Ask Us: My boss is looking to “find a nice place to rent for his family”


Where readers ask and we (the community) try to answer: Where can my boss find a nice place to rent for his family [includes 10 year old son] where they won’t be the only parents in their neighborhood? Our answer…are you kidding!? This is a loaded question, so we’re going to go ahead and link … Continue reading Ask Us: My boss is looking to “find a nice place to rent for his family”

Price it (real, real) low, and away we go …..(251 Arkansas)


I knew this one would go superfast. You have to wonder if it wouldn’t have gone almost as fast if it were priced at 850K, tho. Anyway, anyone else see this property? It got into contract instantly. A two car garage, north slope Potrero Hill, with a 25 X 100 foot lot, for 679? Simply … Continue reading Price it (real, real) low, and away we go …..(251 Arkansas)

43% over (asking) on 2190 Broadway 9W ($5,000,000)


Just a bit busy, so this from today’s sfnewsletter: “Hi Alex, I just heard a rumor that 9W at 2190 Broadway asked for $3.45M and closed for $5M. An overbid of 43%?” Rumor mill says…TRUE! Also true: that puts the price per square foot of this condo that “needs updating” at $1,562.50; HOA dues are … Continue reading 43% over (asking) on 2190 Broadway 9W ($5,000,000)

Sophie Says: “Silicon Valley [real estate] is bullet-proof”


Well, our frequent reader and commenter, Sophie, doesn’t really say it, the article on BusinessWeek.com does, but she tipped us off, so we’re passing it on. And yes, we still focus on San Francisco real estate, but find ourselves looking more and more that way (San Jose/Penisula), and receiving more and more tips from there, … Continue reading Sophie Says: “Silicon Valley [real estate] is bullet-proof”

“…all this posting of properties on blogs just complicates things.”


Says Realtor to us after not disclosing to him the address of a pocket listing [off market deal] we had known about. (This after his client contacted us directly interested in the property, and the selling agent made us swear on our grandmother’s grave not to disclose the address [publicly online] to anyone in order … Continue reading “…all this posting of properties on blogs just complicates things.”

Ask Us: How can I replace my real estate agent?


Where readers ask and we (the community) try to answer: Earlier this year I looked at a property with a partner and traded a few emails with another agent who I had worked with on a home purchase in the past. He provided cursory input on comps, reviewed a very preliminary design, but I always … Continue reading Ask Us: How can I replace my real estate agent?

Technology and Real Estate: N-Play (make an offer)


We’re constantly on the lookout for new companies/technologies that might alter the scope of the current real estate system and this latest press release we received from N-Play might have something to offer. The concept is simple, agents get listings and add the “N-Play” button to the online listing, buyers make offers on properties by … Continue reading Technology and Real Estate: N-Play (make an offer)

Walkabout: Los Altos edition and a $7M price reduction (12335 Stonebrook Dr.)


Since we’re on the subject of million dollar price reductions (some more honorable and accurate than others), we got that Wanderlust in us again and couldn’t help but bring you 12335 Stonebrook Dr. (For more detailed pics go here.) “This magnificent home is one of the greatest estates in California” (and they just hacked the … Continue reading Walkabout: Los Altos edition and a $7M price reduction (12335 Stonebrook Dr.)

“Price reduced 1,000,000” (1919 Page)


Has Realtor to Realtor marketing (spam) reached a new low in order to get fellow Realtors to open their property emails? Just yesterday, we (and likely all of San Francisco Association of Realtors members) received an email with the subject, “Price reduced 1,000,000” on the property located at 1919 Page (“now” asking $1,095,000) in the … Continue reading “Price reduced 1,000,000” (1919 Page)

Ask Us: How sound is our building as it relates to earthquakes


Where readers ask and we (the community) try to answer: Hi, I own a building with 4 other people here in San Francisco and we need to get good advice on how structurally sound our building is re: earthquakes. I want to be able to trust the opinion and not be concerned with getting an … Continue reading Ask Us: How sound is our building as it relates to earthquakes

Sub $400k TICs, Realtors’ hourly wages, and a choice between three


San Francisco real estate just keeps on throwing curve balls our way, as do our totally awesome readers. It would also appear theFrontSteps has highlighted three sub $400k properties this week alone! That has to be a record. This one from “AMinSF”: TICs anyone? Note the DOM (Days on Market)- 451!!!!! That’s insane! I looked … Continue reading Sub $400k TICs, Realtors’ hourly wages, and a choice between three

Walkabout: Sonoma edition, includes helicopter pad


Those of you that have read our little blog about San Francisco real estate for a while know we’ve been known to get Wanderlust from time to time and are forced to go walkabout. Today we head to Sonoma where $5,895,000 buys you one helluva sweet (green?) house at 2000 Hot Springs Rd. in the … Continue reading Walkabout: Sonoma edition, includes helicopter pad

888 7th Street, 85% sold and looking for your $399,000


According to more Realtor Spam (it’s really getting out of control, but some of it is useful): Just a reminder, we are about 85% sold at our new building at 888 7th Street in the Showplace Square/lower Potrero area. We have a limited number of junior one bedrooms homes available starting at $399,000. We have … Continue reading 888 7th Street, 85% sold and looking for your $399,000

Real estate and NBA free agency, and the Warriors post BD


Saw this today: Basketball star Elton Brand places… Huh. Apparently Elton Brand is going SOMEWHERE. We still don’t know whether it’s going to be to the Warriors or not. I guess the story is that the salary cap and luxury tax thresholds are released tonight. From those teams determine how much they can pay players. … Continue reading Real estate and NBA free agency, and the Warriors post BD

A long time coming: 235 Broderick hits the MLS, we tried to warn you


Had you been reading theFrontSteps a while ago, June 11th to be exact, you’d have had an opportunity to pick up this developer special at 235 Broderick long before the rest. Now the cat is out of the bag, the chatter has begun, it’s on MLS (listed for exactly the same price the seller’s paid … Continue reading A long time coming: 235 Broderick hits the MLS, we tried to warn you

Sub 400k at 380 Monterey (#101)


It’s not very often we point out the sub $600,000, let alone the sub $500,000 San Francisco real estate market, because it’s not the most common sale in San Francisco, but what about the sub $400,000 market? It exists, albeit very minimally, and 380 Monterey #101, a 1 bed, 1 bath, 668 square foot condo … Continue reading Sub 400k at 380 Monterey (#101)