East Bay Area Real Estate

It May Be Time to Think About Buying a House

Five or 10 years from now, when the financial crisis has ended and housing prices are up smartly once more, we will look in the rearview mirror and realize that we missed a golden age for first-time home buyers. Read the full article - The New York Times - Your Money

Mortgage Applications Rise

If new mortgage applications are a reliable gauge of forthcoming home purchases, looks like we’ve got a bumper crop taking shape out there. Read the Full Article at Realty Times

East Bay Area Market Conditions

Alameda County Market Conditions - November 2008

Contra Costa Market Conditions - November 2008

Today’s East Bay Mortgage Rates Are Not The Issue!

Today’s mortgage issues in the East Bay is actually the availability of credit to home buyers, and the rising unemployment rates. - Read the Full Article

Preparing for 2009: The new world of financing: I recently attended a discussion on Financing presented by an appraiser, a mortgage broker for primarily conventional financing and one for FHA financing.

The changes for appraisers has already begun but come January (unless it is postponed) they will be guided by legislation instilling the arms-length relationship between the lender, mortgage broker and the real estate agent. The pooling of request for appraisals will be overseen and information documented as to what is provided an appraiser; i.e. the full purchase contract as compared to never having this information in the past. For the moment, appraisers can use sales from the last 60 days (horrifying to me since there are so few comparable sales). If a property is difficult to appraise it can be subject to an in-house review.

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SUNDAY OPEN HOMES IN THE EAST BAY
Week Ending Sunday November 16, 2008

BERKELEY OPEN HOMES

QUINTISSENTIAL MID-CENTURY ON LARGE LOT
2 The Crescent, Berkeley 94708
Offered at: $870,000 - 3+ bedrooms, 1.5 baths - Open 1:30-4:30 PM
www.GabyOlander.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Gaby Olander Coldwell Banker
1005 Oxford Street, Berkeley 94707
NORTH BERKELEY CRAFTSMAN WITH VIEWS
Offered at: $899,000 - 3+ bedrooms, 2 baths - Open 2-4:30 PM
www.CarolynJonesRealEstate.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Carolyn Jones The Grubb Co.

2905 Garber Street, Berkeley - www.2905Garber.com
BEAUTIFUL PRAIRIE STYLE HOME IN CLAREMONT
Offered at: $1,925,000 - 4 bedrooms, 2 full/2 partial baths - Open 2-4:30 PM
www.2905Garber.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Faye Keogh, The Grubb Co.

KENSINGTON OPEN HOMES

38 Windsor Avenue, Kensington
Romantic Sunny Kensington Home
NEW PRICE: $719,000 - 2 bedrooms, 1 bath - 2-4:00 pm
www.250Trinity.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Juliana Wynberg Marvin Gardens Real Estate

195 Amherst Avenue, Kensington
Handsome Mid-Century home with Stunning Views
Offered at: $795,000 - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths - 2-4:30 PM
www.JohnStasky.com for more details and Photo Tour.
John Stasky Stasky & Company

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SUNDAY OPEN HOMES IN THE EAST BAY
Week Ending Sunday November 2, 2008

BERKELEY OPEN HOMES

36 Senior Avenue, Berkeley - Map This Location
IDEAL SETTING IN QUIET NORTH BERKELEY
NEW PRICE: $649,000 - 2 bedrooms /2 Baths
www.SusieSchevill.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Susie Schevill, The Grubb Co.

3118 & 3120 California Street, Berkeley - Map This Location
1908 VICTORIAN FLAT WITH STUDIO
NEW PRICE: $799,000 - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
www.JustSellMyHouse.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Cindy Wilson, Red Oak Realty

148 Stonewall Road, Berkeley - Map This Location
DRAMATIC BAY, BRIDGE & CITY VIEWS
NEW PRICE: $1,030,000 - 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
www.CarolynJonesRealEstate.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Carolyn Jones, The Grubb Co.

2905 Garber Street, Berkeley - Map This Location
BEAUTIFUL PRAIRIE STYLE HOME IN CLAREMONT
Offered at: $1,925,000 - 4 bedrooms, 2 full/2 partial baths
www.2905Garber.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Faye Keogh, The Grubb Co.

KENSINGTON OPEN HOMES

38 Windsor Avenue, Kensington - Map This Location
Romantic Sunny Kensington Home
NEW PRICE: $749,000 - 2 bedrooms, 1 bath - 2-4:pm
www.250Trinity.com for more details and Photo Tour.
Juliana Wynberg Marvin Gardens Real Estate

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Bay Area Foreclosure Shoppers Facing Bidding WarsThe number of homeowners caught in the avalanche of foreclosure rose sharply this summer compared to last. As the properties pile up, so are the number priced below $200,000.

Bargains push bay home sales, but prices plunge Bay Area home sales marked their biggest gain in at least two decades last month, but the price plunge set a record, too, as buyers snatched up bargains in the communities hardest hit by foreclosures.

Contra Costa Times reports - Foreclosure sales needed for housing market The high level of foreclosure sales in California has to continue before the state’s housinge market can make a strong recovery,