Category: theFrontSteps

San Francisco Gentrification: Two Compelling Articles

If you haven’t already noticed, we real appreciate our readers and will publish most, if not all, of your contributions. This time AMITinSF sends us his/her thoughts: The first article, is a totally regressive neo-socialist diatribe (predictably, from the sf bay guardian) on, get this, how Google’s shuttle bus is bad for the Mission district! … Continue reading San Francisco Gentrification: Two Compelling Articles

Redfin Report for San Francisco

Not that we’re suddenly an advocate for Redfin, although we do applaud innovation and entrepreneurship, but when readers ask, we do our best to answer. “Marlow Harris” asked on our Redfin reboots… post: In July, you wrote that they [Redfin] had about 15 closed sales in the SF area. Have they had any more in … Continue reading Redfin Report for San Francisco

Holy shit, you feel that quake?!

Time: 20:05 on 10/30/2007. If you plan on living in San Francisco, get used to quakes. That one literally happened seconds ago (in the middle of posting), and it happens all the time. Still rattles the nerves, no matter how many you’ve been through. [Update at 20:24: And look at that, the quake site is … Continue reading Holy shit, you feel that quake?!

Stump the Stammtisch: Questions about Foreclosures

Where readers ask, and we try to answer: Your posting on 10/25 regarding the property on Vernon Street being sold in light of a pending foreclosure prompts these questions: 1) If a property is pending foreclosure and the owner has filed for bankruptcy can they still sell? I am of two minds on this: 1) … Continue reading Stump the Stammtisch: Questions about Foreclosures

The View from Uranus

Not the view from Saturn , Mars, or Venus, because we’ve got those too. Certainly not the view from your an…ah forget it. The skyline is a changing, that’s the point, and this property (49 Uranus Ter) is again available and reduced to $995,000 (from $1,100,000 original asking). For those wondering, that is One Rincon … Continue reading The View from Uranus

You found us how? Through “Real Estate agent layoffs”

Just browsing our “stats”, we found someone hit our site by searching, “Real Estate agent layoffs”. For the most part, we’re independent contractors and don’t necessarily get “layed off”. More like, the broker would pull you aside and say, “Can you really live off of $8000 year?” For what it’s worth, if the market (read: … Continue reading You found us how? Through “Real Estate agent layoffs”

A call to comment (our market, overbids, mortgage mania)

Calling all Realtors, bloggers, and readers in San Francisco! Share your experiences on the market in this thread. I, Alex Clark (the editor), am actually feeling chatty and have been chiming in, and would love some insight from my colleagues as well as all you readers and bloggers. Go ahead…comment. It’s actually kind of fun. … Continue reading A call to comment (our market, overbids, mortgage mania)

Stump the Stammtisch: Home Depot, Ammiano, and Goodman Lumber?

Where readers ask, and we try to answer [We think we’ll have to go a bit deeper and call on some other local real estate blogs for this answer]: “Whatever happened to the proposed Home Depot at the old Goodman’s site [Goodman Lumber on Bayshore Boulevard]? The site is an eyesore and in the meantime … Continue reading Stump the Stammtisch: Home Depot, Ammiano, and Goodman Lumber?

Friday Pool Party! (610 El Camino del Mar)

It’s Friday. We’re sparing you from the video, and instead bringing more real estate porn in the form of 610 El Camino del Mar for $6.2M, and that includes the pool. Not so sure about that pirate ship that appears to be floating over the water, but for $6.2M, we guess you get to make … Continue reading Friday Pool Party! (610 El Camino del Mar)

Comment du Jour: Mortgage Broker Death Watch

Make no mistake, we’re in the real estate business, but some comments, no matter how small, sometimes ring louder than others. This comment did just that. From “james” in “Bank of America Exiting Wholesale Mortgage Business“: Start a death watch for the mortgage broker business –Bank of America Exiting Wholesale Mortgage Business [theFrontSteps]

Fixer Facing Foreclosure: Move Fast!

It’s nice to see the tips coming in, especially the ones we know you’ll love. This beauty at 455 Vernon in Merced Heights is definitely a fixer (we Realtors call this “deferred maintenance”), apparently facing foreclosure, and needs to be sold quickly. Go on, tell us you’re buying it. List price: $695,000. Dibs on the … Continue reading Fixer Facing Foreclosure: Move Fast!

Bank of America exiting wholesale mortgage business?

Could it be true? “It is with much sadness that I write to inform you that Bank of America has opted to close its Wholesale Channel effective December 31, 2007. This is a bank strategy to become number one in direct to consumer… do not have much information at this time but it is my … Continue reading Bank of America exiting wholesale mortgage business?

“The Real State of Real Estate”

This piece, the Real State of Real Estate (pdf) was sent to us by a very reliable mortgage broker in our city. However, he did not write it, so we can’t give credit to him, nor can we give credit to the person who wrote it, as we don’t know who did. If anyone can … Continue reading “The Real State of Real Estate”