Battle Royale: Hayes Valley or Haight Ashbury, if you had to choose


We’ve been having lots of fun with the other Battles: Outer Richmond v. Outer Sunset and Pacific Heights v. Marina, so today we give you Hayes Valley or Haight Ashbury. The choice is yours. As always, we provide the data, and hope you provide the insight. Have fun. Sorry for the tech difficulties, it’s not … Continue reading Battle Royale: Hayes Valley or Haight Ashbury, if you had to choose

“…deals can be found now”


From a reader to you. I anxiously await the story, along with a few other readers, I’m sure. “There’s very, very little to select from in the foreclosure arena in San Francisco. However, I am currently in contract on a bank-owned property. It’s a single family home in a desirable neighborhood. We offered about 25% … Continue reading “…deals can be found now”

Marketplace Updated


In case you haven’t checked it out yet, I have started a little Marketplace for myself, and my colleagues to do a little promoting. I will not be posting those items here, but I will periodically be doing little posts like this to remind you all about it. It’s what puts food on the table, … Continue reading Marketplace Updated

Stump the Stammtisch: Refinancing our 3/1 ARM…


“Hello Front Steppers, We bought our SFR in 2004 and have a 3/1 ARM of $600K on a $1mil home. We can pay the newly adjusted amount without really changing our lifestyle, but we would like to refinance before the next rate adjustment in 10 months. With all that is going on in the mortgage … Continue reading Stump the Stammtisch: Refinancing our 3/1 ARM…

“the place was crawling with people” (1422-24 14th Ave.)


Deferring to our readers on this one. I have not seen it. Thanks “anon8mizer” for the tip. Hi – Just an update on this building. I saw it on Sunday. The place was crawling with people. I thought i was back in 2004 when I was house hunting. Three types of visitors: 1) young couples/families … Continue reading “the place was crawling with people” (1422-24 14th Ave.)

Pardonnez moi monsieur, mais vous avez dit “+79.7%”?


We often compare trophy cities (London, Sydney, Paris, Tokyo, etc.) of the world to San Francisco, and in my humble opinion, we’re not quite trophy, but on our way. If we got rid of Chris Daly, maybe we could get there. Regardless, a reader sends us this quote and link: “And we thought prices were … Continue reading Pardonnez moi monsieur, mais vous avez dit “+79.7%”?

Stump the Stammtisch: “Have buyers become more conservative in their offers…”


I am only one small fish in the sea, and only represent a tiny portion of the real estate transactions taking place in San Francisco on a daily basis (yes, properties are still trading, and trading briskly). To assume that my experiences are an 100% accurate depiction of the market would be plain foolish. I … Continue reading Stump the Stammtisch: “Have buyers become more conservative in their offers…”

Sold? (64 Pierce)…a reader asks


Take note…flattery at the beginning of the paragraph grabs our attention and puts the email at the top of the list. Flattery at the end of the paragraph assures you can cut in line and get a quick response. A reader asks, [We answer]. “Hi- First off, just wanted to say that I enjoy your … Continue reading Sold? (64 Pierce)…a reader asks

The Faces of Real Estate


From a reader who chooses to remain “anon”: Just a question I’ve often wondered. Who’s idea was it to allow, or encourage Realtors to put their pictures all over everything from biz cards, to shopping carts, to buses, etc.? Why Realtors and not all the countless other professions out there? Good question. I don’t have … Continue reading The Faces of Real Estate

A better comparison to our high end market performance


Damion Matthews kindly forwarded us this article, and added, “even though it’s about the New York market, I tend to feel we have more in common with that than we do the rest of the Bay Area.” We would tend to agree. From the article: ‘I’ve been doing this 20 years… I’ve never seen anything … Continue reading A better comparison to our high end market performance

FYI, 289 Marina ($905,000 over asking)


A reader kindly calls out, and we verify: I heard the 289 Marina Blvd. house just sold. Asking $2.795 mil… north of $3 mil…. can anybody verify? I went inside… 1950’s…. needed A LOT of remodelling. [Editor’s note: Correct. Sold for $3.7M. Seven offers.] In the nick of time? Time will tell.

733 Front unit 203 now showing


Not quite sure what their email to me meant by being “one of the first to tour [their] model home” unit #203 (asking $725,000) this Tuesday from 1:30-3:30, since I’d already been in the building sans furniture, but you might like to get in there, so here’s your chance. (I’m assuming the unit is now … Continue reading 733 Front unit 203 now showing

“Seems outrageous to me” (2566 23rd Ave.)


I’m going to keep quiet on this and do as this reader suggests…”let the readers decide”. This listing [2566 23rd Ave.] in SF’s Parkside caught my eye. Bought in March for $1.04M (expensive for Parkside), this home was flipped and is now back on the market for $1.6M! Seems outrageous to me, but let the … Continue reading “Seems outrageous to me” (2566 23rd Ave.)

What’s going on with 1684-1686 19th Ave?


from B.O. with [our comments thrown in] [This is a very good find and a good data point. 19th Ave properties are a tough sell as is, but add to the mix bad pricing, average remodel, out of town agent, and you have a recipe for frustration and not selling. Of course, we don’t know … Continue reading What’s going on with 1684-1686 19th Ave?

Repricing of risk, not a bad thing


from “D” “This goes along with my comment yesterday about the repricing of risk. It’s not a bad thing. This concern about jumbo mortgages costing 6.8% or 7.5% is actually funny because for most of the 1990s boom, and well into the 2000s, interest rates were exactly at these levels! When I bought my condo … Continue reading Repricing of risk, not a bad thing