Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Ernest Villafranca

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Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Ernest Villafranca Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate is a full service brokerage helping people sell and buy real estate. Welcome to my East Bay Real Estate page!

Here you will find real estate services in equity sales, foreclosure (REO, Real Estate Owned), short sales, probate, conservatorship, trusts. single family residence, luxury homes, condos, and multi-units. Also, help with 203K Rehabs, flips, lease options, BPO (Broker Price Opinion), courthouse trustee sales. Servicio en Español. I can translate from English to Spanish. Can read and write in Spanish. Real Estate Service Areas
Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont, San Leandro, Castro Valley, Hayward. and nearby East Bay cities. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Realtor 510-418-9443, license #01330018. Residential and Commercial. Hablo Español.

10/14/2026

California Housing Market Settles Into Steadier Growth

10/13/2026

Oakland Sellers: More Homes Sold, Demand Stays Strong
Let’s connect and talk about the latest insights in the industry!

10/12/2026

Mortgage Rates Aren’t Backing Down Yet

10/11/2026

Honoring the Significance of Indigenous Day

Housing Density Bill Could Bring More High-Rises to 7 California CitiesBig changes could be on the horizon for housing i...
10/10/2026

Housing Density Bill Could Bring More High-Rises to 7 California Cities
Big changes could be on the horizon for housing in the Bay Area and beyond. There's a bill in the works that would allow seven of California’s largest cities—places with transit stops and populations over 400,000—to construct residential buildings reaching anywhere from 150 to 450 feet tall. The aim? To help meet the ambitious target of 2.5 million new homes by 2030. For those of us serving communities like Berkeley, Oakland, and Hayward, this could mean more high-rise living options and greater density in neighborhoods where demand runs high. I’ve seen how local housing policies shape our market for everything from single-family homes and condos to multi-units and investment properties. As someone who guides clients through sales, probate, and complex transactions across the East Bay, I’m always watching how these shifts may impact your next move—whether you’re buying, selling, or investing.


https://www.roomvu.com/agent-news/ernest-villafranca-388374/2100122-Housing-Density-Bill-Could-Bring-More-High-Rises-to-7-Califo

10/07/2026

California Streamlines Small-Lot Home Approvals
California has taken a notable step to make small-lot housing more attainable—creating a 60-day ministerial approval track for subdivisions of up to 10 homes on qualifying infill sites. This new process skips lengthy environmental reviews and public hearings if requirements are met. For multifamily zones, each new lot must be at least 600 sq ft, and the average floor space is capped at 1,750 sq ft of net habitable area. When it comes to the 10-unit cap, multifamily zones leave out ADUs and JADUs, while single-family zones exclude only JADUs. Los Angeles led the way years ago with its own ordinance designed to support compact homeownership, and now the state is following suit. The goal is to open up more pathways for homeownership—though whether these truly serve as starter homes is still a big question. Recent updates have also allowed vacant single-family lots to be redeveloped, which is significant for anyone navigating Bay Area housing options. In my work serving communities from Berkeley to Fremont, I’ve seen how these policy changes can offer new opportunities for buyers and sellers alike—especially those exploring multi-unit strategies, trusts, or investment properties.

10/07/2026

Oakland Condo Market Shows Clear Signs of Rebound in 2026
We're seeing some encouraging shifts in the Oakland condo market for 2026. Median prices have increased by 3.7% to $492,500, while properties are spending less time on the market—down 20% to just 32 days. Sale-to-list price ratios are now consistently above 100%, a clear signal that buyers are willing to meet or even exceed asking prices. Sold listings have climbed to 52.8%, and expired listings have dropped to 14%. While prices are still below what we saw in 2023-24, this rebound stands out for buyers and sellers alike. Working throughout Oakland and neighboring cities, I’ve helped clients navigate a wide range of market cycles, including condos, probate, and trust sales. These trends offer new opportunities for anyone considering a move or investment in the East Bay’s dynamic condo market.

10/05/2026

Seller Concessions Reach a New US Peak
We're seeing a notable shift in the real estate landscape: in the rolling 3-month period ending mid-Q3, about 45% of home sales nationwide came with seller concessions—the highest share for this time of year since at least 2020. That’s up from around 43% a year ago, signaling that buyers have gained more leverage as inventory grows and competition cools. Concessions aren’t just about price reductions anymore; they now include help with repairs, closing costs, and even mortgage-rate buydowns, giving buyers more options to reduce their overall purchase costs. Sellers are adapting by offering closing-cost credits and helping with rates, not just dropping the price—reshaping negotiations and making deals more flexible. In fact, about 16% of homes sold in mid-Q3 featured both a price cut and a concession. In my East Bay territory, I’ve seen firsthand how these evolving strategies can open new doors for buyers and create opportunities for sellers, whether you’re in Berkeley, Oakland, or beyond. My experience with everything from single-family homes to probate and trust sales helps clients navigate these changing dynamics with confidence.

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2095 Rose Street
Oakland, CA
94709

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

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