Archive for the ‘Countdowns & Rankings’ Category
August 14, 2009
The Harris Poll just published its annual findings with respect to occupational prestige. This is reassuring if you’re a firefighter, scientist or doctor… not so much if you’re a stockbroker, accountant, or a real estate agent. The survey queries 1,010 U.S. people asking them what level of “prestige” they associate with different jobs. Here’s a look at the results from 2009:
Who's that all the way down there at the bottom? (click to enlarge)
From working in the industry, I can definitely see how this continues to be the public perception. I rub elbows everyday with other agents and brokers. My observation is that Read the rest of this entry ?
Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, News, Opinions, Polls | Tagged jobs, occupational prestige rankings, real estate agents, san francisco real estate | 2 Comments »
August 10, 2009
Pacific Heights and cheap… the two terms really don’t go together. That is, until now. We’ve searched active listings in the neighborhood and are here to tell you about the 5 cheapest condos. And by cheap we mean “least expensive”, not “poor quality”. Pac Heights currently shows 29 condos as “Active” in the MLS.
1909 Green seems like a good one... we'll have to check it out.
Some common themes amongst these five listings? Well, you’re not going to get any more than 1 bedroom, and you’ll be lucky to get parking. If you want to be in a quaint 3 or 4 unit building, that’s not gonna happen either, as most of these are in large buildings.
From a property value perspective, it can be a good thing to buy cheap in an expensive market area. That’s not to say that all of these homes are good investments… we’d stay away from a few of these units (sorry, not going to call them out on a public forum). But overall, the idea is a good one if you know what to look for and what to avoid.
Here are the 5 Cheapest Condos in Pacific Heights, in no particular order: Read the rest of this entry ?
Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Neighborhood Info, Pacific Heights, Public Listings | Leave a Comment »
July 30, 2009
As luck would have it, we just finished posting our “Top 5 Listings that Have Sold in 2009″ article and BAM, 2510 Jackson Street sells. The bank-owned Pacific Heights mansion sports 9 bedrooms, 6.75 baths, over 10,000 square feet, and a 4-car garage. Built in 1885, the mansion had been on the market for 428 days before meeting its new owner.
The home was originally listed on 4/8/08 for $14,900,000 and ended up selling for $11,500,000 after a couple of price reductions during the past year.
Pics:
2510 Jackson Street sets the new record in '09 (so far)
For more pics, continue reading –>
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Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Pacific Heights, Taking You Inside | Tagged 2510 jackson street, amazing homes, luxury homes, mansion, Pacific Heights, san francisco real estate | Leave a Comment »
July 27, 2009
Ready for the Top 5 Listings that have sold this year? We figured it would be a good time. The luxury market, although battered and bruised, has loosened up a little since March. Take the $4 million + price bracket, for example. In the first quarter there were only 5 sales of homes in this range. Since then, there have been 16 sales of $4 million or more city-wide.
Sales on the uber-high end tend to have undisclosed sales prices. That’s why we can’t call this the “Top 5 Sales in 2009″, but rather, the “Top 5 Listings That Have Sold in 2009″. When we search the MLS, the sales price will be the same as the listing price, with an asterisk beside it. It’ll say something like: List Price $5,000,000. Sales Price $5,000,000*.
So what does that mean? Why are people hiding their sales prices in MLS? I’m sure there are a number of reasons, the obvious one being to protect one’s privacy when it comes to wealth. Although the sales prices are undisclosed in the MLS, you can often find them at Property Shark or by going to City Hall and perusing their files. Out of the 21 sales over $4 million this year, 13 of them have “undisclosed sales prices”.
Interestingly (but perhaps not surprisingly), all of the homes on our list are in Pacific Heights or Presidio Heights, and all are single family homes (not condos or co-ops). They are all within a few blocks of one another. Here’s a map:
The top sales in SF are just blocks from one another.
All right, enough with the how-to’s and why’s, lets hammer this thing out. Read the rest of this entry ?
Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, Public Listings | Tagged luxury homes, luxury market san francisco, most expensive homes, Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, san francisco, san francisco real estate | Leave a Comment »
July 9, 2009
Chance are, you already do! (if you’re a local reader)
Walkscore.com just came out with its annual “walkability” rankings for cities around the U.S. and San Francisco was again the top choice. Walkscore takes data from over 2,500 neighborhoods nationwide to come up with the rankings, which places the top 40 walkable cities in order. Here is a glimpse of the top cities:
- SF
- NY
- Boston
- Chi-Town
- Philly
- Seattle
- DC
- Long Beach (aka, the LBC)
- LA
- Portland (Oregon, not Maine)
Check out the awesome “heat” map on Walkscore which gives you a visual representation of where SF’s most walkable areas are located. They also rank our neighborhoods — here is a glimpse of the top 10:
- Chinatown
- Financial District
- Downtown
- North Beach
- Mission
- Nob Hill
- Pacific Heights
- SOMA
- Western Addition
- Haight Ashbury
Screenshot of Walkscore heat map for SF and neighborhood rankings
Being able to walk to shops, grocery stores,restaurants, banks, and bars is a huge lifestyle upgrade that we SF’ers should never take for granted. Anyone who’s lived in a sprawling metropolis knows what we’re talking about. So while other cities waste their time sitting in traffic inhaling gas fumes, go out for a walk, breathe in the cool, fresh ocean air, and enjoy the weather! (and pat yourself on the back for consuming less oil AND for living in such an amazing city)
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Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, News | Tagged city rankings, neighborhood rankings, san francisco, san francisco real estate, walkability, walkable neighborhoods, walker's paradise | Leave a Comment »
June 8, 2009
It’s about that time again. With sales activity picking up sharply in the last couple of months, we’ve decided to update our rankings for San Francisco’s 85 neighborhoods based upon the number of sales that have occurred in each one.
Sales numbers include single family homes, condos, TICs, lofts, stock cooperatives, 2-4 unit buildings, 5+ unit buildings, and land. Noe Valley still leads the pack and Bernal has made a big upward move to the #2 spot since we last ran this report. Potrero Hill, Pacific Heights, and SOMA round out the Top 5.
And yeah, we know this analysis doesn’t control for the size of the neighborhoods, but we find it interesting nonetheless.
Which neighborhoods have all the ACTION?
| Rank |
Neighborhood |
Number of Sales |
| 1. |
Noe Valley |
84 |
| 2. |
Bernal Heights |
51 |
| 3. |
Potrero Hill |
46 |
| T-4. |
Pacific Heights |
44 |
| T-4. |
South of Market (SoMa) |
44 |
| 6. |
Inner Mission |
43 |
| 7. |
Eureka Valley/Dolores Heights |
39 |
| 8. |
South Beach |
37 |
| 9. |
Excelsior |
36 |
| 10. |
Parkside |
35 |
To see the remainder of the list, continue reading –>
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Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Macro-Level Info, Neighborhood Info, Nerdy RE Analysis | Tagged 2009 sales, neighborhood rankings, number of sales, san francisco, san francisco real estate, trends | Leave a Comment »
June 1, 2009
Welcome to our Top 10 TIC Countdown! We’ve ranked the ten most expensive TICs for sale in the City from lowest to highest. Interestingly, there are only 3 neighborhoods out of San Francisco’s 85 represented in this list. Any guesses as to what those are?
Russian Hill, Nob Hill, and Pacific Heights.
T.I.C. or BLING.I.C? You be the judge.
Here’s the rundown… and you may click on any bold address for more property details.
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Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, Public Listings, Russian Hill, Tips | Tagged homes for sale, most expensive, san francisco, san francisco real estate, tenancy in common, tic, top 10 countdown | Leave a Comment »
May 19, 2009
Giants fan? Well you may really dig living in South Beach. Although the neighborhood has a lot of inventory and more planned for the future, it is popular with young professionals, empty-nesters, techies, and folks commuting to either the Financial District or the Peninsula. The inventory glut in South Beach is making for some good deals to anyone looking to hold looooong term.
South Beach Aerial - courtesy of Stadiumaerials.com
With 80-some-odd home games per year, you’re going to need a second bedroom for your baseball friends to crash, right? That’s why we’ve published the ten cheapest 2-bedroom condos for sale in South Beach. Click the bold address for more photos & info on any particular condo. Results are in no particular order. Read the rest of this entry ?
Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Neighborhood Info, Public Listings, South Beach, Tips | Tagged 2 bedroom condos, at&t park, cheap condos, homes for sale, san francisco, san francisco giants, san francisco real estate, south beach | Leave a Comment »
May 8, 2009
Stocks, bonds, and blue chips… yep, we’re in a banker’s mood today. Chock full of skyscrapers, starched shirts, and pin-striped suits, the Financial District might not be for everyone, but you can’t argue with its location. Close to the Embarcadero, the Ferry Building, North Beach, SOMA, Nob Hill and Chinatown, the location offers a lot to its dwellers.
Aerial of the Financial District
Cable cars, trolleys, and ferries usher you around and getting a cab is a piece of cake (well, except for Friday afternoons). Sewer steam pours from manhole covers and streets become narrow corridors lined with 50-story skyscrapers, giving it a miniature NYC feel (except the inhabitants are waaaay more laid back). That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 priciest condos for sale in the Financial District. Ready for the tour? Let’s do this, and click on the address for more details about a particular property:
Number 5 on the Countdown:
550 Davis #24. This 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath condo at Golden Gateway Commons was built in 1980 and boasts ~2,395 square feet. The remodeled unit features 9 foot ceilings, a patio, and skylights. It is listed at $2,495,000 and has been on the market for 8 days. This puts it at $1,041 per square foot.
Golden Gateway Commons
To continue the countdown, keep reading –>
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Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Financial District, Neighborhood Info, Public Listings, Tips | Tagged expensive condos, financial district, golden gateway commons, homes for sale, luxury condos, montgomery washington tower, ritz carlton, san francisco, san francisco real estate | Leave a Comment »
May 4, 2009
Now, we’re not the typical schmucks who run around saying “It’s a great time to buy!” no matter who we’re talking to and no matter the market condition. Each person has a unique set of circumstances and what makes sense for one person might not make sense for another.
BUT, there are some distinct advantages for being a first time buyer at this point in time. “First time buyer” in most circles (including the IRS) means you have not owned real estate within the past 3 years. We’ve put together a list of reasons why the time could be ripe if you’re looking to get into the market.
Take it from a trustworthy salesman... It's a GREAT time to be a first time buyer!! Call now!!
- Lots to choose from. Today’s market conditions present buyers with more options than they have had in the past. Buyers are able to be pickier and do not have to worry so much about competing offers.
- Speaking of competing offers, Due Diligence is back in vogue! Oh yes, with fewer offers being made and less competition amongst buyers in the marketplace, you can now get by with actually performing your inspections. In the days where every seller got 10 offers, they would choose the one with the least number of contingencies and the best price. That meant if you had inspections written into your offer they could cast it aside into the pile of “loser” offers, unless of course your price was unbeatable. But then, that probably meant you were overpaying!
- Speaking of overpaying, today’s low prices and low sales volume mean that many sellers are backed into a corner and you can scoop up a bargain. This limits your risk of overpaying.
- Speaking of buying low, because you’re a first time home buyer, you can buy low without also having to sell low. This point probably needs no further elaboration.
- All cash buyers won’t knock you out of your dream home as often as they used to. This goes back to less competition in the marketplace. It used to be that an “all cash buyer” had a leg up on anyone else and their offer would get accepted above and beyond plain old regular folks’. Although this tendency remains, there is less competition in the market meaning that the likelihood of an all cash buyer swooping in on your new pad is fairly low. Read the rest of this entry ?
Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Home Buying, Tips | Tagged 2009 trends, 8000 tax credit, first time buyer, real estate trends, san francisco, san francisco real estate, shamwow, tax credits | Leave a Comment »
April 30, 2009
An article on Realtor.org ranks the largest metros in the nation that have undergone the most extreme drops in rental rates in Q1 2009. San Francisco tops the list, with a 2.8% decline over the first quarter from Q4 2008. Here is the remainder of the list:
- San Francisco, CA: -2.8 percent
- New York, NY: -2.6 percent
- San Jose, CA: -2.5 percent
- Long Island, NY: -2.3 percent
- Charlotte: NC: -1.3 percent
- Chicago, IL: -1.2 percent
- San Antonio, TX: -0.9 percent
- Cleveland, OH: -0.9 percent
For a separate but related article referencing the metros with the largest rent declines in Q4 2008, click HERE. Salt Lake City tops that list, with a 5.7% decline from the previous quarter.
Renters: Dust off those leases. It's time to negotiate!
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Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Macro-Level Info, Nerdy RE Analysis, News, Tips | Tagged lists, q1 2009, q4 2008, rent, rental rates, rental trends, san francisco, san francisco real estate | Leave a Comment »
April 25, 2009
District 7, home to some of the priciest real estate in the City, currently has 10 single family homes priced under $2 million out of 47 total available properties.
Over the Marina - photo by Corbis
District 7 includes the Marina, Cow Hollow, Pacific Heights, and Presidio Heights. The five least expensive single family homes on the open market in District 7 can be found here (in no particular order): Read the rest of this entry ?
Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Cow Hollow, Marina, Neighborhood Info, Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights | Tagged Cow Hollow, district 7, least expensive homes for sale, luxury market, Marina, Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, san francisco, san francisco real estate | Leave a Comment »
April 23, 2009
Don’t cha just looove lists? We do. Here are a couple of real estate lists we found interesting as of late.
Continued Price Drops Most Likely in these Top 10 Cities:
- Orlando, FL
- Miami, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Los Angeles, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Las Vegas, NV
- Oakland, CA
- San Diego, CA
- New York, NY
Source: Forbes
The Top 10 Cities with the Highest Foreclosure Rates:
- Las Vegas, NV
- Merced, CA
- Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
- Stockton, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Modesto, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Port St. Lucie, FL
Source: Associated Press
Which cities make both lists? That would be Phoenix, AZ and Las Vegas, NV. Ouch. For more countdown and ranking articles, click HERE.
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Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, News | Tagged associated press, falling prices, forbes, foreclosures, san francisco, san francisco real estate, top 10 lists | 2 Comments »
April 12, 2009
Prevention Magazine has ranked the top 100 walking cities in the US, and San Francisco was crowned champ. It’s something we’ve heard repeatedly, from city-dwelling friends to Walkscore.com… San Francisco is a walker’s paradise!
Matter of fact, we’d wager that not only can residents tell someone how to get from Point A to Point B on foot (or in a wheelchair), but to also let them know which route is the flattest. Yep, people all over this great city love getting around on their feet. It’s this fact that leads to our wonderful neighborhood sidewalks, packed with Mom & Pop shops, cafes, stores, bars, barbers, and of course, people. The pedestrian experience in San Francisco is anything but pedestrian, and enjoying this aspect of San Francisco’s character is one of the major lifestyle amenities that makes living here worth the price.
And those “Honorable Mentions?”
2. Boston
3. New York
4. Philadelphia
5. Chicago
6. Washington D.C.
7. Seattle
8. Honolulu
9. Portland, Ore.
10. Pittsburgh
HERE is the article from Prevention Magazine‘s website if you want to see the full 100.
So much to do while walking the City... such as our amazing farmers' markets.
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Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, News | Tagged city rankings, pedestrian friendly, prevention magazine, san francisco, san francisco real estate, walking | Leave a Comment »
April 6, 2009
Glen Park, a cute San Francisco neighborhood, currently has 10 single family homes for sale. We’ve selected the five least expensive ones to report on here. But before we do, here are some stats for you left-brainers:
- Total homes for sale right now: 10
- Total homes in contract right now: 1
- Total homes sold since 1st of year: 8
- Total homes withdrawn/expired since 1st of year: 4
- Total homes back on market: 1
- Highest active listing – $2,249,000 at 23 Laidley.
- Highest sold in 2009 – $1,400,000 at 50 Hiliritas
Now, how about those listings? First up, we have 208 Surrey. Listed at $895,000, this 3 bedroom, 1 bath home has ~1,465 square feet and was constructed in 1908. It is steps from Glen Park Village and offers bright rooms with vaulted ceilings on the upper level. You can click the address for more details on any of these homes.
Coming in at #4 on our least expensive single family home countdown is 145 Swiss Avenue. This 1950′s home sports 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, is a short distance to Glen Park Canyon, and a quick walk to the Village. It is currently listed at $799,000 and has been on the market for 5 days. It sold for $900,000 just two years ago on 3/27/07.
For homes 3, 2, and 1, continue reading! Read the rest of this entry ?
Posted in Countdowns & Rankings, Glen Park, Neighborhood Info, Public Listings, Tips | Tagged Glen Park, glen park canyon, glen park village, homes for sale, Public Listings, san francisco, san francisco real estate, single family homes | Leave a Comment »
