A special episode with one of our preferred lenders, Executive Vice President of Preferred Financial Group, Justen Meadows to find out what’s happening in the mortgage market today. We discuss ways Buyers and Sellers can navigate today’s higher rates and how to make a monthly payment affordable while pursuing the American Dream. We get into the nitty gritty of tax write-offs, different types of buy downs, how buydowns work, and why adjustable loans make good sense.

Tara Graham discusses how the pandemic changed her relationship with her home and ignited her search for a new space that would give her room to think and work creatively. She shares how she studied what lacked in her current space to decipher the exact elements she needed in her next home. We discuss the importance of weighing logic vs. feelings, and when to listen to that little voice within you. This episode was recorded in 2021

Fred Hertz has known his friend Carl for over 40 years, from the time he moved to the Bay Area. When Carl fell ill, with no family in the area, Fred took the lead on managing his affairs. In this interview, Fred shares the struggles, the victories, and lessons learned while leading an all-volunteer team who took care of everything: from the sale of the condo, to dealing with bureaucracy, unforeseen delays in plans, helping his friend understand and cope with his “new normal" and much more! The bottom line? Have a plan for when the unexpected happens.

Dear friends and clients, Chuck and Diana, share their recent experience of downsizing from what was by all accounts their dream home - swimming pool, 40 cabinet kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 car garage, and a stunning view - to a small 2 bedroom apartment (with 9 cabinets) in San Francisco. Here are a few highlights from our visit:

As California buckles down with a statewide Shelter in place, Buyers, Sellers, and Real Estate professionals are redefining the home buying process. While prioritizing the community’s safety, wellness, and our own ethical responsibility, Realtors are creating a plan to support those who need real estate support as an essential service. Listen as host, Kim Cole, shelters in place with a solo discussion of Real Estate sales in Oakland, and the greater bay are.

Vania Kong and Tom Kutz discuss the details of home investigations, disclosures, and the assessment of an imperfect home.

Jon shares the secret of his confidence moving forward on the very “fast” purchase of his new home. He explains the importance of his family, his lifestyle, intuition, and financial strategy to create the optimal comfort in the homebuying process. Listen to Jon’s hotlist for living and loving the KoNo/Uptown neighborhood.

Paul Thyssen and Weiming Pend discuss the opportunities that 1031 exchange offers when buying and selling properties, while deferring tax on capital gains. Paul shares his personal experience with 1031 exchange. Weiming discusses the process, benefits, and dangers that may be involved in the exchange process.

Statistics support significant increased value when professionally staging a home for sale. Amy discusses the psychology of staging, and the difference between staging and decorating. Kim and Amy discuss the ins and outs of professional staging, what factors to consider choosing a stager, and when it might be appropriate not to stage.

After migrating from a fully engaged Brooklyn lifestyle, Monica and Joe reflect on their experience with the Bay Area housing market, and Oakland’s culture. These city dwellers share their thoughts about the similarities and the differences of the often compared Brooklyn/Oakland communities.