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….
States all across America have legalized home-based “cottage food” businesses that allow making and selling food from home — the perfect way to offset a mortgage and have the freedom and flexibility to work at home. In 2022, California revisited the law and made serious improvements, allowing gross income, before expenses, of $75,000-$150,000 depending on…
Home Price Data in neighborhoods near the Whole Foods that opened in December 2021 in Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood The 94609 zip code includes the Temescal area around 51st and Telegraph. The 94618 includes Lower Rockridge and other parts of Rockridge I will pull new numbers every few months to see how the median estimated…
Julia Child gave us excuses to cook with vermouth. How could I resist following her recipe for living with abandon? Within hours of choosing “Rule #1: Live With Abandon,” I prepared to savor the challenge Karen Karbo put forth to bloggers to celebrate the release of her book Julia Child Rules: Lessons on Savoring Life….
