Your Real Estate Expert for Berkeley and Beyond
“Marilyn is exceptional. Her knowledge base, enthusiasm for her job, professional ethics, organization, sensitivity to our aesthetic requirements, loyalty and gentle perseverance set her apart.”
-- Bill and Carol Seidel
Marilyn Garcia, PhD
Broker Associate, Realtor®
DRE# 01355514
District Homes
1758 Solano Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94707
Direct:
(510) 390-5406
REAL ESTATE MARKET OUTLOOK: North Berkeley & the Berkeley Hills, Q3 2026 results
THE OUTLOOK: Berkeley Real Estate Market Update, July–September (Q3) 2026 The weather has been hot at times this summer, but the Berkeley real estate market has been hotter! The condo market has been faring better this year, and definitely better than the Oakland condo market, but condo demand remains lukewarm for the most part. Houses, especially larger, higher-end homes, have been another story. Demand has been strong, and I’ve been seeing some serious bidding wars. North Berkeley The North Berkeley market on average is up about 15% in the last year: Median sold price: $1,820,000 Up 1% from Q2 Up [...]
REAL ESTATE ANSWERS: How much will Berkeley’s transfer tax increase in 2027?
How much will Berkeley’s transfer tax increase in 2027? Berkeley’s transfer tax, a fee paid to the City when a property is sold, is increasing in 2027, particularly for higher-priced homes. Who pays this fee is negotiable, but the customary practice is to split it 50/50 between buyer and seller. Currently, a home that sells for up to $1.7 million pays a City transfer tax of 1.5% of the sale price, while sales above $1.7 million are taxed at 2.5%. The $1.7 million threshold is adjusted annually based on Berkeley home sale prices. Measure W, approved by voters in November [...]
GET READY FOR RAIN!
Get Ready for Rain Now is the time to make sure your home is ready for winter rains. With signs pointing to a strong El Niño, we could end up with a lot of rainfall this year. To prepare, clear leaves and debris from gutters, downspouts, and drains, and make sure downspouts direct water away from your home. Check sump pumps to make sure they’re working, and check storm drains near your property to make sure they’re clear. Look at windows and doors for deteriorated caulk or other places where wind-driven rain can enter. If you’ve noticed pooling water or [...]
COMPLETED SALES, North Berkeley, 3rd Quarter 2026
Click HERE to see details and photos of properties SOLD in North Berkeley, 7/1/2026-9/30/2026. Note that after you follow the link, you can click on each individual property to see photos and more details. Click "Close" near the top to return to the list. * For the purposes of this newsletter, “North Berkeley” is defined as the area bounded by University Avenue in the south, the line of Sacramento Street to the west, the Berkeley border to the north, and below Arlington Avenue, Los Angeles Avenue, and Spruce Street (south of Los Angeles) to the east.
COMPLETED SALES, Berkeley Hills, 3rd Quarter 2026
Click HERE to see details and photos of properties SOLD in the Berkeley Hills, 7/1/2026 - 9/30/2026. Note that, after you follow the link, you can click on each individual property to see photos and more details. Click "Close" near the top to return to the list. * For the purposes of this newsletter, “Berkeley Hills” refers to the area bounded as follows: north of campus, east of a line heading north on Spruce from campus, cutting over on Los Angeles to Arlington, and then north along Arlington to the Kensington border.
Berkeley is the (among the) best! / Going Green
Best Cities Niche.com recently released its 2024 ranking for the “Best Cities to Live in America,” and Berkeley was #11! Berkeley was rated highly in the categories Public Schools, Good for Families, Nightlife, Diversity, Weather, Health & Fitness, Commute, and Outdoor Activities. Berkeley was bested in this ranking only by Irvine (ranked #6 overall) among California cities. For full details, see niche.com/places-to-live/search/best-cities/. Going Green I am always looking to expand my knowledge of anything related to real estate, and I recently finished the coursework to be a designated “Green” Realtor®. The coursework covered a broad range of topics, from ways [...]