I’m looking to enlist your support in some public shaming. You can also point-out the utility of installing a video camera system during a renovation
This Grinch stole the Christmas wreath from the front door of my house early Friday morning. She looks like a fairly put-together person, why is she out stealing in the middle of the night? Pacific Heights of course…
The Grinch comes then goes, and returns (cloaked/disguised) at 2:07.
[Update #2: From the reader when we informed him/her of the # of links coming to our site for this post, "Good stuff indeed. Channel 7 wants to run a story on it tonight. And it seems the mystery lady has a name..." Guess you'll have to check Channel 7 (anybody got the link to a report) for the name, and apparently a friend of the owner has placed a new wreath on their door, with a lock hopefully. ]
After what must seem like an eternity (we lost track of the days on market), we’re told the metal lair on top of Pacific Heights at 2505 Divisadero (originally asking $12,500,000 now just $8,995,000…it is on top of Pacific Heights and does include a sound studio and party room built for, and occupied by, Metallica for chrissakes!) has found a buyer.
Was “The Black Album” conceived in this room…their worst album if you ask us, and all down hill from there. Give us “Master of Puppets” again!
–
“Is that…Is that James? Is that James in the mixing room?”-Bonus points if you know which PUNK band has that quote. And no, it does not refer to James Hetfield (of Metallica).
Picture “Garage Days” and picture the parties…Metallica did party didn’t they?
Who is the lucky buyer catapulting themselves into the home of one of the largest rock bands ever? Enquiring minds want to know….
Congrats to all involved in this one, especially Kirk Hammett.
[Update: We asked our source about the price and got this (no surprise) reply: "It's a "confidential" sale... although we all know who sold it [Nina Hatvany], just no one is saying who bought. Word on the street is that Ronnie Garfield rep’d the buyer, but I don’t know for sure.”]
We’ve always said a skatepark or velodrome in the backyard of 2901 Broadway (last check it was still listed for $45,000,000) would be a most excellent idea (see red arrow).
Maybe we should have Tony Hawk and crew come teach the Pacific Heights crowd a thing or two about what to do with all of that space:
Or maybe Bob Burnquist’s backyard is a better example:
The skiers/snowboarders had the right idea, but getting snow in San Francisco proved a bit problematic:
But with the naturally steep hills here, maybe a skateboard megaramp is the answer? They could launch over the Getty compound.
Those are a few things you’ll see on our Christmas list to Santa this year….
Certainly you’ve all heard of a little company called DIGG. It should be no surprise, Kevin Rose, the founder lives in, and loves, San Francisco (lots of talented company founders in this city, aren’t there). He even linked to theFrontSteps a long time ago, which was cool.
With the un-denying success of Digg, and the millions and millions of users, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of people that personally follow Kevin Rose, I got to thinking…the dude needs a phat pad! Sure, you’re all going to think I just found one of the most expensive homes on the market…not so. As always, there is a reason for my madness.
I’m thinking Mr. Rose could shake things up in otherwise quiet Pacific Heights. Here’s how.
The home is 2901 Broadway and wouldn’t it be cool to have a monthly Diggnation on that empty/lonely tennis court. It’s just screaming to become a venue for something! Why not frequent Diggnations?
You could throw up a tent, or go open-air. Get a few kegs of beer, run valet parking up the drive, invite the Gettys and the Bebo founders (they just purchased down the street), and turn it into one sweet venue. The neighbors would certainly love it. I mean, how awesome! Throw Diggnations on that court by night, turn it into a half-pipe and invite all the local skaters by day (or just play tennis). You following me?
It’s my guess Digg and Kevin Rose are worth a couple hundred million dollars, so go on Digg fans…Digg it up and get cozy with your Pacific Heights neighbors!
By Home Girl, aka real-estate blogger Tracey Taylor).
Go to Piedmont and you feel you have entered another world. That’s if you live in Berkeley or Oakland or anywhere else where you are a mere mortal.
I suppose Piedmont is the East Bay’s equivalent to Pacific Heights. Rarefied, privileged, cocooned. The median list price here for a SFH is $1,236,000 (admittedly a tad lower than Pac Height’s $3,357,000, but you get the picture).
I saw a couple of Piedmont listings this weekend. The first was a pink chateau (above) priced at $3,295,000; the second, a 1950s one-level given a complete contemporary overhaul (below), was $745,000 less expensive, but by far the more interesting proposition in my humble opinion.
If you are the old-school type who favors traditional interiors and bourgeois accommodations, the chateau is for you. If, however, you like something a little more risque — a splash of California indoor-outdoor living, a few floor-to-ceiling windows and a handful of sumptuous bathrooms thrown in — then opt for the newer model (below).
Both homes have been on the market for 64+ days, and I would want to know why the second one, at 43 Farragut Avenue, has changed hands no less than four times in the past 11 years (beginning in 1997 — a snip at $1,250,000). But if you’re after more bang for you buck than in the Heights, these are both worth investigating.
Oh, I did visit a third open house on my tour of Piedmont: 224 Ricardo Avenue is a perfectly nice house in a perfectly nice area, but it costs $1,275,000 and, to be honest, I felt like I was slumming it. That’s the effect Piedmont has on you if you spend more than enough time there.
Above: your new neighbors should you choose to buy 43 Farragut Avenue in Piedmont.
As always, theFrontSteps is open to new contributors and writers joining us, so if you think you have what it takes to blog (doesn’t take much), give us a shout and let us know. This comes to us from Arrian Binnings, via his new blog Inside SF Real Estate. We found it quite good (void of most Realtor spin, and generally informative) and have asked him to write a column for us (hence the full content version, rather than just a link). What say you, the readers? Good stuff?
Pacific Heights. Mmmmm, what an incredible part of our City. Just imagining it conjures up images of huge mansions, gloriously landscaped yards, jaw-dropping views, and:
Standard Pac Heights TP Roll
Seriously though, we wanted to take out our San Francisco micro-market magnifying glass and see what condo prices are doing in the area. Are they up? Down? Major bubble burst (aka, Bubblicious)??
Well that’s exactly what we set out to do, and here’s how we did it.
First, we looked at Median Sales Prices for condos in Pacific Heights, dating back to the year 1995. All sales are per MLS. We capped each year at October 20th, so we could include 2008 and get an even comparison (something about saying apples to apples just drives me crazy). As you might expect, we left out Single Family Homes, TICs, Lofts, and Stock Co-Ops.
Below is a PARTIAL list of my recent transactions:
-------------------------- 1119 Hopkins Ave in Palo Alto!
Buyer Representation
5 bed, 3.5 bath, 3626 sqft, Single Family Home
New Construction
Original Asking $3,475,000 (Purchased for much less) Contact Alex Clark for details
-------------------------- 195 Beacon
Buyer representation:
4 bed, 3 bath, Mid Century Modern "Green" Home
Asking $1,650,000 Contact Alex Clark for details
--------------------------- 2185 Bush #307
SOLD $790,000,
3bd,2ba,1pk condo
Lower Pacific Heights
Top Floor, High Ceilings, Living/Dining Combo, Fireplace, bright, patio & balcony, views, Earthquake Insurance, A+location
Represented Seller Email Alex Clark for details.
--------------------------- 62 Buena Vista Terrace
Buyer Representation
2 bed, 1 bath Top Floor Condo
$885,000 Contact Alex Clark for details
--------------------- 2186 33rd Avenue
Buyer Representation
3 bed, 2 bath Center Patio Home
$815,000 Contact Alex Clark for details
--------------------- 442 41st Ave (SOLD $1M) $1,049,000
3 bed, 1 bath up
1 bed, 1 bath down (unwarranted)
2 Pk, Outer Richmond Single Family
Represented Seller Email Alex Clark for details
--------------------------- 613 Peralta (SOLD Cash $520,000) 2bd, 1 ba, 1pk, $539,000
Bernal Heights Condo
Represented Seller Email Alex Clark for details
------------------------ 241 7th Ave (SOLD-$950,000 cash) PRICE REDUCED $1,129,550 $999,000!
2bd, 1.5 bath, 2pk, Inner Richmond Single Family
Represented Seller Email Alex Clark for Details
]
