Author: thefrontsteps

A Front Steps request — can we get some lender input?

What does this latest round of failure and acquisition do to the mortgage market? We keep hearing the same refrain. Basically (to paraphrase), “Interest rates will likely get lower short term. But conversely credit will be even more difficult to obtain.” To put a fine point on it, what does this mean to the average … Continue reading A Front Steps request — can we get some lender input?

Changing Technology on theFrontSteps

I’m officially forcing myself to switch my blogging platform here behind the scenes and as much as everyone is telling me, “It’s so easy!”, “It’s seamless”, I anticipate many, many bumps in the road. With any luck, it will go easily and we’ll be up to blogging full speed and all that good stuff soon … Continue reading Changing Technology on theFrontSteps

Millennium Tower, San Francisco: A walkthrough, a few photos, a little scoop, and my opinion

For those of you that read this San Francisco real estate blog on a regular basis, you’ll know I’ve been watching the progress of many of the new developments around town. One of my favorites happens to be Millennium Tower (301 Mission). Not because I’ve sold many units there, but because it truly stands out … Continue reading Millennium Tower, San Francisco: A walkthrough, a few photos, a little scoop, and my opinion

Name It and Claim It

We thought about trying a little something new here on theFrontSteps for your Friday. That is to test your knowledge of your surroundings, since we’re all experts right? ;-) It goes like this: we post a picture of something in San Francisco, you name it and claim it (your uberknowledge of San Francisco and its … Continue reading Name It and Claim It

Well that was fast, 2730 Fulton returns 6 months later and $793,000 more

We think this would qualify as a “flip” in every sense of the word. From this 4 bed, 2.5 bath home in March 2008, which sold for $1,605,000 (asking $1,500,000): — To this 5 bed, 4.5 bath home six months later asking $2,398,000: — Very interesting to say the least. We’ll see how this goes. … Continue reading Well that was fast, 2730 Fulton returns 6 months later and $793,000 more

Ask us: How can I add a roof deck to a 2-unit building?

Where readers ask and we (the community) try to answer: Firstly, thanks for such a great site! It has really given me some amazing insight into the San Francisco market. One item I’ve been trying to research to no avail, is just how hard it is to add a roof deck to a two unit … Continue reading Ask us: How can I add a roof deck to a 2-unit building?

A Good Deal for Everyone: 727 Grafton ($369,900)

It’s not often a deal like this comes around and everybody shares in the goods, but 727 Grafton promises not to disappoint. Here’s the deal: 1. The seller gets to walk away (its a REO)…DEAL! 2. The contractors didn’t have to pull permits (“permit status if any is unknown”), or put in a kitchen, “The … Continue reading A Good Deal for Everyone: 727 Grafton ($369,900)

theFrontSteps is Dabbling in Porn

As always, we like to share some of the behind the scenes traffic and search word humor with you. Still one of the all time most random and continued successful search terms to find this site is “Monstertruck” (not sure if that’s a good thing), but climbing the ranks recently…..”Video Porn”. We kid you not. … Continue reading theFrontSteps is Dabbling in Porn

Stats & Numbers: Single Family Homes 8/07 vs. 8/08

From the SFAR Advantage Online: NUMBER OF UNITS is the equivalent of number of sales/transactions. For condominiums, each unit is treated as a sale. For 2- to 4-unit buildings, the “building” is treated as a sale. NUMBER SOLD is the number of properties in the market segment that closed escrow during the month. NUMBER FOR … Continue reading Stats & Numbers: Single Family Homes 8/07 vs. 8/08

Lembis Unloading Properties, Buyers Quickly Snatching Them Up

Had you been reading theFrontSteps for a while, you’d already have known the Lembis were hinting at unloading some property, but we don’t even scratch the surface of the kind of excellent real estate information that is available in the San Francisco Business Times. (As always, we HIGHLY suggest a subscription should you want to … Continue reading Lembis Unloading Properties, Buyers Quickly Snatching Them Up

Taking Over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Some Clarification

If you’ve been wondering what all of this Government takeover of Fannie and Freddie means, you’re hardly alone, so we just went ahead and copied what we just read to give you some different perspectives of what is being said in the real estate world. We take zero credit for this, it all came from … Continue reading Taking Over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Some Clarification

Earthquake Reality in San Francisco

As I sit here at the playground in the heart of Cole Valley, I’m looking at the homes around me (within eyesight) from a different perspective, that of how many were built after 1906. From what I can see…all of them! What strikes me is the thought of that photo in a previous post which … Continue reading Earthquake Reality in San Francisco

San Francisco Single Family Home “Real Estate Market Cycles”

This chart was sent via email (anonymously), but we’ll go ahead and give credit to where we think they found the info, and, of course, share with you: Interesting…

Eichler Under $700,000 with a Pool?

No, this is not a paid post. Yes, we subscribe to many, many, many newsletters and industry publications. Yes, some get more play than others, but what do you expect…some are simply better. So let us know ([email protected]) if there is something we should be reading that we’re not. And how could you pass up … Continue reading Eichler Under $700,000 with a Pool?

An “Apple” in Noe Valley?

An interesting property was pointed out to me today. I hadn’t noticed it because I don’t have any clients in this range unfortunately. It’s weird that I didn’t notice it anyway because I actually lived at the place for a period of time. That’s a whole ‘nother story. It’s 4545 25th street. Purchased in February … Continue reading An “Apple” in Noe Valley?