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

Buying Your New Oakland Home-The Most Important First Steps

You have finally decided to move ahead and buy your new home.  You know the type of home that you want, the neighborhood that you would like, and the price that you are willing to pay. To assure yourself that you have the your best chance to achieve these goals, you should plan to follow these three steps: 

1. Find An Experienced Real Estate Agent Who Knows The Marketplace:   Buying a home has become more complicated every year.  Whether you need information about loan qualifications, property disclosures, home inspections, offers and counteroffers, the experience of your chosen agent can make a dramatic difference in your end result.  My multi-year winning sales record in the Bay area will assure you that you are in good hands with me as your…

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Stylish Oakland Rockridge View Home Just Listed At 58 Sonia Street

This gracious Rockridge home at 58 Sonia Street is optimally located in the hills directly above Piedmont, and moments from Montclair Village.  Offering dramatic San Francisco Bay views, it is ideal for gracious entertaining and quiet retreats.  Featuring 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms in approximately 2733 sf of living space.  

One of the finest benefits of living in the Oakland hills is access to this stunning view, and this home features this panorama 24 hours a day, every day of the year.  Included is the Bay Bridge, The Golden Gate Bridge and various marine venues. 

Visiting guests are welcomed by this delightfully groomed entry that is awash with a variety of well established plants and flowers.  The colorful brick pathway leads down…

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Oakland Rockridge Craftsman Newly Available at 5525 Carlton Street

This truly delightful home with its architectural charm, and cozy and welcoming front porch, is truly a handsome choice.  Located close to everything at 5525 Carlton Street in Oakland's popular Rockridge neighborhood, it features a pleasing view, and immediate access to all the area has to offer. 

It boasts a Craftsman style, a popular wood shingle exterior, and a pleasant front yard.  There is approximately 2241 sf of living space, and 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths.  

The bright and captivating living room, with its spacious windows,  features the expected classic Craftsman amenities.  Note the handsome crown mouldings, wainscoting, hardwood floors, central wood trimmed fireplace and window treatments.  

Viewing the living room from…

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Cheerful Rockridge Charmer Now For Sale at 5336 Locksley

The very appealing home, with its cheerful yellow and white entry, is located in Oakland's Rockridge neighborhood at 5336 Locksley.  The entrance porch and the exterior architecture reflect the Craftsman like architecture of the early 20th Century, which remains popular to this day. The pleasantly upgraded home has 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, in approximately 1596 sf of living space.  Additionally, if offer a very flexible nonconforming studio/bungalow in the rear.  

The living room and dining room meld together smoothly for gracious living and entertaining. There are some special touches to note here.  First the sweeping arches between rooms complement the spacious ceiling space of both rooms.  Light flows in from multiple windows, and…

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Rockridge Contemporary Recently Listed at 123 Sheridan Road

This handsomely designed home at 123 Sheridan Road in Oakland's Upper Rockridge neighborhood, is defined as a "Contemporary Craftsman", and the stylish designs reflect each of these elements. It offers 5 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths, with 3,376 sf of space. Many of the rooms feature Bay area views.  

The welcoming front room, with a handsome fireplace, and its two charmingly paired window seats, flows gracefully into the formal dining room space.  These light filled rooms are ideal for entertaining, or just a quiet moment next to a warm fire on a cold day.  Note the hardwood floors, which are found throughout the house.  

Just steps away is the kitchen.  It is perfectly located close to the dining room, and, additionally, is accessible to…

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Upper Rockridge Homes For Sale in December

The Upper Rockridge neighborhood in Oakland has always been one of the most in demand neighborhoods in the city.  Graced by a combination of classic Spanish, Mediterranean, and Mission style designs, it has gradually seen added dramatic custom built homes, many of which are full of light and creative designs.  Located adjacent to Berkeley and near Piedmont, it is well placed as well for freeway access to downtown Oakland and SF, as well as Orinda and the rest of Contra Costa County.  Rockridge, especially along College Avenue, it the location of a wide variety of appealing restaurants, shops and boutiques.  

          Remember, new properties come on line regularly, so check my website at www.brucewagg.com for the latest updates.

 Ideally…

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Oakland's Neighborhoods--Choosing The One For Your New Home

As buyers begin to search for a new home, they often are amazed at how many distinct and unique neighborhoods there are in this truly diverse city.  Whether you want tree lined streets, ocean views, nearby Lake Merritt, or downtown bustle, there is a spot that should appeal to you. When all is said and done, the best part is that they are all just moments away from each other.

Below is a selection of neighborhoods to review.  There are so many more, but here is a start:

Oakland Neighborhoods

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Buying Your Oakland Home-Getting Pre-Approved For Your Purchase

As the busy Spring housing market arrives this year, you may find that there is a lot of competition for some of the choicest or best priced homes in Oakland and Piedmont.  It is important that you get pre-approved for a home loan, so that you will be an excellent choice among potential buyers for that ideal home that you want.  It is especially important  that you leave nothing to chance about your ability to finance that home.

Lenders are looking at a number of things when they are considering your request:

1. Your Credit Score--While this may seem obvious, this credit score, and your credit history tells lenders a lot about you.  In essence, this score is their key indicator as to how responsible you are about acquiring debt, and then paying…

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Find Your Oakland Home For Sale-Discover Oakland's Neighborhoods!

 Whether you want hillside views, cozy tree lined streets, sweeping bay views, or downtown  vibes, there is a home for you in Oakland.  Here are just a sample of the many neighborhoods that you can choose from, and if these don't fit, there are plenty more!  Just let me know what you need, and we will find it.  

Oakland Neighborhoods

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Selling Your Oakland Home-How To Price It Correctly

 The Spring selling market is now upon us. Whether Oakland, Alameda or Berkeley,  this is one of the busiest times of the year for home buyers who are looking for their perfect new home.  While some marketplaces are especially stong, and competition is extremely heavy for the few houses on the market, that is not necessarily true of all Bay area homes.  For that reason, it becomes very important to price your home correctly to attract the maximum attention in the shortest period of time.  No matter what the area, my job, as your real estate agent, is to help you arrive at a competitive and realistic asking price, so your home will get immediate interest and attention. 

Many sellers, for a variety of reasons, have a tendency to want to overprice…

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