East Bay Real Estate with Mary Smartt

I just returned from Buffini & Company's two-day Turning Point real estate seminar in Sacramento, and wanted to share some of the statistics and information on the real estate market that Brian discussed.  I always get so much out of these seminars, and love to share the information.Newspapers an...

Four major East Bay cities--Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville and Richmond--have announced that they will work together to create what they call the "Green Corridor," a business region comparable to the Silicon Valley that will focus on Green technologies and solutions. This is a terrific commitment ...

Every town has obscure laws that can be confusing, and one to be aware of in Berkeley is the "Golden Duplex" rule. If you are buying a duplex with tenants in Berkeley, or if you are a tenant in a duplex that is being sold, it would be wise to find out if your duplex qualifies as a "golden duplex....

So, you have sold your house and bought another one. You thought that was challenging, but now comes the hard part--actually moving all of your stuff from one home to another. Whether you are moving across town or across the country, moving has the potential to be one of the most stressful events...

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog entry on the basics of the foreclosure process. With so much in the media about foreclosures almost every day, people have a lot of questions about foreclosures and how they work.In addition to sharing this information, I would also like to help put an end to the r...

If you live in the East Bay and live for fresh locally-grown produce, then you are in luck. There are more Farmer's Markets in our region than you could ever believe. You can get fresh lettuces and peppers and berries and oranges and almost anything your heart desires at a local Farmer's Market e...

Do you consult your buyers on how to make their new homes as safe as possible?Oh, it is so exciting to move into your new home. So much new space to explore and discover. Buying and arranging new furniture and decor. Having your friends and family over to see the new home. But, before you get too...

Join Me and Lawton Associates in supporting the annual Toys for Tots drive to help gather toys this holiday season for underprivileged boys and girls. Just bring an unwrapped toy (or 2 or 3 toys!) to the Lawton Associates office in Rockridge, and then join us for holiday treats. We will be accept...

Everyone keeps saying that it is a buyer's market. And, it sure looks like one. There is a lot of inventory on the market, sellers are dropping their prices, and good loans are still available. Well, someone better tell the buyers that it is a buyer's market, because a lot of them are still holdi...

As the market continues to correct itself after these turbulent months, most houses are taking longer to sell. It is a good time to remember that in most cases, it is the market, not the marketing.Many sellers are still in denial that their house won't cause a bidding war. They still think that t...