I grew up in Southern California, where Trader Joe’s got its start. That’s how a 1982 Trader Joe’s flyer ended up in the glove box of one of our family cars. Finding this treasure inspired me to write a Trader Joe’s history book analyzing how what used to be “health foods” and “ethnic foods” you…
Temporary interest rate buydowns are actually a quite simple and interesting concept. Interest rate buydowns help home buyers afford a higher-priced home in the face of high interest rates. Buydowns temporarily lower mortage payments — even on fixed, 30 year mortgages. Basically, the home seller “buys down” the interest rate as an incentive. Meaning, they…
Add “trick or treat near Stephen King’s house” to your bucket list. Then add “go to Bangor, Maine” to the list. That’s where Stephen King’s sprawling haunted-like estate sits, surrounded by a wrought iron fence just made for a Stephen King movie. Or Harry Potter. Russell Street in Berkeley, California is my usual Halloween go-to…
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…
How hot was Walnut Creek in September 2022? Ask the seller of a fixer upper priced at more than $1 million. (And ask me if you’re interested in such a home.) Redfin ranked Walnut Creek at the top of its “Top 10 Most Competitive Cities in California” in September 22. And 7 of the top…
Did your friend / cousin / in-law’s agent 500 miles away offer to give you a commission discount for helping you buy a house in Berkeley? When purchasing or selling a property in Berkeley or Oakland, it is always a good idea to work with a local, active real estate professional. Better yet, choose an…
With a never ending list of everything you ‘should do’ when purchasing a home, it seems counterproductive to focus on what you should not do. But being aware of the dont’s is just as important as the do’s, when it comes to making the biggest financial investment of your life.
Buying a home in the East Bay may be the biggest financial decision of your life. Then again, you don’t want to wake up one day after 8 years of being at UC Berkeley and realize you’d spend $250,000 on rent without once considering buying. Count me as one of the people who wishes she…
Is that low house price for real? (“It’s in my budget!”) Berkeley and Oakland house hunters are all too familiar with house listings at prices that seem too good to be true. They often are! The East Bay has a long-time tradition of pricing homes for sale low to attract attention and drive the selling…
California home buyers have a few excellent programs to help you buy a home and offset the costs of building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) — a backyard cottage for family and income. The California Downpayment Resource Directory is a great place to see what you and the property you’re interested in might qualify for….
