Aiming to be your top Bay Area Realtor In my quest for success as a Realtor and in life, I find it very important to be learning based.  In this business, one must keep up with market trends, be creative with marketing and consistently be learning in order to provide the best service and consultation to our clients.  We must also do these things to be a top producing Realtor, because without up to date knowledge and without staying current, you will be behind those that are doing everything they can to be top level.  I was so excited today when I attended a new coaching group lead by Real Estate veteran Eric Orland.  It’s really amazing how the universe works.  I’ve just started really latching on to the belief that if you want something, you must put it out there (and work hard, of cou... 08/04/2014

Condos for Sale in Albany, CA 94706 Condos in Albany, CA provide the luxury of living in this great community with a top rated school system for a reasonable price.  The majority of condos for sale in Albany are located on Pierce Street at 555 Pierce Street or 535 Pierce Street.  Located right off the highway, these condos provide views of the San Francisco Bay or the Albany Hills.  Albany Condos on Pierce Street range from 1 bedroom condos to 3 bedroom condos.  The home prices for Albany condos on Pierce Street typically range from $200,000 - $500,000 depending on size, condition and level.  The average sales price for these condos in 2014 is $387,754 with average days on market being 27. While the inventory is very low, every now and then there are several other locations that have co... 08/01/2014

Memorial Park Albany, CA Real Estate Information The Memorial Park neighborhood is located on the north eastern side of Albany providing a beautiful neighborhood with close access to all kinds of recreation, restaurants and shopping.  The heart of memorial park is the park itself which is located right next to Albany High School.  The park consists of grassy open space as well as picnic tables providing whatever kind of space you’re looking for to picnic, hang out and enjoy the outdoors.  In addition to the open space there is a playground, tennis courts, a veteran’s memorial building and more.  Memorial Park hosts many community events throughout the year including a 4th of July celebration and music and film festivities. Homes for sale in Albany, CA surrounding memorial park were most... 07/29/2014

The time has come, you’ve listed your home for sale and you received multiple offers.  YAY!  After reviewing the offers and going over all the data/options with your local real estate agent, you’ve accepted an offer and you’re in escrow.  Most likely the contract will contain 3 contingencies including an appraisal contingency, a loan contingency and an investigation contingency.  There are several things that can happen that will affect each contingency, in this blog, I’ll review the options that the buyer and seller have if the appraisal comes in low.   The basics An appraisal is ordered by the buyer’s lender.  Basically, the appraiser usually reviews recent sold properties that are in the same area as your home and after looking at your home and noting the condition, improvements and ... 07/28/2014

Local Events in Albany, Berkeley and San Francisco Have you ever looked at the events calendar and realized you’re just a day or two too late for something you really would have enjoyed?!  Happens to me all the time:/  I hope that by sharing upcoming event with you will keep this from happening in the futureJ   TONIGHT June 25th– “Banjo for Dummies” author Bill Evans will grace the Albany Community Center for a family friendly concert.  With an amazing 8 banjo’s, Bill will perform music samples from the 1700’s to present day.  Bill has performed with the San Francisco Symphony and on the great A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor (this brings back childhood memories).  Tickets will be $10.  Call 510-528-5710 for more information.  July 25th – July 27th – YMTC presents Rodgers ... 07/25/2014

Who can actually close a 203k loan fast in SF Bay Area? There are lots of lenders who profess to be able to close a renovation loan quickly and then there are those who actually do close them quickly. But remember it isn't all on their shoulders, your client or the client must take an active role in getting their financial data to the lender promptly. The clock starts ticking once that info reaches the lender.  It is all about the team you put together when it comes to closing loans fast or faster than the competition. What is the average number of days that you close a renovation loan would be a fair question for your loan officer. In the bay area right now I have to put my vote in the box for Tim Floyd who is a renovation loan manager at Prospect Mortgage out of their Concord CA offic... 07/16/2014

After a long, busy day at the office, I arrived home to my boyfriend and his daughter in a very hungry mood around 6 PM.  I hadn’t planned anything for dinner, and there wasn’t anything magically awaiting me on the table so we decided to head out and try a newer place on San Pablo Avenue called 938 Crawfish.  I’ve been to Rockin’ Crawfish in Oakland so I pretty much knew what to expect but he had never tried anything like it and his 8 year old daughter was already protesting even though she had no idea what was there. YUMMMMYYY!  We go there right before the 4-6:30 happy hour ended so we quickly ordered a half dozen oysters for $1 each and an order of calamari for $5.50.  The oysters were from Washington and tasted fresh and delicious and the calamari was awesome!  It had a very crunchy... 07/14/2014

Sometimes it is confusing to me that a contractor calls himself a contractor then installs the roofing material so water goes under the roofing materials on the way to the outside edge. Oh, and want a payment for the roof... NOT  They peeled back the bottom two layers at the first half course of shingles so it fit the gutter better, maybe. LOL Then again maybe they did it to disguise the fact there were already two or three layers of roofing when they added this last layer.     This is a good reason to have a draw inspector and not just pay for the work with a contractor invoice saying it is complete.  This roof might not leak for a couple of years but when it does no one will know it till it starts rotting out. We need to be able to say it was installed in a "professional and workmanli... 07/12/2014

VA Mortgage Loans in Albany CA and 100% financing on VA Loans - the best loan program and loan payment in the country! Designed for both active duty military and honorable discharged Veterans, VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today. Here are some of the highlights of this incredible program: - Zero Down Payment, 100% financing. - No monthly mortgage insurance. - Compared to other types of mortgage loans, easier credit-qualifying requirements. - Low fixed mortgage rates result in a low monthly payment. Here's how to qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Albany CA: You must first verify your eligibility. You can verify eligibility by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. A Albany CA VA loan lender can order your COE quickly for you, or you can ... 07/11/2014

Albany, CA Schools Are you interested in real estate in Albany, CA?  Whether you want to buy a home in Albany or sell a home in Albany, it’s important to know the community you’re involved in, starting with the schools.  Schools have a tremendous effect on real estate values and the fantastic school ratings have made a significant impact on home prices in Albany, CA.  The Albany City Unified School District has a rating of 9 out of 10 by the reputable source greatschools.com.    Elementary Schools in Albany, CA There are 3 elementary schools in Albany, CA.  The placement for your child is not based on address since Albany is only one square mile.   Parents may request a school site through the open enrollment/ preference process but there is no guarantee of placement at your school of c... 07/10/2014

Why should I choose an FHA 203k loan? Lots of good reasons to choose from: your credit may not be stellar Not a problem FHA has the easiest loans for a borrower to qualify Even not to distant bankruptcy can be overcome your new home needs allot of work and you can't otherwise get a lender to make a loan Most lenders won't make a loan on a home that has health and safety issues you would like to be sure your home gets repairs it needs as your spouse hasn't been good at fixing things as they might like to think they were as known from past experience a contractor completes the work in a professional and workmanlike manner the contractor has a timeline they should adhere to you are the boss, the contractor works at your discretion and under YOUR supervision the home has been sitting vacant... 07/07/2014

Open House in Albany CA Sunday Come by for this Open House in Albany CA Sunday, June 29 from 1-4 PM hosted by Keller Williams Realty. Address: 555 Pierce Street #425 Albany, CA 94706 Move in ready Albany CA Condo for $320,000 For a low price you can still live in the highly rated Albany School district!  This condo has new carpets and fresh paint with a serene view of the Albany hills from your balcony.  Enjoy the exclusive benefits of a pool, spa, and tennis courts.  This 2 bedroom 2 bathroom Albany CA condo is in a building with 24 hour security. This is one of only 2 Albany CA condos for sale in the building! To schedule a private viewing call 510.387.3100 or email I aim to be your Top Albany CA Real Estate agent by working diligently, communicating efficiently and creating a win win... 06/27/2014

Home Prices in Albany California for June 2014 Real Estate Market data for Albany, CA Provided by Maya Willner of Keller Williams Realty East Bay Albany California Home Prices Listing prices in Albany California have stayed with the common seasonal trend since the beginning of the year hitting their lowest during the winter months and having a gradual rise throughout spring and into summer.  Right now listing prices are close to where they were at this time last year, while May saw an unusual high spike in price, most likely due to the lack of inventory.  The good news for those seeking to buy a home in Albany California is because of the limited inventory in general in Albany, there will always be a high demand for homes ensuring that as long as the home is within your budget, you’re m... 06/23/2014

That is a good question. You can go to the HUD website and find one or you can go to Yadzooks website and find one, or you can contact us and we'll line you up with one. The problem is going to be the same in both cases. The question you should be asking is "how do I find a good FHA 203k consultant?" They are not all the same just like all Realtor's are not the same. I see some that go way overboard to provide a quality service for their clients and others that do the bare minimum and they draw the same fee. So please don't just look for a consultant, find a good one. The biggest difference is going to be in the service they provide to the client. We all work off the 1994 HUD guideline for the most part at least as far as it goes. No one in his right mind would charge less than the fees... 06/21/2014

This weekend’s open houses in Albany, CA 94706 There will be 7 open houses in Albany, CA this weekend.  Below is a summary of the homes for sale in Albany, CA that are holding open houses.  If you’d like a private tour of a home for sale in Albany, CA, call or email local Albany real estate agent Maya Willner of Keller Williams Realty East Bay 510-387-3100 agentmaya@gmail.com   Saturday June 21, 2014   MLS #40662282 1066 CURTIS ST ALBANY, CA (click on the link for pictures) List Price: $879,000 745 sf  - 1 bed 1 bath Days on Market: 10 Offer deadline: July 1, 2014 Albany, CA open house Saturday, June 21, 2 – 5 PM   Sunday June 22, 2014   MLS #40661345 1225 WASHINGTON AVE ALBANY, CA List Price: $678,000 1358 sf - 3 beds 3 baths Days on Market: 9 Offer deadline: June 25, 2014 Albany, CA o... 06/20/2014

Yup, I did it!  To be honest, right now, I probably can’t run half a mile without stopping, but what the heck.  I recently signed up for the Marin Monster 10k run!  This means I’ll be attempting to run 6.2 miles.  Not only is that a little crazy, but the first 2 miles is all uphill and half of that is UP uphill, I’m talking, you can’t see a few blocks ahead of you because it’s so steep!   The run is the first ever 10k in Albany, CA.  The race will start at the Albany Community Center and heads straight up Marin Avenue alllll the day to Grizzly Peak before looping down Spruce and Los Angeles and (at some point, hopefully still on my feet) making it back to the Albany Community Center for a parrrtyyy!  As nervous as I am, I’m very excited to have this goal to work towards.  I’m also equal... 06/18/2014

To understand who sees it one must first understand what it is...  Feasibility Analysis - This is a "quick look" at the deficiencies in a 1-4 unit building or in a building that will become a 1-4 unit building. I never take more than 30 minutes to look at a single family unit as there just isn't enough money in a feasibility report to warrant more time. The idea is to find the deficiencies and explain enough about the issues but not so much as it become a "scope of work" report. Who sees the "Feasibility Analysis" report? Seller can hire us - in this case they might actually display the report inside the listing along with their sales brochures. This lets everyone know that the seller is fully aware of the issues that surround the home and what is more important they are aware of the co... 05/17/2014

VA Mortgage Loans in Albany CA and 100% financing on VA Loans - the best loan program and loan payment in the country! VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today for active duty and honorably discharged Veterans. Here are some of the main features of this great program: - Zero Down Payment, 100% financing. - Monthly mortgage insurance is not tacked on to your payment. - Compared to other types of mortgage loans, easier credit-qualifying requirements. - Low fixed mortgage rates result in a low monthly payment. How do you know if you qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Albany CA?   First of all, you must verify your eligibility. You can verify eligibility by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. You can work with an approved Albany CA VA mortgage... 04/28/2014

This last week was riddled with questions of "can I do this with an FHA 203k?" 1) I have a house on a lot zoned for a triplex and large enough for a triplex. Can I build two more units on this lot using the 203k? Yes, you can.  2) I have a single family home on a lot zoned for a duplex. Can I add a second unit on top of the first or existing unit? Yes, it is possible. The foundation may not be able to support the weight so, if not, it may be better to lift the existing home and install the second unit on the bottom as you replace the foundation. But to answer your question, yes, it is possible. 3) I found a wonderful property in the Los Gatos hills area but all that is left on the lot is the original foundation. Can I build a home on that foundation? Yes, you likely can. We would have t... 03/01/2014

I love to find the worst house on the block when the block is bringing in sales prices fixed up at twice the value. I may buy this one myself. Contractor's special they quite often say but with the FHA 203k and the FNMA HomeStyle Renovation loans it is buyer's dream home too. Yes it needs work but that is exactly what we do. Problem 1 is that these loans only go to $625,500 at this time, in Hawaii they go to $771,000 but this one is in San Francisco. If the value is $1,500,000 after improved why would you want such a low loan amount? Likely you don't need a loan at all, you can just buy it and fix it up but I have found that people with money typically know how to leverage their money.  Why not put a loan of $625,500 at these low interest rates and put your other money to work as you ca... 02/23/2014