Ramen Haven in Oakland California Oakland,CA was dubbed as an affordable alternative to San Francisco, or even as the Brooklyn of California. Being one of the country's most ethnically diverse cities -- The East Bay Area is now becoming very popular with its diverse offerings of food especially with millenials due to the trendy concept and affordability. This is probably one of the best restaurants I've been to last week (and will definitely be a favorite spot every weekend) - Ramen Shop Oakland.   When you enter the restaurant, you will immediately feel the asian vibe. It's like when California meets Japan. A lot of delicious greens, vegetables, sashimi, shoyu ramen with beef brisket and braised short ribs, Duck shoyo, vegetable, and butter miso ramen.  Come and try it out today!   MON... 12/18/2018

Holiday Parties Can Be Full of Surprises  Holiday Parties are happening everywhere! It's so nice to know that it's that time of the year again when at the moment you stepped into the office, everyone just smiles at you, you see Holiday decorations everywhere, smells of pies in the pantry, and everyone just has this festive feeling and end of the year excitement.  We just recently held our company Holiday Party yesterday and it was such an awesome event. We all had a quality team bonding experience. I even ran into an old friend which was great as I haven't seen this person for years, and had a very good conversation like there's no tomorrow. I even met new ones who were mutual connections and we bonded over appetizers as we learned we both loved Tapenade! Isn't that great?  We also didn... 12/14/2018

Experience the Rich Flavors of China in Oakland California   Have you only tasted American Chinese food? You’re definitely missing out a lot! Although Chinese food in the USA is delicious, Chinese food from China is an experience. I went to China with my husband in 2013, and remember trying to order at a restaurant. Luckily, the waitress had an app that was a great help. But hey, why travel all the way to China when you can eat chinese food right here, in Oakland. A newly opened Chinese Restaurant in Oakland called Huangcheng Noodle House is truly one of a kind. Chef Jimmy Hung brings with him a closely guarded family recipe. I read somewhere that not even an offer of $30,000 for his grandfather’s chili sauce recipe can move him to give it up.. Chef Hung specializes in traditional Shanx... 12/11/2018

Monthly Market Activity for Single Family Homes in Oakland (includes Piedmont and Emeryville) The Median Sale Price for homes in Oakland during November was $790,000 with thehighest number of units sold in the $1m-1.49m 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.com You 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. 12/10/2018

How to get the Mid Century Vibe with your Current Furniture  Mid Century Design is one trend that never goes out of style and lately you see it not just in the stores, but in television shops (think Mad Men), and in homes. Identifying a midcentury piece is an easy thing to do because the clean simple lines, and solid wood pieces are big tell. Pops of red, olive in the upholstery, pale pink, even neutrals work really well. If you are not ready to commit to a color, consider buying pillows, a throw or a rug in these color. Even if it is a simple pop of color like the gold pillows in the photo below.  Pick mid century pieces that will truly make your home stand out – armchairs (Restoration Hardware), good lamps (Lamps Plus Online), you can even mix pieces from other periods. Make sure to t... 12/09/2018

Holiday Toy Drive 2018 Donate toys to help make the holidays special for the kids at: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals. Toy Drive Drop Off Dates:December 1st-15th (anytime) at the Montclair and Berkeley offices in the lobby Montclair: 1986 Mountain Blvd Oakland, CA 94611 Berkeley: 2 Tunnel Rd Berkeley, CA 94705 & 1995 El Dorado Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707 Please make sure that the toys are new, unwrapped, unreligious, and nonviolent. Any checks should be made out to The Children's Hospital of Oakland. You will receive a tax deductible receipt for your generosity.  For questions or additional information, please email Elisa at e.uribe@ggsir.comor call at 510-919-5741 12/06/2018

Things to do in Oakland December 7, 2018Oakland First Fridays Come on out! Oakland First Fridays Street Festival happens year round. It's First Friday & if you are looking for an artistic gift for the family, or wanting to introduce your friend to a bit of Oakland’s pride, First Friday’s is always jammed pack fun. Experience a mix of talented street artists, food artisans, craft makers, performers, musicians, dancers, live painters, DJ's, poets, literary events and more! WHEN: Recurring monthly on the 1st Friday (December 7th) from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM WHERE: KONO (Koreatown Northgate) - Between West Grand Ave. and 27th Street, Oakland, CA TICKET PRICE: FREE!   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 y... 12/05/2018

A Taste of Thailand in Jack London Square Thailand is truly one of Southeast Asia’s Gems. Over it is most famous for its islands, temples, beaches, shopping, and most especially - Food! If you haven’t been to Thailand, you’re missing out a lot! I have fond memories from my visit to Phuket and Krabi back in the early 2000’s. But worry no more, Thailand enthusiasts! Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine is Jack London Square's newest and hippest waterfront dining destination. It features both Northern and Southern Thailand-style dishes in a more upscale setting. Many dishes offer a twist on what you'd find at your typical Thai joint, but that doesn't mean the food is Americanized.The ideal Thai meal is a harmonious blend of the spicy, the sweet and sour, and is meant to be equally satisfying to ... 12/03/2018

Yummy Desserts in Oakland California Always craving for sweets? Oakland is truly one of the go-to destinations for delicious treats! Donuts, churros, ice creams, WE HAVE IT ALL RIGHT HERE! Churros Mexicanos3340 E 12th StSte 17 Oakland, CA 94601    Sweet Belly Desserts 435 19th Street Oakland, CA 94612     Cookie Bar Creamery 517 8th StOakland, CA 94607     Nieves Cinco De Mayo Fruitvale Public Market 3340 E 12th StSte 2 Oakland, CA 94601   It's not that bad to indulge atleast once in a while, we all need that comfort food, just make sure to do it OCASSIONALLY and don't forget to regularly check your sugar levels.        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.searchalleas... 12/02/2018

 Add Some Culture to Your Food and Your Day The Oakland Museum has a wonderful exhibit right now:The World of Charles and Ray Eames Docent tour, happening on Saturday, December 1st, 2018, 12 pm. I remember first hearing about their work when I was taking design courses at San Francisco State. Some courses really make an impression on you and learning about talented designers was always a highlight in my day. After the museum why not get warped on an entirely different location, as if you are were in a different time zone, but you are actually right in the heart of Jack London Square. Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine, with Thai Pop music, a doorway fringed by palm fronds, and dangling cloth lanterns to complete the scene.  Seared wagyu beef rolls, herby salads to grilled prawns brushed wit... 11/30/2018

 Meet the España FamilyNew Story Charity Update "Help Others achieve their dreams, and you will achieve yours." - Les Brown  I wrote a blog back in 2017 about helping New Story Charity build a home for a family in Mexico:  https://activerain.com/blogsview/5119661/new-story-charity-builds-homes-and-creates-a-community Here's an update. Meet the España Family and know their story: Lorena and Gregorio live in Tlayacapan, Mexico with their four children, Janitzy (11), Jesus Emanuel (7), Abraham (5), and Jonatan Mateo (2). They have been working hard and have been living in Tlayacapan for 30 years. They had to evacuate their home due to the recent earthquake that struck Mexico, and threatened by landslides.  Lorena also felt it isn't safe walking around Tlayacapan at night. Having had 4 chil... 11/29/2018

Things to do in Oakland December 1, 2018 Holiday Caroling on Lake MerrittWhat an amazing event! Families can enjoy a “water sleigh ride” on Lake Merritt. Add to that some hot cider and deliciously baked cookies before your voyage. Experience a unique view of Oakland as your Water Sleigh glides past the 18th Street Fountain & Holiday Cove before returning to the Boating Center.   WHEN:Thursday Tours: December 6th, 13th & 20th from 4:00pm-8:00pm*Friday Tours: December 7th, 14th & 21st from 4:00pm-8:00pm*Saturday Tours: December 1st, 8th, 15th, & 22nd from 3:00pm to 8:00pm*Sunday Tours: December 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd from 3:00pm-8:00pm**6:00pm tours available for individual participants. Other tour times are whole boat charter only. WHERE: Lake Merritt Boating Center - 568 Bellevue Ave, Oa... 11/28/2018

Oakland is becoming known as a food mecca, and sometimes called the Brooklyn of New York. When I first moved to Oakland over 20 years ago, we always had to cross the Bay Bridge in search for an amazing restaurant. Fast forward to today, new restaurants are opening all over the East Bay and one of the drivers of our real estate market. Do you crave Basmati Rice, scented with lamb juice and mixed with caramelized carrots, plump raisins, and crunchy almond sliver? How about Kabobs made with fresh halal meat? Have you ever tried Mantu, which were made fresh in-house, came stuffed with flavorful, spiced ground beef and topped with yogurt, lentils, and dried mint? Craving for falafel, gyros, shawarma, burgers, fried chicken wings, and Philly cheesesteaks? This new restaurant pretty much have ... 11/26/2018

I have been working on a construction project for the last 4 months in downtown Oakland California.Ever since the fires started in Northern California last week the construction project has been shut down 4 different days now because of poor air quality. Rain was suppose to come today Friday 11-16-2018 but has now been pushed to next Wednesday.It has been mentioned on most news channels, etc that Northern California has some of the worst air quality world wide of of today 11-16-2018.I am hoping to get back to work soon, maybe next week and here is a link from a news channel in NorCal on the poor quality of air. Northern California Air Quality Currently The Worst In The World 11/16/2018

Packing Light for Your Departure Property I fielded a call this week and it's one that comes in quite frequently.  "We saw a place we really like and are thinking about putting in an offer.  But we don't know what we're going to do with our existing home and don't think we have time to sell it first..."  It's the classic "buy first" dilemma that I've covered before.  It's fair to assume that one place the mind goes when dealing with the "what to do" of the existing home is the notion of lining up a renter.  Our buyers in this situation recognize that it may not be financially convenient or possible to support two mortgage payments and they believe that with rental income from the departure property, it might all work out.  Are they right? There's a simple way to test if the above theory... 11/15/2018

Monthly Market Activity for Single Family Homes in Oakland (includes Piedmont and Emeryville) The Median Sale Price for homes in Oakland during September was $805,000 with the highest number of units sold in the $1m-1.49m 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.com  You 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.  10/27/2018

Throwback Thursday: Wall Ornament in Oakland  We were at the end of a 5 day trip to wine country (Napa and Sonoma) back in 2010, and on the way back to Carlsbad took another day to visit our daughter and  her husband who had just relocated from LA to Oakland for their new jobs. Their apartment was just a block from Piedmont Avenue, a very cool residential and commercial area of Oakland, and we had a great time exploring shops and restaurants along the street while we were there. With camera in hand, I also had fun taking photos of various architectural features, including this wall ornament that looked very much like the gargoyles on the cathedrals we saw all over Europe, although it reminds me of a griffin as well.  03/08/2018

The news exploded over a new listing of a 1036 sq ft home that is uninhabitable because of fire, yet is listed at  $400K and received 17 offers.  Read: Uninhabitable Oakland House With Collapsed Roof Hits The Market for $399,999  Who would buy that? The answer is "Location, location, location."It is a known fact that we have a severe housing crisis in the Bay area of CA, and perhaps in other parts of the state as well. By crisis we mean lack of affordable housing, low inventory of homes for sale, escalating prices.In Paradise Park area of Oakland where this property is listed for sale, there are similar homes listed for sale: 2 bedrooms/2 baths, 3432 sq ft lot at $675,000 2 bedrooms/1 bath, 4000 sq ft lot  at $775,900 2 bedrooms/1 bath, 2700 sq ft lot at $699,999  What makes that proper... 03/03/2018

Monthly Market Activity for Single Family Homes in Oakland The Median Sale Price for homes in Oakland during October was $772,750 with the highest number of units sold in the $1,000,000 - $1,490,000 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.com   You 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 11/16/2017

Monthly Market Activity for Single Family Homes in Oakland The Median Sale Price for homes in Oakland during September was $687,500 with the highest number of units sold in the $1,000,000 - $1,490,000 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.com   You 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 10/17/2017