|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Helen and Kathryn's Newsletter | |
|
|
| Greetings! |
 As you can see I have made some changes to my email newsletter. I hope you like these changes. I will be mailing this out about 6 times a year. I hope you find the information useful and if you need more information on any real estate related needs, please let me know. If you don't want to receive it, please click on "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. |
| Recent Sales in Berkeley |
|
Street |
List Price |
Sales Price |
Bd/Ba |
Sq. Ft. |
Date Sold |
|
Wallace |
$399,000 |
$620,000 |
2/1 |
746 |
12/22 |
|
Spruce |
$799,000 |
$800,000 |
4/2 |
2,537 |
12/16 |
|
Tacoma |
$579,000 |
$770,000 |
3/1 |
1,248 |
12/3 |
|
Santa Clara |
$850,000 |
$1,010,000 |
3/2 |
2,050 |
11/30 |
|
Capistrano |
$559,000 |
$627,300 |
2/1 |
1,156 |
11/12 |
|
Monterey |
$589,000 |
$685,000 |
3/2 |
1,160 |
11/3 |
|
Spruce |
$775,000 |
$895,000 |
3/2 |
1,491 |
10/21 |
|
Marin |
$569,000 |
$680,000 |
2/1 |
1,272 |
10/1 |
Data from Multiple Listing Service |
| Recent Sales in Albany |
|
Street |
List Price |
Sales Price |
Bd/Ba |
Sq. Ft. |
Date Sold |
|
Wallace |
$399,000 |
$620,000 |
2/1 |
746 |
12/22 |
|
Spruce |
$799,000 |
$800,000 |
4/2 |
2,537 |
12/16 |
|
Tacoma |
$579,000 |
$770,000 |
3/1 |
1,248 |
12/3 |
|
Santa Clara |
$850,000 |
$1,010,000 |
3/2 |
2,050 |
11/30 |
|
Capistrano |
$559,000 |
$627,300 |
2/1 |
1,156 |
11/12 |
|
Monterey |
$589,000 |
$685,000 |
3/2 |
1,160 |
11/3 |
|
Spruce |
$775,000 |
$895,000 |
3/2 |
1,491 |
10/21 |
|
Marin |
$569,000 |
$680,000 |
2/1 |
1,272 |
10/1 |
Data from Multiple Listing Service |
| Recent Sales in Oakland, 94611 & 94618 |
|
Street |
List Price |
Sales Price |
Bd/Ba |
Sq. Ft. |
Date Sold |
|
Wallace |
$399,000 |
$620,000 |
2/1 |
746 |
12/22 |
|
Spruce |
$799,000 |
$800,000 |
4/2 |
2,537 |
12/16 |
|
Tacoma |
$579,000 |
$770,000 |
3/1 |
1,248 |
12/3 |
|
Santa Clara |
$850,000 |
$1,010,000 |
3/2 |
2,050 |
11/30 |
|
Capistrano |
$559,000 |
$627,300 |
2/1 |
1,156 |
11/12 |
|
Monterey |
$589,000 |
$685,000 |
3/2 |
1,160 |
11/3 |
|
Spruce |
$775,000 |
$895,000 |
3/2 |
1,491 |
10/21 |
|
Marin |
$569,000 |
$680,000 |
2/1 |
1,272 |
10/1 |
Data from Multiple Listing Service |
| Recent Sales in El Cerrito |
|
Street |
List Price |
Sales Price |
Bd/Ba |
Sq. Ft. |
Date Sold |
|
Wallace |
$399,000 |
$620,000 |
2/1 |
746 |
12/22 |
|
Spruce |
$799,000 |
$800,000 |
4/2 |
2,537 |
12/16 |
|
Tacoma |
$579,000 |
$770,000 |
3/1 |
1,248 |
12/3 |
|
Santa Clara |
$850,000 |
$1,010,000 |
3/2 |
2,050 |
11/30 |
|
Capistrano |
$559,000 |
$627,300 |
2/1 |
1,156 |
11/12 |
|
Monterey |
$589,000 |
$685,000 |
3/2 |
1,160 |
11/3 |
|
Spruce |
$775,000 |
$895,000 |
3/2 |
1,491 |
10/21 |
|
Marin |
$569,000 |
$680,000 |
2/1 |
1,272 |
10/1 |
Data from Multiple Listing Service |
|
 |
Mortgage Rates
|
Mortgage Rates
U.S. averages as of
March 26, 2009:
30 yr. fixed: 4.85%
15 yr.
fixed: 4.58%
1 yr. adj: 4.85%
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Real Estate Financing 2009 |
Loans Remain Available
Although underwriting guidelines have changed and will most likely continue to do so, lenders are still making home loans. The best advice is to:- Reduce or eliminate all credit card debt (Note: 30% or lower debt to credit limit ratio is ideal.
- Avoid high interest rate loans on consumer purchases.
- Build your cash reserves as much as possible
- Raise your credit score as high as possible to get the best loan rate.
- Be prepared to document your income and assets.
|
| Local Real Estate Market |
The real estate market here in the East Bay has been very interesting for the last few months. Homes in desirable neighborhoods North Berkeley, Elmwood, Rockridge, Thousand Oaks and the Solano Avenue area still remain desirable. Some homes still get more than one offer but several now have one or no offers during the initial marketing period. The most important factor in selling a house is how it is priced and that is even more important now. Buyers are much more cautious and Sellers are still catching up with the new prices, not the prices of 2005 or 2006. As you have heard on the news, it is harder to get a loan - good credit and a down payment of 20% are most important factors. Working with a good loan broker or bank is more important than ever. Have prices come down? If you go to the more outlying areas in Oakland and Richmond, there are several foreclosures and short sales. Homes that sold two years ago for over $400,000 are now selling in foreclosure for under $200,000, even close to $100,000. Are these good bargains? That all depends on the house and the neighborhood. The East Bay is an area of micro markets and each market has responded differently to the current economic conditions. If you want more information on these foreclosures on a specific home or neighborhood, please feel free to get in touch with me.
|
| Interesting Local Events & News |
| A few fun things are happening in the Bay Area right now and in the next couple of months.
The Andy Warhol show at the DeYoung Museum is really fun and will be exhibited until May, 17th.
The San Francisco Opera at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Free and wonderful on June 5th. The opera is Tosca and you actually sit on the field or in the stands. One of the most fun things I did last year. For more information, just go to www.sfopera.com
Each year the San Francisco Chronicle lists their opinion of the best restaurants in the Bay Area. I love this quote from the article - "The breakout city is Oakland, which in the last few years has seen exceptional newcomers such as Wood Tavern, Flora, Pizzaiolo, Camino and Marzano, along with Corso in Berkeley." We are lucky to be living close to these restaurants.
|
|
If you have a friend or colleague who may enjoy receiving this email, please free to forward it via the link below. And if you need any referrals to any contractors or service people, we have great resources we would be happy to share with you.
Sincerely,
Helen and Kathryn
|
|
|
|
|
|
