Smart Buyer's Club! Save time, shop smart with our new Smart Buyer's Club memberships. Call for details

The Smart Buyers' Club is a free VIP service to all!

The Smart Buyers’ Club with Prudential-Berkeley is currently offering free one-year memberships to all interested Buyers at no charge. NO FEE IS REQUIRED. To become an eligible member, simply email a request to be a Smart Buyer or call me anytime. In addition, once your application for membership is approved, here are the great benefits you receive:

· Our in-house Loan Officers will contact you to schedule your free appointment to let you know some of the great loan opportunitys that you may qualify for as a Smart Buyers’ Club member. After your initial interview, you are also eligible to receive the pre-approval letter. This will open so many more doors for you once you begin to make offers on some of today's great real estate buys. Our loan department will even assist you with credit repair and counseling to get you ready for future home purchasing as well. They are at your service to answer all questions you may have on buying a new home and the great Lender Packages offered in todays market. They stay with you throughout the entire transaction to guide into home ownership.

· Free weekly email Property Alerts of properties you want to see. These properties are matched from the criteria provided by you and are extracted right from the Multiply Listing Service (MLS) and emailed directly to your email account. Open them in the convenience and privacy of your own home or laptop when you’re ready. No high pressure sales agent need be present!

· Free printed OPEN HOUSE lists (available upon request) sent each Friday via email. You simply print the list you want. . . The Hot List . . . All Prudential Listings . . . or a custom list specific to your needs or all of the lists. All free of charge, just for asking.

· Access to the Prudential Family of Services including but not limited to Loan Officers, Insurance Carriers, Home Warranty Protection and much, much more!

· My pledge to you: I will offer you prompt professional service through the close of escrow!

. . . because Smart Buyers always use Prudential California Realty!

Prudential California Realty, 2095 Rose Street, Berkeley, CA 94709

Featured Property

Offered at $567,890

Property Address

852 RIDGEDALE CT EL SOBRANTE, CA 94803

Total Photos: 9

Property Photos

Vision, Accountability, Personal Responsibility and Commitment!

Today's savvy Homeowners have a good idea what their property may be worth and what they need from a sales transaction to move forward with a new purchase. I take great care in listening to both the needs and wants of each homeowner prior to signing the listing agreement. However, most potential selling clients may not be aware of the vast level of services I bring to the table to get your property sold!

When you sign that listing agreement, your not just signing with an Agent of Prudential. You are actually signing with every agent of Prudential. As a team member you get the skills and experience of "the Rock of Prudential".

In addition as a member of the East Bay Regional Data, Inc., your listing becomes exposed to all Realtors and Buyer's Agents to access information from. This central data system is commonly known as the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Agents looking for properties like yours log on, filter their criteria (based on the needs of their clients) and pull up the MLS Data Sheet with your home details. They call, show and hopefully make an offer on your home through this great system. With the MLS, you have virtually listed your home within every real estate office in the Bay Area! What great exposure!

What the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 Means for You!

Good news has made its way into the real estate arena this summer -- in the form of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. What does this Act mean for you?

It means a lot if you are in the market to be a first time homebuyer -- up to a $7,500 tax credit if you purchase before July 1, 2009. And there's more good news. First time homebuyers is defined as, "a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase."

This means for all those markets that have started to stabilize, now could be a great time to buy.

Let's take a closer look at just what this new incentive entails.

In order to receive the tax credit you must have purchased your home -- single-family detached, townhouses and condominiums, manufactured homes, and houseboats -- between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009. Purchase being the closing date.

You must also meet income requirements. But even if you are over the modified adjusted gross income level of $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (married), you may be able to receive partial tax credits. The full amount of credit is available for individuals with adjusted gross income of no more than $75,000 ($150,000 on a joint return). This phases out above those caps ($95,000 and $170,000, respectively).

And getting started with the tax credit program is simple. You claim the tax credit on your federal income tax return. That's it. It doesn't require any other confusing, fancy paperwork.

You can even access the funds quick -- instead of waiting to file your return. The NAHB reports, "Buyers who believe they qualify for the tax credit are permitted to reduce their income tax withholding. Reducing tax withholding (up to the amount of the credit) will enable the future home buyer to accumulate cash by raising his/her take home pay. This money can then be applied to the downpayment. Buyers should adjust their withholding amount on their W-4 via their employer or through their quarterly estimated tax payment. IRS Publication 919 contains rules and guidelines for income tax withholding."

What's tricky about this Act -- its a tax credit, meaning that you must repay the government either over the next 15 years (no interest charged), or when you sell the home, if there were sufficient capital gains from the sale.

The NAHB gives this example, "A home buyer claiming a $7,500 credit would repay the credit at $500 per year. The home owner does not have to begin making repayments on the credit until two years after the credit is claimed. So if the tax credit is claimed on the 2008 tax return, a $500 payment is not due until the 2010 tax return is filed. If the home owner sold the home, then the remaining credit amount would be due from the profit on the home sale. If there was insufficient profit, then the remaining credit payback would be forgiven."

So why do you have to repay this credit? Because this is just that -- a credit, not a deduction. The government's hope is that this credit will stimulate the housing market ... and in turn the economy. By providing first-time home buyers with a little financial boost -- remember it's interest free -- it could do just that.

Written by Carla L. Davis
August 19, 2008

Happy Clients List

He is simply the best! Harriet Iseman

He sold my condo in 12 days! Who else could do that? Aaron Thomas

Dave possesses a unique blend of casual and professional that leaves me feeling very confident. He knows his stuff! Jerry Albright

Just a few of my team members!

Prudential California Realty, Prudential Nevada Realty, Prudential Texas Realty

East Bay Regional Data (E.B.R.D.)

Oakland Association of REALTORS

California Association of REALTORS

National Association of REALTORS