We love the arrival of November because it feels like the unofficial beginning of the winter holiday season. Although fewer homes typically go on the real estate market in November and December, we at BWG have had a very busy fall, and we anticipate an equally active winter! Read on to check out our recent sales, learn the pros and cons of buying and selling a home off-market, get design tips for updating a fireplace facade, and explore the best places in the Bay Area to see colorful fall leaves!
Pros and Cons of Selling or Buying an Off-market Property
Our clients frequently ask us about the advantages and disadvantages of selling or buying a home off-market. Whether an off-market purchase or sale is a good option varies widely depending on each individual's circumstances and goals. The conventional wisdom is that a home is more likely to sell for a higher price on the open market; however, this is not always the case. In addition, maximizing the sale price isn't always the first priority in a real estate transaction. There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to sell or buy an off-market property:
For Sellers:
For Buyers:
Ever-changing market conditions also influence whether an off-market purchase or sale is wise. Therefore, we encourage anyone who is considering selling or buying an off-market property to consult us as early in the process as possible so we can help evaluate clients' goals and circumstances within the framework of current market conditions.
Spruce Up Your Fireplace Facade!
One more reason to love November: It's the perfect time to cozy up in front of the fire! In honor of fireplace weather, we're sharing some ideas for updating the facade of your home's fireplace. Many people assume a fireplace renovation is prohibitively expensive, but as long as your firebox or gas insert are in good working order and don't need to be replaced, it can be relatively simple and affordable to refresh a fireplace surround for a big aesthetic impact.
Where to Find the Bay Area's Most Beautiful Fall Leaves
According to californiafallcolor.com, fall leaf color in the Bay Area is often at its most vibrant during Thanksgiving week. Pack a picnic or plan a hike and head out to one of these nearby destinations to enjoy the natural beauty of autumn!
San Francisco Botanical Garden: (1199 9th Avenue, San Francisco) Golden-fanned ginkgos, purple vine maples, and Persian ironwoods are just a few of the trees that put on a spectacular color show at the SF Botanical Gardens. Take a picnic and eat under the crimson Japanese maples in the Moon Viewing Garden, or walk to one of the many restaurants around 9th Ave in the Sunset District. Opens daily at 7:30a.m. From November to January the last entry is at 4:00 p.m., and the gardens close at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $3 for kids 5-11; $7 for kids 12-17 and seniors 65 and older; $10 for adults; $21 for family groups. Admission is free for San Francisco residents!
Tilden Regional Park: (Entrances off Wildcat Canyon Road and Grizzly Peak Blvd., Botanic Garden entrance at 1550 Wildcat Canyon Road, Berkeley) Head to the hills above Berkeley to stroll through the Tilden Park Botanic Garden or hike around Lake Anza. A word of warning! Keep your eyes peeled for the flaming red poison oak plants, which provide some of the most brilliant color in the park! The lemon-yellow ginkgo trees at the nearby UC Berkeley campus are also worth a look. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily; closed Thanksgiving Day. Parking and admission are free. Dogs are not permitted in the park.
Oakland Zoo Gondola: (9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland) Take a day trip to the zoo, and hop on the gondola for a birds-eye view of fall colors in six surrounding counties! The zoo opens daily at 10:00 a.m. The last entry is at 4:00 p.m., the last gondola ride of the day leaves at 5:15 p.m., and the park closes at 6:00 p.m. Advance-purchase tickets are required; ticket prices range from $20 to $24.
Samuel P. Taylor State Park (8889 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Lagunitas) Oaks, firs, and old-growth redwoods provide a heady mix of fall colors on Samuel P. Taylor Park's 12 popular (and dog-friendly!) hiking trails, some of which are particularly wonderful for biking and hiking safely with kids. Pack a picnic basket and enjoy a relaxing lunch at the Azalea Picnic Area to complete your day. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to dusk.
Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve: (Entrance and Dawn Falls Trail Head at end of Madrone Avenue, Larkspur) Maple and oak trees display their red, yellow, and orange leaves amongst a backdrop of towering redwoods as you hike the 5.9 mile Dawn Falls Trail, relax by Larkspur Creek, or take in some of the best bird watching in Marin. Open 24 hours a day from August to January. Leashed dogs are welcome.
Bothe-Napa Valley State Park: (3801 St. Helena Highway, Calistoga) Maple and oaks trees put on a brilliant show along ten miles of hiking trails, particularly on the Redwood Trail that runs along Ritchey Creek. This park also boasts great birdwatching and is home to six different types of woodpecker. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset; parking available for $10. Dogs are not allowed on hiking trails.
North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Reserve: (5297 Sonoma Mountain Road, Santa Rosa) The preserve stretches from south of Bennett Valley to the western boundary of Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen. The 7.6 mile (round trip) North Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail presents a moderately strenuous hike, but the extraordinarily colorful views of the Santa Rosa Plain, Bennett Valley, Sonoma Valley, Mount Saint Helena, Hood Mountain, Sugarloaf Ridge, and the Taylor and Bennett mountains are well worth the effort. Open daily from 7:00 a.m. to sunset. Dogs are not permitted on hiking trails.
