By Don Dunning | October 29, 2009
In Oakland, water rationing has been lifted and we have been fortunate to have had heavy, early October rains. Some think our water troubles are over. They aren’t. We all need to conserve because population is outstripping our resources. Having low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators is the best way to save water in your […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | October 25, 2009
A recent study has indicated that homeowners who are “upside down” in their mortgages are more likely to default in “non-recourse” states. This means the lender cannot go after the borrower’s personal assets if he stops making payments. California is one of these non-recourse states. Here, a loan to buy an owner-occupied property of one […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | October 21, 2009
Halloween is coming to the Oakland Zoo, one of our city’s prime attractions. October 24th is the first day of the zoo’s annual, “Boo at the Zoo.” You and your kids can also choose from two other days for fun – the 25th and 31st. Plan to ride the Boo train and to participate in […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | October 18, 2009
In my October 11th blog post, I reported California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) chief economist, Leslie Appleton-Young’s, comments and predictions about the real estate market. Here are a few more interesting items, with graphs from her presentation: Sellers have a variety of reasons for selling. According to C.A.R. surveys, in 2006 75% of buyers were […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | October 16, 2009
As of October 11th, there are seven new California laws relating to real estate mortgages. Among them: SB 36: Those who engage in mortgage loan origination will need to have a special license from either the CA Department of Corporations or the Department of Real Estate, after meeting specified requirements. Comment — Part of our […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | October 11, 2009
Got back yesterday from California Association of Realtors (C.A.R) meetings in San Jose. Highlight of our fall get-together is the presentation of C.A.R.’s chief economist, Leslie Appleton-Young. Here are some tidbits; Median home price in CA was $594,500 in May 2007. In February 2009, it was $245,200, down 59% Comparing August 2008 to August 2009, […]
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 | October 4, 2009
Yesterday, my wife and I attended a very special event, the 20th annual “Festival of Harps, a Celebration of World Harp Music.” We heard about it through the e-newsletter of our favorite harpist, Aryeh Frankfurter (Lionharp Music). The venue was the unique and fabulous Chapel of the Chimes on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland. Built in […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | October 1, 2009
Huge earthquakes shook Samoa and Indonesia in the past few days. Scientists predict the Big One in Northern California within the next 30 years. A large scale, fire/earthquake drill is taking place on October 15, at 10:15 AM when everyone is being encouraged to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” as though you were experiencing a […]
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