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Kimberly Gates

K.G.

CA DRE# 01470998

Honest. Knowledgable. Warm. These are just a few words clients frequently use to describe Kimberly Gates. Born and raised in Southern California, Kimberly was drawn to the natural beauty and vibrancy of the Bay Area and has called the region home for the past 23 years.

Whether you’re looking for a peaceful oasis in Alameda, a trendy hotspot in Berkeley, a charming retreat in Oakland, or one of the East Bay's “hidden cities”, Kimberly can help you find the perfect place to live, work, and play—not to mention love.

After earning her Master’s Degree from Harvard University, Kimberly went on to have a successful corporate career with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, General Electric Homeland Protection, Inc., and served as a governor appointee in the Gray Davis administration.

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  • Dan & Keneth

    “Wow. Wow wow wow. I can't say enough good things about Kimberly! We had bought multiple properties in other states before, so we thought we knew what we were getting into, ...”

  • Berrin & Chris

    “If you’re fortunate enough to work with Kimberly Gates as your agent she will tell you she speaks the truth and she does indeed. From the initial introductory meeting we ...”

  • Ralph

    “Kimberly Gates is a phenomenal realtor. Due to her knowledge, expertise and hard work our home sold quickly and for a record price for the area.”

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Neighborhoods

Oakland

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East Bay Hidden Cities North, South, and West

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West Contra Costa County

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A Little Weekend Eye-Candy! Peace To You & Yours

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Keeping Current Matters

Distressed Properties

Why the Forbearance Program Changed the Housing Market

08/8/22   |   KCM Crew

When the pandemic hit in 2020, many experts thought the housing market would crash. They feared job loss and economic uncertainty would lead to a wave of foreclosures similar to when the housing bubble burst over a decade ago. Thankfully, the forbearance program changed that. It provided much-needed relief for homeowners so a foreclosure crisis wouldn’t happen again. Here’s why forbearance worked. Forbearance enabled nearly five million homeowners to get back on their feet in a time when having the security and protection of a home was more important than ever. Those in need were able to work with their banks and lenders to stay in their homes rather than go into foreclosure. Marina Walsh, Vice President of Industry Analysis at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), notes: “Most borrowers exiting forbearance are moving into either a loan modification, payment deferral, or a combination of the two workout options.” As the graph below shows, with modification, deferral, and workout options in place, four out of every five homeowners in forbearance are either paid in full or are exiting with a plan. They’re able to stay in their homes. What does this mean for the housing market? Since so many people can stay in their homes and work out alternative options, there won’t be a wave of foreclosures coming to the market. And while rising slightly since the foreclosure moratorium was lifted this year, foreclosures today are still nowhere near the levels seen in the housing crisis. Forbearance wasn’t the only game changer, either. Lending standards have improved significantly since the housing bubble burst, and that’s one more thing keeping foreclosure filings low. Today’s borrowers are much more qualified to pay their home loans. And while the majority of homeowners are exiting the forbearance program with a plan, for those who still need to make a change due to financial hardship or other challenges, today’s record-level of equity is giving them the opportunity to sell their houses and avoid foreclosure altogether. Homeowners have options they just didn’t have in the housing crisis when so many people owed more on their mortgages than their homes were worth. Thanks to their equity and the current undersupply of homes on the market, homeowners can sell their houses, make a move, and not have to go through the foreclosure process that led to the housing market crash in 2008. Thomas LaSalvia, Chief Economist with Moody’s Analytics, states: “There’s some excess savings out there, over 2 trillion worth. . . . There are people that have ownership of those homes right now, that even in a downturn, they’d still likely be able to pay that mortgage and won’t have to hand over keys. And there won’t be a lot of those distressed sales that happened in the 2008 crisis.” Bottom Line The forbearance program was a game changer for homeowners in need. It’s one of the big reasons why we won’t see a wave of foreclosures coming to the market.

For Buyers

Housing Market Forecast for the Rest of 2022 [INFOGRAPHIC]

08/5/22   |   KCM Crew

Some Highlights The housing market is shifting away from the intensity of the past two years. Here’s what experts project for the remainder of 2022. Home prices are forecast to rise more moderately than last year. Mortgage rates will respond to inflation, and home sales will be more in line with pre-pandemic years. Let’s connect so you can make your best move this year.

Work With Kimberly

Kimberly is a long-time Bay Area resident and knows the market intimately. Call Kimberly today to schedule a private showing.

Contact Kimberly

Compass

6211 La Salle Avenue Oakland, CA 94611 CA DRE# 01470998

Kimberly Gates

(510) 421-0488

kimberly.gates@compass.com

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