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Get Over Yourself, San Francisco (Except You *ARE* Marvelous, Baby!)

February 3, 2011 By Luba

According to KCBS, San Francisco is the vainest City in the United States.  Now, JoMama, a commenter on KCBS’s story so eloquently puts, “It’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in everyway.”  (JoMama’s statement is so awesome, that I’m going to pretend she really spelled “every way” and not “everyway” – but hey, we NEED a little Wabi-Sabi to REALLY be perfect, right?) 😉
The article goes on to say:

A survey by the online magazine The Daily Beast ranks the city by the Bay as the most vain city in the country, more narcissistic than New York or Los Angeles.

The survey’s criteria compared how much people spend on personal trainers, spas and cosmetic products, and where the populations rank on the obesity scale.

Healthy San Francisco aside, the KCBS and Chronicle Insider believes banning toys in Happy Meals and similar legislation under the rule of two consecutive glamorous mayors, Willie Brown and then Gavin Newsom, only make the city seem that much more self-absorbed.

SFist also picked up the story.  And they didn’t try to dispel the myth of SF’s perfection (and c’mon, we know San Franciscan’s are perfect – even our gas smells like roses!), they did point out that vanity, actually has NOTHING to do with “how much city residents spend on average a month on personal-care products and services such as cosmetics and spa treatments; the percentage of the city’s population not overweight; and the percentage of the population that belongs to gyms.”
In fact, vanity has to do with excessive pride in one’s appearance or conceit (ok, have you SEEN the folks at Critical Mass, for instance? conceited?  really? self-righteous, maybe, but conceited?), or something without real significance, value, or importance.  (Um, I don’t see how maintaining a healthy weight to try to keep from having a heart attack is without value or significance.)
In fact, we here in San Francisco, care about things outside of ourselves.  We constantly make the list of the Greenest Cities in the U.S.  We helped to spread the idea of “no kill” animal shelters to the rest of the country and beyond.  We’re charitable.  We have the 18th largest economy IN THE WORLD! And we know how to have a good time! 😉  SF ROCKS!
So really, we’re not vain, we are just confident.  I’d even go so far as to say that we’re cocky! 😉
But just like JoMama said, “It’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in everyway!” 😉
Have an amazing weekend you MARVELOUS San Franciscans!  You’re so perfect, there’s no way that you can’t!

Filed Under: Green Living in San Francisco, Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor, San Francisco Local Resources, San Francisco News and Events Tagged With: San Francisco, san francisco lists, san francisco weekend, San Francsico realtor, SF, sf lists, SF Realtor, sf weekend

Get Spayed and Neutered for Free! (Your PET, That is!)

January 29, 2011 By Luba

As the folks over at SF Appeal so kindly informed us, February is Spay & Neuter month!  And that means that the San Francisco SPCA is so kind as to provide free spay/neuter services for the month of February!
Personally, I don’t need to keep up with the current freebies since my 12 year old Pit Bull mix, Ohm, was spayed ages ago.  (In the photo, she’s the one on the left.  Powder, in the middle, and Lace on the right, passed away and left big gaping holes in my heart in 2008. I still miss them desperately every day.)
But if you, or someone you know has a pet that is not yet spayed or neutered, and you’re a SF resident, contact the SF SPCA to get yourself on the appointment list.
Aside from controlling overpopulation of pets in shelters that leads to increased euthanasia rates, spaying or neutering your beloved 4 legged friend brings a variety of benefits to you AND your pet.  According to PawsperousPets.com these are just a few of the benefits of taking care of your pets needs.  (And as as aside, if you live in San Francisco and have a Pit Bull or a Pit Bull Mix, spaying or neutering your dog is mandatory!)

Benefits of Spaying
• Prevents pregnancy and the complications arising from pregnancy and delivery
• Eliminates the heat cycle – you won’t have to listen to the sounds of your female in heat, trying to get out and find a mate
• Prevents unwelcome males from trying to seek out your female pet in heat
• Reduces the urge to roam. This makes it less likely that you will lose your pet, which in turn makes your pet less likely to contract a disease, get in a fight, get injured, or become a victim to cruelty, poison, or traffic.
• Eliminates sexual discomfort, distress, or distraction … making your pet happier and more content.
• Reduces or eliminates the possibility of disease in the reproductive system.
Benefits of Neutering
• Reduces the distracting and destructive behavior associated with the male’s efforts to get out and find a mate
• Reduces the urge to roam. This makes it less likely that you will lose your pet, which in turn makes your pet less likely to contract a disease, get in a fight, get injured, or become a victim to cruelty, poison, or traffic.
• Eliminates sexual discomfort, distress, or distraction … making your pet happier and more content.
• Eliminates testicular tumors and reduces prostate gland problems.
• In cats, neutering stops or reduces marking behavior (territorial spraying of urine).
• Reduces the urge to fight.

And while the SPCA is offering these services for free, remember, they also DO need money to keep taking care of the animals in their shelter, so if you CAN afford to pay to have your pet spayed or neutered, please dig deep into your pockets and donate to the SPCA or a number of other great local pet rescues, including Muttville, Bad Rap and the Give a Dog a Bone project, just to name a few!
AND while I’m at it, I may as well take a moment to tell you about this pair of adorable (spayed and neutered) dogs that recently lost their owner and are desperately looking for their new forever home!!!  Read about them here!

Filed Under: Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor, San Francisco Local Resources Tagged With: San Francisco, San Francisco Home Blog, San Francisco Real Estate Blog, San Francisco Realtor, San Francisco Realtor Blog, SF Real Estate Blog, SF Realtor Blog

San Francisco – Spring has SPRUNG!

March 23, 2010 By Luba


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.

Hopefully, I’ll get a little break and stop and smell the flowers (and yes, I know forget-me-nots don’t smell) and maybe even catch up on some blog posts!

Stay tuned, and hope you have time to take in all of the awesomeness San Francisco springtime has to offer!!!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Mobile Post - San Francisco Real Estate Blog, real estate, Realtor, San Francisco, SF, ShoZu

San Francisco Real Estate – Spring Market Outlook from Zephyr Real Estate

March 3, 2010 By Luba

In case you’re a regular reader here at the blog, you probably have noticed the ridiculous lack of steady posts over the last several weeks.  Things in the SF real estate market have been anything but slow, and Zephyr has the scoop:

It’s true that after several months of decent home sales, we saw a dip in January. It’s also true that a slow down at this time of year is typical for San Francisco. People have other things on their minds (holidays, lousy weather, etc.) and will normally wait until early Spring to re-focus on selling or buying real estate.

At last, it appears that we have returned to the market normalcy that existed prior to the boom of 2003 through 2006. Every indication is that we have turned a corner with the market statistics and that home sales have at least stabilized, if not begun to rebound.  We have everything going for us; mortgage interest rates, great home prices and the ever resilient San Francisco real estate market.

They say that the numbers don’t lie. Comparing the last year’s three month period of November 1st through January 31st to this year’s we have some pretty good results. Last year, 761 sales city-wide, this year 1182 sales. Also, last year’s median sale price for the same time frame was $685,000, while this year’s median was $719,000 (these numbers included SFDs, Condos and 2-4 unit buildings).

Not too shabby!

The numbers for each neighborhood can differ tremendously from the City-wide data. As they say, our neighborhood sales vary like our micro-climates! 😉

The real test of market recovery will be the numbers that we see for the coming three months, so stay tuned!

 

I’ll say that’s a pretty good indicator that the San Francisco housing market is picking up speed.  If you have questions about the market, give me a shout at 415-307-1392 or email me at [email protected]!  I’m always happy to talk real estate! 😀

Filed Under: Mobile Post from Your San Francisco Realtor Tagged With: blog, San Francisco, San Francisco Real Estate, San Francisco Real Estate Sales Statistics, san franciso housing, SF, SF Home Blog, SF Home Sales, SF Housing, SF Real Estate

San Francisco's Ocean Beach – 107 Years Ago! (Plus Info on a Beach Clean-up!)

January 28, 2010 By Luba

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! 😉 )
I also happened to find some cool videofootage from the Richmond SF Blog of Ocean Beach back in the days when appropriate beach apparel was a 3 piece suite instead of a wetsuit. 
Since I love San Francisco history, and I LOVE Ocean Beach, I thought I’d share the video here. 🙂
And a fat “high-five” the Richmond SF Blog folks for finding this awesome footage!  Keep it coming!!!
Oh, and coincidentally, there’s a clean-up scheduled at Ocean Beach on January 31st at 9am.  From the invite:

Starting at Lincoln Blvd. and moving south, we will pick up the trash that has been deposited by the recent large storm swells on the beach. There is ALOT of very small plastic and styrofoam that is VERY hazardous to the environment and animal life on la playa. Please join us; bags and gloves will be provided.

Filed Under: Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor, San Francisco History, San Francisco Local Resources, San Francisco Neighborhoods, San Francisco Real Estate Tagged With: ocean beach, ocean view home san francisco, San Francisco, San Francisco Real Estate, San Francisco Realtor, SF Real Estate, SF Realtor

You're Smart if you Buy a Home in San Francisco

January 26, 2010 By Luba

As I’m browsing the blogosphere, I caught a glimpse of yet another article saying something positive about San Francisco real estate. 

Realtor Magazine quoted Forbes Magazine as saying SF is one of the 10 smartest places to buy a home NOW!

Why?

Well, according to them:

For people who want to own a home, the premium to buy—the spread between what they’d spend to rent and what they’d pay for a mortgage—is much lower than the 15-year average in many cities.
To determine what cities are smart buys, Forbes magazine computed the premium and also identified locales where economists predict home prices will go up the most over the next five years.

Click here for the rest of the “smart” cities for purchasing real estate. 

Oh, and give me a holler when you’re ready to make that SF home purchase.  😉

Filed Under: San Francisco Real Estate, San Francisco Real Estate Info for Buyers, San Francisco Real Estate Info for Sellers, San Francisco Real Estate Market Conditions, San Francisco Real Estate Resources Tagged With: San Francisco, San Francisco Housing, San Francisco Real Estate, SF, SF Housing, SF Real Estate

Please, Won't You Be My Neighbor! SF Ocean View Flats for Sale!

January 18, 2010 By Luba

Ocean Beach Living!

Ocean Beach Living!


 
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. 
It’s a different vibe over on this side of San Francisco.  There’s an amazing community feel, and the local businesses are fantastic.  Whether we’re talking about the Riptide Bar or Noriega Produce or Java Beach or The Pizza Place, you’d be hard pressed to find another group of business owners in the City that care more about their neighborhood than these folks do.
And, we also have amazing neighbors.  People actually care about the neighborhood and they get involved.  And with Carmen Chu making herself available to the community to both hear our concerns and respond to them (yes, she listens AND acts on what she hears!  Crazy, right?) the hood just gets better and better.
So, I’m thrilled to announce that you’ll have an opportunity to be my neighbor.  We won’t be living next door to each other, but when you live on Great Highway, all of your nighbors feel close, even if they’re a few blocks away.  And better yet, your neighbors become your friends! 🙂
I won’t give you the whole spoiler about the listing because I think to REALLY appreciate it, you need to see it for yourself.  But the website, www.2458-2460GreatHwy.com will give you a little tease as to what living at the beach can be like.  Besides the ocean views and daily access to sunsets over the horizon, and your own ginormous landscaped yard perfect for parties (complete with bonfire pit!), you get an enclosed outdoor shower (the folks at Socketsite should appreciate that!) where you can get down to your birthday suit and not be afraid of neighbor’s prying eyes.
The Enclosed Outdoor Shower!

The Enclosed Outdoor Shower!


Check out the website (www.2458-2460GreatHwy.com) or give me a call at 415-307-1392 for more info. 
And, “Won’t you please, please won’t you, please…….. Please won’t you be my neighbor???  Hello Neighbor!”

Filed Under: Mobile Post from Your San Francisco Realtor, San Francisco Local Resources, San Francisco Neighborhoods, San Francisco Photos, San Francisco Property Profile, San Francisco Real Estate Tagged With: blog, flats, home, house, San Francicso Real Estaet, San Francisco, San Francisco Real Estate, San Francisco Realtor, SF Real Estate, SF Realtor, units

December 2009 San Francisco Housing Sales Data is Here!

January 12, 2010 By Luba

Yet again, Luba’s San Francisco Real Estate Blog brings you latest San Francisco Real Estate market report here. (You can also view previous market updates by selecting the archives on the upper right portion of the screen). Heres’s a little glimpse of the report:

Median Price for Homes Up Year-over-Year

The median price of single-family, re-sale homes in San Francisco saw prices up, year-over-year, for the third month in a row. The median price was up 6.6% compared to last December.

Sales of single-family, re-sale homes rose 2.7% last month compared to November, and were up 46.6% year-over-year. That’s the sixth month in a row year-over-year sales have been higher than the year before. For the year, home sales were up 4.3%. See the Annual Report for full details on 2009.

We expect sales to be strong through the Spring selling season because of the extension, and expansion, of the first-time home buyers tax credit of $8,000 for buying a principal residence. First-time buyer is a buyer who has not owned a principal residence in the three-year period prior to the purchase. There are some income limits. For full information, see: http://federalhousingtaxcredit.com.

In addition, the tax credit was expanded to include move-up buyers. The tax credit for move-up buyers is $6,500.  A move-up buyer is a person who has owned and resided in the same home for at least five consecutive years of the eight years prior to the purchase date. Again, for full info, see the web site cited above.

P.S. The tax credit expires April 30th. You need to have a signed contract by then and close the sale within 60 days to qualify for the credit.

Condo/loft sales were up 5.8% month-over-month, and up 64.2% compared to December 2008. This is the fifth month in a row condo/loft sales have been up year-over-year. For the year, condo/loft sales were down 6.4%.

The median price for lofts/condos in San Francisco gained 5.2% from November, but was up 7.6% year-over-year. This is the first the median price has been higher than the year before since last August 2008.

Read on for full details.

Filed Under: Mobile Post from Your San Francisco Realtor Tagged With: blog, san francicso housing, San Francisco, San Francisco Home Sales, san francisco real estae, San Francisco Real Estate, San Francisco Real Estate Blog, San Francisco Realtor, SF Home Sales, SF Housing, SF Real Estate, SF Real Estate Blog, SF Realtor, SF Realtor Blog

30 Days of Sold San Francisco Property Listings

January 11, 2010 By Luba

San Francisco real estate

Want to know know what sold in San Francisco in the last 30 days? Sign up for The City Update(TM) – San Francisco’s Friendliest Newsletter. You’ll get the details, and then some, in your inbox (almost) every Friday.
If you just want the round numbers, you can check them out below.
Sold Listings 12/07/09 – 1/07/10

Neighborhood Total Listings Average Price Average DOM
Alamo Square 1 $695,000 66
Bayview 5 $321,800 98
Bayview Heights 3 $466,767 34
Bernal Heights 15 $743,627 75
Buena Vista Park 3 $766,333 50
Central Richmond 8 $792,063 82
Central Sunset 13 $815,838 59
Central Waterfront 2 $706,500 36
Clarendon Heights 4 $1,284,500 84
Corona Heights 2 $1,207,000 60
Cow Hollow 5 $1,329,000 99
Crocker Amazon 1 $615,000 26
Diamond Heights 1 $288,000 159
Downtown 8 $471,563 132
Duboce Triangle 5 $602,933 30
Eureka V./Dolores Hts 11 $1,221,591 89
Excelsior 9 $446,778 62
Forest Hill 1 $1,253,000 44
Forest Hill Extension 1 $1,000,000 26
Forest Knolls 3 $722,167 94
Glen Park 6 $858,703 106
Golden Gate Heights 3 $1,014,833 125
Haight Ashbury 9 $656,222 89
Hayes Valley 7 $783,607 81
Ingleside 4 $672,000 87
Ingleside Heights 5 $411,180 60
Ingleside Terrace 3 $1,009,667 71
Inner Mission 19 $835,861 72
Inner Parkside 1 $787,000 63
Inner Richmond 8 $1,061,125 126
Inner Sunset 6 $924,167 41
Lake 5 $807,400 77
Lake Shore 5 $833,600 71
Lakeside 1 $825,000 74
Laurel Heights 2 $1,607,500 111
Lone Mountain 3 $1,138,333 63
Lower Pacific Heights 12 $927,917 59
Marina 1 $967,387 66
Miraloma Park 1 $910,000 43
Mission Bay 6 $741,667 76
Mission Dolores 7 $579,429 136
Mission Terrace 4 $597,500 90
Monterey Heights 1 $2,400,000 83
Mount Davidson Manor 2 $870,500 23
Nob Hill 9 $758,444 90
Noe Valley 13 $1,067,577 187
North Beach 4 $1,399,750 84
North Panhandle 5 $804,800 86
North Waterfront 2 $620,000 61
Oceanview 4 $391,250 8
Outer Mission 6 $490,667 108
Outer Parkside 6 $682,833 49
Outer Richmond 7 $679,571 82
Outer Sunset 4 $632,250 73
Pacific Heights 15 $2,730,500 82
Parkside 6 $754,667 71
Parnassus/Ashbury Hts 1 $790,000 45
Portola 5 $549,000 63
Potrero Hill 5 $843,800 120
Presidio Heights 2 $1,409,900 84
Russian Hill 11 $1,287,636 177
Sherwood Forest 1 $1,920,000 168
Silver Terrace 5 $460,100 66
South Beach 7 $682,357 173
South of Market 21 $840,429 93
St. Francis Wood 2 $1,477,500 61
Sunnyside 9 $643,556 70
Telegraph Hill 8 $1,132,750 75
Twin Peaks 2 $857,000 126
Van Ness/Civic Center 10 $634,490 130
Visitacion Valley 5 $459,200 14
West Portal 3 $1,244,917 63
Western Addition 2 $579,500 45
Westwood Highlands 2 $746,500 103
Westwood Park 1 $703,000 65

Filed Under: San Francisco Neighborhoods, San Francisco Real Estate, San Francisco Real Estate Fast Facts, San Francisco Real Estate Info for Buyers, San Francisco Real Estate Info for Sellers, San Francisco Real Estate Market Conditions, San Francisco Real Estate Resources Tagged With: blog, newsletter, real estate, San Francisco, san francisco newsletter, San Francisco Real Estate, San Francisco Realtor, SF Newsletter, SF Real Estate, SF Realtor

San Francisco Real Estate – What Will 2010 Bring?

January 8, 2010 By Luba

Well folks, this is the first post of 2010!

We’ve officially made it through the first decade of the millenium.   The first 10 years brought up some pretty intense ups and downs. 

From terrorist attacks, to economic bust and boom cycles, to a new president to housing bubbles and bursting bubbles, the first decade of the millenium wasn’t boring, to say the least.

And real estate, in San Francisco and beyond, has had one hell of a ride. 

San Francisco, unlike most of the country, didn’t see home prices fluctuate through as many highs and lows as the rest of the US.  But we, too, saw some changes. 

Shoot, the MLS in 2001 showed just FOUR single family home sales.  (In case you didn’t read into that statement properly that DOESN”T mean there were just four sales – it means the MLS as we know it was new.  Yes, before the MLS, people were able to buy and sell houses.  In fact, there are days when I think google could do a better job of helping Realtors sell houses than our high priced association – but that’s a different post altogether.)

Point being, we’re in a new year and a new decade, and we’re all wondering where things will end go (and if your reading this blog, you are especially wondering about SF real estate.)  And considering how much things have changed over the last decade, there’s just no way to tell! 

The San Francisco real estate market depends on too many things. 

Is the economy really as stable as the Fed says it is?

Will the tax credit be extended past April, and if not, will it impact home sales? 

Will interest rates stay low or will they continue the upward trend we’ve seen over the last few weeks?

NO ONE KNOWS!

The reality is that there are too many unknowns to guess whether the market rebound we have seen in recent months will continue.  I guess it comes down to individual circumstances.  It might be the right time for you to buy or sell, or it might REALLY be the wrong time to do either.  It all depends on what your needs, goals, lifestyle, job, budget, etc. dictate.

What will 2010 bring????

I don’t know.  I don’t have a crystal ball.

So how do you know what you should do about YOUR real estate goals for 2010? 

Well, you can start by calling a real estate professional.  You know, someone like me. 🙂   

If you have certain real estate related goals for 2010, you can give me a call (415-307-1392) or email me at [email protected] and we can sit down and discuss them and work through them together! 

But whether or not home sales or purchases are part of your plan for the next decade, I wish you and yours the best for the next 10 years. 

May the next decade be the best one yet!  🙂 Here’s to health, good times and prosperity to all of you loyal readers!

Filed Under: Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor Tagged With: homes, housing, mls, property, real estate, san francisc real estate, San Francisco, San Francisco Home, San Francisco Housing, SF, SF Home, SF Housing, SF Real Estate, SF Realtor

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