My wife and I are first time home buyers and the prospect of finding and purchasing a home was more then a little intimidating. A coworker recommend we contact Brain. Right away Brain helped us to understand the basics of the loan process, escrow, inspections.
Archive for Market
What is a shortsale in oakland hills and berkeley CA
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
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 [...]
Conforming loan limits and their affects in Oakland and Berkeley Hills real estate
Loan amounts fall into two main categories, Conforming and Jumbo. Conforming loans have a limit up to $729k. Jumbo loans are all loans over $729k. Until recently the Conforming loan amount was all the way down in the $400’s. As an economic stimulus the Congress temporarily increased the Conforming loan limit to $729 through January [...]
If a full price offer comes in, is a Seller obligated to accept it?
The bottom line answer is NO. Barring imminent domain, foreclosure and a handful of other specific situations, nobody can force you to sell them your property. A better question may be “What are my risks if a full price offer comes in and I don’t accept it?” The main risk is that you may be [...]
Multiple Offers in this Market?
Contrary to what you might read in the San Francisco Chronicle some Oakland, California real estate listings are still generating multiple offers. Some are even selling substantially over their listing price.
Up until early 2006 aprox. 75% of the properties on the market were selling with more than one offer. Now days it’s more like 15%. [...]
Ugly Homes Are Ugly Again
I heard an agent say the other day “Ugly homes are ugly again.” After laughing a bit I realized just how true that statement is.
For a long time Buyers were willing to overlook pretty much everything. They were just happy to get the house. These days Buyers have more of an opportunity to be discriminating [...]
