East Bay Area Real Estate

DON’T MISS IT!

El Cerrito Citywide Garage Sale - Saturday, Oct. 11

Carry on an El Cerrito tradition - participate in the 19th Annual Citywide Garage Sale!

Reusing items bought and sold at garage sales saves them from the landfill and reduces greenhouse emissions produced by making new products.

Free Maps & Participant Lists will be available at Noon on Thursday, October 9 online and at:

East Bay Express has an excellent article How to Find An Apartment in the East Bay with resources for finding rentals (craigslist still being the best) and knowing your rights.

Q2 entry-level housing affordability up to 48% The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California stood at 48 percent in the second quarter of 2008 compared with 24 percent for the same period a year ago, according to a report Tuesday by the California Association of Realtors (eastbaybusinesstimes.com)

Bay Area Home Sales Show Life July home sales in the Bay Area increased on a year-over-year level for the first time in three years, while the median home price dove to $470,000 as buyers snapped up low-priced foreclosed properties, according to report released Tuesday by DataQuick. (insidebayarea.com)

Homes Now More Affordable A pair of reports released today highlighted the upside of the real estate downturn: Housing is becoming more affordable for more people across California and the Bay Area. The percentage of households able to buy an entry-level residence in the state reached 48 percent during the second quarter, double the level from a year ago, according to the California Association of Realtors (sfgate.com)

Real Estate Chaos Hits Appraisal Industry
How much is your house worth in this turbulent market? That’s the question on the minds of many Bay Area homeowners, but it’s become increasingly tough to answer, even for the pros. Instability in the region’s housing market is making it difficult to determine values, according to mortgage brokers and real estate appraisers. (sfgate.com)

STAR Test Results Show Steady Gains for BUSD, State The results for California’s 2008 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program show a higher percentage of students in the Berkeley Unified School District scored proficient or above in reading, writing and mathematics as compared with the state results. (berkeleydailyplanet.com)

SUNDAY OPEN HOMES IN THE EAST BAY
Week Ending Sunday August 3, 2008

BERKELEY OPEN HOMES

LIGHT-FLOODED HOME - SERENE REFUGE
1318 Poe Street, Berkeley
Offered at: $695,000 - 2/2 - 2-4:30pm
www.NacioBrown.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Nacio Brown - Pacific Union

EICHLER STYLE DESIGN WITH TILDEN VIEWS
798 Wildcat Canyon, Berkeley
Offered at: $935,000 - 3/2- 2-4:30pm
www.798WildcatCanyon.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Annie Walrand- The Grubb Co.

EL CERRITO OPEN HOMES

SWEET COTTAGE ON LARGE LEVEL LOT
6730 Gladys Avenue, El Cerrito 94530
Offered at: $510,000 - 2/1 - 2-4:30pm
www.CarolynJonesRealEstate.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Carolyn Jones, The Grubb Co.

MAGICAL SETTING IN QUIET MIRA VISTA
5615 Rosalind Avenue, El Cerrito 94530
Offered at: $579,000 - 3/1.5 - 2-4:30pm
www.JustSellMyHouse.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Cindy Wilson - Red Oak Realty

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FOURTH of JULY AROUND THE EAST BAY

Alameda:
The Alameda 4th of July Parade is the second longest Independence Day Parade in the nation with over 170 floats that travel a three mile route. Starts at 10:00 AM. Location: Lincoln Avenue between Grand Avenue and Park Street (no fireworks)

Albany:
Green, Red, white & Blue Celebration
Starting off with the Annual Dog Jog & Walk. Bring the pooch for a 4k jog/walk starts at Memorial Park, winds through the Ohlone Greenway and finishes at Memorial Park. Starts at 9:00am.
After the Dog Jog, stop by Albany Lion’s Pancake Breakfast at the Veterans Memorial Building. (8:00-11:00am) The 4th of July event begins at 11am with music, pet show, watermelon eating content. Enjoy wonderful food booths.

Berkeley:
A day full of fun. The south shore of the Berkeley Marina is filled with great stuff to do all day. Sack races, face painting - and no need to cook with lots of international food booths as well as arts & crafts booths, massages, free sailboat rides and much more. Free admission.
Time: Begins at 11 am (fireworks at 9:30pm) - Website

El Cerrito:
annual July 4th Fair and woldOnefestival will be held from 10:00am to 4:00pm at Cerrito vista Park and the Portola Middle School Blactop (Moeser Lane between Pomona and Avis Streets) with games and carnival rides for children, food, arts and crafts as well as live entertainment on two stages. Website

Hercules:
4th of July Parade. You can see the parade go from Redwood Road to Sycamore Avenue and then ending at Refugio Valley Park. Immediately after the parade there will be food, games and booths.
Time: Begins at 10:00 am (fireworks at dusk).

Oakland:
Throughout Jack London Square enjoy Oakland’s free community fireworks display, five hours of mustic and entertainment and Annual East Bay BBQ competition. (fireworks at 9:15pm) Website

Pleasanton
Fourth of July Concert and Celebration. Lions Wayside Park. 12:00 pm - 1:30pm

Piedmont:
Parade begins at 11:00am on July 4th at Highland Avenue and Park Way, ending at Piedmont Park.

Richmond
Red, White & Boom. Activities begin at 6pm, Fireworks at 9pm
July 3rd Fireworks at the Richmond Marina Bay Park - Regatta Blvd. and Mellville Square

Walnut Creek
Fourth of July concert. Music directory Harvey Benstein will conduct the Walnut Creek Concert Band at its annual Fourth of July Concert beginning at 6pm at the Civic Park gazebo.

Know of any other 4th of July events in your neighborhood? Leave a comment.