As I sit here eating my corndog {I know – ew} 10 minutes before I have to leave for my volleyball game {double-ew: jumping up and down on with a stomach full of corndog}, I’m reflecting on all of the decisions and surprises we have had when owning property. I thought I’d just jot them down really quickly to see if others agree. Clouded Judgement: Looking for houses can get so exciting that we sometimes overlook important features: square footage, number of bathrooms, and above all, price. It’s easy to get talked into paying a higher price than you had [...]

At my 9-to-5 job, I have been working incessantly on this project. Despite layoffs and paycuts, I’ve had my nose to the grindstone slamming out this project with my colleagues. This is a wordpress based blog that features housing predictions, market analysis, and podcasts with some of the industry’s big boys and girls. This was not my design, but a production that I spearheaded with the help of my fun and inspirational colleagues, Terry, ML and Jim. Why I think this is pertinent to ohbrooke, is that it has really relative content. All the posts and podcasts have been of [...]

Sue McKinley, last year’s “Top Sales Agent” for Alain Pinel Realtors, is watching the trends and has offered some words as to why now might be a good time for you to buy. Sue says, “Bay area home sales are up 45% over 2007 and the median home price fell to $400,000. There have been two interest rate reductions in the last few weeks, along with home prices ‘on sale 30% off‘. Now is a great time to buy. Why wait for the market to bottom? You might just miss the bandwagon! Call me for more details or if you’d [...]

This article about a Taylor Woodrow community proves that almost anything can be negotiated when purchasing a new home. A few negotiable incentives include: Discounts: Asking price can be negotiated. Upgrades/Credits: Others ask for credits for upgrades or furnishings. Closing Costs: Mainly for those who are short on cash, the builder can pay closing costs. Rate Buy-Down: The builder will pay a premium to lower the interest rate of a buyer’s loan. Here are the highlights from the article: Jim Hammett, 64, was the first person to move into Taylor Morrison’s 76-unit Sendera development in Concord in November. His three-bedroom, [...]

Remodeling magazine’s report on average return on home improvements is as follows: Improvement Project Cost Value at Resale Rate of Return Bathroom Remodel $12,918 $10,970 84.9 percent Home Office $20,057 $12,707 63.4 percent Kitchen Remodel (minor) $17,928 $15,278 85.2 percent Kitchen Remodel (major) $54,241 $43,630 80.4 percent Roofing $14,276 $10,553 73.9 percent Sunroom Addition $49,551 $32,854 66.3 percent Window Replacement (vinyl) $10,160 $8,500 83.7 percen

Though families already in homes may be experiencing some turmoil thanks to the downturn in the housing market, first-time homebuyers and couples looking for starter homes (like me) may be able to take advantage of the market.  My husband and I just bought a new home for a great price in a great location—an area we couldn’t even consider a couple of years ago.  We had to wait in line for over 24-hours to get this great deal, but that was a small price to pay for a great investment. If you are considering buying a new home in today’s [...]