Understanding Mello Roos Property Tax & Fees with Proposition 19
There are many factors to consider when you buy a house. Price…location…school district…type of loan… One more issue you’ll want to understand before you buy in California: Mello Roos. Understanding Mello Roos is critical if you’re new to the area, and come from a part of the country that doesn’t have the same kinds of rules, […]
2238 Market Gets Real
What was once a parking lot and funeral home (Sullivan’s) has risen from the proverbial ashes as neighborhood housing. 2238 Market Street is home to 42 homes and incorporates the historic Sullivan’s structure as ground-floor retail and one very special condo home, while the rest of the building is new new construction. Located between Sanchez […]
How Much Inclusionary Housing Does San Francisco Require?
I made a quick instagram post this afternoon to explain how the state law AB2345 increased the number of homes being built in the development at 2588 Mission Street, right next door to Vida with a mailing address of 45 Bartlett.
San Francisco’s Historic Fear of Heights
To get a glimpse into the challenges the issues of planning and development in San Francisco, and why there aren’t enough high-rises to accommodate our population, we need only turn the clock back to about 1960…
Pros & Cons of Prop 19: Property Tax Portability
Voters approved Proposition 19 in 2019, and the property tax portability law went into effect in February of 2020. Proposition 19 offers homeowners over the age of 55, homeowners that are severely disabled, and homeowner’s that have been victims of a wildfire or other natural disaster the ability to take their existing tax basis […]
What to Know About Elevant
Meet the latest addition to the San Francisco condo scene from JS Sullivan development, a noted developer of boutique condo homes in San Francisco.
Prop 14: The California Fair Housing Massacre of 1964
In 1964 Prop 14 wrote discrimination in CA state constitution defeating the Rumford Fair Housing Act. How did this happen, and how does it continue to impact California real estate?
Understanding the Loan Estimate (LE) and Closing Disclosure (CD): What Are They?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPD) mandate the loan disclosure and closing disclosure forms for buyers to understand the cost of their loan and closing costs.
Intermediate Length Occupany (ILO) Rental Law
Generally speaking, in the state of California, you can think of short-term rentals as 30 days or less. Long-term “traditional” leases typically begin with a one year agreement. Which leaves everything in the middle… Typically called “corporate housing” or something similar, it typically involves providing a furnished home for an intermediate length of occupancy great […]
Who Picks the Appraiser?
Prior to the financial meltdown and great recession of 2008, banks that were underwriting the loan got to select the appraiser to evaluate the value of the property as collateral for the home loan. In some ways, this makes sense. Banks are a part of a local ecosystem, and local appraisers with a long amount […]
3 Cool Things About…The Inner Sunset!
The Inner Sunset is well known for its proximity to UCSF and Golden Gate Park. It’s served by the N-Judah muni, the city’s busiest light-rail line. Read on for three cool things you may not know about Inner Sunset…
What Makes a Penthouse?
From the Grand Penthouse homes at 181 Fremont and The Avery to some still stunning but less grand properties, what makes a penthouse home in San Francisco?