Antioch, CA (PRWEB) August 12, 2013

“We are grateful to our talented manager Melody Royal, who has led our Antioch office for almost 30 years, and who will remain as the manager of the office,” said Rich Casto, Chief Strategy Officer of BHG Mason-McDuffie Real Estate. “We welcome Tony Chahal as our new owner/partner in this office.”

“We now have eight great partnerships throughout the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Keith Robinson, COO. “These partnerships are part of our growth strategy and work extremely well.”

When asked why he entered into this partnership, Mr. Chahal said, “I am proud to merge my operation with that of Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie. With everything Mason-McDuffie has to offer, there was no other organization that I met with that came close to their services and culture. The company is widely recognized as one of the most innovative real estate companies in the nation. I am excited to be a partner of this great company, and to be part of its history and its future!”

Mr. Chahal will be joined by 10 agents in the move into the Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie office space at 5887A Lone Tree Way in Antioch.

Resolute Real Estate, Inc. was founded in 2010 by Tony Chahal, who also served as the President and Managing Broker. He was formerly an associate at Prudential California Realty. Prior to that, he was the Staffing Manager at Zip Realty, Inc. where he successfully ran the number one recruiting platform in the company nationwide.

If you are interested in discussing growth opportunities, contact David Gardner at 925-705-1992.

###

About Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate

Our heritage began with the founding of Mason-McDuffie Real Estate in 1887. The company is the 26th largest real estate services firm in the nation (REALTrends 500), and Number Two in the San Francisco East Bay (SF Business Times). The company provides comprehensive solutions to home buyers and sellers, and handled 6,500 transactions in 2012, generating $2.8 billion in sales volume. Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate is locally owned and has more than 1,200 real estate professionals with 30 offices in eight counties in the Bay Area and the Tahoe/Truckee region.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/8/prweb11003112.htm

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/business/press-releases/article/Resolute-Real-Estate-Merges-with-Better-Homes-and-4727626.php

East Bay homes, like this house in Fremont, saw the biggest price gains during the past year in the Bay Area.

Blanca Torres
Reporter- San Francisco Business Times

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Home prices are shooting up across the nation with the Bay Area leading the pack — but which submarket has soared the most? Oakland.

Metropolitan Oakland — which includes much of the East Bay — saw home prices jump 31.2 percent from May 2012 to May 2013, towering above San Francisco with 19.6 percent growth and the San Jose metro area with 23.2 percent, according to Trulia, the San Francisco-based real estate information site. Nationwide, home prices grew by 9.5 percent during the past year.

Everyone keeps talking about how expensive homes are getting in San Francisco, but East Bay prices have more room to grow. Those growth figures over one year look pretty steep — and they are — but you have to keep in mind that prices dropped by greater percentages after the 2008 mortgage crisis.

“Inventory is really low,” said America Foy, an agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate who specializes in the East Bay.

A lack of inventory has led to bidding wars even in lower-cost areas or starter homes, Foy said, but more home owners are realizing that their homes are worth more and putting more homes on the market as demand shows no sign of slowing down.

“Some people have been saving up for the last four or five years, so they are ready to buy a house,” Foy said. “It’s smart to buy a house right now, that’s what people are feeling.”

Trulia looked at how much home asking prices had grown in 100 metropolitan markets in the United States and determined the 10 most expensive markets based on price-growth and percent of income going toward a mortgage.

You see the full list here. Here’s Trulia’s top ten:

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Blanca Torres covers East Bay real estate for the San Francisco Business Times.

Article source: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2013/06/where-home-prices-grew-most-in-bay-area.html

According to the company, sales of existing, single-family detached homes in the Bay Area fell to their lowest level in five years. Only 9,985 homes changed hands in the first quarter, down 25 percent from 13,391 homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2012 (a difference of 3,406 homes sold) and 16 percent below the 11,906 homes sold during last year’s first quarter. Contra Costa County reported the greatest number of homes sold with 2,182, followed by Alameda County (1,977 homes sold) and Santa Clara County (1,972 homes sold).

Despite the downturn in home sales, demand from homebuyers remained robust, and that led to higher home prices. The Bay Area as a whole reported a median sales price of $667,021 in the first quarter, up 10 percent from the previous quarter’s median price of $604,863 and 25 percent higher than the median sales price of $520,834 reported at the conclusion of last year’s first quarter.

All nine Bay Area counties reported double-digit, year-over-year increases in their median sales price for the second consecutive quarter. San Mateo County led the way with a 43 percent annualized increase, followed by Alameda County (+33%), Contra Costa County (+31%), and Santa Clara and Solano counties, which reported 30 percent year-over-year increases. San Mateo County recorded the region’s highest median sales price at $1,075,097, followed by the City and County of San Francisco at $1,052,626 and Marin County at $878,945. Solano County recorded the Bay Area’s lowest median sales price at $243,006.

Behind the decline in sales and increase in prices is the continued lack of inventory. As of the final day of the first quarter (March 31, 2013), only 4,098 existing, single-family detached homes were listed for sale in the entire nine-county Bay Area – an improvement from 3,370 homes on the market at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012 but nonetheless down 55 percent from 10,282 homes available for purchase on the final day of the first quarter of 2012.

Once listed, homes sold at a brisk pace. For the Bay Area as a whole, homes were on the market an average of 54 days before receiving a final purchase offer, down from 55 days in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 74 days in the first quarter of last year. Homes in Alameda County sold in an average of 29 days, while Napa County recorded the highest average with 94 days on the market.

Looking ahead, what’s the bottom line for Bay Area homebuyers and sellers?

Buyers need to bring their “A” game to the negotiating table, and that increasingly means being able to offer more than the listing price and waive appraisal and other contingencies that may add to the ultimate price. An experienced REALTOR® with extensive local market knowledge and negotiation skills is a must in a market where all-cash offers continue to be a factor.

“Given the likelihood that inventory will continue to be an issue in the months to come, homeowners with mortgages that are “above water” (or nearly so) may find now is a good time to list their home,” says Keith Robinson, COO. “While prices are rising, it is important that sellers price their home competitively. Again, working with an experienced REALTOR® who can help price the property for sale and vet the offers that follow is critical.”

For more information, visit www.bhghome.com.

Article source: http://rismedia.com/2013-05-06/inventory-shortage-means-fewer-home-sales-higher-prices-in-bay-area/

Sales of existing, single-family detached homes in the Bay Area fell to their lowest level in five years. Only 9,985 homes changed hands in the first quarter, down 25 percent from 13,391 homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2012 (a difference of 3,406 homes sold) and 16 percent below the 11,906 homes sold during last year’s first quarter. Contra Costa County reported the greatest number of homes sold with 2,182, followed by Alameda County (1,977 homes sold) and Santa Clara County (1,972 homes sold).

Despite the downturn in home sales, demand from homebuyers remained robust, and that led to higher home prices. The Bay Area as a whole reported a median sales price of $667,021 in the first quarter, up 10 percent from the previous quarter’s median price of $604,863 and 25 percent higher than the median sales price of $520,834 reported at the conclusion of last year’s first quarter.

All nine Bay Area counties reported double-digit, year-over-year increases in their median sales price for the second consecutive quarter. San Mateo County led the way with a 43 percent annualized increase, followed by Alameda County (+33%), Contra Costa County (+31%), and Santa Clara and Solano counties, which reported 30 percent year-over-year increases. San Mateo County recorded the region’s highest median sales price at $1,075,097, followed by the City and County of San Francisco at $1,052,626 and Marin County at $878,945. Solano County recorded the Bay Area’s lowest median sales price at $243,006.

Behind the decline in sales and increase in prices is the continued lack of inventory. As of the final day of the first quarter (March 31, 2013), only 4,098 existing, single-family detached homes were listed for sale in the entire nine-county Bay Area – an improvement from 3,370 homes on the market at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012 but nonetheless down 55 percent from 10,282 homes available for purchase on the final day of the first quarter of 2012.

Once listed, homes sold at a brisk pace. For the Bay Area as a whole, homes were on the market an average of 54 days before receiving a final purchase offer, down from 55 days in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 74 days in the first quarter of last year. Homes in Alameda County sold in an average of 29 days, while Napa County recorded the highest average with 94 days on the market.

Looking ahead, what’s the bottom line for Bay Area homebuyers and sellers?

Buyers need to bring their “A” game to the negotiating table, and that increasingly means being able to offer more than the listing price and waive appraisal and other contingencies that may add to the ultimate price. An experienced REALTOR^® with extensive local market knowledge and negotiation skills is a must in a market where all-cash offers continue to be a factor.

“Given the likelihood that inventory will continue to be an issue in the months to come, homeowners with mortgages that are “above water” (or nearly so) may find now is a good time to list their home,” said Keith Robinson, COO.  “While prices are rising, it is important that sellers price their home competitively. Again, working with an experienced REALTOR® who can help price the property for sale and vet the offers that follow is critical.”

First Quarter 2013 Housing Market Survey – Bay Area Counties

Single-Family Detached Homes

First Quarter 2013 Housing Market Survey – Bay Area Counties

Single-Family Detached Homes

*  Days on market is the number of days a property was listed on the market until it went under

 contract at its final listing price. This may not reflect previous listings.

**The median home price for the entire Bay Area is the mean of median home prices of each of the nine Bay Area counties.  Each county’s median home price is the mean of median home prices of each of the cities within that county.

Data are sourced from multiple listing services and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

All percentages rounded to nearest whole number. Bay Area refers to sales within Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County, Napa County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Solano County and Sonoma County.

## About Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate

Our heritage began with the founding of Mason-McDuffie Real Estate in 1887. In 2010, the company was named the 19th largest real estate services firm in the nation (REALTrends 500), and Number One in the San Francisco East Bay (SF Business Times). The company provides comprehensive solutions to home buyers and sellers, and handled 6,500 transactions in 2012, generating $2.8 billion in sales volume. Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate includes joint ventures with partners Highland Partners in Piedmont and Montclair, Wine Country Group Realtors in the North Bay, and Tri-Valley Realty in Pleasanton-Hopyard and Ruby Hill, and Bahay Co. in Concord. Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate is locally owned and has more than 1,100 real estate professionals with 30 offices in eight counties in the Bay Area and the Tahoe/Truckee region. For more information, go to www.bhghome.com

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/business/press-releases/article/Inventory-Shortage-Means-Fewer-Home-Sales-4486549.php

Sales of existing, single-family detached homes in the Bay Area fell to their lowest level in five years. Only 9,985 homes changed hands in the first quarter, down 25 percent from 13,391 homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2012 (a difference of 3,406 homes sold) and 16 percent below the 11,906 homes sold during last year’s first quarter. Contra Costa County reported the greatest number of homes sold with 2,182, followed by Alameda County (1,977 homes sold) and Santa Clara County (1,972 homes sold).

Despite the downturn in home sales, demand from homebuyers remained robust, and that led to higher home prices. The Bay Area as a whole reported a median sales price of $667,021 in the first quarter, up 10 percent from the previous quarter’s median price of $604,863 and 25 percent higher than the median sales price of $520,834 reported at the conclusion of last year’s first quarter.

All nine Bay Area counties reported double-digit, year-over-year increases in their median sales price for the second consecutive quarter. San Mateo County led the way with a 43 percent annualized increase, followed by Alameda County (+33%), Contra Costa County (+31%), and Santa Clara and Solano counties, which reported 30 percent year-over-year increases. San Mateo County recorded the region’s highest median sales price at $1,075,097, followed by the City and County of San Francisco at $1,052,626 and Marin County at $878,945. Solano County recorded the Bay Area’s lowest median sales price at $243,006.

Behind the decline in sales and increase in prices is the continued lack of inventory. As of the final day of the first quarter (March 31, 2013), only 4,098 existing, single-family detached homes were listed for sale in the entire nine-county Bay Area – an improvement from 3,370 homes on the market at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012 but nonetheless down 55 percent from 10,282 homes available for purchase on the final day of the first quarter of 2012.

Once listed, homes sold at a brisk pace. For the Bay Area as a whole, homes were on the market an average of 54 days before receiving a final purchase offer, down from 55 days in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 74 days in the first quarter of last year. Homes in Alameda County sold in an average of 29 days, while Napa County recorded the highest average with 94 days on the market.

Looking ahead, what’s the bottom line for Bay Area homebuyers and sellers?

Buyers need to bring their “A” game to the negotiating table, and that increasingly means being able to offer more than the listing price and waive appraisal and other contingencies that may add to the ultimate price. An experienced REALTOR^® with extensive local market knowledge and negotiation skills is a must in a market where all-cash offers continue to be a factor.

“Given the likelihood that inventory will continue to be an issue in the months to come, homeowners with mortgages that are “above water” (or nearly so) may find now is a good time to list their home,” said Keith Robinson, COO.  “While prices are rising, it is important that sellers price their home competitively. Again, working with an experienced REALTOR® who can help price the property for sale and vet the offers that follow is critical.”

First Quarter 2013 Housing Market Survey – Bay Area Counties

Single-Family Detached Homes

First Quarter 2013 Housing Market Survey – Bay Area Counties

Single-Family Detached Homes

*  Days on market is the number of days a property was listed on the market until it went under

 contract at its final listing price. This may not reflect previous listings.

**The median home price for the entire Bay Area is the mean of median home prices of each of the nine Bay Area counties.  Each county’s median home price is the mean of median home prices of each of the cities within that county.

Data are sourced from multiple listing services and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

All percentages rounded to nearest whole number. Bay Area refers to sales within Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County, Napa County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Solano County and Sonoma County.

## About Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate

Our heritage began with the founding of Mason-McDuffie Real Estate in 1887. In 2010, the company was named the 19th largest real estate services firm in the nation (REALTrends 500), and Number One in the San Francisco East Bay (SF Business Times). The company provides comprehensive solutions to home buyers and sellers, and handled 6,500 transactions in 2012, generating $2.8 billion in sales volume. Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate includes joint ventures with partners Highland Partners in Piedmont and Montclair, Wine Country Group Realtors in the North Bay, and Tri-Valley Realty in Pleasanton-Hopyard and Ruby Hill, and Bahay Co. in Concord. Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate is locally owned and has more than 1,100 real estate professionals with 30 offices in eight counties in the Bay Area and the Tahoe/Truckee region. For more information, go to www.bhghome.com

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/business/press-releases/article/Inventory-Shortage-Means-Fewer-Home-Sales-4486549.php

Through the use of technology, marketing, and presence in the San Francisco Bay Area, Climb is becoming the brokerage of the future. With my experience and relationships, I wanted to be a part of that change.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 12, 2013

San Francisco-based Climb Real Estate Group is pleased to announce their affiliation with Michelle Balog, who will join the real estate team as Sales Director. An accomplished residential real estate agent, Michelle is one of San Francisco‘s top 50 Realtors and has sold everything from parking spaces to multi-million dollar homes. With a reputation based on experience from her numerous transactions, she has built strong relationships with her fellow Realtors as a professional who not only gets the job done but always does the right thing.

“I was attracted by the company’s mission to revolutionize the real estate industry,” Michelle said. “Through the use of technology, marketing, and presence in the San Francisco Bay Area, Climb is becoming the brokerage of the future. With my experience and relationships, I wanted to be a part of that change.”

Michelle Balog comes to Climb with over 12 years of sales experience in residential general brokerage. Most recently, she has been consistently recognized as being one of the very top performers at Vanguard Properties. She has also been recognized as a top producer at Pacific Union International and TRI Coldwell Banker. Her background has helped Michelle Balog to make an easy transition into her current role with Climb Real Estate Group. Having worked at some of the city’s top brokerages, she has had a chance to see several different approaches to real estate and she is excited about Climb’s innovative marketing. Climb has been a progressive company to watch and was recently named one of the country’s Next Generation Brokerages by Better Homes and Gardens.

Tiffany Combs, Climb’s Managing Broker, said, “I am pleased to announce that Michelle has joined the Climb family. She is an important part of our commitment to hire San Francisco’s top tier real estate agents. In addition, Michelle’s decision to join the company is a clear endorsement of Climb Real Estate Group and of the hard work and commitment of each and every one of our associates. I am excited to be partnering with Michelle and our entire management team, including Sales Leader Sean Sullivan, and will continue to work towards our future.”

“We are thrilled to have Michelle Balog on our team. She represents a new era for Climb Real Estate Group,” says Mark Choey, a top agent and co-founder of Climb. “As I have always said, we are in this for the long term, and we do what we do day in and day out so we can deliver the best possible service to our buyers and sellers throughout the Bay Area.”

As Sales Director, Michelle will still continue to provide her buyers and sellers excellent service with their real estate needs, and as a part of the senior management team at Climb Real Estate will be assisting and mentoring Climb’s sales team as they continue to grow and succeed in San Francisco’s vibrant real estate community. She is the most recent addition to a rapidly growing team of talented real estate professionals at Climb Real Estate Group. “I am honored to join Climb Real Estate Group,” says Balog. “We are strategically well positioned to to serve the needs of buyers and sellers in San Francisco for all their residential and leasing real estate needs.”

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Article source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/climbwelcomes/michellebalog/prweb10420616.htm

The NOBE area, which consists of the North Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville neighborhoods, has become one of the most evolved locations in the Bay Area due to the continuing influx of young professionals and property renovations.

The breath of new life flows through the many storied properties that stood the test of decades, such as the bungalow at 1024 63rd St. in Oakland. Built in 1908, the two-bedroom, one-bath house is in the trendy Golden Gate Neighborhood.

“It is a somewhat undiscovered area that’s about to take off. You are close to the heart of so many cafes and shops, yet you are 15 to 20 minutes away from San Francisco,” said Linnette Edwards of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. “You get so much bang for your buck with a residence like this. So much of the original integrity has been kept with this house.”

Edwards explained the area has created a perfect storm of culture and uniquely situated properties sure to attract many potential homeowners for quite some time. “That is why so many people discovering NOBE and are flocking to it. We are seeing so many homes in the areas built up in this fashion. There is a renaissance that is going on.”

An open house will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. For more information, contact Linnette Edwards at Better Homes and Gardens, Highland Partners, (925) 580-8801, ledwards@MyHousingGuide.com; www.1024-63rd.com.

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/63rd-Street-bungalow-reflects-rebirth-of-NOBE-area-3923667.php

Even with inventory (listings) down compared with the same period last year, buyer demand drove an increase in the number of homes sold in Q1 in all our regions. If this trend continues, the total number of homes sold this year could reach 20,850 – and exceed the 10-year average in the Bay Area for the first time since 2005.

While the number of homes changing hands is jumping, price levels overall, on average, are down 1%.  The first quarter report from Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate shows San Francisco and Napa’s median price increasing by 4% and 7%, while Alameda’s median dropped by 10% compared to the first quarter of 2011.  Slim pickings are sparking multiple offers with quality homes in favored locations as inventory is down by more than half compared to last year.

As of the final day of the first quarter, 7,703 existing detached homes were listed for sale across the entire Bay Area, down a staggering 54 percent from 16,669 homes on the market on the same date a year ago.

Even with the lack of homes on the market, it looks like buyers are out of the gates.  In my local Marin neighborhood, newly listed homes that had a hard time selling a year or two ago, where they lingered for over 100+ days and were finally pulled, are getting snatched up within 2-3 weeks.  With the traditional buying season just beginning and the Facebook IPO on its way, this sets the stage for an interesting summer.

Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate

Article source: http://blog.sfgate.com/ontheblock/2012/05/04/bay-area-home-sales-off-to-best-start-since-2005/

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Better Homes and Gardens participated in “Giving Day” on March 10.

Our offices were tasked with choosing a project in which everyone could participate, and each office partnered with a local community organization for that day

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) March 31, 2012

Twenty-six San Francisco, Berkeley and Sonoma Valley real estate offices and numerous real estate agents within the Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie network, including its joint ventures with Highland Partners, Wine Country Group and Tri-Valley Realty, recently donated time and resources to complete designated projects for some 21 charities in their local communities for the company’s third annual “Giving Day” on March 10.

“Our offices were tasked with choosing a project in which everyone could participate, and each office partnered with a local community organization for that day,” said Kathy Ollerton, Director of Charities and Training for Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie. “We are pleased to say that we had hundreds of sales agents and staff give more than 2,000 hours of service to those in need.”

The company’s real estate agents and their families contributed to local San Francisco, Berkeley and Sonoma Valley area organizations, such as Abode Homeless Shelter, Chaparral House, Blue Star Moms, Children’s Village, Quinn Cottages, SF County Parks and many others.

“With nearly 100-percent participation from our office, agents contributed money, brought painting equipment and supplies and met early Saturday morning at the Sebastopol Area Senior Center. Our goal was to paint the facade of the building and the reception area. By the time our group finished, the building looked as good as new. On Monday, clients were greeted with a clean, brightly painted lobby and reception area,” Timothy Hedges, broker of the Sebastopol office, said.

Rich Wilks is a broker with the Sacramento-Midtown office that built new flowerbeds and gardens to enhance the living environment at Quinn Cottages, a transitional housing community. He applauded the residents who work to help themselves and improve their situation. In honor of them, the real estate agents wanted to give them something they could be proud of.

“All of our offices and agents were totally engaged in this endeavor: they carefully chose organizations that are close to their hearts, and truly made a difference in their communities. We really appreciate the commitment of these great real estate agents and employees,” Ollerton said.

For more information about the event, the charities or any of Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie’s services, call 925-924-4751 view the real estate company on the web at http://www.bhghome.com or visit 2200 Union St. in San Francisco.

About Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate

Mason-McDuffie Real Estate started in 1887 and in 2010, the company was named the 17th largest real estate services firm in the nation, and the number one in the San Francisco East Bay area. Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate is independently owned and operated and includes joint ventures with partners Highland Partners in Piedmont, Wine Country Group in the North Bay, and Tri-Valley Realty in Pleasanton-Hopyard and Ruby Hill. The organization is comprised of more than 1,200 sales professionals in 26 offices.

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Article source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/real-estate/east-bay/prweb9354887.htm