Whether you’re staying in beautiful San Francisco or hittin’ the road with millions of others, have a super awesome and safe Memorial Day Weekend! Here’s a few pics from some of my favorite Memorial Day Weekend spots.
Photos via Paragon Real Estate Group
Remember that post I did about the “5 Steps to Buying a Home In San Francisco“? Well, check out this awesome infographic, using that awesome information, I shared with you awesome people:
[Click Image to Enlarge]
Thank you Paragon Real Estate for putting this together.
-Step 1 to buying a home in San Francisco [theFrontSteps.com]
-Step 2 to buying a home in San Francisco [theFrontSteps.com]
-Step 3 to buying a home in San Francisco [theFrontSteps.com]
-Step 4 to buying a home in San Francisco [theFrontSteps.com]
-Step 5 to buying a home in San Francisco [theFrontSteps.com]
The reader comment that sparked the idea for this post, and hopefully fun debate to follow: “I’m an American living in London for the last 3 years and there is no doubt that London is more civilised and cultured than either New York or SF. My children have benefited greatly from the vastly superior free education here. The average Londoner is far, far better educated and has vacationed widely in Europe and the world. This means that the creative and cultural scene in London is geared to a much higher cultural level than in the US. Much of NY culture is geared to a low to medium level to reflect this. Just watch BBC news compared to the US news networks. London simply feels that it is centre of world culture today and more multicultural than New York or SF. We Americans can learn a lot from this city as it definately holds the crown.”
To add a little history to these “Battle Royales“…We’ve done a few over the years that have varied from topic to topic: New York City or San Francisco; LA or SF; Cole Valley or Noe Valley; Realtor or Politician; and the list goes on. They’ve been read thousands of times over, and it’s your comments that make them so great and the reason people keep coming back to read more.
The way we see it…
London has an iconic Bridge:
San Francisco has an iconic Bridge:
London has English Premier League Football and plays host to such teams as Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham United, Chelsea, and Fulham:
San Francisco has just one team, the “World” (perhaps National would be a better word?) Champion San Francisco Giants (can’t count the 49ers, as they’re moving to Santa Clara, but watch out for those Golden State Warriors looking to plant their roots on San Francisco soil):
London has tea:
San Francisco has great coffee now around every corner:
London has the Double Decker Bus:
San Francisco has the Cable Car:
London is the home of Her Majesty the Queen of England:
San Francisco has its share of “Queens” too:
London is proud of their Fish and Chips:
San Francisco is proud of their Dungeness Crab:
London has COLD surf nearby:
San Francisco has COLD and BIG surf nearby:
So you see, both places have their pluses and minuses, and that’s our two cents, but we really want to hear from all of you readers, you readers on both sides of the Pond.
Please share your comments and perspectives in the comment section below, click that “share” button, or “Like” this on your Facebook page, Tweet it on Twitter, don’t forget to take the poll at the top of the page, and ask your friends and family to chime in.
Believe it or not, people from around the world often refer to these “Battles” when researching this wonderful city we call home, and whether or not they’d like to live here, and if they do move here, which area would be the best place for them.
Go Giants..and Tottenham Hotspurs!
April’s market was basically more of the same of what we’ve been seeing for the last 12-16 months in San Francisco. Virtually all of our statistics are at historic or near-historic readings: number of homes for sale way down, months supply of inventory way down, percentage of listings accepting offers way up, days on market way down — all leading to overall house and condo median and average prices climbing to perhaps the highest points they’ve ever reached. We will add the usual caveat that no one or two months of data should be considered definitive until confirmed over the longer term: though there is no doubt that San Francisco is experiencing a red hot market, prices can fluctuate for various reasons, including seasonality.
We will have to wait and see if the current heights reached in home prices are the new baseline, a springtime blip, or a way station to even higher real estate values.
[Click Image to Enlarge]
-More Stats & Numbers [theFrontSteps]
Is this your turf?
[Image Source: Ork Posters]
Do you love this city as much as we do? Do you have something to say about it? Something to share, but simply don’t have the audience to get your voice heard? Do you love taking pictures of this wonderful city, it’s people, places, and happenings? Do you have mad video skills and want to share what you’ve created? Do you think you’re the sh*t when it comes to what is new and hip in San Francisco, and want to prove it? Do you fancy yourself a writer? Do you like interviewing your neighbors or random people on the street? If so, we want you, your words, your photos, your videos, your San Francisco. Because it’s really not about us. Never has been, never will be, and we have the audience for your voice to be heard.
Although we have long been a blog focused entirely on San Francisco real estate, we’d like to change that. Change is good. Change makes you think. Change makes us who we are. Change makes cool things happen. We need your help and are happy to help you in return.
If you’re interested in sharing what you do publicly, have an interest in being part of something new, want to contribute to a larger community dedicated to bringing all good (and bad) things San Francisco has to offer, please contact us as soon as you can. You can email theFrontSteps@gmail.com, or contact me, Alex Clark (the editor) via phone or text anytime: 415-254-5351. I’ll be happy to share the “vision” of what theFrontSteps can become, and happy to discuss compensation, commitment, and timing.
Good things come to those who don’t wait…so don’t wait! Let’s do this.
Are you interested in picking up and moving to San Francisco, California? While many people have the desire to move to the west coast, more specifically the City by the Bay, you will likely have many questions on your mind.
As you begin to search for your first place in San Francisco, you will soon find that the real estate market is unique from other parts of the country.
The most important thing you need to know is this: real estate does not come cheap in San Francisco. In fact, this is one of the most expensive markets in the world.
With this in mind, you may have one burning question: what type of people am I going to encounter in a San Francisco neighborhood? With prices so high, you may begin to ponder what makes residents of this city different than the rest of the country.
The type of people you run into, including those who will be living in your neighborhood, depends largely on the neighborhood which you move into. Some of the most coveted neighborhoods, based on home prices, in and around the city include: Presidio Heights, Cow Hollow, Pacific Heights, Financial District, and Mission.
Let’s take a closer look at the type of neighbors you might encounter in those neighborhoods:
1. Free spirited individuals. Don’t confuse this with hippies who do nothing but “hang out” all day. Instead, these people are friendly, many with families, and are looking to live a peaceful life despite all of the hustle and bustle around them.
2. High income urban singles. This may not be the type of person you run into in every neighborhood, but there are many that cater to this group.
If you fall into this category yourself, you will have no trouble fitting in. These highly educated individuals, many with advanced degrees, have no problem shelling out the big bucks for a San Francisco pad if it means close proximity to entertainment, restaurants, art, and cultural events.
3. Plain and simple, down to earth families. Have you ever watched the television show Full House? We don’t want you to think that everybody who lives in San Francisco is as easy going and friendly as the Tanner’s, but the fact of the matter is that many people move to the city because it is a great place to raise a family.
From the location, to the educational opportunities, to the entertainment, if you are looking for the ideal city, in which to raise a family, this may be the place for you.
All of this said, just like any other city in the United States, it is impossible to categorize every person who lives there. You are going to find a lot of people who fit into the above categories, but there will be some who are seemingly out of place. And guess what? San Francisco is also a great choice for them, because people let people be in this city.
Census Data
For an even better understanding of San Francisco and the type of people who live here, we don’t have to look any further than demographic information from data in the 2000 U.S. Census (take these numbers with a grain of salt as San Francisco has changed dramatically since 2000).
For example, many people think you have to be rich to live in San Francisco. But guess what? The median household income hovers right around $55,000. This is only $11,000 more, on average, than other parts of the country.
Here are some other interesting statistics:
San Francisco has a Little of Everything
By now, if you don’t know anything else, you probably realize that San Francisco is home to people of all backgrounds. From young to old, single to married, rich to poor, you will see it all when you live here.
When you move to San Francisco, you never know what type of people will be living in your neighborhood. However, with this information, you can make an educated guess.
Simon Campbell has spent over 15 years in all the various facets having to do with real estate including sales, purchases, investment and research. His experience also includes commercial and residential property management and even real estate appraisal. He is recognized among his peers as an expert in the real estate field. Now after gaining such a wealth of personal experience, Simon has changed directions and is now sharing his knowledge and experience with others through writing, mentoring and consultation. Check out Simon’s profile on Simon Google+ and also his blog.
If you’re interested in having your writings appear on theFrontSteps.com, and you have something to say (written, photo, or video) we’d love to have you contribute too. Just drop us a line: thefrontsteps@gmail.com
L.A. can’t do that! (Well they could, but most Metallica band members live in the bay area (Bassist Robert Trujillo is the holdout), so that makes them legit Giants fans, except for Trujillo…BEAT LA!!)
-Maximum Overbid Of The Week: $401,000 Over
-Traina’s New $35,000,000 Purchase [theFrontSteps]
Just Sold (the app) wants you to put your money where your mouth is (assuming you’re betting people like ourselves), and guess the sales price of homes in San Francisco and our oh-so hyperlocal neighborhoods, and they’ve made a game of it (because isn’t that what all this crazy overbidding is anyway? A Game.)
The concept is simple, pull up your desired ‘hood, find a property, guess what it sold for. Get it right, or get it wrong, and move on to the next. It’s another great way for you to get to know your neighborhood sales as they happen, and another great way for you to claim ultimate real estate knowledge from the comfort of that big fat armchair you’re sitting in. Call out your neighbors, call out your friends. You know you’re the expert, and don’t let any Realtor tell you otherwise.
After you download this app, you might ask yourself, “Why can’t I see ALL of the recent sales in San Francisco?” Well now, that’s a long murky story, but ultimately, the MLS holds that data, and they don’t want you to have access to it, unless it’s coming from your real estate agent, and you’ve established a “relationship” with said agent. We’ll leave it at that.
Currently two brokerages allow their listings to display on the app (Zephyr Real Estate, and Hill & Co.), so until MLS either loosens its grip, or other brokerages opt in to sharing on this service too, that’s all you’re gonna get.
Anyhow, check out the app. It’s kinda fun…
-Just Sold in iTunes Store [Apple]
-Just Listed, Just Sold San Francisco [sfnewsletter/MarketTracker]
-Some insight on how to bid in this market [theFrontSteps]
Just one single, solitary, lonely parking space…
If you’re a Giants fan, it might be just the thing. If you’re in Kentucky and looking to buy a farm, you might be wondering WTF we’re thinking here in San Francisco.
-SOMA parking spot for sale at 88 Townsend [MLS]
-The $65,000 Parking Spot [theFrontSteps]
-Spot or Not, Parking In San Francisco [theFrontSteps]
PocketListings’ Tweets
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Pocket Listing in SOMA/South Beach
1 bed, 1 bath, 1pk (leased), asking $629,000
Contact Alex Clark for details
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