Homes
6 CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
REAL ESTATE GALLERY REAL ESTATE REALITY
By Carl Medford, CRS Special to the Times
GUEST COMMENTARY
Four Key Issues Facing California Real Estate
T
here is no question we are living in unprecedented times. The continuous flow of negative headlines feels like the incessant hammering of a pile driver relentlessly pounding morale lower and lower. As it relates to real estate, here are four current issues producing tension and anxiety. 1 Covid-19 Still in first place, the pandemic’s off-again, on-again restrictions are forcing fluctuating changes in how residential real estate is viewed. While we enjoyed unfettered access for a short period, recent flareups mean mask restrictions are back for all in-home visits, including open houses. 2 Wildfires As untold numbers of acres and structures are being consumed by the current wildfires across the state, count on significant changes in the near future. Insurance companies, grappling to cope with the unparalleled disasters, will be looking to recoup costs by raising rates or limiting avail-
ability in high-risk zones. As someone who just purchased an insurance policy for a home in a mountain region, I was shocked at the number of companies who refused to write a policy and the high rates from the few who would. Secondly, as efforts get underway to rebuild, counties will be mandating more fire-resistant structures, thereby increasing building costs. Additionally, with supply chains already stretched to the limit by COVID-related shortages, you can guarantee we will be seeing another round of cost increases in building materials, especially wood and concrete. 3 Evictions By disrupting so many jobs across the state, especially in the service industries, Covid-19 has been responsible for a waive of unpaid rents. Coupled with the eviction moratorium, making it impossible to evict non-paying tenants, small mom and pop landlords have been struggling to make ends meet and are voicing their concerns that the
burden of sustaining non-paying tenants has been placed unfairly on them. Many landlords, no longer able to sustain the losses, are selling their properties and thereby removing them from the state’s rental inventory. For a state already struggling to find adequate housing, this is not good news. 4 Homelessness Not only are homeless populations growing all the more visible, they are also impacting real estate. We are seeing pushback from buyers who do not want to purchase properties near homeless encampments. We have also seen an increase in homes on the market being broken into to be used for shelter. With a gubernatorial recall underway, it is hoped we can find meaningful solutions going forward. Carl Medford is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and a licensed general contractor. This article is sponsored by the Central County Marketing Association.general contractor. This article is sponsored by the Central County Marketing Association. RECENT HOME SALES SAN LORENZO
Total: 6 – Average Price: $827,125 High: $928,000 – Low: $662,000
14052 Reed Avenue 94578: $583,000 [2 BD - 1,084 SF - 1973
(510) 909-8344
1455 San Jose Street 94577: $1,157,500 [3 BD - 1,164 SF - 1953 15183 Shining Star Lane 94579: $1,255,000 [4 BD - 2,255 SF - 1994 573 Superior Avenue 94577: $1,201,000 [3 BD - 1,727 SF - 1924 2260 Transom Way 94577: $580,000 [3 BD - 1,125 SF - 1978 1490 Vining Drive 94579: $825,000 [3 BD - 1,190 SF - 1957
* SALE PENDING * Castro Valley Luxury Lifestyle at its best! This Mediterranean style home is 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths with over 4,900 SQ. FT. This halfacre property consists of exceptional construction 20340 Hunters Knoll, Castro Valley and quality finishes with great indoor and outdoor flow. The terraced landscaping has a garden area, trees, lovely deck areas all around the back with views you will not want to miss. Perfect place for working, family, friends, in-law setup and so much more. Make Your Free Appointment with our Team Today To Discuss Your Real Estate Needs! Call (925) 251-2536
By Buzz Bertolero
SPECIAL TO THE FORUM
Q:
What can I plant for color in a north-facing planter box? It receives lots of shade, although it’s not dark. The planter is ten feet long, faced with native rock. A. Colorizing shady areas can be done with flowers and or foliage. I prefer using attractive foliage, and Coleus can be beaten.
A:
The vibrant, maroon, yellow, or red leaf colors will more than make from the lack of flowers. You’ll also find varieties with deep lobes that give them an exciting look. My second choice is Lamium, Dead Nettle, the mint green leaves splashed with white along with the white, pink, or purple flowers makes a low growing, cascading solution. Another option is New Guinea Impatiens. Their flower is about three times the size of a regular Impatiens, and the foliage is dark green with deep red stems and midribs. Midribs are those leaf veins that separate or segment a leaf into the section. New Guinea Impatiens, they’re
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P06 HOMES (1) 08-18.indd 1
very bold. White, Pink, Red, Orange, and Bicolor are the typical colors. These varieties should continue to bloom into early November; however, it is improbable that any of these varieties will survive the winter cold. They’ll collapse with the first cold spell or frosty night. When this occurs, I’d then replace them with Cyclamen until next spring. Earwigs, snails, and slugs can be controlled with Sluggo Plus.
Q:
How do I know when my Sugar Baby Watermelons are ready to pick? I don’t want to pick them too soon.
A:
Unlike other fruits such as tomatoes, watermelons do not ripen after harvesting. So, yes, you don’t want to pick them early, and there has been a debate about when to pick them. Harvesting Sugar Baby Watermelons generally begins eighty days after planting. This is not an exact date but instead a benchmark to work around. It is more precise if you grew your melons from seed and less actuate from transplants. The other signif-
icant variable is temperature. Watermelons like warm days and nights to mature on time; however, our temperatures vary; thus, we need to use a little educated guesswork to determine when to pick them. As the maturity day approaches, you check your plants daily. Every watermelon has a curly tendril immediately below where it is attached to the vine. When this tendril is green, the melon is not ready for harvesting. When it is brown and shriveled, you have a ninety percent probability the melon is ready to be picked. In addition, Sugar Baby should be about ten inches in diameter with a dark green rind. Another test you can use to tell when a watermelon is ripe is if your fingernail can not indent the skin. The outer skin of the watermelon tends to feel a little rough when ripe. The old-school method of thumping the melon is not very precise or accurate. If your melon(s) passes the Sugar Baby Watermelon maturity test(s), they can be pick by snipping them off at the stem with a pair of shears or scissors. Like so many homegrown fruits and vegetables, the flavor and sweetness of a chilled homegrown watermelon is fabulous.
4179 Beverly Place, Castro Valley: Lovely single-level rancher in the heart of Castro Valley. Walk to downtown from this light and bright 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on a quiet cul-de-sac. Features a large country kitchen, spacious rooms, inside laundry, tile roof, and A/C. Low maintenance patio and yard. Won’t last long! Asking: $998,000
Coldwell Banker Real Estate
21060 Redwood Rd. Ste. 100, Castro Valley • calltrish@comcast.net
Call Trish Radovich: 510-367-7999
8/17/21 7:10 PM
