On June 13th, SFPrize.org announced the Winner of an archetectual design competition that will dictate the look of 22 parcels of land slated for housing on the newly re-designed Octavia Boulevard.
In evo-metropolitan fashion, the winning design, brought to us by Amit C. Price Patel of Dorchester, MA, is distinctly modern. It beat out second place winner, George Edwin Tolosa of Hayward, CA, who's architectual endeavor was particularly railroad boxcar in style.
To view photos of the winning entry and runner's up, go here. To read judge's comments on the winner and runner's up, go here.
Have more questions about trends in the housing market? Questions about selling or buying a home? Contact me today for honest, experienced answers. Amy Blakeley, Realtor®
ablakeley at mcguire.com
(415) 296-2173 Direct
Friday, June 17, 2005
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Realtors®: Most Are About More Than Making A Commission
The general population may or may not know that there is a difference between a "real estate agent" and a Realtor®. For those out there that do not know the difference, Realtors® belong to a local Association, a state Association and the National Association of Realtors®. This means that Realtors® are not only committed to seeing our clients through real estate transactions, but that we observe a high ethical standard in the way that we serve our clients. We also support our communities, be it by supporting change or the need to keep things the same. Additionally, Realtors® are a political force that continually fights for homeowner rights at the local, state, and national levels.
Recently, Realtors® from througout California went to Sacramento in support of California homeownership. The below article was provided by C.A.R., the California Association of Realtors®, which celebrates 100 years of service to communities this year.
California REALTORS® wrapped in red tape on steps of state Capitol to protest local, city and legislative barriers to homeownership
To view the photo taken on the steps of the state Capitol, go to http://www.car.org/library/media/images/jpg/2005groupphoto.jpg.
SACRAMENTO (June 8) – Nearly 2,000 members of the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) were wrapped in red tape on the steps of the California state Capitol this morning to protest local, city and legislative barriers to homeownership.
“With less than one in four households in California able to afford a median priced home, local governments and the legislature need to look at creative solutions to solving the state’s affordability crisis,” said C.A.R. President Jim Hamilton. “All Californians deserve an opportunity to step on the first rung of the homeownership ladder, but as long as overly burdensome or unnecessary constraints on the housing supply remain in place, families in California will remain locked out.
“Successful passage of C.A.R.-sponsored legislation will increase both the supply of housing in the state and provide affordable rental and homeownership opportunities for California families,” he said. “Our sponsored legislation for 2005, SB 326 (Dunn), “Local Government Accountability”; SB 435 (Hollingsworth), “Housing: Density Bonus”; and AB 712 (Canciamilla), “Attorney Fees”; will improve homeownership opportunities for renters and increase the supply of homes for sale by improving the flexibility and usefulness of density-bonus laws.”
Leading the Way...® in California real estate for 100 years, the California Association of REALTORS® (http://www.car.org/) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with more than 165,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.
Have more questions about trends in the housing market? Questions about selling or buying a home? Contact me today for honest, experienced answers. Amy Blakeley, Realtor®
ablakeley at mcguire.com
(415) 296-2173 Direct
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
SF Real Estate Market Conditions for June 2005
Attention home shoppers, the housing market appears to be softening. Lending a hand in this softening is an increase in single-family homes and condominiums on the market. All of the double-parked construction and painting trucks we residents have endured lately was the tell-tale sign that the market was picking up. Those trucks are still around, so count on a continuing flow of new properties in the next month.
In the past 2 weeks there has been a slightly noticeable decline in interest in San Francisco's "hot neighborhoods". Or, in other words, new "hot neighborhoods" have emerged, as seen in the continuing popularity for, and over-bidding frenzies in Bernal Heights, Mission/Noe Valley and Potrero Hill. The Inner and Central Sunset have also seen record sales of single family homes.
This opens back up the playing field for those buyers who still say to themselves "I would only buy in.... neighborhood." Case in point: a starter 2 bedroom condo in desirable lower Pacific Heights handed out only 2 disclosure packets before reviewing offers today. With only 1 or 2 other comparable condos also on the market in that area, the fact that the open houses weren't swarming was a mystery.
It is clear that buyers putting in offers this month have more resistance to handing in offers that are excessively over the listing price. It seems as though buyers are more conscious of what type of value is important to them.
The fact that buyers are being more cautious shouldn't suggest that there is a complete cooling of the market. First of all, remember that interest rates are still historically low. Additionally, "hot properties" still exist: currently on the market is a spectacular 2 bedroom flat in Cole Valley. Brand new remodel, fabulous finishes, great light and space, for a mere... $899,000. What's my point? The property is done so well that, even with any parking or location challenges, it is sure to get multiple offers and go far beyond this price. If things are done right - remodels, marketing, staging, pricing - the demand will be there, no matter what the location or what the market is doing.
Have more questions about trends in the housing market? Questions about selling or buying a home? Contact me today for honest, experienced answers.
Amy Blakeley, Realtor®
ablakeley at mcguire.com
(415) 296-2173 Direct
In the past 2 weeks there has been a slightly noticeable decline in interest in San Francisco's "hot neighborhoods". Or, in other words, new "hot neighborhoods" have emerged, as seen in the continuing popularity for, and over-bidding frenzies in Bernal Heights, Mission/Noe Valley and Potrero Hill. The Inner and Central Sunset have also seen record sales of single family homes.
This opens back up the playing field for those buyers who still say to themselves "I would only buy in.... neighborhood." Case in point: a starter 2 bedroom condo in desirable lower Pacific Heights handed out only 2 disclosure packets before reviewing offers today. With only 1 or 2 other comparable condos also on the market in that area, the fact that the open houses weren't swarming was a mystery.
It is clear that buyers putting in offers this month have more resistance to handing in offers that are excessively over the listing price. It seems as though buyers are more conscious of what type of value is important to them.
The fact that buyers are being more cautious shouldn't suggest that there is a complete cooling of the market. First of all, remember that interest rates are still historically low. Additionally, "hot properties" still exist: currently on the market is a spectacular 2 bedroom flat in Cole Valley. Brand new remodel, fabulous finishes, great light and space, for a mere... $899,000. What's my point? The property is done so well that, even with any parking or location challenges, it is sure to get multiple offers and go far beyond this price. If things are done right - remodels, marketing, staging, pricing - the demand will be there, no matter what the location or what the market is doing.
Have more questions about trends in the housing market? Questions about selling or buying a home? Contact me today for honest, experienced answers.
Amy Blakeley, Realtor®
ablakeley at mcguire.com
(415) 296-2173 Direct
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