Teresa Lee

Finally got around to building this coffee/planter table that I designed 6 months ago. I thought this simple DIY project was going to save me time and money. It didn’t. And I still need to get me some legs! But I loved that dad built it with me and I’ll remember it every time I sit down for a cup of joe on my deck.

It's been a busy couple of months in real estate and I'm going to do a better job to keep this up-to-date! First of all, congrats to my clients/friends and now neighbors, Sandeep and Shamili on the purchase of their first home. I'm so happy for you guys and I can't wait to hang out on your rooftop! For those interested in the market and are looking to get in, buyer demand has been high due to low mortgage rates, but they aren't going away anytime soon. They're expected to remain low as the Federal Reserve announced their intention to keep their benchmark rate at 0-.25% last week, until 2023.

I have come to appreciate Census data over the years, as it guides research, decision-making and planning for both the public and private sectors. Communities are least likely to thrive if they are undercounted, and subsequently underfunded and underrepresented in government. If you have moment, please participate in the 2020 Census, a once-in-a decade tradition! You can do so through the phone, over mail, or online with 13 different language support. It takes less than 10 minutes. Census is safe, secure and a civic duty that is good for our community. Everyone counts!

Friends, I know it’s an unsettling time if you’re a tenant struggling to keep a roof over your head or a landlord wondering how rent moratoriums and eviction bans will affect your mortgage payment and other expenses. My heart is with you, truly. Here’s a little reading on rental management I found both helpful for renters and landlords: https://resources.hemlane.com/coronavirus-property-managem/. While the law seems to be changing daily, I just want to simply say that who we are don’t have to change. Let’s treat each other with respect and human decency. And if possible, work together with your tenant or your landlord on the best path forward during this difficult time. I’m not a real estate lawyer, but if you need someone to talk to, DM me.

Hi everyone, I hope you and yours are doing okay during this turbulent time. Just want to share my tips/resource of the week. A client recently asked me for a breakdown of several city's property tax rate in Alameda and Contra Costa (not including special taxes + assessments). For those of you prospective buyers who are wondering the same thing, and for homeowners that may be struggling to figure out your property tax rate (like I did when I purchased my house), I want to sh...are with you what I use. Alameda has a really easy to use search page: https://www.acgov.org/auditor/tax/taxratesearch.htm. Contra Costa has a PDF breakdown: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6540/Publications#Tax San Francisco's assessor's office has by far the most informative page I've seen: https://sftreasurer.org/property/understanding-property-tax. They're all good resources directly from the county. DM if you have any questions and stay safe and healthy, my friends.