Oakland has so many different and unique neighborhoods to discover.  Whether you are searching for a classic Victorian, Arts & Craft, Spanish, Tudor or Modern design, there is an Oakland home and neighborhood that will meet your needs.  

Here is an opportunity to take a visual tour through just a few of the many, many distinctive areas in the city, and find what will appeal to you. 

 

Oakland Neighborhoods

 Upper Rockridge  Montclair  Lakeshore Maxwell Park 
 		 Glenview  Millsmont
Lower Rockridge  
 		 Grand Lake  Oakmore Hiller Highlands Crestmont Claremont 
Redwood Heights  Oakmore Laurel 
 		 Trestle Glen  Temescal Crocker Highlands

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As your Oakland real estate agent, it is my job to prepare you to make the best presentation possible when we put your home on the market. As the seller, you can assist me, and promote the sale of your home, with an understanding of the following points:

1. Know the Value of Your Home In The Current Marketplace--While we will be working together to determine the very best sales price for your home, you will be more comfortable with this process if you do your homework as well.  Whether you use my website, or the current popular websites of Trulia or Zillow, take the time to see what homes in your area are selling for.  Compare them by size, location, amenities, and condition.  You can learn a lot in a very short time with an appropriate checklist…

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You have been looking for a home for a while, and now you have found an Oakland home that meets you needs.  You are very anxious to buy it, and very much want the offer to be effective enough to attract the seller's attention, especially in this current marketplace where you know the competition for available inventory is quite high. Bidding wars for some homes are not uncommon.

The important thing, to assure that you will be considered by the seller, is that your offer stand out, and thus be acted upon promptly.

In working with me as your real estate agent, you have taken an important first step.  I am experienced in the Bay area marketplace, and very comfortable with negotiating.  Together, we will make a plan to put together an outstanding…

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Discover these architectural gems with stunning views and spacious grounds. Sort by: Price, Low to High Price, High to Low  

The "morgan Estate" An Iconic Architectural Mas...

$2,900,000 City: Oakland, CA Beds: 4 Baths: 4 Type: Single Family MLS® #: 40649625 Price: $2,900,000 City: Oakland Beds: 4 Baths: 4 Type: Single Family MLS® #: 40649625

The "morgan Estate" An Iconic Architectural Masterpiece On 2.67 Acres Overlooking San Francisco B...

Photo of Listing #40649625 View Details Save to Favorites Map

Extraordinary Custom Estate Completed In 2002. ...

$2,200,000 City: Oakland, CA Beds: 6 Baths: 7 Type: Single Family MLS® #: 40661505…

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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 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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On the last blog, I offered some ideas about a few ways to evaluate the neighborhoods surrounding some Berkeley homes for sale that you might be considering.  While it is important to choose a home just for itself, there is no doubt that the choice of a neighborhood plays a crucial role in your family's happiness once the home is purchased.   Yesterday, I mentioned the importance of choosing the right school district, and the quality of the neighborhood location as to amenities and services. 

In this blog, the suggestion for a criteria has to do with a financial consideration of the home's appreciation possibilities.  No one wants to buy a home to find out that within a year or two, it will be worth less than its original purchase price.  This is…

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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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Whether you are searching for an Oakland home, perhaps in Redwood Heights or Rockridge , there are four items that you may want to consider that are often overlooked when viewing potential homes.  Here are things to pay attention to:

1. The Parking Situation:  In many of the older Oakland neighborhoods, street parking is a challenge. Many of these homes were built when the family had only one car.  Today, with family teens getting their own cars, one home can require 2-3 parking spaces. It is often something that is not considered when viewing the home initially.  It is important to check to see if your car fits into the garage of the house, as well, so you can be assured of at least one parking spot in addition to street spaces.

2. Your Commute:…

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When buying your home in the Oakland Rockridge area, or the Redwood Heights, or even the Trestle Glen area, you will find that some things are common among all home purchases.  It is important that you place yourself in the best possible position to purchase the home that you decide you want to have.  Here are some suggestions to put you at the top of the list:

1. Do All Your Financial Homework First--Make sure that you have enough funds to qualify for that purchase.  The rule of thumb followed by most lenders is that your total debts including housing costs, should be no more that 38% of your gross income(before taxes), and your ultimate housing debt alone should be no more than 33% of your gross income(before taxes). While there are other issues,…

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