Where are the best places to live and retire in the United States near a Trader Joe’s, airport, university, coast / beach, and Costco? I asked ChatGPT. Phew! That was one tall order for ChatGPT when I decided to put it to the task. The more my little AI sidekick churned through data from across…
Rockridge is often called the best neighborhood in Oakland. it’s just a couple miles from UC Berkeley, Here’s an interactive Google map Rockridge tour to help you discover College Ave. and what it’s like living and visiting Rockridge.
JUNE 2025 BERKELEY LUXURY PROPERTY ALERT: You’ll never forget the first time you see the Hume Cloister, a private estate in the North Berkeley hills that takes you to another time and place: rural France. Stone wishing well included! I had a chance to tour the property when it was last for sale in 2016…
Have you always dreamed of living in Alameda and thought you might only be able to afford a condo or townhouse? This was our target buyer for marketing the Alameda Dream home — a 1 bedroom house at 2838 Fillmore Selling a one-bedroom house is a tall order, even in Alameda’s coveted East End neighborhood….
This 3 bedroom house with a ground-floor bedroom and bath along with a fenced yard on Alameda’s Bay Farm Island checked all the boxes for many home buyers. 167 Purcell is an awesome, centrally located East Bay home, with: 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms: 2 bedrooms upstairs, each with en-suite full baths* 1 bedroom and…
I’ve lived in Rockridge for more than 10 years where I own — and house hack — a duplex. So this list of reasons why a Rockridge is so popular comes directly from my experience. Ask anyone who has been to Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood what they think. You will very likely hear them say “it’s…
Thinking about making the move from LA to the Bay Area? If you’re bemoaning the idea of not being in Los Angeles, by the beaches, in WEHO, or some other scene you might miss, here are a few things to consider about what you’ll love—and what you might miss—about the Bay Area. Is the…
Have you lived in the Bay Area forever and are wondering why you never heard of (or went to) Marina Bay in Richmond, near Point Richmond? More importantly, are you thinking how can you get into Marina Bay and figure out which is the best community for you? Me too! Marina Bay is a collection…
On a recent trip to Mexico, the sound of the ocean crashed with the sounds of building. Everywhere! Beautiful, modern condos in Puerto Vallarta had caught my eye on Airbnb. So I wondered: Is it really safe to buy a condo pre-construction in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? How do you know the quality and that you’re…
What’s the most important feature when buying a home? The oldest wisdom says “location, location, location.” But what exactly defines the perfect location that checks all the boxes of desirability and long-term appreciate? It depends! The book FLIP: How to Find, Fix, and Sell Houses for Profit distills that perfect location into “9 Neighborhood Appeal Factors.” You…
