Day Trip to Napa Valley

Almost daily, I am reminded of how glorious the East Bay is.  As I take my quick drive to my office at Red Oak, (from Montclair Village down Moraga to Pleasant Valley Avenue) I capture photo perfect glimpses of the Bay and San Francisco.  Our burgeoning restaurant scene is rivaling  San Francisco's and New York and if you want to get away to the lush green terrain of the wine country you are only about an hour away. My good friend Claudia  and I decided that a vacation doesn't have to be an airplane ride away, nor does it have to be for a length of time.  As our lives seem more hectic than ever, and everyone is on a budget, try a weekend getaway to decompress from it all. Downtown Napa is only 15 minutes or so from Vallejo and downtown is drawing tourist and natives alike. The redeveloping waterfront where the Napa River and Napa River Trail meet includes Oxbow Market and the world-famous Chef Masahura Morimoto's restaurant, Morimoto.  Old town Napa has Butter Cream Bakery and Diner. (My friend Monica turned me on to this donut heaven!)

OXBOW Public Market
OXBOW Public Market
oxbow
oxbow
olivepress
olivepress

If you head North, Yountville is a great place to stop and get fresh oysters or a a croque madame at Bouchon. Drive about 10 minutes longer and you are at one of my favorite standards, Rutherford Grill. The Nice salad and the grilled fish of the day is my go to meal. If your budget permits, stay at Solage Calistoga for an incredible overnight stay. Solage is the hip spa /resort located on 22 acres in the heart of Calistoga. Part of the Auberge Resort family, Solage is a bit more relaxed and affordable than Auberage Du Soleil in Napa. The Michelien rated Solbar on the property is a great place to eat in the bar, in the dining room or outside in the sun. The Lucky Pig is enough food for two and is super satisfying with slow roasted pork, sesame seed crepes, a myriad of topings including fresh mint, cilantro, lime, roasted peanuts and various sauces.

lucky pig
lucky pig
Napa2
Napa2

One of the amenities at Solage are the two cruisers that you can use during your stay. Ride all around Calistoga and there is no need to lock your bike, with the Solage license plates to identify them, lost bikes are returned back to the resort. Sometimes we forget that the Bay Area and Napa Valley is a worldwide vacation destination and it is in our backyard.

Sex in the Valley
Sex in the Valley
Bikes
Bikes

Out and About the East Bay - Mark Your Calendars

Friday, February 25 & March 18th at 8 PMOakland East Bay Symphony The Planets and Stars Michael Morgan, Conductor w/ Bryan Nies, Assistant Conductor (2/25)
Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway, Oakland
http://www.paramounttheatre.com
Saturday, February 26 at 5:30 PM
Ragga Muffins Festival
Featuring:  Bunny Wailer, Israel Vibration and much more!
The Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
http://www.thefoxoakland.com
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Oakland Speakers Series
Featuring Arianna Huffington Paramount Theatre
The Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway, Oakland
8 PM (Doors open at 7 PM)
http://www.paramounttheatre.com
Saturday, March 12th
GETT OFF: MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO does PRINCE With MARTIN LUTHER: Covers the Beatles
The New Parish
579 18th St., Oakland Doors 8:30 / Show 9:30 / $25 ADV
http://www.thenewparish.com/
Sunday, March 13th at 7:00pm
TheaterFunk: "Life Is A Stage... and We Funk With It!"
135 12th Street, Oakland
Oasis Restaurant & Bar
Saturday, March 19th at 7:30 PM
Flogging Molly @ the Fox Theater
The Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
http://www.thefoxoakland.com
Saturday, March 26th
Oakland Festival Twilight 5K Run
Come to Jack London Square and participate in the Oakland Running Festival’s Twilight 5K Race! To register, please go to www.oaklandmarathon.com. All runners will receive a T-shirt, gift bag and beverage voucher. Whether you come out for the run or come out to support your running friends and family, enjoy live music and the beautiful waterfront. Make dinner reservations at your favorite Jack London Square restaurant now.
March 26th & 27th
Oakland Running Festival
Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland
Registration is now open! www.oaklandmarathon.com
March 26th & 27th at 8 PM
B.B. King
The Fox Theater
1807 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
http://www.thefoxoakland.com
April 13th
10 AM – 2 PM
Earth Expo Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland
www.oaklandearthexpo.org
April 14-17th
Beginning at 10 AM Strictly Sail Pacific and Pacific Boat Expo Jack London Square, Oakland www.sailamerica.com

Insurance Stories

True Insurance stories by Byron Taylor of AIS Insurance in Oakland (names were altered to protect clients identities, you can contact Byron at btaylor@aisinsurance.com for superior service.)

John K.* was resting comfortably in the bedroom of his Lakeshore Avenue apartment when the methodic sound of dripping water caused him to stir.  Thinking he had left the faucet on in his master bathroom, John rolled out of bed and trekked through familiar darkness toward the intermittent plopping sound.  He was only able to make it half way across the room before it hit him; a drop of water on his head, and then another.  At first he thought it was something else until his bare foot sloshed into a puddle where dry shag carpet used to be.  John quickly flipped on the light and soon discovered the water was dripping from the fire sprinkler nozzle on the ceiling.  Amused, John chuckled to himself and casually hopped on his dry foot toward the bedroom door en route to the kitchen for a bucket and a paper towel.  John opened the door and uttered a string of expletives not fit for print after seeing the threshold to his bedroom was now a make shift shore to the easily one inch deep water that had accumulated over the course of 4 hours in his living room, hallway and kitchen.  John had officially suffered his first insurance loss.

Let’s be honest, it's no secret that most people hate insurance.  Over the years the concept of personal coverage has been co-opted by the image of greedy businessmen working in a windowless back room of Evil Incorporated.  More often than not, the average American seems to think insurance is a scam, a scheme or any other euphemism associated with separating you from your money and getting nothing but a big fat bill in return.  And while it may be true that most of us will go through life without ever experiencing property damage or loss, isn’t it good, not to mention smart, to have coverage in place just in case you do?  Let's go back to the example of John K. who is still standing at his bedroom doorway, mouth agape like one of those Scream Halloween masks.  The following day John would learn the unit upstairs had sprung a leak in the wee hours of the morning and it would be an indefinite length of time before an at-fault party could be determined and the resulting losses addressed.  In the meantime John was stuck with thousands of dollars in personal property damage and no one was stepping up to help.  It was then John remembered he had bought renters insurance months earlier as a way to help reduce his auto insurance premium.  John made one call and his insurance company sent a team of adjusters that very same day.  John was even further relieved he had coverage once it was discovered that his hip 1970's era apartment was an asbestos playground and it would now have to be gutted to the studs.  John dodged a very expensive bullet because his insurance carrier packed his family up, paid for his temporary living expenses and he was soon able to move into a new place and carry on with his life.  That's the happy ending we all want.  Now let's look at the flipside.  Dick M.* purchased a new house and went to see his insurance agent hoping to keep a few bucks in his pocket.  More concerned with money instead of his client’s best interest, his agent offered George a landlord policy which only covers the house itself and pretty much nothing else.  Thinking the chances of a total loss were slim to none, Dick agreed and signed on the dotted line.  Over the years to follow, Dick would pat himself on the back over the thought of saving so much money and beating the system, that is until the day an electrical short in the garage caused his beloved home to burn to the ground with everything in it.  Dick filed a claim and was able to get his home rebuilt, but when he inquired about the over $150,000.00 in personal property lost in the fire, his agent broke the terrible news that there was no replacement coverage because he didn’t have the right kind of policy.  Dick was left with only a house and not enough money to fill it with the things that make it a home.  The expensive lesson to be learned here: don’t be a Dick.

The most important rule of thumb for any form of property insurance should always be coverage over price.  Saving a few hundred dollars every year will mean nothing if you don't have enough to repair or replace your home in the event of a covered loss.  If you absolutely have to save more money, consider a slightly higher deductible that will not cause a financial hardship should you suddenly need to pay it.  You will also want to avoid filing excessive property claims as this could potentially limit your options if you ever wanted to switch insurance companies in pursuit of a better rate.  Once you are ready to purchase property insurance, you should always shop around for the best coverage to premium combination.  You can also ask your family, friends, or even your realtor to refer you to a trustworthy insurance provider.

And for those of you who still think insurance is some kind of unholy rip off, think about that secure feeling you have every time you leave your home, or that deep relaxing breath you take right before drifting off to sleep at night.  That dear reader is called peace of mind.  And that is what property insurance buys you.  I suppose it would make you feel better if you could touch insurance or watch television while it curls up on your lap.  But insurance is not warm and fuzzy, and you shouldn't want it to be either.  Insurance should be formidable and serious and be able to protect you when you need it the most.  You should leave the cuddling to your cute puppy dog that is peeing on the power strip behind your new flat screen LCD TV which is now going up in flames as you read this.  But not to worry, your insurance will cover that too.

You're in escrow, now what?

Over the last two weeks, I have been actively working with four sets of home-buyers who have each had some pretty intricate files.  For example, a few weeks ago I had home inspections on a stellar mid-century home in the El Cerrito Hills, (photos coming soon.)  During the inspection contingency period, we had half a dozen inspectors through the property at the same time.  It was a revolving door coupled with a time crunch as we had to move quickly to investigate the condition in a short time period (By the time the inspectors were available, we only had a few days left in our inspection period). The roof inspector, the chimney inspector, structural engineer and seismic contractor were there at the same time, grabbing my client Susan or Greg to update them on their findings. A few days later and by the time my clients removed their inspection contingency, (the period of time agreed upon to fully investigate the property and neighborhood.) they felt completely comfortable with the property's condition. This is not to say they had a flawless property, but that they had a property whose flaws they understood. So what happens after you have a home inspection?: A few things. You can remove your inspection contingency, if you feel completely satisfied with the condition of the property and secure in moving forward with the purchase. You can remove it subject to a repairs or seller credits. You can cancel your contract if there are serious issues and you are uncertain about the value or condition of the property. With another client, we had a hiccup during the financing contingency period.  However in the end, after hours of strategizing with my clients and their lender, we were able to successfully resolve the problem and close escrow on time.

When it comes to financing it is always the buyers choice on who to use for financing the property, be it a mortgage broker, credit union or bank.  I strongly suggest working with someone with a proven track record of success who is local.  In the situation above, I was able to contact this professional after hours in emergency situations to resolve issues and set a game plan.  In this case, if the mortgage lender was out of the area  or in a different time zone, this task would have been extremely difficult.  Additionally, because of my on-going working relationship with this mortgage consultant, there was a huge incentive for her to resolve this file with a positive outcome. (She knows client satisfaction keeps her on my recommended service provider list.)

There are two finance contingencies: appraisal and loan. The appraisal contingency should always give a buyer ample time to have an appraiser in the house, write their report and submit it to the underwriting department at the financial institution that is funding the loan. For example, say you are offering $500,000 on a house and you are obtaining 20% down conventional financing. The house will need to appraise at $500,000 for the lending institution to agree to finance the property.  If the house does not appraise at the price your offered, you can either: renegotiate the purchase price so the 20% down ratios work with the appraised value, cancel your contract, (as long as you have an appraisal contingency), or bring extra money to the loan to satisfy the difference in value. The loan contingency is the time period allotted to obtain a satisfactory appraisal, get loan approval from the financial institution that is funding your loan after further review of your finances and the house.  When you get pre-approved for a loan before you write an offer, you are screened by the mortgage consultant or broker to see that you meet specific guidelines for a loan.  Once you place an offer and it is accepted, then both the borrower and property is scrutinized before you have loan approval.

I am so happy that my clients were able to purchase the homes that they really wanted.  I hope the above information gives you some clarity into the process. If you have more questions, I am happy to talk.

Broker's Tour Find in Montclair, Oakland

Sometimes a house is just a house, you know, walls, floors, roof, etc...  Other times a house moves people.  6492 Ascot Drive moves me!  It was my favorite house on Broker's Tour this week.  Classic mid-century modernist design for the purist who relish preserved original  features.  This house appears to have original green slate floors, original floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors and huge open spaces.  The chrome vintage Frigidaire oven is a piece of art, the original built-in cabinetry in the entry makes organization easy and the rumpus room downstairs gives this house great separation of space.  Frankly, I want to sell this house to a buyer, so I can come back and visit.

This house is so much more that the mere details that I mentioned above.  It is also about the light, the privacy and the feeling that this house gives once you greet it.  The cantilever design of the house that Realtors, Linda Elkin and Art White from Red Oak Realty call quietude reminds me of the celebrated Dave Brubeck's home.

Photos below are courtesy of Scott Hargis.  6492 Ascot Drive is listed for $675,000, has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, circa 1963.

6492_Ascot_EXT
6492_Ascot_EXT
6492_Ascot_DECK
6492_Ascot_DECK
6492_Ascot_DR_LR
6492_Ascot_DR_LR
6492_Ascot_MBR
6492_Ascot_MBR
ascot living
ascot living
patio
patio

Can you make the cut? So You Think You Can Dance hits Oakland.

One of my favorite reality television shows is, So You Think You Can Dance.  I grew up in the dance studio.  From the early 1970's I was always at Everybody's Creative Art Center turned City Center Dance Theater after school.  To my mother's disappointment, I quit dancing when I turned 20 and I often regret it as well.  What I love about this show is that it showcases all forms of dance, from hip-hop to ballroom, contemporary and many more.  I was so excited when my friend Karlya called me this morning to tell me that auditions were being held at the Paramount Theater on Broadway.  After dropping my children off at school I headed downtown to see the dancers line up.  I am glad to see that Oakland was selected to be an audition city.

sytycd4.jpg
sytycd21.jpg
sytycd3.jpg

Oakland Kitchen Renovation

Earlier this year, I listed and sold, 3915 Laguna Avenue in the Dimond district of Oakland.  (www.TheLagunaCottage.com) This house was/is such a special house!  It sold with seven offers earlier this Spring, much in part to the gorgeous kitchen.  Richard and Christina, the former owners, hiredlocal architect Angela Klein to help with the lay-out.  They then hired, Oakland contractor, Rebecca of Paragon Kitchen and Bath Remodel.  After all of the love, thought and heart poured into this renovation, I was curious to see what this room looked like before the transformation. I am always intrigued by a home's history, so I had to find out more.  Unfortunately we could not find any before pictures, so I contacted the Realtors who listed the house when Christina and Richard purchased the house some years back...and I was in luck!  They still had a few snapshots of the kitchen.  Look at the metamorphosis below:

Laguna Kitchen BEFORE & AFTER

Laguna Kitchen BEFORE & AFTER

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

Mark your Calendar - Oakland Events

Oakland is full of life, savor what this city has to offer.  Below are just a few events in the coming weeks. Original piece of art by Oakland local, Pam Consear

O Zone at OMCA:  Incredible!  | Friday October 8th, 5:00 - 9:00 pm. Learn about the making of the film with behind-the-scenes stories from Pixar artists who helped make it!  For more information click here.

Oaktoberfest!  Saturday October 9th, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Come enjoy beer, music and food in the Dimond district of Oakland.  Red Oak Realty is a proud sponsor and will have a booth!  I will be there from 12:00-2:30 pm to answer any real estate questions you might have.  Come and say hello! For more information click here!

Sundays in the Redwoods, Sunday October 10th, 2 pm at the Woodminister Amphitheatre.  George Duke, Stabe Wilson and Ray McCoy will close out this annual 4 Sunday series. For more information click here!

15th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival on Sunday October 24, 2010 from 10:00 am to 5:00 am. The festival will be held between 33rd Ave. and 37th Ave. on East 12th St., as well as in the Fruitvale Village.  For more information click here!

Celebrate Redwood Heights and the art work of Pam Consear! Wednesday October 25th from 6-8 pm at 3595 Monterey Blvd in Redwood Heights. (art gala, open house and refreshments.)

Boo at the Zoo! Saturday October 30th from 10 am - 3 pm. Come celebrate halloween with the children in your life at Oakland's zoo.  Click here for more information.

Bay Area Dine Out! Tuesday November 9th dine out for Meals on Wheels.  80 local restaurants are participating in this event. For more information click here!