Carol Brown - Berkeley Real Estate

1132 Oakland Avenue, Piedmont

Carol Brown — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:07:18 +0000

PRIVATE, GARDEN SETTING Enter this lovely Monterey Colonial and you know you are home. Brick walkways, clapboard siding, large shutters and a lush garden of red maples and camelias greet you as you move up the step to the front door. While the location is close transportation, schools, shops and other urban amenities, inside you feel like you are miles away. And its layout couldn’t be more convenient. Designed for her own family by the head of production for Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, this home is a perfect venue for today’s lifestyles.

A large, eat-in chef’s kitchen offers ample room for entertaining or just daily living. Granite countertops, a large center island, a six-burner Wolfe stove, a custom-made stainless steel farmhouse sink and a built-in wet bar make life easy. The kitchen opens to a generous family room with windows that look out on the lush, sunny garden on three walls. Doors from the family room, as well as the kitchen and formal living room, open directly to the level garden for easy access. Once in the garden you feel wrapped in privacy. Roses climb the fences. An apple tree espaliers up the side of the garden shed. Thyme covers the ground between the stepping stones of the patio, releasing its fragrance when you walk over it. And a level lawn provides plenty of space for play.

The living room and dining room offer ample spaces for more formal occasions with lovely multipane windows, vintage wood trim and glass doors to the garden. Upstairs three charming bedrooms and two baths offer a comfortable retreat at the end of the day. Both baths have been updated with stone tiles and the master bath/dressing room is en suite.

For additonal photos and information go to www.1132OaklandAve.com

April 2010 Update, It’s a Good Spring Market!

Carol Brown — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:14:20 +0000

It has been a good year for real estate so far, unless, of course you are trying to buy. Doesn’t make sense? Look at it this way. Few people bought last year even if they were thinking of it. The market just seemed too risky. But the demand was still there and now that the economy is on more solid ground, buyers are coming back into the real estate market in healthy numbers. In fact, half of the sales on the Grubb Company board in the first quarter sold with multiple offers.

Of course, there are incentives. Low interest rates for one. Tax credits for another. Just when the federal tax credit approached expiration (at the end of this month), the state of California stepped in and offered their own tax credit for qualified buyers. And prices in most of our neighborhoods have stayed relatively solid, making those homes look like safe bets and homes in nearby neighborhoods that have taken more of a hit look like good buys.

The problem in our area is that there are very few homes for sale relative to the demand. Seller awareness just hasn’t caught up with this new demand in the market. And that means that sellers who also want to buy in the area have little to choose from, creating something of a bottleneck.

So, if you are thinking of selling any time soon, now is a good time. Just be sure you price your home carefully, because buyers still won’t overpay. And they are looking more carefully than ever before at condition. So dry rot under the stucco will definitely bring the demand down. As always, it is very important that your house look nice when it comes on the market and has great photos on the many, many websites that buyers use.

If you are a buyer, work closely with your agent. We hear about houses that are for sale, often weeks before they come on the market, can guide you to the best buys and negotiate carefully for the best price. And if you are planning to both buy and sell at the same time, either use the same agent or make your listing and purchasing agents together work closely. Enjoy your new home!

6001 Chabolyn Terrace, Rockridge

Carol Brown — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:53:35 +0000

ROCKRIDGE CHARMER Extensively rennovated 2+bedroom, 2 bath with charming gardens near BART and College Avenue.

Represented the buyers.

2901 Buena Vista Way

Carol Brown — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:35:29 +0000

MID-CENTURY CRAFTSMAN GEM Designed by Berkeley landmark architect, John B. Anthony, best known for his art deco buildings, this lovely four bedroom, three bath home is one of his few designed in the mid-century vein. Built c. 1940, it is an unusual, striking combination of mid-century lines with extensive craftsman details. The post-and-beam construction allows for large open spaces and walls of windows that frame perfect views of the Golden Gate, the Berkeley hills and the lush garden in both the living/dining room and the master bedroom. But unlike many stark mid-century homes, this one features walls and ceilings wrapped in pale, unfinished mahogany with carefully crafted details in the trim, exposed box beams and railings, a feature that highlights the lush views visible just outside. Well-sited on one-third acres of grounds, many rooms open to lovely garden spots. The magical, gardens terrace down the hillside, past a waterfall, a pond, lush beds of annuals and flowering trees and both a spa and a fire pit. Two large stone patios offer plenty of space for outdoor eating and entertaining and a tiled deck off the master offers a private outdoor retreat. A covered walkway provides level access from the garage to the upstairs bedrooms. Recent renovations include all-new kitchen, electrical system, drainage, as well as all garden landscaping.

168 Wildwood Avenue, Piedmont

Carol Brown — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:10:57 +0000

MEDITERRANEAN CHARMER Located in one of Piedmont’s most popular neighborhoods just a few blocks from Piedmont High School and Whitter Playfield in one direction and the shops, restaurants and transportation of Grand Avenue in the other, this three bedroom, two bath Mediterranean offers a small town neighborhood close to big city amenities. Enter the house up steps past flowers and wrought iron, through the arched front entry. Inside a sunny living room awaits. Multipane windows look out onto flowering fruit trees and the hills in the distance. A fireplace with vintage craftsman tiles, hardwood floors and crown molding adds to the charm. To the left of the entry a formal dining room opens to an eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Designer colors add warmth. A French door leads to a private garden with a lawn, Japanese maples, flower beds and patios. From there it is only a few steps to two garages. So, while guests come up stairs in the front, you can bring groceries and supplies nearly level-in from the back. Inside, a hallway from the entry and kitchen leads you to the bedrooms and baths. Two of the bedrooms look out onto the garden, one with its own private bath. All feature bright outlooks, multipane windows and hardwood floors. Steps from the kitchen lead to a basement below for laundry and storage.

21 Park Way, Piedmont

Carol Brown — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:12:18 +0000

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Unlock the potential of this spacious craftsman, ideally loacted on a tree-lined street in Central Piedmont. Across the street, Dracena Park beckons with its new playground, dog walking trails and picnic glades. Schools, the shops and restaurants of Piedmont Avenue and public transportation are also conveniently nearby. With vintage details like decorative eave beams, dormer windows, a cupola and a corner tower, this home echoes another era. Inside a formal living room, parlor and dining room offer plenty of space for comfortable living. Also on the main floor are an eat-in kitchen, a sitting area under the cupola, a solarium and a spacious master suite. The master bedroom opens to a deck overlooking the back garden. A soaking tub in the master bath features the same garden overlook, a relaxing alternative to the mater bath’s steam shower. Upstairs are three generous bedrooms with dormer windows and a tiled bathroom. Downstairs features a rumpus room, an office, a full bath, and access to the garden in back.

September 2008, Guidelines for Buying in Today’s Market

Carol Brown — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:48:54 +0000

The news about real estate these days seems perpetually gloomy. And it doeesn’t seem to be getting any better. But here in the East Bay hills, as well as many other neighborhoods, it doesn’t look that bad. Here, houses are selling. About 50% of the sales on our board have multiple offers. And we are seeing lots of buyers at open houses. So why the disconnect? The across the board number reported in the media don’t reflect the reality of markets in individual areas and neighborhoods.

No one knows how long this downturn will last. But if you want to buy, you want to find the most stable neighborhood you can, to minimize your risk. Here are five things to look for:

1. Does the supply of homes in a neighborhood outstrip the demand? Some areas like Phoenix and Sacramento have been on a building binge. Other simply have more sellers than buyers. That leaves a lot of houses on the market that don’t sell. When that happens prices do down and it can take some time before the oversupply is absorbed.

2. Look for neighborhoods with good schools, even if you don’t have children. Families with children are a large part of the home buying market. And, of course, they want good schools. For API rankings of California schools go to

3. Many buyers today forsake size for the convenience of being close to grocery stores, shops, and the cultural activities of a city, so look for areas where urban amenities are available.

4. Avoid neighborhoods with a lot of foreclosures. Banks, who own foreclosed homes, usually just want to get rid of them for whatever price they can get. This undercuts prices throughout the neighborhood. With a lot of foreclosed homes in a neighborhood prices may stay depressed for awhile.

5. Location, location, location. Don’t forget that home buying is a street-by-street exercise, particularly in a weak market. Some areas and even blocks are simply considered more desirable than others.

[Note: Sales figures below include third quarter sales in all of Piedmont, north Oakland zip codes 94602, 94609, 94610, 94611, 94618, 94619 and 94705 and in Berkeley above San Pablo Avenue.]

“Carol had a wealth of information and referrals…”

Carol Brown — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:02:41 +0000

“We called Carol months before we planned to list our home for sale, because we knew we needed to make some repairs and improvements. She had a wealth of information and referrals to help us define the scope of work and finish the project. In the end, the house sold within a week of its first open with multiple offers, for well over asking price. We know we got our money’s worth from Carol and we had a lot of fun!”

Q3 2007 Update

Carol Brown — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:17:52 +0000

The News: Number of closed deals, number of listings, prices up or down. Any hot spots in market. More condos. Narrative news. Single family residences, etc. Comments, news, pockets of g. Some properties sell quickly w/multiples, some great props get missed. Great buy now may shifted somewhat. As cost of building matls gone up, harder to renovate. Some people shifting to buying houses already renovated.

What is happening with lending rates.

You were patient, professional, and dedicated

Carol Brown — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:52:32 +0000

“Thank you again for assisting us in the purchase of our home. Being new to the Bay Area and first time homeowners, we had a lot to learn about the housing market and the process of buying property. You were with us every step of the way to educate, inform, and consult. You were patient, professional, and dedicated. We found the home that we love and are so grateful for your help!”