Why Oakland is one of the best places to visit? AWESOME ART SCENE! One thing that's common to most people is the appreciation of a beautiful piece of art. Oakland has a thriving arts scene, which includes both homegrown talent and national and international performers who appear in different areas around town.  According to an article from Travel Zoo: Oakland claims the highest per capita rate of artists in the U.S., or—depending on whom you ask—the second highest. Please don't forget to visit these awesome places in Oakland for a total art experience: The Crucible - this art school and event space is home to blacksmiths, welders, woodworkers, glassblowers and ceramicists, among the other craftspeople you'll meet if you tour the 56,000-square-foot space on the first Tuesday or third Sat... 03/19/2019

Getting Preapproved now vs. Getting Preapproved later  As i was sitting with a lender last week, we discussed a few things about the Government shutdown. Because of this, a 30 year fixed is 4% rate,  zero points with a 780 credit score on a 1 million dollar purchase and 20% down. Not bad!  According to an article from CNBC: "Mortgage applications plummet nearly 10% to end 2018, despite lower ratesTotal mortgage application volume dropped 9.8 percent at the end of last week from two weeks earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.Volume was 21 percent lower than a year ago and the lowest level in 18 years.The numbers are surprising, given that homebuyers and homeowners looking to refinance could have taken advantage of lower interest rates."  If you think you are ready to pu... 03/18/2019

Do you prefer to D-I-Y? Or Hire a Professional?  As a first time home buyer, you might tell yourself, "Wow, I just bought my first home! And it needs a lot of work!" Have you thought of renovating the house yourself? Or do you find yourself looking for the right person to do the job? DIY Projects always make you incharge of everything - the cost, the timing, the materials, etc. Most of us were thinking, why pay someone when we can do the work ourselves? Make certain to ask yourself if this is time well spent. If it is a project you have never done before and are weary of your skills, ask a knowledgeable friend to help you. You will learn a lot faster and make fewer mistakes.  If after doing some research you realize it isn’t a project you want to take on, you can find a number of vendor... 03/17/2019

Recent home price drop across SF and East Bay  Just recently, we are seeing more price reductions and homes aren’t selling quite as quickly or for as much money as they did a few months before. https://elisauribe.goldengatesir.com/eng/market-report According to an article from SF Curb: "A few days after sources like the data firm Core Logic and the California Association of Realtors reported that home sales dropped across all nine Bay Area counties year over year for nearly half of 2018, new data from the listing aggregate site Realtor suggests that the actual price of a home is on a downward trajectory as well. Released Thursday morning, figures from 500 U.S. cities include stats for San Francisco showing that the price of an SF home—both houses and condos—dropped 4.31 percent since th... 03/16/2019

Hippest Shops to visit in Oakland If you plan on visiting Oakland one of these days, make sure to stop by these areas which have grown in hype to the point of becoming the Bay Area’s new capital of cool — especially when it comes to shopping. From Rockridge, Temescal, Piedmont, Grand Lake, Downtown, and Old Oakland — should be added to your East Bay must-visit list.  HAWTHORN IS A WOMEN'S BOUTIQUE LOCATED IN THE HEART OF ROCKRIDGE OAKLAND.5854 College AvenueOakland, CA 94618 Phone: 510.594.8380Fax: (please call first)Wednesday 11- 530Thursday 11- 530Friday 11- 530Saturday 11- 530Sunday 11- 5Monday & Tuesday by Appointment ~ please email info@hawthornboutique.comALI GOLDEN IS A CLOTHING LINE + RETAIL SHOP. The flagship Oakland store shares Temescal Alley with some of the cities great sma... 03/15/2019

Your next Home Improvement Project  Some fixes are best left to the pros, but others are easy to tackle successfully on your own. All it takes is the time, proper tools, and the right attitude. 1. Change your doorknobs - New doorknobs will give a new look to your home's doors. You can swap them for new and inexpensive ones.  2. Makeover your fridge - It's time to get a cleaner, healthier and more organized fridge. Arrange your food as if it's going to be in a magazine.  3. Learn to DIY some simple decorating projects for inspiration. - Show off the artist in you! Be creative and create a unique home accent that you can Do-It-Yourself! One example is a DIY wine rack (made out of Plumber's PVC Pipes and basic shelving from the local hardware) Check out Cole Hardware   4. Paint over your d... 03/13/2019

Why Oakland is one of the best places to visit in 2019?THE RESTAURANTS Oakland is truly a foodie heaven. If you happen to be in Oakland and is on the hunt for the best food, go and head on out towards all the best restaurants in town located at the best spots: Old Oakland in downtown Oakland’s historic district; Temescal in the city’s hipster hangout; Grand Lake on the northeast corner of Lake Merritt; and Jack London Square on the waterfront.  Try local favorites from Nyum Bai, the pop-up-turned-brick-and-mortar purveyor of regional Khmer cuisine to Commis, a Michelin-starred outpost of New American amazingness.     The bay area continues to be a popular place to call home.  If you are ready to search for your next property, or are looking for your home value, visit: www.searchalleastb... 03/12/2019

Monthly Market Activity for Single Family Homes in Oakland(includes Piedmont and Emeryville) The Median Sale Price for homes in Oakland during February was $760,000 with thehighest number of units sold in the $400K - $499K price range. The Bay Area continues to be a popular place to call home. If you are ready to search for your next property, or are looking for your home value, visit: www.searchalleastbayhomes.comYou can also call me on my cell at 510-919-5741 for a more personal conversation.I would love the opportunity to earn your business. 03/09/2019

Things to do in Oakland March 6, 13, 20, 27   Wednesday Night Trivia at SeawolfExercise those brain muscles! Challenge your friends to a night of trivia while enjoying your Wednesday nights with good food and overflowing beer!  Event InfoRecurrence: Recurring weekly on WednesdayLocation: Seawolf Public House Address: 402 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94607Time: 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM  The bay area continues to be a popular place to call home.If you are ready to search for your next property, or are looking for your home value, visit: www.searchalleastbayhomes.comClick here for the monthly market reports! 03/05/2019

Things to do in Oakland March 10,17,24,31 Jack London Square Farmer's MarketExperience the best of California's agricultural bounty direct from the farmer to you. Fresh fruits, vegetables, greens, nuts, baked goodies, pastries, local delicious specialty foods, fresh flowers and much more!  Event Details:Recurring weekly on SundayLocation: Jack London SquareAddress: Broadway and Embarcadero, Oakland, CA 94607Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM    The bay area continues to be a popular place to call home.If you are ready to search for your next property, or are looking for your home value, visit: www.searchalleastbayhomes.comClick here for the monthly market reports! 03/04/2019

Things to do in Oakland - March 8, 15, 22, 29 Happy Hour Cruise of the BayIf you are planning to lay low, relax, unwind or if you just simply want to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city, HAPPY HOUR gives you the opportunity to END YOUR week a break from the boring and spice it up with a little entertainment. This special event features all of the amenities that you could find at your stereotypical nightlife venue on land.  CRUISE PARTY HIGHLIGHTS:2 Fully stocked Bars Full Panoramic Views of the aesthetic Bay, best Views of SF City Skyline, Bay BridgeLIVE OPEN FORMAT DJ ( TOP 40, HIP HOP, DANCE, ELECTRONICA, MOOMBAH, TRAP)2 Levels of Entertainment and Fun12000Watts of roaring Music Boat Loads at 30 min before each cruise. All ticketed passengers will be boarded first.all ... 03/03/2019

Should you find relief in a cooling housing market? It appears that many buyers are still holding off in purchasing a home, perhaps, they were expecting that since the market is slowing down, it will lead to a fall in house prices. However, buyers can also take advantage of this slowdown to shop diligently, they may catch a good deal, as sellers are considering lowering down their asking price.   Based on the article by Market Watch:In some of the country’s most expensive housing markets, the affordability constraints caused by rising mortgage rates would be even more pronounced. Were mortgage rates to hit 6%, buyers making the median salary in San Jose, Calif., would need to look for homes that were $102,100 less expensive than what they could consider now."Zillow senior economist Aar... 03/02/2019

Rescued Produce You've probably heard me mention the term 'Rescued Produce' on my blog last month. This one is a community supported agriculture program that recover Surplus produce and sells it at a discount price to Consumer every time you buy a box of their fruits and vegetables. Hungry Harvest doesn't think there is anything wrong with being a little off-size, a little off-color, a little ugly or a little overproduced. Another good news is that, Hungry Harvest partnered with some local Non-Profit Organizations to donate a portion of their produce every week to different communities.      The bay area continues to be a popular place to call home.If you are ready to search for your next property, or are looking for your home value, visit: www.searchalleastbayhomes.comClick here for th... 03/01/2019

Sometimes, changing your mindset is the right thing to do If you are planning to sell your property this year, are you ready? Do you think you need to move forward or go back down? According to an article from MSN: To get to the closing table successfully in the year ahead, sellers may need to adjust their expectations. Please read the 6 key mindset shifts to make now to sell your home in 2019.1. Don't expect multiple offers over asking price2. Rely on comps, not emotion, to set a realistic price3. Consider listing sooner rather than later4. Don't overlook buyers with lower down payments5. Get a home inspection before you list 6. Catch buyers' attention online, or lose them  Focus on your goals. Learn from the experts. Always make it a point to ask your local Real Estate Professional on... 02/28/2019

Farmers Markets in Oakland, CA If you are living in Oakland and is looking for food, crafts, gifts, supplies, tools, or looking to purchase products direct from the farm, do check out the Local Harvest.org's website. In here, you can find all the farmers markets, family markets, restaurants and other sources of local poultry and eggs in many cities, hopefully one near you.      The bay area continues to be a popular place to call home.If you are ready to search for your next property, or are looking for your home value, visit: www.searchalleastbayhomes.comClick here for the monthly market reports! 02/27/2019

Imperfect food in an imperfect world Studies show that America is losing atleast 40% of its food from Farm, to Fork, to Landfill. Imagine throwing out 400 pounds of food per person, per year. Fresh fruits and vegetables ranked 2nd in the highest rate of loss. So what exactly do we do about this?  I found Imperfect Produce  What they do is they source ugly produce directly from farms. Isn't that smart?Approximately 20% of fruits and vegetables in the U.S. never leave the farm just because they look a little different. Instead of ending up on your dinner plate, they end up left in the field or trucked to landfill. The company lets you customize your box, they change menus from time to time, so you basically control what items to put inside your box. They deliver straight to your home.  Th... 02/26/2019

The Bay Area Housing Shortage Continues Just saw this article on Mercury News.  "Bay Area home buyers are saving longer, paying more, getting less and commuting farther than they wanted because of the region’s crippling housing shortage, according to a new survey by the California Association of Realtors. Millennial buyers were hit hardest, with about 4 in 10 compromising on price, location, schools and commute. Gen Xers compromised less on schools and home size. Baby Boomers, typically downsizing and cashing in years of home equity, found the most satisfaction in their home purchases."  The news is just that, information that gives you an overview of what is happening in the market. The best thing you can do for you to move forward in your personal situation of buying a home in the Bay... 02/25/2019

New Shipment of Authentic Vintage Danish Furniture has Arrived! I am so excited to visit Chris Howard's Antiques & Modern as they'll be having a preview of over 2000 Dining Chairs in Stock Teak and Rosewood Dining Tables, Dressers, Secretary Desks, Mirrors, Nightstands, Credenzas. Perfect for those who are planning to redecorate their homes this New Year!Visit them today! The Warehouse 954 60th Street Oakland Ca 94608@ Lowell Street *Trade Appointments Available Tuesday - Thursday Please email Chris Howard amodern@comcast.net to request an appointment.   The bay area continues to be a popular place to call home.If you are ready to search for your next property, or are looking for your home value, visit:www.searchalleastbayhomes.comClick here for the monthly market reports!   02/24/2019

Add life to your backyard this year! Check out Studio Shed  It's 2019 and it would be best to make the most out of your backyard by adding elements to boost a versatile outdoor living space that the whole family will enjoy. So if you don't have any travel plans yet for this year, you can still enjoy the great outdoors, right in your own home! I have thought about adding a She Shed (alternative to the popular Man Cave) on my backyard. It would be really nice to have my own space that I can go to anytime to just relax after a hard day's work.  I was looking for design ideas and came across Studio Shed. They specialize in well-designed, small backyard Prefab structures. These backyard sheds can be found with finished interiors fully wired for power and Internet and made with sustainable ma... 02/23/2019

Why Oakland is one of the best places to visit in 2019?THE OAKLAND ZOO Going to the zoo is indeed a fun activity for the whole family, especially those with smaller kids. If you happen to be in Oakland and you're looking for recreational places to spend your weekends at, then visit the Oakland Zoo! The zoo was just recently renovated and you may want to try riding the gondola for breathtaking views of the Bay Area.  Weekday HoursMonday–FridayPark HoursEntry10:00 am–4:00 pmGondola10:00 am–4:00 pmIncluded with park admissionAdventure Landing Rides11:00 am–4:30 pmPetting YardIn Children's Zoo10:00 am–4:00 pm Weekend and Holiday HoursWeekends and HolidaysPark HoursEntry10:00 am–4:00 pmGondola10:00 am–4:00 pmIncluded with park admissionAdventure Landing Rides11:00 am–4:30 pmPetting YardIn Ch... 02/22/2019