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San Francisco Real Estate Blog. It's every bit as interesting as Curbed, the New York Real Estate blog.
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February 02, 2010
Marin's Top Agent Has A New Look
It's big news when one of the top agents in SF or Marin real estate change their photo. As we all know, so many agents (especially the women) use photos from 20 years ago. Miss Tracy McLaughlin, typically Marin's top agent, has apparently decided to start the new year off with a new look - We like! - The hair in front of the face definitely gives it a different look. Thoughts???
January 28, 2010
Painted Lady Party! Bonnie Spindler always throws the best parties - And who doesn't want to see the inside of a painted lady??? See you there...
January 06, 2010
The Ultimate Disclosure
A new autism study out today by UC Davis finds ten areas in California where autism seems to flourish... My vote, and the LA Times agrees is that it's probably more about education the environment, "In one respect, the results were not surprising because it has long been known that high-income, highly educated white parents are more likely to have their children diagnosed with autism and more likely to have them diagnosed at an early age." Another factor is the father's age... If you've spent any time in Marin, you'll notice the average dad's age is a bit higher... I'm not a doctor, not do I play one on TV, but if you're looking for more, head on over to Google news
December 14, 2009
Alameda's Newest Green Home video courtesy: videofishbowl.com Contact Pacita C Dimacali 510 205 2992 for more information
December 07, 2009
Larry Knapp Leaves Alain Pinel!
Everything OK at Alain Pinel? Larry Knapp, President and COO of APR, abruptly left the company late last week! Senor Knapp was credited with building the company up to what it is today - What happened???? Wish I knew - Any of you Realtors in the know have the info on this? If so, please send your tips ASAP to: videofishbowl@gmail.com OR text me at 415.465.0555 Of course, all your leads are confidential!
December 02, 2009
McGuire gets David Ogden! Guess I spoke too soon about Frank Howard Allen being cool again - Apparently David Ogden has just left FHA for McGuire! Nice work Heidi Pay!... Marin by the Numbers
December 01, 2009
Most Inspiring Marin Manager Have you seen this weekly newsletter Steve Dickason (of Alain Pinel) puts out? It's kind of cheesy, but honestly we love it - The world of San Francisco and Marin Real Estate would be so much better if more managers were like Steve - If they were less concerned with money and their ginormous egos and more concerned with inspiring and encouraging their agents...
Thanks for your kind words Jeff. And, I agree,I can be a bit cheesy at times. I do think that we all have the responsibility to share the lessons we've learned that reduce stress and increase happiness. It is a lot more gratifying than counting commission dollars. The nice thing is, if you have an office filled with happy, supportive people, the commission dollars have a way of showing up. Posted by Steve Dickason on December 3, 2009 03:07 PM | Link to this commentPacific Union Strikes Back!
Pacific Union has recruited Brent Thomson away from FHA!!!!!!!!! She will now be managing the Strawberry PACIFIC UNION INTERNATIONAL CHRISTY'S AMAZING ESTATES LUXURY SPECIALISTS office. We love Brent Thomson, so we wish her lots of luck - She'll need it in that office! Honestly, if anyone is up for the job, we think it's Brent. Curious who FHA will get to fill her shoes...
November 24, 2009
The 'Top Agent Network'
Did you see the ad in Marin Magazine (and most likely other publications in SF and the Peninsula) for the 'Top Agent Network'? Click here to see a PDF of the ad. Now, I'm sure the 'Top Agent Network' is a great (albeit VERY expensive) resource, but was it really necessary for the members of this group to put an ad out that makes non 'Top Agent Network' agents look bad? If an agent doesn't sell over 'X Amount' of real estate a year or aren't to the liking of the 'Top Agent Network' powers that be are they a bad agent? I sure don't think so. I feel sorry for the hard working agents out there who don't meet the 'requirements' of the 'Top Agent Network' or don't want to spend hundreds of dollars every year to be in it who have to explain to their clients why they aren't on the 'Top Agent Network' list. If we are really trying to promote comaraderie in the real estate community, ads like this sure aren't helping. It's sad that they need to put down other Realtors in order to promote themselves. Posted by Real Estate Lead Generation on November 27, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this comment
November 17, 2009
Frank Howard Allen becomes cool again...
Apparently, Frank Howard Allen has become cool again - Three 'real' agents (agents who take their job seriously - not just mommies selling 1 house a year) have jumped to FHA in the past few weeks. Who you ask? Take a look... - Jeff Sterley with Alain Pinel As of 2PM, we just got wind of another agent who has gone to FHA... - Barry Crotty with Pacific Union (former manager for PU Strawberry) Thoughts as to why agents would be going to FHA right now??? Hey Jeff: We just picked up 4 agents from Frank Howard Allen and 4 from Coldwell Banker. I have an interview with another Frank Howard Allen agent in the morning. Also.. apparantly Coldwell Banker San Rafael is closing and moving that office to Novato. FYI.. Melissa Posted by Melissa Bradley on November 17, 2009 10:20 PM | Link to this commentFor the record, we never lost our “cool” status. By the way, why are agents either jumping or returning to FHAllen? Here’s a couple reasons: *Market share leaders Two additional agents joined Frank Howard Allen this week:
November 16, 2009
The VIP Event of the Week The VIP Event of the week is at the Millennium Tower this Wednesday evening - It's the 'Icons of Design' Designer Showcase hosted by EARN and Vanguard. Anyone whose anyone in the SF real estate world will be there - You do need to be invited by a member of the EARN Real Estate Auxiliary in order to get in, but of course we have a special connection at EARN so let us know if you want to go and we'll hook you up! (email: videofishbowl@gmail.com) Info below: EARN and Vanguard Properties Proudly Announce an Evening at Millennium Tower Join the EARN Real Estate Auxiliary and Vanguard Properties this fall at the elegant and upscale Icons of Design designer showcase at the Millennium Tower. THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE EVENT FOR 2009-2010 AUXILIARY MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS (UP TO 4 GUESTS PER MEMBER). Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, wine, and gorgeous views with your guests, while exploring the new high-rise's "extraordinary venue in the sky" on the 52nd floor. Over 25 of the Bay Area's most prestigious designers have contributed their eclectic visions to the luxurious 52nd-floor condos at the Tower, and will be present at the showcase for you to meet! They include: Martin Richards Interiors, Alexandra Owen Interior Design, Ann Brown Interiors, Ann Getty & Associates, Applegate Tran Interiors, ArtHaus, Black Mountain, Chantal Lamberto Interior Design, Closets Van Go, Eden Wright Design, Geoffrey De Sousa and Sarah Puls, Henderson Design Group, Hendler Design, Hepworth & Howard, Jeff Ryan Interiors, Jurow Design Associates, Katherine Jacobus, Kensington & Associates, Martha Angus Inc., Martin-Richards Interiors, Michael Merrill Design Studio, Inc., Nancy Van Natta Associates, Orlando Diaz-Acuzy Design, Reba Jones, Scheiber Design Group, Shelby de Quesada Interior Design, Studio Becker, Sutro Architects, The Charles de Lisle Workshop, Willem Racké Studio, Inc and Wiseman & Gale. Enjoy the autumn sunset with your guests and learn more above these innovative designers that have set new standards for the San Francisco design scene. Experience luxury in its finest form and RSVP today! RSVP is required to attend. Valet parking is also complimentary for all guests. Admission is free, but space is limited. RSVP here. EVENT: DATE: LOCATION: PARKING: SF Daily Pundit is Back! The SF Daily Pundit Real Estate Blog is back by popular demand! As always, we rely on our connections in the real estate world and of course tips from all of you, so.... KEEP SENDING YOUR TIPS! Email them to: videofishbowl@gmail.com Text them to: 415.465.0555 And yes, we do accept (and love) any mobile pics and video you happen to come across in the real estate jungle. Glad to be back... The three most meaningless words in the English language After fighting with B of A for seven months to re-fi my mortgage, I can tell you the words, "Loan Ceiling Extended" are meaningless... But if you're into, or looking to re-fi your's the government has good news for you... From the NY Times BUYERS of homes in high-priced markets have some reason to cheer: the federal government recently extended through 2010 the maximum dollar amount for “conforming loans.” This will probably mean better options for borrowers who might otherwise have had to take out “jumbo” mortgages. Conforming loans meet all the guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-controlled agencies that resell packages of loans to investors, and are therefore eligible for purchase by these agencies. Jumbo mortgages, issued in amounts above the government’s maximum, are nonconforming. Because lenders assume less risk in making conforming loans, the interest rates are usually lower. click here for the complete New York Times story http://bit.ly/2f0cgp
September 10, 2009
Tell me somthing I didn't know... Buyers in the Driver's Seat: U.S. Homebuyers Paid $7,039 Less Than Listing Price in July I do want to mention right off the top that there isn't a single town in the great state of California on the list, but it just goes to re-enforce what we all know, it's a buyers' market...
Meanwhile, 22.8 percent of all homes listed for sale on Zillow had at least one listing price reduction(2) as of Sept. 1, 2009. The median U.S. price reduction(3) was 6.5 percent off the original listing price. Homes listed for sale on Zillow during August were listed for a median 96 days(4), up from 91 in July. Florida homebuyers had the most negotiating power in July, with buyers in the Vero Beach metropolitan statistical area (MSA) paying 10.2 percent, or a median $23,500, less than the last listing price. Buyers in the Sarasota MSA paid 8.2 percent less than list price. The Naples, Daytona Beach, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Panama City, Punta Gorda, Melbourne, Ocala, Tampa, Jacksonville, Port St. Lucie, Gainesville and Lakeland MSAs also ranked, in that order, in the top 25 markets for negotiation. There was less or no room for negotiation in some California markets that have been hard-hit by foreclosures. In the El Centro MSA, buyers paid 1.8 percent, or a median of $2,150, more than the listing price. In seven California markets -- Sacramento, Merced, Modesto, Riverside, Stockton, Yuba City and Fresno -- asking price and sale price were the same(5). "The strong summer selling season in 2009 has led to a decreasing difference between the last listing price and final sale price, but most buyers are still getting some additional discount at selling time," said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. "We expected list-to-sale price ratios to fall as the sales volume picked up during the summer, and the California markets are showing strong declines in the discount off the last listing price, relative to levels at the start of the year. This is fueled both by increased sales and high proportion of foreclosures re-sales, which are already priced relatively low. "The fact that many Florida markets are still showing comparatively higher differences between the last listing price and final sale price suggests that inventory levels are still relatively high, keeping considerable downward pressure on prices and encouraging buyers to seek large discounts off the listing price. Overall, buyers are finding favorable conditions for negotiating prices, and now can be a good time to buy, provided homebuyers are financially prepared with healthy down payments and intend to stay in their home for a minimum of five to seven years." The Sarasota Florida market is finally beginning to recover. Prices have stabilized and unsold homes inventory is coming down slowly here but you are right in that much of the state is still in trouble, Posted by Judie Berger on September 15, 2009 11:54 AM | Link to this commentSaw Judie's comments about Sarasota and wanted to add that the Tampa Florida area still struggling a bit but the "end of the tunnel" is in sight. Buyers, albeit bargain hunters for sure, are at least "looking" at long last Posted by Cheryl Stimac on September 15, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this commentIt could still be awhile before Florida comes back. Buyers are still on the sidelines. Posted by Gregory Garver on November 8, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this comment
September 09, 2009
Guest Blogger - Jack McLaiughlin, the RealTime Realtor
Everday agents go out of their way to point out how tech savvy there are... They love to tell clients they have a Facebook page or annouce across a crowd room they Twitter... It's all fine and grand, but have a strategy. Figure out the reason you want to Twitter, or post something to Facebook... Just becuase I have a nice set of knives doesn't make me a chef... I'll let Jack prove my point... You Want it When? We have surrounded ourselves with gadgets, all with essentially one purpose – to collapse the amount of time it takes for us to get critical information. The Internet is the perfect delivery medium, and the goal is to get what you need, be it text, video or photos, in the precise moment when events are unfolding. You can track airline flights, stocks, satellite images and traffic, all in real time. Despite government efforts, the Iran revolution was blogged to the world in real time, using the micro blog site Twitter. But what if you want current information on the Marin County real estate market? That’s where I come in, your RealTime Realtor. Every Wednesday and Thursday in Marin, new listings are open for brokers only, before they are available to the public. I visit the most intriguing of these homes, take a photo or two, rate the home and instantly post it to my Twitter site. My ratings and comments are candid and honest. If a home is a deal, I’ll tell you, and if it’s a dud, you’ll know that, too. You can call me or text me for more information, and I will wait at the home if you want to see it right away. Looking in a particular town and price range? Tell me in advance and I will send you photos and data from homes that will interest you, all in RealTime. And of course, like all the best Internet services, it is absolutely free. How do you subscribe? If you don’t already belong, take a minute to join Twitter (free) then search for MarinBroker and click on “follow”. For best results, turn ON “Device Updates”, put in your mobile number, and you will get my posts on your cell phone or other device. Do it now to get your Marin real estate data from your RealTime Realtor! Jeff: For the record I love your blog. Jack.. I think your reports are great. So... here is my 2 cents... I have a Facebook page with nearly 700 friends.. real friends. I do post about my kids, my husband and other stuff that I think is interesting or funny. And... I rarely mention real estate.. however the FB page has been wildly successful for bringing me business. I actually have 2 appointments this week to talk with sellers about selling their homes both leads from my FB page.So.. I guess it "kinda depends" on what works. Some poeple one thing works for and some another.. I know if I posted graphs with market stats all the time like Jack does my friends would be annoyed. Thanks for the posts.. keep 'em coming! Hugs.. coming from Marin County! Posted by Melissa Bradley on October 19, 2009 09:10 AM | Link to this commentI don't bombard my FB friends with posts, updates but FB is a very useful networking tool. Posted by Calgary Real Estate on October 23, 2009 12:18 PM | Link to this commentFacebook...Twitter...Linked In...it's so hard knowing what to use each for! I don't post any real estate info on Facebook, however still find it useful for business. Just having a presence on FB allows past clients to keep me at the forefront of their minds and refer me to new clients! Posted by Abbotsford Real Estate on January 15, 2010 10:57 AM | Link to this comment
September 08, 2009
A new site offers phone acces to a real ive real estate agent... imagine that
Bug! Real Estate, San Francisco`s neoteric real estate brokerage, today unveiled
September 03, 2009
In the Nick of Time - real estate news for today Everything about buying a home costs less
A new study out today by Bankrate Inc. finds closing costs coming down. According to the report the average closing fell by about 12 percent. San Francisco though had the 4th highest closing costs in the country at $3,117, down 6 percent from the year before. The strangest thing in the study, which you can find by clicking here, the great state of California accounts for two states, the great state of San Francisco, and the great state of Los Angeles where closing costs came in at $2,861.
September 01, 2009
Pending home sales up.... Contract activity for pending home sales has risen for six straight months, a pattern not seen in the history of the index since it began in 2001, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index,1 a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in July, increased 3.2 percent to 97.6 from a reading of 94.6 in June, and is 12.0 percent higher than July 2008 when it was 87.1. The index is at the highest level since June 2007 when it was 100.7. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the housing market momentum has clearly turned for the better. “The recovery is broad-based across many parts of the country. Housing affordability has been at record highs this year with the added stimulus of a first-time buyer tax credit,” he said.
August 31, 2009
Where's your iPhone app? Online real estate broker Redfin today
The Redfin App displays listings quickly using Google Maps, and includes every Another reason as a real estate agent you to do more than offer MLS access...
First ever book suggestion If you like the idea of reading, and reading something somewhat related to what you do for a living, my choice of the month is “Busted” It’s told first person by the NY Times financial writer who got himself caught up in the mortgage mess... The book is surprisingly good consider how bad the reviews are.... It offers good insight into how the mess began and who someone, in this case the writer, got caught up in the whole mess... Here’s a synopsis from Publishers Weekly Starred Review. As I write in February 2009, I am four months past due on my mortgage and bracing for foreclosure proceedings to begin. Thus begins this cautionary and critical examination of the housing crisis, a story that turned personal when New York Times economics reporter Andrews got caught up in the housing bubble after falling in love with a woman and a house. Bringing in $120,000 a year in salary—most of which went to child support and alimony to his ex-wife, Andrews says he was able to get a don't ask, don't tell mortgage with the assumption that his new wife, Patty, would be able to get a job to keep them afloat, an expectation that didn't work out as planned. Because of his economics journalism background, Andrews says he should have avoided the mortgage catastrophe, and he castigates himself as well as fellow borrowers, the financial industry that took advantage of them and a government that didn't put the brakes on the crisis that many economists warned about but that Alan Greenspan, the Bush administration and others ignored. This deeply personal exposé is timely and sobering in its candor.
August 28, 2009
The proof I've been looking for.... For years I've had to listen to Marin residents tell me Marin County was the most expensive real estate in America... Sort of a nutty story, but one they love to spread... So today America's magazine of lists, Forbes put out their list of America's most expensive ZIP codes... Yep, nothing from Marin in the top ten... So lets put the story to rest today... Here are the top ten, but the articles (click here) goes through the top 100
2. 94027, Atherton, Calif. 3. 10014, New York, N.Y. 4. 91008, Duarte, Calif. 5. 90210, Beverly Hills, Calif. 6. 92067, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. 7. 93108, Santa Barbara, Calif. 8. 94024, Los Altos Hills, Calif. 9. 10065, New York, N.Y. 10. 07926, Brookside, N.J.
Jeff: San Francisco is definitely not the epicenter of the high=priced market. I just did an analysis of what's happening in terms of home prices at the top end. It's hard to even find homes that top $5 mill in this town: http://www.pegasusventures.net/wordpressblog/2009/08/28/san-franciscos-luxury-home-market/ Posted by misha weidman on August 28, 2009 09:28 PM | Link to this comment
August 25, 2009
Have we hit bottom? Have we hit bottom in the San Francisco real estate market? We explore the state of the real estate market in the San Francisco Bay Area: where are the hot areas? Are we trending up or down? This video includes interviews with San Francisco and Marin County real estate agents, as well as footage from San Francisco, Mill Valley, Noe Valley and the East Bay. Great McGuire commercial. Do you work for them, Jeff? Posted by Mike Dalton on August 29, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this commentCalifornia housing figures Highlights of C.A.R.’s resale housing figures for July 2009: . C.A.R.’s Unsold Inventory Index for existing, single-family detached homes in July 2009 was 3.9 months, compared with 6.9 months (revised) for the same period a year ago. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate. . Thirty-year fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 5.22 percent during July 2009, compared with 6.43 percent in July 2008, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates averaged 4.82 percent in July 2009, compared with 5.24 percent in July 2008. . The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 39.9 days in July 2009, compared with 47.8 days (revised) for the same period a year ago. In a separate report covering more localized statistics generated by C.A.R. and DataQuick Information Systems, 23 of the 398 cities and communities reporting showed an increase in their Note: Large changes in local median home prices typically indicate both local home price appreciation, and often, large shifts in the composition of housing market activity. Some of the variations in median home prices for July may be exaggerated due to compositional changes in housing demand. The DataQuick tables listing median home prices in California cities and counties are accessible through Statewide, the cities with the greatest median home price increases in July 2009 compared with the same period a year ago were: Laguna Hills, 40.5 percent; Newport Beach, 13.5 percent; Moorpark, 11.2 percent; Poway, 10.8 percent; San Marcos, 8.6 percent; Emeryville, 7.6 percent; Santa Barbara, 6.3 percent; Arcadia, 5.8 percent; Big Bear Lake, 5.5 percent; and West Hollywood, 5 percent. Flat is the new up I've been saying it for months... We've hit bottom and things will be picking up... I think it was June that I predicted the big turn around... The June numbers are out today, and here are the highlights from the S&P Case-Shiller report...
Of the twenty cities the report tracks, only Detroit and Las Vegas we still looking at declining prices Dallas and Denver have reported four consecutive months of positive returns The top twenty cities combined has a price increase from May to June of 1.4% enough said...
August 24, 2009
MIll Valley home with spectacular views For additional information contact: It's a buyers' market incase you forgot
Here's what makes BLS such a stand out in the stupid category... The idea is to make a site where sellers can find buyers to make them an offer... Hate to break the news to the sellers, but IT’S A BUYERS’ MARKET.... Quoting an article the BLS website.... “NationalBLS is the first national listing service of pre-approved residential real estate buyers. It's a marketplace where buyers anonymously post their requirements to the web and receive offers from eager sellers. It's real estate in reverse.” Seems to me real estate has been working fine in forward, why go in reverse? Not only are the folks at National BLS under the impression it’s a sellers’ market, they also believe finding a real estate agent is a challenge.... Even better the company charges for its services.... Here’s a link to the article, but if you’re looking for a good agent, give me a shout I know plenty of them... Better yet, just call Nick Cooper with McGuire Real Estate (415.233.2911), he can hook ya with someone he trusts, or Nick himself... Nick Cooper is the new black, just ask the folks at C.A.R.
August 21, 2009
Mortgage Nightmare If anyone out there is in the process of getting a mortgage, or just got a mortgage I would love to hear from you... I'm getting close to telling the world the story of my refinance which began nearly seven months ago.... Trulia's Listing of the Week
Professional’s condo by Embarcadero
click here for the complete details
August 18, 2009
Homeowners are hopeful for now reason According to the Zillow Q2 Homeowner Confidence Survey, homeowners are more optimistic than ever about the future values of their homes, with 81% of homeowners believing their own homes’ values will not decline in the next six months. Still, more than half (60%) of homeowners believe their own home lost value in the past 12 months. In reality, 83% of homes lost value during that time, according to Zillow’s Q2 Real Estate Market Reports. I can tell you first hand that my house is still dropping in value.
August 17, 2009
Pacific Morgan
As always, if you know otherwise, leave me a note in the comments "In the grip of indecision."
Once again I find myself offering to you the best of my weekend reads... The NY Times had a brilliant story on those who can't decide what to do when it comes to real estate... buy, sell or just move on... Best line from the story.... "But the fact is, no one is immune to ambivalence and confusion." Click here for, "In the grip of indecision."
August 14, 2009
I'm not sure what to belive This just in... Sources who I have no reason to doubt have just told me the Morgan Lane name change is coming... The big catch, the adults in charge have decided to ditch the Morgan Lane name and go with Pacific Union... Being the responsible blogger that I am, I made a few calls... Another sources tells me the original agreement was for Pacific Union to become a franchise of Morgan Lane, but as one insider said, agreements in real estate fall like prices.... So if you know anything I don’t, drop me a note... Trulia's Listing of the Week
Spacious townhouse in Eureka Gardens |
Tracy definitely looks very lovely and professional in this photo... the look is apt for the beautiful properties she is selling.
Posted by Lance Puig on February 8, 2010 04:58 PM | Link to this comment