753 Peralta Ave, Berkeley - Just Listed!

This 2 bedroom, 1 bath sunny bungalow is located in the desirable Thousand Oaks neighborhood of Berkeley. Just blocks from dining, shopping, theater, and public transportation it's a prime location! This sunny bungalow boasts hardwood floors throughout as well as dual pane windows. Custom cabinets, lots of light, great yard space, and detached garage are just a few of the lovely features of this cozy home.


Open Sunday November 11th from 2-4:30. Listed at $549,000.

For online tour go to: www.753Peralta.com

Listed by Gina Odom, Realtor & Rebecca Nemeth, Realtor

For Sale - 5400 Broadway Terrace #301, Oakland

This 2 bedroom, 2 bath corner unit is surrounded with windows, and fabulous design. Upon entering the building you immediately feel as though you have reached your very own oasis. With the sounds of the water features among the ferns and trees you immediately begin to unwind. Once you settle down and turn on some tunes, enjoy a glass of wine while watching the gorgeous views of the bay. Better yet, enjoy your beverage of choice on your private deck nestled in the trees.

The open layout features a great space for entertaining. A kitchen with designer finishes like Travertine floors, stainless steel appliances, glass backsplash, a customized kitchen bar with recessed lighting, makes this a perfect space for entertaining.

Ample closet space, in unit laundry, beautifully designed bathrooms make this unit a place you will want to call home! The building is secured and located conveniently to stores, restaurants and walking distance to BART. With a Walk Score of 88 it is defined as "Very Walkable," a location that can't be beat! Open this Sunday from 2-5pm. Listed at

$525,000K; HOA dues at $368.50 month; 1 secured parking space
Additional Information go to http://www.5400BroadwayTer.com

790 San Luis Rd, Berkeley

The "Foster House" designed by Robert Ratcliff makes it's debut. Listed at $1,600,000 this house features 4 bedrooms, 3 baths with San Francisco and Golden Gate Views. This spacious design boasts souring ceilings, huge living room, country kitchen with a fabulous renovated lower level. Don't miss the floating deck! It's a must see from Berkeley's very own Robert Ratcliff.

Green Homes Worth More!

A new study conducted by the University of California Berkeley & University of California Los Angelas shows that a "green labeled" home - a home rated/labeled by Energy Star, LEED for Homes, and Green Point Rated - sells for 9% more than comparable, non-rated/labeled homes. Hooray for Green!

Information provided by the California Real Estate Magazine September 2012 issue.

What's happening in this photo?

YIKES! The majority of the stucco is being removed so that the damaged wood due to insects can be replaced. This is why you get a pest report when you buy a home.

Q2 Berkeley Single Family Home Sales

*based on Single family homes (2-3 beds/1-3 baths)

Address	List Price		Sales Price		SQFT		Bed		Bath
1425 67TH ST	$224,100		$277,000		1464		3		1
3031 DOHR ST	$237,000		$210,000		1185		2		1
3236 IDAHO ST	$249,900		$254,900		840		2		1
1911 9TH ST	$250,000		$281,000		1234		2		1
3127 HARPER ST	$273,600		$250,000		893		2		1
1737 10TH ST	$285,900		$285,900		1296		3		1
2633 MABEL STREET	$287,000		$300,000		852		2		1
2756 MABEL ST	$290,000		$290,000		814		2		1
2306 WEST ST	$319,900		$309,000		924		2		1
1017 CEDAR ST	$324,900		$308,665		928		2		1
2216 CURTIS	$325,000		$427,000		1098		3		1
2707 WALLACE ST	$325,000		$305,000		973		2		1
1318 CARRISON ST	$339,000		$340,000		961		2		1
1310 ALCATRAZ AVE	$339,900		$350,000		1167		3		1
1231 KAINS AVE	$344,900		$319,900		943		2		1
2218 9th ST	$359,000		$337,500		2100		2		2
1653 ASHBY AVE	$359,000		$356,000		1478		3		2
1831 WOOLSEY ST	$359,900		$359,900		1459		3		1
2827 PARK ST	$360,000		$365,000		1237		2		1
1219 CARRISON ST	$368,950		$350,000		1187		2		1
2316 JEFFERSON AVE	$369,000		$392,000		1189		2		1
1436 67th ST	$369,500		$360,750		2072		3		2
2418 SACRAMENTO St	$369,900		$335,000		1234		2		1
1668 EUCLID AVE	$375,000		$405,000		834		2		1
1604 7TH ST	$379,000		$435,000		1208		2		1
1011 JONES ST	$388,000		$390,000		713		2		1
3208 BOISE ST	$389,000		$405,000		1236		2		2
1144 ADDISON ST	$389,900		$417,000		964		2		2
2409 BONAR ST	$395,000		$517,000		1048		2		1
3141 CALIFORNIA ST	$395,000		$375,000		1215		2		1
2022 WOOLSEY ST	$400,000		$360,000		1321		3		1
1318 KAINS AVE	$400,000		$382,000		1344		3		1
2615 SHASTA RD	$419,000		$419,000		1395		2		1
2218 WOOLSEY ST	$424,900		$410,000		1100		2		1
2535 CALIFORNIA ST	$434,700		$434,100		1048		2		1
1730 7th	$439,000		$479,000		1162		2		1
1542 CARLETON ST	$449,000		$450,000		960		2		1
1221 RUSSELL ST	$449,000		$515,000		1055		2		1
1331 GILMAN ST	$449,000		$475,000		1235		3		1
3026 MLK Jr. Way	$449,900		$525,000				3		2
1216 TALBOT AVE	$455,000		$467,500		753		2		1
740 PERALTA AVE	$469,000		$470,000		848		2		1
3100 ELLIS ST	$469,000		$500,000		1572		2		1
1436 DELAWARE ST	$470,000		$541,000		976		2		1
2736 ACTON ST	$475,000		$490,000		1289		3		2
1212 PARKER	$475,000		$475,000		1674		3		2
2425 EDWARDS ST	$478,900		$472,000		1338		3		2
1308 STANNAGE AVE	$479,000		$610,000		1497		3		1
1544 HEARST AVE	$489,500		$535,000		1181		2		1
924 SAN BENITO RD	$495,000		$482,000		1494		3		2
1401 CORNELL AVE	$498,000		$512,000		1144		2		1
3010 CALIFORNIA ST	$499,000		$530,000		1210		3		1
2416 SACRAMENTO St	$499,000		$518,000		1072		2		1
922 CHANNING WAY	$499,000		$535,000		1140		2		1
2204 SACRAMENTO St	$499,000		$565,000		1095		2		1
3115 WHEELER ST	$499,000		$560,000				2		2
2302 CALIFORNIA ST	$499,000		$575,000		1107		2		1
2118 GRANT ST	$499,000		$552,000		1345		3		1
2319 9TH STREET	$499,000		$542,000		1329		3		2
1000 PAGE ST	$499,000		$510,000		1117		3		2
1381 ROSE ST	$499,000		$610,000		1290		3		1
2016 VINE ST	$509,900		$645,000		1137		2		1
2928 OTIS ST	$525,000		$505,000		1308		3		1
2931 SHASTA RD	$525,000		$540,000		2400		2		1
1205 OREGON ST	$535,000		$530,000		914		2		2
1619 DWIGHT WAY	$535,000		$537,500		1206		3		2
2341 SACRAMENTO St	$536,000		$559,000		1374		3		3
1016 OVERLOOK RD	$549,000		$603,000		1315		3		1
1615 GRANT ST	$549,000		$658,000		1957		3		1
720 PERALTA AVE	$550,000		$624,000		1326		3		2
1414 DELAWARE ST.	$550,000		$550,000		1307		3		1
1118 COWPER ST	$565,000		$650,000		1310		3		1
2912 LORINA	$570,000		$653,780		1122		3		1
2159 EMERSON ST	$575,000		$575,000		1062		2		1
559 VISTAMONT AVE	$575,000		$570,000		1456		3		2
2128 OREGON ST	$579,000		$595,000		1076		2		1
1225 DWIGHT WAY	$579,000		$575,000		1510		3		2
906 SPRUCE ST	$595,000		$545,000		1863		2		2
1639 10th ST	$599,000		$630,000		1087		3		2
960 JONES ST	$599,000		$710,000		1779		3		3
1500 ROSE ST	$599,000		$663,000		1330		2		1
1812 62nd ST	$610,000		$630,000		1790		3		1
1603 PORTLAND AVE	$619,000		$645,000		1186		2		1
1361 NORTHSIDE AVE	$625,000		$636,500		1661		3		2
1537 MLK Jr Way	$625,000		$587,000				3		2
78 FAIRLAWN DR	$629,000		$654,000		1346		3		2
2881 SHASTA RD	$645,000		$681,000		1903		3		2
1510 OLYMPUS AVE	$659,000		$720,000		1484		3		1
875 KEELER AVE	$659,000		$678,000		1344		2		1
1487 OLYMPUS AVE	$665,000		$693,000		1667		3		2
2251 CARLETON ST	$675,000		$720,000		1867		3		1
1049 SPRUCE ST	$685,000		$682,000				2		1
449 SPRUCE AVE	$685,000		$675,000		1377		2		1
1731 CHESTNUT ST	$688,000		$688,000		1805		3		3
1719 BUENA AVE	$689,000		$710,000		1350		3		2
609 SANTA BARBARA	$695,000		$777,575		1582		3		1
2603 FULTON ST	$695,000		$700,000		2045		3		3
1505 EDITH ST	$699,000		$750,000		1419		2		1
1033 MIDDLEFIELD RD	$745,000		$780,000		1516		3		2
945 HILLDALE AVE	$745,000		$729,000		1828		3		3
1538 MLK Way Jr	$749,000		$825,000		1874		3		3
1581 SAN LORENZO	$749,000		$755,000		1307		3		2
1415 CALIFORNIA ST	$759,000		$860,000		1379		3		2
1146 WOODSIDE RD	$779,000		$802,000		2284		3		2
839 MIRAMAR AVE	$779,000		$774,000		1541		3		1
76 CODORNICES RD	$795,000		$911,000		1308		3		2
1147 CAMELIA STREET	$799,000		$880,000		1849		3		2
614 GRIZZLY PEAK	$799,000		$784,500		1666		2		2
675 ARLINGTON AVE	$800,000		$775,000		2290		3		2
545 COLUSA AVE	$819,000		$819,000		1941		3		1
1370 ADA ST	$819,000		$875,000		1774		3		1
478 VERMONT AVE	$825,000		$915,000		2134		3		2
1985 TUNNEL RD	$849,000		$842,000		4083		3		3
801 FOLGER AVE	$850,000		$850,000		2600		2		1
1324 GRIZZLY PEAK	$850,000		$810,000		1820		2		2
1967 EL DORADO AVE	$875,000		$1,020,000		1966		3		2
2085 VINE ST	$880,000		$880,000		0		2		1
1866 SAN PEDRO AVE	$889,000		$905,000		2166		3		2
2836 DERBY ST	$889,000		$880,000		2052		3		2
545 DWIGHT PL	$895,000		$927,000		2278		3		2
2471 CEDAR ST	$959,000		$1,125,000		3167		3		2
2 MONTROSE RD	$1,075,000		$990,000		3233		3		3
35 HAZEL RD	$1,100,000		$1,360,000		2080		3		3
2903 RUSSELL ST	$1,195,000		$1,420,000		2557		3		2
7 AJAX PL	$1,395,000		$1,390,000		2474		3		3
845 CONTRA COSTA	$1,450,000		$1,450,000		2961		3		2
2011 EUNICE ST	$1,495,000		$1,676,500		3225		3		2
Information pulled from the MLS: by Gina Odom, Realtor

Hot off the press...The New Chef at TOAST Rocks!

Several people have now told me that the new chef at TOAST in Oakland is off the hook - aka exceptional! Her food is "divine", "really good", "I'm going back", are just a few descriptions. Toast has always been one of my favorite places because of their incredible and consistent service and their ever changing wine menu. And, they are baby and dog friendly. What else could you want! Oh that's right, amazing food. Well, they now have that too. Check it out:  http://www.toastoakland.com/ And if your a dog lover, they have a special evening set aside called the Dog Days of Summer. Super fun. 

By, Gina Odom

pic taken from insidescoopsf.sfgate.com

2012 Q1 Sales for Berkeley, CA.

*2012-Q1 Sales for Single Family Homes in Berkeley, CA. (based on 2-3 bed/1-3 bath)

Address	List Price	Sale Price		SqFt	bedroom	bath
1221 RUSSELL ST	$239,950	$250,000		1055	2	1
1011 JONES ST	$254,900	$254,900		713	2	1
3104 Acton	$259,600	$259,000		883	2	1
1414 7TH ST	$269,900	$242,200		816	2	1
3108 DEAKIN ST	$270,000	$270,000		1355	3	1
1459 Kains Ave	$295,000	$307,000		1408	2	2
2803 Dohr Street	$299,000	$305,000		1839	3	3
1925 HARMON ST.	$299,000	$343,000		1617	2	2
3010 CALIFORNIA ST	$299,900	$265,000		1210	3	1
1739 Dwight Way	$320,000	$320,000		700	2	1
828 channing way	$324,900	$334,000		856	3	1
2030 6TH ST	$324,900	$359,000		1104	2	1
2332 10TH ST	$325,000	$250,000		1420	2	1
1248 Haskell	$339,000	$320,000		1068	2	1
1614 9TH ST	$350,000	$350,000		1093	3	2
2111 7TH ST	$355,000	$392,000		1156	2	1
1412 STANNAGE AVE	$359,000	$349,000		840	2	1
1310 QUEENS RD	$365,000	$405,000		1465	3	2
2410 BYRON ST	$369,900	$357,000		949	2	1
1121 BLAKE ST	$375,000	$362,000		1267	3	2
1207 BANCROFT WAY	$380,000	$380,000		1105	3	1
5 OAK STREET PATH	$399,000	$405,000		903	2	1
1004 ADDISON ST	$409,000	$405,000		1253	3	2
1108 DWIGHT WAY	$424,000	$427,700		1059	2	2
1235 Talbot	$425,000	$450,000		884	2	1
2771 ACTON ST	$425,000	$410,000		1468	3	1
1605 Stannage	$438,000	$440,000		1052	2	2
1061 CRAGMONT AVE	$450,000	$420,000		1649	3	1
2138 7th Street	$450,000	$448,655		854	2	1
709 PERALTA AVE	$475,000	$485,000		878	2	1
540 Colusa	$479,000	$428,000		1388	2	1
1247 HEARST AVE	$485,000	$520,000		1059	2	1
1527 TYLER ST	$489,000	$510,000		1453	3	1
1345 FRANCISCO ST	$490,000	$500,000		1304	3	2
1236 CORNELL AVE	$495,000	$450,000		1457	3	1
2135 9TH ST	$499,950	$515,000		1245	3	2
2445 ASHBY AVE	$500,000	$502,000		2006	3	1
1705 DELAWARE ST	$525,000	$550,000		1056	2	1
2205 Derby St	$525,000	$515,000		906	2	1
1834 63rd	$525,000	$510,000		1325	3	1
1330 Grizzly Peak	$549,000	$613,000		1094	2	2
1349 CURTIS ST	$549,000	$543,000			2	1
1744 MCGEE AVE	$549,000	$600,000		1236	3	1
1429 HOPKINS ST	$549,000	$538,000		1890	3	3
1518 Carleton Street	$564,000	$565,000		1548	3	2
1516 GRIZZLY PEAK BLVD	$579,000	$579,000		2126	3	2
1628 WARD ST	$579,000	$591,000		1286	3	2
678 GRIZZLY PEAK BLVD	$580,000	$600,000		1301	2	1
941 Hilldale Ave	$595,000	$700,000		1597	2	3
1621 Buena Avenue	$600,000	$694,000		1108	2	1
1757 MARIN AVE	$610,000	$631,000		1271	2	2
1624 ACTON ST	$615,000	$606,000		1223	3	2
1616 MARTIN LUTHER KING	$629,900	$593,082		1426	3	1
1344 HOPKINS ST	$649,000	$625,000		1487	2	2
1309 GLENDALE AVE	$650,000	$752,000		1005	2	1
2160 OREGON ST	$659,900	$685,000		1268	3	1
10 NORTHGATE AVE	$675,000	$680,000		1853	2	2
923 CRESTON RD	$685,000	$730,000		1332	3	1
2928 PINE AVE	$685,000	$767,000		1224	2	2
6937 BRISTOL DR	$695,000	$750,000		2543	3	2
598 CRAGMONT AVE	$715,000	$650,000		1752	3	2
1343 LA LOMA AVENUE	$725,000	$852,000		1917	3	2
1064 MONTEREY AVE	$725,000	$735,000		1514	3	1
1222 CARLOTTA AVE	$748,000	$788,000		1300	3	1
948 THE ALAMEDA	$749,000	$749,000		1630	3	1
29 LATHAM LN	$755,000	$805,000		1664	3	2
763 ALVARADO RD	$775,000	$745,000		1886	3	2
1719 SAN LORENZO AVE	$799,000	$885,000		1540	3	2
659 ENSENADA AVE	$829,000	$830,000		1564	3	2
2626 REGENT ST	$850,000	$850,000		3034	3	2
354 PANORAMIC WAY	$875,000	$890,000		2488	3	2
919 SHATTUCK AVE	$875,000	$825,000		1702	3	3
1476 GREENWOOD TER	$925,000	$1,175,000		1967	3	2
690 PANORAMIC WAY	$975,000	$950,000		2391	3	3
2828 WEBSTER	$1,296,500	$1,120,000		2500	3	3
*based on sales from the MLS;  by Gina Odom, Realtor

Yosemite National Park..so close yet so far away!

I have decided to start writing a series of blogs near and dear to my heart - ROAD TRIPS! You gotta love a good old fashion road trip. And living in the Bay Area supplies you with endless journeys that can be a 2 hour drive to an 8 hour drive. One of my favorite destination points is Yosemite and living in the East Bay I can get there in about 4 hours. You seriously go in any season and have the time of your life. The last time we went there was for our 'baby moon." You know the last trip you take with your partner before you have a baby which becomes your following years of lack of sleep and lack of free time! THAT TRIP. It was awesome and just another reminder what the Bay Area has to offer and WHY you justify the cost of living here.

Yosemite offers a little something for everyone. You can camp, stay in a hotel or a cabin. You can drive around Yosemite, bike or hike. It's a great place to rock climb. Many moons ago (way before baby) I had one of the best climbing trips of my life in Yosemite. A three-pitched climb that got my adrenaline juices so jacked that I felt like I was floating for days afterwards. It was incredible. The hiking is off the hook and Yosemite is home to Half Dome which is the logo for North Face. It's a must do and not that hard in my opinion but you will feel so accomplished after the hike and the scenery all around you is georgeoso!

Here is the website with a ton of pics and information to help you plan your trip. Book early though as it is a popular destination site!

http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm

written by, Gina Odom

Another cool joint in West Oakland!

Here is reason #549 to LOVE the East Bay and especially OAKLAND - B Side BBQ! They've got tasty eats on their menu like hot links, brown sugar brisket, pulled-pork and they even have BBQ braised tofu for all the veg-heads. Located in West Oakland (Yup, that's right in "the hood"),  Chef-Extraordinaire Tanya Holland, who also owns Brown Sugar Kitchen has just recently opened this cool, new joint.

What style BBQ is it? Well, I don't know but it's good and it even impressed my hubby the BBQ-snob from Texas. Of course, my daughter devoured the mac-n-cheese and sweet potato fries. Way to go West Oakland! Go check them out at 3303 San Pablo.

(*pic copied from Yelp) written by, Gina Odom

What is going on in our market?

The answer seems to be the same in the whole Bay Area - little inventory and mass buyers which equals crazy competition. We've coined it as a mini-micro bubble similar to what happened in 2005. 20 offers, contingency-free offers, offers over $100K. Insanity. Several agents in the South Bay, the Peninsula and SF have all told me it's happening in their areas as well.

I'm still in shock over a sales price of a "flipped house" in the VERY-lower part of Rockridge, a popular district in Oakland,  for $926K. I guess the person really wanted the house and would literally pay any price to obtain it.

In addition, I know a Realtor who really wanted to be in a certain area and to beat out the competition submitted an offer way over asking and contingency-free. It came back to bite her in the you-know-what when about $50K+ worth of issues popped up in the first 6 months of owning. But, for her it was worth it.

So, is it a good time to buy? It truly depends on the buyer's situation and motivation. For some of my buyers I have suggested holding off and for others I suggest jumping in. It all depends. As for writing a contingency-free offer, I recommend doing pre-inspections beforehand. You don't want to "beat out the competition" by over paying and then find out there are thousands of dollars worth of repairs after moving in. Yikes.

So, sellers - the plea goes out again...if you are thinking of selling. The time is now!! We NEED inventory!

written by, Gina Odom, Realtor

Avoid Seller Pitfalls

While speaking to a homeowner the other day, I realized that she was stuck in 2006 pricing. She believed that her house was worth a certain amount because of what she bought it for and the work she had put into it. Even though she had seen values around her declining for some time she felt because there was little inventory that she could yield a price of what is was worth in 2006 when she bought it.  During our conversation, I could tell that it was going to be hard for her to accept the reality of today’s market.

It's hard for homeowners to divorce themselves emotionally from a home that they have spent so much time in and have created wonderful memories. But sellers must put their emotional feelings aside so they can make rational decisions about the list price of their home. This decision should be based on listings that have sold in your area that could be considered a comparable to your home. It’s called market value and you may not like the result but it is how price is determined by Realtors and then confirmed by appraisers. 

I often suggest that sellers go to open houses to evaluate the competition. This will typically give them an idea of what is happening and what they are up against. But, if the seller  is emotionally wrapped up in their home, the exercise can be futile. The seller will often return home feeling that the other homes aren't as good as their home because they can only see it one way and it's through an emotional lens.  It is crucial to detach from your home in order to sell it.

Put yourself in the buyer's shoes.Your house needs to be listed at a price that is enticing to buyers because it represents a good value. If the seller comes out the gate with a high list price then it’s obvious to a buyer that they are not reasonable. Your house will end up sitting and become stagnant on the market. The first two weeks of putting a house on the market are the most crucial. It's when the most activity happens and when you could garner competition if possible.

Sellers, be wary of real estate agents who tell you that your home will sell for a higher-than-supported price just to get the listing. Then they work on you over time until you reduce the price to market value. It’s a strategy that some agents practice just so they can get the listing. It will cost you more money  then if you were to just list it at market value in the first place.

By Gina Odom, Realtor