Short Sales

There is a lot of talk about short sales and how they effect one's credit.  I have learned that if a seller stays current on his payments right up to the closing of the short sale that he can immediately purchase a new home as long as he buys down. (Meaning that the new property has to have a value less than the one sold via short sale.)

Right now I am working as the listing agent on two short sales with Bank of America.  What I like about the program I am using (cooperative short sale) is that an inital price is agreed upon ahead of time so the buyer knows going into the transaction what the lender will accept.  It takes a lot of the ambiguity out of the transaction.  One listing at 858 Neilson in Berkeley is listed at $465K.  We know the lender will approve that price.  By the way this property is open on Sunday 2/12 from 11-1.  Come by and see what a bargain looks like.  This house is tenant occupied and they have a small child who naps during  the regular open house time.

Emergency Supply Caches Available to Berkeley Neighborhoods

Neighborhood and community organizations who are prepared to be self-sufficient in a major disaster can now apply to get free containers stocked with emergency response equipment from the City of Berkeley.

The Office of Emergency Services now has applications available for the 2012 Community Emergency Supply Program application. Measure GG passed in November of 2008 provided funding for a limited number of emergency supply caches to be awarded to neighborhoods or community organizations that show a high degree of preparedness and organization. The Community Emergency Supply Program has been supporting neighborhood organizations with supplies and training since 2003. There are currently 62 City-awarded disaster equipment caches distributed throughout the city.

It is essential that every household, family, apartment tenant, neighborhood and community group be prepared to survive for five to seven days on their own, until utilities and services can be restored.  The disaster cache program aims to foster awareness and provides neighborhoods and community organizations a goal for a minimum level of readiness to attain.  No one is prepared until everyone is prepared.

The equipment that includes portable generators, fire suppression hoses and nozzles, disaster first aid kit, portable communication radios and other safety equipment.

Caches will be awarded based on several criteria, including geographical distribution across the City, the risk assessment of the neighborhood, and the level of neighborhood involvement in the Community Emergency Response Training program.

The 2012 Community Emergency Supply Program is accepting applications through May 25, 2012. Applications can be picked up at the Fire Department Administrative Offices at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 2nd Floor, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., or online on the Office of Emergency Services web page at http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=3920.

Residents with questions can also contact Khin Chin, in the Office of Emergency Services via email atkchin@cityofberkeley.info or phone, (510) 981-5506.

Positive Press About Oakland!

The New York Times posted an article about the best places on planet earth to visit, and you know what? Oakland is listed as number 5!  Check out the article here:

"The 45 Places to Go in 2012"

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/travel/45-places-to-go-in-2012.html?pagewanted=all 

But there is more!

"The West Coast Brooklyn"

http://beta.local.yahoo.com/videos-west-coast-brooklyn 

This short video just came out.  Hope you enjoy it!

So I say why visit when you can live here?!

Best wishes as we enter the Year of the Dragon

Celebrating the Holidays in Oakland at the Dunsmuir Hellman Estate

http://www.dunsmuir-hellman.com/

Oakland, CA - City of Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation invites you to step back in time and experience a turn-of-the-century Holiday Tradition at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate. There, you can  tour the magnificent 16,224 square foot, 37-room mansion thatvolunteers have put in more than 5,000 hours to transform into a breathtaking masterpiece of an Edwardian holiday. Each room is decorated with elegant holiday trees, garlands, antique furnishings and festive decorations to provide you with ideas for your own home decorations. Your family and friends will enjoy quality moment together as you stroll the lovely turn of the century 50-acre estate in the breathtaking Oakland Hills. 

           Additionally, you can indulge in the adult or children's holiday teas, ride the romantic horse-drawn carriage, sip some hot chocolate while being entertained by holiday performers. Enjoy a light snack in the Winter Café and fill your holiday shopping list by purchasing from the mansion gift shop or the Carriage House Crafters. Children will enjoy the Kid's Zone with horseback riding, holiday face painting, crafts and Breakfast with Santa.  On opening day - December 3rd, join in on the biggest Holiday Sing-Along on the Great Meadow that the Holiday Tradition has celebrated over the last 41 years.  

 This year's program has been expanded to include:  

Sunday, December 11, you can start with Breakfast with Santa while you enjoy the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees; followed by the special guest appearance of Oakland Ballet's "The Nutcracker Suite" at 1pm; and immediately followed by the Scottish Dancers at 2pm. Bring the children and entire family...! 

           Office of Parks and Recreation (OPR) Director Audree V. Jones-Taylor sums it up when she said, "Holiday traditions help us create memories and have lasting impacts on our children. So we invite everyone to 'Come Out and Play the OPR Way' and have a great time at the Annual Holiday Tradition activities."

Events start December 3rd through 18th (Saturdays and Sundays only) from 11:00am - 5:00pm. The Estate is located at 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, off 106th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94605.

           The Mansion is open on Fridays for tour groups. For more information, or to schedule a holiday tour please call 925-866-9559; or visit http://www.dunsmuir-hellman.com/

For pictures try http://www.herecomestheguide.com/northern-california/wedding-venues/dunsmuir-historic-estate/

Oakland Special Trash Pick-ups for the Holidays

1.      Thanksgiving Waste pickup change: Thursday's Waste Management pickups will be on Friday, Friday pickups will be on Saturday.

2.      Free bulky recycling for Oakland Residents: Drop-off Select Items on Saturday, December 3, 2011

Bring your unwanted appliances, mattresses, electronics, and upholstered furniture to a free recycling drop-off event, hosted by the City of Oakland and Waste Management. 

WHO: Oakland Residents (proof of residency required) 

No commercial deliveries accepted. 

WHAT:  Free drop-off for select items:

*  Electronics (computers, monitors, TVs, cell phones, printers, etc.)

*  Appliances (maximum of 2)

*  Mattresses (maximum of 2 sets)

*  Passenger Tires (maximum of 4 without rims)

*  Upholstered Furniture (maximum of 2)

 WHERE:     Davis Street Resource Recovery Complex

                     2615 Davis Street

                  San Leandro, CA  94577

WHEN: Saturday, December 3, 2011 - 9:00 am to 12 noon

HOSTED BY: The City of Oakland and Waste Management

INFO: Call City of Oakland Recycling Hotline at 510-238-7283

 

If you've been foreclosed read this

Foreclosure review under way
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Reserve Board announced Tuesday that the independent foreclosure reviews of 14 large servicers issued in April now are underway.
Approximately 4.5 million borrowers could have their loans reviewed and potentially be compensated for imposed financial hardship, according to a previous statement by the OCC.
According to the OCC, the review will take several months due to the volume of potential foreclosures to review.
The foreclosure review is part of a broader list of enforcement actions for the servicers to rectify missteps in the foreclosure process. The enforcement actions mandated by the OCC include improved borrower communications, greater oversight of third-party vendors, updated management information systems, and the elimination of “dual tracking” – which takes place when a servicer forecloses while a borrower is being considered for a modification.
Borrowers wishing for review may visit IndependentForeclosureReview.com, or call 1-888-952-9105 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.  Requests for reviews will be accepted through the end of April.

Rabid Bat in Berkeley

Did you know that Alameda COunty is a declared "Rabies Area" and has been since 1958?  The material below was taken from the City of Berkeley Website and is a reminder to all to be careful  around wild animals, living or dead.

INFECTED BAT A REMINDER TO USE CAUTION

Berkeley, California (Thursday, October 20, 2011) - A bat infected with rabies was recently found in the area of the 300 block of Rugby Avenue in the City of Berkeley.  Although the bat was removed without incident, residents in Berkeley and the surrounding areas are advised that Alameda County has been a “Rabies Area” since 1958.
In Berkeley, bats and skunks are the most likely animals to be infected, although unimmunized dogs, foxes, coyotes, badgers, weasels, raccoons and unvaccinated cats can also carry the rabies virus.
Rabies infection is virtually always fatal in man so it is critical that people know how to prevent infection.  Avoid skunks and bats and do not handle dead wild animals.
Educate your children about the dangers of wild animals and warn them not to touch any animal they do not know.
Any nocturnal animal which is seen during daylight hours such as skunks, bats, or grey foxes should be considered dangerous.

Call Berkeley Animal Control Services at (510) 981-6600, Monday-Sunday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., if suspicious or dead animals are observed in your area. For after-hours emergencies contact Dispatch at (510) 981-5900.

RABIES FACTS AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES

• Rabies is found in most counties in California including Alameda County. Alameda County has been declared a "Rabies Area" since 1958.
• Rabies is a deadly virus disease which affects the nervous system. Once symptoms start in an infected human being it is uniformly fatal. There is no known cure.
• Rabies is transmitted in the saliva of infected warm blooded animals (mammals) through mucous membranes or any break in the skin by biting, licking or scratching.
• Animals at high risk for carrying rabies are skunks, bats, dogs which have not been vaccinated against rabies, foxes, coyotes, badgers, weasels, raccoons, and wild and unvaccinated domestic cats. Rodents (gophers, mice, hamsters, squirrels, rats, opossums, guinea pigs) and rabbits are considered very low risk for rabies.
• The degree of risk to humans and pets for rabies is determined by the species of the animal and the circumstances. There is no risk for rabies from reptiles, birds, or insects.
• If a wild animal such as a skunk, bat, or grey fox which is normally nocturnal (active at night) is seen in the daylight acting in a strange manner, it may be tested for rabies by the State Health Laboratory. Example of animals to be tested:

• A skunk roaming or staggering in daylight.
• A bat hanging on a window screen or sill.
• A grey fox acting in an aggressive manner in the daytime.

• Immediately call the City of Berkeley Animal Control Services at (510) 981-6600 regarding strange acting animals.
• The following are protective measures that are necessary to prevent rabies in humans and domestic animals.

• Have dog(s) and cat(s) vaccinated against rabies.  Vaccination and Licensing is required for all dogs 4 months of age and older. Dogs which are first vaccinated at one year of age or less must be revaccinated one year later. The interval for revaccination is three (3) years for older dogs.
• Confine dogs to property especially puppies less than four (4) months of age since they are not protected against rabies. Otherwise, if a dog is taken off the premises it must be on a leash.
• Report any animal bites of humans or any close contact between dogs or cats with skunks or bats or other wild animals to the City of Berkeley Animal Control Services at (510) 981-6600.
• Avoid wild animals or domestic animals which are strays or which run loose. Do not feed wild animals by hand. It is dangerous to attempt to feed, pet, or care for sick or injured animals.
• Do not attract skunks or raccoons with food! They will eat garbage, fruit, vegetables, and especially dog and cat food. Pet food left outside is a strong invitation to wildlife.  Keep garbage cans covered with tight fitting lids. 
• Do not provide shelter for skunks and other wild animals. Close all openings under your home and other buildings. Keep foundation vent screens in good repair. Eliminated piles of trash, rocks, wood, hollow logs, heavy growth of vegetation and other possible hiding places.
• Do not provide shelter for bats. Close, seal, or screen all openings so there is none greater than 1/4" in size especially at roof level.  Install 1/4" screen on attic vents and maintain in good repair.

If you require information regarding wild animals such as bats or skunks, please call the City of Berkeley Animal Control Services at (510) 981-6600, Monday through Sunday or Vector Control Services at (510) 981-5310, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For after-hours emergencies, contact Dispatch at (510) 981-5900.