The Voice of East Bay Living

We are off to a wild start to 2015 with an inventory driven market - low inventory remains the dominating factor and prices are being pushed upward in hot and heavy multiple offer bidding wars.  Here are our first samples: Piedmont home - located on Palm Drive  Listed for $1,295,000 (which seemed high), currently Pending for over $1,600,000. Crocker Highlands home - located on Underhills Road  Listed for $849,000, currently Pending for $967,000 Rockridge house - located on Locksley  Listed for $849,000, currently Pending for over $1,000,000 All agents are racing around with "I want Listings” written on their foreheads!

Finally….. after 8 years of plans and talks, the new Safeway at the corner of Claremont and College has opened!  The new store is 45,500 sq. ft., and twice the size of the previous store. The new store includes 24 hour service, 150 rooftop parking spaces, a large organic produce section, an open air plaza, and rental spaces for small local businesses. Hopefully, both the traffic patterns and the neighbors will calm down.

Park your car in the Washington St. garage which is free all day. Take the ferry from Jack London Square to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. If you feel ambitious, you can then walk to San Francisco Chinatown which is about a 1.5 mile stroll. This absolutely wonderful excursion has been enjoyed by the locals since 1857, when the first boats were created to make this journey across the Bay.  

On the cutting age of advertising homes are 3D Virtual tours in the form of interactive videos showing the floor plans of homes as well as details of each room. You can click anywhere in the house and get close up shots. You can literally click your way thru a house and walk thru just like close up shots using Google maps to get street views.  Check out the links below for samples provided by  Open Homes Photography : 3-D Virtual Tour Interactive Floor Plan Video Slideshow Aerial Photo/Video If you're interested in learning more, email me at ssabine@grubbco.com

This was a dark laundry room located in a basement of a home. The drab concrete floor was transformed with a fresh coat of hunter green and the walls with a lively yellow daffodil.

The pick of the week goes to 5360 Locksley in Oakland -this charming 2+ /1 with delightful outdoor space is listed for $849,000. Any bets on what it will actually sell for? ln 2014, 41 homes sold in a price range of $700,000-$900,000.The majority of these homes sold signigicantly over the asking price. It is that popular walk to BART that everyone is looking for.  Email me at ssabine@grubbco.com to learn more about this listing and others in the Bay Area.

Cole Hardware comes to Rocrkidge - This San Francisco based store has been welcomed with open arms by the Rockridge community. The new store is well organized and the staff is friendly. In addition to having a wide selection of the hardware and tools, they carry live plants, children's toys, and storage bins for rent. Stop in for a quick look-you will  be pleasantly surprised-oh did I mention you can also pick up a pair of reading glasses? Read more about my favorite neighborhoods on my website glasssabine.com Email me at ssabine@grubbco.com for more information about find your dream home!

Great news! Rates are still extremely low. The conforming rate is currently at 3.625% and the 30 year fixed rate is at 4%. It is predicted that rates may increase slightly in the 3rd or 4th quarter of this year.  Getting loans approved is requiring more and more red tape with final reviews a few days before close of escrow with income, assets, and credit scores being closely examined. Buyers may feel like they have climbed Mt. Everest by the time the process is completed. Contact me for more information: ssabine@grubbco.com

Uptown Oakland is flourishing with many talented  artists.  I would like you to meet Scott Schryver and hear his thoughts on Inspiration. 

Armstrong State Reserve in Guerneville is a stunning park full of ancient redwoods, easy walking trails, picnic sites and a close drive from the Bay Area. The serene setting offers viewers peace and solace from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives. 

Brown Sugar Kitchen at 2534 Mandela Parkway is definitely worth the long wait. This soul food outpost is a community gathering spot, a place to fill the belly, and the beating heart of West Oakland.  It's Owner, Tanya Holland, is becoming more and more famous for her down home delicious food that will please the most discerning foodie. 

During my recent trip to New York, I made a visit to Bergdorf Goodman to see their annual holiday window displays. More than 100 artists worked on  this year's theme - Inspiration. Each window is dedicated to a major  art form-literature, architecture, theater, painting, film, dance and sculpture. Each display is made from its  own set of materials, creating an eight lesson course in art appreciation. You will definitely feel inspired after viewing these amazing displays.