Archive for the ‘Walkabout’ Category
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
We saw this on Apartment Therapy and just had to share. Simply too cool to pass up. The best part…you don’t have to buy it, you can rent it. Oh, and it’s in Switzerland…JUIZ!!!!
The home is located in the Valsertal at 1250 meters, deep in the Swiss Alps….oh we’ll save the translation. Here:
Het huis ligt aan het einde van het ongerepte ‘Valsertal’ hoog (1250 m) in de Zwitserse Alpen. Het bevindt zich direct naast het wereldberoemde Therme Vals van Peter Zumthor en aan de rand van het dorp. Het combineert de nabijheid van alle noodzakelijke voorzieningen met een fantastisch uitzicht op de ongeschonden natuur van de bergen en de vallei. Op loopafstand gelegen zijn de bakker, supermarkt, postkantoor, bank, restaurants en het dorpsplein. De gratis pendelbus Therme-Dorf-Bahn stopt tijdens het skiseizoen aan de lagergelegen weg. Het skigebied is heerlijk rustig. U kunt er tot 3000 meter hoogte skiën. Het huis met terras biedt veel privacy en is omgeven door een ruime tuin en een berghelling van 1.300 m2.
The description of the house is just as amazing, and we’re dying to get there:
Het huis – ongeveer 160 m2 groot – is geheel in de bergwand ingegraven. Het biedt plaats aan tien personen (maximaal twaalf indien met minimaal vier kleine kinderen) en is omgeven door een zonnige, grote tuin met veel privacy. Een grote glazen pui opent naar een terras (60 m2) en biedt een spectaculair uitzicht op groene weiden (sneeuwhellingen in de winter) en bergtoppen.
If that doesn’t give you Wanderlust, we don’t know what kind of real estate porn will. (You think we’re joking…we understand those descriptions, you don’t? If you know German, you’ll at least get the gist.)
[Update: Hats off to woyouwenti, for giving you all the translation.]
-Villa Vals
[Images ALL pulled from Apartment Therapy]
Tags: Walkabout, wanderlust
Posted in Walkabout | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
From $138,900 to $49,900 (the magic number) 880 Ashwood Ave, Vallejo, CA was quite simply too good to pass up.
View Larger Map
We’re not sure if it was the price that was so eye-catching ($49,900..oh! Too late, it’s “pending”) or the property description:
REO/bank-owned property. Property has mold. Mold inspection report indicates the need for mold remediation for the entire house. Property may not qualify for coventional financing. Seller will give buyer 3% of purchase price to be applied to closing cost. Repairs credit: 0.
Kinda like, “I’ll practically give you my house, but if you ask me to fix anything, take a hike!”
Go ahead, walk around the corner and see what you find:
View Larger Map
Regardless, it’s something to note and certainly something to consider, not to mention it got us out of the city for a little walk.
Tags: mold, Outside San Francisco, Walkabout, wanderlust
Posted in Just Interesting, Just plain fun, Walkabout | 2 Comments »
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
Those of you that have been reading theFrontSteps for a while know that we often get a case of Wanderlust and must cure the ailment by getting out of San Francisco and going Walkabout. Today, we take a little trip down Highway 1 (the most beautiful highway in the world) and discover some masterpieces fit for kings and surfers alike. Enjoying a taste for modern homes, mixed with a bit of old and natural charm is all you need.
Just a short drive down the coast over Devil’s Slide (soon to be through the tunnel) and you come to this great little one bedroom (do you really need more than that) house at 100 14th Street, Montara CA, $1,985,000 [Editor's Note: If you saw this post an hour ago we actually had a picture of the Montara lighthouse, leading you to believe that was the house. Not the case...whoops!]:
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Head on down the coast a bit further, climb into the hills, see the giant Redwoods, notice the increase of poison oak along the road and you get to one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in the world, Big Sur, and for $6,000,000 you could have this “Treadwell House”. This home was featured in Dwell Magazine, and it is oh so nice. (We can put you in touch with the agent, just drop us a line.):
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If one of these homes is not enough for you, or you feel you need to be where there is more “action”, how about a trip way down to sunny Los Angeles and buying a home in the Hollywood Hills, right smack dab next to Ellen Degeneres. It will only set you back $3,295,000 and don’t forget it comes with a famous neighbor:
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Phew! We made it all the way from San Francisco to Los Angeles in one day down the coast. Lots of great things to do and see on the way, but lots of great property porn to distract even the best driver. Either way, our Wanderlust is temporarily satisfied, and now it’s back to reality…
Got Walkabout tips: Send them to thefrontsteps@gmail.com.
Tags: Big Sur Real Estate, L.A., Montara
Posted in Walkabout | 3 Comments »
Friday, January 9th, 2009
It took a little while, but true to our new year’s resolutions another stage of the Tour de San Francisco (real estate) has been completed.
For all of the new readers or those that might just be passing by, le Tour, as it pertains to real estate, is a look (mostly pictures) at all the nano-markets and different little districts that make up the greater city of San Francisco. Each district is a new stage and today marks the completion of Stage 51. Only about 49 stages left to go. With any luck it will be complete before le Tour de France kicks off in July.
-Tour de San Francisco (real estate) [tdsf.blogspot.com]
-Stage 51, Clarendon Heights [Tour de SF]
Tags: Clarendon Heights, Tour de San Francisco
Posted in Clarendon Heights, Neighborhoods, San Francisco Real Estate, Walkabout | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, July 15th, 2008
Since we’re on the subject of million dollar price reductions (some more honorable and accurate than others), we got that Wanderlust in us again and couldn’t help but bring you 12335 Stonebrook Dr. (For more detailed pics go here.)
“This magnificent home is one of the greatest estates in California” (and they just hacked the price $7M from $45M to $38M, so you’re in luck!)
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“architectural masterpiece that is said to have played host to presidents and kings, movie stars and celebrities…” (“Said”? What exactly does that mean?)
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“Outdoor Activities” (Canon balls, back flips, swan dives, Marco Polo, Fish out of Water…)
We could go on and simply repost all of the pictures here, but that’d be silly now wouldn’t it. You must absolutely check this place out. It is not to be missed for all of you real estate porn addicts. And of course, should you have $38,000,000, you know where to find us in order to get the keys. 
-Decker Bullock Website with property details
Tags: Luxury Homes, real estate, San Francisco Real Estate
Posted in Luxury Homes, San Francisco Real Estate, Single Family, Walkabout, real estate | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
Those of you that have read our little blog about San Francisco real estate for a while know we’ve been known to get Wanderlust from time to time and are forced to go walkabout. Today we head to Sonoma where $5,895,000 buys you one helluva sweet (green?) house at 2000 Hot Springs Rd. in the town of Cloverdale, CA.
It wasn’t the pictures that caught our eye (although they’re nice).
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It was the description:
Dramatic 332 acre estate property of rolling oak-studded hills overlooking Lake Sonoma w/ 360 degree panoramas all the way to Mt. St. Helena. Eleven thousand (11,000) square foot modern residence designed by apprentice to Mies Van der Rohe with 6 bedrooms & rooms of great scale…green energy property with carbon negative footprint… an entertainer’s paradise, features swimming pool, terrace, 1700 bottle wine cellar, helicopter pad and 12 horse stable…easy access to wineries, fine dining and exceptional outdoor recreation.
We’d take it, but we wouldn’t have enough cash left to buy the helicopter to go with the pad, so we’ll have to pass. Nice pad though.
-2000 Hot Springs Rd. [listing detail]
Tags: real estate, san francisco, San Francisco Real Estate
Posted in San Francisco Real Estate, Sonoma, Walkabout, real estate, san francisco | 13 Comments »
Monday, July 7th, 2008
There are some unquantifiable measures of value that nobody seems to consider when pondering the future of San Francisco real estate. So many of us stay within the confines of San Francisco, sit at our computers and debate the strength of San Francisco real estate, and whether it will rise or fall, but rarely do we venture outside the city walls to see just what we’re up against.
Recently (as in for the 4th of July) we went walkabout outside of the Bay Area (if you consider Sacramento and beyond the Bay Area, Lord help you), and again noticed countless reasons why San Francisco is so great. Next time you take a trip East (not Back East, to the Far East, or Middle East, and not in an airplane) keep your eyes open for these things.
1. Everything gets bigger: roads; cars (and they complain about $4.25/gal. gas); restaurant portions; and yes…the people (we’re not talking the occasional extra order of fries, and we’re not talking a little spare tire, we’re talking something in the water…or the bags of Doritos as main course…and it appears to be out of control.)
2. It’s f*cking HOT! Ninety (90) degrees at 9pm is no fun.
3. Thick eye shadow is still in, as are perms and the occasional mullet accompanied by sleeveless shirts, cut-off shorts, and white high tops with white socks.
4. Trash is everywhere (we’re not talking garbage), and their toys (ATVs, snowmobiles, motorcyles, boats, Wave-Runners, Hummers) fit nicely in the parking spots directly out your front door.
5. Twelve hundred (1200) square feet is considered average…for a garage.
6. No car, no love. Public transportation is absolutely sad outside the confines of a major U.S. metropolis, and with gas prices soaring, a million dollar two bed, one bath home with no parking (even if you have to rent it) near MUNI (even though MUNI has issues) is still better than a two hundred thousand dollar three bed, three bath home with three car parking in the burbs.
7. Wrangler and Guess, are more popular than Levi, Ernest Sewn, or Nudie.
8. George W. Bush is considered a smart man, and “doing a good job for America.”
9. Good coffee….PULEASE!
10. Coors Light, narrowly edges out Bud Lite for most cans found on the shoulder of the roads.
11. We could go on, but will stop here….okay, one more…Lee Press On is still in, and hot pink nails still looks good (apparently).
Does this make us any better than the people that live outside San Francisco? No. Does this mean we’re making generalizations about a group of people based on observations of a few (thousand)? Yes. Does it make us sound totally un-”P.C.” and possibly a bit ignorant/arrogant? Yes, but who cares, because it helps us realize just how great we have it here in this bubble we call San Francisco, and just how great diversity and living in an international city really is, and it’s something “YoY” and “Median” can’t define. Man it’s good to be home!
Tags: real estate, san francisco, San Francisco Real Estate
Posted in General Info, Just plain fun, San Francisco Real Estate, Walkabout, real estate, san francisco | Comments Off
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008
It’s not very often that we get excited about a dip in median or average sales price, but when we’re talking our favorite playground and extended backyard, we have to admit we’re a bit giddy.
From a recent article in the Reno Gazette Journal:
“We had an absolute record-breaking year for the high-end market in 2007,” said Susan Lowe, corporate vice-president of Chase International. “Lake Tahoe usually averages two sales over $10 million around the entire lake each year. Last year, there were 11.”
Since January, however, Tahoe has seen a softening in its high-end market, Lowe said.
The decline is reflected in Dickson Realty’s latest quarterly report, which saw the number of houses sold drop by 72 percent in South Lake Tahoe, 71 percent in Incline Village and 46 percent in Zephyr Cove compared with the same period last year.
The same report also found that median prices in the first half of 2008 dropped by 1 percent in South Lake Tahoe to $1.3 million and 40 percent in Zephyr Cove to $1.7 million compared to the same period in 2007.
Incline Village was the exception, reporting a 24 percent increase in median sales price to $3.2 million.
Nancy Fennell, president and chief executive officer of Dickson Realty, attributed the softening to pressure in the lower end of the luxury market.
For the first time, Dickson Realty’s real estate-owned and short-sale division is seeing foreclosures and short sales in the $1 million to $1.5 million market from Tahoe to the Reno-Sparks area.
Truckee was the only area that remained flat for both number of properties sold and median price.
“We’re starting to see the general kind of distress in the economy creep up into the $1 million to $1.5 million range of the luxury market,” Fennell said. “I don’t think it’s going to look quite so dismal by the end of the summer. But I think there are definitely going to be fewer sales in the luxury market in 2008 compared to 2007.”
Skills we possess to earn our keep in your new Tahoe pad:
1) Back-of-hand knowledge of all ski areas in and around Tahoe
2) Ski tech
3) Sun lotion applied in smooth even strokes
4) Valet Parking and bar-tending skillz (in that order)
5) Friends in real estate in and around Lake Tahoe
-Tahoe homes on tour define luxury [Reno Gazette Journal]
Tags: Economy, Luxury Homes, real estate, San Francisco Real Estate, theFrontSteps
Posted in Economy, Luxury Homes, San Francisco Real Estate, Walkabout, market info, real estate, theFrontSteps | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
Today Zillow is reporting the $100M sale of Trump’s Palm Beach Mansion, thanks to the excellent write up in the Palm Beach Post.
[photo credit: Jeffrey Langlois Daily News file photo, on PalmBeachPost.com Business]
Some things we find interesting in all of this:
1) Zillow’s Zestimate of the property is off by about $77M (they admit it), but why didn’t Trump login to Zillow and “Claim the home”, or “Edit home facts”? Maybe he could have put a “make me move” price in, because you know the buyer checked Zillow first.
2) Trump purchased the property for $41.35M in 2004 in a Bankruptcy sale, according to the report. On the Trump Interview (CNBC) he says, “I bought it for 40″. When you got that kind of cash, what’s the extra $1.35M? Only us “media” type really care.
3) It is a “foreign” buyer, and said buyer is considering tearing it down (good, it’s ugly as hell!)
4) Kendra Todd (Apprentice fame) helped on the remodel, but didn’t get the listing (hmmmm……)
5) It’s not sold…it’s in contract. Big difference.
Regardless, Trump is still the man, and his daughter is super sexy hot. You go Trump!
[Update: Sold to a Russian billionaire for $81.5M. From the most recent article: "The oceanfront estate built by billionaire businessman and philanthropist Sidney Kimmel recently changed hands for $81.5 million. While the sale price was officially recorded at $77.5 million, the buyer also paid $4 million in closing costs."]
…and back to San Francisco.
-$100M sale of Trump’s Palm Beach Mansion [Zillow Blog]
-PalmBeachPost.com Business [Palm Beach Post]
-Trump Interview [CNBC.com]
Tags: Announcements, Luxury Homes, san francisco
Posted in Announcements, Luxury Homes, Mansions, Walkabout, san francisco | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 2nd, 2008
And something tells us Dubai doesn’t have a Board of Supervisors…
Is there any way in the world this would happen, and so quickly in San Francisco?
The Tallest Building in the World – Burj Dubai! Middle East, then
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgYYR3-Syog]
and now:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaQAz39MUDo]
Tags: Millennium Tower, san francisco
Posted in High Rise, Just plain fun, Millennium Tower, Walkabout, san francisco, videos | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
We were just going to pull a few choice excerpts from this “Daring and Unspoiled” $1,095,000 listing in Palm Springs, but we just had to post it all:
“Smashing, Splendid, Brave, Daring and Unspoiled describes this masterpiece of seventies decor – Plus Offered Turnkey Furnished! Visually stunning custom velvet walls with vibrant colors of reds, pinks, fuschias and oranges.A unique and wholly functional residence in impeccable condition set up for full time living but with all the enchantment, allure and fantasy of a Moroccan palace. Bedrooms are canopied, swagged, with gold vein mirrored walls, ceiling to floor drapes creating an exotic and opulent atmosphere. The furnishings are custom in matching materials and colors,the pool is gorgeous, the grounds are impeccable, and the piece de resistence, a Pink Princess telephone in the master bedroom! Functional nostalgia makes this property a fantastic fantasy residence or a savvy investment. Perfect for photo shoots, theme parties, fund-raisers and film locations to mention a few potential uses.”
Films that come to mind?
[Update: Others are comparing it to this lovely San Francisco home.]
-1240 Manzanita Ave, Palm Springs [Coldwell Banker]
Tags: san francisco, theFrontSteps
Posted in Unique Property, Walkabout, san francisco, theFrontSteps | 7 Comments »
Thursday, January 24th, 2008
The weather is so dodgy outside, and sometimes we just get plain tired of talking real estate (not that you should), so what better to do than go wandering?
[image source: sellmodern.com]
-Amazing green roof art school in Singapore [Inhabitat]
-Wine selling and storytelling [Springwise]
-You gotta be f’in kidding me! [Deacon Brews]
-Mid-Century Modern in Chicago [Mid-Century Modern Interiors (dailypundit)]
-Dot-com bellwether’s lease heralds comeback in SoMa [San Francisco Business Times]
-Common Pond Modern in Georgia for $240,000 [sellmodern.com]
-Whoever sent us that great link to Mexico Real Estate, please resend. It vaporized.
-Dad will make it all better [perezhilton.com]
-Pete Sampras’ Home Court up for grabs [RealEstalker]
-Hoffbrau House Catastrophe [via growabrain]
With that, we leave you to sook in the rain (yes, we LOVE that video).
Tags: Mid-Century Modern, real estate, san francisco, theFrontSteps
Posted in Mid-Century Modern, Walkabout, real estate, san francisco, theFrontSteps | No Comments »
Monday, December 10th, 2007
Yes…it’s true, but you have to go to one of the countries most under valued real estate markets to get it, Salt Lake City. (We’re referring to the recent Forbes.com article on the best and worst housing markets in the U.S.)
This is the land of Mormons (nothing against them), deep light powder, sunshine, and stupid liquor laws, but check out what your money buys you there!
A big 1891 Victorian, with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, 4,850 square feet, two master suites, Duravit plumbing, Carrera marble counters, limestone floors, custom gourmet kitchen, new plumbing, electrical, paint, carpet, landscaping… and on and on. And it costs you less than some one bedrooms in SF.
Check it out, 957 E. 1st Ave, SLC.
-Go Walkabout [theFrontSteps]
[Disclaimer: The Realtor/Contractor/Owner is the Editor's brother. Regardless, the phone's been ringing on this place and wouldn't we all love to pick it up, move it here, and bolt it to a nice sturdy foundation on our 1st Ave...Arguello.]
Tags: real estate, theFrontSteps
Posted in Walkabout, real estate, theFrontSteps | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, November 28th, 2007
So here’s the problem. Once you go walkabout you eventually get Wanderlust, and end up in Berlin Germany…Stadt Mitte! Danke Schoen.
So what do you get for €21 Million?
That’s what you get. A sweet corner building with retail and office space located in the heart of Berlin, with a Rolex sign to boot! Not to mention total rental space of 2,811 square meters, underground garage with 26 parking spaces, gross rental income of 835,000 €, a complete renovation of the entire building in 1997, and a total of nine full floor offices & three shops.
We’re on our way, but we’re gonna knock that price down a bit if you don’t mind, because our beloved green backs are a little lifeless in your neighborhood these days.
You know, of course, “ick bin ein berliner”.
-21 Million Euros Property [website]
Posted in Walkabout | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 28th, 2007
Let’s face it. Our front page is filled with too much text, too much black and white, and too much doom and gloom as of late. Time to go walkabout (get your best Australian accent on when you say that), and head south of the border.
All you surfers should delight in this Oaxacan beauty in Puerto Escondido. The quick stats: US $380,000; 1,800 SQFT; 3BD,3BA; Ocean View. Sounds good to us. Who’s making the margaritas and which hammock is ours?
Posted in Just plain fun, Walkabout | No Comments »
