Obama Wants to Jump in on the Real Estate Crisis. Which Way should He Jump?


You might have already read Alex Clark’s article on the Bush plan to help homeowners, named optimistically “Hope for Homeowners.” Commenters on that post were less optimistic. Seems a lot of lenders won’t touch the program, though that might be because the program itself is new and everyone is so gun-shy right now. That leaves … Continue reading Obama Wants to Jump in on the Real Estate Crisis. Which Way should He Jump?

Bay Area Home Prices: a la San Francisco Chronicle


From the Chronicle: Home prices down in 90% of Bay Area Zip codes. A bold statement indeed, and thank God we don’t live in 90% of the Bay Area, but what’s this? One of the few standouts was the 94114 ZIP in San Francisco, home of Noe Valley, where houses go for well over a … Continue reading Bay Area Home Prices: a la San Francisco Chronicle

Reduction Redux, in which I pick up the Gauntlet


When I posted Reduction Ad Nauseum,  I really just wanted a read on how the educated real estate populace explains and/or reacts to listings that have suffered not one, not two, but three or more price cuts. Still, one commenter Noe Guy said: “Interesting observations but I wouldn’t put too much stock in them. First, you      … Continue reading Reduction Redux, in which I pick up the Gauntlet

Reduction, Ad Nauseum


I’m not a Realtor, so I’ll tell something I’m more qualified to comment on: buyers’ perspectives. For instance, I can tell you how buyers looks at a property that’s been reduced more than twice. We feel sorry for them. They’re like awkward teenage boys at their first dance, pretending to be terribly busy with their shoe laces … Continue reading Reduction, Ad Nauseum

Dropping BOMs


Back in the day (two to three years ago) if you dropped a BOM on your listing, it didn’t really matter as there were usually a handful more buyers ready to pounce. These days…not as many, and by all accounts we’re definitely seeing an increase is BOMs across all price points and property types. Today … Continue reading Dropping BOMs

Que Sera, Sera: One Rincon Hill’s 60th Floor Penthouse Residence ($14M)


We’ve all heard about the latest craze to talk about what buildings aren’t selling what, what price reductions happened where, what incentives are being offered here, and which penthouse condos are selling for what. If you’ve been reading up on your bay area blogs, you’ll likely already know that the entire 60th floor of One … Continue reading Que Sera, Sera: One Rincon Hill’s 60th Floor Penthouse Residence ($14M)

From Mid-Century to Modern, 3577 Pacific Returns (Almost)


The last recorded sale of 3577 Pacific (2 bed, 1.5 baths, on the Presidio wall right across from Julias Kahn Playground) was August 31, 2005 for $2,225,000 and she was definitely a mid-century diamond in the rough. Well…she’s back and she’s looking sweet. She did get a bit bigger, and more modern though. She’s been … Continue reading From Mid-Century to Modern, 3577 Pacific Returns (Almost)

$201,000 Over Asking? We Kid You Not (1941 Leavenworth)


Stranger things have been known to happen. — Just today, 1941 Leavenworth, a 4 bed, 3.5 bath, single family home in Russian Hill, closed escrow for a cool $2,000,000. Asking price, $1,799,000…in this market!? Guess it’s not THAT bad after all. Oh yeah, we forgot to add…six make that eight offers.

Living High for a Little Less: 188 Minna #27D (St. Regis, San Francisco)


Stalefish at the St. Regis, San Francisco. Originally listed at $3,495,000 for this 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 1792 square foot, luxury slice of pie in the sky, the price has been dropping, while the days on market have been climbing. Price now, $2,995,000. Days on market, 150. (That would actually be an interesting chart to … Continue reading Living High for a Little Less: 188 Minna #27D (St. Regis, San Francisco)

Comment Du Jour: “The People in Noe Valley Have a Fully Realized Liberal Fantasy”


This comment du jour comes to us from “James” in our most recent Cole Valley vs. Noe Valley Battle Royale, where he provides his explanation of why Noe Valley is the way it is: Noe Valley has the feeling of being a small suburban village unto itself and this has been the case for a … Continue reading Comment Du Jour: “The People in Noe Valley Have a Fully Realized Liberal Fantasy”

New Developments Face a New Reality in SF


  I’ve heard from multiple sources that SF real estate is, for the most part, immune to the havoc wreaked on other parts of the US. But sales at our most recent condo complexes show that happy-smile-don’t-worry line of rhetoric is about as reliable as the clown’s was in Poltergeist (Happy Halloween!).     Socketsite … Continue reading New Developments Face a New Reality in SF

A Worse Punishment for Sisyphus: Policing Noise in a Metropolis


Hello out there, theFrontStep Readers! You may (or just as likely, may not) know my name from my blogs for Redfin. I’ve kindly been invited to write also for theFrontSteps, so here I am, on the steps, with my first blog. So here’s the setting: last night, 2:00am, sultry night, people walking up from the … Continue reading A Worse Punishment for Sisyphus: Policing Noise in a Metropolis

Pacific Heights in the Spotlight


As always, theFrontSteps is open to new contributors and writers joining us, so if you think you have what it takes to blog (doesn’t take much), give us a shout and let us know. This comes to us from Arrian Binnings, via his new blog Inside SF Real Estate. We found it quite good (void … Continue reading Pacific Heights in the Spotlight

Quick Flip at 733 Front Street


[Update 10/20/08: Sold, $1,725,000] On the other side of the equation, let’s take a look at 733 Front #605. One of the first resales at this conversion building down in the Financial District, #605 was sold through the sales office for $1,600,000 only about three months ago. The unit directly below it #505 was sold … Continue reading Quick Flip at 733 Front Street

Mervyns out, Trader Joe’s (should go) in


With the recent news of Mervyns going out of business, we’re left wondering, who’s going to fill the shoes of their location on Masonic (@ Geary)? Our vote is for the Trader Joe’s that is pretty much kitty corner, always packed, parking lot always full, to pull up their roots, push the shopping carts across … Continue reading Mervyns out, Trader Joe’s (should go) in

Getting Twisted in Cole Valley (1342 Shrader)


We’ve been in, around, over, and under this remodeled 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home at 1342 Shrader in Cole Valley, and it is absolutely awesome. It’s coming to the MLS very soon (if not already) and some lucky person (hopefully our clients) will be throwing some killer parties in this great home. — The little … Continue reading Getting Twisted in Cole Valley (1342 Shrader)