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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Oakland has so many homes and neighborhoods to choose from.  Whether you want to live in Rockridge, Redwood Heights, or the Trestle Glen neighborhood, there are some steps that you can take to make sure that the time that you spend house hunting is truly productive, and that you end up with the best home that you can afford.

The first step for most serious home buyers is to begin to search the Internet for all the various web sites listing homes for sale.  It is a good first step, because it begins to give you an idea of what is immediately available.  As your agent, I need to have a sense of what you want in your next home.  It is helpful if you create a list for me using the following criteria:

1. The Must Haves--These are features that you…

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When potential buyers tour your Rockridge home, they are looking for many things.  One of the most important is space.  The more space you can show, the larger, and more appealing your home becomes.  Your goal should be to present an open, uncluttered home that allows them to envision their things in that space, and encourage them to want to live there.

 Homeowners create their home to suit their needs.  After living in that house for a long time, they may not see how cluttered it has become.  Very often, as the years go on, rooms gather much more furniture and accessories than are necessary.  Things become a jumble of style and function.  While the homeowner has learned to walk around narrow spaces, or ignore the mismatches, the possible buyers will…

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Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong put his Oakland estate on the luxury market, offering a rare look inside one of the East Bay’s more distinctive celebrity-owned homes.

The five-bedroom, Mediterranean and French Normandy-inspired residence was built for Armstrong in 1998 by architect Mark Becker. Set on more than half an acre in Oakland’s Claremont Pines area near Rockridge, the property combines dramatic Bay views, custom architecture and a fascinating connection to Oakland’s architectural history.

Exterior of Billie Joe Armstrong’s former Rockridge home in Oakland, California

A Custom Oakland Home With Bay Views

The property includes sweeping views toward San Francisco Bay, a swimming pool and pool house, an open interior layout and a number of highly individual architectural details.

Among the standout…

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