theFrontSteps – San Francisco

Where readers ask, and we (the community) try to answer: Hey theFrontSteps – Say I’ve I found a place I love, and they gave me the disclosure package, and I’ve got a bank ready to give me a loan, and I want to make an offer. I’ve talked with agents here and there, but never [...]

Where readers ask, and we (the community) try to answer: I appreciate all the general information I get from this terrific blog. This is my first question about my own situation. I’ve been negotiating with the major bank (WellsFargo) that holds my first ($498K) and second ($14K) for a refinance from a 5.5% ARM to [...]

Where readers ask and we (the community) try to answer: Hi! My husband and I are considering purchasing a TIC unit in the Marina. The owners currently have fractional loans through the Bank of Marin. If we did purchase, would we be locked in to their loan rate/term or could we negotiate? Could we work [...]

Where readers ask and we (the community) try to answer: I recently found the Front Steps blog and it’s was a great find with a lot of great info. I have general questions about getting into the real estate business in SF. I’ve read more than one commentary citing different reasons that now is a [...]

We get all kinds of questions in every shape and size and this one has got to rank right up top with one of the most off the wall, but we love it nonetheless and will coddle it like one of our own: Which Condo complex in the City has the nicest hallway color scheme, [...]

Where readers ask and we (the community) try to answer: This proposed building at 430 Main / 429 Beale requires exemptions for maintaining a 45 degree angle opening to the sky in all directions from an internal courtyard … meanwhile, it would BLOCK the SINGLE 45 degree angle opening to the sky from BayCrest Towers’s [...]

Where readers ask and we (the community) try to answer: I have a few questions. I have been looking at 409 Ulloa St in the Forest Hill Extension area. Basically, this property seems to have been on the market since December 2007 as a REO starting at $1.19 Million and then the price keeps dropping [...]

Where readers ask and we (the community) try to answer: If you own a RH2 lot with a SFH [Single Family Home] on it, can you claim the second house number? For example: to establish a professional address – no separate unit, kitchen or entry door, just a second mailbox with a second house number? [...]

Ahhh, we love our readers, especially when they come up with money quotes a lot of you are missing. So, we often take it upon ourselves to bring them front and center. This from “MichelleL” on “Getting Twisted in Cole Valley“: WTF? Are people still paying 3-million to live in Cole Valley sans view? There [...]

Where readers ask and we (the community) try to answer: We’re planning to put our house on the marketing in a couple weeks. Have you seen any change in the SF home buyer mentality resulting from the recent news from Wall Street? I assume it varries by price range, but I’d be interested in your [...]