grab and go, cheaper eats. (Oakland and Berkeley)

Here are a few of my favorite places to grab quality food on the run.  Cafe 15 is in Downtown Oakland at 597 15th Street behind the State building.  This is owned and operated by husband and wife team Lauren and Arash Ghasemi  (Arash was a chef at Eccolo restaurant on 4th Street in Berkeley, which is now closed).  Cafe 15 believes that sustainable, quality food doesn't have to cost a fortune.  All of the food is made from scratch on the premises.  I have tried a few of there salads,  they are wonderful, full of flavor and very satisfying.  I plan on trying the oyster po' boy next.  Cafe 15 is open Monday - Friday for breakfast and lunch.

Summer Kitchen Bakeshop is in Berkeley near the corner of College and Ashby, and they claim to be take away re-imagined.   Owners Paul and Charlene were inspired by Martha's Vineyard, the rolling farmlands and the summer kitchens built long ago behind the old farmhouses.  This shop is spic and span and very cozy.  Here you can walk up to the counter and choose from a good selection of grab and go items like the buttermilk fried chicken, panko and herb crusted chicken tenders and my favorite the cauliflower and olive salad.  There are picture perfect cupcakes, sweet loaf breads and tarts.  There is a made to order menu featuring sandwiches, salads, specials and the wood burning hearth produces pizza's and also makes the whole restaurant glow.

Amba in Montclair Village, serves falafels, fries, hummus and a few tasty salads.  All of the food is vegetarian, kosher, fresh, flavorful and affordable.  This is a great addition to Montclair Village and is a great alternative to your typical take-out.  Please note they are closed on Saturday.

What is your favorite place to grab quality food on the run?  Leave a comment or email me,  I would love to hear from you.

Budding Berkeley Artist

Finding a Voice by Marissa Anderson, (age 14!!) will be showing at Red Oak Realty Solano Avenue location February 8- April 3rd  Artist reception February 5th, 6-8 pm

Rotten Rot

When you are buying an older house it is common for a property to have $10,000 - $20,000 worth of needed repairs.  If a seller has owned their home for many years often there is newly found damage that is discovered during an inspection.  In many cases it is not that the seller intentionally neglected their property, they just didn't know the damage was existed.  Inspections by quality professionals are key as you need to know exactly what you are buying.  Pictured below is rot in the wood framing of a home in the Oakland Hills.  I represented the buyers of this house and I was able to negotiate dry rot and termite damage repairs before escrow closed.  (The sellers paid the cost of the repairs.)  Before my clients moved in the wood was removed, new wood was installed and the appropriate exterior was installed to code.

Real Estate Update in Oakland and Berkeley

Berkeley:

• Sold properties Median Price $726k down from $762k in Nov 2008
• Sold units 43 up from 25 in Nov 2008
• Current for sale properties Median price $699k same in Nov 2008
• Units for sale 131 down from 159 in Nov 2008
• Months supply of inventory at 1.7 down from 3.3 in Nov 2008
• Days on Market at 65 up from 37 in Nov 2008

Oakland:

• Sold properties Median Price $254k up from $200k in Nov 2008
• Sold units 220 same from 219 in Nov 2008
• Current for sale properties Median price $235k from $188k in Nov 2008
• Units for sale 870 down from 1934 in Nov 2008
• Months supply of inventory at 1.8 down from 6.2 in Nov 2008
• Days on Market at 39 down from 61 in Nov 2008
• Median price in Nov 2007 was $400k

The Real Estate 411 in Oakland and Berkeley

The two charts, provided by Altos show this week in real estate in Oakland and Berkeley.  This is an overview so it includes homes in excellent and in poor conditions, (and every  neighborhood).  To get a better sense of the market, email me.  Some properties are still flying off of the market due to high demand and the lack of quality inventory.  - Deidre

The Importance of a Structural Engineer

When buying a home in the Oakland - Berkeley area you need to understand that our properties are sought after as many home buyers like that fact that that the majority of our homes are older with tons of charm.  When buying a house it is important to thoroughly inspect it before you complete the purchase.   It is not uncommon for homes to lie within earthquake fault zones or liquefaction areas, (liquefaction is  when the soil beneath a property is loose-sandy soil.)  Many homes have settled and have adjusted to the soil conditions that they are located on.  On occasion I can tell a property will need a structural engineer inspection as the home shows signs such a sloping, cracking or the way the house is positioned on a hill.  Other times it is less obvious and the  home inspector will recommend an engineers report.  When an engineer is needed, I am always fascinated by the findings of Dan Szumski.  Dan is incredibly knowledgeable and really knows are area, often he knows obscure facts about a location.  On one inspection at a Montclair property and told us that an old tunnel to Canyon was underground.  Another time he told me that a fault line ran under a street, (and after a natural hazard report was order, he was correct!)

The thought of an engineer inspection can scare some, but usually a good engineer will give real solutions for any deficiencies that he or she finds.  A few weeks back Dan told my client how he could do some of the seismic retrofit by himself and he even recommended using tools for the tool lending library in Oakland.  Inspectors are realistic about older homes and will advise when something should be repaired ASAP, or when it can be done over time.  If you have questions about a home you have already purchased you can always have an inspector come out and exam the areas that concern you.  Knowledge is key!

The Best Ice Cream in Oakland and Berkeley

The other week, I attended the Eat Real Fest at Jack London Square.  To kick off the festival there was an ice cream evening.  It wasa 90 degree Friday night, Perfect!  Ice cream for dinner.  In the name of researchI sampled several scoops of creamy goodness.  If I had to pick my last meal on earth it would be ice cream.   I partake in ice cream daily,  so I think I am an ice cream expert.   So here are my top picks!

• St. George Spirits Whiskey Gelato by Gelateria Naia.  -  unbelievably smooth, with caramel notes.  Insane!
• Saffron and Candied Almond Ice Cream by Ici - aromatic and earthy with the fantastic texture of the crunchy nuts.
• Raspberry-Lemon Verbena Ice Cream by Ici - fresh, fruity and the perfect balance between sweet and tart.

Visit Ici at 2948 Ashby Avenue in Berkeley.  All of the diary and eggs are organic and flavors change daily and with the season.

Visit Gelateria Naia at 2106 Ashby Avenue in Downtown Berkeley, at 230 Bay Street inside WholeFoods Oakland, or at Michael Mischer Chocolates at 3352 Grand Avenue.

Oakland-Berkeley Real Estate at a Glance

At Red Oak Realty, the real estate brokerage I hang my license, most of our agents were busy this summer!  At almost every weekly meeting  we would discuss the market and talk about the multiple offers that were taking place.  Red Oak has about 80 full-time Realtors and does a great deal of the Bay Area production.  A few weeks back my office opened 89 escrows within one week!  Last week, Red Oak Realtors were both the winning offer and the back-up offer for two properties for sale in Oakland.  I love working at an active office, the energy keeps me competitive and I am able to hear many tales of the East Bay real estate underworld. Attached is a chart of the Oakland-Berkeley market from mid-summer, (July 2009 in select zip codes)   To obtain current real estate data from a select neighborhood, email me, deidre@redoakrealty.com.

Oakland and Berkeley Area Homes by Region and Price

The blue areas on the map above = 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom homes priced above $800,000.

The dark brown area on the map above = 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom homes priced between $500,000 and $800,000.

Thelight brown area on the map above = 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom homes priced at $500,000 and below.

This chart applies to home prices in today's market.  There will always be exceptions.  The other day, I looked up all of the active, 3 bedroom/2 bathroom homes in 94602 zip code. (homes that range between $500K and $800K)  There was one home listed in the high $400,000's.  This home is a bank owned property and needs some work.  There were 3 homes priced over $800,000, but there have been on the market for over 2 months.  (a sign that they are over priced.)

Oakland and Berkeley Real Estate at a Glance

Berkeley:

                                  2009                 2008

Active Listings             138                    188
Under Contract            47                      35
Closed Sales                 38                      60
Average Sales Price   $828,624      $835,000


Oakland:
Active Listings             1052                   2286
Under Contract            363                     226
Closed Sales                  280                    201
Average Sales Price   $335,000        $492,000

Keep in mind the Oakland stats include all areas of Oakland.  To understand a specific neighborhood, I can do a custom report for you.  deidre@redoakrealty.com

Bold Style in Claremont Court, Berkeley

When I was a kid I always admired the homes in Claremont Court.  I imagined that these homes had extra large crystal chandeliers and wonderful food simmering in the kitchen.  As an adult, I admire the manicured yards, the classic architecture and the close walk to College Avenue and UC Berkeley.    What I love about 2729 Belrose Avenue in Claremont Court is the style that the owners boast.  Check out the bold colors, the eclectic decor , so unexpected and wonderful!  2729 Belrose Avenue is currently listed with Ruth Frassetto with GrubbCo.

East Bay Adventures

Upcoming events in the Oakland-Berkeley area.Charles Chocolates in Emeryville, (6529 Hollis Street) is hosting FREE summer movies. Tonight's film is Soul Food and in honor of this movie, barbecue ribs, fried catfish and mac n' cheese will be on sale, (along with Charles Chocolates' Blue Bottle coffee services, hot chocolate and sweets).  Food and snacks service will start at 6:30 and the movie starts at 9:00 pm. To order ticket click here.

Future film line up:

July 10 - Soul Food.

July 24 - Tortilla Soup.

August 14th - Babette's Feast

August 28th - Ratatouille.

September 11th - Pizza

September 25th - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

July 24 - Tortilla Soup.

August 14th - Babette's Feast

August 28th - Ratatouille.

September 11th - Pizza

September 25th - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Sheila  Metcalf Tobin, (SheilaMetcalfTobin.com) will have her art on display at Herribone in Berkeley.

HerringboneCard

Pretty Penny, (Rockridge - prettypennyclothing.com.) will be hosting their first Craft Bazaar, highlighting a group of local crafters.

Mark Schroeder's latest sculptures will be on display at the Autobody Fine Art Gallery in Alameda from July 10 to August 16.  The opening reception is Friday, July 10, from 7:00 -10:00 p.m.  The gallery is located at 1517 Park St. across the street from the Havana restaurant. MarkSchroeder.com

Adjustable Rate Mortgages And The Threat of Default

This chart shows the number of properties that were purchased between 2004 and 2007 with Adjustable Rate Mortgages.  This chart breaks down the data by zip code.  The 94608 zip code an area that contains parts of West Oakland, North Oakland and Emeryville.  During the peak, (years 2004-2007) 30% of buyers purchased properties, (with 1-4 units) with an adjustable rate mortgage.  This equates to 1305 properties. This is not to forecast that all of these mortgages will go into default, but in this zip code home prices have declined making it incredibly difficult for one to refinance.  (When you refinance a home, the bank wants you to have equity in the property - at least 20%.  Meaning, if your home is worth $300,000 the bank wants you to owe no more that $240,000 in loans.)  If these homeowners mortgages adjust to an increased rate, it could make paying the mortgage tough. This coupled with job loss could affect the up coming short sale and bank owned property inventory.

The data in this chart is provide by Old Republic Title Co.  Information is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Berkeley Bowl West, Just What The Doctor Ordered!

Berkeley Bowl West - 920 Heinz Avenue in West Berkeley. Deidre Joyner

Berkeley Bowl West has arrived!  This is great news for foodies and folks who live in West Berkeley and North Oakland. (Berkeley Bowl West will also service the North Oakland community as it is a few blocks from the North-West Oakland and Emeryville areas.)  The 140,000 square foot warehouse style building is filled with the most comprehensive array of produce for the most intricate and exotic of recipes.  As I walked down every aisle, I felt like a kid in a toy store.   The quality and the prices are superior to Wholefoods and you have to love that Berkeley Bowl is locally owned!

Berkeley Bowl West has a huge cheese, deli, hot prepared food section, bakery, bulk organic foods, produce,  seafood - (including sashimi grade ahi and more.), grass-fed meat and aisles of national and local brand groceries. Berkeley Bowl West anchors the cool San Pablo West neighborhood of Berkeley and is walking distance to Sea Salt, Cafe Treiste, Scharffen Berger Chocolate and more.  Fresh and healthy,(locally produced food), just what the doctor ordered!

Mid-Century Signs in Oakland and Berkeley

Preserve the old!  I love these vintage mid-century signs in Oakland and Berkeley, a quick reminder of yesteryear.  Signs that have withstood the rain, earthquakes, wind, and decades of life in the Bay Area.

Berkeley, (California) Lifestyle

Engineers Liza and Matt bought their West Berkeley home two years ago and created a sustainable garden complete with honey bees.  The other day I stopped by their Berkeley bungalow, and Liza showed off their glorious garden.  Shortly after I arrived Matt appeared home on his bike.  (Matt and Liza bike to BART daily to get to work.)  In the back corner behind a trellis are honey bees, as Liza and Matt make their own delicious honey.  (There is a shortage of bees, so I am sure that their bees help pollinate the neighborhood gardens.)  In raised beds are onions, cabbage, beans, strawberries and more.  Along the fence are espalier apple trees with each tree bearing 6 varieties of fruit.  Grass grown from seed and bark from local trees cover the ground.  (Liza and Matt called a local tree company and received a truck load of free mulch.  It took them over a month to haul the huge pile of bark to the backyard.)  Often Liza and Matt can conduct their daily lives without a car as they walk to Cafe Treiste, Sea Salt Restaurant and soon Berkeley Bowl West!

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