Coveted Real Estate - the Piedmont Perspective, Vol 80, January 21, 2009
What's New?
I typically steer clear of any political views in The Perspective, but having just watched Barack Obama take the oath of President of the United States, I should acknowledge that perhaps, the most highly coveted piece of property this week was anywhere along the parade route or in Capitol Mall in Washington D.C., where MILLIONS of heartfelt citizens vied for space and the opportunity to gather together to celebrate the change of leadership and to honor our first African American President - a fitting tribute, one day after The Martin Luther King Holiday and 46 years after Dr. King's, I have a Dream speech was immortalized in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963.
I grew up in Sacramento in the mid 60's in a fully integrated school system and never gave much thought to color. My life and environment was, not simply dotted, but heavily saturated with diversity. As I matured and entered the workforce, my friends, classmates and colleagues have seamlessly represented every ethnic, religious and sexual orientation - much to my benefit and growth. However, it occurred to me while watching the Presidential inauguration, and the many memorable and moving faces within the crowds, that change which was once forcibly mandated by law, has now been voluntarily embraced by choice.
No where is that concept more evident than here in Oakland and Berkeley where blended families seem to be the rule rather than the exception. On any given Sunday Open, I meet people from every walk of life and they echo this sentiment in our discussions. Oakland/Berkeley/Piedmont proudly serve as home to a kaleidoscope of nationalities, experiences, and beliefs. Our unique community isn't a color-blind society - it's a color-RICH society. (Isn't it the differences in texture and colors that make a patchwork quilt truly vibrant?)
These are indeed historical times. Like the many participants and well wishers that came together this week to share a sense of purpose, I am looking forward to profound changes - not only in Washington D.C. - but throughout the entire county. With renewed hope, I anticipate and embrace remarkable and profound changes ahead for all of us.
Let me remind you that I will be donating 10% of my net proceeds to the charity of your choice after the close of escrow throughout 2009!
What's Coming?
I will be joining Anian Tunney at her Open House this Sunday for 57 Lincoln Avenue, near Crocker Park. This exceptional grand Normandy home features 5bdrms/5++bths, elegant living and dining rooms, stunning kitchen leading to inviting stone patio and beautiful tiered gardens, au pair/guest suite down and indoor/outdoor children's play area. This truly beautiful home in the heart of Piedmont is pitch perfect! Open Sunday, 2-4;30pm Price: $3,450,000. www.grubbco.com
Mindy Scott's Traditional listing at 139 Waldo Avenue sits on one of Piedmont's most coveted blocks, offering instant community and a fabulous central Piedmont location. Featuring 4+bdrms/3bths, elegant formal rooms and a charming, open kitchen; this classic home is priced at $1,995,000. Open Sunday 2-4:30pm. www.grubbco.com
Make time to see Liz Dickson's wonderful listing at 341 El Cerrito Avenue in Central Piedmont. Just steps from the Recreation Center, the Community Pool and the Piedmont Middle and High Schools, this charming and inviting home has been completely rebuilt from stem to stern and is turn-key ready! Featuring 3bdrms/2.5bths, study, large kitchen/family room, open floor plan, sun filled spaces and a view of Mount Tamalpais, this is a surprisingly spacious home that lives big! Thanks to local Piedmont contractor Frank Silver and his wife, Paula, this home's thoughtful renovation was truly a "labor of love." Price: $1,695,000. Open Sunday 2-4:30pm. www.grubbco.com
Bebe McRae brings 210 Stonewall in Berkeley back to the market the first week in February. This fabulous 30's Wurster Modern sold very quickly a year and a half ago and is now available once again. If you missed that opportunity, here is your chance to purchase this spectacular home in the Claremont Hills with Bay View!
In Piedmont, don't overlook: 450 Hampton Road for $1,295,000; 58 Crest Road - a spacious Mid-Century Modern for $2,038,000, 633 Moraga Avenue - a sophisticated renovation for $1,195,000, and 70 Somerset Road for $1,795,000! www.grubbco.com
What's Pending?
The open and inviting 4bdrm/3bth home at 126 Dracena Avenue came on the market and went pending in rapid succession. List price: $1,495,000.
What's Happening?
Dennis Duffy of A Very Nice Mortgage Company, set me straight last week when I mistakenly said that the conforming loan limit was $615,000.
"Julie - Thoroughly enjoy your Wednesday Piedmont Perspective; however, The Conforming Jumbo Loans in our area are capped at $625,500." (I knew that, but just wanted to make sure YOU were paying attention).
And Zach Griffin of LaSalle Finace confirmed Dennis' quick observation. Here's the breakdown:
Conforming: > $417,000
Conforming Jumbo: $417,001 - $625,500
Jumbo (aka: the Super Jumbo): < $625,500
Why work with a Mortgage Broker instead of a Private Banker? "The advantage of working with a Mortgage Broker," according to Dennis " is that a Mortgage Broker has the opportunity to shop for the best rates and most favorable terms from many lenders and has the ability to fit the applicant to the lender. In contrast, the Private Banker is an extremely limited banker relationship and the services provided depend on the overall size of the managed account. The larger the account size, the more services offered."
Thanks gentlemen, for keeping me on my toes! (Now I'm sure I'll hear from some private bankers on the topic.)
What's Fun!
It should surprise no one that I was a fairly diligent Girl Scout in my day. I loved the uniform and knee socks; the wide green sash brimming with hard-earned tributes my sewing badge had taught me to carefully applique.
Each year, come January, my sister and I went door to door selling Girl Scout cookies to our neighbors. To this day, I still have an insatiable affinity for the Thin Mints (who doesn't?) but now there are so many more flavors from which to choose including: Lemon Chalets, Trefoil Shortbreads, Do-si-dos, Samoas, Dulce De Leche, Sugar Free Chocolate Chip, Real Chocolate Chip, Tagalongs, and Thin Mints.
Haven's Elementary student, Sophie Hodess, wrote me to say she is taking orders for cookies on behalf of her troop. Presales are open until February 1. If you would like to place an order, please email her at 5at5@comcast.net.
Cookies are $4.00 a box and I have already ordered mine (thin mints of course). Please support your local Girl Scouts!
This year as with last, a percentage of the earnings will go to charity.
The Piedmont Plug!
Now that change is in the air, I'd actually like to see it coming my way. (My windows have been overdue for a professional cleaning since last spring!)
Typically, I'd wait until the rains had come and gone, but Ben, the owner of Squeeky Windows is currently offering a 30% discount on ALL window cleaning though January 31, 2009 (now that my windows are sparkling, rain should be imminent).
You can secure your spot today by calling Squeeky Windows at 510-531-8138, but hurry! This discount only applies to work performed during the month of January.
While the crew of Squeeky Windows is at your home, you may want to ask them to clear your gutters as well. Before the next big storm develops, now is the time to maintain the performance of your roof, drains, and gutters!
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 email me at jgardner@grubbco.com. 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.
I typically steer clear of any political views in The Perspective, but having just watched Barack Obama take the oath of President of the United States, I should acknowledge that perhaps, the most highly coveted piece of property this week was anywhere along the parade route or in Capitol Mall in Washington D.C., where MILLIONS of heartfelt citizens vied for space and the opportunity to gather together to celebrate the change of leadership and to honor our first African American President - a fitting tribute, one day after The Martin Luther King Holiday and 46 years after Dr. King's, I have a Dream speech was immortalized in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963.
I grew up in Sacramento in the mid 60's in a fully integrated school system and never gave much thought to color. My life and environment was, not simply dotted, but heavily saturated with diversity. As I matured and entered the workforce, my friends, classmates and colleagues have seamlessly represented every ethnic, religious and sexual orientation - much to my benefit and growth. However, it occurred to me while watching the Presidential inauguration, and the many memorable and moving faces within the crowds, that change which was once forcibly mandated by law, has now been voluntarily embraced by choice.
No where is that concept more evident than here in Oakland and Berkeley where blended families seem to be the rule rather than the exception. On any given Sunday Open, I meet people from every walk of life and they echo this sentiment in our discussions. Oakland/Berkeley/Piedmont proudly serve as home to a kaleidoscope of nationalities, experiences, and beliefs. Our unique community isn't a color-blind society - it's a color-RICH society. (Isn't it the differences in texture and colors that make a patchwork quilt truly vibrant?)
These are indeed historical times. Like the many participants and well wishers that came together this week to share a sense of purpose, I am looking forward to profound changes - not only in Washington D.C. - but throughout the entire county. With renewed hope, I anticipate and embrace remarkable and profound changes ahead for all of us.
Let me remind you that I will be donating 10% of my net proceeds to the charity of your choice after the close of escrow throughout 2009!
What's Coming?
I will be joining Anian Tunney at her Open House this Sunday for 57 Lincoln Avenue, near Crocker Park. This exceptional grand Normandy home features 5bdrms/5++bths, elegant living and dining rooms, stunning kitchen leading to inviting stone patio and beautiful tiered gardens, au pair/guest suite down and indoor/outdoor children's play area. This truly beautiful home in the heart of Piedmont is pitch perfect! Open Sunday, 2-4;30pm Price: $3,450,000. www.grubbco.com
Mindy Scott's Traditional listing at 139 Waldo Avenue sits on one of Piedmont's most coveted blocks, offering instant community and a fabulous central Piedmont location. Featuring 4+bdrms/3bths, elegant formal rooms and a charming, open kitchen; this classic home is priced at $1,995,000. Open Sunday 2-4:30pm. www.grubbco.com
Make time to see Liz Dickson's wonderful listing at 341 El Cerrito Avenue in Central Piedmont. Just steps from the Recreation Center, the Community Pool and the Piedmont Middle and High Schools, this charming and inviting home has been completely rebuilt from stem to stern and is turn-key ready! Featuring 3bdrms/2.5bths, study, large kitchen/family room, open floor plan, sun filled spaces and a view of Mount Tamalpais, this is a surprisingly spacious home that lives big! Thanks to local Piedmont contractor Frank Silver and his wife, Paula, this home's thoughtful renovation was truly a "labor of love." Price: $1,695,000. Open Sunday 2-4:30pm. www.grubbco.com
Bebe McRae brings 210 Stonewall in Berkeley back to the market the first week in February. This fabulous 30's Wurster Modern sold very quickly a year and a half ago and is now available once again. If you missed that opportunity, here is your chance to purchase this spectacular home in the Claremont Hills with Bay View!
In Piedmont, don't overlook: 450 Hampton Road for $1,295,000; 58 Crest Road - a spacious Mid-Century Modern for $2,038,000, 633 Moraga Avenue - a sophisticated renovation for $1,195,000, and 70 Somerset Road for $1,795,000! www.grubbco.com
What's Pending?
The open and inviting 4bdrm/3bth home at 126 Dracena Avenue came on the market and went pending in rapid succession. List price: $1,495,000.
What's Happening?
Dennis Duffy of A Very Nice Mortgage Company, set me straight last week when I mistakenly said that the conforming loan limit was $615,000.
"Julie - Thoroughly enjoy your Wednesday Piedmont Perspective; however, The Conforming Jumbo Loans in our area are capped at $625,500." (I knew that, but just wanted to make sure YOU were paying attention).
And Zach Griffin of LaSalle Finace confirmed Dennis' quick observation. Here's the breakdown:
Conforming: > $417,000
Conforming Jumbo: $417,001 - $625,500
Jumbo (aka: the Super Jumbo): < $625,500
Why work with a Mortgage Broker instead of a Private Banker? "The advantage of working with a Mortgage Broker," according to Dennis " is that a Mortgage Broker has the opportunity to shop for the best rates and most favorable terms from many lenders and has the ability to fit the applicant to the lender. In contrast, the Private Banker is an extremely limited banker relationship and the services provided depend on the overall size of the managed account. The larger the account size, the more services offered."
Thanks gentlemen, for keeping me on my toes! (Now I'm sure I'll hear from some private bankers on the topic.)
What's Fun!
It should surprise no one that I was a fairly diligent Girl Scout in my day. I loved the uniform and knee socks; the wide green sash brimming with hard-earned tributes my sewing badge had taught me to carefully applique.
Each year, come January, my sister and I went door to door selling Girl Scout cookies to our neighbors. To this day, I still have an insatiable affinity for the Thin Mints (who doesn't?) but now there are so many more flavors from which to choose including: Lemon Chalets, Trefoil Shortbreads, Do-si-dos, Samoas, Dulce De Leche, Sugar Free Chocolate Chip, Real Chocolate Chip, Tagalongs, and Thin Mints.
Haven's Elementary student, Sophie Hodess, wrote me to say she is taking orders for cookies on behalf of her troop. Presales are open until February 1. If you would like to place an order, please email her at 5at5@comcast.net.
Cookies are $4.00 a box and I have already ordered mine (thin mints of course). Please support your local Girl Scouts!
This year as with last, a percentage of the earnings will go to charity.
The Piedmont Plug!
Now that change is in the air, I'd actually like to see it coming my way. (My windows have been overdue for a professional cleaning since last spring!)
Typically, I'd wait until the rains had come and gone, but Ben, the owner of Squeeky Windows is currently offering a 30% discount on ALL window cleaning though January 31, 2009 (now that my windows are sparkling, rain should be imminent).
You can secure your spot today by calling Squeeky Windows at 510-531-8138, but hurry! This discount only applies to work performed during the month of January.
While the crew of Squeeky Windows is at your home, you may want to ask them to clear your gutters as well. Before the next big storm develops, now is the time to maintain the performance of your roof, drains, and gutters!
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 email me at jgardner@grubbco.com. 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
11:40 AM
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