The Right Move
by Terrylynn Fisher, Broker Associate
So you’ve chosen the East Bay for your next home and/or you have a home to sell. The real estate market is still brisk, although the recent interest rate increase has changed things a bit. Multiple offers may be fewer than a year ago, which has caused some of the prices to level off in certain neighborhoods. Even so, proper preparation and staging can still maximize sale prices for sellers. Depending on the property, buyers are sometimes offering cash over the appraised value to obtain a home. Some buyers remove the appraisal contingency altogether. It depends on the condition and presentation of the home as to what a buyer is willing to offer as an incentive for the seller to take their offer. A good Realtor can help buyers prepare a winning bid, or advise the seller on improvements and staging to enhance their final sales prices. In many ways, this has not changed. The well-kept and well-presented properties sell, but added market dynamics are properties that sell twice, or come off the market without offers. The hope for buyers in the coming year is that the seller’s market balances out a bit so buyers can negotiate on their offers. For now, low inventory is keeping the pressure off prices and driving multiple offers.
San Francisco and South Bay home prices are forcing prospective homeowners to seek housing elsewhere. Our communities in the East Bay are good location choices for starter home buyers, move up buyers, retiring or move down buyers with public transportation and freeways within under 10 miles from most locations. Walnut Creek, Rossmoor, Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Concord, and Clayton are good choices for schools, shopping, and home shopping.
Our East Bay cities have a lot to offer. There are miles and miles of regional trails for biking and hiking. You can hike Mt. Diablo in the daytime hours and have music downtown in summer evenings. Many of our cities offer all of these amenities. Regionally, there are Farmer’s Markets, entertainment, public transportation, and Bart lines. SFO and Oakland Airports are near while Concord has its own small airport.
The Concord Pavilion attracts major bands in rock, blues, jazz, acoustic and hip-hop as well as graduations, home shows, and other events. Families can enjoy Waterworld, shopping malls and Imax and other movie theatres. There are a variety of highly-rated restaurants and steakhouses in the region and a growing beer trade, and of course the wine country. In other words, the region has everything to serve your varied interests, whatever they might be. There are college options like Diablo Valley College, St Mary’s College, Extension of Hayward State University that give local students options for their education.
All of this is why we all love living in the East Bay. It’s no surprise why the value and amenities are attractive. If you are thinking of selling or buying, the East Bay is still a good value for the quality of life it offers.
Terrylynn Fisher, Real Estate Broker leads Terrylynn-n-Team and is a 30-year + veteran of real estate with Dudum Real Estate Group, Walnut Creek, and author for the staging industry. CalBRE#01882902. www.BuyStageSell.com. CalBRE#0615420