East Bay Area Community News and Information Real Estate Newsletter: Diane Verducci, Grubb Co

Direct Line: 510-654-1280 ext. 449
Office: 510-652-2133

Email: diane@dianeverducci.com

JANUARY 2005: IN THIS NEWSLETTER

Buyers Tip
Phrase for the Month
Year 2005 Predictions
Coming Soon
Resources For Buyers and Sellers
Poinsettia Plants
Winter Gardening

BUYERS TIP

Discounts are available from the title companies for title insurance. You have to ask.... First time buyers and buyers over the age of 55 receive discounts of 10% for title insurance. Worth it.

PHRASE FOR THE MONTH

"Not a Drive By"
You may have noticed the phrase 'this is not a drive by' in some advertising for homes. This is to encourage everyone not to dismiss a home by the appearance from the street.

A few years back I pulled up in front of a home that looked pretty bad from the street. The house was set close to the sidewalk, the windows looked dark, closed and uninviting and any landscaping that could have been in front of this house was gone, almost a concrete front. This home was advertised as 'not a drive by' and boy were they right. Once in the front door, you could see directly through several windows into the garden, and it was huge, full of blossoming flowers, fruit trees and vegetables, winding paths plus the healthiest lawn I had seen in a while. - It was like a mini park and all of the windows from the opposite side of the house looked out into this paradise. The interior was lovely; just a typical bungalow wrapped around this glorious garden. It sold with multiple offers.

2005 PREDICTIONS

We are gearing up, looks strong. As long as the interest rates stay low we should be in good shape. What's a low interest rate? I bought my first house at 12.5%. So I consider anything less than that low! And if you want to know the purchase price at that time, send me a request at predictions@dianeverducci.com

Call me at 510-652-2133 or

Email me diane@dianeverducci.com

RESOURCES FOR
BUYERS AND SELLERS

Finding The Perfect Home
Search the entire East Bay's MLS.
Updated daily!
Click Here to begin your home seach

Sales History By Zip Codes
Stay Informed - Find out what homes sold for in your zip code.
Click here for more information

Email Updates
Keep Updated - Sign up for Free No Obligation Email Updates. Be alerted with new listings matching your specified criteria as they hit the market.
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COMING SOON FEATURED HOME

Centrally Located Charmer
A terrific home with 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths, just minutes from Andronicos Grocery Store, downtown Berkeley, the Cal campus, Fourth Street shops and major transportation.
For more information visit my website
www.DianeVerducci.com or email me at Diane@DianeVerducci.com for more details.

POINSETTIA PLANTS

What to do with your Poinsettia plants: I have several poinsettia plans around my house and haven't the heart to toss them, just yet. If you do, place them in the recycle bin, not garbage. Better yet I found this link on information on how to care for them until next year. I especially found the part about keeping them in total darkness for 14 hours a day very interesting. Check it out. And I will check back with you in November to see how they are coming along.
http://www.fernlea.com/xmas/poininfo.htm

WINTER GARDENING

Berkeley Horticultural Nursery
Gardener's Calendar
January Checklist:

Plant cool weather veggies like Cauliflower, Broccoli, Collards, Kale and leaf crops

Check your compost to make sure it isn't too wet or too dry

Repot container plants that have gone 2 years or more in the same pot

Prune Roses

Get a jump on planting CA natives like Ceanothus or Arctostaphylos
Visit www.BerkeleyHort.com for more Gardening Suggestions and find out about their Free Gardening Classes.
Additional Reading:
What to Plant This Month