By Don Dunning | November 19, 2009
As time go by, more and more Internet sites are attempting to be a one-stop location for real estate buyers and sellers. These include large company web sites looking to attract clients by providing lots of information. In many ways, this is an excellent development that arms would-be buyers and sellers with knowledge before they […]
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 | November 13, 2009
Recently my buyers closed escrow on their home purchase with a 4.5% loan. Another couple to whom I just sold their first home are thrilled to have locked in a 4.625% mortgage. Meanwhile, if they had owned the home a few years and were looking for a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), they would […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | November 6, 2009
Talk about infuriating concepts! I just read this article, “PG&E Wants Rate Hike for Efficient Energy Users” and my blood is boiling. Seems, in order to give price reductions to some of their biggest energy wasters, PG&E has filed an application to the state requesting a service rate increase of five per cent to the […]
Read MoreBy Don Dunning | November 3, 2009
In the midst of the urban space we call Oakland, runs a creek that covers over 2600 acres, emerging from the Oakland Hills and meandering through the city. About 80,000 folks live in the Sausal Creek Watershed area along with a myriad of birds, animals and plants. There are believed to be over 250 plant, […]
Read MoreBy 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 […]
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