Get Ready, Get Set, SHOP!

On September 12th 2007 you will be able to get your organic produce, yoga matt, $9 sandwich and will be able to scour the olive bar all under one roof in Potrero Hill in a brand new 39,000 square foot facility formally a giant hole in ground.

The new and largest Whole Foods in San Francisco is opening at the corner of 17th and Rhode Island in less than two weeks.

Happy shopping.

Closing Escrow, the movie....

If you can't make fun of yourself, what can you make fun of?

Miss Teen USA

This has nothing to do with real estate or San Francisco neighborhoods, but I thought it was still worth a viewing for both a laugh and a cry. Sooooo painful!

The Potrero

According the the SF Gate:

The first residents are expected to move in sometime this summer. Whole Foods is expected to open this month.






Potrero condos fit in with [SF Gate]
The Potrero is Open [gtwice]
The Potrero; Update [gtwice]
The Potrero! [gtwice]
The Potrero [official website]

Pardon the Mess

If you have reached this page looking for Home San Francisco or www.home-sanfrancisco.com, please standby, we'll be back up shortly.

thank you

Single Family July 2006 vs. July 2007

You'll notice the numbers are starting to change. Click here to see previous months to compare and contrast.

Single-Family Homes
District 1	Jul-06	Jul-07
Number of Sales	14	11
Median Selling Price	1,175,000	900,000
Average DOM	32	24
District 2	Jul-06	Jul-07
Number of Sales	51	41
Median Selling Price	845,000	832,000
Average DOM	33	34
District 3	Jul-06	Jul-07
Number of Sales	17	16
Median Selling Price	849,000	754,500
Average DOM	37	41
District 4	Jul-06	Jul-07
Number of Sales	32	38
Median Selling Price	880,000	1,047,500
Average DOM	37	24
District 5	Jul-06	Jul-07
Number of Sales	36	30
Median Selling Price	1,135,000	1,390,500
Average DOM	38	20
District 6	Jul-06	Jul-07
Number of Sales	2	4
Median Selling Price	2,085,000	1,132,500
Average DOM	19	65
District 7	Jul-06	Jul-07
Number of Sales	10	8
Median Selling Price	2,850,500	4,995,000
Average DOM	25	118
District 8	Jul-06	Jul-07
Number of Sales	1	2
Median Selling Price	2,825,000	3,234,000
Average DOM	37	80
District 9	Jul-06	Jul-07
Number of Sales	24	24
Median Selling Price	814,500	920,000
Average DOM	38	38
District 10	Jul-06	Jul-07
Number of Sales	50	35
Median Selling Price	696,750	684,500
Average DOM	43	50

Information provided by the San Francisco Association of Realtors

24th Street Retail

Noe Valley, the land of nice homes, dogs, coffee shops, babies being pushed in strollers and vacant retail space. That's right, vacant retail space. 24th Street is a destination shopping strip in San Francisco. People come to get unique gifts from Just For Fun and Scribbledoodles, eat at Haystack Pizza and do their banking at WaMu. Why then is there so much empty retail space?

The Real Food company, located across the street from Bell Market (which by the way is an antiquated grocery store as far as I'm concerned for having such high-end clientele) was the first of the modern day vacancy to take place. The Real Food Company, which had been a part of Noe Valley for 25 years, closed its doors in 2003, dismissing 30 workers, the majority of whom had been organizing a union. This is a large space that has been sitting vacant for four years.

Rite-Aid, formerly located at 4045 24th street currently sits dark with dusty linolium floors and a large sign proclaiming its availability. Rite-Aid has been running a store in this location since 1998 when it changed from a Thrifty Jr. to the more current Ride-Aid store. The 6,727 square foot space supposedly underwent a rent increase and the store with over $900K worth of merchandise could not afford to keep its doors open.

Though the small corner retail spot located at 24th and Sanchez is not vacant, it is for sale! Currently, the 500 square foot store front which houses Belgano Chocolatier is on the market for $130K. Once purchased, the owner would have to pay the landlord $4000 a month in rent. This spot is used to turnover as it's been a coffee shop, high-end cookware store, deli/pizza by the slice and a smoothie shop all in the last fifteen years.

The newest addition to the 24th street retail exodus is Tully's Coffee located at 3966 24th Street. As of Sunday, the small, typically dirty and unfriendly coffee shop was all boarded up with no signage out front to alert possible renters that the space is vacant.

24th Street does not lack window shoppers or clientèle. Rents along the business strip in Noe Valley have gone up over the years which have led people and companies to take their businesses elsewhere. Perhaps the new hip Noe Valley street will be Church Street as new restaurants and stores have been popping up along that street in-between 24th and 30th over the years. Time will tell...

Summer Vacation

The folks at Home San Francisco are taking a small summer vacation. Don't get too sad, we'll be back again on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Is This For Real???

With all the negative media and some of the justified concern regarding the housing market, I was shocked to see that 145 Coso Ave sold for $309K over the asking price. I saw the house, it was a neat house with a lot of charm and great outdoor space. When I walked through, I never would have thought that it was under priced by $300K+!

145 Coso Ave [mls]

14th Annual Hillwide Garage Sale

This Saturday, Bernal Heights is hosting (put together by the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center) the 14th Annual Hillwide Garage Sale. Maps will be available at the Neighborhood Center, so come by to show support and to shop all over the 'hood. Participation in this Senior Department event supports the programs and services for seniors and disabled adults in Bernal Heights and the Excelsior districts.

Aug 18, 2007
9am - 4pm
Throughout the hill (get maps at 515 Cortland Ave)

Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center
Hillwide Garage Sale [home-sanfrancisco.com]

Homes on Esprit Park

We are getting close to the Fall of '07 (the time that the new 900 Minnesota Street project is supposed to "open"). It's not too often that you see a new SF development (especially one that is not in a giant high rise and is marketing itself as "local") advertised in the Powell Street Bart station, maybe it's a sign of the times?

900 Minnesota Street; interiors and finishes [gtwice]
900 Minnesota Street Revisited [gtwice]
900 Minnesota Street [gtwice]
Esprit Park [gtwice]
Homes on Esprit Park [espritpark.com]

Community

Last night I attended the Dolores Park Movie Night. It was a ton of fun and included live music before sunset and a showing of Wayne's World. The folks that throw the event "live near Dolores Park, and want to make the most of our beautiful little neighborhood. Dolores Park Movie Night has no affiliations, no causes, no politics and minimal organization. We pay for permits, movie licenses, and equipment ourselves and only ask for small donations to cover recurring costs. Dolores Park Movie Night is our small contribution to the local community." This event is a fantastic example of community as people from different groups were meeting each other, sharing treats and just enjoying the evening in the park. From the Dolores Park Movie Night website, they explain that those involved in throwing the monthly event "include a Mad Scientist, a Computer Geek, a couple of Hot Lawyer Babes, our Fearless Leader, and of course our Always Hungry "Will Love You For Food" Mascot.

I highly recommend the experience and find it refreshing that so many folks are interested in creating community within the hustle and bustle of the city. The next movie/event will be held at Dolores Park on September 13th.

Dolores Park Movie Night

Weekend Weather

Ya Basta de Gente Rica y sus Condominios

The new condo building at 3280 22nd Street is a "beautiful four unit mixed use condominium building," according to the property flier. It's true, there are some neat features including the "living roof," the "green" elements including oil barrel wood siding & rainscreens and Stewardship Council certified cabinetry. There are even some nice design elements (if you can get past the small rooms) which include giant windows, sharp lines, and beautiful floors, but above all, you'll have welcoming neighbors.


Located on 22nd Street @ Valencia, this newly constructed condo building is just down the street from one of the best breakfast spots (Boogaloos), coffee shops, bars, taqueria's and total belligerence any Wednesday-Saturday night. But you don't have to look much further than out your window to see what your neighbor's really think of you. The picture above was taken from the window of the unit that is selling for $1.399mm and is loosely translated as: "ENOUGH ALREADY with you rich people and your condominiums."



3280 22nd Street [Brown & Co. Real estate via Home-SanFrancisco.com]

Mortgage Rates Rise!

The cost of financing a home in some of the more expensive areas of the country (California), just got more expensive. According to CNNMoney.com "Wells Fargo, one of the nation's biggest mortgage lenders, raised the interest rates on its 30-year, fixed-rate, non-conforming (AKA jumbo) loan to 8 percent last week, up from 6.875 percent. Other lenders followed suit and more are likely to join them." To put that into perspective, the monthly bill for a $600,000 mortgage would hit $4,403, compared to $3,942 before the rate hike, which is an increase of $461.

Noteworthy facts:

• Borrowers obtaining Interest Only payments must qualify at the fully amortized rate.
• Stated income loans are requiring at least 10% down payment.
• No documentation or limited documentation loans are not being offered by many lenders.
• Higher FICO (credit) score requirements are required for alternative lending.
• Some lenders of 2nd loans are not originating any new loans!
• Rates are on the rise! A 30 year fixed Jumbo is now 8% at Wells Fargo (some banks are offering lower rates with solid credit still)
  

Big Ticket Mortgage Rates Rise [CNNMoney.com]

Senior Housing; At Least They Tried???

In 2003, real estate developers Jeremiah Cullinane, Denis Cullinane, and Eileen Long purchased 3953 24th Street for $700,000 with the intention of building 6 market rate condo's, 2 commercial spaces and a 4-car underground parking garage on the lot that contained a modest single family home just over 1,000 square feet. The approval process for this project was a long and arduous one which led to passionate arguments and creative concessions. The project that was finally approved by local residents and the building department included 6 residential units available to people 62 years or older that did not own a car, 2 commercial spaces and no parking. This plan seemed to be a welcome addition to the neighborhood as many residents were concerned about extra vehicular traffic and the possibility of astronomically high priced market-rate homes.

The new Victorian style building was completed about two years ago and sales of these "senior" units have not been going as planned. According the the Noe Valley Voice, the sellers have been "unable to attract older buyers [and the] developers of a six-unit, seniors-only condominium complex across from Bell Market have asked the city for permission to sell the units to the general public." If a new permit was approved, "it would mean the units would no longer be reserved for buyers 62 and older without cars, as specified in the plans allowing demolition of the Lunny House three years ago. The developer's new proposal also would convert the six units, currently offered at market rates, to five."

There is a public hearing regarding this matter on August 9th at 1:30pm in City Hall room 400.

Senior Housing--The latest Plan for the Lunny House [Noe Valley Voice]
Former Lunny House May Lose "Senior" Units [Noe Valley Voice]
Lunny House Demolition Leads to 24th Street Revival [Noe Valley Voice]
Old House on 24th Street Makes Way for Condo's [Noe Valley Voice]