Strategic Pricing in this East Bay Market

October 24, 2019

I occasionally answer questions in the real estate section of SFGate, participating in a column called Sound Off. When I started several years ago, one agent per week had an opportunity to respond to a question with enough space to give a fairly thorough answer. As demand to participate increased, they changed the format and now […]

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Enchanting Retreat in Sylvan Setting

April 20, 2019

It’s been my pleasure to have several listings in North Berkeley this year, the current one being a very charming cottage in the woods at 1470 Campus Drive in the Berkeley hills. The initial response has been excellent, with many requests to review the disclosures. I always actively market my listings, especially to other agents. […]

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Tremendous Coverage for a Terrific Property! Open St. Patrick’s Day 2-4:30 PM

March 16, 2019

I am always excited to represent a listing, especially one in my own North Berkeley neigbhorhood, and especially such a beautiful property. But my current listing is special to me in many ways. I have known Barbara, one of the three siblings selling this home, since 1976 when we were both active Scottish dancers. I […]

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The 2019 Market Begins…and the importance of Kitchens!

March 3, 2019

The daffodils are blooming, and they have always been my harbingers of the beginning of the real estate market. After what felt like a very mixed but mostly sluggish fall market, 2019 appears to be off to a strong start. But we may see some subtle (and some less subtle!) changes. At least for January, […]

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Transformations: Magic in Materials, Paint and Staging!

April 18, 2018

A particularly satisfying part of my job is to use a seller’s funds, often quite limited, in the most cost-effective manner possible. And I also enjoy the artistic component of choosing materials that will make a major difference in the appearance of a home. At my latest listing at 68Northampton.com, an elegant Mediterranean in North […]

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Tastefully updated Tudor in a sylvan setting

March 19, 2018

Bringing on a new listing can be tremendously satisfying.  I especially enjoy debuting homes in the spring, as the real estate emerges from dormancy along with flowering bulb and budding trees. Last week I debuted a home that I’ve come to love ever more each time I spend time there. 2577 Rose Street sits at the top of Rose […]

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Be Prepared!

November 15, 2017

The unprecedented damage caused by the North Bay fires has shaken assumptions about what is a “safe” area.  As we recover from the grief, as well as face the phenomenal physical damage, I hope this tragedy will serve as the most compelling wake-up call possible. Gentle readers, please make sure you take action now to make a […]

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Behind the Curtain: How I Distinguish Myself as a Listing Agent!

August 26, 2017

I recently had one of the hottest listings possible, so I thought I’d share some information from behind the scenes. The listing was 10700 Lochard (see link below), unusual in being a small house in a neighborhood of much larger homes. It had a large lot–over 1/4 acre–and a huge amount of character. As you […]

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Seasonal Shifts: Normal…and Crazy-Making!

July 27, 2017

Dear Neighbors and Friends, It’s easy to forget that in fact every year, even during very active markets, real estate experiences seasonality. There is a significant difference in behavior between the early spring with its characteristic very low inventory, and the summer, when generally buyers have more choices, and more fatigue. You would think that […]

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New for 2017: CA Law for Low Use Water Fixtures

January 11, 2017

California now leads the nation with standards that could save over 10 billion gallons of water in the first year and eventually over 100 billion gallons of water per year according to the California Energy Commission. Effective January 1, 2017, new water conservation regulations took effect for interior water fixtures in almost all single family […]

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