Water Water Everywhere

This time of year, with rain on the horizon, I start thinking about water; how much I use and how I can cut back. I want to share some useful information with as many people as I can reach, so read on:

Maybe you've always wondered how well you are conserving water at home? Order this self-survey kit from the East Bay Municipal Utility District and see what steps you can take to improve your habits and systems at home and work. Then, allow EBMUD to shower gifts upon you! They will give you free faucet aerators, low-flow shower heads, and other water-saving devices and information, just because you cared enough to participate in the survey and needed some new equipment. Lucky you.

It's Raining Money, Hallelujeh!

I say it all the time to my clients, but I want to make sure I pass the information along here too: The East Bay Municipal Utility District will pay you, yes I said pay you to upgrade your old, ineffiencient, water and energy-wasting appliances and systems.

They operate a rebate system where you may receive several hundred dollars for changing out your toilets, clothes washer and even landscaping, and replacing them with models or systems that incorporate water conserving elements. Go to their website now and read about how you can reduce your water use and maybe even your utility bill!

By the way, EBMUD is an amazing resource in other ways: they offer free water-saving devices like low flow shower heads and faucet aerators, just because you ask! Are you a teacher, or would you like your child's school to incorporate conservation education into their curriculum? Visit this page to learn about the classroom materials and school garden programs they offer.

I could go on, and I will (but later!), about everything you can find on the EBMUD site that will make your conservation efforts at home easier and your utility bills a little smaller. I hope you learn that when you take a few simple steps to actively conserve our natural resources, you feel good about it, and pass the information along to friends and colleagues.

Huh? -And the New Headlines

Please forgive the lunatic ravings in my last post, below. I'll admit it; it was a slow real estate day and I let my mind wander a little too far from my desk. By the way that was not, I repeat not, a photo of my desk. The owner of that desk (if we can call that paper mountain a desk) shall remain nameless.

Word on the street is "now is a good time to buy real estate." Heard it before? You probably have, if you have been at all interested in San Francisco Bay Area real estate for the past ten years or so, because we have been repeating this mantra since 1998 as prices have risen exponentially.

Wish you had bought property five years ago? I know, I know; back then you thought the real estate market was a bubble waiting to burst so you didn't buy. But it didn't burst then, did it? It just got more expensive and the house you thought was already overpriced five years ago increased even further in value while you sat on the fence. You should have believed your agent five years ago when she said "buy now before it gets worse". I also know that's a hard line to swallow when you are talking about a purchase of several hundred thousand dollars, so I do not blame.

Well, listen now, people! The market is easing up for buyers and if ever there was a slightly comfortable window of opportunity, this winter will be it. No, you will not get to buy a house in Berkeley at 2002 prices. That bubble is evidently made of steal. You will, however, be able to experience a more balanced market as a buyer where you may have more negotiating power with certain properties where there weren't multiple offers as the seller had hoped. You may find a house you want that has been on the market for an entire month or more (gasp!), whose owner is waiting for someone to bring them a reasonable offer. Contrast that idea with five years ago when almost every house around here sold within 3 weeks with multiple offers, and buyers had to write offers on many many homes before they were lucky enough to have one accepted. If you are really looking for a great deal, consider that in perfectly charming neighborhoods in Richmond, El Cerrito and Oakland there are homes offered at prices well below last year's averages. Think of this, then ask yourself if it's still very important to remain undecided. -Then call me and I will find you a house.