Oakland Real Estate

04/12/2026

Let’s Rebuild 😎💪🏾

03/18/2026

Well it is definitely HOT in Oakland 🌞 I guess just come with the territory 🥵

☀️ Heat Wave = Buyer Activity is Warming Up Too

Every year in the Bay Area, there’s a moment when things quietly shift.

The weather turns.
More people start getting out.
Open houses feel a little busier.
And then… bidding wars show up.

We’re right on the edge of that window now. And when prices fall into your range, it does so for others 🤔

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been watching the market closely, and there’s something interesting happening:

There are still some solid properties sitting longer than expected.

The kind of listings that in a few weeks, likely won’t last.

Right now, buyers still have:
• A little more room to negotiate
• Less competition
• More time to think clearly

That usually changes heading into April.

If you’re already pre-approved and planning to buy this year, this is the part of the market where timing actually matters.

Not rushing, just being ready to move when the right opportunity shows up.

And if you’re just starting to explore, this is a good time to get clarity on your plan before things speed up.

Either way, it’s a window worth paying attention to.

—
Thomas-Chambers Company
Oakland / East Bay

02/28/2026

Great Blog for First-Time Buyers figuring out the road ahead. A must read....

Pre-Approved vs. Fully Underwritten: What Oakland and East Bay Buyers Should Know

In Oakland’s competitive market, not all “approvals” are created equal.

There’s a major difference between being pre-approved… and being fully underwritten before you write an offer.

One gets you in the conversation.
The other makes you competitive.

If you're thinking about buying this year — especially in competitive neighborhoods — this is worth 3 minutes of your time.

Read it here:
https://www.thomas-chambersrealty.com/Pre-Qualified+vs.+Pre-Approved+vs.+Fully+Underwritten+in+Oakland

02/07/2026

Sharing this for awareness.

A lot of people assume buying is off the table because of the upfront costs—but that’s not always the full story.

Down payment questions come up a lot, so we wanted to share this for awareness.

California’s Dream For All Program is designed to help some first-time buyers who’ve been ready in many ways—but stuck on the upfront costs.

It has specific guidelines, and it’s one of those programs that really benefits from a clear explanation.

Dane Moler (pictured) is a great resource on the lending side, and we’re always happy to help you understand how it fits into the bigger picture.