Home Insurance in SF: What You Don’t Know Can Cost You
For San Francisco homeowners, home insurance isn’t just about coverage anymore—it’s about whether you can even get a policy in the first place. With major insurers pulling out of California, canceling policies, and refusing to write new ones, many property owners are left scrambling. If you haven’t checked your policy lately, now’s the time. Because surprise—just because you had coverage last year doesn’t mean you still do.
Home Insurance in California: Who’s Still Writing Policies (and What You Need to Know)
If you’re a homeowner or a buyer in The City, insurance is no longer something you can take for granted. Between major insurers pulling out of California, canceling policies, and refusing new coverage, plus older homes with “red flag” features like knob-and-tube wiring, trying to secure a policy can feel downright intimidating.. If you haven’t checked your policy lately, you should.
From Listings to Keys: Why You Need a Buyer’s Agent in San Francisco
From our recent Instagram posts, it might look like the team at LubaSF is all about listings, but we love working with buyers, too. (Two of our upcoming listings were once my buyers, and I’ve helped them through multiple chapters of their real estate journey!) Helping people find the right home is just as exciting as helping them sell it—and if you’re looking to buy in The City, you’re going to want the right person in your corner. 💪😎
More Than a Realtor: The Many Hats I Wear for My Clients
People often assume that being a real estate agent is all about sales. But here’s the thing—I don’t see myself as a “salesperson.” Never have, never will. My job isn’t about pushing a deal through. It’s about guiding people through one of the biggest decisions of their lives with expertise, care, and strategy. (Obviously using AI to generate cutesy images is NOT one of the hats that I can pull off wearing. 🤣)
Introducing Clinton Higginbotham: The LubaSF Team’s Part-Time Prodigy
When I decided to bring on an assistant to help with the many moving parts of real estate, it didn’t take long to think of the perfect person—Clinton Higginbotham. Clinton isn’t just any assistant; I’ve known him since he was in kindergarten. I’ve watched him grow into a driven, sharp, and curious young man, and now he’s a part-time member of the LubaSF team while finishing his senior year at Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Francisco.
Introducing Felipe De Bedout: My “Son,” My Junior Partner, and the Perfect Addition to The LubaSF Team
If you’ve worked with me before, you know I take my work (and my clients) very seriously. But when it comes to choosing someone to join my team? Let’s just say I take it to another level. Real estate isn’t just about transactions—it’s about trust, dedication, and sometimes putting your whole heart on the line for your clients. So, when I decided it was time to expand the LubaSF team, I knew I had to find someone exceptional.
Proposition 33: What It Could Mean for Rent Control in San Francisco and the Impact on Small Property Owners
Hey San Francisco, let’s dive into something that could have a big impact on our City—California Proposition 33. This upcoming proposition could tighten statewide rent control measures, and while it sounds like a win for tenants, the reality is more complex, especially for small mom-and-pop investors who rely on rental income for their retirement. Let’s break down what this means and compare it to the current rent control measures in place in San Francisco.
Could You Find Your Next San Francisco Home While Grocery Shopping?
The real estate technology market has been flooded in recent years with “location-based” applications to help buyers find properties in their area. With little variation, they all work in about the same way:
A San Francisco Studio Condo for $220,873!
Some of you may have heard about the San Francisco’s Below Market Rate Housing Program. It allows would-be homebuyers with income that is somewhat restricted to actually buy a home of their own.
San Francisco – Spring has SPRUNG!
My favorite sign of spring in SF is always forget-me-nots! Of course, with that comes a busy spring home buying season. I was busy with sellers and buyers since January, but it seems things are ramping up to get even busier, which may mean less blog posts here.
$18,000 in Free Money for San Francisco Home Buyers
You read that right! First time home buyers that get into contract before May 1st and close between May 1st and June 30th get a big fat tax credit!
I could rehash the details, or I could give you the skippy straight from the horse’s mouth (and by horse, I mean the San Francisco Association of Realtors.) You’re getting the latter:
What's the Right San Francisco Neighborhood for You?
There are just under 100 unique and distinct districts in San Francisco according the the San Francisco Realtors Association.
Other sources will list just over 100. But no matter how you count them, there’s no denying that there’s A LOT of variety when it comes to what neighborhood you ultimately choose to call “home!”
Living La Vida Token Free (At Least in Regards to the SF MLS)
I don’t know how long it’s been, but for some time now, San Francisco Realtors have been forced to carry around these ridiculous tokens to access listings in the MLS.
It was meant to be an extra layer of security that made sure we weren’t giving out free MLS access to assistants, or worse yet, to CLIENTS!
San Francisco's Ocean Beach – 107 Years Ago! (Plus Info on a Beach Clean-up!)
Cliff House & Ocean Beach Panorama, 1903 from Richmond SF Blog on Vimeo.
I’ve got my FOURTH cold of the year. Yeah. I’m thinking of buying stock in Nyquil.
But in between blowing my nose and wiping the water pouring from my eyes, the one thing that is keeping me sane is being able to work from home while I watch the ocean from my window (which you can coincidentally do too if you buy my listings at 2458-2460 Great Highway – and as a bonus, you’ll be my neighbor! 😉 )
Two Tales of One (Real Estate) Market
I called the bottom of the San Francisco real estate market last year. It felt like things were flattening out. And in some by some reports, prices were even increasing in SF!
Since the holidays, I’ve been busy as a bee trying to keep up with buyer and seller demands, and you may have even noticed that blog posts, and my “weekly” newsletter, The City Update(TM), have been rather sporadic.
Please, Won't You Be My Neighbor! SF Ocean View Flats for Sale!
It’s always a beautiful day in my neighborhood. If you read the blog regulary, you know I live here on Great Highway in the Outer Sunset. You’ll also know that I LOVE my neighborhood. Even on a crappy day like today, with the wind blowing and the rain pouring, I can sit in the comfort of my very own house and watch the Pacific Ocean waves land on Ocean Beach.
San Francisco Real Estate Sales Data – December 2009
As I do every month, I ran the latest San Francisco real estate sales figures from the month of December for you. Obviously, I’m a little late, since it’s almost February, but as they say, better late than never, right? 😉
2009 San Francisco Sales Data
I run this report every month, but this time, I thought I’d let you look at the WHOLE year ALL at once!
So here’s 2009’s summary of home sales pulled directly from the MLS. Remember, these are all closed sales and not pending sales. (And also remember that very few sales from new developments ever end up on the MLS.)
The Elephant in the Room: Family, Real Estate, and Why You Should Care
I was talking to a friend the other day about elephants—don’t ask me how we got there, but it was one of those conversations that just kind of happens. And it got me thinking. Elephants are pretty amazing, and not just because they can literally uproot trees. It’s their sense of family that really sets them apart. These guys take “it takes a village” to a whole new level.
To Rent or Not to Rent – That is the Question!
Rents in San Francisco are (surprise) on the rise! As less people qualify for loans due to the tighteninig restrictions in the mortgage industry (restrictions that I agree with wholeheartedly), more people need to rent, rent, rent their homes in San Francisco. And what happens with supply & demand? As demand goes up, supply goes down, and prices skyrocket.