by Rik Goodell I have little talent for design. Actually I’m still fond of the cable-spool, coffee table I had in college. So it goes without saying that I believe staging, done right, unquestionably helps present a property in its best light. It makes small spaces look more useful and large spaces look more functional; … Continue reading You wanna re-think that staging!?!
Category: Buying/Selling Techniques
43 & 56 Forest View Drive: a reader’s report
This sent in by a reader, Aunt Mary [edited by us, with pictures and MLS links]: 56 Forest View Drive: I just found out that my neighbors up the street were able to sell their home after only 2, maybe 3, weeks on the market. Our neighbors were a lovely couple who, while living in … Continue reading 43 & 56 Forest View Drive: a reader’s report
The Time is Right for Solar
by Tiffany Elston Everyone’s talking about climate change, carbon footprints, and that shade of “green” that seems to be increasingly infiltrating every major publication. Buildings are a huge proponent of climate change, consuming 36% of total energy use, 65% of electricity consumption, and contributing to 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. Installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) … Continue reading The Time is Right for Solar
Stump the Stammtisch: “How can I predict if my house has what buyer’s are looking for?”
It is amazing how the traffic to this site is exploding! We love it, and we’re here to help. We think we’ve illustrated that at least once, and we’re ready for more. Recently, a reader wrote in, and we’re thinking he/she would like some help from the Stammtisch. If you have a question for our … Continue reading Stump the Stammtisch: “How can I predict if my house has what buyer’s are looking for?”
A reader asks, we hopefully answer (888 Seventh Street resale restriction for BMR.)
A reader recently came to our post regarding 888 Seventh Street, and asked a great question, which we’ll get to below. Rather than email her directly, thus hogging all the glory, we thought we’d use her question as a beta test of our vision of what this site could be. So…we’re posting her question, and … Continue reading A reader asks, we hopefully answer (888 Seventh Street resale restriction for BMR.)
2340 Larkin #2…an update, and $296,000 price reduction.
We’re slowly getting back into the swing of daily posting about real estate and still very much a construction site over here at theFrontSteps, so what better way to kick things off with a post about how utterly and completely wrong we were, and it isn’t the first time. The update for 2340 Larkin #2 … Continue reading 2340 Larkin #2…an update, and $296,000 price reduction.
$$$ Real Estate Marketing
As much as I love my fellow Realtors (R), sometimes I wonder where they get their “marketing remarks”, and how they tie them into the rest of their materials. Take for example, 9 Massasoit St in Bernal Heights. It just hit the market and it has “$$$ Bay View”, yet the 76+% of internet home … Continue reading $$$ Real Estate Marketing
A Very Simple Explanation of the Complex 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchange
We recently received a few questions about 1031 Exchanges, and the short answer…they’re pretty simple, but also complicated. ;-) How’s that for a politician’s answer? Joking aside, we thought this brief description from The Money Alert was pretty good. “Established for real estate barons and tycoons, 1031 exchanges have been around since the 1920s. Named for … Continue reading A Very Simple Explanation of the Complex 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchange
1 Part Dwell, 1 Part The Infinity, 2 Parts YOU!
So you think you’ve got what it takes to design a la modern. Here’s your chance: “Dwell™ invites [their] readers to submit design proposals for one of three varied floor plans for homes in The Infinity. A panel of industry experts, including Dwell owner and founder Lara Hedberg Deam, will review designs. Winning designers … Continue reading 1 Part Dwell, 1 Part The Infinity, 2 Parts YOU!
“Good Bones”
Another way to ensure hordes of buyers to your property, use the words, “Good Bones”. This 2 bed, 1 bath, probate at 833 26th Ave is a total fixer that listed at $679,000, minimum bid is now $896,150, after receiving 23 offers. As we said, fixers fly. This one could easily get into the mid … Continue reading “Good Bones”
20 on 40
How do you attract hordes of buyers to your home? Put these words in your marketing, “Bring your vision, and contractor!” In fact, if you have a totally remodeled gem just sitting on the market, you might as well make it look like hell. Fixers sell better than anything. This property, a 2 bed, 1 … Continue reading 20 on 40
Tuesday Tour: Liked
1110 Fulton, a 2 bed, 1.5 bath condo right across the street from Alamo Square Park. I especially like the fact it has had a recent price reduction from $989,000 to $975,000. The property is very similar to 256 Page, but not quite as high end. Location is great, price was wrong. It will not … Continue reading Tuesday Tour: Liked
Tuesday Tour: Didn’t Like
2342 42nd Ave., a 3 bed, 3 bath single family in the Outer Parkside. What I don’t like is the fact that in August of 2006 this property was listed at $1,095,000, then in March of 2007 listed at $899,000, now it is listed at $1,295,000. If it sells at $1,295,000, I’m packing up and moving to … Continue reading Tuesday Tour: Didn’t Like
For the love of Florence!
Could somebody please help this property sell? We just posted about 1940 Broadway and how it is practically flying off the shelf (as are most A+ properties), but for some reason 1 Florence #6 and #1 (package deal), a penthouse condo in Russian Hill, can’t get off our Stalefish ™ list. (Only available through the sfnewsletter.) They … Continue reading For the love of Florence!
Why’s this keep happening to me?!
Here we have a 3 bed, 1.5 bath condo at 256 Page built in 1885 asking $899,000 (perhaps a little low, but that’s how you get the activity), received 4 offers on Thursday, of which we were one of them. Our original offer was $925,000 (scared by all the media reports of a “down” market, we … Continue reading Why’s this keep happening to me?!
Ask an Expert (Eddie O’Sullivan), better to have SFR or 2 units in Cow Hollow
“Hi there: I own a two-unit, two-story building on a lot that is 45 feet deep in Cow Hollow, in an area bounded by Union, Pierce, Chestnut and Buchanan Streets. I am trying to decide whether or not to try to merge the units legally into a single dwelling unit. It is clear that the … Continue reading Ask an Expert (Eddie O’Sullivan), better to have SFR or 2 units in Cow Hollow