The varied and wonderful Oakland Neighborhoods.

The hills above Oakland, California were, at one time, full of huge forests of trees, some of which were over 30 feet in diameter.  With the demand for lumber by growing San Francisco and Oakland around the turn of 19th century, the lumber industry established itself in the area.  Redwood Road, one of the boundaries of the Redwood Heights neighborhood was a major logging road.  As the nearby Oakmore and Laurel districts began developing along the trolley lines transporting their new residents, Redwood Heights began to grow as well.  One of the first developments was Avenue Terrace, built in the early 1920's.  It's entrance can be seen on 35th Avenue and Victor, where a stone obelisk , believed to be the marker for the area homes defines the area as…

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The recent Bay Area Market Report for the first quarter of 2013 has just been released, and the results are very exciting for Oakland homeowners, and Piedmont home sellers who have been considering putting their home on the market.  Right now, there is a drastic shortage of homes for sale on the market.  As of March 31, 2013, there are only 4098 existing single-family detached homes were listed for sale in the entire nine-county Bay area.  While this is an improvement from the 3.370 homes available as of 12/2012, it is still down 55 % from the 10,282 homes available a year ago to date. 

While home sales have fallen to their lowest level in five years in the Bay Area, once homes are placed on the market, all nine Bay Area counties reported…

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Whether you are moving from an Oakland home to a Berkeley home, or cross country, if you have children, there are extra issues that come into play beyond packing boxes and loading furniture into a moving van. Often these issues get buried under the stress and paperwork of buying one home and selling another.  It is truly a stressful time, and because so much is going on, young children are left out of the planning stages, and are asked to make some major life adjustments at a very confusing time in their life.  If you add to this, the anxiety that might have caused the move, such as a death, divorce or job loss, you realize that time needs to be taken to assure that the transition is as gentle to the children as possible. 

While much of this…

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The busiest home buying season of the year is about to arrive, and it has just developed into one of the best times for sellers in years.  A lot is going on, in and around the San Francisco Bay Area, that affects the value of a Piedmont or Oakland home.  Here are some of the elements at work:

1. Lack of Available Homes On the Market--Throughout the Bay Area, the inventory of available homes is extremely low.  This means that motivated buyers are competing against each other for fewer homes. Additionally, it means that home prices are rising dramatically, as buyers compete fiercely against each other to purchase the limited home stock.  An indication is that last year's February's median single family home price in the immediate nine bay area…

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Once you make the commitment to place your Oakland home on the market, you realize that there will changes that you will have to make to its current condition to appeal to potential buyers. Whether your home is located in Redwood Heights, Montclair, or Rockridge, you will need to consider your selling presentation.  Some things will be easy to do, and others may require some financial investment to make your home competitive in the current marketplace. I, as your Oakland real estate agent will be going over many of these things to assist you in making the best presentation possible.  Here are some of the ideas for consideration:

1. Tour Your Home As a Visitor Would--Go through your home as if you were a brand new visitor.  Ideally, take friends or…

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If you, as a potential buyer, have a genuine interest in an Oakland home, perhaps in Redwood Heights or Rockridge, and intend to view it's Open House, then you should have a list of questions to ask that will give you a real sense of the condition of the home.  This is the time to ask questions and get answers.  Here are some suggestions of things to discover:

1. What Is The Condition of the Floors? You will want to know about the floor condition at every level of the home-top to bottom.  When you enter the home, note the condition of any carpeting.  Is it new, recently clean, or just worn out?  If it is worn out, it may indicate deferred maintenance, which could be reflected elsewhere in the home.  Determine what kind of flooring is beneath the…

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When you begin to consider whether or not you might be able to afford your Piedmont home, you tend to concentrate on the initial sales price, and of course, the monthly mortgage payment.  As I will advise you when we begin considering a home in Oakland or Piedmont, money needs to be set aside for other expected, and, often unexpected, costs that will arise as we move through the purchase process.  While all of these costs may not apply because some of these fees are often negotiated between the buyer and the seller, here is a good summary to consider:

a. Professional Home Inspection Fees: It is very important to have the home thoroughly inspected before making your final purchase.  Costs will vary among areas and size of home, but they are usually…

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As any agent selling in the East Bay area will tell you, there are just not enough homes on the market for number the buyers that want to buy them.  There is a such a severe shortage of homes, that most of those that are currently on the market are getting many, many offers, and often at prices surprisingly higher than the original asking price.  

How did it get to this state?  A recent news report from Realtor.com states that San Francisco area home prices in January were up 23.7% from a year earlier, and in the Oakland metropolitan area, which includes Alameda and Contra Costa counties, prices rose 24.1 %. If you concentrate on just the Montclair and Berkeley areas, that price rise is 17% higher than last year. That percentage should go…

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Recently, in Part 1, we discussed the importance of curb appeal and updating your porch and entrance of your Oakland or Piedmont home. By creating an immediately pleasant first impression, buyers will look forward to the inside of your home.  In Part 2, we will discuss practical and inexpensive ways to reach these goals. 

Here are some suggestions to move ahead:

1. Research Your Neighborhood's Climate To Determine The Best Plants To Purchase And Maintain For Your Area.

a. The Internet is an outstanding source for deciding which plants and grass will grow well around your home.

b. Use all your research resources to do your homework.  Books, neighbors, trips through the neighborhood, etc..

c. Talk with your local nurserymen  They know the…

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Whether you live in an Oakland bungalow, or a large Piedmont mansion, you want your home to have its very best curb appeal to potential buyers.  Your home should stand out among its competitors if you want to be first in the attention of home buyers.  The good news is that you can, with a little planning, make things appealing, and, at the same time do it on a budget.  In Part 1, we will concentrate specifically on first impressions that your home presents. 

Before you begin, you must step away from your home and see it as your neighbors, potential purchasers, and real estate brokers will see it.  This can be a rewarding and informative experience.  What you might see as cozy and cute, might be seen by others as crowded and small.

1. Here Are…

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