Rockridge is one of the most popular neighborhoods in the San Francisco East Bay thanks to many factors: Being a popular place to buy means lots of competition. It also means prices have gone up and up. But what I really wanted to write about, as a longtime Rockridge homeowner myself, is what to look…
Location location location ! Location has always been the most important feature when buying real estate. That’s how “location location location” said 3x became a saying that transcends time. But what does “location” mean exactly? The right location may mean a coveted school district or neighborhood known for its name, such as Pacific Heights in…
When looking at houses with clients, I often point out that a living space can essentially be extended at relatively low cost by plunking an 8×10 studio in the backyard — not to mention the bigger investment of an ADU. So when the 2026 Bay Area ADU Expo in San Jose popped up in my inbox,…
First, know that buyers don’t hire me to show them what they can find on Zillow. I’ve helped many buyers who chose to “request a tour” through Zillow. Being a Zillow agent was a really cool way to meet people who were not familiar with an area or who decided to start exploring by visiting…
Let’s talk about that house. You know the one. Maybe it showed up in your search or on “Zillow Gone Wild” or it’s a mysterious house you’ve always been curious about as you passed by. It’s in one of those popular neighborhoods like Rockridge in Oakland that you adore—tree-lined streets, great local coffee shop, neighbors…
“Eighty-two percent of home buyers express regrets about their recent property purchase. Their most common regret: buying a home that requires too much maintenance.” (Clever Real Estate survey) Is fear stopping you from buying a home when you really want to own and invest in your future, instead of renting? The answer is to address…
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…
Here’s a success story of a life-long renter who found and bought her perfect home, a condo. My client had a perfect process for searching for houses and condos that led to a winning offer. She knew exactly what her criteria were — the home had to: be in an easy commute location, easy to…
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…
This little North Berkeley duplex is in one of the most popular neighborhoods. So why isn’t it selling after 2 months on the market…and a price less than what the owners paid a couple of years ago? Wisdom says a property not selling is always about price. For income properties, you need to make sure…
