Alameda, CA

It's happening! Properties are selling. As a matter of fact, compared to adjoining cities, we're beginning to see brisk movement.

HOMES IN CONTRACT
In March, we saw 70 properties go into contract --- and that's the second highest month in the previous two years (June 2006 was ahead by 74). That means that 24 percent of inventory sold that month.

Compare that to Berkeley where 54 out of 206 properties went pending, or 18% of inventory, In Oakland, 236 out of 3174 went pending, or 7 % of inventory.

SHORT SALES AND FORECLOSURES
From another perspective, we are also seeing our share of short sales and foreclosures.

Out of 163 active residential listings as of May 2, 2008, we have 17 short sales and bank-owned properties or 10% of total. Compare that to Berkeley with 16 out of 120, or 13% of total. Or Oakland with 788 out of 1816 or 43% of total.

PRICE IT AGGRESSIVELY
For a property to sell today, the sage advice is to price it ahead of the market (realistically speaking, even less than the nearest comparable). Classic example: a home on Garfield at the desirable east end of Alameda received an offer in less than 24 hours after it was posted and was accepted in 3 days. The secret? Price!

STAGING SELLS
And....without question, how it looks is critically important. Staging plays a very important role especially since there are many properties to choose from.

THERE ARE BUYERS OUT THERE
Serious buyers are seriously looking. Since I posted my new condo listing by the beach, we've had numerous showings, and we haven't even had our first open house yet.

TIME MAGAZINE SAYS "IGNORE THE HEADLINES"
Many Buyers believe they can afford to be choosy, and even wait. Maybe waiting isn't such a good thing. An article in Time Magazine on Feb. 14, 2008 makes the case against waiting to buy. It's titled "Ignore the Headlines". Here's the link to copy/paste. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1713483,00.html


WHAT'S HAPPENING
We are seeing a trend of more realistic and in many cases aggressive pricing among the homes for sale. Sellers are begining to see and accept the reality that the selling frenzy of two or even three years ago is no longer the case today. As such, they may be more willing to reduce the price when the REALTORs recommend it, and more willing to negotiate the terms.

Single family homes are still the draw. Even fixers are finding an audience. Sales of condominiums and townhouses slowed, and we've seen several price reductions. Condominiums are still taking a bit longer to sell, averaging about 70-75 days on market.

1) What's your first name? "Jack"

2) Which city do you live in? "Alameda"

3) Neighborhood or district within that city? "Point Alameda in the West End"

4) Do you own or rent? "I Rent"

5) What occupation are you in? "Retail Visual Merchandising, I create department store displays"

6) Favorite restaurant? "Croll's - The New Zealander" " Phnom Penh House, a great Burmese restaurant on 8th Street in Oakland"

7) Do you have a business you'd like to promote? "Retirement"

In Alameda on Santa Clara Steet just North of Paru Street is the W.W. Dixon creation of Stonehenge, Stoneliegh and Stonefaire.

As chronicled in Storybook Style by Arroll Gellner, Stonehenge is an amazing example of a storybook home community.

The homes are built around pedestrian courtyards with lush gardens, fountians and benches. The buildings themsevles are wonderful example of tiny little storybook tudors. The homes look as if they are out of a fairytale and just simply evoke a pleasant feeling.

Automobile traffice to the garages to thes units are carried on alleyways around each complex. This keeps the fronts of the units facing the gardens and the strong sense of community.

I went to an open house yesterday there at the Tuesday broker's open. While walking to the unit, I ran across one of the residents that lives in one of the units. She was a pleasant lady to talk to.

I had mentioned that I was one of the original members of Storybookers.com and the associated Yahoogroup. She as going to pass the information about the group to some of the other homeowners. Storybookers, group had been kind of slow for the last few months and it would be nice to get some new activity.

Anyway, I was talking to this nice lady and she had mentioned how some of the residents had taken a tour of some of the other known Dixon and Hillen Homes and Projects, Picardy Drive in the Mills College area of Oakland and Ross Street in the Rockridge district of Oakland.

I then went on to view the open house. It was one of the spanish/mission revival buildings in the entire complex. This was one of the properties on the back side of the property that actually have an address on Lincoln. The REALTOR that showed the property had known some about the complex. She had mentioned that the part of the complex that these buildings was in was actually called Stonefaire. Something I hadn't known before. Just goes to show you learn something everyday.

Once again I had mentioned to her to join the online group of storybook fans, Storybookers and the associated Yahoogroup. Storybookers has about 180 members last time I looked.

Every summer, for three consecutive months of June, July and August, we have a free outdoor concert each month at Crab Cove,

It's a scene that every Chamber of Commerce would die for, and event that residents and their guests thoroughly enjoy.

This venue features live performances by different musical groups ranging from rock and roll to jazz to hot latin numbers.

Starting at 5:30 pm, people arrive using different modes of transportation. The local Bike Alameda organization even offers bike valet parking. Some do drive and never have any problems parking at the Crown Beach Memorial Park by the beach adjacent to the two dog parks and Crab Cove.

There are several picnic areas, but folks seem to prefer spreading out their picnic blankets and packing their choice of snacks. For people who don't bring their own food, there's a lot to choose from among the different food, wine and beer booths.

It's a merry mix of people from all ages and all walks of like. While listening to the music, turn your head to the side and you'll see an active game of soccer. Turn the other way and you'll see families and children wading in the water. Dogs who come with their owners are all well behaved and seem to revel in the festive air. There's a constant chorus of children laughing. How can one not enjoy such moments?

It's such a joy to attend these concerts --- just one of the many benefits of living in sunny Alameda.

When I attend one of my sister's soirees at her home in San Francisco and I tell her friends where I live, invariably someone will say, "Ala-where, Ala-what?" I have to tell them that I live in an island city located between San Francisco and Oakland, and to me, it's a paradise.

DISCOVER ALAMEDA

I live in Alameda, and many of my clients commute to San Francisco. When they couldn't afford to buy in the City, they decided to look to East Bay. It doesn't take them long to fall in love with our picturesque island with its many beautiful Victorians and other vintage homes, small town ambiance. Alameda is such a charming town that is so private and secure, yet so conveniently located for easy access to other cities. Alameda has great climate, great schools, and believe it or not, great food!

We think we've "arrived" now that we have our a shopping center by the beach featuring Trader Joe's, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, TJMaxx, and soon Border's bookstore. And in May 2008, the historic and restored Alameda Theater will open its doors to our first 8-cineplex!

As for fine restaurants....the chef of the famous Baywolf Café in Oakland has opened his own restaurant in Alameda called Pappo's. We also now have a new Cuban restaurant called Havana's. There's a really good Vietnamese restaurant called Dragon Rouge, the freshest sushi at Yume, dim sum at East Ocean, and more!

And to find out more about Alameda, here's what Wikipedia says about our lovely island town CLICK HERE.

We commute to San Francisco via ferry and express bus to SF. Or take the regular bus to Oakland to catch BART. But the express bus and the ferry are the best and most enjoyable ways to go to the City.

CRIME STATISTICS

Incidentally, I found this really good source of info for comparing crime statistics between cities. CLICK HERE . You can see that Alameda truly shines!

ALAMEDA SCHOOLS

Alameda has great schools, and is the school scores are collectively better than Oakland and other surrounding areas.
Check this out: for the API CLICK HERE

WINE TASTING

You can even go for wine-tasting at Rosenblum Cellars next to the ferry. It's open every day for wine tasting until 6 pm.

So come on, and discover our lovely town.