Dec
03

City Transfer Tax Update

Posted In: Alameda County, Berkeley, Contra Costa County, El Cerrito, Oakland, Taxes
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Happy December!  Last month voters passed some ballot measures that will affect transfer tax rates within certain cities.  If you intend to buy or sell a home in the following cities next year this could apply to you. Starting next year, possibly as early as January 1st, the following changes will occur: ALAMEDA COUNTY Berkeley (Measure P) For sales above [...]
Oct
23

Is the Market About to go kerplunk?

Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Local Market Statistics
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Buyers, Sellers + Realtors were all chatting about the market at our open house this past weekend.  It seems that everyone is confused about the market and what was happening: Is it shifting?  Is it dropping?  Is it seasonal? YES!!!  All of the above.  The problem is that we won’t know which it is until it passes.  The other problem [...]
Sep
25

Should I Put My Property in a Living Trust?

Posted In: For Buyers, General Real Estate News
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(as reposted from the Abio blog…) We have trust issues. When legendary singer Aretha Franklin died recently, she didn’t leave a will or a trust for her estimated $80 million estate. No instructions about how to split her assets among her four children or deal with creditors and extended family members who might claim portions of her estate. That got us thinking. More than half of [...]
Sep
10

Who Should Vote for Prop 5, Property Tax Law

Posted In: Alameda County, Contra Costa County, General Real Estate News, Legal, Taxes
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(as reposted from the Abio blog) Proposition 5, a measure developed by the California Association of Realtors, is headed to the ballot Nov. 6, and advocates say it could ease not only the property tax burden on seniors, but also relieve the state’s housing crunch. Here’s what you need to know before you vote on Prop. 5, also known as the Property Tax Transfer Initiative: [...]
Jun
22

Design Your Dream Home With This Cosmetic Fixer in El Cerrito

Posted In: El Cerrito, Listings
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Renew, refresh, and refill this gracious home! What do you get when you combine a gracious, well-maintained 3 bed, 1.5 bath home with a glamorous makeover? A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to design your dream home. Would you open up the kitchen to create a great room? What about painting the paneling in the living room? Be sure to look under the [...]
Apr
27

Mid-Century Masterpiece

Posted In: Alameda County, Listings, Oakland, Our Sales
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We are so in love with our newest listing!  Have you ever been to house where each time you visit it you feel happy?  THIS is that house!  You can check out the details here: 5900Ostrander.com [arve url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v7Zfb0cLhI” thumbnail=”3937″ /]