Click here to read the full article.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Senators agree to extend homebuyer tax credit - Yahoo News Article
This is awesome! Not only has the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers been extended until the end of April (end of April to sign a contract, end of June to close), but they have also added a $6,500 tax credit for repeat home buyers who have owned their current homes for over five years.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Energy Bills Are Yet Another Dealkiller/Maker - Realty Times article
Click here to read the full article, or just read some of my highlighted quotes from the article below:
"home buyers are not only looking at their commute times, they're also looking closely at energy efficiency in the homes they buy"
"But what about buyers looking at existing homes? One of the questions that a buyer may ask a seller to provide copies of their utility bills, but that may only reflect the family's habits and the cost of their service provider."
"A better way to determine the energy efficiency of a home is to conduct a simple inspection of the home they are considering buying."
"An inefficient home can lead to $20 of wasted money due to leakage for every $100 spent on heating and cooling"
"If a buyer or seller wants professional advice, they can turn to Home Energy Rated Services (HERS.)"
If you would like information on how to contact a HERS rater, I can recommend two HERS raters who I have worked with on projects that are both incredible.
"home buyers are not only looking at their commute times, they're also looking closely at energy efficiency in the homes they buy"
"But what about buyers looking at existing homes? One of the questions that a buyer may ask a seller to provide copies of their utility bills, but that may only reflect the family's habits and the cost of their service provider."
"A better way to determine the energy efficiency of a home is to conduct a simple inspection of the home they are considering buying."
"An inefficient home can lead to $20 of wasted money due to leakage for every $100 spent on heating and cooling"
"If a buyer or seller wants professional advice, they can turn to Home Energy Rated Services (HERS.)"
If you would like information on how to contact a HERS rater, I can recommend two HERS raters who I have worked with on projects that are both incredible.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Freecycle - Why It's a Great Site for Home Buyers and Sellers
We all know how much "stuff" can be accumulated in our homes. In fact, we are very aware of it whenever we have to move. Yet, once we move to our new location, we always find ourselves in "need" of more stuff that will fit with our new home.
This is where Freecycle come in handy. The Freecycle Network™ (click here to visit the site) is, according to the site, "made up of 4,836 groups with 6,647,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills."
It is free to join and once you become a member you search for your community and then look to see what you can find or start to get rid of stuff.
Green your move by keeping your old stuff out of landfills, helping someone else who is in need of your old stuff and in the meantime find some new stuff for your new place!
Now everyone is happy!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
"How To Find 'Green' Contractors" - Realty Times Article
Click here to read an article from Realty Times about how to find a "green" contractor. The article references Marc Richmond, president of Practica Consulting in Berkeley. Marc Richmond is the trainer who I worked with in order to become a Certified Green Building Professional through Build It Green.
Marc says in the article, "While virtually no government regulatory agency license contractors specifically as "green" you can find otherwise licensed contractors affiliated with or certified by the U.S. Green Building Council; Build It Green; the National Association of Home Builders; the National Association of Remodeling Industry and other building trade groups".
Marc says in the article, "While virtually no government regulatory agency license contractors specifically as "green" you can find otherwise licensed contractors affiliated with or certified by the U.S. Green Building Council; Build It Green; the National Association of Home Builders; the National Association of Remodeling Industry and other building trade groups".
Of course, if you're looking for a green contractor in Alameda, you can call McCaffrey Custom Construction at 510.86.GREEN (864.7336) or e-mail Info@McCaffreyCustom.com. Also check out the website at www.McCaffreyCustom.com.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Seven Misstatements Sellers Make - Article by Don Dunning
There was a great article in the Alameda Journal published October 16th written by Don Dunning, titled "Seven Misstatements Sellers Make". Here are the mistakes that Don discusses. To read the full article, click here.
1. "My house is better than..."
2. "At that price, I would be giving it away"
3. "The buyer can pay for his own reports"
4. "I don't need to tell the buyers about..."
5. "I don't want a 'For Sale' sign in front or any open houses"
6. "I am not going to disrupt my life by removing furniture and other stuff"
7. "I just need an agent who will sell the house for me"
In addition to Don's incredibly well stated explanations for why these statements harm the seller, Don also concluded with a great point:
"Anyone can make a sale; you need an individual with local knowledge and experience who will stand in your shoes and do what is right for you.
There is one thing sellers rarely say - 'I am looking for an agent who will work in my best interests'. When they look back and see how the "salesperson" got the house sold, they may realize that their interests were not put first. At that point, it is too late".
First Time Home-Buyer Federal Tax Credit - FAQ's
Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions in regards to the Federal Housing Tax Credit for 1st time home buyers.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Alameda Magazine's Best of Alameda 2009
Click here to read Alameda Magazine's Reader's Choice list for 2009.
About Kate McCaffrey
Kate McCaffrey is a Realtor, Certified Green Building Professional and co-founder of McCaffrey Custom Construction, Inc., an Alameda based company specializing in residential remodels with an emphasis on green building practices.
Kate's 5 years of construction experience give her a strong understanding of the costs involved in repairs and renovations of a home. Kate also has a unique ability to visualize a home's potential as well as a home's "red flags". Her strong understanding of the costs involved in renovations and her keen sense of what the latest trends are in home design help her clients make smart choices both in buying and in selling their home.
Kate also has access, through McCaffrey Custom Construction, to many discounts on products, materials and services that make green building options even cheaper, in some cases, than the retail price of standard upgrades. In addition, Kate gives all of her clients a 5% commission rebate towards green home-improvements through her Give Back GreenTM program. In this capacity, Kate can help her client's save time, money and hassle while making their home even more valuable. sustainable and attractive.
Kate also utilizes an exclusive high-end marketing tool for her sellers, called Green PrintsTM, in which architectural renderings of the home are created (by a local Alameda architectural firm), that point out important green, or standard, features and attributes of the home. This ensures that potential buyers are quickly and effortlessly educated on the client's home and its special or noteworthy upgrades and details.
As a 5th generation Alamedan, Kate knows the subtle nuances of the community extremely well, which is why she focuses exclusively on the Alameda residential real estate market. She knows that such in-depth knowledge of the area, with its many varied neighborhoods, is vital in marketing her listings and in finding the right neighborhood for her buyers.
As a homeowner, Kate has a great appreciation for and understanding of the client/agent relationship. She values and understands the importance of being prepared, organized, thorough, keeping her clients well informed and educated throughout the entire transaction and beyond, and most importantly, being a strong advocate for her clients.
Kate brings an unparalleled set of experience and attributes to her career as an Alameda Realtor, all of which add value to her clients. An organized, people-oriented person with a Bachelor's degree in Communications and a background in marketing at the world's largest commercial real estate firm, CBRE, Kate's knowledge and experience combined with her professional demeanor and positive and persistent attitude make her an exceptionally qualified Realtor.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member of:
Build It Green
Alameda Association of Realtors
California Association of Realtors
National Association of Realtors
Former member of:
International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
CBRE Center for Professional Education – Awarded Best Marketing Presentation – CB 101 (2005)
EDUCATION
Certified Green Building Professional
Licensed California Real Estate Salesperson
University of California at Santa Barbara – BA in Communications
COMPANY
Bayside Real Estate specializes in residential properties within Alameda. We are intimately familiar with our “Island City” and represent both buyers and sellers in all price ranges. By remaining small and exclusive, Bayside can guarantee you personal attention and professional thoroughness. Our full time professional agents take pride in matching clients with just the right home, be it a townhome, condominium, single-family modern or vintage home.
We love what we do at Bayside and welcome your visit to our lovely and comfortable Tudor office located in Central Alameda.
Kate's 5 years of construction experience give her a strong understanding of the costs involved in repairs and renovations of a home. Kate also has a unique ability to visualize a home's potential as well as a home's "red flags". Her strong understanding of the costs involved in renovations and her keen sense of what the latest trends are in home design help her clients make smart choices both in buying and in selling their home.
Kate also has access, through McCaffrey Custom Construction, to many discounts on products, materials and services that make green building options even cheaper, in some cases, than the retail price of standard upgrades. In addition, Kate gives all of her clients a 5% commission rebate towards green home-improvements through her Give Back GreenTM program. In this capacity, Kate can help her client's save time, money and hassle while making their home even more valuable. sustainable and attractive.
Kate also utilizes an exclusive high-end marketing tool for her sellers, called Green PrintsTM, in which architectural renderings of the home are created (by a local Alameda architectural firm), that point out important green, or standard, features and attributes of the home. This ensures that potential buyers are quickly and effortlessly educated on the client's home and its special or noteworthy upgrades and details.
As a 5th generation Alamedan, Kate knows the subtle nuances of the community extremely well, which is why she focuses exclusively on the Alameda residential real estate market. She knows that such in-depth knowledge of the area, with its many varied neighborhoods, is vital in marketing her listings and in finding the right neighborhood for her buyers.
As a homeowner, Kate has a great appreciation for and understanding of the client/agent relationship. She values and understands the importance of being prepared, organized, thorough, keeping her clients well informed and educated throughout the entire transaction and beyond, and most importantly, being a strong advocate for her clients.
Kate brings an unparalleled set of experience and attributes to her career as an Alameda Realtor, all of which add value to her clients. An organized, people-oriented person with a Bachelor's degree in Communications and a background in marketing at the world's largest commercial real estate firm, CBRE, Kate's knowledge and experience combined with her professional demeanor and positive and persistent attitude make her an exceptionally qualified Realtor.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member of:
Build It Green
Alameda Association of Realtors
California Association of Realtors
National Association of Realtors
Former member of:
International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
CBRE Center for Professional Education – Awarded Best Marketing Presentation – CB 101 (2005)
EDUCATION
Certified Green Building Professional
Licensed California Real Estate Salesperson
University of California at Santa Barbara – BA in Communications
COMPANY
Bayside Real Estate specializes in residential properties within Alameda. We are intimately familiar with our “Island City” and represent both buyers and sellers in all price ranges. By remaining small and exclusive, Bayside can guarantee you personal attention and professional thoroughness. Our full time professional agents take pride in matching clients with just the right home, be it a townhome, condominium, single-family modern or vintage home.
We love what we do at Bayside and welcome your visit to our lovely and comfortable Tudor office located in Central Alameda.
CONTACT INFO
Kate McCaffrey
Bayside Real Estate
1812 Santa Clara Ave. | Alameda, CA 94501
510.522.5223 | Fax: 510.217.4111
Info@HomesOfAlameda.com | www.HomesOfAlameda.com
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Seminar To Help First Time Home Buyers Learn About Assistance
In the Alameda Journal, an article was written about a workshop to take place on October 24th to explain the city's real estate program.
The article says, "The city has a down payment assistance program that offers loans of up to $80,000 to local home buyers whose incomes are 120% or less of the area median".
The seminar will be held from 9am - 2pm on October 24th in the cafeteria at Encinal High School.
To make a reservation for the seminar or to get more information, contact Joseph Schneider at 415.561.5600 x. 125 or joseph@myhomegateway.com.
Mayor, Chamber Speak Out Against Ballot Initiative - Alameda Journal
With my background in commercial real estate, I am often weary of development plans because I've seen what happens on the other side - the developer's side. This is why I was glad to see that these issues are being discussed because we can't afford to not do this development right. As Blake Brydon, chamber board president stated in a meeting October 8th, "Alameda Point occupies one-third of the island... We can't take it lightly, so we took a stand. If ti's not done right, it could become a liability for our city, revenue and businesses".
Mayor Beverly Johnson says, "It is important for Alameda residents to realize this is a developer driven initiative... although I am a strong supporter of development at Alameda Point this initiative over reaches, unsurpassing the city's ability to negotiate a fair development deal that financially protects the city. After studying the election report, I've come to the conclusion that it is completely one-sided".
Click here to read the full article.
Alameda Journal's Blog on Alameda
Check out www.ibabuzz.com/alamedajournal/ to see the new blog showcasing life on the island of Alameda. One of the authors responsible for contributing to this blog, Janet Levaux said in her article in the journal, "I'm privileged to be showcasing the fun, variety, philanthropy and community that make Alameda such a fantastic place to live, work and play".
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