December 2008 - Krista and Rosie

Dec

Make Your Own Cleaning Products

Posted In: For Sellers, For the Heck of It, Fun for Grown Ups, Fun for Kids, Good ol' Fashion Humor

Those who know me know that I am a clean freak. I love the smell of coming home to a clean house. Sure, I have mellowed out a bit. Since the birth of my daughter I started using more environmentally-sound products so I no longer come home to the smells of Pine Sol or Windex anymore…but I still love cleaning products. [...]

Dec

Fed Cuts Short-Term Rate to Nearly Zero

Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, General Real Estate News, Mortgage & Finance

Now that the world has admitted that we are in a recession the Fed thought they should step in and do their part. Yesterday, in an attempt to fight the recession and the downword pressure on consumer prices, the Fed cut the key rate to the bone. Huh? This is the rate which affects how much [...]

Dec

Redevelopment of Oakland Army Base

Posted In: Economy, Neighborhood Businesses, Oakland

This morning the crew from Federal Oakland Associates did a presentation about the future of the Oakland Army Base which is located at the southwest corner of the Bay Bridge and the 880/80 freeway intersection. While it isn’t yet approved, these guys have some grand plans for the “Grand Gateway.” Should the City of Oakland accept their approval (which they [...]

Dec

Rate Watch from Gwen & Rhoda

Posted In: For Buyers, Mortgage & Finance

Here is the latest and greatest from a pair of super cool mortgage brokers, Gwen Hoople & Rhoda Paul of Holmgren Mortgage in Oakland. “Mortgage rates increased last week despite news that the economy will be in an extended recession and a jobs report that was weaker than expected. Stocks surged Monday in a positive response to progress on [...]

Dec

Forbes.com: 10 Best Suburbs to Sell A Home. Berkeley is #1!

Posted In: Berkeley, Economy, For Sellers, General Real Estate News, Local Market Statistics

Berkeley, Calif., known sometimes as a hippie haven, is becoming a hotbed for home sales. Prices in the Bay Area suburb are up 9% this year, with homes selling for a median price of $790,986. Properties are sitting on the market for 73 days on average, the lowest of any area with positive price trends within the confines of the [...]

Dec

El Cerrito High School renovation near completion

Posted In: El Cerrito, Schools

This winter the much acclaimed and highly anticipated El Cerrito High School is scheduled to re-open. The school, which was demolished in 2005, has undergone an intense renovation process. Many are calling it the “Taj Mahal” of high schools. The 200,000 square foot, state-of-the-art campus located on Ashbury Avenue will include a 650-seat performing arts center, a solar-paneled roof that [...]

Dec

Berkeley’s Fourth Street is primed for the holidays

Posted In: Berkeley, For the Heck of It

I went down to Fourth Street in Berkeley last week to do my part to stimulate the economy (ha!). I arrived just as the sun had set, and as I turned the corner from Hearst onto 4th, I was suddenly overcome with joy. Surrounding me was a spectacular parade of lights. Beads of blue and white lights speckled the sky; [...]