Even if it means sharing information from a “competing” brokerage. Mark McLaughlin is the CEO of local real estate company Pacific Union. His recent article pretty much sums up my thoughts exactly. Especially, if you live in Cole Valley.

I asked him, “Do you have any data that might suggest how poor earnings of the investment banks and the capped bonuses of the investment bankers impact the luxury goods and real estate markets in the San Francisco Bay Area?”

His response was fairly simple and as follows: “No data. I would think the Apple, Google, Facebook etc. income gains would swamp any losses in the finance sector in the Bay Area.”

It is very important to remind our sellers that the both the buyer demographics and the traditional selling season in our markets have, in fact, changed – and for the most part, our markets are supply-constrained. We have more motivated buyers than we do properly improved, located and priced properties for sale.

Put another way, now is the best time I’ve seen since 2007 to list your property for sale. Demand is through the roof.

-Wall Street vs. Apple, Google, Facebook, etc.

In my humble opinion, the market is extremely hot for the right properties. On Friday I wrote four separate offers (five if you count that one property is two condos), in four entirely different neighborhoods, and have been in a multiple offer situation on every single one of them. My buyers lost out on a house near West Portal (by roughly $25-35k), and my buyer on a Outer Avenues house is still in the thick of a six offer situation.

My clients for a Cole Valley property accepted a counter offer from the seller, knowing that other offers were lurking. And thankfully, the sellers of a Russian Hill property that my client offered on realized cash truly is king in this lending environment, and wisely accepted our offer on their property, rather than the others with financing.

I would love to share details and specifics about all of these, but as you can imagine, I can’t. I am very busy representing a ton of people throughout the city at this very moment, and all of it is helping me gain that much more knowledge to help you.

As always, other agents are talking to me and sharing stories, potential buyers they may have for homes, and properties some of their sellers may sell. Why they don’t just post all of it for free on PocketListings.net is beyond me, but I’m happy they feel comfortable sharing with me.

If you, or any of your friends/family, need help with San Francisco real estate, please don’t hesitate to contact me. My head is FULL of real estate opportunity!

Oh…and that luxury remodel on Beulah I mentioned two weeks ago….SOLD IN FIVE DAYS for $2,600,000 (asking $2,495,000). We can only assume CASH, and multiple circling.

Happy Monday! It snowed!

-118 Vernon, 2 bed, 1 bath, SFR, $399,000

Call us crazy, but we’ve seen a lot of activity in the market as of late, at all price points.

For those wondering, last sale was in 2005 for $1,755,000 (asking was $1,395,000) but has since undergone a significant remodel, and added roughly 1209 square feet.

Kitchen Before:

Kitchen After:

Living Room Before:

Living Room After:

We’ve long stood by Cole Valley as a better investment than Noe Valley. Is the writing appearing on the wall? Time will tell. Maybe real estate doens’t suck after all.

-394 Frederick [MLS]

To counter those that will be quick to jump and say, “The deal hasn’t closed yet,” if this first offer falls out, there are 11 others to fall back on.

Would that mean this two bed, one bath condo in Dolores Park, priced at $629,000 is defying the odds, or starting a new trend? We leave that debate to you, and the powers that be.

[Update: Last sale April 1999 for $745,000 for the entire 2-unit building. The 2-unit building just condo converted this week.]

-214 Dorland, 2bed, 1 bath, $629,000

Although MLS still reflects the Lake District condominium at 64 7th Ave (3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1 pk, $1,535,000) as “active”, sources close to the sale are telling us it is in contact after a short five days on the market.

Call it luck, call it buyers that don’t read the newspapers (bless them), or call it a very nice home in an excellent location that somebody just had to have, and we’ll call it something we’re seeing more and more of, and you’re hearing less and less about.

That backyard is going to be a great place for a party, what should we bring?

-64 7th Ave…3 bed, 2.5 bath, 1 pk, $1,535,000 [sfnewsletter listing detail]

On the other side of the equation, let’s take a look at 733 Front #605.

One of the first resales at this conversion building down in the Financial District, #605 was sold through the sales office for $1,600,000 only about three months ago. The unit directly below it #505 was sold for around $1.7M and received three offers (floor plan was a bit different, but not by much). Unit 605 recently listed at $1,695,000 and boasts one of the few corner views, (not to mention 4 storage spaces), it is now in contract a mere 6 days after hitting the market.

This market is anybody’s guess, because it sure is making my head spin.

-733 Front #605 [MLS listing detail]

Before:

After:

Well, we needn’t wonder anymore. It has closed escrow for $2,415,000 (slightly above the $2,398,000 asking price) but well above the “most recent sale” in March. We’d have to say that was a pretty damn successful flip in an otherwise unsuccessful market. If you can’t agree, you need help.

Maybe the new Academy of Sciences a stone’s throw away had something to do with it?

-2730 Fulton [MLS Details]

—

Sale is pending board approval.

-1080 Chestnut #14A [MLS]

[One] Day on market. In Escrow. I’d written about this one on [theFrontSteps.ORG] in the old days.

Buyers are out there and ready to strike!

We’d have to agree the high end buyers are out there, as are the mid-range buyers, but what about the low end?

-2401 Divisadero [MLS]