Seems to me that when inventories are low, it signifies a seller's market. Is this signaling that the tides have changed? Checking the various cities in the East Bay of California, a trend is emerging. Inventories are low. Number of properties in contract is on the rise. Number of sales also on the rise. This is what the Oakland CA market looks like. These charts pertain to sales of detached single family homes between August 2007 and August 2009, and shows the movement among detached single family homes. There is no need for verbosity here. This is a case of "A picture paints a thousand words."             09/10/2009

This charming bungalow had all the right touches. Beautiful molding and hardwood floors. Custom tile in the bathrooms and granite counters in the kitchen. New appliances and a gorgeous fireplace.  The backyard was spacious with a massive deck for multiple uses.  Even with all of these fabulous features the Realtor insisted that the home be staged for maximum appeal. The homeowner resisted, but the Realtor insisted. Staged to Sell came in and added the right touches to enhance the property even more and there were offers within a matter of days! LIVING ROOM BEFORE LIVING ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL DINING ROOM BEFORE DINING ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL BACKYARD BEFORE BACKYARD AFTER STAGED TO SELL   For more information on Kym Hough's Staged to Sell go to www.Staged-to-Sell.com.  We have many... 09/07/2009

This is a remarkable woman..... I met with a client who is getting ready to put her father's house for sale as a short sale. House and hospice When we met, she introduced me to a woman whose husband is dying and will need hospice care. Because the woman needed help and had nowhere to go, my client offered her father's house for them to stay, with the stipulation that they will allow realtors to show the house. The house is vacant, but my client arranged to have furniture set up for their comfort, brought in a washer and a dryer, had the place thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Turns out that she had just met this couple. And when she found out they needed help, she didn't hesitate for a moment to jump in. WHY? When I asked why she risked having people in a house she's trying to sell, a... 08/29/2009

Staged to Sell was given the opportunity this summer to work with a client on a cozy condo in a very popular development in the Oakland Hills.  We have been working in this particular development for years and have seriously worked on this particular model several times before with much success. We were therefore prepared to come and do our thing and get it sold in record time - just like before. My Realtor client decided not to tell me a head of time that we would need to do a bit of painting. I think she was having some fun with us and decided to get my reaction when I arrived for our meeting with the client, a lovely woman who had a beautiful baby less than a year old. The family was moving to a bigger place as they had outgrown the one bedroom at this point. The painter did a great ... 08/29/2009

There is mold everywhere. Mold has always been here and always will be. Mold, mildew, yeasts are microscopic fungi. Like dust and pollen, mold float freely through the air, settling where there is moisture and warmth. Mold blackens the grout lines in showers, the sheetrock in walls and ceilings. Mold releases microscopic spores that cause allergic reactions, runny noses, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, as well as irritating odors. Mold in a house that is for sale can be a deal breaker. First, it's a hygiene issue, and second, it's a liability issue. Someone gets sick, they claim they were not properly informed, and then they want to sue somebody.   Here are a few stories. Story 1 A street sewer line burst and the sewage flooded into the basement. After everything was dry, it was found... 08/28/2009

Tenant occupied property can be challenging and can require some patience. I am sure that your Realtor information you about Measure EE which is the rent control ordinance for the City of Oakland.  The seller, according to the ordinance, cannot evict a tenant for the sale of a property and thus it becomes the buyer's responsibility to coordinate with the tenant. Since the tenants have a lease that expires in November, legally they have a right to stay in the property until that time and then the lease would automatically convert to a month to month lease. At this time you would have the right to give notice to the tenants for owner occupation of the property. A few things you will want to make sure to get from the sellers of the property is a copy of the lease as well as information fro... 08/26/2009

There's a lot of bank-owned, Real Estate Owned (REO) property on the market right now. (Short sales follow second.) However, getting an offer accepted is challenging, and then getting the loan is something else. I've got buyers and I'm having a hard time buying!   Many REOs require buyers to get pre-approved with their lender. Buyers say it's steering and illegal. And it might be. So buyers cross out listings with this requirement.  Some REOs say no FHA. Others only all cash. Those listings don't exist for most buyers. Getting accepted is tough because there are more buyers than houses. Some houses go pending in one day, while others take two-three weeks or more! REOs also require a lot of paperwork up front. So the first thing is winning in a multiple offers environment. Next is the lo... 08/24/2009

Have you been to the best street festival in The Bay Area?  Oakland's Art & Soul is almost here!   The 2009 music lineup has just been announced!   Saturday, August 15 Art & Soul Main Stage -- World Class Rock Presented by KFOG 104.5/97.7 FM Clay Street between 11th & 12th   1:00pm Loquat   2:30pm BoDeans   4:00pm Shawn Colvin     Yoshi's Jazz Stage In association with KCSM 91.1FM Jefferson Street at 12th 12:30pm Oakland Public Conservatory of Music   1:30pm Dayna Stephens   3:00pm SEPIA featuring Faye Carol, Denise Perrier, Frankye Kelly and Lady Mem'fis   4:30pm Mo'Fone     Gospel Showcase Presented by Edwin Hawkins & the Community of Unity 12th Street at Broadway 12:30pm Opening Ceremony with Edwin Hawkins & Walter Hawkins Community of Unity & Community In Praise Mass Choir 12:55pm ... 08/10/2009

There's a lot of bank-owned, Real Estate Owned (REO) property on the market right now - most of the inventory is REO with short sales following second. The REOs are generating multiple offers; however, getting an offer accepted is challenging with acquiring the loan adding to the challenge. I have buyers, and I'm having a hard time buying! Many REOs are requiring buyers to get pre-approved with their lender, which never goes over well with the buyers. Buyers say it's steering and illegal, and it may be, so some buyers cross out listings with this requirement. REOs just want to double check because transactions falter weeks into the deal because the buyer's bank did not do the proper front end checks. When the buyer's lender begins to really scrutinize the buyer's financial situation, th... 07/23/2009

I'm trying to get a few quotes for my listing at 958 28th St. Unit 11 in Oakland. This is a gated community near Downtown Oakland and I think it needs to be staged to look more appealing. If you or someone you know is a home stager feel free to have them contact me at 209-556-3965 Get your home value now !!! 07/08/2009

Don't miss Uptown Unveiled! this Thursday, June 18, 2009 from 5-10p. You can view the full program/lineup  here.   25 bands on three stages.  Art everywhere. Restaurant specials.  Skateboard contest. Poetry Slam & more!   There are great things happening in Downtown Oakland these days, come and see how this great community is developing.   06/17/2009

Well it has been a while since my last post. Just took a trip to Washinton DC for vacation and family time.  Places and Spaces was taken at 30,000 feet during that excursion.  I thought it would be a nice post just by itself. It is always nice to go away even if it is for a short time. The thing I enjoyed most about my trip was dinning.  Georgetown has some fabulous restaurants not to mention the shopping. Atlantic seafood and fish is like no other. I ate bluefish, and had atlantic swordfish, just mouth watering. Very upscale and fashion conscious so of course I shopped also.  DC weather is very humid compared to the eastbay which is where I am now.  So was it a bit of R & R?  Yes it was and we all need that every now and again. I love real estate because you can take that vacation when... 06/10/2009

06/10/2009

It's never fun to deal with an agent whose action is giving us all a bad name. My client's offer was accepted on a two-unit building. The plan was for he and his wife to live in one, and rent out the other. This is their first home, and they have limited funds. Which is why it made sense to get an owner-occupied duplex. Because the market is heating up in the under $300K price range for a duplex, we were happy to get accepted. PROPERTY WAS MISREPRESENTED The first time we were at the property, we saw that there are two separate living spaces. Or so we thought. But on our second visit, we realized that the bath in the second unit was only a partial bath, and didn't even have a shower, which makes it not a legal second unit. Because it isn't a duplex per the MLS, and because we couldn't g... 06/02/2009

Description and Features Chic Home interiors uses lifestyle selling techniques to create that feeling of home that brings the offers rolling in. Staging is a marketing tool for selling a house and, as in all marketing, we want to target our audience and appeal to the largest potential base of that buying demographic. Today’s professional stager continually educates themselves in what the market trends are and in-depth marketing knowhow. Chic understands the psychology of the buyer and understands scale, design, and color. Today’s market requires a more sophisticated approach to preparing a home for market, give us a call today. Links Chic Home InteriorsChic GalleryFree QuoteECoStagingListing Website 06/01/2009

I am in the Bay Area - primarily Berkeley and Oakland.  We have been experiencing a new twist in this interesting market place for the past three weeks.  We are again seeing multiple offers - real multiple offers.  I have been involved from the Buyers side in two situations with 10 offers during this time period. The scenario seems to be that first time Buyers - supplemented by artificially low interest rates and first time buyer incentives - are bidding to a point where homes are going into contract for 5-10% more than the same home would have sold for in February or March.  Then along come the appraisers.  There are no comparables within the past 3 months to support the contract price and the appraisal comes in below what a number of the offering buyers would have been willing to pay.... 05/29/2009

Today is a special day that we set aside to honor & recognize all mothers all over the countryside.  It's funny, how we select a DAY to recognize people and events that are important in out lives.  It's almost as if the other 364 DAYS in the year we wait for that Special Day to come IN ANTICIPATION OF IT! Let us never forget, that if it were not for MOMS, NO ONE of us would be here!!!   WHO HERE DOES NOT HAVE a MOM?  We would'nt have comfort food, someone to hug us when we hurt, no one to feed us when we are hungry, no one to tell us we are fine when we don't feel so fine.  A MOM keeps everyone and everything in the house  your MOST-est Special Place to be in the World!!!!!, she's the nurse when everyone is sick, she finds all that is lost, she makes everything all better no matter how ... 05/10/2009

I became a real estate broker after 27 years as a registered nurse.  Real estate has always had some fascination for me. As a child my father rented out rooms in various apartments we lived in. My father purchased his first piece of land when I was 17 years old.  Before I had a chance to enjoy it or grow something on it he sold for 4 times what he paid for it. So it only made sense that real estate would have a place in my world. I toiled as a residential sales associate on the east coast, doing rentals and single family new construction.  The past 4 years I have been originating loans, buying, selling and renovatiing single family and rental property. As a nurse I have enjoyed taking meticulous care of people burdened by injury and illness. People make some very difficult desicions whe... 05/02/2009

To help protect yourself and your family during this outbreak, go to the CDC website to view health guidelines, a list of frequently asked questions, and symptoms to watch for. Here is the link  http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ and other helpful information.If you're concerned that you or a family member has contracted the H1N1 fluSymptoms of the H1N1 flu are similar to common flu symptoms-coughing, sore throat, body aches, headache, and fatigue. If you experience mild symptoms, stay home from work or school.  However, if you have a fever of more than 102 degrees, you should contact your personal physician as soon as possible. He or she will be able to help determine whether testing or treatment is needed for the H1N1 flu. If you experience a serious condition that you believe could be an em... 05/02/2009

Sometimes what you don't know can be harmful! The Basics are fundamental to your credit health. Know what's in your credit report! How do I request a free credit report? You can request a free report online, by phone or by mail. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228, or fill out the Annual Credit Report Request form and mail it to Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. No matter how you request your report, you have the option to request all three reports at once or to order one report at a time. By requesting the reports separately, you can monitor your credit more frequently throughout the year. Why should I request my credit report? Because the information in your credit report is used to evaluate your applications for credit, ins... 04/19/2009