Every so often older posts get comments that are so good, I just can’t pass up posting them right front and center on the home page. This one came in on an old post we did about La Mission District and just how cool it is.

Sorry Mission District, according to this Potrero Hill reader you’re nothing more than their “backyard”.

Potrero Hill is SF’s best neighborhood TO LIVE IN for these reasons:

1) VIEWS – don’t have one? Step outside, you get one every time you head towards any of the other neighborhoods or just to get a cup of Farley’s coffee. Can’t do that? Watch a commercial or movie, it’s likely it includes a scene shot from here.

2) PARKING – every one of the other neighborhoods has you looking and wishing you could drink and drive while looking.

3) SUNSHINE – if we don’t have it, neither do you. If we do, you probably don’t.

4) PROXIMITY – 280, 101, 80 and trains and the #10 make getting up and down the peninsula or to the East Bay, or to the beach or along the Embarcadero or FiDi or the ballpark a snap. Bernal, Bayview, Glen Park, Mission, Noe, Castro, Soma – are all neighbors, in fact La Mission is our backyard. Every thing else is really minutes ‘cept for the Golden Gate Bridge or Golden Gate Park which really is meant for a lovely drive anyway.

5) COMMUNITY – it’s tight and effective and gets more and more inclusive vs. many of the other conformist, hands-off-the-merchandise ‘hoods. This means childless hipsters, muralist breeders, biogeneticists, game designers, street soldiers, old-timers, turistas, baristas and anything with paws come together for the Good Life. And it’s small enough that everyone knows your name, “my friend”.

Touché!

-San Francisco’s Coolest Neighborhood…La Mission, Hands Down [theFrontSteps]

Apparently Mr. Kirkpatrick has failed repeatedly to remove his Open House signs, so our reader sent us this picture in an effort to light a fire under his a$$ (no pun intended).

We’d be willing to bet it works.

[Update: One day later, we're told the signs are gone. Funny how that works...]

Editor-

Take a look at this Cole Valley condo. Purchased in April 2005 for $800,000, relisted [11 days ago] for $749,000. No upgrades, no permit history, save for a new roof.

I would prefer to remain anonymous.

Thanks.

Anonymous you shall remain, thankful we shall be to all of the readers, including you, that send in tips.

We’d like to add, when it sold in 2005 for $800,000 it was listed at $749,000. Will history repeat itself? We can only hope.

-1358 Cole Street $800,000 Then

-1358 Cole Street, $749,000 Now

While you’re at it:

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video

Once you are at the link, look for the “7 On Your Side” tab in the Video Library part of the webpage and click it.

You’ll see a picture with the heading “Marketing Ploy Disguised as Government Offer” and a HUGE Mike or Darius. That’s the video – watch it!

What’s the connection you ask?

The Loan Sharkz is a mortgage company that went belly up—Bryco Funding a few years back. It looks like the guy who answers the door [in the ABC local video] looks just like one of the guys who made the “Loan Sharkz” video and starred in it…

Indeed it does, and as always, thanks for the tip!

Anybody can be involved with this site. Send tips, story ideas, content, love (or haight) mail to thefrontsteps@gmail.com.

We’re thinking we should sell our place now before it gets any worse.

The media (and certain local real estate blogs) are certainly good at creating panic, and Realtor blogs are certainly good at glossing over all the doom and gloom, but what’s really going on? If you’re a buyer, are you really feeling the urge to buy for fear of missing that boat again? More importantly for this thread, if you’re a homeowner and been thinking of moving (within the next 2-3 years), are you getting that feeling? You know, that one you all keep telling us? “We’re worried if we don’t sell now, we might have to wait years.”

Be honest, be anonymous, and please share your thoughts in the comments below. (NOTE: To be totally anonymous, when asked to enter email use, “a@a.com”.)

Thanks! We’re very curious to hear what you have to say.

“Restless kids, so-so weather: A great day for a walk uphill!

532B Clipper – TIC – $499,999
This is a great unit in need of work: a simple knock down of all the crap (read “added american closets”) and it’s a great unit. tad bit high price (no parking, problematic deck etc) – but still something to look at.

490-492 clipper – RH2 – $1,300,000 (and 3.5% commission to selling agent), inlaw WITH tenant.
Tiny owner unit, but smart and practical. Work with NO permit! (duh! check the stair railing!) With no parking, the price is a bit high.

682 clipper – SHF – $1,475,000
floor plan is very odd. I dont like at all the top floor (master suite above living), but the lower floor 3 bedrooms are ok, with a great additional lowest level (storage, mudroom, position of laundry etc). I HATE the windows, like you pee in the face of the clipper street drivers. All the windows and window coverings and drapes need a rework/updates (soundproofing, light, sun, heat, views etc). However, a MUCH better deal and a sweeter property than 565 Clipper.

481 clipper – RH2 – $1,800,000
I guess I still hate everything about that one as much as before. However, I find not acceptable to keep that property on the market in the current condition of next door house. Many people walking with us were scared by the construction, and it would have needed a lot of courage to dare going in (I would have, but the wind started to pick up, and I didnt want to scare the kids). Property should either be off market for the 2 months to come, OR not have an open house – and be flagged as such in MLS. For once a property could have some legitimate excuse for having a larger DOM – use it (although this property is a recurring stalefish anyway.)

469 clipper – empty lot. $939,000 [Editor's Note: Careful what you say Sophie...;-) ]
The proposed plan being totally ugly, I have to say that the lot is large, garage access is easy because no parking spot in front and above the house.
Alex – nice talking to Mike. Nice guy. (I still think it’s a tiny bit high. price drop should have been to $899,000 to spark some new interest).
Marketing-wise – I would be scared by buying a lemon – ie: the previous owner bought the lot, spend the money in architect – then DROPPED the plan to build its dream house? WHY? neighbors? If the plan is not approved, then it’s not only worth zero, but it has some negative value as being a “doomed” project. Marketing as a empty lot with no string attached should be considered at this point. OR I’d have someone draw 4-5 projective plans for that lot to show the richness and variety of options. If facade is protected by historic crap, state that in marketing, if not, market as empty lot with 2 garage access.

565 Clipper – SFH – $2,149,000
That one gets my “worse design of the day award”. The house was designed with NO CONSIDERATION to the environment. This house is a fishbowl whose oversized ugly windows frame the worse possible views in Noe Valley – fixer uppers (with no hope of being fixed) on every single lot around the house – ugly unkempt yards, unpainted houses, garden shacks etc. As expected from brainless designers, they spend some thoughts and money into design like hiding a beautiful new painted and tiled courtyard behind privacy etched glass – and then, have a “I need to call the vice squad” window in every single bathroom – with views of rusted pipes and leaking walls. Bozos!
Now let’s trash the inside design. stupid garage layout. Thoughtless blackhole between the living room and the kitchen. Super low ceiling in lower level (serious problem in the lower bath). Ridiculous hallway in the upper level. Crazy-the-architect-was-on-pot master suite layout. [Greatest award for the psychiatric ward toilet in the master suite]
Then of course, for that price, as an agent said, it MUST have a view or a nice block (one of the noisiest blocks in Noe Valley).
-> lower to $1.8-1.9 to get moving.

1280-1282 Clipper- TIC – $1M+ each [can't find these in MLS].
At least the seller did a smart move: bring a GREAT agent on board. Richard was showing great today, providing straight forward info. That should help moving those units, along with a (new??) reallocation of parking spaces.
Finishes are still underpar, obviously the seller did not read any TFS comments. Still skin cutting glass edges, etc. Still very poor design and finishes. Should move without too much of a problem around 1M a piece with asking UNDER 1M.

Last, the cherry of the day.
3882 25th – SFH – $950,000 (set as 2 units).
The agent is doing a GREAT marketing. At this price, it would be the treasure of the day. Unfortunately, it’s a probate, so who knows what will be the final price.
Needs less than 50K for moving condition, then spend months or years of do it yourself to get a stunning house at a super low price. Biggest problem of the house is that it’s a small lot for Noe Valley. Biggest asset: it’s a do it yourself (DIY) job with very little and basic work to do (with stunning results).
Projected budget: 100K for foundation/double garage etc. Bring utilities to garage level, and get a bonus gigantic (legal or not) storage level (full floor storage as of today, but clogged with HVAC and hot water systems).
200K for finishes throughout the house (if using a good contractor). Everything is there, it’s just removing added partitions. Open budget for new kitchen and baths (1master + 1 up + 1 half main level).
The major point is that the house is set as 2 units, so work can be done floor by floor with no connection/impact to other floors.

That’s it.

One more note: Agents were as predicted. From the MLS marketing (and the company name) I could guess if the agent would be a pain – or efficient.
Now more than ever, the TALENT and COMPETENCE of the agent will move a property, more than just the property alone. So keep working hard – while the profession will shed its dandruff and clean the path for better days for you.”

Thanks “Sophie”. Well done.

If anybody else cares to provide your reader report don’t be shy sending it in: thefrontsteps@gmail.com.