Comments on: **UPDATE**Lipstick on a Pig, or: Can this REO be Sold? http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html Redfin Bay Area Sweet Digs Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:59:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: David http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html/comment-page-1#comment-7775 David Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:16:35 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html#comment-7775 I hear you about walking. Where I lived was exceedingly convenient in terms of walking/riding my bike places (including the UC). But one of the nicer things about the Bay Area is that there are many areas large and small with walkability, like my little area in San Leandro. Never mind north/central/lake merritt in oakland, montclair village, etc. I hear you about walking. Where I lived was exceedingly convenient in terms of walking/riding my bike places (including the UC). But one of the nicer things about the Bay Area is that there are many areas large and small with walkability, like my little area in San Leandro. Never mind north/central/lake merritt in oakland, montclair village, etc.

]]> By: Janis Mara http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html/comment-page-1#comment-7768 Janis Mara Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:29:24 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html#comment-7768 Smack being the operative word, indeed! Well, I would have thought that location to be heaven on earth. Everybody doubtless knows this already, but when I keyed "Berkeley, California west of Martin Luther King, north of Dwight Way," into the search box on Google Maps, the location flashed up immediately. Love love love Google Maps. You know, David, what I hate about where I live in Richmond is not so much the danger and crime (and I am NEVER going to complain about my neighbors again after reading these posts about neighbors in seemingly upscale areas). It's the lack of amenities, no movie theaters, Mom and Pop stores, coffeehouses, restaurants, retail. Well, that and not being able to take a walk. Smack being the operative word, indeed! Well, I would have thought that location to be heaven on earth.

Everybody doubtless knows this already, but when I keyed “Berkeley, California west of Martin Luther King, north of Dwight Way,” into the search box on Google Maps, the location flashed up immediately. Love love love Google Maps.

You know, David, what I hate about where I live in Richmond is not so much the danger and crime (and I am NEVER going to complain about my neighbors again after reading these posts about neighbors in seemingly upscale areas). It’s the lack of amenities, no movie theaters, Mom and Pop stores, coffeehouses, restaurants, retail. Well, that and not being able to take a walk.

]]> By: David http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html/comment-page-1#comment-7766 David Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:15:56 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html#comment-7766 PS. Once you're not going to the UC anymore, you realize just how much of a hassle it is. Parking during football, traffic on I-80, the bums, etc. It's just easier for me to get up to Oaktown and enjoy Grand/Lake, Temescal or Rockridge. But some people seem to love it forever. Me, not so much. Although I'll always love Beckett's. PS. Once you’re not going to the UC anymore, you realize just how much of a hassle it is. Parking during football, traffic on I-80, the bums, etc. It’s just easier for me to get up to Oaktown and enjoy Grand/Lake, Temescal or Rockridge.

But some people seem to love it forever. Me, not so much. Although I’ll always love Beckett’s.

]]> By: David http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html/comment-page-1#comment-7765 David Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:12:15 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html#comment-7765 I was living in Central Berkeley. Just west of MLK, north of Dwight, South of University. Right smack in the middle of town. Smack being the operative word regarding my neighbor. She also refused to pay rent for about 6 months, and really trashed her place according to the landlord after he finally got her out. The restaurants are nice, but I prefer Oakland for the most part. I was living in Central Berkeley. Just west of MLK, north of Dwight, South of University. Right smack in the middle of town. Smack being the operative word regarding my neighbor. She also refused to pay rent for about 6 months, and really trashed her place according to the landlord after he finally got her out.

The restaurants are nice, but I prefer Oakland for the most part.

]]> By: Janis Mara http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html/comment-page-1#comment-7756 Janis Mara Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:43:11 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html#comment-7756 What! I am shocked! For years and years I have envied those who live in Berkeley. I didn't know this, I always thought, near two BART stations! The theater district! The university! (etc) David, I have to ask, what neighborhood were you living in? I am going to give my noisy neighbors a fruit basket as a belated housewarming gift and lavish priase on them for not hooking, squatting or injecting controlled substances. Meanwhile, Brandon! What are these restaurants? Names please! What! I am shocked! For years and years I have envied those who live in Berkeley. I didn’t know this, I always thought, near two BART stations! The theater district! The university! (etc) David, I have to ask, what neighborhood were you living in?

I am going to give my noisy neighbors a fruit basket as a belated housewarming gift and lavish priase on them for not hooking, squatting or injecting controlled substances.

Meanwhile, Brandon! What are these restaurants? Names please!

]]> By: Brandon http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html/comment-page-1#comment-7751 Brandon Sun, 21 Sep 2008 06:35:24 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html#comment-7751 David, the five years I spent living in Berkeley were a similar experience and I lived in three different neighborhoods. Anywhere on flat land is guaranteed to be a problem. I'm convinced that the powers that be are perfectly content to convert downtown Berkeley into the world's largest outdoor mental hospital. I can't pass up my favorite Berkeley restaurants however... David, the five years I spent living in Berkeley were a similar experience and I lived in three different neighborhoods. Anywhere on flat land is guaranteed to be a problem. I’m convinced that the powers that be are perfectly content to convert downtown Berkeley into the world’s largest outdoor mental hospital.

I can’t pass up my favorite Berkeley restaurants however…

]]> By: David http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html/comment-page-1#comment-7749 David Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:57:12 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html#comment-7749 Where I lived in Berkeley I had a guy who would regularly wander naked across the neighbor's parking area, a homeless guy take up camp under my porch (and whom the useless berkeley cops refused to do anything about) and a hooker neighbor who would regularly visit her "customers" walking out of the house rather, ahem, inappropriately dressed. Then she'd drop her used heroin needles outside her window for us to discover. And that wasn't in a "bad" neighborhood! Which, again, are several reasons for me never to live in Berkeley (to also respond to a post above). As to selling this REO. You can sell anything at the right price. I'd be the best BMW salesman in the world if I sold them for $2,000 a piece. Where I lived in Berkeley I had a guy who would regularly wander naked across the neighbor’s parking area, a homeless guy take up camp under my porch (and whom the useless berkeley cops refused to do anything about) and a hooker neighbor who would regularly visit her “customers” walking out of the house rather, ahem, inappropriately dressed. Then she’d drop her used heroin needles outside her window for us to discover.

And that wasn’t in a “bad” neighborhood! Which, again, are several reasons for me never to live in Berkeley (to also respond to a post above).

As to selling this REO. You can sell anything at the right price. I’d be the best BMW salesman in the world if I sold them for $2,000 a piece.

]]> By: Janis Mara http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html/comment-page-1#comment-7746 Janis Mara Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:04:56 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html#comment-7746 Aiee! That is even worse than the Shower Neighbor, Asher. You have omitted an important detail, is this Oakland? It sounds like it, but I am ONLY too happy to give Porch Burning Neighbor a wide berth and want to be sure ;-) Good on you for disclosing; I wonder how the buyers coped with this! I am also wondering about the people who bought next to my bad neighbors (of course, they sound like Mr. Rogers Welcome To The Neighborhood compared to yours). Perhaps these buyers are hearing-impaired, I do not mean this as a joke; it's like when the punk musicians used to practice at the Deaf Club in San Francisco in the 1980s. Aiee! That is even worse than the Shower Neighbor, Asher. You have omitted an important detail, is this Oakland? It sounds like it, but I am ONLY too happy to give Porch Burning Neighbor a wide berth and want to be sure ;-)

Good on you for disclosing; I wonder how the buyers coped with this! I am also wondering about the people who bought next to my bad neighbors (of course, they sound like Mr. Rogers Welcome To The Neighborhood compared to yours). Perhaps these buyers are hearing-impaired, I do not mean this as a joke; it’s like when the punk musicians used to practice at the Deaf Club in San Francisco in the 1980s.

]]> By: asher hawke http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html/comment-page-1#comment-7745 asher hawke Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:08:51 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html#comment-7745 I lived across from the worst neighbors. The wife has serious psychiatric issues, would hurt neighborhood animals, would set up contraptions outside her home to trip the mailman, she put out cactus plants in hopes that my daughter would prick her fingers. She was (is) a hopeless alcoholic who was not only annoying but dangerous. And when I sold my place I had to make full disclosure to the buyer, since she also played music loud and set fires on her porch. But the buyer went forward and bought anyway. I just did not want to be liable for not telling her what she was getting into. So beware folks, if you are ever walking on Shafter avenue and 42nd street and run into her! I lived across from the worst neighbors. The wife has serious psychiatric issues, would hurt neighborhood animals, would set up contraptions outside her home to trip the mailman, she put out cactus plants in hopes that my daughter would prick her fingers. She was (is) a hopeless alcoholic who was not only annoying but dangerous. And when I sold my place I had to make full disclosure to the buyer, since she also played music loud and set fires on her porch. But the buyer went forward and bought anyway. I just did not want to be liable for not telling her what she was getting into. So beware folks, if you are ever walking on Shafter avenue and 42nd street and run into her!

]]> By: Janis Mara http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html/comment-page-1#comment-7711 Janis Mara Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:07:19 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/09/lipstick_on_a_pig_or_can_this_reo_be_sold.html#comment-7711 Hahahahaha you guyz crack me up! I don't know what is funnier, the idea of the prayer meetings on the sidewalk or the Shower Neighbor. (Actually Shower Neighbor is just creepy. But what a story!) anon, I am thinking you are right! Wow, that never occurred to me. Very unusual for a bank to go to such lengths with an REO, you are correct. I am going to gossip with neighbors and see what I find out. Will report back! And finally, Brandon, you are a gem. I didn't know about this policing policy, which is good for me to know in general. Police Chief Magnus lives in my 'hood, which is reassuring. Hahahahaha you guyz crack me up! I don’t know what is funnier, the idea of the prayer meetings on the sidewalk or the Shower Neighbor. (Actually Shower Neighbor is just creepy. But what a story!)

anon, I am thinking you are right! Wow, that never occurred to me. Very unusual for a bank to go to such lengths with an REO, you are correct. I am going to gossip with neighbors and see what I find out. Will report back!

And finally, Brandon, you are a gem. I didn’t know about this policing policy, which is good for me to know in general. Police Chief Magnus lives in my ‘hood, which is reassuring.

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