Expand the Box! The Piedmont Perspective, Vol 16
What's New?
There are few new listings as the summer progresses, with the expectation that August will bring fewer still. "Fixers" seem to be the common denominator of this week’s topic. While Wildwood offers a large and once grand fixer on a still larger lot, Oakmont presents a quaint Dutch fixer on a typical Piedmont lot.
While not for everyone, homes in need of TLC can be a great investment - as long as the selling price reflects the work required to bring them up to snuff. If you’re resilient and fixers are in your future, get a real sense of the costs involved and add 15-20% to your quote. Then have fun picking out the fixtures and the finishes and enjoy the process . . . That too, will take longer than you expected – but what a sense of accomplishment when the journey is completed. You won’t have paid for someone else’s design choices - they’ll all be yours. Careful though, you might just get addicted (my husband threatens to leave me if I don't stop)!
What's Coming?
September is coming and let’s hope it brings more choices and options than we currently have in the Piedmont marketplace. However, if you’re looking outside of our borders, there have been some terrific listings in surrounding neighborhoods – especially in Crocker Highlands (a personal fave) and Rockridge. For families interested in Piedmont, but not quite financially capable, these neighborhoods offer many of the same amenities – tree-lined streets, architecturally interesting homes and a real sense of community – for significantly less. Expand the box and look at all of the communities that the East Bay has to offer. There are many neighborhoods surrounding Piedmont, and all of them bring their own flavor and charm. Perhaps you’ll start in one and hopscotch your way over in a home or two if it's still important to you! (I bought, renovated, and sold 4 homes before landing in Piedmont). On the other hand, you may fall so in love with your new neighborhood, that you never leave. Life has a way of presenting interesting choices. . .
What's Pending?
Just like last week, fewer listings mean fewer pendings. We're in a bit of a holding pattern although I expect Wildwood should see some real action at the table today.
What's Happening Now?
I’m headed on vacation with my family for the next few weeks. I’ll return the second week in August. (Hopefully with a tan – I know it’s bad for you, but hard to resist. . .) I'll return with "The Perspective" in time for the fall market.
Speaking of the fall market, if you’re thinking of selling before 2008, September experiences a good bit of interest before the Holidays set in and the market cools dramatically. Speak with your agent now about what you need to accomplish to get your home on the market and ready to sell competitively.
What's Fun!
I’m one of those devoted crazies that walk my dog at the crack of dawn several days a week . . . Buck is a black Labrador Retriever (retrieve being the operative word) who never seems to get enough mileage, attention, or ball time. If I can combine all three, he’s in heaven. His favorite fun spot to swim and chase balls is The Bulb. Take I-80 to the Buchanan exit, past Berkeley, and turn left under the freeway, to the parking lot next to Bay Meadows. If you’re adventurous and don’t mind walking uneven terrain, follow the perimeter and you’ll come across massive, surreal, and magical sculptures, worthy of Picasso. Made from the surrounding concrete, wire, sticks, and stones their annoymous artists find in the environment, they are truly worth discovering. It’s almost better than a trip to the MOMA and your dog will love it too. Got a few kids? Take them as well and make it a family outing.
See you in a few weeks. I've got my Book Club reading to catch up on - preferably on a white sandy beach!
There are few new listings as the summer progresses, with the expectation that August will bring fewer still. "Fixers" seem to be the common denominator of this week’s topic. While Wildwood offers a large and once grand fixer on a still larger lot, Oakmont presents a quaint Dutch fixer on a typical Piedmont lot.
While not for everyone, homes in need of TLC can be a great investment - as long as the selling price reflects the work required to bring them up to snuff. If you’re resilient and fixers are in your future, get a real sense of the costs involved and add 15-20% to your quote. Then have fun picking out the fixtures and the finishes and enjoy the process . . . That too, will take longer than you expected – but what a sense of accomplishment when the journey is completed. You won’t have paid for someone else’s design choices - they’ll all be yours. Careful though, you might just get addicted (my husband threatens to leave me if I don't stop)!
What's Coming?
September is coming and let’s hope it brings more choices and options than we currently have in the Piedmont marketplace. However, if you’re looking outside of our borders, there have been some terrific listings in surrounding neighborhoods – especially in Crocker Highlands (a personal fave) and Rockridge. For families interested in Piedmont, but not quite financially capable, these neighborhoods offer many of the same amenities – tree-lined streets, architecturally interesting homes and a real sense of community – for significantly less. Expand the box and look at all of the communities that the East Bay has to offer. There are many neighborhoods surrounding Piedmont, and all of them bring their own flavor and charm. Perhaps you’ll start in one and hopscotch your way over in a home or two if it's still important to you! (I bought, renovated, and sold 4 homes before landing in Piedmont). On the other hand, you may fall so in love with your new neighborhood, that you never leave. Life has a way of presenting interesting choices. . .
What's Pending?
Just like last week, fewer listings mean fewer pendings. We're in a bit of a holding pattern although I expect Wildwood should see some real action at the table today.
What's Happening Now?
I’m headed on vacation with my family for the next few weeks. I’ll return the second week in August. (Hopefully with a tan – I know it’s bad for you, but hard to resist. . .) I'll return with "The Perspective" in time for the fall market.
Speaking of the fall market, if you’re thinking of selling before 2008, September experiences a good bit of interest before the Holidays set in and the market cools dramatically. Speak with your agent now about what you need to accomplish to get your home on the market and ready to sell competitively.
What's Fun!
I’m one of those devoted crazies that walk my dog at the crack of dawn several days a week . . . Buck is a black Labrador Retriever (retrieve being the operative word) who never seems to get enough mileage, attention, or ball time. If I can combine all three, he’s in heaven. His favorite fun spot to swim and chase balls is The Bulb. Take I-80 to the Buchanan exit, past Berkeley, and turn left under the freeway, to the parking lot next to Bay Meadows. If you’re adventurous and don’t mind walking uneven terrain, follow the perimeter and you’ll come across massive, surreal, and magical sculptures, worthy of Picasso. Made from the surrounding concrete, wire, sticks, and stones their annoymous artists find in the environment, they are truly worth discovering. It’s almost better than a trip to the MOMA and your dog will love it too. Got a few kids? Take them as well and make it a family outing.
See you in a few weeks. I've got my Book Club reading to catch up on - preferably on a white sandy beach!
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