The varied and wonderful Oakland Neighborhoods.

 

One of the benefits of living in a cosmopolitan area like Oakland is the vital arts and music scene, that appears to be growing steadily as new venues open in the Uptown and Jack London Square area.   

To introduce the uninitiated into the joys of jazz, the Oakland Library has been sponsoring a "Sunday Jazz, History, and Jam Session".  This Sunday afternoon, August 17th from 3-6 p.m., you are invited to Golden Gate Public Library at 5606 San Pablo Avenue to learn about, and hear jazz.  The schedule includes a variety of activities.  From 3-4 p.m., you can hear live jazz in the form of Terrance Brewer and Group, and then be entertained about the history of jazz, which will be offered by Randy Moore from 4:30-5 p.m..  A final closeout that…

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You are looking for that very special Oakland home for you and your family.  As with most buyers, you may be concerned whether you will qualify financially, so that when you find your perfect home, it can be yours.  While this is a very common concern, the more you know about "how much home" you can buy, the more comfortable you will be as you begin your search.  Below, is an overview of what lenders will be looking for when they consider your loan application.  While this is not the final list of things they look at, and there are many more issues involved, below is a general overview of what is looked at by lenders:

Overall, they are concerned about three things regarding future borrowers:

1. Your Credit Rating:  Your credit rating…

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The LAUREL DISTRICT of Oakland has always had a popular annual Laurel Street Fair that attracts both local neighbors and  visitors from every part of the city. It's attendance has been estimated to reach 8000 people, and it offers a wide variety of food and entertainment. It is now celebrating it's 15th Anniversary this Saturday, August 9th, and promises to be a lot of fun for visitors of all ages. 

It is held on MacArthur Boulevard between 35th and 38th Streets, from 11:00m a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. As you browse through the fair, you will see foods, information booths, crafts of every kind, merchandise for sale, a fashion show, and music is being offered hourly to add to the atmosphere.  Bands are offering everthing from lion dances, samba funk,…

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Recently, the website Bankrate.com published an article written by Jay MacDonald that listed the top things that turned buyers off when viewing a home for purchase.  He surveyed a group of real estate agents across the U.S., and came up with an interesting list for all sellers to consider and prepare for before putting their home on the market. I have included the highlights for your use. Most of these issues do not need to cost a great deal of money to deal with, which is good news for sellers. 

My job, as your Seller's Agent, it to make sure that your home presents the best possible first impression.  Here are some things that we, as agent and seller, will be addressing as you put your home on the market.

THINGS THAT DISTURB POTENTIAL BUYERS:

…

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Discover Gracious Living In the Oakland Hills. Sort by: Price, Low to High Price, High to Low  

Panoramic Views From Nearly Every Room! Situate...

$2,000,000 City: Oakland, CA Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Type: Single Family MLS® #: 40663294 Price: $2,000,000 City: Oakland Beds: 3 Baths: 2 Type: Single Family MLS® #: 40663294

Panoramic Views From Nearly Every Room! Situated On Private Cul-de-sac, Lot W/ Landscaped Areas. ...

Photo of Listing #40663294 View Details Save to Favorites Map

Stunning Views Of Bay Bridge, Sf, Golden Gate! ...

$1,899,000 City: Oakland, CA Beds: 4 Baths: 3 Type: Single Family MLS® #: 40659413…

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Actually, the question should be "Why not choose Oakland?". As a city, it's central location on the coast makes an ideal departure site for nearby San Francisco or busy San Jose.  It is short distance from scenic coastal towns like Monterey or Mendocino, or the nearby wine country of Napa and Sonoma counties.  
Looking for your own personal scenic views?

  feb_2009_044_400The hills above Oakland gives you a panoramic view in every direction. Enjoy water sports? The Oakland estuary offers everything from small kayaks to sailboat racing on weeknights, to the bright white Coast Guard cutters making ready for long offshore trips.
Enjoy mountain views?  The Claremont and Montclair neighborhoods have streets lined with ecalyptus, pine, manzanita and fir trees, causing you…

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You have just bought a new Montclair home, and you are excited about moving in.  Moving household goods has always been a challenge, whether you do it all on your own, or leave it totally in the hands of professional movers.  No matter which way you go, moving costs build up as time is accumulated, so you want to save as much time as possible.  Since professional movers charge you by the hour, and truck rentals are by the day, time is money, so here are some tips to save you both:

1. Measure Everything:  Before you decide to take beds, sofas, tables, dining room tables and chairs, etc., measure exactly the sizes of each room that they will be going into, and then the chosen pieces you want to take.  Take the time to draw out a floor plan to…

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The city of Oakland has more than 100 neighborhoods--some are quite big, and some are surprisingly small.  Each is unique in character, history and home design.  In some areas, there will be homes that are entirely single family ranch, while in others, they are super modern, and sit atop a high hill with unfettered views of San Francisco.  Some neighborhoods offer a rich cultural history, and others brag about their very unique shops, stores and restaurants. 

 

   To get you started on your search for a home or condominium, I have created a list of some neighborhoods that may interest you. While there are more, of course, this should give you a strong sense of your many choices.  DISCOVER OAKLAND NEIGHBORHOODS & HOMES FOR…

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In a very recent survey by DataQuick, it was revealed that current 2014 home prices in most cities in the East Bay were trending upwards compared to the same point in time in 2013.

While there are many causes, many of them seasonal, and some reflecting both national and local financial issues, there is no doubt that there has been a change.  Most real estate professionals have seen it as well.  Homes that have been placed on the market at a competitive price, have been receiving many, many offers, and the final sales prices have been driven upwards as a result.

There one major reason for this change, and that is the dramatic lack of housing stock.  There simply are not enough homes on the market to accommodate this season's home buyers.  Many…

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Once you have decided to buy an Oakland home, or Oakland condo, and begin your search, one of your most important first steps will be getting the all important financing to purchase it.  As you begin to work with me, I will assist you in directing you to some potential loan sources that I feel will be useful and valuable in your search.  Many buyers need to be sure that they understand the difference between two very important loan terms.  The first is "Pre-Qualified", and the second is "Pre-Approved".  There is a big difference between them.

In many neighborhoods in Oakland and Piedmont, the stock of homes is low, and as a result, homes are being bid upon quickly, and are often off the market within a couple of weeks.  This means that when you…

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