East Bay Real Estate Neighborhood Data For 2nd Quarter 2012 Now Available

I have just posted on my website sales data for the 2nd quarter of 2012.  This data is pecfic to neighborhoods such as Rockridge, Gourmet Ghetto, Elmwood, Thousand Oaks, South Berkeley, Berkeley Hills, Montclair, Grand/Lake, Glenview, Dimond, Laurel, Redwood Heights, El Cerrito, Albany, Richmond View, Richmond Annex, Piedmont, Piedmont Ave, Piedmont Pines, Thousand Oaks.  Check it out by CLICKING HERE

Berkeley Neighborhood Real Estate Data 2012 1st Quarter

2012 1st Quarter Data for Select Berkeley Neighborhoods
Click link below

Berkeley Hills 


Elmwood


Thousand Oaks


Gourmet Ghetto


South Berkeley/Lorin


Claremont/Rockridge

Good News for the Bay Area Economy

A colleague of mine had the privilege of attending the Fisher Center Real Estate Conference. Ken Rosen is one of the foremost real estate economists in the nation, and he was the keynote speaker. He gave a valuable macro view of the economy and how it affects real estate, both nationwide and in the Bay Area. A few points to share with you:

• The Bay Area is the strongest region in the nation. It is experiencing a boom similar to the late 90s. 
• However, the national market has bottomed but remains weak.
• Projection for 2012: 65% chance of moderate recovery; 20% chance of strong recovery; 15% chance of double dip.
• However, there is high uncertainty in the future, particularly in 2013. This is because tax laws may change in September/October, Iran and the Euro remain unsettled, and the government is projected to "inflation away the debt." 
• We are in a recession only in politicians' minds. There is a projected increase in 2012 GDP of 2.5%.
• Only a small percentage of the US is unemployed. The U.S. is projected to add 2M jobs in 2012.
• Consumer confidence is very high and increasing for the wealthy and the mid-aged (35-54).
• 3.5-4% inflation projected over next decade; when inflation increases, the real estate market booms (real estate is a great hedge against inflation).
• In the Bay Area, unemployment is only 4.2% (those with less than high school education, it is 12.6%). However, it is trending down for all.
• Looking at job growth by market, two of the highest markets are in the Bay Area: San Jose is #3 (3.5% growth, or 35K jobs) and San Francisco is #5 (2.8%/28K). Oakland, "a spill-over economy," is #14 (1.6%/15K).
• Housing starts have bottomed, resales are improving and affordability is at a 30-year high.
• US housing inventory recently plunged, "always" a sign of improvements to come.
• San Francisco rentals are the highest in the nation: a 13.3% increase year over year, 3% vacancy rate.
• Case Shiller has said values are not yet increasing - they are "wrong." Based upon numbers provided to Mr. Rosen by Red Oak Realty, values in the top markets in the Bay Area have all increased 2-6% in Q1 2012.

858 Neilson Street OPEN Sunday (2/12) from 11-1

Sorry about the weird time for this open house.   The tenants have a small child who naps between 1 and 4.  This house is difficult to get into to see so if you are interested please come by.  We'll be looking at offers next week

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.

Red Oak to Host Green Chamber of Commerce Mixer

East Bay Green Chamber of Commerce Mixer!

Tuesday, October 18th from 6 - 8 p.m.

Speakers:

Susan Sakaki

of EnviroSystems Group

Speaking about the Alameda County Green Business Program

 

And a representative of StopWaste, discussing  Cash & Assistance for Going Green on your Building Upgrade

Location:

Red Oak Realty Oakland office at 51 St. and Pleasant Valley Ave.

 

 

Food donated by The Natural Grocery Co.

The Natural Grocery Company

http://naturalgrocery.com/

Wine donated by Frey Vineyards, America's first Organic Winery

http://www.freywine.com/

Free to members of the Green Chamber of Commerce; $10 to everyone else

Berkeley Businesses to benefit from Green Program

The East Bay Green Corridor invites you to join an exciting new solar group purchasing program for Bay Area small businesses and commercial property owners called Solar@Work (a partnership with SF Environment).  This limited-time offer provides access to some of the lowest solar prices seen in the region for this building class.  Not only that, the more participants that join, the lower the price for the entire buying group.   

What makes the program unique is not only the 20% group discount offered to program participants, but also an integrated financing option.  Through the program's pre-negotiated solar lease option, participants can install solar for little to no money down and, for the first time, pay less for solar power than they pay for electricity from the grid.  

The Solar@Work enrollment window is open through October 2011. For more information visitwww.solaratwork.net 

Free Bicycle Helmets for Berkeley Residents!

Got a helmet?  Need one? The City of Berkeley's Injury Prevention Program is offering bicycle/multi-use helmets for Berkeley residents for FREE.

Pick-up your FREE helmet at City of Berkeley Public Health Division at 1947 Center Street, 2nd Floor.  Some sizes (large) are limited.  Offer available until supplies run out.  Office hours are from 9 am to 5 pm.

Limit one (1) per person and all parties receiving a helmet must be present.  No appointment necessary.

For more information, contact the Injury Prevention Program at 510-981-7676 ornxiong@cityofberkeley.info.

Berkeley to Start Booting Cars

Thought you should know. If you are one of the many individuals with 5 or more unpaid parking tickets, its time to get them under control.  Berekely has beguna program where they will put a "boot" on your car, making it impossible to drive off, if you are one of the "scofflaws."  Apparently right now there are over 1.5 million dollars worth of unpaid parking tickets and these funds would benefit the city budget. This program is scheduled to begiin in about 2 weeks!

Open homes listings for today, Sunday 8/28/2011, are now posted on my website.

Two Big Choices Facing Most Home Buyers

Unless you have unlimited resources there are two distinct choices you will be facing when buying a home. These choices are , in most cases never really articulated.  Most home buyers eventually arrive at this realization but coming to it sooner will save a great deal of time and frustration.

A group of  us at Red Oak Realty were discussing recently ways that we could help our clients in the home buying process.  One of the things we talked about were the decisions facing home buyers as they move through the process. Of these decisions perhaps the two biggest are as follows.
TIME/ MONEY
and
LOCATION/ CONDITION
Most of us will have to choose one from each group.   This is a forced choice.  Which in each group is more important?  Choose either Time or Money.  Then choose Location or Condition.

Lets look at the first choice.  We have a budget.  We can save money by buying a short sale, fixer or REO (bank owned foreclosure), but these take more time.  Or we can save time by purchasing a conventional sale in a home that is remodeled and move in ready. There are lots of variations to this equation. But the idea is simple:  Choose which is more important.

The second choice is not as obvious to most buyers.  Lets face it, how many times in our lives do we buy a home?  If location is most important to you then you will notice that the 'desirable' locations tend to be more expensive so you end up getting less house for your money.  Whereas you may be able to get everything you want in a house in a less desirable neighborhood.  Somewhere on this continuum the right home awaits you.

I recommend that the Home Buyer includes these decisions in their home buying strategy.  Sit down with your realtor and use these to come up with a plan that quickly focuses your home search and brings you to the home that most closely matches your needs.

As usual, let me know if I can help.

Monthly Newsletter Seriously Local Berkeley Oakland

Click Here for link to my monthly newsletter.  Now posted on my website, http://www.billfletcherhomes.com/.
The newsletter contains local information, market updates, mortgage information, restaurant reviews and more.  If you would like it delivered to your inbox once a month (3rd Thursday) all I need is your email and  a note that you want to receive the newsletter.

South Berkeley Home Sales Data

Click Here to see South Berkeley Home Sales Stats.for the 2nd quarter 1997-2011.  I can customize this report for your neighborhood.  If you would like to request current market data let me know.  Click on my picture for contact information.  Or email me at bill@billfletcherhomes.com

Food trucks coming to Golden Gate Fields

If you missed Off the Grid well here's your chance to find it. Over 30 food trucks for 4 consecutive Saturdays beginning August 27th. They will be serving everything you can imagine! 


Here's the link: Click Here for Info about Food Trucks