Megan Micco, Real Estate Agent, Compass, DRE 01930373

09/11/2026

AI can tell you a lot about a home. Here’s what it can’t tell you:

🏠 Condition — of the home, or of the homes its price comparisons are built on

🌳 Feel — how a street actually lives at rush hour or on a Saturday morning

🏫 School lines — one side of a street can feed a different school than the other

📍 Position — a corner lot and a spot deep in the cul-de-sac aren’t the same value

🚧 What hasn’t been announced — the empty field that’s about to become a development

And that’s just a few examples. Every neighborhood has things you only learn by being there or by talking to someone who has.

https://hubs.li/Q04wXTTV0

09/10/2026

Does home search now start with AI?

For a lot of buyers, it already does. Instead of setting filters and scrolling for hours, they’re just asking: “Find me a home near a park, with room for my in-laws, under my budget.” And they’re getting real answers back.

It works better than most people expect. The early part of a search has never been easier. But there are things these tools can’t tell you about a home, and they’re usually the things that matter most.

This month’s post covers both sides.

https://hubs.li/Q04wXTH60

09/08/2026

AI is changing how people search for homes. And like any tool, it works best when you know what it’s good at — and what it doesn't have access to.

I just published a post that walks through both sides: where AI genuinely helps, where it gets things wrong, and what it means if you’re buying or selling this fall.

https://hubs.li/Q04wXTF70

09/01/2026

Just closed on this great home in North Berkeley. My clients are UC professors and purchased this property using the MOP loan program. The program offers mortgage interest rate discounts to qualified applicants to help improve affordability. This is their first home and it allows them to begin building equity in a great location while affording them the convenience of walking to work! I couldn't be more happy for them and am excited to have more great clients living in my hood.

08/28/2026

I got these new buyers into contract on their first offer at this beautifully updated craftsman bungalow in the Thousand Oaks neighborhood of Berkeley. Wonderful, family friendly area just off Solano avenue, this home has been expanded from it's original footprint with a family room and primary suite, but also retains much of its original 1925 charm. So happy for my clients and wishing for a smooth escrow.

08/25/2026

Fewer than 300 Berkeley homes were insured through the California FAIR Plan in 2021. By September 2025 the number was close to 2,000, more than six times as many in four years.

Availability is finally improving. Eleven insurance groups have committed to grow in California, and FAIR Plan growth slowed sharply this year. Price is not improving. The FAIR Plan's average 29.1% increase lands October 15.

What the Department of Insurance's August 19 market update means for Berkeley homeowners:
https://hubs.li/Q04vgd9C0

California's homeowners insurance market is stabilizing. Here is what the FAIR Plan data, Zone 0, and October's rate change mean for Berkeley homeowners.

08/24/2026

My goal is always to blow my clients away! Education is at the heart of a successful property sale, and I want my sellers to fully understand every step in the process. This helps reduce anxiety, and leads to a more successful outcome. If you're considering selling a home in Berkeley in the next few years, reach out for a personalized consultation.

https://hubs.li/Q04s0Dq40

08/20/2026

July's economic data sent mixed signals. Inflation eased slightly to 3.4 percent year over year, but the labor market lost 23,000 jobs, and the Fed held rates steady on July 29 with the most dissenting votes in nearly three decades.

Mortgage rates held near 6.67 percent for a 30-year fixed. On a $1.4 million Berkeley home with 20 percent down, that runs about $7,205 a month in principal and interest.

Berkeley's own numbers tell two stories at once: one index shows values down about 9 percent from a year ago, while actual closed sales in Alameda County are up 2 percent, with homes selling in a median of 15 days on just 2 months of supply.

I break down what all of this means for buyers and sellers here in my full August market update.

https://hubs.li/Q04tKTZY0

August 2026 real estate market update: July CPI, jobs, PPI, the Fed's July rate decision, mortgage rates, and Berkeley buyer/seller insights.

08/10/2026

Chemistry is everything when it comes to working with a real estate agent. I value clear and proactive communication, and never hesitate to tell my clients the truth as I see it. My job is to forecast any possible obstacle and give buyers all the information they need in order to make an informed decision that works for their particular needs. Reach out to learn more about how I might be able to help you in your home search.

https://hubs.li/Q04s0F5-0

07/31/2026

Berkeley's transfer tax is going up on January 1, 2027, when Measure W takes effect. Three tiers replace the current structure: 2.5% at or above $1.6 million, 3.0% at or above $1.9 million, 3.5% at or above $3.0 million. Each rate applies to the entire sale price.

The seismic transfer tax rebate does not go away under Measure W. It still applies to the base 1.5% component, calculated on the full sale price. On a $2.5 million sale, that rebate ceiling is $12,500.

If you are planning a Berkeley transaction in 2026 or 2027 and the home has retrofit potential, the rebate is worth modeling before you close. The article explains how the math works and what the application process looks like.

https://hubs.li/Q04nGG1q0