Archive for month: February, 2020
This Month’s Giveaway!
Score FREE tickets to a professional basketball game compliments of Coldwell Banker. Enter for a chance to cheer on The Golden State Warriors vs The Spurs in our basketball ticket giveaway. A pair of tickets will be awarded to 16 clients to catch all the action on the court for FREE. Game Details: March 29 | 5:30 pm | Chase Center, San Francisco Contest Entry Dates: February 11-29 Drawing Date: on or around March 2 Enter in link below.
ENTER NOW!
Search For Homes 24/7 at OhlmeyerTeam.com
The Ohlmeyer Team has been in the Real Estate business since 1979. We are a team of four family members (husband, wife and two sons) and recently, we have expanded with one other colleague; Jason Caskie who has been selling real estate in our area full-time since 2001. You now have 5 licensed agents for the price of 1…there truly is Strength in Numbers!
For Sale: Fabulous Custom Estate in Lafayette!
1982 Reliez Valley Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549
$2,975,000 | 4 Beds | 4.5 Baths | 4,746 SqFt
Nestled in the private Lafayette Hills, this custom estate built in 2001 spared no expense. It boasts 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a den, and a guest home that enjoys their own separate entrance. Featuring timeless materials with a functional floor plan, soaring ceilings and state-of-the art lighting system (Lutron). Exquisite mill-work, detailed hardwood floors, and impeccable tile and stone. Built-in surround sound/intercom system, high-end appliances, pizza oven, multiple fireplaces, and loads of natural light. Fully functional guest house with open floor plan, beautiful views, and wine cellar. Amazing grounds for year-round enjoyment includes sparkling pool, spa, waterfalls, and a koi pond. Outdoor kitchen, panoramic views, green house, and a spacious view balcony with privacy! Just minutes from highly rated Lafayette schools (Acalanes School District), downtown Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Pleasant Hill. Convenient commuter access to BART and San Francisco.
For Sale: Better Than New in The Lakes @ Disco Bay!
9607 Boca Raton Way, Discovery Bay, CA 94505
$635,000 | 4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,503 SqFt
Better than new – in the private gated community of The Lakes! Gorgeous “newer than new” well designed home features “tons” of upgrades and amenities to live in and enjoy!! Open floor plan concept bathed in lots of natural light to enhance the experience. Beautiful flooring, attractive counter tops, vanities and cabinetry. Master bedroom suite with a lavish bath plus a second bedroom are conveniently located on the main level. The upstairs has two bedrooms, a loft plus a bath to allow for a good, functional floor plan with flexibility. The three-car tandem garage also provides for added storage space as well. Relax in the lovely back yard with an inviting “California Room” plus an outdoor kitchen, built-in barbecue and luxurious spa. Lush lawn area with a spacious side yard creates a great entertaining atmosphere. Enjoy the privacy and amenities of “The Lakes” community, such as: security gate, greenbelt, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts & soothing fountains. a must see!!
Sale Pending in The Lakes @ Disco Bay!
9601 Boca Raton Way, Discovery Bay, CA 94505
$608,900 | 4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2,263 SqFt
Great location in the private gated community of The Lakes! Open floor plan concept with lots of natural light to enhance the experience. Beautiful flooring, attractive counter tops, vanities and cabinetry. One bedroom and full bath located on the main level. The upstairs has three bedrooms, a loft, plus two baths to allow for a good, functional floor plan with flexibility. The three-car tandem garage also provides for added storage space as well. Relax in the back yard with an inviting “California Room”. Large corner lot location with a spacious side yard creates a great entertaining atmosphere. Enjoy the privacy and amenities of “The Lakes” community, such as: security gate, greenbelt, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts & soothing fountains.
Just Sold for 103% of Asking Price in 5 Days in San Ramon!
225 Zebrina Ct, San Ramon, CA 94582
$979,000 | 3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 1,606 SqFt
Create your own stay-cation paradise on this rare 1/3 acre flat/premium lot, over 14,000 square feet! This Shappell home in the Veranda neighborhood has been freshly painted inside, has new carpets installed and is move-in ready! A very functional floor-plan and all 3 levels of highly rated schools are nearby! Zoned for Quail Run Elementary School, Gale Ranch Middle School, and Dougherty Valley High School. Community pool available.
Reliable Tactics For When The Appraisal Is Low
Few things in the home buying process are more frustrating than having your offer accepted, only to have the appraisal fall below your offer. But all is not lost! If the appraisal comes in below your offer, there are several tactics and strategies that can lead to a happy solution.
Get A Second Opinion
There’s no need to take the appraiser’s estimate as fact. You can pursue a value appeal, or you can discuss a second appraisal with your prospective lender. Sometimes you can even get the seller to pay for the second appraisal, because they will be motivated to complete the sale. Your real estate professional should be able to help you through the process of an appeal or a second opinion.
Renegotiate For A Lower Price
Unless the market is extremely hot, there’s a good chance the seller can be talked town to the appraised value. Sellers often prefer to complete the deal, rather than putting the property back on the market.
Resist The Urge To Pay More
Sure, paying more in cash to cover the difference between the loan amount and the agreed upon sale price is tempting. Buying a home is an emotional experience, and you may think that this particular home is the only one that you’ll be satisfied with. Take a step back and consider searching for another property.
Analyze The Little Things Before You Fall In Love With A Home
It’s easy to be wowed by a house. You’re anxious to discover your dream home and accomplish a big goal. You can’t wait to cook in the brand new kitchen or relax in the spa-style tub. All that excitement can also make it easy to dismiss some minor issues that can become major annoyances down the road. Rather than letting your excitement get the best of you, take the time to analyze smaller details properly.
Don’t Dismiss The Location
Let’s say you find a perfect home that’s an extra 20 minutes each way from work. Those 40 total minutes don’t seem like a big deal at first glance, but consider that you’ll be dealing with that extra commute day after day, year after year for as long as you live in the house. Is that an inconvenience you’re willing to deal with? Make an educated decision—do a test run of the actual commute and see whether it’s tolerable, or would eventually drive you crazy.
Stressing location also means committing to a neighborhood. Does the potential neighborhood align with your priorities? Make sure you’re choosing a location that makes it easy to do the things you love most, whether that’s enjoying city nightlife or escaping to quiet home away from it all.
Working Order
Shiny new appliances and an open-concept living space may be on your list of must-haves, but don’t let the aesthetics distract from the basics.
Are the basement and attic in good shape? Problems like mold and water damage can turn an otherwise perfect home into a nightmare, and a poorly insulated attic can cause your bills to skyrocket.
None of these issues should necessarily remove a home from consideration—you just have to be aware of the total package.
Five Hidden Renovation Costs
Renovations never seem to go as planned. There’s always a cost you didn’t anticipate, or a problem that didn’t reveal itself until the project was underway. Here are five common costs to look out for.
Higher utility bills: If contractors and builders are working in your home all day, there’s a good chance they’re constantly walking in and out the exterior doors. That wreaks havoc on your heating/cooling efficiency, so watch out for higher utility bills.
Movers: It’s pretty hard to renovate a fully furnished home. You may be able to move and store most of your furniture yourself, but homeowners often have bigger pieces that require some hired help.
Food: If your kitchen is being torn apart, preparing meals becomes a lot more difficult. You may be able to keep your food budget steady by switching to meals that don’t require counter space, the stove, or the oven, but don’t be surprised if you end up dining out more often.
A few nights in a hotel: Depending on your renovation, there may be some nights where sleeping in your home isn’t practical, or you just need a mental break from the mess. Budget for a few nights at a hotel … or just schedule your family vacation for the worst part of the renovation.
Deep cleaning: It’s one thing to clean and maintain your home after a typical week or two of living. It’s entirely different to clean up after a construction project, as sawdust and other debris can get in every nook and cranny. It may be worth your sanity to just hire cleaners.
