Available Now! The “Realistic Guide To Buying A Home In San Francisco in 2024”

February 8, 2024

Let’s face it. 2023 was just a weird year in residential real estate. The Fed raised interest rates 11 times over the last two years, making potential mortgages and payments much more expensive. There continues to be a severe shortage of new housing being built. And it is very difficult to find available housing for […]

An SF Local’s Guide to the 14 “Best” San Francisco Neighborhoods

December 12, 2023

More than almost any other city, San Francisco is truly a “City of Neighborhoods”. And no matter how you count or define them, the number of neighborhoods will vary depending on who you ask.  When living in or moving to San Francisco, choosing the right neighborhood is one of the most important decisions you will […]

How Much is that Mello-Roos? A Comprehensive Guide on Mello-Roos in San Francisco Real Estate

November 30, 2023

If you are considering buying a home in San Francisco, budgeting for your monthly housing payment will include budgeting for property taxes. The primary determinant of your tax bill will be the purchase price of your property, which is taxed at about a rate of .0118%/year. A substantial addition to these bills for some homes […]

Can I Sell My ADU? Exploring the Newly Enacted AB 1033 Law

November 8, 2023

What do you do with your ADU? Until AB 1033 and AB976, you didn’t owner occupy them! Because they were already occupied by tenants or your in-laws, grandparents, or extended family or friends. Until now, accessory dwelling unit – aka efficiency flat, in-law unit, granny flat, or just plain ole ADU – occupancy has so […]

The Paperwork Around Trees in San Francisco

November 3, 2023

San Francisco loves its trees. And while we don’t have traditional “fall foliage” like the East Coast or Midwest, we do have an incredibly beautiful variety of tree species that you are unlikely to find in very many other American cities. Our diverse canopy of trees is crucial to The City’s ecosystem; they help manage […]

When an Escrow is an Impound Account

July 12, 2023

Escrow or Impound? Some loan scenarios require the buyer to have an impound account with their mortgage. These impound accounts are often also referred to as escrows or escrow accounts, but these escrows aren’t those escrows. For other loans, an impound/escrow account is an option. What is an impound account and should you get one? […]

San Francisco’s Secret Programs for First-Time Homebuyers

April 28, 2023

San Francisco is known for its high cost of living, particularly when it comes to housing. The city’s expensive housing market has been a major concern for years, and it’s not surprising that many people find it difficult to afford a home in the city. However, what many people don’t know is that San Francisco […]

Understanding Condominium & HOA Documents: A Buyers Guide

March 30, 2023

As real estate agents representing buyers of condos, stock cooperatives, tenancy-in-common shares, or similar properties, we have a duty to help our clients understand the obligations, assumptions, and health of the governing body, typically called the homeowner’s association (HOA). Reviewing the hundreds of pages of documents given to buyers during due diligence can be overwhelming and […]

Interior Bedrooms in Your San Francisco Home – The Pros and Cons

October 6, 2022

Meet the Interior Bedroom It’s pretty well known that real estate professionals; developers, builders, and agents can be optimistic and exuberant when marketing their properties. A layout I’d never seen in two decades debuted around 2015 at The Rockwell, a condo building in Lower Pacific Heights. Residence 901 was the first two-bedroom layout I’d seen […]

San Francisco Homes and Security Gates – Safety or Art?

September 23, 2022

… in this case, sometimes both things can be true! In the Bay Area, gates and barriers protecting the entrances to our homes and condominiums are necessary and sometimes frustrating parts of daily life. Keeping doorways and entrance areas safe for public egress, and making sure Amazon and other packages have a safe place to […]

Will SF Bay Area Housing Prices Drop?

September 14, 2022

Everyone has been asking me what’s up with the market, will SF and bay area housing prices drop? While I have no crystal ball, this is what I know: Real estate is exceptional (unlike other goods), and real estate stats eventually reduce to the three basics of  how many, how much, and how long: How […]

Using Terrazzo In Your San Francisco Home

September 12, 2022

From venetians to victorians, terrazzo tile has been in and out of style more times than San Francisco has foggy days and bad press on Fox-aganda “news”. What is Terrazzo? Terrazzo tile is a low-maintenance material that is: A composite made from types of stone such as marble, granite, quartz, glass, and more… Held together […]