I buy my home buyer clients a home warranty for a typical reason: peace of mind. I’ll admit, it took my becoming a real estate agent to learn about the magic of home warranties. Most of us assume only new developments have warranties, just like a new dishwasher. Nope! In fact, I usually warn buyers…
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…
Do you fully understand the importance of being prepared for flooding in their homes…or outside of your home? The California Association of Realtors points out that homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood damage. After the record-breaking wildfires in California, the risk of flash flooding and mud flows increase significantly until vegetation is restored — up…
Ikea kitchen planners can help you design a kitchen in 3D and choose your cabinet, counter, hardware…all the materials for your shiny new modern kitchen. You can also pay for an Ikea kitchen designer to come to your house (now $79) to make sure all of your kitchen measurements are accurate. The Ikea kitchen I…
This article by Susie Wyshak first appeared in the Rockridge News and is edited for online reading. Enjoy! Get in touch to chat about your real estate goals over a pastry at Starter Bakery and learn all about living in Rockridge and the East Bay. The Rockridge community took Brian Wood by surprise. He opened…
Buying a new house before selling your own house or condo in cities like Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda can be a challenging process. Yet, who doesn’t want to avoid moving twice? To buy a house before selling there are many factors to consider, including: financial planning to know what you can afford deciding if it’s…
Lists of the best places to live in the United States hit my inbox daily. Best places for coffee lovers, doughnut lovers, chocolate lovers, families…the themes have no end. Most of these lists are “cute” and fun. Yet most of the lists do not take into account the many things that make a place home and liveable….
Building ADUs on a property with a single-family home or multi-family building has become the most popular way to think about multi-generational living or generating income during retirement. (The New York Times reports on the popularity of ADUs — although ignore the very low prices per square foot quoted!) But what if it turns out…
True confessions: I never had extermination done after buying my house years ago. After all, no termites were crawling or flying around. How did we know if the termites were old school or a current infestation? Then there was a live termite incident. Three different pest inspection companies did estimates, with three wildly different recommendations….
Do you want to be a house hacker and buy a multi-family property in Oakland to live in one unit and rent the others to pay for your expenses? Or do you need a vacant Berkeley multi-family property for for you and your family or friends? These Oakland Multi-family properties are in neighborhoods that most…