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Ready to Buy or Sell a Home? Here Are 5 Key Factors in Choosing the Right Agent
Navigating the real estate market without guidance is like starting an expedition without a map. Whether you're selling your cherished family home or searching for your dream property, choosing the right real estate agent can make all the difference. According to a...

May 2025 – Real Estate Market Update
Wow! How things can change in just a few months. Tariffs, trade wars, stock market gyrations, and now a proposed tax bill that could add $4 trillion (or more) to the national debt. That must mean it's time for my May 2025 real estate market update. I'm going to look...

Berkeley’s BESO Overhaul: What Sellers and Buyers Need to Know
Berkeley has long stood at the forefront of progressive environmental policy, and nowhere is that more evident than in the city’s approach to building emissions. In 2015, the city launched the Building Emissions Saving Ordinance—commonly known as BESO—as part of a...

Berkeley EMBER Initiative Explained
In an era of accelerating climate change, few California cities are as vulnerable to wildfire as Berkeley. Nestled at the base of the East Bay Hills, with dense vegetation, historic homes, and narrow, winding roads, the city faces mounting risks from wind-driven...

Selling Your Home In 2025? Here’s What Buyers Want (And How To Deliver)
Thinking about listing your home in 2025? If so, you're smart to start planning ahead. With housing inventory rising in many market segments, today’s sellers need more than just a “for sale” sign to stand out. The good news? You can still make a strong impression and...

Mortgage Rates and the 10-Year Treasury: Are We Headed for a Decoupling?
As a Berkeley real estate professional, I keep a close eye on mortgage rate trends because they directly impact homebuyer affordability, market activity, and pricing. Traditionally, 30-year fixed mortgage rates have closely followed the yield on the 10-year U.S....

5 Roadblocks to Affordable Home Ownership
Dreaming of a new home but feeling priced out? You’re not alone! According to a recent survey by Bankrate, 78% of aspiring homebuyers cite affordability issues as their primary deterrent. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, home prices have risen around 32%...

March 2025 – Real Estate Market Update
Spring has arrived, and with it comes fresh insights into our evolving real estate landscape. For those who've been following my monthly updates (you can browse past reports here), you know we watch multiple factors that influence buying and selling decisions. Let's...