We're Back to Normal!

Good news for the housing market!!  The number of NEW foreclosures and notices of default has returned to normal.  What this means is that we are well on the way to a normal housing market.   Picture a python who can eat a pig whole.  That pig works its way through the python's digestive system until it is completely digested. This analogy applies to foreclosures and notices of default.  The system had to digest an extraordinary amount of them.  This lump is working its way through the system and when finished we're back to normal  This information should be of particular interest to buyers who want to purchase at the best time. The bargain window is still open but as it begins to close more buyers will jump in creating more demand and sending prices up.  Mark Zandi from Moody's discusses this on NPR's Planet Money. Click Here

And please remember to use my website for up to date market information, open homes listing, property searches, neighborhood information and more.  And, if you need a property valuation, comps for your home, marketing info,or a referral to one of my preferred vendors please give a call or email. (510) 368-2854, bill@billfletcherhomes.com.

Check out the ART MURMUR!

Every month the crowd gets bigger.  In many ways its like a big block party. Even though publicity says it runs from 6-9 Pm last month it was still going strong as late as 11PM

Oakland Art Murmur is a group of nearly 20 galleries in Oakland that have coordinated openings Wander from gallery to gallery, sample free nibbles, drink some free wine, see occasional outdoor movies and fine some new artists to love at venues like 21 Grand, Blank Space, Luka’s Taproom, Rowan Morrison, Rock Paper Scissors Collective and more.


Every First Friday of the month, member galleries are open to the public from 6-9 pm. Additionally 23rd Street between Telegraph and Valley is closed to car traffic, and craft, art, and food vendors are set up along this corridor.

Getting There:
Member galleries are generally located between 22nd and 26th Street and along the Broadway/Telegraph corridors. You may view the map for more specific locations. To get to the area using BART, get off at the 19th Street Oakland stop, which is only a few blocks away. The 12 (Grand St), 51A (Broadway), and 1(Telegraph) AC TRANSIT buses also come right to the Uptown District.

For more information CLICK HERE
Remember to email or phone me for home valuations, help on real estate related questions and needs and check out my website for Sunday Open Houses, Property searches, Market Data by zip code, home buying and home selling tips and more

What is going on in the El Cerrito Home Market?

While most of the Bay Area housing market has stabilized or has taken a small dip over the past few months, the city of El Cerrito has shown a steadily decline in housing prices and a steady increase of days on market.  If you were ever thinking of puchasing a home in El Cerrito its time to pull the trigger!  Look at the charts below.

Charts like these for other zipcodes in the East Bay are available on my website, http://www.billfletcherhomes.com/.

Just click the Market Data tab

Real Estate Market Data for Berkeley, Oakland, Albany Piedmont, Kensington

I've just posted market data on my website for many East Bay areas by City and by zipcode.  Included are Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Kensington, Oakland, LaMorinda, and Piedmont  Click Here to view the report you want.  Data includes Median Sale Price, Average days on Market, months supply of Inventory, Number of properties sold and more  If the link doesn't work then go to www.billfletcherhomes.com and click on the market data tab at the top of the page.

Up Coming South Berkeley Events June, 2011

The following is an exerpt from Council Member Darryl Moore's Newsletter

Townhall Meeting

Please join me for a townhall meeting to discuss a variety of important issues. We will have a representative from the Parks and Recreation Department to discuss some upcoming improvements to San Pablo Park. The Berkeley Police Department will be discussing various crime prevention methods, in preparation for our summer months, and will be available to field questions regarding crime issues that the community would like to discuss. Teresa Berkeley will be attending from the City's Budget Office to discuss Berkeley's budget and the various ways the city is managing these difficult economic times.

What: Townhall meeting to discuss improvements to San Pablo Park, Crime Issues and the City's Budget

When: 6PM on Thursday, June 16th

Where: Frances Albrier Community Center in San Pablo Park, 2800 Park Street between Russell and Ward




Urban Farm Grand Opening
YOU ARE INVITED

Urban Farm Grand Opening Celebration

Sunday, June 19, 10:00 - 1:30
@ The Urban Adamah Farm
1050 Parker St. in West Berkeley


photo by Melissa Schilling

Space is limited :: Register (for free!) today

Planting, Seeding, Mulching - Cob Oven Bread Making - Face Painting -
Make your own Pickles - Introduction to Camp Urban Adamah - Create a Personal Terrarium - Ice Cream Making - Bicycle Blender Smoothies - Wild Edibles Workshop - Meet Berkeley's Resident Dairy Goat Herd - Great Kosher Organic Food... AND MUCH MORE....

Music by:
Octopretzel


and others!

With the participation and support of:
Author/Urban Farmer Novella Carpenter
The Office of Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, AD 14
Councilman Darryl Moore

Learn with:
Deena Aranoff, Professor of Jewish Studies at the GTU
Zelig Golden, Co-Director Wilderness Torah
Rabbi Menachem Creditor, Netivot Shalom

To register or to learn more, visit: urbanadamah.org/June19

Co-sponsors: Congregation Beth El, Edah, Berkeley Hillel, Pursue, Wilderness Torah, Congregation Netivot Shalom, Congregation Beth Israel, Center for Jewish Life and Learning, Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay, Kehilla Community Synagogue



Berkeley Juneteenth 2011

The Berkeley Juneteenth Festival is a street festival extending the 5-block South Berkeley Adeline-Alcatraz corridor that is free and open to the public. Family entertainment is the focus of all Berkeley Juneteenth Festivals, and no alcohol and tobacco sales or sponsorships are allowed.

Sunday, June 26, 2011
10 am to 6 pm

MAIN STAGE ENTERTAINMENT is the "heart" of Juneteenth-in-Berkeley. The music incorporates the best of the African American experience: African drumming, jazz, blues, neo-soul, gospel, rhythm and blues, and reggae. Local talents, like John Handy, Faye Carol and Pharoah Sanders have graced our stage, but BJF is a vehicle for showcasing up and coming acts, providing them with an opportunity to show their talents.

COMMUNITY STAGE features performances directed towards novice entertainers. Auditions are held 60 days prior to the Festival. HEALTH FAIR- Alameda County health agencies offer informational workshops and health screenings. TWO ON TWO BASKETBALL TOURNEY provides wholesome, physical competition on event day. HISTORICAL EXHIBITS includes an indoor exhibit hall featuring a collaboration of presenters. ART FOR CHILDREN programs and for-fun activities are coordinated by practicing artists. The VISION MAGAZINE is a BJF souvenir publication sold on Festival day which features the day's activities.

For more information, please visit www.berkeleyjuneteenth.org



4th of July @ Berkeley Marina

The 4th of July is a great day to have a lot of fun. The biggest party is at the Berkeley Marina from noon-10PM. There's all kinds of free fun! Adventure Playground, always a favorite, is open 11am-8pm. Get your face painted, try the giant slide, or splash in the water at the beach!

There's live entertainment from noon until 9:30PM on the main stage including Downtown Rhythm, Lee Waterman & Jazz Caliente, The Hipwader's Children's Music, Tin Sandwich Harmonica Trio, The Ian Franklin Band, Foxtails Brigaide, & Steel Pans. Tucked around the marina are Afro Cuban Rumba Drumming, Circus Art performers, and on The Buddy Club Stage in Shorebird Park you'll find jugglers and magicians. There's art & crafts, yummy food, massages, free dragon boat rowing from 2-6pm, pony rides, a dunk tank, and much more including the grand fireworks off the end of the Berkeley Pier at 9:30pm.

Let's hear it for the red, white, and blue...but keep it green, too. The party shouldn't leave the environment trashed. If you can, bring your own dishes -- Frisbees double as plates! A bandana is your cloth napkin to use at all of the international food booths. With water stations located around the event, you can refill your own reusable bottle and keep a lot of plastic out of the landfill. Be sure to use the recycling stations located throughout the marina for your disposables.
Free admission. Alcohol-free event. No cars after 7pm.
Getting There:
CARS: There is plenty of free parking in the Marina, noon-11PM. However, the roads close 7-10:30PM (and the Police have the option to close them earlier if the lots are 100% full) so you can't get in or out between those hours. Come in earlier! After the fireworks, and after all of the pedestrians have left the Marina, the road opens to vehicles (around 10:30PM) when you may drive out.
BUS: AC Transit runs on a slow 51B Sunday schedule from Downtown Berkeley BART right into the Marina. At the end of the event, however, you have to walk, with the rest of the crowd, out to 6th and University Ave. near Spenger's to pick up a bus back to BART. Unfortunately, we do not have an event shuttles.
BICYCLES: Free valet bicycle parking. Ride your bicycle over the Berkeley overpass and Richmond Spokes will valet park it for you in the lot near Adventure Playground from noon-10PM. But be sure to pick it up by then!
Dogs are OK on a leash.

For more information, please visit www.anotherbullwinkelshow.com/4th-of-july/