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Helen and Kathryn's Newsletter | |
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| Greetings! |
 It has been a busy fall in the East Bay real estate market. Many homes are receiving multiple offers and going significantly over the asking price. Low interest rates and lack of inventory are fueling the market. We hope you find this newsletter useful and interesting. If you need more information on any real estate related needs, please let us know. If you don't want to receive this newsletter, please click on "Unsubscribe" at the top or bottom of the email. |
Some Recent Sales in Berkeley
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Street |
List Price |
Sales Price |
Bd/Ba |
Sq. Ft. |
Date
Sold |
|
Julia nr King |
$419,
995 |
$465,00 |
3/2 |
1741 |
9/29 |
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Euclid nr Eunice |
$879,0
00 |
$988,000 |
3/2 |
1729 |
10/5 |
|
Virginia nr Edith |
$685,000 |
$785,000 |
3/1 |
1362 |
10/8 |
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Rose nr Oxford |
$699,000 |
$731,000 |
2/2 |
1196 |
10/9 |
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Cragmont nr Halkin |
$750,000 |
$880,000 |
3/2 |
1531 |
10/23 |
Data from Multiple Listing Service
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Some Recent Sales in Albany
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Street |
List Price |
Sales Price |
Bd/Ba |
Sq. Ft. |
Date
Sold |
|
Talbot nr Dartmouth |
$569,
000 |
$559,0
00 |
2/1 |
1002 |
9/15 |
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Stannage nr Solano |
$499,
900 |
$510,000 |
3/1 |
1302 |
9/30 |
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Brighton nr Talbot |
$559,9
000 |
$635,000 |
3/2 |
1416 |
10/9 |
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Sonoma nr Tulare |
$625,000 |
$777,000 |
2/1 |
1288 |
10/13 |
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Spokane nr Brighton |
$779,000 |
$865,000 |
4/2 |
1857 |
10/15 | Data from the Multiple Listing Service
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Some Recent Sales in Rockridge
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Street |
List Price |
Sales Price |
Bd/Ba |
Sq. Ft. |
Date
Sold |
|
James nr Clifton |
$689,
000 |
$725,000 |
2/2 |
1116 |
9/3 |
|
Avon nr Shafter |
$625,000 |
$675,000 |
2/2 |
1015 |
9/16 |
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Birch nr College |
$699,000 |
$761,500 |
2/1 |
1500 |
9/22 |
|
Boyd nr Forest |
$769,000 |
$817,000 |
2/1 |
1483 |
10/1 |
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Manila nr Clifton |
$869,000 |
$902,000 |
3/4 |
2500 |
10/14 |
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Forest nr Shafter |
$989,000 |
$996,000 |
4/4 |
2178 |
10/23 |
Data from Multiple Listing Service |
Some Recent Sales in El Cerrito
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Street |
List Price |
Sales Price |
Bd/Ba |
Sq. Ft. |
Date
Sold |
|
Lexington nr Fairmont |
$449,000 |
$477,000 |
3/1 |
1377 |
9/1 |
|
Everett nr Norvell |
$499,000 |
$504,000 |
3/1 |
1211 |
9/18 |
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Portola nr Richmond |
$529,000 |
$535,000 |
5/3 |
1694 |
9/23 |
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Colusa nr Eureka |
$579,000 |
$580,000 |
3/2 |
1556 |
10/14 |
|
Sea View nr Moeser |
$575,000 |
$560,000 |
4/3 |
2240 |
10/16 |
Data from Multiple Listing Service
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Search for Homes in the East Bay
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Search East Bay MLS
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Mortgage Rates
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National Average Mortgage Rates
as of 11/15/09
Home Equity Line of Credit 4.901%
15 Year Fixed Conforming 4.390%
30 Year Fixed Conforming 4.959%
5/1 Year ARM Conforming 4.126%
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| Federal Tax Credit for Move Up Homebuyers |
The federal tax credit for new homebuyers was recently extended but there is a new $6,500 federal tax credit for move-up homebuyers. It is available now and if you decide to use it, you must close escrow by the June 30, 2010 expiration date. If you would like to read a very good explanation of this credit, please link to this article that was in a recent San Francisco Chronicle. |
| Is Your Home Wired Properly? |
| We all know that as things age, they often need replacing but sometimes homeowners neglect to take care of their home's electrical wiring and that can set them up for potential danger. Electrical consumption since the middle of the last century has increased in most homes on average about 400 percent. If you're tripping your main safety circuit box that could be a sign that you're overloading the electrical outlets and an indication that an electrical contractor should examine your wiring. Oftentimes, homes are renovated several times without any electrical wiring updated. Yet, this is a part of the house that can cause huge problems if it isn't kept up-to-date.
Outdated circuit boxes.
When a home hits the 40-year mark the biggest area of electrical concern is the circuit breaker box. Zack Israel, owner of Mike Electric, says that when the circuit box becomes outdated, "it doesn't do what it's supposed to do." He says that as the house ages, the brand of the circuit box becomes obsolete "and today, a new generation of improved boxes is being installed." Israel cautions homeowners about the danger of not replacing an old and outdated circuit box. "If the breaker doesn't trip then the wire might melt and cause a fire," says Israel.
Kitchen wiring upgrades.
An area of an older home that typically needs upgraded wiring is the kitchen. "The kitchen is an area that always needs to be upgraded after 40 years. Several decades ago we didn't have microwaves and all the appliances that we have today," says Israel. He says that what can happen if the kitchen wiring isn't upgraded is that when appliances are used, the circuit breaker trips or, even worse, it doesn't trip at all. "So the kitchen is an area that you want to upgrade and bring more power to it," he says. The electrical code requires two circuits of 20-amps, 120 volts for GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) receptacles for the kitchen/eating area. However, more might be necessary depending on appliances being used.
Heavy-duty appliances need dedicated outlet.
A common problem for homeowners occurs when there isn't proper distribution of the electrical circuits. Israel says homeowners often don't understand this. "Let's say for example that [depending on the weather] a homeowner tries to use a portable air conditioning system or heater and plugs it into just any plug - and boom! there's no power - it trips the circuit. This is common. People don't know that they need a dedicated circuit for that kind of appliance," says Israel.
Wire insulation cracks.
Another big problem for older homes is that electrical wiring insulation cracks. "Especially in the ceiling lights, the heat from the light rises into the box and causes the wiring insulation to crack," says Israel. When homeowners consider tackling the task of rewiring their home they're often overwhelmed by it-feeling like it will be too expensive and too much trouble. While it is true rewiring can be a major renovation that, in some cases, even means the homeowner must leave the home for a period of time - due to electricity needing to be turned off or just the inconvenience of living with workers in your home -- the end result of peace of mind from knowing your electrical system is working properly and no longer at risk of causing a fire - (a major concern of home insurers) - is well worth the expense and any temporary hassles. |
| Interesting Local Events & News |
| A few fun things are happening in the Bay Area right now and in the next couple of months.
Helen just revisited the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park and remembered what a great outing it is. Getting there right when it opens at 9:30 makes a big difference as the lines for the Planetarium, and the Rainforest were short. The 3D bug show is also wonderful to see and the roof garden is amazing.
Each year the San Francisco Chronicle lists their opinion of the best bargain restaurants in the Bay Area. One of the links in the article is about the explosion of in Bay Area street food, a whole new world to explore. Note that some street trucks do not have phones, but information is usually available online or via twitter and there is one in Emeryville. Read more about street food here.
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For more information about any of the properties or events listed above, please call us at 510-207-2968 (Helen) or 510-593-7311 (Kathryn), or simply respond to this email. We'd love to share our real estate tips and experience in the East Bay community with you!
Feel free to visit our website at www.helenandkathryn.com for more information as well.
We honor your privacy and requests to be deleted from the mailing list. Simply click on to the Unsubscribe link below if you are receiving this newsletter, but would prefer not to. On the other hand, if you'd like to pass it along, please do so!
Helen and Kathryn
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