Asking for Permission! The Piedmont Perspective, Vol 70, October 8, 2008
What's New?
Thrown by my inability to look into the future, I spent Friday cleaning out my closets in an attempt to control my own small corner of the world. For me, there's something incredibly calming about seeing everything in its proper place.
In spite of Congress' approval of the 700-billion dollar stimulus plan (plus!) none of us really knows how this will all shake out or what priorities will need to be reexamined. We do know it will take several weeks for the money to percolate through the system amd several more to guage the impact. In short, this isn't a quick fix!
In the meantime, buyers are reluctant to take that first step into the market. Worried that sales prices will correct further (in spite of strong bay area sales) buyers are holding back until someone else makes that first bold move. Everyone is waiting for permission. Hmmm. While waiting makes sense from an emotional point of view, it doesn't necessarily make sense from a financial one.
When a buyer and a seller meet at the negotiation table - without competition - there is obviously, much greater parity. Without the pressure of another offer in the wings, buyers can negotiate terms and conditions with a receptive seller (Isn't that nice for a change?) Buyers, here is the market you have been pining for, so good news - I am giving you permission . . .
Hmmm . . . Guess what? You don't need my permission, nor do I have the authority to give it. Frankly, the more I encourage you to buy OR to sell (even if I believe the circumstances merit it) the less credible I become. YOU are the only one that can decide your level of risk, your confidence in the marketplace and your desire to participate in it.
Until then, I am here to inform you, to advise you, and to assure you to the best of my ability. My job isn't to sell you a home - my role is to give you advice you can trust! While I can't control the outcome of the market, I certainly can control my efforts and my intentions with respect to my actions and with regard for yours. So I am here to support your decision - whatever that decision is; buy, sell or sit it out - it's up to you.
In the meantime, with closets well organized, I have now moved on to the drawers in my home. I will be here when you are ready.
Just give me a call!
What's Coming?
Anne Feste brings a remarkable and historic example of "First Bay Tradition" architecture to the market at 9 Tamalpais Road in the Berkeley Hills. This spacious and spectacular residence, designed by Harris Allen in 1915 features 4bdrms/2.5bths, formal living and dining rooms, original inglenook, updated kitchen, large rumpus room down, many built-ins and triple French doors leading to a large deck overlooking a verdant garden with mature redwood trees. A north bay/Marin view completes this stunning setting. Only two owners have had the privilege of calling this magnificent home their own. This is your opportunity to be the third! Price: $1,495,000. Open Sunday 2-4:30.
www.9tamalpais.com
At $780,000, the Prairie style home at 1042 Winsor Avenue in Piedmont is a great jumping off point. Near Wildwood Elementary and Lakeshore Avenue, this 2+bdrm/1bth home with eat-in kitchen, formal living and dining rooms and hardwood floors is a solid value.
Anthony Riggins has listed a treasured storybook home at 1615 Trestle Glen Road in coveted Crocker Highlands. From the hand forged iron gate to the terraced garden and waterfall out back, this charming 2bdrm/2bth home with serpentine staircase, brick and stone chimney, and separate master suite offers a storybook lifestyle . Price: $925,000. Open Sunday 2 -4:30 www.grubbco.com
At the corner of Scott Street and Fairbanks Avenue in Upper Lakeshore, stands a stately old-world 1912 Craftsman gem with classic craftsman details thoughout, including box beamed ceilings, wainscotting, built-ins, hardwood floors, and dramatic staircase. Featuring 3bdrms/2bths and attic expansion potential, this spacious home with brick patios, lovely yard and sweeping downtown Oakland views is truly elegant. Price: $950,000
Whether to live in or to invest in, 4135 Howe Street, just off Piedmont Avenue, is an elegant Craftsman bungalow. This sweet home features 2bdrms/1bth, sun-filled open floor plan, fabulous cook's kitchen and French doors leading out to a large patio and level yard. Close to Kaiser Hospital and Piedmont shops and restaurants, this wonderful location is just right! Price: $675,000.
Please give me a call if you would like to see any of these properties.
What's Pending!
GRUBB Co's 3 bedroom home on Saint James went pending in quick time. Here is a buyer who recognized and capitalized on a good opportunity! I suspect that strong public schools and a safe community are going to be reassuring commodities that prove more valuable than ever. With the rising expense of private education in a shifting economy, we may see an even greater demand for homes in neighborhoods offering high-performing public schools.
What's Happening?
Speaking of high-performing public schools, it's that time of year when those dreaded letters arrive asking us all to donate to the Piedmont Schools Annual Campaign. Having spent too many years with two kids in the incredibly expensive private school sector before discovering Piedmont, I want to remind all of you that we have a remarkably good deal here where 98% of our kids matriculate on to colleges of their choice!
While property and transfer taxes typically serve our schools better than most districts, the collected amount doesn't begin to cover the entire expense of our kids' education (even in good years) - especially when we wish to retain sports, music and arts as part of their curriculum!
In a year that has seen a significant decrease in the number of homes sold, the transfer taxes will fall far short of previous years. This year, your contribution is going to be more important than ever! To steal a line from a fundraiser I attended earlier this year: "give generously and give an amount that makes you proud."
I am told that roughly 50% of families with school age children donate annually (hard to believe only half contribute). Here is the reality: EVERYONE needs to give - even if you can only give a little. Your children will thank you for making their education a priority (but probably not right away) your community will prosper and as an added bonus, your home values will remain strong. Coveted schools have a direct correlation on property values!
To donate online: www.piedmontparents.org
What's Fun!
Is there anyone who hasn't been on YouTube recently watching Tina Fey impersonate vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin? (Don't worry, I know better than to get political with you - I'm simply sequeinging into a new technical development at The GRUBB Co!)
The GRUBB Co. has recently added YouTube to its list of technical achievements. You can now see The GRUBB Co. listings on YouTube. Last week, GRUBB Co. listings were viewed almost 1400 times with an average of 19 views per show! That's a lot of active lookers. Now that's fun!
The Piedmont Plug!
Elegant Clutter is having its annual Holiday Extravaganza sale on October 11 & 12. Last year, several of us ladies got together for lunch and a little pre-holiday shopping at this wonderful home accessory store in Danville. Owned and operated by Piedmont resident, Mary Burczyk, Elegant Clutter is sure to have that special item that sets your table apart, adorns your tree, or welcomes your guests.
Make a day of it and enjoy this remarkable emporium (it's worth the drive!). There is something special to discover around every corner!
Elegant Clutter -702 Sycamore Valley Road West, Danville.
925-837-1001 www.elegantclutter.com
See you next week!
THANKS FOR READING!
For more information about any of the properties or events listed above, please call me at (510) 339-0400 x264, or simply respond to this email. I'd love to share my real estate tips and my experience in the Piedmont community with you!
Feel free to visit my website at JulieGardner.com for more information as well.
Thrown by my inability to look into the future, I spent Friday cleaning out my closets in an attempt to control my own small corner of the world. For me, there's something incredibly calming about seeing everything in its proper place.
In spite of Congress' approval of the 700-billion dollar stimulus plan (plus!) none of us really knows how this will all shake out or what priorities will need to be reexamined. We do know it will take several weeks for the money to percolate through the system amd several more to guage the impact. In short, this isn't a quick fix!
In the meantime, buyers are reluctant to take that first step into the market. Worried that sales prices will correct further (in spite of strong bay area sales) buyers are holding back until someone else makes that first bold move. Everyone is waiting for permission. Hmmm. While waiting makes sense from an emotional point of view, it doesn't necessarily make sense from a financial one.
When a buyer and a seller meet at the negotiation table - without competition - there is obviously, much greater parity. Without the pressure of another offer in the wings, buyers can negotiate terms and conditions with a receptive seller (Isn't that nice for a change?) Buyers, here is the market you have been pining for, so good news - I am giving you permission . . .
Hmmm . . . Guess what? You don't need my permission, nor do I have the authority to give it. Frankly, the more I encourage you to buy OR to sell (even if I believe the circumstances merit it) the less credible I become. YOU are the only one that can decide your level of risk, your confidence in the marketplace and your desire to participate in it.
Until then, I am here to inform you, to advise you, and to assure you to the best of my ability. My job isn't to sell you a home - my role is to give you advice you can trust! While I can't control the outcome of the market, I certainly can control my efforts and my intentions with respect to my actions and with regard for yours. So I am here to support your decision - whatever that decision is; buy, sell or sit it out - it's up to you.
In the meantime, with closets well organized, I have now moved on to the drawers in my home. I will be here when you are ready.
Just give me a call!
What's Coming?
Anne Feste brings a remarkable and historic example of "First Bay Tradition" architecture to the market at 9 Tamalpais Road in the Berkeley Hills. This spacious and spectacular residence, designed by Harris Allen in 1915 features 4bdrms/2.5bths, formal living and dining rooms, original inglenook, updated kitchen, large rumpus room down, many built-ins and triple French doors leading to a large deck overlooking a verdant garden with mature redwood trees. A north bay/Marin view completes this stunning setting. Only two owners have had the privilege of calling this magnificent home their own. This is your opportunity to be the third! Price: $1,495,000. Open Sunday 2-4:30.
www.9tamalpais.com
At $780,000, the Prairie style home at 1042 Winsor Avenue in Piedmont is a great jumping off point. Near Wildwood Elementary and Lakeshore Avenue, this 2+bdrm/1bth home with eat-in kitchen, formal living and dining rooms and hardwood floors is a solid value.
Anthony Riggins has listed a treasured storybook home at 1615 Trestle Glen Road in coveted Crocker Highlands. From the hand forged iron gate to the terraced garden and waterfall out back, this charming 2bdrm/2bth home with serpentine staircase, brick and stone chimney, and separate master suite offers a storybook lifestyle . Price: $925,000. Open Sunday 2 -4:30 www.grubbco.com
At the corner of Scott Street and Fairbanks Avenue in Upper Lakeshore, stands a stately old-world 1912 Craftsman gem with classic craftsman details thoughout, including box beamed ceilings, wainscotting, built-ins, hardwood floors, and dramatic staircase. Featuring 3bdrms/2bths and attic expansion potential, this spacious home with brick patios, lovely yard and sweeping downtown Oakland views is truly elegant. Price: $950,000
Whether to live in or to invest in, 4135 Howe Street, just off Piedmont Avenue, is an elegant Craftsman bungalow. This sweet home features 2bdrms/1bth, sun-filled open floor plan, fabulous cook's kitchen and French doors leading out to a large patio and level yard. Close to Kaiser Hospital and Piedmont shops and restaurants, this wonderful location is just right! Price: $675,000.
Please give me a call if you would like to see any of these properties.
What's Pending!
GRUBB Co's 3 bedroom home on Saint James went pending in quick time. Here is a buyer who recognized and capitalized on a good opportunity! I suspect that strong public schools and a safe community are going to be reassuring commodities that prove more valuable than ever. With the rising expense of private education in a shifting economy, we may see an even greater demand for homes in neighborhoods offering high-performing public schools.
What's Happening?
Speaking of high-performing public schools, it's that time of year when those dreaded letters arrive asking us all to donate to the Piedmont Schools Annual Campaign. Having spent too many years with two kids in the incredibly expensive private school sector before discovering Piedmont, I want to remind all of you that we have a remarkably good deal here where 98% of our kids matriculate on to colleges of their choice!
While property and transfer taxes typically serve our schools better than most districts, the collected amount doesn't begin to cover the entire expense of our kids' education (even in good years) - especially when we wish to retain sports, music and arts as part of their curriculum!
In a year that has seen a significant decrease in the number of homes sold, the transfer taxes will fall far short of previous years. This year, your contribution is going to be more important than ever! To steal a line from a fundraiser I attended earlier this year: "give generously and give an amount that makes you proud."
I am told that roughly 50% of families with school age children donate annually (hard to believe only half contribute). Here is the reality: EVERYONE needs to give - even if you can only give a little. Your children will thank you for making their education a priority (but probably not right away) your community will prosper and as an added bonus, your home values will remain strong. Coveted schools have a direct correlation on property values!
To donate online: www.piedmontparents.org
What's Fun!
Is there anyone who hasn't been on YouTube recently watching Tina Fey impersonate vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin? (Don't worry, I know better than to get political with you - I'm simply sequeinging into a new technical development at The GRUBB Co!)
The GRUBB Co. has recently added YouTube to its list of technical achievements. You can now see The GRUBB Co. listings on YouTube. Last week, GRUBB Co. listings were viewed almost 1400 times with an average of 19 views per show! That's a lot of active lookers. Now that's fun!
The Piedmont Plug!
Elegant Clutter is having its annual Holiday Extravaganza sale on October 11 & 12. Last year, several of us ladies got together for lunch and a little pre-holiday shopping at this wonderful home accessory store in Danville. Owned and operated by Piedmont resident, Mary Burczyk, Elegant Clutter is sure to have that special item that sets your table apart, adorns your tree, or welcomes your guests.
Make a day of it and enjoy this remarkable emporium (it's worth the drive!). There is something special to discover around every corner!
Elegant Clutter -702 Sycamore Valley Road West, Danville.
925-837-1001 www.elegantclutter.com
See you next week!
THANKS FOR READING!
For more information about any of the properties or events listed above, please call me at (510) 339-0400 x264, or simply respond to this email. I'd love to share my real estate tips and my experience in the Piedmont community with you!
Feel free to visit my website at JulieGardner.com for more information as well.
posted by Julie at
8:32 AM
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