Blog

Notes on the local market

228 posts

2026-10-30 · 8 min read

What Do Berkeley Sellers Need to Know About BESO?

BESO is the one Berkeley rule that comes up before you list. Here is what it asks of sellers, the three paths to compliance, how the credits add up, and a calculator to check your own home.

2026-10-30 · 8 min read

What Do Berkeley Buyers Need to Know About BESO?

BESO is the Berkeley rule most buyers hear about after they are already in escrow. Here is what it means for you, what to ask before you write an offer, and a calculator to check a home.

2026-10-30 · 7 min read

How Long Does It Take to Sell a House in the East Bay, Start to Finish?

The sale itself is only part of the road. Here is the order of every step from the first meeting to closing, what escrow takes, and why a very fast sale is not always the best one.

2026-10-30 · 6 min read

What Is My East Bay Home Worth, and What Can't Zillow See?

An online estimate has never walked through your front door. Here is how a real price is built, what the estimates cannot see, and how a free, hand-made value review works.

2026-10-30 · 7 min read

Should You Get Home Inspections Before You List in the East Bay?

In the East Bay, the answer is usually yes. Here is why sellers customarily order inspections first, which ones are typical, and how it protects your negotiating power.

2026-10-30 · 7 min read

What Are Contingencies, and Which Dates Matter After You Accept an Offer?

Accepting an offer is a big step, but the buyer can still back out until every contingency is removed. Here is what they are, which dates matter, and what it means for you.

2026-10-29 · 7 min read

Does Your Closing Date Matter for Taxes When You Sell a Home Before Year-End?

The date you close decides which tax year your sale lands in. Add the home sale exclusion and a long ownership history, and timing can change your tax bill. Here is what to ask your tax professional before you set a closing date.

2026-10-27 · 7 min read

How Do You Read a Home Inspection Report Without Panicking?

Every house has a list, even brand new ones. The question is which items matter. Here is the three-bucket method I use to turn a scary inspection report into a plan, with what to look for in each East Bay city.

2026-10-22 · 7 min read

What Do California Sellers Have to Disclose When They Sell a Home?

The most expensive thing you can do when you sell in California is say nothing about a problem you know about. Here is what sellers are expected to disclose, why disclosing more protects you, and the city paperwork that comes with it.

2026-10-20 · 7 min read

What Do Your 17 Days of Contingencies Protect When You Buy a Home in California?

Once your offer is accepted, a California purchase contract usually gives you 17 days to learn what you are buying. Here is what the inspection, appraisal, and loan contingencies protect, and what happens to your deposit when you remove them.

2026-10-15 · 7 min read

Can You Keep Your Low Property Tax When You Move After 55 in California?

If you are 55 or older and have owned your California home for years, you may be able to take your low property tax base with you when you move. Here is how Prop 19 works, and what to plan before you sell.

2026-10-14 · 7 min read

Should You Sell Your Walnut Creek Home First or Buy First?

Trading up in Walnut Creek means two transactions on overlapping dates. Here is how to decide whether to sell first or buy first, and how to time both closings so they work together.

2026-10-14 · 7 min read

What Should First-Time Buyers Know About Buying in Oakland?

Buying your first home in Oakland means learning the whole process in a city where good homes move fast and most are 75 to 100-plus years old. Here is what to know, step by step, with no question too basic.

2026-10-14 · 7 min read

What Does It Cost to Sell a House in Berkeley?

Two transfer taxes, Berkeley's energy rules, the City's sewer lateral certificate, prep, and closing costs. Here is every cost of selling a Berkeley home, and how to see your real net before you list.

2026-10-14 · 8 min read

What Does a Berkeley Seller Need to Do Before Listing?

Berkeley asks more of sellers than most East Bay cities. Here is the before-you-list checklist, in order: the BESO energy score, the City's sewer lateral certificate, your disclosures, and the prep that pays.

2026-10-14 · 7 min read

How Does a 1031 Exchange Work When You Sell an East Bay Rental?

A 1031 exchange runs on hard federal deadlines, and the sale and the purchase have to move together. Here is how it works when you sell an Oakland or East Bay rental, and how to plan it before you list.

2026-10-13 · 7 min read

Is Fall a Smart Time to Buy a Home in the East Bay?

Most buyers pause in the fall. That can be your opening. Here is what fall buyers get that spring buyers often do not, and what to ask about in each East Bay city before you write an offer.

2026-10-13 · 3 min read

Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek & Lafayette Real Estate Market Update: October 2026

Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, and Lafayette home prices and inventory for October 2026.

2026-10-12 · 2 min read

Oakland & Berkeley Real Estate Market Update: October 2026

Oakland and Berkeley home prices, active listings, and days on market for October 2026.

2026-10-08 · 8 min read

Should You Sell Your Home This Fall or Wait for Spring?

Everyone says spring is the best time to sell. That is exactly why fall can work in your favor. Here is how to tell which season fits your home, and what to line up first in each East Bay city.

2026-10-01 · 6 min read

Why Do Oakland and Berkeley Homes Sell So Far Over Asking?

In Oakland and Berkeley, the asking price usually isn't the real number. Here is why homes are listed below what they're expected to sell for, and how buyers and sellers can use that instead of fighting it.

2026-10-01 · 6 min read

How Do You Sell an Inherited House in Probate in Alameda County?

An inherited house comes with a legal process, a timeline, and decades of history. Here is how selling one works in Alameda County, from probate or a trust to closing, in plain English.

2026-10-01 · 6 min read

How Do You Sell a House During a Divorce in the East Bay?

Two people who don't agree on much still have to agree on one price. Here is how a divorce home sale works in the East Bay, step by step, and how to keep it fair for both of you.

2026-10-01 · 8 min read

What Does It Actually Cost to Sell a House in Oakland?

Transfer taxes, two point-of-sale certificates, prep, and closing costs. Here is every cost of selling an Oakland home, in plain English, and how to see your real net before you list.