Yesterday after I held open 5740 Ayala Street in lower Rockridge, (a pristine craftsman home with impeccable natural wood trim, wainscoting and built-ins. and vintage details.) I headed over to view 492 58th Street, (in Oakland). The buzz around town is that this born in 1900 home in lower Rockridge (a bungalow turned mod pod) was the house to see. This home is a design buffs dream! The bathroom in the main house has hand applied stucco walls that are silky smooth and designed to withstand water and the steamy conditions of a hot shower. Every nook and cranny is engineered to efficiently store the items in your life. The washer and dryer are hidden in a wall of white cabinets and the there is big chunks of natural wood built-in benches and bookcases. Of course the yummy home furnishings and lush yet simple gardens enhanced my viewing experience. 492 58th Street in Oakland has a two bedroom, one bathroom main house and a one bedroom, one bathroom guest house. (Listed with Ron Kriss of Lawton and Associates for $750,000.) This pad is available now, but offers are due this Thursday. Click here to view this Oakland home on Dwell.com. (If you love high style and mid-century modern homes this is a must see.)
Upper Rockridge Modern Compound
Last Sunday I held 6251 Contra Costa Road open for my colleague Pat Leaper. This home has over 6000 square feet of living space and is truly a unique property. Designed by award winning architect Martin Borenstein as his personal residence, this dwelling gives a nod to mid-century modern. This flat roof house with floor to ceiling windows and radiant heated floors has stunning views and an observation deck that is a show stopper. The Borenstein home can easily shelter two large families as it is two houses rolled into one, two kitchens, two fireplaces, two entries, multiple decks and did I say views? This is a great piece of land and has endless possibilities! This home is now available for $1,995,000.
Mid Century Modern Home In The Oakland Hills!
Imagine a mid-century home from a classic American movie. You know the house with high style, walls of glass, views and Doris Day inside. Roger Lee was an architect who designed high style for the middle class. Creating over 100 exquisite homes, Roger Lee is one of the forgotten mid century modernist. Five Krohn (in Montclair) created from the dreams of Roger Lee just went pending. One lucky Oakland home buyer will scoop up a great place to call home and a piece of art. (5 Krohn is listed with Christie Seeley of Pacific Realty)
Born To Be Cool - Mid Century Modern Home In Oakland
1949 - Joe Louis retired from boxing, Miles Davis released the Birth Of The Cool album, The Lone Ranger premiered on television and 4138 Coolidge Avenue was built in the Lincoln Heights district of Oakland. The California Zephyr launched its inaugural run and Oaklanders ate dinner at the Grotto in Jack London Square. The World War II was over and America was optimistic! Join me to celebrate this cool mid century modern home. Buy a piece of classic Americana. More photos atwww.4138CoolidgeAve.com.
Pride of Ownership - For Sale
This secluded country house in Montclair was my favorite home from last week's Broker's Tour. I am featuring this home as I felt it had a reasonable price, great upgrades and real charm. This home is offered at $629,000 by John and Judith of GrubbCo. The improvements include structural upgrades, gourmet kitchen with professional grade appliances and a master bedroom suite. Built in 1937, I really enjoyed the tasteful overhaul that enhanced this home and its era. (I also love the matchstick hardwood flooring in the hallway. Matchstick hardwood floors are narrow strips of hardwood - about half the width of conventional hardwood floors.) The best thing about this home, the improvements were carefully planned for the owners enjoyment.
Do You Qualify For The $8000 Tax Credit For Home Buyers?
Eichler Anyone? Iconic Mid-Century Home In The Oakland Hills
Real estate developer Joseph Eichler was instrumental in bringing Mid-Century Modern architecture to subdivisions in California. The Sequoyah Hills district of Oakland, is a quiet neighborhood in the East Oakland Hills that boasts 40-50 Eichler homes. 8050 Phaeton is a 5 bedroom, 2 bathroom Eichler currently listed for $798,000 by Hiedi Slocomb of APR. This home includes an atrium with a succulent garden, Eichler's signature radiant heating and a remodeled kitchen . If you like Eichler's, San Mateo is having an Eichler tour this month, click here for more details.
Home Sales Statistics in Oakland and Berkeley
I thought I would pull some statistics for Berkeley and select zip codes in Oakland. ( 94609,94610,94611,94602,94618,94619 - areas of Oakland that buyers seek out.) To see what our real estate marketplace is doing over the past year. The graphs for Oakland include all 6 zip codes combined.
Glenview Bungalow That Caught My Fancy
4039 Linwood Avenue in the Glenview district of Oakland caught my fancy last week on Broker's Tour. (This home is currently listed with Leslie Easterday of Pacific Union. Listed at $695,000) When you are purchasing a home you either want one of two things: You want the purchase price to include finish work that suits your style and sensibility or you want the purchase price to reflect that it is in need a cosmetic face lift to suit your needs.
This house on Linwood was pristine, great light, warm hardwoods and original details such as the original hearth tile and built-in shelving. The lot is a small, but the raised garden beds really appealed the gardener in me. Additionally the Glenview district is a very walkable neighborhood with great restaurants. A Cote, (The very popular Rockridge eatery) is in the process of opening a sister restaurant in the Glenview on Park Blvd. This restaurant will feature Pan American food highlighting food from Argentina, Cuba and Mexico.
Mid Century Modern Home in Montclair Hills, Oakland - Yum!
39 Kimberley Court in the Piedmont Pines area of Montclair was my favorite house from last Thursday's Broker's Tour. I loved the living room with the stacked flagstone fireplace, walls of glass with the unobstructed views! This home is listed with Helen Nicholas of APR. Thanks Helen! List price is $949,000
Dreamy 1941 Laurel Heights (Oakland) Traditional
4145 Eastlake Avenue is my favorite house from Monday's Broker's Tour. (Broker's Tour is a scheduled tour of homes open to Realtors.) Eastlake Avenue located on the border of Laurel Heights and Redwood Heights is one of my favorite streets. This street features views, a cul de sac and is a tucked away street off of the beaten path. This house has random plank hardwood floors in the living room, views, rounded corners, (a feature seen in the 1930's and 1940's) an eat-in kitchen and a large downstairs which includes a living area, an extra bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. The master bedroom upstairs has a small balcony, a great place to catch a few rays of sun and glimpse Downtown Oakland and the Bay. This property shows pride of ownership, is super clean, appears to be well maintained and is move-in ready. Homes are rarely for sale on this street making this a property to see. This house is currently listed with Vicky Faulk of Coldwell Banker for $725,000, Thanks Vicky!
Crocker Highlands House in Oakland In Need of New Owner
570 Santa Ray in the Crocker Highlands District of Oakland is new to the market and oozing with potential. This property is listed by my colleague, Julia Temple at Red Oak Realty and is a bank owned traditional listed at $599,900. This home has fantastic light, huge rooms, original details, loads of charm and handsome woodwork. This house looks in need of work, but there is no doubt this could be a masterpiece, with a superb location. Last Saturday I took some clients out to preview this home and I was asked what this property would be worth in today's market once all the work necessary was done. I just did a little research and looked at properties that have sold in Crocker Highlands with at least 1800 square feet since September 2008 until now. (Keep in mind there were a few properties that were fixers, as well as stunning gems.) The average listing price was $948,349 and the average selling price was $927,705. I can't wait to see what this home ultimately sells for and what the new buyers decide to do to this property!
North Oakland Redo
This home at 5932 Whitney Street was for sale last year. Many buyers like this neighborhood as it is super close to Berkeley, Ashby Bart and the Temescal shopping district of Oakland. The problem was, last year this house was a fixer, and many buyers could not afford to purchase this home and pay for the renovations necessary. Fortunately, this home was purchased by a licenced contractor who renovated this home, all with permits. 5932 Whitney is now beautiful, available and move-in ready! This is my colleague's listing and I will be holding it open for her this Sunday, open 2-4 pm. Come visit me this Sunday and don't forget to set your clocks forward tonight for daylight savings time! Cheers!
Get Property For $5000 in Oakland? What You Should Know About Auctions.
I am hearing from many people that they are itching to buy a house via auction. One friend told me that they were going to buy a house in Oakland this year for $5000. He said that he did not care about the condition of the house or the neighborhood. I understand, buying a piece of property for 5 grand is enticing. If houses were available to purchase for $5000, I would buy a West Oakland Victorian and renovate it back to its turn of the century glory. Here are a few things you should know about buying property via auction.
There is no Department of Real Estate regulations of auctions, nor separate regulations of auctioneers who conduct real estate auctions. If the auctioneer is selling real property the auctioneer must be a licensed broker or work with a Department of Real Estate licensed broker.
To buy a home via auction you MUST have adequate financing lined up before bidding as the purchase agreement usually does not contain a financing contingency. (a period a time in which you can back out of the contract if you can not cement financing.)
When buying a home via auction you will not be provided with any reports or disclosures regarding the property condition. For example, the foundation could fail and the roof could be long overdue for replacement. Unfortunately an inspection contingency period will not be a part of the part of the purchase contract. A time period in which you can back out of the deal if you are not satisfied with condition of the house.
Typically bidders who purchase homes via auction are professional investors, they are not folks looking to buy a home to owner occupy. They are investors who know all of the potential pitfalls regarding the process When you are bidding on a foreclosure via auction you could be bidding on just the junior or second mortgage that has been foreclosed. For example the starting bid on a home is $40,000. You bid on this property and win the home for the $40,000 amount. However, unbeknown to you, there could be a senior loan or mortgage attached to this property for an additional $300,000, where you are now responsible for paying it off in full in order to actually own the home. How horrifying would that be to think you are purchasing a fixer upper home for $40,000 and realize you are now on the hook for $340,000!
I wouldlike to hear from you! Do you have a positive auction experience in the Bay Area? Let me know.
Stylish and Immaculate Bungalow in Temescal, Oakland
672 57th Street is located on the Temescal/North Oakland border. Close to Berkeley, the Ashby Bart, Children's Hospital and the cool shops of the Temescal District of Oakland.
I love how the landscape architect owner renovated his turn of the century bungalow. This home has two cool claw foot bathtubs, rustic douglas fir floors and bold columns from the era in which it was built; yet it has modern additions such as skylights and tube lighting, newer energy saving windows and silky smooth walls with no cracks ! (I have a huge appreciation for the details in a home.) The built-in cabinetry in the dining room have been clean, sanded and painted so the drawers work like they did in 1907 when this beauty was built.
This home is listed by Red Oak Realty and I will be holding it open for my colleagues Leif and Charity this Sunday, February 22nd from 2-4.
Buying A Home In Oakland? Buying A Home In Berkeley?
This photo is from the California Online Archives. Oak trees at Mosswood Park in Oakland When you buy a home you buy a piece of the street and a part of the city.
Growing up and still living in Oakland, I often run into people I know. I can see the distress on folks faces as they ask me how business is. You can't avoid all of media coverage regarding the declining real estate market. One would think that the entire real estate market has collapsed. Oddly enough my pressure-free, no nonsense approach to real estate has paid off and 2008 was a great year for my clients and I. Last month Red Oak Realty awarded me a Managers Award for 2008. So let's just look at real estate in Oakland and Berkeley. Since January 1st 2009, 326 residential properties have sold! (The first 47 days of this year) Compare this to 345 properties sold between the same time period in 2004 390 properties sold between the same time period in 2005 361 properties sold between the same time period in 2006 332 properties sold between the same time period in 2007 Only 186 properties sold between the same time period in 2008 - the start of one of our worst real estate years. To make this short, buyers are back. In Berkeley the average home price for properties that sold since January 2009 are as followed: average list price was $624,990 and the average sold price was $612,637. Sellers are getting 98% of their asking price on average. In Oakland as a whole, the average home price for properties that have sold since January 2009 are as followed: the average list price was $ 79,464 and the average sold price was $84,599.When I searched for homes in select neighborhoods of Oakland, Rockridge, Redwood Heights, Montclair, Grand Lake, Glenview, Lincoln Heights and Upper Rockridge the numbers went up drastically. The average list price was $601,102 and the average sold price was $582,941, seller are getting 97 percent of their asking price. (these statistics include condos and homes of all sizes.) So what does this all mean? Well with 743 homes currently pending, (in contract to close escrow) in Oakland and 51 homes currently pending in Berkeley, buyers are feeling like now is a great time to buy a home in Oakland and Berkeley. There are experts that say the market will drop another 8-10% in the next year as unemployment increases and more mortgage interest rates adjust, but if you are trying to "time" the real estate market perfectly, you could miss the bottom and find yourself in a market that has increased in value. Berkeley median home price actually increase by 2% for the fourth quarter in 2008.
Consider this:
- It looks like Congress will increase the first time home buyers credit to $8,000 from $7,500. What more, this credit will not have to be paid back!
- As stocks seem more and more volatile and the health of major companies are uncertain, real estate historically proves to be a sound investment for long term wealth.
- With the Bay Areas ideal weather, are very close commute to San Francisco and UC Berkeley in our backyard, the Bay Area will always be highly desired.
- If you are now in a position to buy a home, buy the absolute best location you can afford. Work with a reputable local Realtor who is in touch with the Oakland and Berkeley neighborhoods and understands the subtle nuances that can make a difference in future resell value.
Montclair, (Oakland) Real Estate
This photo is of a home that was for lease last year in Montclair. The house is constructed from an old water vessel.
Montclair is a coveted neighborhood locally known for having an "in the country" style of living. With its charming village, walking trails and proximity to both nature and highways into San Francisco, downtown Oakland and Walnut Creek, its no wonder why it is one of the prime places to live in the city of Oakland. After reviewing the recently sold properties in the area, the price per square foot, the days the properties were on the market and the overall condition of the homes in the vicinty, I can honestly tell you that there is no true formula to determining value. But here goes my opinion anyway…
There are about 5 areas of Montclair, that consist of the following:
The Piedmont side of Montclair which include homes west of highway 13 and border the upscale city of Piedmont.
The Piedmont Pines area, with homes between the streets of Ascot and Shepherd Canyon.
The area off of Thornhill within walking distance to Montclair's Villiage and commonly known as the Fernwood area
The area whose homes stud the streets between Thornhill and Broadway Terrace, (above the highway 13) sometimes referred to as "Broadway Terrace".
And finally, neighborhoods simply called Montclair.
Montclair is architecturally diverse, boasting homes built in the 1920's and 30's, as well as mid-century modern homes which were built in the 70's, 80's, 90's on. Montclair has the most eclectic variety of styles in Oakland- tudors, mid centuries, cottages and ski chalets! The one caveat to Montclair is its unfortunate proximity to the Hayward fault line which runs adjacent to Highway 13.
The properties that always seem to move quickly and sell high usually have level lay-outs, abundant privacy and some yard and garden/outdoor area. Last summer I was house hunting for one young couple in particular who desired a home in Montclair. I spent a lot of time there and learned there were several homes that were on the market for over 80 days that fit most of their criteria in regards to bedrooms (3), bathrooms (at least 2) and square footage (1,700+), but unfortunately, not one of these houses felt like home. One Thursday during the broker's tour that takes place there every week from 10am to 1pm, I viewed one particular home off of Shepherd Canyon. I knew immediately, after simply stepping through the front door, that this was a house they would want to see IMMEDIATELY. I called them from the entryway and scheduled an appointment that night...Long story short, in a market that had been languishing, there were three offers on this home. It stood out from the rest and every buyer knew it. But within one week we made it to the end and were the winning offer. (Surprisingly we were not the highest offer, but that's another story. Feel free to email me to find out the reasons why.) So here is the skinny on why this house was so desirable.. It had a private backyard, only about 10 stairs to the front door, it was not perched on a cliff, (Many homes in Montclair are very vertical and sit on a pier foundation system.) the layout was nearly level with very large rooms and a kitchen facing the backyard and opened to a patio. Additionally this house was well maintained, all of the improvements were made for the previous owners enjoyment, (not hastily made for re-sale purposes.) Buyers look for quality and they can not be fooled by just a slick coat of fresh paint. Most importantly, it was priced right!
Here are a few recent addresses of homes that sold quickly in Montclair Village because they were priced correctly at just under the market value, (pricing a home over market value, even as little as 5% can cost a seller 5-10% of their final selling price). 6725 Sims was on the market for 10 days before it went pending, listed at $694,900 and sold for $695,000. 40 Neva Court was listed at $1,150,000 and sold for $1,241,000 and it was on the market for 15 days before it went pending. Both of these homes were vacant when listed, so potential buyers had the ability to view the homes easily. Both were also staged, painted and void of the sellers personal effect, which also tend to work in the seller's advantage.
I apologize that I can't provide you with a magic formula on how to buy a home in Montclair. But, let me leave you with this…I have spoken to many home buyers who have been relocated from urban areas and have said, "If I am going to move to Oakland it has got to be Montclair, I enjoy the eculyptus in the air and feeling that only Montclair has. You'd never know you were in a city!" The question I always ask my buyer clients is "How does this home make you feel?" and then "Will this house fit your life style needs for the next 5-10 years, or more?"
So as you look at your Montclair home and contemplate whether to sell, don't try to guess it's value, and if you drive past a Montclair home, and try to guess if you can indeed afford to buy there, remember to call me, a local Realtor, who knows Montclair and loves it just as much as you do!
I love that this home appears to be a mid-century home with clean lines and that it is adjacent to the Montclair Village walking trail.
Sleek and Sexy Oakland Hills Kitchen
I don't just jump for every sleek granite kitchen that I see, I look for quality, layout and functionality. I fell for an ultra modern sleek kitchen in the Upper Rockridge District of Oakland yesterday. 5656 Buena Vista has a fantastic open kitchen with built-in Miele espresso machine, built-in eating counter, built-in window seats, high-end energy efficient appliances and a great view from the window above the sink. This kitchen opens up to the "family" room with plasma television and powder room.
I am a strong believer that renovations should incorporate new innovations and "green" choices, but also stay congruent with the period of the house. This house was built-in 1995 so this sexy style lends to the house. This house is currently listed with Pacific Union by Dee Knowland. Offered at $895,000 (This house over-looks highway 24. If this home was situated in a different location it would be over a million dollars.)
This kitchen was featured in the East Bay/ San Francisco edition of Kitchen Trend Magazine
Romantic Mediterranean in Crocker Highlands
Last Monday I feel in love with this romantic, Mediterranean-Art Deco home in the Crocker Highlands District of Oakland on Broker's Tour. This house is currently listed with Dolores Thom and Pacific Union. Offered at $969,000. If you have any questions please email me. DeidreJoyner@gmail.com.
Notice the built in pieces of sculpture.
Throughout this home you will find art embedded into the walls.
