art that they are offering for sale. Paintings, sculptures, jewelry, furniture, glasswork and photographic art will be available for purchase.  If you have just bought a home, or have a special place in your present home for a piece…

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Adams Point neighborhood near Lake Merritt in Oakland

The Adams Point neighborhood of Oakland sits just above the northern end of scenic Lake Merritt. For buyers looking for a condominium in one of Oakland’s most convenient central locations, Adams Point is one of the first areas worth considering.

Adams Point offers a strong mix of location, walkability, and access to daily amenities. From many parts of the neighborhood, residents can reach Grand Avenue, Lakeshore Avenue, Lake Merritt, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, coffee shops, restaurants, and neighborhood services without needing to drive everywhere. That combination has made Adams Point especially popular with condo buyers who want an Oakland lifestyle close to the lake and downtown.

Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Avenue are two of the area’s biggest…

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There are so many reasons for considering buying a condominium, and, right now, in the Oakland area, there are an amazing number of condos and lofts available in every possible price range. Many are located in or near the downtown area among colorful artist studios, wonderful and imaginative restaurants, and handy work and transportation sources.

This would be an excellent time to put this purchase of a loft or condo into your real estate plans.  Here are some benefits of owning either:

1. Lofts or Condos tend to be an excellent first step to getting into the real estate market.  Their initial price is reasonable, and even with homeowner association fees, the monthly cost can beat a single family home for those just entering the housing market. …

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If you are interested in selling your Alameda home quickly, and have a buyer that has yet to take the final step to committing to purchase, you may want to consider these suggestions below.  Most of these steps involve a financial reward to this motivated buyer, but if you are anxious to move ahead, and are financially comfortable taking these steps, you may be surprised at the results.  Here are some tips to consider:

1.Offer To Pay For The Home Inspection And/Or The Resultant Repairs Needed--Usually, it is the buyer who will pay for the home inspections as a way to insure that all is going to be well with the new home.  They also like working with their own inspector, rather than the seller's.  Work with the buyer either way. Negotiate who will…

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If you are new to Piedmont, whether you come from nearby San Francisco, or across the continent from the New England area, you most certainly should discover the Piedmont Neighbors and Newcomers Club (PNNC). Their goal is to make their newest neighbors comfortable and involved with the community.  The good news is that you can participate in  as many activities as your schedule will permit- since there is such a variety-or you can choose to attend just a few things throughout the year.   Also, you can stay with the club as long as you like.  It is not restricted to newcomers, and many of your neighbors are long time members.   

Their events are scheduled both as evening and daytime events, so that attending the ones that interest you is easier. …

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Onr of the most effective tools in staging your home for sale is the act of "decluttering".  If you have lived in your Oakland or Piedmont home for any period of time, you have started to accumulate all kinds of books, toys, storage boxes full of papers, etc.. that you find handy and comfortable while living there.  When you put you home on the market, however, you will need to address this issue of crowded or cluttered rooms before you show it. 

Why is this important? Why bother?  There are two very important reasons for taking the time:

a. Buyers Need to Envision How Your Home Will Fit Their Needs--They need to see a simple presentation of each room.  They don't want to see an old football trophy, or an award given for raising Boy Scout funds…

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In Part 1, we stressed the need for having your paperwork in hand for all of the changes that you had made to your home while you were there. A special focus was to be those changes that would make it a unique and special place, when compared to your competition.  In Part 2, we will deal with issues in your Oakland home that will need to be disclosed to buyers. The goal--speed your sale by having all decisions and issues addressed, thus putting you in a position to act promptly to offers received, and again, often putting you ahead of other sellers in the marketplace.

1. Deal With Issues That Must Be Disclosed to Potential Buyers-

Most homes have things that need to be addressed-whether a leak in the bathroom, or a chimney that might need…

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STEP ONE--Deciding On The Price of Your Home-

Once you have made the decision to put your home on the market, it will be my job as your Oakland real estate agent to help you begin to take the important steps in determing its ultimate sales price.   I will certainly do a CMA-a Comparative Market Analysis-when we first meet.  That will give a sense of what your home might sell for compared to other homes in the area.  It is important to know that the CMA is the not the only basis that should be used for pricing your home. Your home is unique from all these others.  You can make it stand out from the competition.

STEP TWO--Prove Your Home Is Special To Buyers--

There can be some very productive homework that you can do that might just make your…

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