tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-358094492024-03-05T01:20:24.365-08:00All Juice... All Real Estate... All The TimeJuicy Real Estate! A minute in the life of Berkeley Real Estate Agent Krista Miller. Hold on tight and check back often! The real estate market in the East Bay is sure to keep you on your toes...RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-53792755808822806992008-12-15T11:28:00.000-08:002008-12-15T11:34:56.841-08:00We've MovedHey there, thank you for stopping by. <br /><br />I've moved my site and can now be found at <a href="http://www.kristashouse.com/">www.kristashouse.com</a>. <br /><br />Please come and check me out!<br /><br />~~~KristaRealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-55905962818688333022008-12-11T13:33:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:39:43.991-08:00Rate Watch from Gwen & Rhoda<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Q8yASi4OdkBPIG_sF8y6R6NQdk_pkX-8c_nqj8ReBedM073eeBfmPM48-fiMP4phKo1tvU8CYhNMTz3ybpbIvO1NNzde-VsvOX6M46iK95p8LHtmIZloyQkXvQCBbne7z1JxGw/s1600-h/ratewatch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278650068456333746" style="WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 67px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Q8yASi4OdkBPIG_sF8y6R6NQdk_pkX-8c_nqj8ReBedM073eeBfmPM48-fiMP4phKo1tvU8CYhNMTz3ybpbIvO1NNzde-VsvOX6M46iK95p8LHtmIZloyQkXvQCBbne7z1JxGw/s200/ratewatch.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IQGoI8ESSN2EBZnygB6cQwd88SSilwRxx1NULSqraWM_VT4sglUBOInmY4C-1laTtZ-Z51SQMQHqfXr-SPC7tdIvoAbb1GR0P5X2O5cCTJEvjO5Me4C0KXR8wItQ5m_NTI_Ncw/s1600-h/ratewatch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278650066819718354" style="WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 67px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IQGoI8ESSN2EBZnygB6cQwd88SSilwRxx1NULSqraWM_VT4sglUBOInmY4C-1laTtZ-Z51SQMQHqfXr-SPC7tdIvoAbb1GR0P5X2O5cCTJEvjO5Me4C0KXR8wItQ5m_NTI_Ncw/s200/ratewatch.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaj7XVoZVhVgBFA0FtpREI8HeOWlBs9KxVqBU_dzgGC-E1XaCq9qIqsPnHedXPb-Hh9fd3DpiRlXOEDckFiB-DPeaOeBqX4AfY6V3kwQdSWDsN5dKaouSt-tMdZ0NJO4opANvDtw/s1600-h/ratewatch.jpg"></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div>Here is the latest and greatest from a pair of super cool mortgage brokers, Gwen Hoople & Rhoda Paul of Holmgren Mortgage in Oakland.<br /><div></div><br /><div>"Mortgage rates increased last week despite news that the economy will be in an extended recession and a jobs report that was weaker than expected. Stocks surged Monday in a positive response to progress on a potential rescue of the Big Three auto makers, as well as news of President-elect Obama’s stimulus plans. Rates normally rise when the stock market rises, but are relatively unchanged since last week. We are receiving many calls from consumers asking about the Treasury plan to reduce mortgage rates to 4.5%, but so far no information has emerged about what this means, who it will apply to, and other critical details."</div><br /><div></div><div>30 Year Fixed Conforming: 5.625%/5.662%APR<br />30 Year Fixed Agency-Jumbo: 6.000%/6.024%APR<br />5 Year Fixed Conforming (1 Point): 5.375%/5.435%APR<br />5 Year Fixed Int. Only Conforming (1 Point): 5.500%/5.456%APR<br />5 Year Fixed Int. Only Jumbo (1 Point): 5.750%/5.477%APR</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://www.gwenandrhoda.com/">http://www.gwenandrhoda.com/</a></div><div></div></div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-63806905434101132762008-12-09T13:19:00.000-08:002008-12-09T13:37:05.974-08:00Forbes.com: 10 Best Suburbs to Sell A Home. Berkeley is #1!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedOggS_C05JTt_ba1dpUmBxG_pWDbC_As_7d2__i0fKVhundUmsggQ16krpzGWlmrMeraBuUMJPaWhN05iltzA4NHCEc2i233a_xxW-N0qkYx_ZAFLBhD0eN-YosjwZs59aHmSw/s1600-h/ucb_campus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277907477393539330" style="WIDTH: 242px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 161px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedOggS_C05JTt_ba1dpUmBxG_pWDbC_As_7d2__i0fKVhundUmsggQ16krpzGWlmrMeraBuUMJPaWhN05iltzA4NHCEc2i233a_xxW-N0qkYx_ZAFLBhD0eN-YosjwZs59aHmSw/s200/ucb_campus.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/06/homes-sellers-suburbs-forbeslife-cx_mw_1106realestate_slide_11.html?thisSpeed=30000">Berkeley, Calif.</a>, known sometimes as a hippie haven, is becoming a hotbed for home sales.<br /></div><br /><div>Prices in the Bay Area suburb are up 9% this year, with homes selling for a median price of $790,986. Properties are sitting on the market for 73 days on average, the lowest of any area with positive <a style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 14px; CURSOR: pointer; COLOR: #003399; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px dotted; FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2008/12/02/businesswire117315793.html?partner=lingospot" rel="nofollow" _old_href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fbusinesswire%2Ffeeds%2Fbusinesswire%2F2008%2F12%2F02%2Fbusinesswire117315793.html%3Fpartner%3Dlingospot">price trends</a> within the confines of the country's 75 largest Census-defined metro areas. Only 37% of sellers have been forced to reduce their prices, one of the lowest rates in the country.</div><br /><div></div><div>It may not be a boom, but given regional problems it's a good market to be in. Berkeley joins <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/06/homes-sellers-suburbs-forbeslife-cx_mw_1106realestate_slide_9.html?thisspeed=25000">Venice, Calif.</a>; <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/06/homes-sellers-suburbs-forbeslife-cx_mw_1106realestate_slide_10.html?thisSpeed=30000">Bedford, Texas</a>; <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/06/homes-sellers-suburbs-forbeslife-cx_mw_1106realestate_slide_8.html?thisSpeed=30000">Kennesaw, Ga.</a>; and <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/06/homes-sellers-suburbs-forbeslife-cx_mw_1106realestate_slide_2.html?thisspeed=25000">Montclair, N.J.</a>, on our list of suburbs with the best conditions for sellers.<br /></div><br /><div>In fact, the only housing-market problem Berkeley seems to have involved four protesters who illegally occupied a tree from the beginning of the year through September. Authorities finally cut off the hippies' food and water supply, forcing them from their oak home.<br />"If you have to sell a house, sell in these places," says Michael Simonsen, chief executive of Altos Research. "But it's a measure of how rough is it out there for sellers. These are the best markets, and we're looking at three to four months of time to sell in the country's best markets."<br /></div><br /><div>Our data comes from Altos Research, a Mountain View, Calif., research firm. We looked at the suburbs in the country's 75 largest Census-defined metro areas based on the last 90 days of sales activity. Since a metro area can contain hundreds of suburbs, we narrowed it to those cities with an inventory of at least 75 homes on the market.<br /></div><br /><div>Since stagnation is the death of prices and sales, we further eliminated suburbs where it currently takes more than 125 days to sell the average home. Price also matters. Nationwide, cities like Sacramento, Calif., and <a style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 14px; CURSOR: pointer; COLOR: #003399; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px dotted; FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/12/09/afx5796242.html?partner=lingospot" rel="nofollow" _old_href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fafxnewslimited%2Ffeeds%2Fafx%2F2008%2F12%2F09%2Fafx5796242.html%3Fpartner%3Dlingospot">Los Angeles</a> are among the easiest to sell a home, based on sales data from Radar Logic, a New York real estate research firm, but homes are mainly selling at massive discounts. To eliminate these places from our list, we excised any suburb where year-over-year <a style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 14px; CURSOR: pointer; COLOR: #003399; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px dotted; FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.forbes.com/reuters/feeds/reuters/2008/12/09/2008-12-09T105816Z_01_L9642339_RTRIDST_0_COLUMN-CLEANTECH.html?partner=lingospot" rel="nofollow" _old_href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Freuters%2Ffeeds%2Freuters%2F2008%2F12%2F09%2F2008-12-09T105816Z_01_L9642339_RTRIDST_0_COLUMN-CLEANTECH.html%3Fpartner%3Dlingospot">price declines</a> were steeper than 10% and where more than 50% of sellers had to reduce their asking price to sell their home. </div><br /><div></div><div>What was left wasn't a set of awe-inspiring hidden gems where sellers are awash in bidding wars. Nationwide, low-interest rates and low prices caused existing home sales to rise 5.5% in September, but in many areas of the country, sellers are finding relatively few buyers.</div><br /><div></div><div>Indeed, areas like <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/06/homes-sellers-suburbs-forbeslife-cx_mw_1106realestate_slide_4.html?thisspeed=25000">Encinitas, Calif.</a>, and <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/06/homes-sellers-suburbs-forbeslife-cx_mw_1106realestate_slide_5.html?thisspeed=25000">Matthews, N.C.</a>, where homes are staying on the market 100 and 127 days respectively, make our list even though such long waiting times are traditionally hallmarks of buyers' market.<br />Sellers in <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/06/homes-sellers-suburbs-forbeslife-cx_mw_1106realestate_slide_3.html?thisspeed=25000">Waltham, Mass.</a>, a middle-class suburb west of Boston, don't have that problem. They've seen 1% price appreciation over the last year, and only 53% of them have to reduce their price in order to make a sale. It's not exactly a bull market, but homes only take 79 days to find buyers, the second-quickest turnaround of any suburb on our list.<br /></div><br /><div>Further south, 27% of sellers in Montclair, N.J., have dropped their prices in the last 90 days. The median home price there is $671,954, and properties stay on the market 115 days.<br />While this is good news for local homeowners, these are hardly sellers markets.<br />"In some markets you can drop the price to zero and not sell a brand new property," says Doug Duncan, the chief economist of Fannie Mae. </div><br /><div>Why? "There's no one there to buy it."</div><br /><div></div><div>Click here to see the original article from 11/6/08: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/06/homes-sellers-suburbs-forbeslife-cx_mw_1106realestate.html?partner=email">http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/06/homes-sellers-suburbs-forbeslife-cx_mw_1106realestate.html?partner=email</a></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-28603281066728569332008-12-08T14:27:00.000-08:002008-12-08T14:53:33.165-08:00El Cerrito High School renovation near completion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KC1IEN-fnIUIh-JKzh6S2ouX0oaRktHVWZyE4ne5mKaxHOek7-nS4HkRJTVWZP9CgbazGnPxREGAviYtGYxKolhy_mwEl9fzoYlV8zFNF2-kcv6MuFck3szv39slAs-8GfnEWw/s1600-h/echs1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277553897327791378" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KC1IEN-fnIUIh-JKzh6S2ouX0oaRktHVWZyE4ne5mKaxHOek7-nS4HkRJTVWZP9CgbazGnPxREGAviYtGYxKolhy_mwEl9fzoYlV8zFNF2-kcv6MuFck3szv39slAs-8GfnEWw/s200/echs1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_enDRhqexwMXp5zP3l2Zf-Bpbsumufb6NaUJKAyaR95n6fLl30rbwQEy_zQWeHk0RVtTT_vIhh5dElrmvC0nVa9C0GVXNusH51Wfe1HDuxqlsnPv4vBM9rHXKOu5piZubWT9eYg/s1600-h/echs2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277553900482086434" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_enDRhqexwMXp5zP3l2Zf-Bpbsumufb6NaUJKAyaR95n6fLl30rbwQEy_zQWeHk0RVtTT_vIhh5dElrmvC0nVa9C0GVXNusH51Wfe1HDuxqlsnPv4vBM9rHXKOu5piZubWT9eYg/s200/echs2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxX5uNhxuMTZTIHfXdlRS8Ca_PqtHHFmQoBBl_koaXSKTZwoY3k1eGA_JQznLzhyphenhyphenoamwdLsmhjCQLXN6PC7b4-UUxnZpeTka6ceDddF6culPbGsQk4GhI8VWH5q1XdvpdKxT0mFw/s1600-h/echs3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277553907410781746" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxX5uNhxuMTZTIHfXdlRS8Ca_PqtHHFmQoBBl_koaXSKTZwoY3k1eGA_JQznLzhyphenhyphenoamwdLsmhjCQLXN6PC7b4-UUxnZpeTka6ceDddF6culPbGsQk4GhI8VWH5q1XdvpdKxT0mFw/s200/echs3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><div>This winter the much acclaimed and highly anticipated El Cerrito High School is scheduled to re-open. The school, which was demolished in 2005, has undergone an intense renovation process. Many are calling it the "Taj Mahal" of high schools. The 200,000 square foot, state-of-the-art campus located on Ashbury Avenue will include a 650-seat performing arts center, a solar-paneled roof that will generate 40% of the schools power, and an expansive courtyard.</div><br /><div></div><div>The $116 million dollar price tag is a part of the West Contra Costa School Districts $1 billion bond reconstruction program which was designed to renovate a few dozen schools within the district. </div></div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-30943237698900061862008-12-04T10:53:00.000-08:002008-12-04T12:00:47.547-08:00Berkeley's Fourth Street is primed for the holidays<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRIYf2DQTO6YtDJhrzbhtsaViZnt5Agt0E2X4iS1jk3KqopV7ufsk612gM8rZxuzlUHQS2Ge5vJs_f6ZAZnKeHUQW-r3jD647CrBB3shKV8KnPTPA6iqI9jvoFbJVsJufEVWh_Q/s1600-h/4thStreet2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276025279954158034" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRIYf2DQTO6YtDJhrzbhtsaViZnt5Agt0E2X4iS1jk3KqopV7ufsk612gM8rZxuzlUHQS2Ge5vJs_f6ZAZnKeHUQW-r3jD647CrBB3shKV8KnPTPA6iqI9jvoFbJVsJufEVWh_Q/s200/4thStreet2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjDzqsteIwIqpzuhRjIEPDCorVIRHwmA_Lj22P909HV5wT9xSs4pxy1YD2lqVAK6sMz6BijnAW_gL6uAKX84bZTwpfgX2coxBht4RIgU-GqrZwypFrWh-5iWxogo2tc-m8R8ewQ/s1600-h/4thStreet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276025277658091794" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjDzqsteIwIqpzuhRjIEPDCorVIRHwmA_Lj22P909HV5wT9xSs4pxy1YD2lqVAK6sMz6BijnAW_gL6uAKX84bZTwpfgX2coxBht4RIgU-GqrZwypFrWh-5iWxogo2tc-m8R8ewQ/s200/4thStreet.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I went down to Fourth Street in Berkeley last week to do my part to stimulate the economy (ha!). I arrived just as the sun had set, and as I turned the corner from Hearst onto 4th, I was suddenly overcome with joy. Surrounding me was a spectacular parade of lights. Beads of blue and white lights speckled the sky; vibrant bulbs of reds and greens and blues dotted the trees.<br /><br />It is at times like these that we forget that unemployment is at its highest in 26 years, we forget that there is a horrific war still happening on the other side of the world, and we forget that the economy is falling apart.<br /><br />Here on Fourth Street, the world is at peace.RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-36385219801013192902008-11-26T00:07:00.000-08:002008-11-26T00:08:27.428-08:00Black Friday- get your FDIC coupons here<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7Xj630QW-UEYsWVA3TfI7OVEusUDfdU4Y6DM3vrfzih0ZpNEVjrYj34j73DQBhJNylQh2MuLy7jue26YhsC-vqY99y1G6vcrviRfoCCp3jFQthUZqeCKnI70d1wGYgQiEk6bqA/s1600-h/bank-coupons.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272874969013778722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 292px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7Xj630QW-UEYsWVA3TfI7OVEusUDfdU4Y6DM3vrfzih0ZpNEVjrYj34j73DQBhJNylQh2MuLy7jue26YhsC-vqY99y1G6vcrviRfoCCp3jFQthUZqeCKnI70d1wGYgQiEk6bqA/s400/bank-coupons.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-20184707094460831482008-11-25T13:21:00.000-08:002008-11-25T13:49:29.051-08:00Something to be thankful for<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oFkabQFCpKOWXR3u6B021bP7T7yrbxXY3Nz4mjGHtZslUCY9jwc3Uxp7swz1dPho3BmUDwpxnqM0e_zTy069838vUpTwCUL3KjrNvWOe730x3UDA-U1MEelK8yJ_AXfpas8kmA/s1600-h/thanksgiving.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272715516464401650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 143px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 107px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oFkabQFCpKOWXR3u6B021bP7T7yrbxXY3Nz4mjGHtZslUCY9jwc3Uxp7swz1dPho3BmUDwpxnqM0e_zTy069838vUpTwCUL3KjrNvWOe730x3UDA-U1MEelK8yJ_AXfpas8kmA/s400/thanksgiving.jpg" border="0" /></a> Have you heard that the holidays are upon us? Chances are you have. Thursday is Thanksgiving and here in the Bay Area, despite falling home prices and falling leaves, the weather is still warm. At 9am this morning my daughter and I left for our daily walk to her daycare wearing only light jackets. Later that morning my sister called to tell me that it was snowing in Boise, where she lives-the first snowfall of the year. I listened with envy, wishing I was also dancing in the snow. <div><br /><div></div><div>Thanksgiving in my family is very small, just my husband, my daughter, and me. Years ago my husband and I decided that Thanksgiving would be about us. Sometimes family can be...well...a little much so each year we leave our home and leave our family and head to the mountains. South Lake Tahoe is our destination and each year we stay at the same little hotel a few blocks from Heavenly. Some years there is snow, some years there isn't. Some years we ski, some years we hike. But what is consistent is the dinner. Every year our Thanksgiving feast is at LewMarNels, a lovely restaurant near the water. The staff never changes, and neither does the food. But this is what we like about it. They offer a 5 course meal complete with fondue, soup, salad, choice of entree, and dessert. Each year we fill up our stomachs so much that it hurts to laugh. </div><br /><div></div><div>This tradition is one that we look forward to every year. Not only does this form of family community remind us how lucky we are to have each other, but how thankful we are.</div><br /><div></div><div>Despite these economic times, I know there is something that we can all be thankful for.</div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-60316038636190157852008-11-20T13:46:00.001-08:002008-11-20T13:54:57.399-08:00Berkeley bungalow cute as a buttonBroker's Tour today didn't produce much. Inventory is down, WAY down. Perhaps people are wanting a place to live to cook their turkey's. I don't blame them!<br /><br />But I did see something worth mentioning: 2705 Mathews in West Berkeley. This 1 bedroom Craftsman bungalow is located on a wonderful tree-lined street in Berkeley's Left Bank. It has been remodeled with nice touches, has a sweet back yard, and original charm and details. Close to shopping, restaurants, and the new West Berkeley Bowl (<a href="http://juicyrealestate.blogspot.com/2008/11/hooray-new-berkeley-bowl-is-on-its-way.html">http://juicyrealestate.blogspot.com/2008/11/hooray-new-berkeley-bowl-is-on-its-way.html</a>), I think this great condo-alternative is priced close to where it should be, $439,000.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLyMiozqnLL9YeM20iT_xnpkNeUjLZlO6otKlMukJQwhvhW6UZySVbkcDPu5h0cnGBDrRuQL-qncUvqStR-Prf9RdMsEQhLuEcOGp-c-CZiQ8osjN2D_FnFdJN-BAyvkISr3Haw/s1600-h/mathews3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270861095589058978" style="WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLyMiozqnLL9YeM20iT_xnpkNeUjLZlO6otKlMukJQwhvhW6UZySVbkcDPu5h0cnGBDrRuQL-qncUvqStR-Prf9RdMsEQhLuEcOGp-c-CZiQ8osjN2D_FnFdJN-BAyvkISr3Haw/s400/mathews3.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRoMQYV2obKRMFadyCgKswCFRiAuFuJ18jmICZE-tKhvjCW7k4AEF-dV69KvqkziNPEc6ZBHXEk645esy3JgGbjQXvG48h9fI1Y7sbA15aOYQ1jEstWsKVnWam7604hdHERD_zg/s1600-h/mathews2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270861097370375746" style="WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRoMQYV2obKRMFadyCgKswCFRiAuFuJ18jmICZE-tKhvjCW7k4AEF-dV69KvqkziNPEc6ZBHXEk645esy3JgGbjQXvG48h9fI1Y7sbA15aOYQ1jEstWsKVnWam7604hdHERD_zg/s400/mathews2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfv7biOJ3wFjU5NuXXBPbGySxB2aGvt8l717PIzapOUxcMjAKS6a-H4T7bwb8gRq7LtoC7sfqySOK9-62pkNUpUL9JcMqpkNQTWV5mfYKL2pO-DQB5pw6kX-mf_cYZqos8V00kA/s1600-h/mathews1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270861095925018226" style="WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfv7biOJ3wFjU5NuXXBPbGySxB2aGvt8l717PIzapOUxcMjAKS6a-H4T7bwb8gRq7LtoC7sfqySOK9-62pkNUpUL9JcMqpkNQTWV5mfYKL2pO-DQB5pw6kX-mf_cYZqos8V00kA/s400/mathews1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><div></div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-11205273664093246482008-11-20T13:25:00.000-08:002008-11-20T13:42:58.450-08:00Hooray! A new Berkeley Bowl is on its way!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeGs5EUAAs03YeRQ9qNW7cQzxehqd5cD9789z_hMjUZGlLC_PGaVdXD4MPVWPf9jgRyO8GXK9hjN1iPMNCangpWOLjwfRhk_n5V_xvT1P_cRoOEFwzvTSRWpT9jeO4seQMMEyig/s1600-h/berkeleybowl2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270857731508418306" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 235px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeGs5EUAAs03YeRQ9qNW7cQzxehqd5cD9789z_hMjUZGlLC_PGaVdXD4MPVWPf9jgRyO8GXK9hjN1iPMNCangpWOLjwfRhk_n5V_xvT1P_cRoOEFwzvTSRWpT9jeO4seQMMEyig/s400/berkeleybowl2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyx7HEGAm-1gCGU2tt9yABjgWLE-2_HoSOZ52MlqWQdw9Ih1jmn6Jz8HzugUnV0Ok0yo9rS3z72IjU0PtCn146uWuxa66gPQzw-ihNja0wybZeU7WiD-SIHPaBsdtnO6omsAG7g/s1600-h/berkeleybowl.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270858356748056578" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyx7HEGAm-1gCGU2tt9yABjgWLE-2_HoSOZ52MlqWQdw9Ih1jmn6Jz8HzugUnV0Ok0yo9rS3z72IjU0PtCn146uWuxa66gPQzw-ihNja0wybZeU7WiD-SIHPaBsdtnO6omsAG7g/s400/berkeleybowl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><div><div><div>Berkeley Bowl is back in the news. Not because John G. was banned, and not because nuts are flying off of the shelves, but because Berkeley Bowl Marketplace has just given birth, well, almost.</div><br /><div></div><div>This second store, expected to open early 2009 will be a full-service, one-of-a-kind, green, environmentally friendly, and sustainable marketplace at the corner of 9th Street and Heinz Avenue in the mixed-use neighborhood of West Berkeley. The Project includes construction of two buildings: (i) a grocery marketplace with retail, administrative offices, and associated storage space over an underground parking garage, and (ii) a prepared food service area with limited seating and a community room.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>(information provided via <a href="http://www.kavamassiharchitects.com/">http://www.kavamassiharchitects.com/</a>)</div><br /><br /><div> </div></div></div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-30076210574301539632008-11-18T14:36:00.000-08:002008-11-18T14:44:28.179-08:00New Conforming Loan Limits set for 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UD9gPumv-MwoaDv42NvA7dE2FcQ5GRk590B_w5XgoXy8eyowJnGXd6KK1gRt-uK6latLRQXYbU6xTwJT8oCchkqVzb_NZkgodz6SFclH5lSRYL6G6HSGAJ9N4BjIXx0S9zAGfw/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270131777956578002" style="WIDTH: 95px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 119px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UD9gPumv-MwoaDv42NvA7dE2FcQ5GRk590B_w5XgoXy8eyowJnGXd6KK1gRt-uK6latLRQXYbU6xTwJT8oCchkqVzb_NZkgodz6SFclH5lSRYL6G6HSGAJ9N4BjIXx0S9zAGfw/s400/images.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>Word on the street is that the new loan limits have arrived for 2009! (I know you just can't contain yourselves!)</div><br /><div></div><div>For Alameda and Contra Costa Counties:</div><div></div><br /><div>1 unit-$625,500 </div><div>2 units-$800,775 </div><div>3 units-$967,950 </div><div>4 units-$1,202,925</div><div></div><br /><div>Now go buy a house!</div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-79100165601053388752008-11-13T15:02:00.000-08:002008-11-13T15:52:42.027-08:00Hello Berkeley: Are sellers giving up?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaRH141hM9Pe5Md9jX7INL4rNDmDN0bAR3KMC4op_zBcanHRmf_1WCW6e1EF13tkSBmLF5g7Q46fC4CJI1v6S9PPh4D9CnjoQpn4CJ2vTaBaotheGrre_6we8HJ1nGBVvhyphenhyphenXdiQ/s1600-h/buy_a_house.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268293768379625762" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaRH141hM9Pe5Md9jX7INL4rNDmDN0bAR3KMC4op_zBcanHRmf_1WCW6e1EF13tkSBmLF5g7Q46fC4CJI1v6S9PPh4D9CnjoQpn4CJ2vTaBaotheGrre_6we8HJ1nGBVvhyphenhyphenXdiQ/s400/buy_a_house.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />Today is Thursday. Each Thursday, fellow agents and I shuffle into our cars and drive around Berkeley, Kensington, Albany, El Cerrito, Emeryville and Oakland to check out all of the new listings. Today we saw 9 houses. That is down by 50%. To entice agents to view a house, most will provide food and tasty treats; one house offered a new Prius to the agent who brought an offer.</div><br /><div></div><div>Are people afraid to sell? I can't really tell you how many people are out there who may be afraid to sell, but what I can tell you is that the numbers are down. </div><br /><div></div><div>I did a little research and found that in these surrounding East Bay areas that there are currently 1916 active listings (1678 of which are in Oakland alone). </div><div></div><br /><div>Since the beginning of the year some interesting things have happened:</div><div></div><br /><div>Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington and Emeryville: Year-to-Date</div><div></div><br /><div>Active: 252</div><div>Expired: 294</div><div>Price Change: 23</div><div>Pending: 108</div><div>Sold: 812</div><div>Withdrawn: 242</div><br /><div></div><div>Now let's add in Oakland: Year-to-Date</div><br /><div></div><div>Active: 1664</div><div>Expired: 2281</div><div>Price Change: 107</div><div>Sold: 2139</div><div>Withdrawn: 1925</div><div></div><br /><div>Its safe to say that nearly 40% of our listings were expired or cancelled and only 28% have sold. So of course sellers are nervous; only those who really need to sell are looking to put their house on the market. </div><br /><div></div><div>Sure, we still have multiple offers: in fact, one house in the Claremont Hills just had 20 offers. Sellers, don't be afraid! That is at least 19 other buyers immediately available in the Claremont Hills.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>(data courtesy of EBRDI MLS)</div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-41484423066843774622008-11-12T00:02:00.001-08:002008-11-12T00:25:02.474-08:00Mountain House, the highest underwater town<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-Eqoepdvf71PvXaixHlqeRVs1t0fTZBgrVvf-WBPs6mYGwS9q5BMAG2nk_7MjRortV-M2_EQwI1oTij0B0suUYYNuJ7RuI8kmOBi5tQKb7woKuy7_EimGBRfVYYAfKaYwwwFiA/s1600-h/mountainhouse2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267684118660217314" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-Eqoepdvf71PvXaixHlqeRVs1t0fTZBgrVvf-WBPs6mYGwS9q5BMAG2nk_7MjRortV-M2_EQwI1oTij0B0suUYYNuJ7RuI8kmOBi5tQKb7woKuy7_EimGBRfVYYAfKaYwwwFiA/s400/mountainhouse2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuGCwamW3G_UNbSs_n-JGrOAhT05xit2M0lpIQ0ViL_Q9UJaHsZ2YJF2irkfGJUmBmTEbw5EQK6Kdw3hKm-LVE_qGF7X4xPb0QqJdjOn9Hzf-jidYji21bJq1zPSg8JPNkxZ8Wg/s1600-h/mountainhouse.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267683835520950082" style="WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 123px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuGCwamW3G_UNbSs_n-JGrOAhT05xit2M0lpIQ0ViL_Q9UJaHsZ2YJF2irkfGJUmBmTEbw5EQK6Kdw3hKm-LVE_qGF7X4xPb0QqJdjOn9Hzf-jidYji21bJq1zPSg8JPNkxZ8Wg/s400/mountainhouse.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div>Highest underwater town? Huh?</div><br /><div></div><div>Mountain House, California. Mountain House is located about 60 miles east of San Francisco. It is a master planned community designed to promote community, family and lifestyle. But there is something of real interest here: despite being 59 feet above sea level, most of the community is underwater.</div><br /><div></div><div>It is here where the average homeowner is $122,000 underwater; some homeowners are underwater as much as a half million dollars. It is here where 90% of homeowners owe more than their house is worth, making this the highest percentage in the country. It is here where new homes are still being built and sold. </div><div></div><br /><div>What? New homes are still being built AND sold? Houses here start at $200,000 and go up to $600,000. </div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-83059998026912279842008-11-11T14:53:00.000-08:002008-11-11T15:20:20.173-08:00Albany/Berkeley: Restaurant on Solano Ave., with outdoor seating!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhTww4SIbMb1Sqv-vnfCDS5uVOohXVkmzwRjTZJKCumHKGTZfMFzCiIOF6EoEIt52y0gSgpvBiAmIZLO3XVsNtLELQqT99iy09Bf1LYEB7kYuYtUEjx23VtFgStDJdEpdXRSWSQ/s1600-h/rendezvous.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267540139611150018" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhTww4SIbMb1Sqv-vnfCDS5uVOohXVkmzwRjTZJKCumHKGTZfMFzCiIOF6EoEIt52y0gSgpvBiAmIZLO3XVsNtLELQqT99iy09Bf1LYEB7kYuYtUEjx23VtFgStDJdEpdXRSWSQ/s400/rendezvous.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Great things are happening on Solano Avenue. Despite these trying economic times, there are some businesses that are managing to hang on, and others that have decided to brave the rapids. </div><div></div><br /><div>Rendez-Vous Cafe Bistro touts itself as "delicious affordable french cuisine." Affordable indeed. It hasn't been opened long, but I have driven by several times at night and the place is packed.</div><div> </div><div>Here is the COOL part...there is outside seating! WHAT??? you say? Yes, you heard me. This is a rarity on Solano Ave.- only a couple of places have outdoor seating. </div><div> </div><div>Check them out <a href="http://www.rendezvouscafebistro.com/">http://www.rendezvouscafebistro.com/</a> </div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-5257836647749106192008-11-06T12:31:00.000-08:002008-11-06T12:48:15.995-08:00Fabulous homes on tour today, Albany, Kensington and El Cerrito<div><div><div><div>Not much on tour today, but I did come across some very sweet treats.</div><br /><div>1022 Evelyn, Albany<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lURwZFwQbRDn5rHMecHHIrGBn4DZMS_y6qAQTKOHu4J4z8V45iON54AqqrTflsKx2vmsiMru-UCe8N0TuXkJ0CcWiexHPcJsCwojCO5G7_HZdZC7T7TDOHWYy1vstuAN8vKpjw/s1600-h/evelyn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265648694831422370" style="WIDTH: 236px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lURwZFwQbRDn5rHMecHHIrGBn4DZMS_y6qAQTKOHu4J4z8V45iON54AqqrTflsKx2vmsiMru-UCe8N0TuXkJ0CcWiexHPcJsCwojCO5G7_HZdZC7T7TDOHWYy1vstuAN8vKpjw/s400/evelyn.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60yEqTW2uKgrv8Y7umvW5T2NBswp5-BREajPnT9afMNWljKaaz3dx3ERdgC-7O5pahyphenhyphenjkNFQf3Qio_dIbFYCWHEnE-tRiBRTZ3bVset7l4VVIgytRtvqUnqUTs83Lajs-ZFenBw/s1600-h/evelyn2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265648690922693314" style="WIDTH: 236px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60yEqTW2uKgrv8Y7umvW5T2NBswp5-BREajPnT9afMNWljKaaz3dx3ERdgC-7O5pahyphenhyphenjkNFQf3Qio_dIbFYCWHEnE-tRiBRTZ3bVset7l4VVIgytRtvqUnqUTs83Lajs-ZFenBw/s400/evelyn2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Originally listed for $599,500, this house has a SUPER new price, $535,000. 2beds, 1bath, beautiful hardwood floors. Albany schools, walk to Solano. I don't think it will last at this price. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>7302 Gladys, El Cerrito<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYDeBJCZUaBGRRtIMQgjWhAI3bQkZ98qqlRwl1guGC7ASAY3-mJ6WX6HyKMVwkAWUqpsIhuf369Z56pC3zFeCBzGpfCuVV0RzY_SjLytLN1ucYOG-7mJEQlmB4eSHLX6t4CDpjw/s1600-h/gladys.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265648694289562786" style="WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYDeBJCZUaBGRRtIMQgjWhAI3bQkZ98qqlRwl1guGC7ASAY3-mJ6WX6HyKMVwkAWUqpsIhuf369Z56pC3zFeCBzGpfCuVV0RzY_SjLytLN1ucYOG-7mJEQlmB4eSHLX6t4CDpjw/s400/gladys.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhdqeSZJAL3ThLsChIdAIGGhXtmZ3zguN0KSWclK9WHwDSxaoUl_ZV-EShGIesvakIfdUDZvxz11yINjDWdOjja_HuK7qXtmE9WJlvbLA_DY9rdGEjWnaDQGxuxUc5zUVoZF75Q/s1600-h/gladys2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265648692565777266" style="WIDTH: 236px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 177px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhdqeSZJAL3ThLsChIdAIGGhXtmZ3zguN0KSWclK9WHwDSxaoUl_ZV-EShGIesvakIfdUDZvxz11yINjDWdOjja_HuK7qXtmE9WJlvbLA_DY9rdGEjWnaDQGxuxUc5zUVoZF75Q/s400/gladys2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>This super cute, 3bed home is fully updated with bay views and a master suite with bath. I think the agent mentioned that it will be open this weekend, with offers on the following Tuesday. This house is a really great value, and in a great neighborhood. $519,000</div><br /><div></div><div> </div><div>415 Santa Fe, Kensington</div><br /><div>This charming 2bed house is located near Kensignton Circle, where El Cerrito, Albany, Kensington and Berkeley meet. Walk to Kensington Pub, Semifreddis, Trader Joes and BART. $599,000. No pictures are available at this time. </div><br /><div> </div></div></div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-66007235781277380272008-11-04T13:55:00.000-08:002008-11-04T13:59:18.287-08:00Move over Joe the Plumber- Starbucks has a better Joe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0OWgZsCdvVU6sZNGfyLlzA-4xOV1mDI7gmdbvkT2HENcs8DWErlcqFs3qfZ9VQP3Yx9fBJ2qrEzGXQsckIiE3Ly-8mYrs3bEULUZJ432ueXi13kjogE2RQMOPeaHMQz-Xw3aQg/s1600-h/starbucks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264925255069422258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 98px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 119px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0OWgZsCdvVU6sZNGfyLlzA-4xOV1mDI7gmdbvkT2HENcs8DWErlcqFs3qfZ9VQP3Yx9fBJ2qrEzGXQsckIiE3Ly-8mYrs3bEULUZJ432ueXi13kjogE2RQMOPeaHMQz-Xw3aQg/s400/starbucks.jpg" border="0" /></a>Starbucks Offers Free Coffee to Voters on Election Day<br /><a href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=w7qfmtcab.0.0.fjcfnocab.0&ts=S0373&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Da2J8KJDsqqY&id=preview" target="_blank" track="on"></a><br />Move over Joe-the-Plumber. This election just got a better Joe.<br /><br />What if we all cared enough to vote? Not just 54% of us, but 100% of us? What if we cared as much on Nov. 5th as we care on Nov. 4th? What if we cared all of the time the way we do some of the time?<br /><br />Would our world be a better place?<br /><br />Starbucks thinks so.<br /><br />So come into Starbucks on Nov. 4th, tell them you voted, and they will proudly give you a tall cup of brewed coffee. Free. No questions asked.You and Starbucks. It's bigger than coffee.<br />Please do your part and VOTE...if not for the coffee, then do it because you care.RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-44697425132677605402008-11-03T10:32:00.000-08:002008-11-03T10:58:40.701-08:00Berkeley Burglars Kicking in Doors in the Hills<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhrhTkdYKpQTvCiVlOQjUaXwXvJ4OSoCPRrIeIbnCCxLCgPmnIURVgvCIDac2g-gmyjMMCDuXJtCHCk7ffFJlPHaT515bqkBMekkRUz4eIYzf1Zv6uNlivbIYRRKprmYvA94DzA/s1600-h/burglar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264507530476196546" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 114px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 107px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhrhTkdYKpQTvCiVlOQjUaXwXvJ4OSoCPRrIeIbnCCxLCgPmnIURVgvCIDac2g-gmyjMMCDuXJtCHCk7ffFJlPHaT515bqkBMekkRUz4eIYzf1Zv6uNlivbIYRRKprmYvA94DzA/s400/burglar.jpg" border="0" /></a>COMMUNITY CRIME ALERT - BURGLARS KICK DOORS IN THE HILLS<br /><div><div><br /><br /><div>Berkeley, California (Friday, October 24, 2008) - City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) Property Crimes detectives are alerting the community about a series of daytime burglaries that have been plaguing the North Berkeley Hills in the past two months.<br /><br />I have clients and friends in the hills. They know people who's homes have been burglarized. They are scared themselves.<br /><br />Gone are the days of leaving our doors unlocked during the day. Gone are the days of leaving windows open while you head out to run a few errands. Gone are the days of feeling completely and utterly safe in your home.<br /><br /><div></div>The burglar or burglars have been focusing on homes during daytime hours and making off with laptops, electronic equipment, jewelry and bikes. The suspect or suspects have been primarily kicking doors in order to get into the houses, however not exclusively.<br /><br />According to the Berkeley Police Department, most burglaries are "crimes of opportunity." But kicking in a door does not signify a crime of opportunity. Here are some things that you can do to try and prevent a burglary from occuring in your home:<br /><br />1) Keep your doors locked and windows shut at all times<br />2) Track down who has keys to your house and closely monitor who you give them to</div><div>3) Install an alarm system</div><div>4) Start a neighborhood watch (we just did this in my neighborhood)</div><div>5) Keep all entrances well lit</div><div>6) Ask to see ID of all utility workers</div><div>7) Do not open your door to solicitors, unless they have a permit from the city</div><div>8) Insure any items of value</div><div>9) Inform neighbors if you will be out of town</div><div>10)Report any suspicious activity to your local police department</div><div></div><br /><div>BPD is asking for the community’s help with stopping this series. Community members in Berkeley are urged to call BPD at 981-5900 if they note suspicious people or activity in their neighborhood. (Non-emergency dispatch line)<br /><br />For Crimes in Progress please call 911 or (510) 981-5911 from your cell phone.<br /><br />BPD is a partner of Bay Area Crime Stoppers. (BACS) BACS offers up to $2,000 cash in reward money to those who offer information that detectives determine is helpful to any felony investigation. Anyone with information can call 1-800-222-TIPS. All Bay Area Crime Stoppers calls are completely confidential.</div><div></div><br /><div><em><strong>How safe do you feel neighborhood?</strong></em></div></div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-69414948235815551862008-10-28T12:29:00.000-07:002008-10-28T12:50:31.424-07:00Rally for Laurie Capitelli, Marin Circle, Berkeley<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTgbDrQ2PK54QTdb_sxAQwtVZ8gMoPL19y7leoHEdqLh7Bvv5tugUEOUQHrzvnEIsZBRPE1HixgPRvG9lcslTKquiRuebXIG84NN9A9y5hyphenhyphen20kbzZlOPFnvoaLPtGeABFQ-Qb1A/s1600-h/marincircle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262290951571084786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTgbDrQ2PK54QTdb_sxAQwtVZ8gMoPL19y7leoHEdqLh7Bvv5tugUEOUQHrzvnEIsZBRPE1HixgPRvG9lcslTKquiRuebXIG84NN9A9y5hyphenhyphen20kbzZlOPFnvoaLPtGeABFQ-Qb1A/s400/marincircle.jpg" border="0" /></a>Yesterday some fellow "Oakies," as we call ourselves (people who work for Red Oak Realty), and I met at Marin Circle in Berkeley to show our support for our Broker, Laurie Capitelli, who happens to be running for re-election in Berkeley's City Council District #5. <br /><br />We, along with some good 'ol tummy warming Peet's, met at the circle at 7:30am and were greeted by honks, high fives, loud cheers, and some not-so-cheerful cheers. <br /><br />I swear 65% of those driving through the circle were driving Prius', and of thos 65%, 35% were blue. Very Democratic.<br /><br />Here is what was so suprising to me: Marin Circle is awfully busy at 7:30 in the morning. People coming from the Arlington, down Marin, up Marin, down from Thousand Oaks, into Thousand Oaks, 'round and 'round the Circle. People driving everywhere, each with a different agenda: passengers reading the daily newspaper, holding a cup of coffee and hoping it doesn't spill; kids in the back seat playing with their iPod's or other handheld devices; parents running late to drop off their kids; women putting on some last minute makeup (I even saw someone driving who was doing this). <br /><br />Many people weren't paying attention; some pedestrian's and bicyclists were almost hit.<br /><br />But for the most part, people were friendly. I realized that even if these people didn't agree with Laurie, as long as they started their day with a honk and a wave, all would be well in the world. But start your day with a grunt and a groan, no amount of coffee will help your day.<br /><br />(In this picture, I am 3rd from the right)RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-23297627801959785202008-10-23T17:13:00.001-07:002008-10-23T17:16:16.134-07:00Top 10 WORST Halloween Treats<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUZEk311t5UeRJmd_jwhCtt9PJVU_h1M2O4yUH_JHxHahdb3HpyAryoEDtTXgP13qtDHOEOxS5gYyvCGj73vKJbJYRZhqZ7G7PlZxaPxr5rUAXzCn3gaiaeyPpIgc2JYUQjY7FA/s1600-h/candy-corn-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260507524243656130" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 106px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUZEk311t5UeRJmd_jwhCtt9PJVU_h1M2O4yUH_JHxHahdb3HpyAryoEDtTXgP13qtDHOEOxS5gYyvCGj73vKJbJYRZhqZ7G7PlZxaPxr5rUAXzCn3gaiaeyPpIgc2JYUQjY7FA/s400/candy-corn-2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Is this your first Halloween in your new digs? Well, here is a list of what NOT to hand out: <div><br /><div>1) Toothbrushes<br />Dentists and orthodontists should not be allowed to celebrate Halloween if they're going to get all tooth doctory on us. Do not bring your work home with you, folks! We all have a personal responsibility to brush, and maybe some of us will forget, but your complimentary bristles on a stick (instead of a Snickers) will not help us remember. It will make us despise you and your trade.<br /></div><br /><div>2) Raisins<br />Little boxes of stuck-together shriveled globs are not what little kids schlep around the neighborhood for all night. When they say trick-or-treat, they want candy that will rot their teeth, not wrinkled grapes. (Using an empty box as <a href="http://www.stayfiteatright.org/root/whats_cooking/whats_cookin5.html">a kazoolike instrument</a>, though, is kinda fun.)<br />3) Candy Corn<br />The most polarizing candy of all. The fruitcake of Halloween; it just never goes away. If you love them, fine. But don't subject the rest of us haters to the sickeningly sweet triangle that tastes like neither candy nor corn.<br /></div><br /><div>4) Smarties and Necco Wafers<br />The chalky candy is supposedly "fruit-flavored," but no fruit I know tastes like dust—and makes everything eaten after taste like dust, too.<br /></div><br /><div>5) Dum Dum Lollipops<br />Usually, foods on a stick are yummy (corn dogs, ice pops), but DumDums just can't be included on that list. Not even if they were breaded and deep-fried and served at a fair.<br /></div><br /><div>6) Apples<br />Before the "poisoned candy scare," evil people handed out apples. After the scare (OK, perhaps it's an urban legend), even eviler people handed out apples with sharp blades and needles hidden inside, making this "treat" even more disappointing.<br /></div><br /><div>7) Tootsie Rolls<br />It looks like chocolate and sort of smells like chocolate, but the mini brown tubes are not real chocolate. They taste like watered-down chocolate, and have a chewy texture that will strip the fillings right off your molars.<br /></div><br /><div>8) Miscellaneous, Wrapped Hard Candies<br />Halloween is supposed to be a holiday for young people, not senior citizens who suck on hard candies all day. Something about the strawberry-shaped strawberries, gold-wrapped butterscotch, and peppermint feels past the expiration date. (These usually get set aside for Granny.)<br /></div><br /><div>9) Laffy Taffy<br />I do not laffy when I get these. I sobby. I get depressedy. Because it gets all stucky to my teethy and doesn't even taste that goody.<br /></div><br /><div>10) Anything Fun-Sized<br />Who started calling it this? Since when is one bite fun?! Give us the rich houses with the sprawling driveways and full-sized candy bars any day. Portion control doesn't need to start this young.</div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-34478135388895673452008-10-23T17:10:00.000-07:002008-10-23T17:12:58.269-07:00Some Halloween Fun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy71YOEtvTcjw9wYcs6HCv-1wKpqWX4l3I0-9_Sff5MOufqE9Hxzqb67qICwp935GQRftcdkg1z_shABs34blHSKagPvfTonU6Hs2g7n2IANXafgsgy6MLDd2Yik0rqYxzsgSt5g/s1600-h/halloween3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260506700649950690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 284px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy71YOEtvTcjw9wYcs6HCv-1wKpqWX4l3I0-9_Sff5MOufqE9Hxzqb67qICwp935GQRftcdkg1z_shABs34blHSKagPvfTonU6Hs2g7n2IANXafgsgy6MLDd2Yik0rqYxzsgSt5g/s400/halloween3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXATnuFyp-Lm8j0TJiMvc13Tjm104nt41O9rbXkqhiZZvqv2e-Z_MEFL0n_mrRex9JDaWWqfljEhUTaogyxp_zpiVh4q01q6nLYMgO2txQHWQnsbn1D5eBrkH98fOAvWB3Ywlng/s1600-h/halloween2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260506697093637042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXATnuFyp-Lm8j0TJiMvc13Tjm104nt41O9rbXkqhiZZvqv2e-Z_MEFL0n_mrRex9JDaWWqfljEhUTaogyxp_zpiVh4q01q6nLYMgO2txQHWQnsbn1D5eBrkH98fOAvWB3Ywlng/s400/halloween2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPf3eqrLIGvB2ODlPQ4WgDdtXVwPP1aLttCYpm6d_ljnVCmaBWNFJROx9I3DHId33VEvVchE7M-xR5NOw-vEUNuQTIMOpxwe14imzJfjfQ1B9I9IXtdsR7AUpWMemRyLJajRmTA/s1600-h/halloween1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260506696522763106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPf3eqrLIGvB2ODlPQ4WgDdtXVwPP1aLttCYpm6d_ljnVCmaBWNFJROx9I3DHId33VEvVchE7M-xR5NOw-vEUNuQTIMOpxwe14imzJfjfQ1B9I9IXtdsR7AUpWMemRyLJajRmTA/s400/halloween1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-66973835089475559712008-10-13T12:16:00.000-07:002008-10-13T13:11:08.461-07:00Homes Sold Berkeley, Oakland, El Cerrito Aug 04-Aug 08<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHZhgNohX9iOtLzPcboRNKKMLNMPHRWVK5eQFjkJ2Cvpfm8rHLfvsH8K1nAY5IxcMQ3zrAnYGnR8Qk5do0R2ygGjcfZON6yM8udqmwuhJNSiCDrd71SR7c6LBkC2KsIeHSHKGvg/s1600-h/AugHomesSold.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256719794194979522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHZhgNohX9iOtLzPcboRNKKMLNMPHRWVK5eQFjkJ2Cvpfm8rHLfvsH8K1nAY5IxcMQ3zrAnYGnR8Qk5do0R2ygGjcfZON6yM8udqmwuhJNSiCDrd71SR7c6LBkC2KsIeHSHKGvg/s400/AugHomesSold.jpg" border="0" /></a> Home sales in the East Bay and Bay Area, including Berkeley, Oakland, El Cerrito and surrounding areas have seen a dramatic decline over the past four years. However, since February of this year, sales have begun to gradually increase. Those areas hit hardest by foreclosures are the same areas seeing the largest increase in sales.<br /><div></div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cSKJSbSiqKdPD4Q9pM4Swi1zphR3D1E14aV8YzLzExwk1jkpg5p2IM27oRQPBZAU_pg-HbZ8Gq-_3RHmZAixueExfQgFz1_Q1Z8zUhE_9TtWptFQU-MZE8Ot8jl7mTdl5tK3sw/s1600-h/AugHomeValues.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256720693808668882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cSKJSbSiqKdPD4Q9pM4Swi1zphR3D1E14aV8YzLzExwk1jkpg5p2IM27oRQPBZAU_pg-HbZ8Gq-_3RHmZAixueExfQgFz1_Q1Z8zUhE_9TtWptFQU-MZE8Ot8jl7mTdl5tK3sw/s400/AugHomeValues.jpg" border="0" /></a> Currently median home values are at their lowest in over four years. Year over year we have been seeing a price decline around August, with August '07 seeing the greatest decline. This rate of decline is expected to continue into next year, although the rate of decline is expected to not be as drastic.<br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpp8QRd7bGBSFf7melm0GHMkeqv4jiDn0l5lILuJzVm7z74p1VC7vti9Nni7lrICcN_xdbBF2jUHVpCKP_qYKUWR04OcO7ehwHlAVlX5Iv5M9MqZusjrtakLJCBMDX5l1aXw16g/s1600-h/AvePrice.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256723783344423938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpp8QRd7bGBSFf7melm0GHMkeqv4jiDn0l5lILuJzVm7z74p1VC7vti9Nni7lrICcN_xdbBF2jUHVpCKP_qYKUWR04OcO7ehwHlAVlX5Iv5M9MqZusjrtakLJCBMDX5l1aXw16g/s400/AvePrice.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Now lets look at my town: Berkeley, Albany and Kensington...for the past year, values have held strong. The up and down action you are seeing is normal. What isn't normal are the multiple offers we are still seeing in many areas. But these graphs show why: the number of buyers continues to outweigh the sellers. </div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-71840668957808766272008-10-10T11:23:00.000-07:002008-10-10T11:26:00.002-07:00Alameda County Area Statistics, including Berkeley & OaklandHere are the area statistics for Alameda County for August 2008. Note that the median price/square foot is down across the board from the same time last year.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeT_ktHdjIZ9YXNr6HFMpNCLtjlgDe5avPiLNcbqs-RPjCqxPEdx-WZk7UD7IYz52QOpgKvWKdiN9yLYD7CkPLcnwK33_wClMZiGolyBYkPTMCJWjYz4BIDO5bW3t1sVBc33ltfw/s1600-h/AC_Stats_Aug08.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255593079551195474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeT_ktHdjIZ9YXNr6HFMpNCLtjlgDe5avPiLNcbqs-RPjCqxPEdx-WZk7UD7IYz52QOpgKvWKdiN9yLYD7CkPLcnwK33_wClMZiGolyBYkPTMCJWjYz4BIDO5bW3t1sVBc33ltfw/s400/AC_Stats_Aug08.jpg" border="0" /></a>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-57382937238716417042008-10-09T13:21:00.000-07:002008-10-09T13:24:36.007-07:00Berkeley Financing Update from Chet Gohd, RPM MortgageI asked one of the mortgage brokers that I often work with to provide my readers with a market update from his perspective. Please read below to see what he has to say. (Click the image to read a larger version)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHn4UVhTc6gt5EDIDT_0VvJIX51lEcszT4r20vgM98Vf9s6Vgq_0PIx1SOdbPgLzOaRPgrxFP61KtOFzE584ji231zmMwrMo7p3oJ7wxMmOoqtf-t3OpqqG2tmy7TQQo65n56rg/s1600-h/Oct3MarketUpdate.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255251945552493170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHn4UVhTc6gt5EDIDT_0VvJIX51lEcszT4r20vgM98Vf9s6Vgq_0PIx1SOdbPgLzOaRPgrxFP61KtOFzE584ji231zmMwrMo7p3oJ7wxMmOoqtf-t3OpqqG2tmy7TQQo65n56rg/s400/Oct3MarketUpdate.jpg" border="0" /></a> Questions? Call Chet Gohd, Branch Owner, RPM Mortgage, (510)524-1526RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-21423909434734631252008-10-02T14:16:00.000-07:002008-10-02T19:06:29.218-07:00Need a chimney cleaning?<p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXXw-anS2K_ZXocvkkGEcFgdDTqyzNMcC4wnzziVUKj4mIa0EwkQVsalkoq_H6TbLVCdy5H8n9Ch8' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p>(sing to the tune of the Calomine Lotion jingle)</p><p>"Icky, sticky, drippy, crusty...oh I see that shiny stuff-y!" (end song)</p><p>You know what I am talking about, right? Huh? CREOSOTE! That black stuff that sticks to the inside of your chimney. The stuff that, when you open your flue, sometimes trickles down in a fine, powdery substance. </p><p>Did you know that it was flamable? I didn't. </p><p>In comes The Irish Sweep. I figured I would get down and dirty with Sally, the knower of all-things-chimney, and the owner.</p><p>Sally said there are some easy things that you can do to help maintain your chimney to keep it in good, running order. To watch a cleaning in action, and to hear some of Sally's important tips, click on the video link above. And to contact Sally and her crew of amazing workers, visit <a href="http://www.theirishsweep.com/">http://www.theirishsweep.com/</a>.</p><p></p>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-29677091839574622502008-09-29T14:26:00.000-07:002008-09-29T15:04:36.920-07:00Real Estate is like the San Francisco 49ers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy55mVir7lsRJZXeNlWniPJWB69sr6Cnlz9b8r23tLbasgi2q9hslJibBkEZaPCdoop4zgTaY7YyvOjRGm4cOLodwsNNmErpb3KlLz_c9cK0fbCJ2-JvA7tHZ00SG0y4AIMqKE6Q/s1600-h/niners.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251565051510900978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy55mVir7lsRJZXeNlWniPJWB69sr6Cnlz9b8r23tLbasgi2q9hslJibBkEZaPCdoop4zgTaY7YyvOjRGm4cOLodwsNNmErpb3KlLz_c9cK0fbCJ2-JvA7tHZ00SG0y4AIMqKE6Q/s320/niners.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>I love the 49ers. I've been a Niner's girl for a long time. Each week I watch with hope, excitement, and anticipation...anticipation for that almighty touchdown. Of course, most weeks they don't come through.</div><br /><div></div><div>But look at the history of football...football can be categorized in cycles: some weeks you are up, some you are down. Some seasons you are up, some seasons you are down. </div><div></div><br /><div>The ultimate goal for football players is to reach the light, the great Oz, the <em><strong>Super Bowl</strong></em>. Each year the niners get better, then they falter. Then they get better. Then they falter. But soon, they will be back at the Super Bowl. (Come now, ye of little faith!) How could they not? They were the first team to win a record 5 Super Bowls. </div><br /><div></div><div>Housing and economic cycles are also characterized by long periods of ups and downs. Today the dow closed 777 points down. Home resales are down. Average sales prices are down. Foreclosures are up. The Niners stink (did I say that?).</div><br /><div></div><div>Catch my drift?</div><div></div><br /><div>The Dow has historical drops every seven years. Most real estate agents suggest you hold your real estate seven years. The Niners? Well, clearly they are overdue. </div><br /><div></div><div>"What the hell is Krista talking about" you say? Right now the future appears dismal for many homeowners and Niner's fans alike. Fear, concern and doubt plague most who read the headlines. Just like I have hope for the Niners, I have hope for Bay Area real estate. My advice to you is to hold on tight. Afraid? Stop reading the headlines and start talking to professionals. In trouble? Keep fighting. </div><div> </div><div>The good news? The Niner's can't get much worse. </div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35809449.post-27845264875511850402008-09-22T12:04:00.000-07:002008-09-22T12:16:25.009-07:00Grand Opening of Five Fields Sports Complex @ Gilman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVwPBepvN82K6ToU0hWo1HiHsZX5K-ZzllMRVMEfU4P6hH5V62y6FbFR9SuwKyskBfrgRv4Cz1oA-h8SgL7YScJVNgHnRJX6X3rFTLXkk7nlnXaXTs-lBfqoqtL4WCPMfnshvmA/s1600-h/soccer+field.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248926506534642178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 148px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 121px" height="132" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVwPBepvN82K6ToU0hWo1HiHsZX5K-ZzllMRVMEfU4P6hH5V62y6FbFR9SuwKyskBfrgRv4Cz1oA-h8SgL7YScJVNgHnRJX6X3rFTLXkk7nlnXaXTs-lBfqoqtL4WCPMfnshvmA/s320/soccer+field.jpg" width="163" border="0" /></a> <div>Five years ago five cities came together to address the challenge of a shortage of sports fields in the region. The cities of Richmond, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville came up with this: Develop a regional sports complex at the intersection of I-80 and Gilman Street in northwest Berkeley. </div><div></div><br /><div>Earlier this month the leaders and politicians of each of these five cities cut the ribbon at the new $7 million sports complex.</div><div></div><br /><div>Officially named the Tom Bates Regional Sports Facility, the complex includes conservation features and will include two lighted synthetic fields, built to accommodate soccer, rugby, and lacrosse and three non-lighted grass fields that can be used for baseball.</div>RealEstateJuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352203429085234730noreply@blogger.com0