Top three spots to visit when in Oakland Oakland has always been one of the most iconic and popular cities in the Bay Area. If you happen to visit or planning to move in Oakland, here is my list on some of the best spots to visit when you are in Oakland.  1. Chabot Space & Science CenterThis is definitely one of the places that the kids and parents will enjoy. Explore hands-on interactive exhibits, and entertaining planetarium shows. Please visit their site and plan your visit soon!  Read more about my previous blog on Chabot Space & Science Center here 2. Oakland ZooOakland Zoo is truly one of Oakland's Gem. A lot of local families with small children visit the zoo and is a great way to pass the day. Let them learn about wildlife conservation and see a lot of amazing animals! Read more... 04/29/2019

When do you plan a trip from North America to Hawaii? Aloha! I think this is really good news. Southwest is now flying to Hawaii! According to an article from Travel Zoo:Well, not only does Southwest's generous baggage allowance make it a great value, but the "Southwest Effect" typically drives down the average cost of one-way flights on routes where Southwest flies. The other carriers have to compete or they will lose market share. So even if you don't want to fly Southwest, it's a good bet that fares will drop across the board in the next few days as airlines start to match fares -- which are starting at $49 one way (!) This is why I love living in the Bay Area. Flying out of the Oakland Airport is so easy. It's a 5-hr long flight to Hawaii from Oakland and the direct flight made it e... 04/27/2019

Travel back in time with Dino Days On March 22, step into the East Garden—and 66 million years into the past. An eye-popping array of moving, roaring, exquisitely detailed life-size dinosaurs have invaded the Academy! The California Academy of Sciences recently opened a new exhibit for kids and kids-at-heart. Dino Days invites you to travel back in time to the Late Cretaceous period and come face-to-face with the largest reptiles that ever stalked the Earth. Walk among life-size animatronic dinosaurs that move and roar. Brush up on your paleontology in two fossil excavation pits. Join a dino dance-off or create your own dino-inspired crafts.  The exhibit opened March 22nd and runs until May 5! Get your tickets now!  GOLDEN GATE PARK55 MUSIC CONCOURSE DRIVESAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118(415) 37... 04/26/2019

East Bay Views Thinking of moving to the East Bay? Imagine waking up to these amazing views everyday! Let me give you a tour of the East Bay Area and see how amazing it is to visit or live here.  Old and New Bay Bridge Bike around Lake Merritt Rowing the peaceful waters of Lake Merritt View of the Bay from Upper Rockridge in Oakland CA An office with spectacular views Penthouse living in Oakland A bathroom with a view! Jack London Square  Lake Merritt, Oakland CA New construction with a view! Living in Oakland has always been a long time dream for most Americans, besides the mild weather, the central location is perfect. You'll have easy access to San Francisco, and is way more affordable than San Francisco (in terms of housing), offers a lot of job opportunities. It's also an art heave... 04/24/2019

Lovely Flowers in the East Bay Here's my collection to some of the beautiful plants and flowers / landscaping ideas for homeowners.  Wall Art using flowers  Low Maintenance California   Love the drought resistant plants  Garden art while walking around Rockridge..  Striking colors can be found in nature  Incorporating garden art in the backyard  Here is a great idea on what todo with a breezeway.  I love the combination of succulants   Front Yard newly landscaped Source: Pinterest  If you need help with your landscaping needs, please check out Thumbtack to find local professionals near you!  The bay area continues to be a popular place to call home.If you are ready to search for your next property, or are looking for your home value, visit: www.searchalleastbayhomes.comClick here for th... 04/22/2019

Kitchen Ideas for the Creative in YOU  1. Painted Floors This is probably one of my favorites in terms of redecorating the kitchen, or any other part of the house! It's inexpensive, and you can paint on floors everywhere: hardwoods, tiles, concrete, vinyl, etc.2. Tiled WallYou can also take the backsplash all the way up to the ceiling for a fresher look.3. Classic AestheticI've always been a fan of subway tiles as it never goes out of style.4. Double-Duty Table Let your rustic dining table serve it's purpose.5. All WhiteWhite is a trend all year round. Pair it with framed prints, which gives you a homey, country feel.6. Coffee BarHave a dedicated spot at home for your most favorite morning coffee.  Source: Good Housekeeping - 50 Gorgeous Kitchen Design Ideas You'll Want to Steal   The b... 04/21/2019

Jack London Square - Best Food  Another thing to love about living in Oakland, CA is Jack London Square. Tons of things to do over here, from sight seeing, to shopping, night life, and best of all - FOOD!We have compiled some of the best restaurants to try in Jack London Square while you are vacationing, or thinking of moving to Oakland.  1. YOSHI’S MUSIC VENUE AND JAPANESE RESTAURANTTheir menu features traditional Japanese and fusion style cuisine. It is also known as one of the best places to enjoy Jazz music. They have an award-winning 310-seat live performance venue.  2. GROCERY CAFEThis popular mom-and-pop restaurant serves classic Burmese & vegan dishes in the heart of Jack London Square, located in Oakland, California. 3. KINCAID’SKincaid’s is a modern interpretation of classic A... 04/20/2019

Holiday fun for the family  It's really nice to be able to go on vacation with the whole family atleast once or twice a year. It's time to break away from the neverending paperwork, and the hustle and bustle of the city, and just be able to sit back, relax and watch the day unfold without worrying about deadlines. Here are some great family fun vacation ideas from Travel Zoo:  1. Italy - Al Gelso Bianco Resort & Winery in Tuscany  They have a cooking activity for young kids and will teach them Tuscan Cuisine, while parents can go on wine tasting. Plus other interesting activities you can book directly with them. They have different luxury apartments to accommodate your needs. 2. Bahamas - Atlantis Something closer to home, Paradise Island is the perfect getaway for families who love the... 04/19/2019

Five Things You’ll Want to Know About Life in Oakland   The City of Oakland gets 24.01 inches of rain every year. We shovel 0.6 inches of snow per winter. The sun shines an average of 165 days per year. But, thankfully, our average travel time to work is only 32 minutes. In January, temps range from 45 to 55 degrees, and 55 to 75 degrees in July. Source: National Association of Realtors  For more information on the current sales & price statistics, please visit:  https://www.car.org/marketdata/data/countysalesactivity  The bay area continues to be a popular place to call home.If you are ready to search for your next property,or are looking for your home value,visit: www.searchalleastbayhomes.comClick here for the monthly market reports! 04/18/2019

Things to do in Oakland - April 19, 26 Mark Eanes: Angle of ReposeManna Gallery is pleased to present recent work by Bay area artist Mark Eanes. “Angle of Repose” opens First Friday, April 5 and continues to May 11. On First Friday, April 5, Mr. Eanes will be present from 6 to 8 pm for his reception. At 7 pm, he will give a brief talk about his work and will answer questions from gallery visitors.Mark Eanes is a painter, printmaker, photographer, curator, and educator who has spent the last twenty five years living and working in Benicia, California. Mark is currently an Associate Professor at California College of the Arts (CCA), where he has taught for over twenty-eight years.Presented By: Manna GalleryDates: April 6, 2019 - May 11, 2019Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Friday, Saturday... 04/17/2019

Things to do in Oakland - April 20, 27, 21, 28 Nothing to do on a weekend? It's Springtime and everything is in bloom, it's time to head on out to your nearest farmers markets! April 20, 27 (Saturdays)Grand Lake Farmers Market"Grand Lake Farmers Market is widely acclaimed as the best farmers market in the East Bay. Oakland residents have made a ritual of this farmers market; anxiously awaiting Saturday morning to head over to Splash Pad Park to pick up their fruits and vegetables direct from their farmer and enjoy lunch on the lawn. The Oakland farmers market is open every Saturday, year-round, rain or shine, from 9am to 2pm."Presented By: Agricultural Institute of MarinRecurrence:Recurring weekly on SaturdayLocation: Splash Pad Park Address: Lake Park Ave, Oakland, CA 94610Phone: (415)... 04/16/2019

Update on Housing Vacancies  How does it affect you as a buyer, to know that a certain city has high housing vacancy rate? How about as a seller?According to an article from Realtor Magazine: LendingTree ranked the nation’s 50 largest metro areas from highest to lowest vacancy rates. The areas with higher vacancy rates tend to be more affordable to the average consumer—but not always, researchers note.San Jose, Calif.; Minneapolis; and Denver are the metros with the lowest vacancy rates in the nation, at 4.26 percent, 4.96 percent, and 5.35 percent, respectively. “Vacancy rates in these areas are low for a variety of reasons, ranging from strong job opportunities to a growing influx of millennial home buyers,” LendingTree says. “People looking to sell their home will likely have an easy... 04/14/2019

Why Oakland is one of the best places to visit in April? RESTAURANTS We'll take you on a tour around the world... actually.. in Oakland. If you haven't been to most of these places, we'll take you there, and taste the best food they have to offer, right here in Oakland.  PHILIPPINESFob Kitchen - if you haven't visited the Philippines and heard about the best local food it has to offer, look no further. FOB KITCHEN is located in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland, tucked next-door to La Calaca Loca in the little Temescal Plaza near Telegraph Avenue and 51st Street. "FOB owners Brandi and Janice Dulce the first wife-and-wife team to infuse Oakland dining with entrepreneurial energy and culinary creativity. And finally, the food of the Philippines has been rapidly gaining notice in the B... 04/13/2019

Spring 2019 - Time to hit the Farmers Markets!  It's springtime once again and it's definitely something to be excited about as Farmers Markets in California sell the freshest produce and can be found across the Bay area!  I love going to Farmers Markets as I know that we are supporting our local farmers, we are helping protect the environment, we are connecting with the community, and we're living the healthy lifestyle.  Here's a list on some of the Farmers Markets local to our area, let me know your feedback and please share some of your greatest experiences when buying food from your local farmers markets. AlamedaYear-round, Tues. 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.Seasonal, Thurs. 4–8 p.m.Taylor and Webster Sts.www.pcfma.comBerkeleyYear-round, Sat. 10 a.m.–3 p.m.Center St. and Martin Luther King Jr. W... 04/12/2019

Housing Market Likely to Cool going into 2020 - UCLA forecast   According to UCLA (CNBC Article) "The housing markets are softening in California, and it's not just the tony neighborhoods of San Francisco, Silicon Valley and West LA," said Jerry Nickelsburg, an adjunct professor at UCLA and director of the Anderson School of Management's forecast. "This is a statewide phenomenon.""With our national forecast for slowing economic growth, continued discussion on when the next recession will be, and the Fed indicating that the peak of the interest rate cycle could be near, we now expect weaker housing markets into 2020," Nickelsburg wrote in the forecast report. "As a consequence, our forecast for housing starts in 2019 and 2020 has been revised downward, with a recovery in building beginni... 04/11/2019

Oakland's Best Date Spots Most of us always try to make the first impressions last during the first date. Make sure to follow this guide from the SF Eater when planning for your first date in Oakland.   1. Ordinaire Ordinaire is a wine bar, wine shop, and bistro-style restaurant in Oakland, California. Located on Grand Avenue in the Grand Lake District, Ordinaire had its grand opening in September 2013. Ordinaire only sells natural wine, produced from organic grapes with minimal chemical and technological intervention.  2. Blue Bottle Coffee at W.C. Morse Trendy cafe chain offering upscale coffee drinks & pastries, plus beans & brewing equipment.  3. A16 Rockridge - Upbeat, contemporary eatery pairing pizza & Southern Italian plates with a lengthy wine list.  4. Commis  - Open-kitchen e... 04/10/2019

Monthly Market Activity for Single Family Homes in Oakland(includes Piedmont and Emeryville) The Median Sale Price for homes in Oakland during March was $854,000 with thehighest number of units sold in the $1m - $1.49m  price range. The Bay Area continues to be a popular place to call home. If you are ready to search for your next property, or are looking for your home value, visit: www.searchalleastbayhomes.comYou can also call me on my cell at 510-919-5741 for a more personal conversation.I would love the opportunity to earn your business.   04/07/2019

Client trust takes years to build Some people think I am selling houses, but in reality, I am building trust before we ever get to the sale. The more a client shares with me, the more I can tailor the process to what will work for them. This was a success story indeed!  "I had a very bad experience with the first agent i had chosen to help me sell my home. He was a friend of a friend but was not from the Oakland Area. So he was not able to come up with a good price for my small one bedroom home. I saw that around my moms neighborhood of the Laurel district , I gave a call ( to a local real estate office )and got Elisa Uribe. She was very responsive and Knowledgeable about the market in our area. She would market the home as a Condo comparable home . The strategy worked. We had two great... 04/04/2019

Keep Calm, and let me help you buy a home  Some people think I am selling houses, but in reality, I am selling a lifestyle. I cannot believe 8 years had passed since I was fortunate enough to help a client and a friend relocating to the Bay Area.  “I find myself erasing and revising repeatedly to get it just right-in the same way Elisa gets real estate...just right. Elisa was beyond professional with uncanny attention to detail. She is experienced, assertive-not pushy, a good listener and in the end knew when she had found the perfect home for us. Months after the fact she is just as attentive to every question, need and detail. Bravo!” - Aaron L., Montclair District, Oakland Even though the process of helping them buy a home is over, we have kept in touch and they have since moved on a... 04/03/2019

What are your favorite features of a home? We all have our priorities when looking for a home. It is a complex process and needs a lot of thought and consideration. Make sure to talk about the importance of each features with your family members.  1. LocationMost buyers consider this as their top priority when looking for a home. Most would like to have easy access to their jobs, schools, friends/family members, shopping, etc. Some would like to be in a quiet neighborhood away from all the traffic, while some prefers to be in a central location close to shopping, restaurants, etc. NeighborhoodScout is an online platform that helps people decide where to live next and is a great website for forecasting Real Estate opportunities. It is also very important to talk to your realtor, discuss ... 04/02/2019