Labor Day is a Good Time to Be Away! The Piedmont Perspective, Vol. 19

What's New?
School is back in session and the Labor Day weekend is quickly descending upon us. If you’re in the market for a new home, this is a great weekend to go AWAY! No kidding – you won’t be missing much. While "Coming Soon" signs are popping up throughout town – most, if not all, of these properties will be hitting AFTER Labor Day. So enjoy the beach, the campground, the lake, wine country, or the community swimming pool here in town and be prepared to dive in come mid-September. Whatever you do, stay away from the Bay Bridge which will be closed the entire weekend!

What's Coming?
The good news for those of you, who have patiently waited out the doldrums of summer, is that several new houses will be hitting the market and range from the mid-eight's on up! If your budget allows you to spend up to $2.6 million, you’re going to have several options coming your way. With choices ranging from traditional to contemporary, from central Piedmont to park settings, fantastic homes are right around the corner. I’ll pick just three that illustrate this range:

Linda McClain’s new listing on Harvard Road is an adorable and inviting 3- bedroom home featuring beautiful formal rooms with period detailing, hardwood floors, large updated kitchen and private rear garden.

Nancy Lerhkind brings to market a stately Craftsman Brown Shingle, featuring 5+ bedrooms and 3 & ½ baths overlooking Dracena Park, complete with family room and charming level garden that I’m personally salivating over. (How quickly could I sell my own home and hopscotch over without my husband noticing?)

And Anian Petit Tunney has listed yet another gracious and formal home, circa 1922, on Muir Avenue – arguably the prettiest street in Piedmont - which has four spacious bedrooms upstairs (two with views of SF) traditional floor plan, and a level back garden as well.

All three of these prolific women continue to represent wonderful homes and opportunities in and around Piedmont. With over 60 years of cumulative experience, it's hard to beat their market knowledge.

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, your first step really should be the Grubb Company. (Yes, I’m biased, but our track record allows for it.) The list doesn’t stop here so give me a call if you’d like to hear about other new listings cropping up in the next few weeks!

What's Pending?
The starter home on Greenbank Avenue went pending in eight short days making for another quick sale! But with only a handful of summer sales in Piedmont, pent-up buyer demand remains high. If you’re thinking of selling, now might just be the right time to make your move . . . Maybe you're on the fence and need an idea of what your house might garner in today's market? I'm happy to provide a complimentary market analysis of your home.

What's Happening Now?
Dress Best for Less is accepting your donations and open to serve your shopping needs Monday through Friday. Complete your Back- to- School shopping with new-to-you designer clothing from Dress Best for Less, pick up a pair of broken in soccer cleats (they really are better that way) or start hunting for ski wear now. Great clothing and household wares at low prices, and the proceeds benefit Piedmont Public Schools. 3861 Piedmont Ave. 658-8525 Open 10-5 M-F. Drop off your gently-used items at the collection point behind the pool in the center of town.

What's Fun!
Most of us know about the Village Market on Harbord and Broadway Terrace (who could miss the aroma of barbecued tri-tip in the parking lot?) but I’m stymied by the number of long-time residents who have yet to discover The Terrace coffee shop and gift store next door . . . This little gem of ingenuity not only makes the best Mochas and White Chocolate Lattes (yes-wickedly indulgent) in town, they have great seasonal holiday hot chocolates such as White Peppermint for the kids (My son Tristan, loves these.) Moreover, the owner, Helen, has partnered with several local schools to raise funds for public education throughout the Rockridge neighborhood and intends to work with Piedmont's schools this fall. This newly anointed citizen of the U.S. serves as an ambassador and an example to us all to give back a little of our good fortune. You’re going to drink coffee anyway (or pick up a mouth-watering tri-tip!). Why not stop at The Terrace and give it a try? And while you're there, peruse the shop for reasonably priced gifts, linens, cookbooks, jewelry, etc. (husbands, are you listening?) And don't forget to congratulate Helen on her newly acquired citizenship.

See you next week!


For more information about any of the properties or events listed above, please call me at The GRUBB CO.(510) 339-0400 x264. I'd love to share my real estate tips and my experience in the Piedmont community with you! To sign up for The Piedmont Perspective, go to www.thepiedmontperspective.com

Feel free to visit my website at JulieGardner.com for more information as well.

Ride the Wave! The Piedmont Perspective, Vol 17

What's New?
I’m back from my vacation, rested and revived, and have returned to a scant few new introductions (clearly August is the time to take a holiday).

Among these are Angela Grubb’s latest listing on Ranleigh Way – a 3bdrm/1bth home, close to Wildwood School, complete with architectural plans by Jarvis, for remodeling and expansion opportunities. Olive Avnue offers a 1977 3bdrm/3bth 2-story property, and on Trestle Glen, a 1959 mid-century home, features 3bdrms/2bths, swimming pool, secluded deck, and ample storage on a large lot. (By the way, mid-century homes are really enjoying a wave of new interest - especially those that have been updated with cool and sophisticated finishes!) Please call for more details or a showing of any of the above listed properties.

What's Coming?
Angela Grubb is also bringing on another spectacular view home on Scenic Avenue right. (Go Angela!) With 3 bdrms/2+bths and huge rumpus room, I'm looking forward to seeing it. Linda McClain, who's enjoyed a very active year, is bringing on a smaller but sweet 3bdrm/1bth honey of a home with private yard. However if SPACE is what you seek, Sandringham is still very much available and waiting for your offer. Both of these properties will be debuting right after Labor Day and should be nice additions to our thinning inventory.

What's Pending?
As expected, Wildwood went pending very quickly in just 8 short days! While the properties on Harvard and Olive Avenues took longer to sell, Piedmont still enjoys a very respectable 25 days on market (DOM) on average (average being the operative word).

However, several other properties were pulled off the market as sellers did not receive the offers they anticipated. This is, and has been, for several months, a market that requires perceived value! Don't price your property higher than the market will bear. Better to let the market carry you up, than to be perceived as overpriced. Remember, the market defines the value of your property regardless of what you expect, want, or need. Don't get attached to previous years' results and you won't be disappointed!

What's Happening Now?
After 10 days of sand and surf, it’s startling to come back and find mortgage concerns as the lead story in every major publication. Take heart and take a breath. Today's news is 80% psychology and 20% reality. If you have large cash reserves to work with, more cautious lending practices will serve to benefit you, as it tends to eliminate high-risk buyers, thus thinning out the buying pool.

If you have less to work with, contact your mortgage broker and formulate Plans B, C, and D (lending criteria is changing daily). My point is, that while big waves are breaking overhead, there are calmer waters down below and the expectation is that the market will settle down, although not immediately. Any correction often results in an overcorrection initially. Don't panic. With a good plan, you'll ride the wave safely into shore.

Need help financing or refinancing in today’s market? Competent, well-qualified mortgage brokers abound and are waiting to help you navigate rough seas. Feel free to call me for a referral to one or several mortgage brokers and let them get to work for you. Or to speak with a mortgage broker right away, call LaSalle Finance at (510) 339-4300 Expect to be able to document your income and to bring more equity to the table. Check the health of your credit scores, SOONER rather than later and take the necessary steps to improve it, if need be. The money market has returned to using good old-fashioned common sense and so should you!

What's Fun!
Soccer season is upon us and if you’re like me, you’ve got more than a few years of accumulated cleats, shin guards and assorted shorts and jerseys that your children have out outgrown and no longer use. Would you join me in supporting -THE MAVERICKS – a 12 and under girls elite team, who, along with their Ghana-born coach, will travel to West Africa later this year, to raise awareness for GIRLS' SOCCER? The Mavericks will not only play while visiting Ghana, but will also help launch one of the first soccer teams for school-age girls, in a country that largely supports boys sports exclusively.

Your gently used items may be dropped off at either the Montclair or Berkeley Grubb Offices, or you may email me your address and I’ll gladly pick them up and deliver them to my colleague Anja Plowright, whose daughter will be an important member of this elite team. For more information, go to: www.mavericksgirlsforghana.com or www.maverickssoccer.com

By the way, this makes a fun project for any teen looking for leadership opportunities. Organize and collect, but act quickly. The items are being sent in September!

Hope you missed me and see you next week!

Life Outside of Piedmont! The Piedmont Perspective, Volume 18

What's New?
With little to talk about in Piedmont, this week's edition features a duo of stunning view homes outside of our picturesque little hamlet. (Yes, there actually is life outside of Piedmont! Who knew?)

The incomparable Bebe McRae has two great new view listings. One on Skyline and the other on Stonewall - tucked neatly and conveniently behind Berkeley’s magnificent Claremont Hotel offering breathtaking vistas. Perhaps the only view better than a panoramic view, is the artistic view from Stonewall. Nothing sets off the bay quite as dramatically as looking through the tower of the Claremont Hotel. Foreground, background – it’s all about "perspective" and this house has it in spades . . . With 5+ bdrms/4.5bths, charming garden and a dramatic floor plan, it shouldn’t be missed.

Bebe’s listing on Skyline can't be found on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) so if you’re interested, you’ll need to contact her at: bmcrae@grubbco.com for a private viewing. These outstanding homes are fantastic alternatives to SF view homes.

Of course, I’m also available to show you either of these remarkable properties (or any others that strike your fancy) as well. . . Remember that it makes good practical sense to secure a buyer’s agent – one that represents your goals exclusively.

What's Coming?
A wonderfully renovated Colonial on Crocker will be hitting the market soon . . . I had the pleasure of representing the buyers two years ago when they purchased this wonderful turn-key property and know this charming home well. Have I whet your appetite? Let’s hope so. I’d love to bring the buyers in this time around too. Featuring 4bdrms/3bths, den, chef's kitchen, and wine room on a lovely tree-lined boulevard, this home is prettier now than the last time around (and it was really great then)!

Anne Feste brings to market a magical Rockridge Mediterranean on Templar just waiting to fulfill your dreams. Gracious proportions, a nearly level floor plan, vintage architectural detailing, updated kitchen, and an extra wide lot on a quiet cul-de-sac complete this unique opportunity. This one's nifty - especially if you love the process of creating a garden, as I do. Great for buying up - or for capturing your prop. 60 and 90 tax advantages and buying down. (Email me if you'd like to know more about either Propositions 60 or 90 and how they affect those over 55.)

What's Pending?
Only 12 Piedmont properties went pending during the months of July and August, which makes for slim pickin's. Let’s hope the inventory expands in September (I suspect it will). Use this lull to prepare for a busier Fall market - speak with a mortgage broker now if a move is in your near future or even if it's just part of your dreams. Wouldn't it be nice to know how much you can afford?

By the way, mortgage brokers are a great resource for refinancing as well. Think kitchen and bathroom remodels . . . the best choices for recapturing your investment.

What's Happening Now?
Speaking of remodeling, Angela Grubb has reduced her listing price on Ranleigh 100K! This is a project to be sure, but one that makes eminent sense and offers upside potential and return – especially now that the price had been dramatically reduced. Have you been itching for a Piedmont fixer? This just might be your ticket in!

What's Fun!
Happily (and a bit regretfully) school has begun. Have you checked out the new Football Field? Wow! It’s fantastic (and bright)! Even if you don’t have a teen on the football team, consider joining the town for a fun and entertaining (I'm talking about the alumni now) Friday night game at this spectacularly renovated stadium. Or lace up your jogging shorts and run a few laps around the refurbished track if football isn’t your game. We’re so fortunate to have this resource in the center of town. Thanks to all involved and please watch out for little pedestrians now that school is back in session.

I miss summer already. See you next week!

P.S. Care to share an upcoming event in the "What's Fun" category? Feel free to write back with any suggestions you may have. I love new ideas. I'm also busy filling in the community calendar. Look for updates at www.thepiedmontcalendar.com!