Oct

24

Cash Buyers

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

Dang, 33% of all home sales in California in 2010 were cash.  Cash purchases continue to rise in California, and might exceed last years high. Yes, cash! I just had a listing in Berkeley that received 6 offers, 2 were all cash. My 2-bed El Cerrito listing received 4 offers, 1 was all cash. Another listing of mine in El [...]

Oct

21

Great news! Jumbo Conforming Loan Limits to be Restored!

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

JUMBO Great news!  Jumbo Conforming Loan Limits to be Restored!  Inman News just reported that in a 60-38 vote Thursday, the Senate approved an amendment to a spending bill that would restore the $729,750 ceiling that was first put in place in 2008 to allow Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration to back what were previously considered [...]

Oct

05

Berkeley Hills Realty

Posted In: Berkeley, For Buyers, For Sellers, General Real Estate News, Places

This has been a year of moves for me!  First I moved my family to Albany in July, then I put my El Cerrito house on the market in September, and this month I moved brokerages!  Needless to say it has been a busy summer.  I am so thrilled to be with Berkeley Hills Realty.  With small-compay ethics and big-world [...]

Sep

21

Just Listed: 1610 9th Street in Berkeley

Posted In: Alameda County, Berkeley, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Listings

I just listed this fab-u-lous house in West Berkeley located at 1610 9th Street @ Cedar.  Ok, so why is it so fab-u-lous? 3 beds and 1 bath! Radiant heating!  Yes, warm toes all day long.  And it comes with a solar back up. Solar water heater! Dual pane windows, wood floors! Fun colors throughout! Granite counters! Ok, so here [...]

Sep

06

Just Listed: www.925Norvell.com in El Cerrito

Posted In: Contra Costa County, El Cerrito, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Listings

New listing!  www.925Norvell.com in El Cerrito.  This super stylish home is ready for its next owner.  Come and visit me during broker’s tour on Thursday, Sept 8th from 9:30 -12 or at one of the Sunday open houses on September 11th and 18th from 2-4:30.  Check out the website for more details and info!

Sep

06

Just Listed: my own house at www.942Norvell.com in El Cerrito

Posted In: Contra Costa County, El Cerrito, For Buyers, Listings

After 10 years of living in El Cerrito my husband and I uprooted our family and moved to Albany, the next town over.  Even though I am not able to list our home, I have to do a shout out for my good friend and colleague Janet Kaplan with Red Oak Realty who is listing it for us.  Yes, the [...]

Jun

07

Real Estate’s Double Dip and the Catfish Recovery

Posted In: Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Foreclosures & Short Sales, Local Market Statistics

DQ News reported a few days ago about the current status of the double dip, and uses a little humor while doing so. http://www.dsnews.com/articles/double-dip-altos-says-prices-have-been-steadily-rising-since-then-2011-06-02 What I find completely hilarious (and true!) is that the article deems the ebb and flow of home prices as the “Catfish Recovery.” You laugh, but think about it.  As the article references, a catfish is [...]

Jun

01

Why Buy Now?

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

Aha, the magic question.  Why should you buy now?  I know this may seem a little biased considering my profession, but let me show you a few things that are happening, and are about to happen, in the lending world. 1) 30 Year Mortgage. You can get a 30 year mortgage today with as little as 3% down. 2) Appreciation. [...]

May

31

www.Cost2Drive.com

Posted In: For Buyers, For the Heck of It

www.Cost2Drive.com is a website that allows users who are particularly worried (or just curious) about gas prices and what it will cost them to get from point A to point B.  The site asks users where they are going and what car they drive, and calculates how much it will cost to get there, how long it will take, and [...]

May

11

Google Announces Big Changes with Commercial Real Estate Advertising

Posted In: Commercial Real Estate, For Buyers, For Sellers, Web/Tech

Google just announced their new release of Business Photos on Google Maps.  It captures the interior of businesses, allowing prospective customers and clients to get a good look inside before seeing it in person. This brand new FREE service is only available in a few select cities currently, which are listed below: Orange County, CA Phoenix, AZ Bay Area, CA [...]