Local Realtors report multiple offers continuing on desirable homes in Berkeley, California, a hot urban and cultural center led by the University of California.

"We are still seeing multiple offers, however some less desirable properties are staying on the market longer, and a few have been reduced," explains Realtor Linda Maier. "There is not as much competition in the winter months, but buyers are still buying!

Maier advises, "If you are thinking about selling, now is a good time, before interest rates start climbing and buyers disappear!"

Says Realtor Lela Franklin, "Panoramic views of the bay and San Francisco, sunshine and mild climate are among Berkeley's many attractions. UC Berkeley is the driving force in this dynamic community and keeps demand high even when things are slow in surrounding towns. The university also serves as a Mecca for intellectuals, artists, free spirits and just plain kooks. Yet somehow, it all comes together and works - always vibrant, never boring."

Check out the architecture, Franklin says, "The housing stock runs the gamut from the adobe-and-beam structures of the first Spanish missionaries, through the romantic fantasies-in-wood of the 19th century settlers, to the revolutionary styles of the great architects in this century. Driving around town can be akin to an architectural seminar, with works on display by Bernard Maybeck, Julia Morgan, John Hudson Thomas, John Galen Howard and more."

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Published: January 27, 2003

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