Mar
06
New Listing in El Cerrito
Hey everyone, I just listed a sweet house in El Cerrito- 5416 Barrett Ave. http://www.5416BarrettAve.com
For Sellers
Mar
02
So Much for the Move-Up Tax Credit
Posted In: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Foreclosures & Short Sales, General Real Estate News, Taxes
There is so much mixed feelings about the market right now. In the Berkeley and surrounding areas, one street is seeing multiple offers and the next isn’t. The number of foreclosures has gone down drastically, although most buyers think there are buckets of bank-owned homes ready to come on the market. I don’t think this is the case. No wonder buyers and [...]
Nov
05
First time homebuyer tax credit extended and expanded!
Home buyer tax credit extended, expandedSan Francisco Business Times – by Kent Hoover The House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday that would extend and expand the tax credit for first-time home buyers. The provision was included in a bill that also extends unemployment benefits by an additional 14 to 20 weeks and lets all companies, not just small businesses, [...]
Nov
02
Home Prices in Southwest Berkeley Rise
Well, Berkeley is pulling it off once again. While the rest of the nation continues to see prices decline, and see houses not sell, our little mecca is holding its own. This article, posted today in the Daily Californian, explains this further. Several of my colleagues are quoted- kuddos to them for their part in this article. Daily Californian By Melody [...]
Jul
06
FHA Finalizes Anti-Flipping Rule
Real estate flippers got a new set of marching orders last week — at least those flippers who want to use FHA mortgage financing.The Federal Housing Administration issued long-awaited final regulations on property flips last Wednesday. The rules take effect nationwide July 7. Flipping involves resales of houses or other real estate shortly after acquisition, typically at a substantial price [...]
Jun
29
Some Short Sales Are Still Taxable Events
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. I am not a CPA. I am a Realtor. Therefore, if you have any questions about any of this, do not ask me. I am merely a funnel for information that was provided to me by Old Republic Title. Taxpayers Beware: Zero Profit Doesn’t Mean Zero Capital Gains Taxes! In this difficult market, many [...]
Feb
09
The Tops: What Do Buyers Want
Posted In: For Buyers, For Sellers
The two rooms that consistently make the biggest impressions to buyers are, without a doubt, kitchens and bathrooms. So what can you do to assure your kitchen and bath will be appealing to buyers? The National Association of Realtors recently conducted their “Profile of buyer’s home feature preferences” survey. Here are the results: FIVE KITCHEN + BATH FEATURES BUYERS WANT [...]
Feb
02
Great Marketing Lines
I love the way agents describe their listings. It is almost as if they A) cut and pasted the description from another listing or B) never saw the property themselves. And the rest? What the heck were they thinking? Here are some of my favorites: “Don’t open the back door…the staircase is missing.” “Wonderful property…move-in condition…needs a lot of TLC.” [...]
Jan
24
Sewer Lateral Replacement Rebate Program in Richmond
This just in from Richmond’s North and East Newsletter: “City rebate program offers financial incentive to comply with sewer lateral standards — Qualified residents and non-profit business owners in Richmond’s Sanitary Sewer District Number One can apply for grants to offset the cost of bringing sewer laterals into compliance with ordinance 12/17, article XII of the Municipal Code. For more [...]
Jan
05
Krista’s list of what to read in 2009
Posted In: Economy, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, For the Heck of It, Foreclosures & Short Sales, Good ol' Fashion Humor
This just in, the ultimate reading list. I love to read. I love to be inspired. I love to learn. This list, in no particular order, combines a little bit of each. 1. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. This sly and lucid book discusses why we make the decisions that we do, including why headaches disappear after [...]