Blog

Notes on the local market

241 posts

2026-11-05 · 2 min read

Oakland & Berkeley Real Estate Market Update: November 2026

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

2026-11-05 · 3 min read

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

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

2026-11-03 · 10 min read

Why Does Ad Money Behind Your Listing Video Matter When You Sell a Home?

Lots of agents make a video of your home. The difference is who sees it. Here is what ad money behind a listing video does, what my ads have reached, and the questions to ask any agent before you list.

2026-11-03 · 8 min read

What Does It Mean to Buy a Home "As-Is" in California?

You see "sold as-is" on a listing and wonder if it is a bargain or a trap. It is neither on its own. Here is what as-is changes, what it does not, and how to decide with your inspection and contingency period.

2026-11-03 · 9 min read

What Do Buyers Notice First When They Walk Into Your Home?

Buyers decide how they feel about your house in the first minute. Here are the three things I tell sellers to look at first, what you can skip, and how to get ready without a remodel.

2026-11-03 · 9 min read

Should You Start Preparing to Sell Your Home in November If You Want to List in January?

If you want to sell in the new year, the work starts now. Here are the three things to do first, which city steps can slow you down, and why choosing to wait can be a good plan too.

2026-11-03 · 8 min read

Buying in the East Bay? Sewer Lateral, BESO and Sidewalk Rules to Know Before You Offer

Some East Bay cities have rules that kick in when a home sells, and they can change what you agree to in your offer. Here is how the sewer lateral, Berkeley's BESO, Oakland's sidewalk certificate and Piedmont's reports work from the buyer's side.

2026-11-03 · 8 min read

Is Your Loan the Right Fit for the Home You Want to Buy in the East Bay?

Your lender may hand you a great loan on paper, and it can still be the wrong loan for the home you want. Here is how the loan, the home, the appraisal, and the competition fit together, and what your Realtor does before you apply.

2026-11-03 · 8 min read

How Do You Make an Offer a Seller Wants to Accept (Beyond the Price)?

A seller reads your whole offer, not just the price. Here is what the closing date, the terms, and a rent-back tell them, and how to write an offer that is easy to accept without giving up what protects you.

2026-11-01 · 4 min read

How Does Selling a Home During a Divorce Work, Step by Step?

The steps are the same as any home sale. What changes is how many people are in the conversation and how decisions get made. Here is the order, and what makes it go more smoothly.

2026-11-01 · 4 min read

Who Decides Which Agent Sells the Home in a Divorce?

Two questions come up almost every time: who chooses the agent, and who decides price and offers. Here is how it usually works, and what to agree on before the home is listed.

2026-11-01 · 4 min read

Should the Home Be Vacant While It Is Listed During a Divorce?

Before any plan, there is one question: will the home be vacant while it is on the market, or does someone need to live in it? Here is how each choice works, and what to do if you stay.

2026-11-01 · 4 min read

Working With Your Realtor, Attorney and Mediator When Selling in a Divorce

A Realtor is not an attorney, a mediator, or an accountant. Here is where a Realtor's help ends, where it overlaps with your attorney's calendar, and the questions to bring them early.

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.