Found 73 blog entries tagged as Oakland Real Estate Agent.

STEP ONE--Deciding On The Price of Your Home-

Once you have made the decision to put your home on the market, it will be my job as your Oakland real estate agent to help you begin to take the important steps in determing its ultimate sales price.   I will certainly do a CMA-a Comparative Market Analysis-when we first meet.  That will give a sense of what your home might sell for compared to other homes in the area.  It is important to know that the CMA is the not the only basis that should be used for pricing your home. Your home is unique from all these others.  You can make it stand out from the competition.

STEP TWO--Prove Your Home Is Special To Buyers--

There can be some very productive homework that you can do that might just make your…

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When it comes time to put your Oakland or Alameda home on the market, plans need to be made to make the best impression possible on future buyers.  Often a lot of preparation time and money is spent on yards, kitchens and bedrooms, but there can be one feature that could deter potential buyers. That can be the presence of uncorrected damage, or the presence of odors, from pets in the home.  Whether unrepaired scratches on back doors or screens, or the accumulation of debris, or fence damage in the back yard, these issues should be addressed.  Often, because sellers haved lived with their pets for so long, they may not be aware of the extent of their pet problems. Take time to see things from the eyes of an outsider.

The next step is to make…

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 If you have not set a time aside to visit Oakland's "home town" museum, tomorrow would be an excellent time to do so.  In a regular effort to attract and new families and friends, the museum is holding a "Free First Sunday" event, tomorrow, February 2nd, from 11:00 am-5 pm..There is so much to see beyond the normal museum presentations.  Featured are special exhibitions.  Here is the current list focused around the Year of the Bay:

a. Above and Below: Stories from our Changing Bay

b. Bay Motion: Capturing San Francisco Bay on Film

c. A Cinematic Study of of Fog in San Francisco

If you want to join a docent tour to learn even more about the museum, save 1:00 p.m. for the Architecture Tour,  2:00 p.m. for the Gallery of California Art Tour,…

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We in the Bay area are very lucky to have so many homes on, or near, the water.  Whether it be a quiet lagoon on Alameda Bay Farm Island, alongside a stream in the Oakland hills, or next to San Francisco Bay in Alameda, the choices are numerous and varied.  Because of their appeal, they can often be a bit more expensive than a similar home elsewhere, so it is important to consider the issues concerning their purchase so you can be assured that you have the best value for your money.

The Pluses of Purchasing A Home On The Water:

1. The presence of water often creates a soothing, gentle atmosphere within and around the home.  Often, one can observe the plants, wildlife, and small animals that are usually adjacent to these streams and bays. 

2.…

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When it comes time to sell your Oakland or Alameda home, you want the very best first impression possible.  We have talked in the past about creating a clean, clutter free appearance for potential buyers, but often there are three things that are not attended to, often due to finances, that can make a huge difference in the appeal of your home.  The question becomes-is it worth it to spend the money making these changes before putting the house on the market?  It may be. Here are some problems that make your home look older, and might be worth addressing:

1. Having Outdated Kitchen Appliances, Ranges and Dishwashers and Countertops-Most sellers by now should realize that having an updated kitchen in a home is one of the strongest appeals to buyers…

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When it comes time to purchase your Piedmont or Oakland home, you need to be aware of some of the considerations that lenders will be making when they set your mortgage rate.  Obviously, interest rates are still quite low compared to years ago when they were 10% and more, but even with today's lower rates, the elements involved in rate setting are still important to your home's purchase.

Here are some considerations that come into play:

1. Your Credit Score--While this may seem obvious, this score is their key indicator as to how responsible you are about acquiring debt, and paying it back in a responsible and efficient manner.  A good credit score will go a long way to attracting an appealing mortgage rate.

2. How Much You Plan to Borrow--If…

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While I am obviously not selling this home, there will be a special home for sale by the Lego Company that should appeal to Simpsons' fans all over the world.  The amazing popularity of  the Lego Company over the last few years has given rise to more and more imaginative products in their Lego line, and the company will be releasing the "Lego Simpson House" on February 1st of this year. 

It is quite a piece of work.  The home includes a removable roof which allows viewing of everyone's rooms just as seen in the television series.  As an example, Bart's room includes his skateboard and Krusty the Clown poster and Lisa's room includes her favorite books and jazz poster.  Six minifigures are included with the set-Homer, Bart, Marge, Maggie, Lisa…

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Piedmont Residents--Have you wondered where you go to get a garage sale permit in your city?  How about obtaining a dog license?  Do you know whom to contact when you have street maintenance issues?  Even though Piedmont is a small town, there are specific places to go, and people to call to get answers to all of these questions.  The good news is that this information is all neatly summarized for you on the following website:     http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/whodoicall.shtml     This page is full of contact numbers for city services.  Other valauble numbers include fire inspection, renting community facilities like the community hall, the hours of operation for City Hall, and so much more.  It is well worth printing and posting…

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In my previous blog, I itemized the variety of services that I am prepared to offer to assist potential home sellers.  As I also indicated, I have many years of experience in real estate on both sides of home sales and purchases.  In this blog, I would like to make you aware of the many services that I can offer you when purchasing a home.  Buying a home is a truly a significant step for everyone, and whether you are looking in Oakland,   Alameda or Piedmont, I can offer you the following services to make your search more comfortable and well directed:

* Meet with you to identify your ideal home

* Provide you with a list of reputable lenders

* Educate you about current market conditions

* Furnish a buyer's information handbook

* Provide…

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If you are interested in selling your home, this could very well be the best time to move ahead.  As I indicated in my December 12th blog, there is a particularly high demand for homes in Piedmont, and as such, many available homes have been selling above asking price recently.  While there is no guarantee that will happen with all homes placed on the market, it give you a sense of the need, by buyers, for a desirable home. 

Because of my many years of real estate experience, particularly in the Oakland and Piedmont market, I am prepared to place your home on the market in an efficient and effective manner.  Here is what I will do for you, as the seller:

* Educate you about the current market conditions

* Prepare a professional Comparable…

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