Insight on San Francisco Real Estate. The industry perspective from one of McGuire's real estate agents, Amy Blakeley
Friday, June 17, 2005
Octavia Boulevard to Get Updated Look
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
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Realtors®: Most Are About More Than Making A Commission
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
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