We are now in the midst of the holiday season! As we are getting closer to Christmas and the New Year, we are seeing the typical cool-off in the real estate market. Let's take a look at October's sales statistics and the most up to date mortgage rates. Alameda, Marin and Napa counties are leading the pack in the transition to winter real estate, recording a moderate withdraw from high prices. Napa...

Dimmer Switch For Rental Properties: Should I Replace Them? The Bay Area is a highly competitive market, period. If you are a landlord or property owner, you may have thought about installing dimmer switches in your property thinking that it’s a good idea. Dimmer switches provide dwellers with full control of the amount of desired light, the bulbs last longer, you may be able to save electricity, and...

Gadget of the Month: One Touch Door Stopper We are still in the midst of the California fire season. As a long time California resident, I’m no stranger to these brutal fires. Many homeowners have lost their homes and sentimental belongings due to this tragedy. If you own a single family home, it is required that you have a self-closing mechanism between the garage and the house. This prevents...

Fall is in full swing! As temperatures drop and the rain fall begins, we shall be seeing changes in the real estate housing market. This year, you may have noticed a pumpkin shortage and price inflation due to the California drought and lack of labor. The haunting news regarding this seasonal item may have scared you, but that may not be the only spine-chilling fact.  Here's a look at September's...

Fall is upon us! The temperature took a huge dip this week and the fog is starting to roll in to stay. Here are a few home maintenance items that you can do to get your home ready for Fall/Winter. Clean and inspect your fireplace Fall/Winter is all about cider and hot cocoa by the fireplace. Like many, if you haven’t used your fireplace in the Spring/Summer months, then you should get it inspected...

Fall is officially here! Now that the kids are in school, the air is crisper, and PSLs are in full swing, what does this mean for the real estate market? Autumn has historically been a busy time in the industry for the Bay Area. This year, as we continue to face challenges set forth by covid-19, we are seeing sales constrained by low inventory. Are potential homebuyers still looking? Is the inventory going...

The pandemic has truly caused much headache for Bay Area dwellers. A rush of residents moved out of the Bay Area last year, some returning to their home states and some fleeing to less expensive cities. Because of this, many condo units went on the market. Veteran renters snatched up condos and became first time homeowners. But, is a condo the right type of property for you? If you are considering a condo...

"August is like the Sunday of Summer." -- Kelly Dwyer Growing up, I didn't particularly like Sundays because it meant that the next day will be Monday--a school day. Now, as an adult, I love Sundays! I get to spend time with my wife and daughter. Then, the next day, my week resets and I get to start a new week with new goals. The same goes for August and the housing market, despite the pandemic, it...

We are already halfway through summer! I'm here to bring you an update on June's market activity. Inventory Trend First of all, let's check the inventory trend. According to the data collected by the California Association of Realtors, the Bay Area housing inventory is hitting an all time low at 1.4 months of supply in June. You may notice that the Bay Area inventory has always been low compared to the...

In our previous 2 posts, we talked about How Long Does It Take to Rent Out My Unit in the Bay Area and How To Avoid Getting Sued in the Leasing Process. Today, we will take a look at exactly How Much Property Management Companies charge to rent out your property in the Bay Area. Common Leasing Fee Structure The two common leasing fee structures are: a high percentage of one month's rent, such as 75%...