Alameda Open Homes Dec 10th & 11th

3275 Thompson Ave. 4/2       $799,000             Sunday 2-4

511  Tideway                             $1,190,000            Sunday 2-4

339  Broadway #109                $238,000             Sunday 2-4

2025 Otis Drive #C                   $259,500             Sunday 2-4

1825 Shore Line Dr. #114       $333,000             Sunday 1-4

1730 Tregloan Court               $349,000             Sunday 2-4

3044 Alta Vista                         $379,000             Sunday 2-4

3218 Fiji Lane                           $399,000             Sunday 2:30-4:30

836  Taylor Ave.                        $447,000             Sunday 2-4:30

1274 Silva Lane                        $499,000             Sunday 2-4

1916 Otis Drive                         $525,000             Sunday 2-4

18    Cotella Court                    $580,000             Sunday 2-4

1129 Clarke Lane                     $583,000             Sunday 2-4

3127 Bayo Vista Ave.             $644,000             Sunday 2-4

180   Sea Bridge                        $649,000             Sunday 2-4

2426 Roosevelt Drive             $738,000            Sunday 2-4

418   Bryant Ave.                     $779,000             Sat. & Sun. 2-4

1441 Grand St.                         $819,000             Saturday 1-3

1021 Fair Oaks Ave:               $895,000             Sat. & Sun. 2-4

13      Bordwell Ct.                   $548,000            Sunday 2-4


Information taken from several sources, not guaranteed.

November Sales in Alameda

44 Properties sold in Alameda during the month of November.
5 were foreclosures 7 were short sales. This is an interesting statistic because our current market of 88 homes pending shows 30 are short sales and 13 REO or foreclosures.
This is typical because short sales take a long time to close.
It is also common that they never close and end up in foreclosure.

Open homes Dec 3-4

Below is a list of homes open for the weekend of Dec 3rd & 4th.
If you are interested in a home that is not listed send me an email
or give me a call we can schedule a viewing.

3275 Thompson St. 4/2 $799 Sunday 2-4pm
1708 Second St. $149,000      Sunday 2-4
339 Broadway #109 $238,000 Sunday 2-4
1916 Otis Drive 3/2 $525,000  Sunday 2-4
2025 Otis Drive #C $259,500 Sunday 2-4
1810 Central Ave. #1808 $320,000 Saturday 2-4
3218 Fiji Ln. $399,000 Sunday 2-4
3154 Fir Ave. $425,000 Sunday 2-4
836 Taylor Ave. $447,000 Sunday 2-4
29 Invincible Ct. $495,000 Sunday 2-5
1274 Silva Ln. $499,000 Sunday 2-4
1916 Otis Dr. $525,000 Sunday 2-4
1810 Calhoun St. $549,700 Sunday 2-4
131 Inverness Way $629,000 Sunday 1-3
3127 Bayo Vista $644,000 Sunday 2-4
3505 McSherry $725,000 Sunday 2-4
1035 San Antonio Ave. $739,000 Sunday 2-4
418 Bryant Ave. $779,000 Sat & Sun 2-4
141 Cumberland Way $819,000 Sunday 1-3
1441 Grand St. $819,000 Sunday 2-4
1021 Fair Oaks Ave:2 Units $895,000 Sat & Sun 2-4
1223 St. Charles St. $929,000 Sunday 2-4

Information taken from several sources and is not guaranteed.

Pending home sales jump in October

Getting a little bit of good news regarding the real estate market is always a positive sign.

This report is a on the national scene and shows some improvement in our housing market.

Although in the west we had a decline of .3% we still had an increase from last year.

READ MORE

Good news for home buyers FHA Loan limits restored

Lawmakers have voted to restore loan limits for the Federal Housing Administration to pre-Oct. 1 levels, but the reprieve won't apply to Fannie Mae and Fannie Mac.
House and Senate leaders signed off Monday on a conference report for a "minibus" appropriations bill that included language restoring FHA's ability to insure loans of up to $729,750 in high cost markets through 2013.

Alameda Open Homes Nov 19th & 20th

November 19-20

3275 Thompson St. $799,000     Sunday 2-4:30
1810 Central Ave. #1808 $320,000 Sunday 2-4
1825 Shoreline Dr. #114 $333,000 Sunday 1-4
1810 Central Ave. #302 349,000 Sunday 2-4
1045 Melrose Ave. $392,000 Sunday 2-4
3434 Camanoe Lane $397,000 Saturday 2-4
3218 Fiji Ln. $399,000 Sunday 2-4
29 Invincible Ct. $495,000 Sunday 2-4
1274 Silva Ln. $519,000 Sunday 2-4
2718 Washington St. $530,000 Sunday 2-4
18 Cotella Ct. $580,000 Sunday 2-4
3127 Bayo Vista $675,000 Sunday 2-4
2426 Roosevelt Dr. $738,000 Sunday 2-4
1035 San Antonio Ave. $739,000 Sat & Sun 2-4
418 Bryant Ave. $779,000 Sat & Sun 2-4
1441 Grand St. $819,000 Sunday 3-5
1021 Fair Oaks Ave:2 Units $895,000 Sunday 2-4
1223 St. Charles St. $929,000 Sunday 2-4

All Together Now this thursday

All Together Now is an evening of music, dancing, food and wine celebrating the importance of arts education. The evening is headlined by popular Beatles tribute band, The Sun Kings, who will be joined by Alameda student musicians playing "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in its entirety. This FABulous party begins at 6:30 pm, Thursday November 10th, at the beautiful historic Alameda Theatre, 2317 Central Avenue.     Purchase tickets here

Alameda Open homes Nov 5th & 6th

2025 Otis Drive C $259,500 Sunday 2-4

2101 Shoreline Dr. #472 $289,000 Sunday 2-4
1825 Shoreline Dr. #114 $333,000 Friday 5-8
1825 Shoreline Dr. #114 $333,000 Sunday 1-4
1810 Central Ave. #302 $349,000 Sunday 2-4
3044 Alta Vista $379,000 Sunday 2-4
1045 Melrose Ave. $392,000 Sunday 2-4
301 Broadway #305 $394,500 Sunday 2-4
3218 Fiji Ln. $399,000 Sunday 2-4
1189 Ninth St. $470,000 Sunday 2:30-4:30
31 Shepardson Ln. $509,000 Sunday 2-4
1274 Silva Ln. $535,000 Sunday 2-4
18 Cotella Ct. $580,000 Sunday 2-4
2718 Washington St. $588,000 Sat & Sun 2-4
144 Justin Circle $649,000 Sunday 2-4
3127 Bayo Vista $675,000 Sunday 2-4
1542 Verdi St. $725,000 Sunday 2-4
2426 Roosevelt Dr. $738,000 Sunday 2-4
418 Bryant Ave. $779,000 Sat & Sun 2-4
1441 Grand St. $819,000 Saturday 2-4
1441 Grand St. $819,000 Sunday 1-3
141 Cumberland Way $819,000 Sunday 2-4
1320 East Shore Drive $870,000 Sunday 2-4
1021 Fair Oaks Ave:2 Units $895,000 Sat & Sun 2-4
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

FICO scores and what they mean to your interest rate

Read a great article on Trulia about how your FICO score affects your interest rate.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

October sales for Alameda

19 homes closed escrow in Alameda during the month of October.

Wow 30 year mortgage below 4%

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has fallen below 4 percent for the first time in history.
On Thursday, Freddie Mac said the rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 3.94 percent from 4.01 percent last week, the previous low. The average rate on a 15-year fixed loan, a popular refinancing option, dipped to 3.26 percent, also a record.

1235 Hawthorne St. Gold Coast Lagoon Home

Click here to see virtual tour










1235 Hawthorne St. is a stunning example of Mid Century Modern design located overlooking the lagoon in Alameda’s Gold Coast neighborhood. Every aspect of this home has been upgraded and remodeled with meticulous attention to detail. From the stainless steel gates to the inset glass blocks in the walls surrounding the artful design of the pavers. Large and small palms complete the landscaping giving a lush feel to the exterior. When you enter the home you are greeted with a decorative marble floor design that leads into the superb kitchen featuring a “Wolf” Range and granite counters. Large open living spaces on the main floor offer panoramic views of the lagoon through the dual paned “Pella” windows. Elegant custom made Birds-eye maple cabinets and wood trim are located throughout the home. Radiant heat underneath all of the marble and travertine floors will keep you warm no matter what the weather is outside. Step out onto the glass enclosed gazebo for entertaining or relaxing with just a few short steps to your own private dock. The master bedroom also features magnificent views of the lagoon and its own fireplace. The master bath is complete with steam room shower and large Jaccuzi tub. All the plumbing and electrical have been upgraded to modern standards. This home represents a unique and uncommon treasure located in one of Alameda’s best neighborhoods.

The New Normal - What does it mean

The new normal in the economy unfortunately means a lot more pain to come according to "Housing Wire"

Read the full article here.

7 Reasons why now is the time to buy a home.

After months and years of bruising news about the housing market I recently read this article in CBS moneywatch about how now is a good time to buy a home. Prices, interest rates and the ratio of renting vs. buying is favoring the buyer. For those who say that prices still have further to drop, the counterpoint to would be interest rates. As the economy improves interest rates will eventually go up and raise the total cost of the home. These days even I will take even a little good news.

Read the full article here.

Julies Coffee and Tea on Park St. My new favorite hang out spot!

One of my favorite Alameda events. Concerts at the Cove

171 Purcell Dr. PENDING

My listing at 171 Purcell Dr. is now pending.
Very nice "Brittany Landing The Harbor" Duet

Alameda home sales for May

39 Homes sold in Alameda during the month of May.
3 were short sales and 6 were foreclosures.
To see this chart larger double click on it.

813 Haight Ave. PENDING after 11 days with 7 offers

My listing at 813 Haight Ave. is now Pending and about to close.
This Bungalow needed some TLC to bring it back.
However after only 11 days it was pending with 7 offers.

New Listing! 813 Haight Ave.

This Central Alameda Bungalow has hardwood floors throughout the home. With a large living room the split level floor plan offer an open and inviting space. The kitchen has room to move around and looks out over the backyard. The upstairs bedrooms allow for plenty of privacy while the third bedroom feels like a hideaway. Downstairs there is a laundry room with a long garage perfect for shop space, additional storage or other possibilities. The large deep backyard has room for gardens or transform it with your own creative landscaping. This home needs some TLC to bring it back to its full potential. Come take a look at what you could do here.
See the virtual tour click here.

Common complaints regarding short sales and foreclosures.

Roughly forty percent of the homes for sale on today's market are short sales and foreclosures! Distressed properties are well known for their value (a reputation which is sometimes accurate, and sometimes not), but they also have a reputation for causing buyers to become distressed, too!

Transactional snafus, last-minute surprises and long, drawn-out escrows that never close seem to be par for the course.

Instead of avoiding these properties altogether, get educated about the most common dramas that go down in these deals, and how you can avoid falling victim.


This article was excerpted from Trulia. READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE. CLICK HERE

SOLD wonderful 2 bedroom 2 bathroom Central Alameda

This wonderful 2 bedroom 2 bathroom home had been in the family for a long time.
It was lovingly cared for and in great condition. The owners lived out of the area and had it as a rental for many years. They moved back to put some work into it and put it on the market.
It now has new owners to love and care for it.
Sold for $500,000

Below is a very nice note they sent me.

A whole lot of praise and thanks goes to our Realtor, Phillip Kaake for selling our house at 1801 Central, Alameda. He was always courteous and so very helpful to us. He gave us very good advice on ideas to improve our house to make it more marketable. He pointed out improvements that would help sell the house. He gave us names of good craftsmen that would do the work needed.  We were thrilled with the man that refinished the hardwood floors. The floors looked as if they were brand new at our 74 year home, thanks to Philip's suggestion. When we called Philip and left a message, he always responded back quickly. When we had questions he answered them or found answers for those he wasn't sure about. We always could count on him being there for us. We were not always in Alameda as our primary home is in Arizona and we reside in Colorado six  months out of the year (we are snow birds). With many phone calls,emails and by faxing back and forth, we got the process taken care of. Philip made an outstanding video of our house  and yard so people were able to check the house out on the Internet. Also he had a beautiful picture of the house on the front page of the local paper, as well as a very nice write up that brought many people to the Open House. He was very professional in the whole experience in selling our house. Many THANKS to Phillip Kaake for a job well done.                                            Most Sincerely,                                            Jerry and JoAnn Ballou

Alameda Home Sales for April

Alameda home sales Mar 7 to April 5

What makes up your credit score?

If you are in the market to buy a home one ver important component of your interest rate is your FICO score.

How are FICO scores determined.

Answer:

The formula itself is complicated and the FICO company (Fair Isaac Corp) keeps it secret. But here are the basic components:

• A.   35%   Past Delinquencies
  Your payment history
• B.   30%   Debt Ratio
  Your revolving account balances divided by their limits, as a percentage
• C.   15%   Average Age of File
  Length of your account history
• D.   10%   Mix of Credit
  Mix of account types on your report
• E.   10%   Inquiries
  # times you applied for credit in the last 12 months

Alameda home sales Feb 7 to Mar 6 2011

The latest word on interest rates

Interest rates went above 5% recently.
Read more in this article from the Mercury News.

Hitting bottom

When are we going to hit bottom.

Home prices to hit bottom this year, report says

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/08/BUC81HK33N.DTL#ixzz1ERjffLT3

Here is what the SFgate has to say.

Alameda sales Jan 7 to Feb 4 2011

1801 Central Ave. New Listing?

Immaculately maintained home in Central Alameda. 2 Bedroom 2 Bathroom 1524 Sq. Ft. $549,000

Find out more CLICK HERE

Curb your closing costs

If you are home buyer this article has some tips on how to curb your closing costs.
I like help people understand the process as much as possible.
One of the best ways to utilize the information in this article is to negotiate upfront
and not wait until you are pressed for time and making an offer on a home.
If you have questions about anything in this article give me a call. 510-847-2638
To read the full article CLICK HERE

Forecasting the future of the housing market

Copyright © 2010 by the first tuesday Journal Online - firsttuesdayjournal.com;
P.O. Box 20069, Riverside, CA 92516

Readers are encouraged to reproduce and/or distribute this article.
Another prediction that California metro area price peaks won’t return until 2025
By Kelli Galippo • Oct 4th, 2010 • Category: real estate newsflash

Home prices in most of California won’t return to the peak levels seen in 2006 until 2025 or later, according to a study by Fiserv. The data reflects an unprecedented real estate market cycle period of over 15 years.

Fiserv made more specific predictions for certain major cities. They posit the return of peak prices won’t occur until:

* 2022 in Santa Ana;
* 2024 in Oakland;
* 2024 in San Diego;
* 2026 in Los Angeles;
* 2028 in Fresno;
* 2032 in Riverside; and
* 2039 or later in Sacramento.

Predictions were calculated using the Case-Shiller Home Price Index (owned by Fiserv), which collects data on single family homes with at least two arms-length sales. Sales pairs for each home are compared, and any price change contributes to establish an equilibrium price trend.

In order to accurately measure changes in the value of a residential real estate market rather than changes in the value of an individual home, each sales pair is assigned a weight based on the price change and the home’s location.

Other factors considered in the data analysis include price anomalies, turnover frequency, time interval between sales and initial home value. Price peak recovery predictions were created using historical trend data and supplemented with data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

Editor’s note — All of these predictions were compiled in March 2010 before the new homebuyer tax credits temporarily boosted home sales by pre-selling homes to otherwise future buyers.
READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE CLCIK HERE

1 Plover Ct 3 bed 2 bath home on west end $519,000

January sales the first week of the new year

Recycle your electronics

On Sunday 1/9 between 10am and 4pm the Alameda High School Ski Club will have an electronics recycling day. Start the New Year off by getting rid of you old electronic stuff.

DECEMBER SALES