For generations, San Francisco has been a renter majority city. Estimates vary, but the San Francisco Planning Department calculates that as many as two-thirds of SF residents rent their homes. The conventional wisdom is that US renters are getting a bum deal in the long run, because for most homes in most cities they’d ultimately … Continue reading Is It Cheaper To Rent or Buy In San Francisco?
San Francisco Never Had Highest Rent In the US
The big housing news today is that for the first time ever, the SF-based rental platform Zumper ranked New York City over San Francisco as the most expensive place to rent in the US. For the month of August, a median-priced one bedroom apartment on Zumper cost $2,810 per month, whereas a similar unit in … Continue reading San Francisco Never Had Highest Rent In the US
Walnut Creek House Burns Down, Sells For $1 Million
Even burning down will not stop a Bay Area home for selling for $1 million, at least in the case of 254 Tamarisk Drive in Walnut Creek, which has now redefined the term “fire sale.” It’s been less than a year since fire destroyed this formerly handsome four bed, two bath, 2,400 square foot home … Continue reading Walnut Creek House Burns Down, Sells For $1 Million
Forest Hill Craftsman Overbid Returns
When a buyer truly has their heart set on the ideal San Francisco home, not much will stand in their way. That’s how we end up with overbids, including this week’s top spot at 144 Idora Avenue, a four bed, three bath, Forest Hill Crafsman home from 1926 that sold this week for $2.5 million … Continue reading Forest Hill Craftsman Overbid Returns
Inside Gavin Newsom’s (former) $5.9 Million Marin County Mansion
The big news in California politics is the upcoming recall election, asking voters whether or not they want to oust Governor Gavin Newsom. And speaking of recall, we’re also getting a flashback to some of Newsom’s recent real estate prospects. Earlier this year, Newsom finally managed to sell his Marin County mansion, after a two-plus … Continue reading Inside Gavin Newsom’s (former) $5.9 Million Marin County Mansion
Forgotten Neighborhoods: SF’s French Quarter
Neighborhoods are San Francisco’s basic building blocks, each with their own character and spirit. But there have been so many of them over the years that it’s inevitable we lose track of a few. For example, SFGate this week profiled San Francisco’s Russian enclave, a largely overlooked chapter in the history of the Richmond. And … Continue reading Forgotten Neighborhoods: SF’s French Quarter
Three Sutro Heights Properties Not Yet On MLS
I wish I could say theFrontSteps had these listings, but we don’t. But why should we all miss out? I want to have good neighbors and close deals, just as much as you want to know if a trophy property or two are coming up for sale. So, if you, or anyone you know, have … Continue reading Three Sutro Heights Properties Not Yet On MLS
The Front Steps Guide To San Francisco Edwardians
Few things are so quintessentially San Franciscan as Victorian houses, but there’s another style of classic SF home that’s even more numerous in the city and, whether everyone realizes it or not, exerts even greater influence over the city’s aesthetic. Edwardians are what we might think of as siblings to Victorians–or, with an eye toward … Continue reading The Front Steps Guide To San Francisco Edwardians
Redesigned Pac Heights Looker Asks $8.5 Million
Say what you like about Pacific Heights–few neighborhoods are as financially unattainable for the average SF buyer–but it really does conceal some profound treasures in its storehouse. Case in point, 2250 Jackson Street, a looker that just listed with Coldwell Banker for the deeply Pac Heights price of $8.5 million. Per the ad: “Originally built … Continue reading Redesigned Pac Heights Looker Asks $8.5 Million
Top SF Overbids: Westwood Park Basement Breaks the Bank
Ah summer, when a San Francisco homebuyer’s fancy turns toward paying more for a home–or at least that’s how it seems when we break down this week’s top SF overbids. Most weeks, San Francisco overbids are relatively modest, but our current number one spot is actually quite a whopper in the form of 773 Faxon … Continue reading Top SF Overbids: Westwood Park Basement Breaks the Bank
Making Concord a “Hot” Real Estate Destination
The real estate listing site Realtor.com this week released its annual survey of what it calls the ten “hottest” ZIP codes in America–those neighborhoods where buyer interest seems to be the most intense, at least among Realtor users. The top spot goes to a ZIP in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where home sell on average after … Continue reading Making Concord a “Hot” Real Estate Destination
No, You Don’t Have To “Preemptively Evacuate” Over Fire Danger
Thus far, California’s nightmarish recent fire seasons have spared the southern Bay Area–but that could change, as the still-visible scars of the Oakland hills fire of the early 90s remind us. With that in mind, the city of Berkeley last week issued an advisory warning residents of certain neighborhoods to be prepared for wildfire risks … Continue reading No, You Don’t Have To “Preemptively Evacuate” Over Fire Danger
Demystifying SF’s Tenancy-In-Common Condos
Imagine you’re browsing SF home listings and you stumble across a comfy looking condo that for some reason is priced markedly below even similar units in the same neighborhood. And it’s branded with some mysterious letters: “TIC.” What to make of this conundrum? Even those who have already gotten their feet wet buying and selling … Continue reading Demystifying SF’s Tenancy-In-Common Condos
Onetime Hearst Mansion From Kidnapping Scandal Sells
What does a piece of Bay Area history cost? Generally it depends on the size of the piece, but in the case of 233 West Santa Inez Avenue, a sprawling Hillsborough estate whose address is etched in the annals of 20th century sensationalism for better or for worse, it was over $12 million, finally netting … Continue reading Onetime Hearst Mansion From Kidnapping Scandal Sells
Explaining SF’s Weird Live/Work Condos
Of all the variated species of San Francisco homes, maybe none is a stranger animal than the “live/work.” Sometimes these units look little different from any other condo or apartment; other times they’re total oddballs, awkwardly carved out of larger, older buildings for purposes not always obvious to modern observers. And rarely does a home … Continue reading Explaining SF’s Weird Live/Work Condos
A List Of Off Market Properties
It’s time to let you in on the little secret of off market properties. It’s really not a secret anymore, but of course getting access to them is not that easy. Unless, of course, you are a follower of theFrontSteps and fan of our page. We’ve had your back for nearly 20 years now, so … Continue reading A List Of Off Market Properties