Archive for Buyers

How to successfully negotiate as a home buyer

September 22nd, 2009

I can’t believe how many of today’s home Buyers and home Sellers believe that “take it or leave it negotiations” are productive.  I’ve negotiated over 200 transactions of my own as well as another 100 for other agents as a real estate office manager in the city of Piedmont.  A simple rule that I recommend [...]

Free Hazardous Waste Disposal in Oakland and Piedmont CA

August 17th, 2009

When preparing an Oakland Hills or Piedmont home for sale it is likely that you have a shelf or cabinet full of hazardous waste such as old paints, solvents, strippers, oil etc.  Disposal of hazardous waste materials in Oakland is quite easy.  The Oakland Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday [...]

Buying an Oakland Hills home with Oakland Schools in mind

July 17th, 2009

Many home buyers when considering purchasing a home in the Oakland Hills ask about the local schools, even if there are no school age children in the family.  Let’s face it, some Oakland Unified Schools leave something to be desired.  On the other hand, there are some outstanding  schools in the Oakland Hills area that [...]

What does an increase in interest rates do to my mortgage payment?

July 10th, 2009

OK, so you are a first time buyer looking to purchase a home.  In the Oakland Montclair and Oakland Hills areas the average entry level home is around $600,000.  If you were to purchase an average Oakland Montclair home with a 20% down payment  and a loan of 80% at an interest rate of 5.375%, [...]

Oakland’s Haddon Hill Neighborhood 715 Cleveland St.

June 8th, 2009

715 Cleveland Street is brand new listing.  It’s a charming Craftsman bungalow in Oakland’s Haddon Hill Neighborhood.  Haddon Hill is located in the foothills of the Oakland Hills just below Highway 580, between Lakeshore Ave. and Park Boulevard.  Haddon Hill used to be part of the Trestle Glen and Crocker Highlands neighborhoods before the Highway [...]

Pitfalls of purchasing a REO forclosed home in Oakland and Berkeley Hills CA

May 6th, 2009

Though REO (bank owned) properties, foreclosures and short sales are much less common in the Oakland Hills, Berkeley Hills and Piedmont real estate communities, the worsening economy is resulting in these type transactions becoming more prevalent.  Many of today’s Oakland Hills home buyers want to see how they can take advantage of this situation.  Finding [...]

What is a shortsale in oakland hills and berkeley CA

May 6th, 2009

A short sale is a situation when a homeowner is trying to sell their home for less money than they owe on thier mortgage.  Economic conditions being what they are, short sales are becomeing more prevelant, even in trophy real estate districts like the Oakland Hills: Montclair, Upper Rockridge, Broadway Terrace, Berkeley: North Berkeley, Elmwood, Claremont [...]

sunday open homes for Oakland, Berkeley and Piedmont CA

March 20th, 2009

When looking to educate yourself on real estate values and homes for sale in the Oakland, Berkeley and Piedmont areas you may want to do so by visiting Sunday open homes. As a full service Realtor, one of the ways that I provide with real estate services designed to make life easy on my clients [...]

What’s a Supplemental Tax bill?

February 19th, 2009

Buying a home in Oakland, Berkeley Piedmont, especially for first time buyers results in the question “What’s a supplemental tax bill?”
State law requires the Assessor’s Office to reappraise property immediately upon change of ownership or completion of new construction. The Assessor’s Office must issue a supplemental assessment which reflects the difference between the prior assessed value [...]

Seismic retrofit incentives for new home Buyers in Oakland and Berkeley

February 10th, 2009

The city of Oakland and the City of Berkeley offer nice incentives for new Buyers to make seismic retrofit improvements to their properties.  If you live in the Oakland and Berkeley hills areas such as Montclair, Rockridge, Elmwood, North Berkeley or anywhere in the San Francisco East Bay, it’s a safe bet that the home [...]

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  • Brian Santilena

    Brian Santilena

    • Senior Sales Associate
    • DRE #01244612
    • (510) 338-1380 direct
    • (510) 501-3534 mobile
    • (510) 339-6519 fax
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