By Don Dunning | November 22, 2009
If you read my posts and/or articles, you know I have said that the next six months or so in the East Bay are a real window of opportunity for both buyers and sellers. This is because of the confluence of historically low interest rates, the extended Federal Tax Credit and much lower prices than […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | November 15, 2009
It has been widely publicized that the Bay Area, and East Bay in particular, is due for a huge temblor within the next 30 years…[yet] most buyers in this area show little concern about what will happen to the house they own in an earthquake.
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | October 7, 2009
Selling your house can be stressful, especially in a buyer’s market such as we are experiencing today. Regardless of the type of market, and for as long as I have been in real estate, sellers say some things that do not serve them well.
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | September 20, 2009
Not long ago, an acquaintance approached me about the possibility of listing his property that was many months behind in payments and was worth, in my opinion, about $125,000 less than he paid not that many years ago. Understanding he had numerous choices, each with potential positive and negative financial and legal consequences, I suggested […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | September 2, 2009
Understandably, most home buyers are happy to be surrounded by trees, one of nature’s greatest gifts. They are magnificent, awe-inspiring creations. Oak, madrone, sycamore and redwood are all incredible. Some, like cedar, can be clipped low to form a hedge as a lovely border. Fruit trees furnish us healthful treats. In our area these include plum, pear, apple, lemon, lime and fig, to name a few.
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | August 21, 2009
Before you know it, I will be doing posts about how higher rates are our new reality and what buyers and sellers should do about it. The information is out there – rates are low now, but this cannot last. Read this article about Ben Bernake’s upcoming challenges, “Bernake’s Tough Task: Withdrawing Emergency Aid.” Go […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | August 17, 2009
Yesterday, I held an open house in Oakland. A woman walked in and said she was “just checking prices in the neighborhood.” After a quick spin around the home, she came over and started chatting me up. Seems she bought a home in the same area, closing escrow in December 2009. I told her that […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | August 13, 2009
Some stories make it appear that real estate, especially in the Bay Area, is rebounding. Others talk about what is going wrong. Where does that leave you as a buyer or seller needing to make important decisions? I just read “Silicon Valley Real Estate: the Bidding War is Back” in the San Jose Mercury News, […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | August 10, 2009
“We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.”
– George Bernard Shaw.
After 30 years in real estate, I have witnessed this wisdom, especially in how home buyers function.
Today’s market is a great opportunity for some to find tremendous values and to finance them with near-record low interest rates. It is also a time when others are repeating mistakes made by buyers in the not-so-long-ago seller’s market. Purchasers need to learn quickly or risk years of regret and potentially significant financial losses.
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | July 17, 2009
As everyone knows, the real estate market is in the doldrums; however, several factors indicate a current opportunity for both buyers and sellers. Interest rates fell for the third week in a row to an average of 5.14%, great news for buyers and those who wish to refinance. This is not the lowest ever (4.78%), […]
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