Imagine opening up your home to show off your remodeled kitchen. That’s what 8-10 Rockridge homeowners do every other year along with their builders, architects, and interior designers. Seeing these renovated and reimagined kitchens with the latest cabinetry, space-saving ideas, and glowing cabinet hardware is the ultimate inspiration to refresh your kitchen — especially if…
If you own rental property — whether an entire rental or you are renting part of your house out or some other type of investment property — you may qualify for a tax-deferred 1031 exchange when you sell. As of this moment, investors can usually exchange one investment for up to three investments of “like…
Thinking of a budget remodel to update or fix things about your house that you don’t like? Join the club! There’s nothing like living in a space for a while to figure out what you would like to change in layout or use of the space. That’s why I give my home buying clients a…
Do you feel like home buying has its ups and downs and winding road with plenty obstacles and hopefully triumphs? Congratulations! You are living Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey — the story of adventure, challenge and “finding home” that you see in every hit movie (think: Nemo, Ice Age, Star Wars, Under the Tuscan Sun, Wizard…
You know that viral SNL Zillow video where they say “pick up your phone, open the app, and tell us what you reallllly want.” Ah, those were the good, old days when house hunting with a Zillow agent like me was like dating. Zillow addicts (maybe you?) would tap “Tour This Home.” Within seconds you…
The choices: A. No landlord rulesB. Peace of mind and securityC. Investment and building equityD. Decorating/home design After many many years as I renter, I finally bought a home. Since then, I’ve gone through buying, owning, maintaining, paying for two East Bay homes, the first which I regretted. Although at the time, it seemingly met…
Does your house have the comfortable feel of an old shoe? Are you embarrassed to have people over? Or if you do, are you constantly apologizing and wondering what your guests think? Susie thinks: “check!” “check!” and “check!” A little known technique to re-invent your house is to do what real estate agents do when…
Open houses provide an invaluable opportunity for prospective buyers to explore properties firsthand at your leisure. Open houses are usually held on weekend afternoons, open to the public. Rather than private home tours, open houses give early home buyers the chance to explore neighborhoods and home features without “bugging” your agent over the weeks, months,…
College Ave. in Oakland’s popular Rockridge neighborhood is home to many highly rated health and beauty businesses. Discover just a few in this article, re-printed with permission from the Rockridge News, April 2023. By Susie Wyshak. Compass REALTOR® and Rockridge resident. Beyond clothing, surprising ways to re-invent your look along College Avenue. Pavé Fine Jewelry…
Home improvement website Houzz surveyed released a 2024 survey of home improvements home owners are making this year. #1 on the list is a “return to open spaces.” “Creating separation naturally became more popular during the COVID pandemic, with only 38% of homeowners opening up their kitchens to other interior spaces in 2022 versus 53%…
