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Closing Costs to Buy a Home in Berkeley: What to Expect and How to Plan
Buyers in Berkeley should budget 2% to 3% of the purchase price for closing costs — typically $20,000 to $60,000 depending on purchase price, plus a Berkeley-specific transfer tax that can add $9,000 to $31,000 or more. When my clients start running the numbers on a...
February 2026 Real Estate Market Update
After a few months away from this newsletter, I'm back and there's a lot to cover. The year started with a national housing market hangover from December's strong finish, a fresh round of economic data, and a Federal Reserve that remains in wait-and-see mode. Here in...
Berkeley ADU Sales: What Homeowners and Buyers Need to Know
For years, accessory dwelling units—ADUs—have been one of the few ways Berkeley homeowners could expand their homes without dramatically altering the character of a neighborhood. Backyard cottages, garage conversions, and lower-level units have allowed families to...
The True Cost of Homeownership: What You Pay Beyond the Mortgage
When most homebuyers calculate whether they can afford a new home, they focus almost exclusively on one number: the monthly mortgage payment. It's the figure lenders qualify them for, the number discussed during showings, and the benchmark used to determine budgets....
2026 US Housing Market Forecast: Will the Market Find Its Footing?
Will 2026 be the year buyers stop waiting? Forecasters are split, predicting anywhere from 1.7% to 14% growth in home sales. That 12-point gap reveals the central question facing the housing market: how much will slightly lower mortgage rates and slowly eroding...
Berkeley’s 2026 BESO Requirements Guide
Big news for anyone buying or selling a home in Berkeley. Starting January 1, 2026, the Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) is getting a major upgrade with new resilience requirements that go beyond the current assessment-only process. As someone who's been...
Planning Your 2026 Real Estate Moves: A Guide to the Best Buying and Selling Seasons
Timing isn’t everything in real estate, but it can mean the difference between saving $20,000 or paying a premium, selling in 15 days or waiting three months, and negotiating from a position of strength or uncertainty. As we look toward the year ahead, understanding...
Can You Really Trust Online Home Valuations?
Can You Really Trust Online Home Valuations?