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Fall Is In The Air
Fall News + A Few Favorites
With fall on the horizon, the holidays are not far behind which means more gatherings and a need for more helping hands. Last month we shared our favorite pet and house sitter to offer assistance to those traveling. This month we share a few recommendations to help out with those upcoming holiday parties and events. We are always happy to share our recommendations and resources. Just let us know what you are seeking.
Clients, friends and colleagues, we look forward to connecting soon.
All our best,
Debbi, Adam & Chase
Realtors for the Generations
DBG | Piedmont Listing Update
SOLD! 349 Moraga Avenue – Unique, Piedmont Opportunity. 2++1B with hardwood floors, a large bonus room, situated on an expansive lot. Note: This room has been virtually staged. www.349Moraga.com
OPEN SUNDAY! 141 Wildwood Gardens, Piedmont. Elegant, high-tech, level-in, beautifully appointed contemporary located in one of Piedmont’s most desirable neighborhoods. Offered at $3,495,000 www.141WildwoodGardens.com
SOLD! 35 Craig Avenue, Piedmont. Located one block to the center of town and Piedmont’s Top Rated Schools K-12, the Piedmont Park and Mulberry’s Market. Stop by and see us this weekend! Offered at $2,995,000 www.35Craig.com
For Lease Hiller Highlands, 4 Clipper Hill, Oakland
and Coming Soon, 2 Unique and Spectacular Homes, both situated on double lots
Berkeley: 688 Alvarado Road boasts panoramic San Francisco Bay Views while 5708 Glenbrook in Oakland located in the prestigious Claremont Pines neighborhood is an elegant and grand Mediterranean. More Soon!
On to a few of our favorite resources and recommendations – let them know we sent you!
Market Hall Caterers
We recently used Market Hall Catering Service on College Avenue for a small gathering we hosted to welcome our new neighbor to Hiller Highlands. Our guest of honor as well as our guests were very pleased. As the hosts, we were very happy; Market Hall Caterers offer a variety of choices and made the entire process seamless. You can either pick up or have your trays delivered, and the food was fresh and delicious. (510) 250-6001
Summer Kitchen + bake shop
Summer Kitchen on College Avenue has gone to great lengths to source the best ingredients by partnering with local organic farms, growers and producers to serve their clientele a menu focused on sustainability and health. Order or Stop In For Lunch. I went for lunch 3 days in a row one week. It’s that good! (510) 981-0538
The Delicious Dish
Each and every client is unique. The Delicious Dish tailors meals to meet your needs, lifestyle and healthy priorities. After the client completes a brief survey, we will create a month’s worth of sample menus for your review. TheDeliciousDish.Net Contact Amy Fanning
The American Cancer Society – Strides Against Breast Cancer
The American Cancer Society started Making Strides Against Breast Cancer to unite communities, companies, and individuals with a collective goal to end breast cancer as we know it. The 2022 Making Strides of the Bay Area will take place Sunday, October 16 at the iconic Crissy Field. Please join us! Donate or Join the Fun
A Few Kind Words
”ABOVE & BEYOND WITH DEBBI, ADAM AND THEIR WONDERFUL TEAM!”
If you’re looking for a dedicated, knowledgeable, and professional expert to help with the sale or purchase of your home, look no further than Debbi DiMaggio Betta and her team at Corcoran. Debbi had our place sold before it even hit the market! She has an extensive network of assistants to help in all areas of pre-sale preparation, her advice is sound, and she always answers questions and calls promptly, knowledgeably and professionally. Debbi works tirelessly to find resolution to any problem that may arise during the process, and she works diligently to ensure that your transaction ends in a win-win situation for all….from getting bids for any repairs, to disclosure of pertinent information, thru signing of all legal contract and escrow documents ….she ensures a positive and pleasant experience for a transaction that can at times be somewhat frustrating! There is no question in my mind that Debbi DiMaggio Betta and her team should be your real estate agent of choice! – Piedmont Seller. Check out a few more testimonials and reviews on our website. Thank you for stopping by.
Let us know if you need a recommendation, or have one to share, simply reach out.
Happy Fall! the DiMaggio + Betta Group
Connect with The DiMaggio Betta Group, A Partner of Corcoran Icon Properties
We look forward to helping you with all of your real estate needs.
And that’s a wrap on summer
Fall 2022 | Featured Homes + Our Favorite Resources, Newsletter and Blog
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With Summer In the Rear View Mirror
It’s Time to Welcome Fall
All our best, Debbi, Adam and Chase
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Schedule a Convenient Time to Preview Any of Our Listings or Others
What We Love About Wildwood Gardens 141 Wildwood Gardens, Piedmont – Elegant, Hi Tech, Level In, Beautifully Appointed Contemporary with Glorious, Lush Landscaping Located in One Of Piedmont’s Most Desirable Neighborhoods. Offered at $3,495,000
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Hiller Highlands | They Go FAST! Keep in touch if you are ever interested buying or leasing up here on the hill. We love living in Hiller. The views are magical and change color almost every night.
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Next Up… our favorite resources and recommendations
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Where We Love To Eat! Bistro Don Giovanni: Pasta, Pesto, Prosciutto, Wood-Fired Pizza, Burrata, Fried Calamari, Tiramisu. Are you inspired, yet?
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Bistro Don Giovanni is our favorite go to restaurant anytime of year but this summer it’s been a place of many celebrations from college graduations and saying farewell to our grads plus a few birthday celebrations sprinkled in. But you don’t need an excuse to enjoy – Click and Book Mangia!
4110 Howard Ln, Napa, CA
Meet Stanly
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Stanly Ranch opened April 2022 and is our recent favorite local destination retreat.
Helping others is what feeds our soul. It’s our goal each and every time we partner with a client is to make their transition as smooth as possible. I mean we are all human, so things happen, but we definitely strive to do the very best we can. We thank this wonderful couple for their kind recommendation. It’s hard to believe I have known them since I was probably 5 years old!
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“SERVICE FROM DEBBI & ADAM WAS FANTASTIC”
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We have known Debbi since she was a little girl and have watched her progress thru the real estate business over the last 30 years. When we called her we expected to get good service but we were honestly wowed by both of them. Debbi, Adam and Chase are professional, knowledgeable but more important than anything, they both had a sense of urgency. And I mean rapid and accurate response. I have a consulting business and try to provide rapid urgent response to my clients. And I got that and more from Debbi and Adam. I would recommend them in a second, no conditions. They are good. And we got what we wanted. Best, Len and Mary Bertain ★ Read Other Testimonials
Realtor Network Connect
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Being Sure Our Clients Get the BEST Service No Matter Where They Go
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★ Let’s Connect ★
5 reasons a seller should stage
- We get one chance to make a good first impression, and selling a home is no different
- Photographs look better and will draw in more Buyers and provide more marketing opportunities
- The home will sell faster
- Buyers can visualize themselves in the home easier
- Staging is an expense, thus a tax write-off for the Seller
Allow us to help you prepare your home for market. Step Inside
Top 100! Always An Honor to Be Recognized
Top 100 People in Real Estate
Just as fans nationwide reached out to Joe DiMaggio generations ago, celebrities across Hollywood and beyond enlist Debbi DiMaggio’s help in finding the perfect home. Among them, Stephan James, Julianne Moore, Sally Field, Hugh Grant, Linda Fiorentino, and Tom Arnold. Her famous third cousin played baseball simply for the love of the game, epitomizing grace, excellence, and high standards—a legacy of passion and character that runs deep in Debbi’s veins as she and her husband and partner, Adam Betta, serve as the inspiring “Realtors for the Generations.” Together, they are the award-winning duo that is the DiMaggio & Betta Group, a luxury residential real estate boutique under Corcoran Global Living where, in their eyes, everyone is a VIP, from first- time home buyers to athletes, firefighters, teachers, and CEOs. Indeed, Debbi is not your typical real estate agent. She is an author, a philanthropist, a nurturer, and a thought leader, sought by industry and media outlets everywhere, with her work featured in Luxury Real Estate, East Bay News, Oakland Magazine,
Unique Homes Magazine, and on KGO 810 Consumer Talk Radio Show, KDOW 1220 AM Real Estate Radio Live, KRON4 TV, and as a guest speaker at an inauguration luncheon to the Women’s Council of REALTORS in Los Angeles.
Debbi and Adam have practiced real estate for over 30 years and are both leaders and partners in their Piedmont, CA based firm. Corcoran Global Living is the result of a recent merger between their former luxury residential brokerage, Highland Partners, which they co-founded in 2008 with their close partners during the mortgage meltdown. The significance of joining forces with Corcoran Global Living in 2021, for their agents as well as their own business, is that they can provide clients with the power, tools, and resources, along with a network of agents across 40+ offices. And even more exciting for the two is having their son, Chase Betta, join the family business and their team, The DiMaggio & Betta Group.
Debbi and Adam work with anyone, from first-time homebuyers to people who have owned homes for decades to those wishing to purchase a second home. One of their philosophies, and one that has earned them their excellent reputation, is to treat each and every person involved in the transaction like a close friend, from contractors and service providers to every client they serve. Debbi and Adam work to demystify the real estate process to educate people and take the stress out of the transaction, providing a host of resources, from home prep and staging for sellers to advice for investors and those looking to upgrade or downsize—all with Debbi and Adam’s capable guidance coordinating it all. Their genuine care creates real and lasting connections with clients and their families. “There are a lot of moving parts in every transaction, and when everything comes together, it’s incredible,” Debbi says. “Making our clients happy never gets old.”
Despite her and Adam’s inarguable success, they view themselves as counselors, not salespeople. “We educate, facilitate, and guide. If we think a client is interested in a home that may not be ideal, we’re honest with them. But in the end, the decision is always theirs,” Debbi explains. Furthermore, Debbi and Adam do not believe in competition, but rather cooperation and helping everyone succeed in real estate. “We love to help, guide, and counsel other agents. It feeds our souls.” And she means it, sharing her knowledge via her blogs and media appearances, as a guest expert on event and conference panels, and in her and Adam’s books, The Art of Real Estate and Real Estate Rules!
Downsizing and Your Best Next Chapter
In 2015, which seemed as if it were just the other day, we hosted a seminar at the Piedmont Center for the Arts for homeowners who have resided in their home for 20 years or longer, it was called, Demystifying the Downsizing Process. Flash forward to today, 2022. We listed and are selling the home of one of our attendees. She even kept the memo pad I handed out with the book we wrote, The Art of Real Estate. The memo pad was one of the many things uncovered as she purged and packed for her relocation and new chapter.
Here are 5 questions to see if you are ready or almost ready to make the move and downsize your home.
- Have you resided in your home for over 20, 30 or 40 years?
- Are you living in your home alone, and/or is your home too large for your current needs?
- Are you overwhelmed with the thought of making a move?
- Are you interested in accessing the cash in your home?
- Do you have questions about the process?
If you answered yes to any or all of the above then allow us to guide, counsel and discuss the possibilities and layout your options.
Simply book a complimentary consultation to get started.
Our goal is to educate, guide, be a resource, connect and refer you to those who can help make this next chapter seamless. Allow us to do what we do best which is to facilitate the process with ease, experience and our extensive knowledge.
Top 5 Steps to A Successful Home Buying Experience
Knowledge is power. Experience is key. Relationships drive success. Follow these 5 steps to lessen the length of time it takes to prevail in the home buying arena.
- Identify the right Realtor. Ask a family member, trusted friend or colleague for a referral, speak to other professionals and do your due diligence. And not everything you see online from ranking websites are accurate. Take Yelp for instance. Not all, but some of those Realtors listed as specialists in an area may have never even sold a home there. It’s a pay for play site. Take the time to speak with the agent you’re considering using. You’ll learn first hand if they’re the best for you or not.
- Now that you’ve established who you’ll be working with, allow your Realtor to make an introduction to lenders they’ve had success with. It’s important that a buyer works with a reputable lender who your agent has worked with or at least confident the lender can get the deal done. How does your lender do this? Speak to the lender, ask questions and ask to speak to an agent they’ve closed deals with in the past. The listing agent will want that reassurance as well.
- Begin your search early in order to gain insight and gather information. Oftentimes buyers will begin their search online and preview homes on their own. That’s a better option for the future but when you’re just getting started it’s helpful for your Realtor to preview a few homes together with you so they can best understand your likes and dislikes. It’s difficult to verbalize when you’re not yet familiar with the homes available in your desired market. Allow your Realtor to educate, guide and set expectations so you’re not disappointed at the onset.
4. Open Houses — After you know what you can afford and you’ve learned more about the various neighborhoods and their amenities from your Realtor attending weekend open houses and mid-week open houses otherwise known as Broker Tour or Broker Caravan. In the past the agent tour days were for agents only but now buyers are welcome to attend. A buyer can attend with their Realtor or alone. Many real estate markets move so quickly and homes sell with multiple offers over the asking price. It’s a good idea to see a home as quickly as you can so as not to miss an opportunity. Each market is different so you’ll want to speak with a local Realtor so as not to miss out.
5. Best foot forward. Again, each area’s standards vary so we will highlight the East Bay —Piedmont, Oakland, Berkeley and surrounding communities. You may have heard about Seller Love Letters. In the past each offer presented by a buyer’s agent to a seller and his/her agent was accompanied by a note about themselves and their family — might that be children or their pet(s). It would detail what they did for work, where they were moving from and even shared their favorite hobbies or if newlyweds —where they met and married. It outlined why they love the home and how they would continue to take good care of it. These love letters are not required and are not a guarantee of winning the home, but we have stories where our clients prevailed due in part to their love letter. Of course, in any offer you’ll want to put your best foot forward and that includes a clean offer. When we write a clean offer that usually equates to a 21-30 day close of escrow, while waiving any and all contingencies —loan, appraisal and the home inspection. Again, in our market the seller will (99% of the time) provide a complete home, termite and sewer lateral inspection report and oftentimes a roof and chimney report and if warranted, foundation and/or drainage reports.
Preparation and knowledge is key in order to win a home in multiple offers, this is why it’s crucial to work with a local Realtor who is experienced, knowledgeable, connected and well-liked. Not only do you, the buyer, need to be poised and ready by doing all of the above aforementioned, but your agent should be connected with the agents in the community and have cultivated strong relationships so they are responsive should you or your agent have any questions. Time is always of the essence.
How Can We Help You?
We Represent People Not Price
Buying or Selling, no matter your price point, the DiMaggio Betta Group represents people not price. Here are a few of our favorites.
Honored, Grateful, Thankful
Honored to have closed $50M in 2021 while serving so many clients with their home sale, purchase, lease and referral, not including others we guided, showed homes and counseled throughout the year. And we could not do what we do for our clients without the help of our loyal service providers, stellar team members and family.
—The DiMaggio Betta Group wishes you nothing but the best in 2022!
Click To Learn More About the DGG
Seller Representation | 2021
Home Selling Checklist
One of the biggest investments in a one’s lifetime is owning a home; this is why it is crucial to properly prepare your home for market when the time comes to sell.
The following is a quick home sellers checklist our team assists each client with when they hire us to sell their home.
- Paint. Painting both interior and exterior to create a fresh, clean slate.
- Update Light Fixtures. I like to say, lighting is jewelry to the home. Light fixtures make a big impact with very little investment.
- Staging. Staging allows the buyer to see the home rather than look at the furniture. It is very difficult for a home buyer, even a Realtor, to imagine what a home could be if it is currently occupied by a seller as a buyer tends to dwell on “their” things rather than home.
- Landscaping. You get one chance to make a good impression and the first thing a buyer will see is the front of the home.
- Window Washing & Detailed Interior Cleaning. I always tell my clients after they purchase a home to remember to have their windows cleaned inside and out, yearly. It makes such a difference.
Beyond the shortlist, and depending on condition here are 5 additional improvements that can be made.
- Kitchen Refresh: Paint kitchen cabinets, replace countertops, and replace knobs & pulls.
- Bathroom Refresh: Paint bathroom cabinets, replace the mirror, update lighting and replace knobs & pulls.
- Flooring: Replace carpet
- Refinish hardwood floors
- Replace sewer lateral
Allow the home to be presented in its best light.
Prior to any work being done, we like to gauge the condition of the home thereby generating the following reports. Depending on the market you are buying or selling a home varies as to whether the Buyer or the Seller will assume responsibility for any of the reports provided by a Seller. In the Bay Area market, for the most part, these reports and inspections and any work to be done on the home being sold will be passed onto the Buyer. In order to compete in a multiple offer situation, a Buyer has to put his/her best foot forward and that will include a very clean offer without any contingencies.
- Pest Inspection
- Home Inspection
- Sewer Lateral
- Roof
- Fireplace/Chimney
- Foundation Inspection (as recommended by the Home Inspector) and any others the home warrants further investigation
and depending on current market conditions a home is located and whether it is a Buyer or Seller’s market — the work to be done as is outlined in each report will either be passed onto the Buyer — as is the case in our area, however, if you are selling in a Buyers market – a credit towards repairs may be likely.
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of properly preparing a home for market in order to gain the maximum return on investment.
Today, Buyers begin their search online. If a home fails to sparkle online there is a good chance many Buyers will not contact their agent to preview the home nor attend any of the public open house opportunities. Depending on what a Buyer sees online, a decision will be made in seconds whether to preview or skip it. Buyers are busy at work, travel, and play— we live in busy times. If a home misses out on being seen by potential Buyers an opportunity is missed. In order for a home to sell over the asking price that entails multiple bidders.
In conclusion, don’t short-change yourself or cut corners and leave money on the table; allow your home to shine online and make it readily and easily available for homebuyers to preview. Should you seek further advice and information please do not hesitate to contact us.
Debbi, Adam and Chase
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Investing In Your Future
Top Tips For Buying A Profitable Investment Property
Buying an investment property is a great way to launch a small business venture. Many people start off with one or two small houses or multi-family units, like apartments, townhouses, or condos, and grow their operations as their rentals become more profitable. Getting started requires a general knowledge of how real estate investment works, as well as insights into best practices around property management and small business operations.
Seasoned Realtors with the DiMaggio Betta Group, can help you get started on the right path when it comes to purchasing your first property. In the meantime, check out the following tips.
Getting Started
Before buying your first investment property, it’s important to consider the market in the location you’re considering. Rental properties in tourist and college towns are typically in high demand, whereas rural areas can be a little more difficult. Look at occupancy and average rental rates to get an idea of how easy it is to attract and retain tenants, and compare the average cost of other similar properties. According to Regions, you’ll also want to factor in things like local property taxes, and proximity of properties to amenities and transportation. Understanding crime rates and the quality of local schools is also important, especially if you’re looking at single family housing options.
What Can You Afford?
In addition to qualifying for an investment property loan, you’ll also need to show you have cash reserves and/or an established rental agreement in-hand. According to Money.com, a lender will require you to meet basic credit and income criteria, while also feeling secure that you’ll be able to pay the mortgage, regardless of whether you have tenants in place. You will want to ensure you have the funds to make repairs as necessary, to manage the property, or hire a management company, as well as advertise the property, screen tenants, and cover vacancy periods.
Finding The Ideal Fit
To appeal to a wide range of potential renters, it’s wise to choose a property that’s in good condition, is in a median rental range for the geographic area, and has basic amenities that will appeal to a variety of people. For example, a single story house with three bedrooms, two baths, and a garage is fairly standard. Extras, like a fenced yard, garage, or attic space, ample storage, and appliances can help sweeten the deal for renters. Having amenities like a swimming pool may allow you to charge a little more for rent, but will also add to your overall upkeep and maintenance costs, so keep that in mind when looking at properties.
Considering An Estate Property
You may have the option to purchase an estate property as an investment. An estate sale occurs when a homeowner passes away, or relocates to a nursing home, retirement facility, or assisted or skilled nursing facility. Proceeds from the sale typically go to the heirs of the estate, but if no heirs are named, a probate court may appoint a trustee to oversee a probate sale. While buying a property through this process may take a bit more time than a standard sale, you may be able to get a good deal on the house, especially if the home is sold via auction.
Managing Your Property
Once you purchase an investment property, you can hire a property manager to screen tenants, collect rent, field maintenance calls, and make repairs, or do the work yourself. If you live in another region, it may be easier to hire a representative who is in close proximity to the property. In either case, creating an LLC California, or limited liability company, is a wise move. This can protect you from some forms of liability, give you flexibility, and make it easier to file taxes. You can do the legwork yourself, pay an attorney, or utilize an online formation company to do the work for you. LLC formation regulations vary from state to state, so learn about yours in advance.
Buying an investment property can be a good strategy for creating a passive income stream. Many of your associated costs are tax deductible, and as long as property values remain steady or increase, you’re likely to see your investment go up in value over time. Consulting a real estate professional well-versed in investment property sales can help you make informed decisions.
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