Letter to the Editor


“More on my favorite theme: Money Quote: ‘How bad can traffic in American cities get? Los Angeles’s long-range transportation plan is a grim look at the future. By 2025, Los Angeles County is projected to have 3 million more people, which could prompt a 30 percent increase in car trips. At that rate, the report … Continue reading Letter to the Editor

149 Mangels…Before, After, and What Could Have Been


Before: After: What could have been: We can’t emphasize enough, the importance of inspections, and hiring qualified professionals to do renovations for you. Sold in December 2006 for $524,250, and yes…it was overbid from $399,950.  What a shame.  A total and complete shame.  So sad.  –Home Collapses in Sunnyside Neighborhood in SF [sfgate] –Getting Back Your … Continue reading 149 Mangels…Before, After, and What Could Have Been

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

It’s Madness! (no, not the band)


By now you’ve probably heard about 3840 Clay (pictured above), the Pacific Heights fixer that was asking $3,000,000 and sold for $4,020,000 in less than a blink of an eye. (In MLS on 4/12, 30 disclosure packages were handed out, offers reviewed on 4/16, in contract 4/19, sold 4/25… we’re told for cash.) The home … Continue reading It’s Madness! (no, not the band)

Start drooling now…a before, after, and First Look at 4065 25th Street


-[Updated:5/15/07] More Fun with 4065 25th St…and a Wager? [sfn BLOG] The address: 4065 25th Street @ Noe The vitals: 5 bed; 3.5 bath; $2,750,000; 2 car parking; south facing yard (key!); radiant heat; 11 foot ceilings; energy efficient design (green) The History: Purchased in October of 2003 for $756,000 (under asking we might add.) … Continue reading Start drooling now…a before, after, and First Look at 4065 25th Street

Soma Grand, First release May 12th, 2007


Just got word of the first release (waiting for details, but scheduled for May 12th) of one of the city’s newest developments, Soma Grand.  Pricings start in the $500,000, and if you’d like to know the skinny, well…we did that a long time ago.  They’ll gladly take that 3% deposit now.  They would have loved … Continue reading Soma Grand, First release May 12th, 2007

Follow up to Senate Bill 464 (Ellis Act)


Following up to our post about SB 464 (legislation that would make the Ellis Act all the more difficult to perform), we learned that even though it was scheduled to come up for a vote on the Senate floor last Thursday, it did not. It now appears that it will be voted upon tomorrow (5/3/07) or … Continue reading Follow up to Senate Bill 464 (Ellis Act)

Some Makeup (a little), Some Elbow-Grease (a lot), Some Action (a ton)


Way back in 1999, the now owners of 1326 15th Avenue saw gold in that thar pink (or is that peach) wreck of a home. Purchased for $490,000 (roughly 10% below asking), it is now a beautiful 5 bed, 3.5 bath, single family/2-unit (depending on how you look at it) and on the market for … Continue reading Some Makeup (a little), Some Elbow-Grease (a lot), Some Action (a ton)

Bettin’ Fools


[Update 6/18/07: $296,000 Price Reduction] 2340 Larkin #2 hit the market this week (asking $2,295,000). It is a 2 bed, 2 bath, 2100 square foot condo in Russian Hill, and we’re bettting it’s sold (or at least in contract) before the end of the month. Yeah, we know, the market is horrible, prices have come … Continue reading Bettin’ Fools

Comparison Shopping On the sfnewsletter


This: Prime Bel-Air Estate, Offered at $16,500,000 Plus this: Santa Ynez Valley Chateau,Offered at $19,750,000 Plus this: 9342 Sierra Mar, Offered at $11,500,000 And you might as well throw in this: 9038 Wonderland Park Ave, Offered at $2,500,000 Ahh…what the hell, this too: 1515 Bel-Air Road, Offered at $4,495,000 Equals this: $55,000,000 (asking) San Francisco … Continue reading Comparison Shopping On the sfnewsletter

Hurry up…and wait


2214 Clay…one day showing…one offer…rumored to be going over asking (go figure) from a $4,998,000 asking price…now we wait to see the outcome. The vitals: 6 bed; 5 bath; 4989 square feet; built in 1890; $1001/ppsf; horrible colors in the living room, and definitely not my tastes for interior decorating (opinion!), but other than that it is … Continue reading Hurry up…and wait