Michael Greenslade

Well blog readers, sorry I have taken so long to post a new blog post.

Guess what

I have been busy helping clients. I just finished with two closed escrows. I was working with Tommy and Rachel finding them a nice ranch styled home in Hayward. I was also working with Xiaodong and Faqiang getting them an investment property in Pittsburg.

I have been trying some new marketing. On Sundays when all the house hunters are out looking for open houses, I have been placing my tent sign out at the corner of Bancroft & Dutton with large print printout reading "LIST OF LOCAL HOMES FOR SALE". I then printout the MLS list for the area and supply them in an large envelope attached to the tent sign. Home hunters have been very receptive of this house hunting tool. If you're in the area on a Sunday, stop off at Zocalo Coffeehouse www.zocalocoffeehouse.com for a mocha or latte and then pick up one of my lists at the corner. If you come across a property that you would like more information and would like to see in person, please give me a call at 510 334-7800

Two houses are available on Superior Avenue 565 and 666. 565 is a beautiful well kept storybook style tudor built by Derry, Weaver & Derry as part of the "Cherry City Tract". 666 is a fantastic corner lot 1940s art-deco home built by Derry Bros. I'd love to sell one of these homes to you.

Lets go and find your dream house for you.

• city or town where property is located: Oakland California
• neighborhood where property is located: Trestle Glen
• price the property is currently listed at: $ 425,000
• homes in the same neighborhood are selling for: $ 460,000.00 to $563,000.00
• difference in value between this property and the comps: $ 35,000.00 to $138,000.00
• probate / short sale / R.E.O. / 1031 exchange / traditional:
• days on market 30

On visual inspection of this property I have noticed that the following repairs would make a difference. Here is a list of suggested projects along with the estimated costs involved. Please consider the cost price estimates to be for supplies only. These postings are for contractor investors or serious do-it-yourself homeowners.

What is most amazing about this property is it's size.....67,082 square foot lot in Trestle Glen. Just imagine the possibilites here. Subdivide? Build new and sell other units? Check with the city of course on what can be done but.....WOW The last time a home sold with a large lot in the area (6/13/2005) was a 7,650 square foot lot and it went for $875,000.00....And it was really close to this property. Imagine almost 9X the property. Sure prices have changed in the last several years but, the economy of scale has not. There is great potential here. Give me a call and let's take a look at it together

1. project: Total rehab of house $125,000.00 min
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For the property address and further information, please contact me at: 510 334-7800

I would like to help you take advantage of this opportunity / investment

I have this idea.

I have always wanted to work with a group of flippers and get them to best maintain the architectural integrity of an older property.

I would like to see a reality show of a group of first time home flippers each taking on their own house flipping projects.

Of course, I could host te show.

Being from the San Francisco Bay Area, the show could be based in this area. HGTV has based shows here before, such as curb appeal.

Each group would have challenges or tasks to accomplish along the way.

Each contestant would purchase a home of the same type and size. For the example of this would be, let's say a craftsman home. So the contestants would not compete directly with each other when the houses come back on the market. each contestant would be in a nieghboring town or district.

The contestant who gets the best return, or quickest sale would win some prize. The prize could be another property for them to flip again with the knowledge they just gained.

What are your ideas?

Here is a breakdown of homes available in our local towns. The data reflects today March 15th, 2009. The data is broken down to the number of homes broken down into pricing catagories and the number of homes in each catagory.

This number reflects condos, townhouses and detached single family homes. This does not include the listing for duplexes and multiple family residences.

San Leandro MLS AREA: 3100

• under 199k = 37
• 200k - 299k = 60
• 300k - 399k = 57
• 400k - 499k = 30
• 500k - 599k = 15
• 600k - 699k = 7
• 700k - 799k = 0
• 800k - 899k = 2
• 900k - 999k = 0
• over 1M = 2

Oakland MLS AREA: 2600

• under 199k = 536
• 200k - 299k = 203
• 300k - 399k = 113
• 400k - 499k = 62
• 500k - 599k = 41
• 600k - 699k = 41
• 700k - 799k = 41
• 800k - 899k = 21
• 900k - 999k = 19
• over 1M = 51

Hayward MLS AREA: 3400

• under 199k = 167
• 200k - 299k = 226
• 300k - 399k = 90
• 400k - 499k = 54
• 500k - 599k = 21
• 600k - 699k = 31
• 700k - 799k = 10
• 800k - 899k = 11
• 900k - 999k = 4
• over 1M = 9

Alameda MLS AREA: 2900

• under 199k = 2
• 200k - 299k = 16
• 300k - 399k = 8
• 400k - 499k = 23
• 500k - 599k = 23
• 600k - 699k = 17
• 700k - 799k = 14
• 800k - 899k = 8
• 900k - 999k = 4
• over 1M = 14

Berkeley MLS AREA: 2300

• under 199k = 1
• 200k - 299k = 6
• 300k - 399k = 14
• 400k - 499k = 13
• 500k - 599k = 14
• 600k - 699k = 10
• 700k - 799k = 7
• 800k - 899k = 3
• 900k - 999k = 4
• over 1M = 20

Castro Valley MLS AREA: 3300

• under 199k = 0
• 200k - 299k = 13
• 300k - 399k = 25
• 400k - 499k = 31
• 500k - 599k = 25
• 600k - 699k = 23
• 700k - 799k = 18
• 800k - 899k = 16
• 900k - 999k = 10
• over 1M = 13

I love San Leandro

I am deeply saddened however by the destruction of the 1950s mid century modern "googie" style EBMUD office on Washington Boulevard in the Downtown area.

What a cool building this "was". It had a precast concrete roof in a really interesting rolling wave pattern.

The water utility EBMUD gave up on selling the property and let the city tear down the building for a parking lot. This parking lot would serve the shoppers for the downtown farmer's market on Wednesday evenings.

Why didn't someone on the city council or the library's historical committee speak up and save this crazy googie mid century modern building.

To me San Leandro is only content on knocking down everything that is not Mission Revival stucco and with a red tile roof. I am not in favor of a fake hacienda look for Downtown San Leandro.

I would like to see a variety of styles downtown. Let's see some modern contemporary. Let's see some Art Deco. Let's see some Victorian. Let's see some craftsman. Let's even have some funky roadside vernacular.

I should run for city council and help preserve some of what makes this city such a nice place to live.