Archive for Buyers
What is a shortsale in oakland hills and berkeley CA
A short sale is a situation when a homeowner is trying to sell their home for less money than they owe on thier mortgage. Economic conditions being what they are, short sales are becomeing more prevelant, even in trophy real estate districts like the Oakland Hills: Montclair, Upper Rockridge, Broadway Terrace, Berkeley: North Berkeley, Elmwood, Claremont […]
sunday open homes for Oakland, Berkeley and Piedmont CA
When looking to educate yourself on real estate values and homes for sale in the Oakland, Berkeley and Piedmont areas you may want to do so by visiting Sunday open homes. As a full service Realtor, one of the ways that I provide with real estate services designed to make life easy on my clients […]
What’s a Supplemental Tax bill?
Buying a home in Oakland, Berkeley Piedmont, especially for first time buyers results in the question “What’s a supplemental tax bill?” State law requires the Assessor’s Office to reappraise property immediately upon change of ownership or completion of new construction. The Assessor’s Office must issue a supplemental assessment which reflects the difference between the prior assessed […]
Seismic retrofit incentives for new home Buyers in Oakland and Berkeley
The city of Oakland and the City of Berkeley offer nice incentives for new Buyers to make seismic retrofit improvements to their properties. If you live in the Oakland and Berkeley hills areas such as Montclair, Rockridge, Elmwood, North Berkeley or anywhere in the San Francisco East Bay, it’s a safe bet that the home […]
Neighborhood and district names for homes in Oakland, Berkeley and Piedmont Hills California
The Oakland Hills, Berkeley Hills and Piedmont real estate area is comprised of many colorful neighborhoods, each with their own names such as Montclair, Rockridge, Croker Highlands, Trestle Glen etc. I’m often asked to identify the most common neighborhood names used in real estate advertising so that home Buyers can identify their general areas of interest. Well, here you […]
Conforming loan limits and their affects in Oakland and Berkeley Hills real estate
Loan amounts fall into two main categories, Conforming and Jumbo. Conforming loans have a limit up to $729k. Jumbo loans are all loans over $729k. Until recently the Conforming loan amount was all the way down in the $400’s. As an economic stimulus the Congress temporarily increased the Conforming loan limit to $729 through January […]
You cant stop water… So divert it!
If you live or own real estate in the Oakland, Berkeley or Piedmont California hills it is important for you to know that you can not stop water, you can only divert it. Properly diverting Water away from your home is the single most important thing you can do to increase the longevity of your […]
Crime and Demographic Statistics for Oakland, California
I often get questions from prospective Buyers in the Oakland California real estate area about crime reports and demographic data. Crime reports are a touchy subject. I often get, “is this neighborhood safe?” Safe is subjective. The best source for that information is of course the city of Oakland Police department. That will give you […]
What Does “AS-IS” Really Mean?
In the Oakland Berkeley real estate marketplace it is not uncommon to see “As-Is” referenced in the advertising remarks. In my opinion the As-Is term is used a little to often. The meaning of As-Is really depends on where you are in the sales transaction. Before an offer is accepted (the Marketing period) As-Is means […]
Multiple Offers in this Market?
Contrary to what you might read in the San Francisco Chronicle some Oakland, California real estate listings are still generating multiple offers. Some are even selling substantially over their listing price. Up until early 2006 aprox. 75% of the properties on the market were selling with more than one offer. Now days it’s more like […]
BRIAN SANTILENA
