December 2024: Gratitude, Favorites, and my door is always open!

The other day, I ran into a client in Montclair Village. We had a quick catch-up, and I asked how her house was. She shared how much she loves her panoramic views of the Bay, San Francisco, and the two bridges, but mentioned that she and her husband wished they had a third bedroom on the main floor. With a grin, she added that she had reminded her husband I’d asked whether the layout — with two bedrooms upstairs and one downstairs—would work for them long term. We laughed, hugged, and went our separate ways.

This interaction truly warmed my heart. I’m so grateful for the relationships I’ve developed with my clients and delighted that they value my thoughtful, critical approach to analyzing properties. From reviewing disclosures and reports to evaluating comparable sales, I strive to assess not only how a home will suit each client today but also how it may serve them in the years ahead. While no home is ever truly “perfect,” there’s something perfect about knowing my clients feel cared for.

Please remember, my door is always open to you. Whether you need a trusted service provider, are curious about your home’s value, seeking renovation advice with resale in mind, or considering a purchase, I’m here to offer guidance — always without pressure. With over 20 years of experience and more than 450 successful property sales, my insights are grounded in expertise and proven results. You can count on me to be a reliable resource every step of the way.

As we approach the holidays, I’m reminded of all the joys this season brings—reuniting with loved ones, savoring delicious meals, and enjoying the warmth and coziness of home while the world outside feels cold and rainy. At the same time, the holidays can also bring stress, added responsibilities, financial pressures, and the bittersweet ache of missing someone dear.

Whatever you’re feeling this season, I hope you find moments of peace and joy—wishing you and yours a fruitful and fulfilling 2025.

P.S. I am accepting new clients for 2025 and would love your recommendation when you have friends, colleagues, and family members who need expert representation.

Favorite Things: No. 9

Life should include fabulous sights, delicious bites, beautiful sounds, great memories and adventures.

Wishing you all of these and a Happy 2025!

Deidre’s Favorite Things – No.9

ps – See all of my Favorite Things lists here

November 2024: Listing Considerations & Giving Thanks

Happy November!

The week before last, I toured a house in Berkeley that I thought would be an excellent match for my clients. It was in a neighborhood on their list and a duplex that could help them supplement their mortgage and later serve as a place their parents could move into. They saw the property and LOVED it! At more than 100 years old, the property needs work, has knob-and-tube wiring, and both an old furnace and roof, but my clients were ok with the condition and felt that they could take on the projects and repairs. So, in anticipation of writing an offer, I contacted four different insurance providers to help my clients obtain an insurance quote, and they received four rejections. We were told that the California Fair Plan policy provides an insurance option when no one will, but it does not cover everything, including liability insurance. We were told that to get complete insurance, one must have a California Fair Plan policy plus a wraparound policy to cover what the Fair Plan does not. But, due to the building being over 100 years old with knob-and- tube wiring and an old roof, none of the four insurance providers had a provider who would write a policy. We are still looking for an option for the wraparound policy, but insurance is becoming a real challenge. 

Sellers need to consider not only how their house appears on the market to attract buyers but also the condition of their property – which is understood through pre-marketing inspections – done as best practice in order to facilitate the sale. Gone are the days when buyers were indifferent to a property's condition. Inspections are thoroughly vetted, and necessary repairs are carefully calculated as buyers decide whether to make an offer on a property and for what amount. When working with sellers, I conduct an initial review of comparable sales data when I take a listing to see what properties are selling for in the area. After we complete pre-marketing inspections, I conduct another review of the reports and share whether the findings impact the sale. Yes, with a softer market, one may want to do less pre-marketing work to prepare their home for the market, but with buyers more discerning than ever, pre-market investments can determine whether someone pursues your house or not. If they pursue it, the offer prices will reflect the condition and needed upgrades.

Last month, KTVU News had me on air to provide an update on the real estate market. Check out the full segment.

And just like that, we are headed into the holiday season. I am grateful to have the luxury of ordering my favorite desserts and rolls from local bakeries, as well as high-quality meats and groceries to make our family's holiday feast. But there are people in our community who are not as fortunate. If you know me, you know that I am a big foodie; great meals bring people together and warm our souls. One of the organizations I contribute to annually is the Alameda County Food Bank; no one should go to bed hungry, so in the spirit of the holidays, I am doing a virtual food drive! While you may be stretched thin caring for your own family, a small donation can make a difference to people in our community; click here to help feed our neighbors. 

As this year is winding down, I am preparing listings for next year. While I have swiftly brought properties on the market, it is never too early to start an action plan – especially if you want to list in the Spring – historically the strongest selling season of the year. If you have questions about your property, please reach out; Nicole and I are here to help!

Enjoy the season of thanks!

October 2024: Timing the Market?

Last week, a reporter from the New York Times contacted me to ask if I had any buyer clients waiting for the election to be over before making their purchases. I have three active buyers, and none are trying to time the market, so unfortunately, I could not connect her to buyers for her story but I told her I do not recommend that buyers wait or try to time the market, and she asked me why. 

Historically, in election years, in the few months before the election and out of uncertainty about the future, some buyers will wait until after the election to purchase a new home. This means there are fewer buyers competing for current inventory, so I do not recommend waiting - why not take advantage when there is less competition? Also of note, some buyer hesitation we may be experiencing right now may have less to do with the election and more with people waiting to see if interest rates are reduced again. Hearing that we may get additional rate cuts makes some buyers wonder if waiting could be financially beneficial. 

But if rates are cut, there could be more competition. It is difficult to time the market. In my experience, buying with less competition could be more financially beneficial than waiting for a small rate cut that may or may not happen soon. It is more important to buy the right home, a place you like that fits your needs, than wait for the perfect timing. "Perfect" rarely exists, and a buyer can refinance later. I have seen some buyers wait to refinance for a couple of years when there are more meaningful reductions in interest rates. 

But this topic led me into a deep dive into what I currently see in the market: buyers are not buying anything they are not compelled to buy. Sure, there are a few exceptions, such as people with immediate housing needs, but generally, people pass if a house does not feel right. Over the last ten days, I have had a set of buyers who were taken with a property; they viewed it three times, once with me for over an hour. It had the size they needed, and they liked the neighborhood and the layout. We reviewed the disclosures and discussed the required repairs and associated costs, and in the end, they decided to pass. On offer day, the listing agent called me and informed me that only one offer had come in, for a price lower than anticipated. Because I had been in constant communication with the listing agent, she provided my clients a window of opportunity to win the property at a lower price than the comparable sales in the area. While my clients appreciated the chance, they still passed because of the expensive repairs needed. More buyers are searching for properties with minimal maintenance now than in the last ten years, which circles back to what I  am seeing: buyers are not buying anything they are not compelled to buy. 

As we head into the fall season, I am honored to be your trusted advisor. Thanks for calling on me for all of your real estate needs, both locally and for out-of-the-area referrals. Every year, I help pair clients and their loved ones moving outside my area of expertise with top Realtors who are the best matches. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have housing questions, need service provider referrals, or need a realtor anywhere in the country. 

While I work in Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont, San Leandro, and the adjacent cities, today I found out that my production from last year ranked me as the number 10 agent in Oakland by Real Trends. What an honor, and many thanks to you who continue to trust and support my business.

Have an excellent rest of October!

September 2024: Celebrating My 20th Anniversary! & Experience Matters...

This month marked my 20th anniversary of being a full-time Realtor. When I started this career, my children were 7 and 5, and I was in my 30s. I remember writing my first purchase agreement contract, spending 4 hours checking each box about 20 times, editing and re-editing my cover letter, and making the offer as perfect as possible. I wanted to be the best for my clients. Although my mother was a top-producing Realtor, and I was lucky enough to have her as a resource, I knew I had to compensate for my lack of experience with extraordinary attention to detail and perseverance. Four years into my career, I was recruited by Vanessa Bergmark, who at the time was the sales manager of the Red Oak Realty Pleasant Valley Ave office. I connected with the local independent brokerage ethos and Vanessa, who was a breath of fresh air and agreed to coach me to help me grow my business. In my early days as a Realtor, one of the challenges I faced was I looked younger than my age. I recall being asked how old I was during interviews. Vanessa half-jokingly suggested that I add temporary gray into my hair before interviews, but I did not because I have always wanted to be my authentic self. This is my first professional headshot.

Fast forward to the present day, and no one asks me how old I am, Vanessa owns Red Oak Realty, and she still inspires me. I have been a top producer for the company every year since 2009. Over the last year, the real estate market has undergone some big changes, including insurance challenges, a fickle market, and many new rules. The inner East Bay Market is complex, and I see how vital agency is; without it, a buyer can purchase a "lemon" property, or at very least not understand what they are buying, and the marketplace can overlook a seller's home. While I have vast experience, I still spend countless hours paying attention to the details and have the same level of perseverance as when I started, as I want you to be proud to call me your Realtor. 

As I start a new decade in this business, I am incredibly grateful for your trust and support of my business. I promise to continue to put your needs above my own, lead from my heart,and never work from pressure. Thank you for calling on me when you need real estate help and recommending me to your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. 

Just Listed! 26 Jerome Avenue in Piedmont – a spacious home with beautiful formal living and dining rooms on a romantic tree-lined street in Piedmont. Check it out this weekend – it will be open Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m! I will be hosting this Sunday.

OPEN SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 2–4pm www.26Jerome.com

I look forward to staying connected with you; remember, I am a phone call, email, or text message away, and no question is too small.

Warmly,

August 2024: Interview on KTVU 2 + Earning the Highest Possible Price

Happy August!

I can not believe summer is coming to an end and the fall market is upon us. Earlier this month I had the honor of talking about the real estate market on KTVU 2 News.

I help my clients earn the highest possible price when they hire me to help them sell their homes, but how is the highest possible price determined?

The reality is that every single property is uniquely its own, from the natural light that flows through the windows to the access to the outdoor spaces, the landscaping to the systems and upgrades. Every property owner has made decisions on the care and maintenance that they have invested into their property, or the lack thereof. During their stewardship, homeowners make decisions such as who performs the work on their properties: licensed contractors, handymen, or does it become a weekend DIY project? Were permits pulled or not, and what type of materials were selected? Keeping this in mind, if you were buying a property, would you spend more for a home with a luxe kitchen - Sub-Zero fridge, custom cabinetry, and French doors opening onto a beautifully landscaped, level backyard? Would you spend more if the roof, foundation and electrical were upgraded? Or how much less would you spend for a home that needs major repairs and updating? If a home has newer high-end windows, versus old aluminum single-pane windows from the 1950's, would that change how you would value a home? In previous markets some of the items above had less of an impact on sales price than they do now. 

Market price is what a buyer is willing to pay at a given time, and right now there are buyers out in the market ready to purchase a place to call home. In today's market a home has to make sense to buyers both emotionally and financially. The interest rates and insurance challenges that I have mentioned in previous months’ enewsletter/blog posts have given buyers pause, so every aspect of a property is analyzed before a buyer will make a decision on whether to make an offer and for what price. 

Selling houses is a form of match-making: it is absolutely about attraction and connection. A buyer can spot a home that has been meticulously cared for, or one that was a bit neglected (intentionally or not), and a buyer will not pursue a home if they are not attracted to it. So when helping sellers my job is to help them groom their home to be as irresistible as possible within their budget, have a definitive voice, and detailed disclosures with the utmost transparency to give a buyer clarity, which are all needed in our marketplace. If a property is a fixer, let's still showcase it in its best light, share the assets and potential, and price it to attract buyers who are craving a project. Think of real estate websites like online dating apps, presentation and first impressions matter!

Starting mid-August through September, we will likely see a surge in inventory as the fall selling season is historically the second strongest selling season of the year. This week, I am bringing on 1225 Ward Street in Berkeley, a home that I had the privilege of helping my clients purchase, witness their transformation of the home and help prepare it for the market. This property feels really good with an enormous amount of natural light, an open kitchen, living and dining rooms. What makes this property extra special is that the owners gutted the house to the studs – it has new electrical and plumbing and approximately half the foundation was replaced! I will be hosting a Saturday open from 2-4 pm and Nicole will be hosting a Sunday open from 2-4 pm.

1225 Ward Street, Berkeley

If you are thinking about selling your property and do not know where to start, don't worry, I have helped hundreds of clients prepare and sell their homes, ranging from the most pristine properties to uninhabitable fixers. I will always lead from the heart with honesty, integrity and the best marketing. I hope you enjoy the last weeks of summer, eat some delicious corn, stone fruit and tomatoes and as always, I am an email or phone call away and no question is too small.

July 2024: Three Important Questions for Buyers

Happy July!

I'm currently working with a buyer who purchased a property last year with a different Realtor, regretted the purchase, sold the house after owning it for less than 9 months, and is now looking for a property that better suits his needs and lifestyle. With so many things in life, you often do not know the value of working with an expert unless things go really well or really poorly. As part of my practice, I always approach each potential property that a client is interested in independently, looking at the natural light, indoor-outdoor flow, the condition of the home and the workmanship of any improvements made - while I am not a property inspector, I have attended thousands of inspections and I know what to look for and when to ask questions. I send my clients the disclosures and reports that the sellers have prepared, and once they are strongly considering an offer, I pour over the disclosures as well so we can have a deep discussion on property condition, the needed repairs, value, and much more. 

There are 3 important questions that I ask buyers as we are fact gathering, and they are considering an offer:

• Will this house fit your needs for the next 7-10 years? In my experience a buyer should aim to hold on to a property long term. With the closing costs associated with buying and selling, a buyer will have to sell for 10% more than they paid to break even. Additionally real estate markets rise and fall and you have the best chances of selling with appreciation, the longer you own a home. I may ask questions - such as will there be any life changes in the upcoming years, and if so, will this home be suitable?

• Do you understand the property condition? The majority of the East Bay's housing stock is derived of older homes and almost every home has repair recommendations or some older systems, even the ones that are meticulously cared for. On average most homes, yes, even the pretty ones, need approximately $35K+ of repairs, plus when you are a homeowner you should anticipate maintenance costs.

• Will you be excited if your offer is accepted? I always ask my clients, if you write an offer and it is accepted, will you be happy, or will you ask yourself, what did I do? Once you buy a house, you own it and it is important that you understand what you purchased, feel great about the property, neighborhood, the needed maintenance and upkeep. Additionally, if a property has challenges, it is important that you are aware of those challenges before you buy, especially if they will affect future resale value. 

There is a great deal of information out there on real estate websites, various blogs, news outlets and more about the real estate market, but often that information encompasses a broad overview, it's not property or neighborhood specific, and the information may be inadequate in order for someone to confidently make such a large purchase. Unfortunately, I have met with buyers, (who I did not help with a purchase) who felt like they did not get all of the information they needed when they purchased a property and later have regrets.  

Going back to my client who I am helping purchase a property who had a bad real estate experience, he is looking at a home in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland. The house is a 2-bedroom property and he wants to better understand values so we are reviewing comparable sold data, also known as comps. Since January, there have only been three 2-bedroom homes with garages that have sold within a 1/2 mile radius, and the prices range from $1,160,000 to $1,580,000. So to better help him, I am comparing and contrasting those 3 sales, breaking down the reasons why each property sold for the price it sold, and comparing them to the property in question. I also had charts created from the multiple listing service (MLS) to illustrate how the neighborhood has performed over the last 3 years so my buyer can see not only today's data, but the longer term trends for the area.

Here are 2 of the charts that I sent him.

In any market, especially one as complex as the East Bay, it is very important to work with a Realtor who understands this local market, tours homes regularly, can compare and contrast the comps, and who gives you the insight needed so you can make the best decision for yourself. While I can legally sell a home anywhere in California, I only service areas that I am an expert in and suggest that all buyers work with an area expert. You will feel so much more confident buying a home with support, data, insight and knowledge, knowing that you've made the right choice.

If you, a friend or colleague is considering a purchase in the East Bay, reach out to me. I am here to help without pressure, and I will always tell my clients the information they may not want to hear, but need to!

Have a great second half of your summer!

June 2024: Growing up in Oakland and Property Transformation: Before & After

The sounds and scents of this time of year often remind me of my teenage years. When I hear the birds chirping before the sun rises and smell the late spring air, I remember being in high school, knowing the end of the school year was near, itching for summer break. There is something special about living in the same community you were raised in, where there are constant reminders of memories of those sweet times. Driving down Redwood Road, I remember being in high school when Sparky's Burgers first opened in Lincoln Square – I heard they had the best milkshakes! I recall driving a black 1980s VW rabbit pick-up truck that my parents allowed me to take to school and making a pitstop for a chocolate shake and onion rings. When I am in the Dimond District, I remember the corner of Fruitvale and MacArthur was my transfer spot to take the bus home from Skyline High School, back when Dimond Slice was a McDonald's. I would buy 2 cheeseburgers for 39¢ each and eat them before I got home, as my 100% organic and no-processed food mom would never allow fast food in the house. When walking Lake Merritt, I remember the summer of 1988 going to the Festival at the Lake – a place to see and be seen. Oakland, I love you, you are my forever home. 

As we head into summer, I am grateful to be a part of our community for so many years! Being able to help people purchase and sell little pieces of our beloved East Bay is an honor I will never take for granted. If you own a home and it is time to make a move, I will work with you to help your home show its best within a budget. Here is a link to some of my before and after projects where I helped my clients earn the highest possible price for their homes. Listing preparation management is just one of the many services I provide to all of my seller clients. 

As the real estate market is becoming more complex, please know that I am here to answer your questions, no matter how small. 

Happy summer y'all!

May 2024: Are we entering a balanced real estate market?

Remember that online real estate website feature "Make Me Move"? A seller would claim their home on this site and often name an absurdly high price that they would be willing to sell for. Fast forward and gone are the days when everything and anything sells, and a seller can name their price. While there are buyers out there, they are not buying a property they are not compelled to purchase. It has to feel right and make sense. Sure there are homes with multiple offers selling for well over the asking price, but it is property-specific. These are homes that are all buttoned up, have an amazing layout or view, reside in a highly coveted area, or all of the above. If your house does not have all of the above, if you make it cute, and price it according to your home's condition and the most RECENT comps in the area, it will sell. The reality is that with higher interest rates, inflation, and insurance challenges, buyers are – rightfully so – more discerning. I am encouraging both buyers and sellers to review comparable sold data from, ideally, a 3-month or less timeframe as going back 6 months is often unreliable at this point.

The market is not as soft as buyers would like, and many (not all) sellers are getting less than they would have a few short years ago. What I am seeing is a more balanced market. 

It is important to work with a Realtor that tours a lot of homes so they understand the subtle nuisances that give a property its value. Often price-per-square foot is not the best barometer to value a home, just as online tools often get values wrong – their formulas bundle properties together, instead of examining properties individually. The wrong agent could be pricing a seller’s property poorly, missing the mark to attract the maximum interest or could be suggesting pre-marketing expenses that would not produce a return on investment, and more. If a buyer is working with an agent that doesn’t  know the market, they could be spinning their wheels looking and offering on homes they have no chance in winning due to East Bay pricing strategy, or overpaying for a home that has challenges that are not obvious. 

This, my friends, is a time for opportunity and caution, for both buyers and sellers. I welcome the change and am ready to stay up to date on our market's dynamics. 

Wishing you a happy end of spring! Congratulations to all of the graduates out there! ❤️ 

April 2024: Real Estate Market Update

Happy April,

While I am not a fan of falling back or springing forward, there is something quite magical about the winter-to-spring transition in which it feels like almost overnight deciduous trees, shrubs, and flowers start to explode with leaves and blooms. Waking up to birds chirping is a nice way to greet the day. 

Though the real estate market is still seeing multiple offers, when I pull together comparable sold data for sellers who are considering selling and buyers who are house hunting I am noticing that sale prices can range greatly. Some houses are selling well over the asking price - getting 2-10 offers - while others are lingering on the market and selling for less than the original asking price. I have clients who just got pre-approved for a mortgage and qualify for a $2M purchase and after a 20% downpayment, they will have a $14K per month mortgage. They want to live in the East Bay and are very realistic, but the house and its condition have to make sense and be worth the cost. I mention this to say that a house has to be worth it for a buyer, whether it is a great house, layout, and upgrades, or a stellar location with great potential. Gone are the days in which a seller could do virtually nothing to maintain or upgrade their home and still have buyers respond with bags of cash. Our current market is one in which more preparation, consideration, and thoughtfulness are a required part of the process for both buyers and sellers. Buyers are less likely to wildly pay over what neighboring houses have recently sold for. If you are considering selling, be sure to ask your agent for a list of recently sold homes that are similar in size and see what those homes are selling for. How does your home compare to the recently sold homes? The big question: are you willing to sell your home for a price in that price range? If a house is exceptional, then perhaps that house will sell for more than all of the recently sold homes in its neighborhood, but this market is more balanced and less seller-centric.

Earlier this month KTVU News invited me back on air to weigh in on the real estate market. Click here to view the full segment. Remember when I am talking, I am often talking very broadly so if you have specific questions or want to know what your home is worth, give me a call or send me an email, I am here to help and provide expert advice and insight.

Thanks for calling on me, I love being your Realtor!

P.S.  4546 Toyon will be open this Sunday from 2-4 pm and it is a dreamy mid-century ranch! 

OPEN THIS SUNDAY, 2-4PM!

March 2024: The Value of a Good Buyers Agent

The media is talking a great deal about a recent legal settlement in the real estate industry. Last week the National Association of Realtors entered into a settlement agreement in the Sitzer-Burnett case, agreeing to pay a $418 million fine. This lawsuit will give the seller the right to decline to pay the buyer's agent commission, asking for the buyer to pay for their agent. Sellers in our region will likely continue to pay a total commission – there are many reasons that I support this structure and I will post about this in the near future. 

When reading various articles and the comment sections it has become clear that some consumers do not understand what buyer's agents do for their clients, especially in our niche market. Buyer-broker agreements will become mandatory soon so I thought I would share a few of the many ways I provide my clients with the highest level of agency. Every real estate market is different, but in our East Bay region, buyer agency and competency are crucial due to the complexity of our marketplace, older housing stock, high ticket repairs items, low inventory, and multiple offers. Accountability is an important principle in my practice so I want to be transparent about the process. If you have specific questions do not hesitate to email me, text, or call me.

I am here to be of service!

February 2024: The Spring Market & Buyer Tidbits

Happy February!

This is a long one as I want to share a great deal of information with you. While we are still technically in the middle of winter, the spring market has begun in the inner East Bay! Yep, we start early here! In January, I brought 3280 Guido Street onto the market, and 6 offers were received. The first week of February, I brought 8033 Earl Street to the market and 8 offers were received. I also tracked a few properties that clients had some interest in:

• A house in Albany, (sweet, but you could see and hear the BART tracks and noise) was listed at $1.1M and is pending at $1.4M

• A house in Sequoyah Hills, Oakland was listed at $995,000 and is pending at $1.3M

• A house in the Glenview, Oakland area was listed at $1,095,000 and is pending more than 60% over the asking price

• A house on the Oakmore/Dimond border was listed at $895,000 and is pending more than 50% over the asking price

At the same time, homes that do not show well, are overpriced, or have big challenges that can not be cured, (strong highway noise, next to an apartment building, on a noisy street, or properties that are dark with odd layouts), are not doing as well. Buyers are discerning as they should be, but are willing to pay to land the house they want. 

A few tidbits for buyers: 

In the inner East Bay, keep in mind that most of the homes for sale tend to be priced under value strategically to help generate as much interest as possible. Sellers, understandably, want to get top dollar for their properties, (just as you will, if and when you sell) and data shows that this type of pricing strategy works. Ultimately a buyer will set the value with what they are willing to pay. This is why buyer agency is important. An experienced buyer's agent can help weed out the properties that you can't afford and help you with properties you can. A good buyer's agent can help you understand the disclosure reports, look for pitfalls, and share insights on how various Realtors, houses, and neighborhoods perform. While I hate telling my buyer clients that a property will go over their budget, it would be far worse to write offer after offer with no luck and not understand why. 

One of the houses that I mentioned above was listed for over $200K less than the seller paid for the house 6 years ago and the seller did work on the house to improve it. So the listing price was not only priced lower than its value but well under a price that the sellers could accept without taking a major loss. Many years ago, I had buyers come to me after 6 months of searching for a home in the Glenview neighborhood in Oakland. Their budget was $750K and they felt defeated after losing every house they wrote on with their previous agent. They called me because they felt they needed a new agent who was more attuned to the market and would better help them. During our initial meeting, I shared with them that nothing in Glenview had sold for less than $800K for that past year, market data that had not been shared with them. While it is sometimes hard to hear, the truth is necessary. This takes me to another concept, many first-time buyers are looking for a forever home, I get it. But if you can not afford what you want, and are not willing to look at alternative locations that are more affordable, perhaps you should consider a smaller property that could help you build equity and later move up. There are many alternatives a knowledgeable agent will offer. 

Another consideration, 2023 was a fickle year with low-quality inventory so some of the recently sold homes in the area are not good comparables to use to figure out what to offer. For example, there was a home that sold in the Glenview neighborhood last year. It sold off the market as the seller decided to sell the property to a family friend. The seller's Realtor put the house in the MLS when the deal closed for "comp" purposes, but it was not a good comparison. First of all, if the house sold off-market, we have no idea where the house would have landed price-wise if it were on the open market with competition. We do not know if the seller accepted a reduced price due to a relationship and it turns out that the house needs a great deal of work, including foundation replacement, a new roof, electrical, updating, and more. Additionally, the buyer agreed to empty the remaining belongings and debris as part of the deal and the buyer was a Realtor, so she did not take a commission. I learned this when I had a client interested in buying in Glenview and was looking at sold values that were lower than the neighborhood typically commands and analyzing comparable sold data is what a good buyer's agent does. 

Buyer agreements have been around for years, but I have never used them. I have always had verbal agreements with buyer clients and those have worked great, but recent changes in the industry are making signed agreements necessary. Previously, buyer’s agents were paid by the seller: the seller pays the seller’s agent and the seller’s agent shares their commission with the buyer’s agent, as specified in the MLS per the listing agreement. While this is still a common practice, because of recent litigation and a change in MLS rules, sellers now can decline to pay buyer’s agents. So going forward, the seller will pay the buyer’s agent or the buyer will pay their agent. So far I have not yet seen a seller refuse to pay a buyer's agent a commission. If the seller does not offer sufficient compensation to the buyer’s agent, the Buyer Representation and Broker Agreement, (BRBC) you signed allows for various options:

• If the seller’s agent offers no compensation to buyer’s agents or offers less than what your agent wishes to be paid, in your purchase offer you can ask the seller to pay the amount you would owe your agent and, if the seller agrees, it will be credited to the amount that you owe your buyer’s agent in the BRBC.

• If the seller refuses your request to compensate your agent, and you do not wish to pay your agent’s commission or lack sufficient funds to do so, you can decline to purchase that property.

• In the second scenario it may be possible to negotiate a compromise with the seller to make the transaction work for you.

• In any event, if you request through the purchase agreement that the seller compensate your agent and the seller refuses to pay the amount requested you are not obligated to purchase the property.

• Again, at this time I am not seeing sellers not offer to pay for buyer’s agent commission, but we have to be prepared if things change. 

As always, I am an email and phone call away and I am keeping a close watch on our market!

Warmly,

P.S. Last  month I was recognized by Red Oak as being the top producing agent in the brokerage for 2023. Thank you for your continued trust and support in my business. Also a huge thanks to Nicole who works alongside me. We are here to help! 

January 2024: The 2023 East Bay real estate market review and what might we look forward to?

Happy January! 

I'm pretty excited this January. For the last 4 months I have done some major purging and reorganizing at my home, so I am starting the year off fresh and free of clutter.

The feeling is great, but it was a lot of work, so this year my goal is to stay organized, and only buy what I need or love. This sounds simple, but I am one of those people who will go to the grocery store and peruse each aisle and try something new, so I know restraint will be the word of the year. 

Have a garden? Now is the time to prune back rose bushes and hydrangeas, allowing them to rest, which can stimulate new growth. Pruning has also been known to increase the size of the flowers. I like to spray my shrubs with neem oil, a natural way to reduce pests in your plants. 

Looking for a real estate market update? For the last few years, KTVU2 has invited me on air to give an update and provide insight into our local real estate market. I was honored to provide my 2024 update the first week of January - here's the link to the full segment!

Online registration for Earthquake Brace + Bolt is now open and it will remain open through February 21, 2024. 

• Qualified homes can receive up to $3,000 toward seismic retrofitting

• New this year - there is an additional supplemental grant for income-eligible homeowners that may pay up to 100%

• Here is the LINK where homeowners can go to see if they are qualified

Come visit me this Sunday at 3280 Guido Street in the Redwood Heights neighborhood of Oakland. I will be hosting the first Sunday open from 2-4 pm.

As always, I am only an email or phone call away to provide you with personalized real estate insight and help. Thanks for trusting me with all of your real estate needs!

Here's to a happy, healthy, and fruitful 2024!
Warmly,