ActiveRain SFRealEstateBuzz

We are back to multiple offers on the good stuff in San Francisco. Good news for sellers. Trickier news for buyers, who need to deal emotionally with a market that is (for the time being) tipping against their favor. They are also left in a dilemma over what to pay for a home where they may be co...

My Love Affair With Amazon began as casual relationship about two years ago. I would usually just stop by for a book and they'd tempt me with great gift ideas for friends. Last Christmas, for example, when I was caught browsing the baby clothes secton for my niece, they showed me little hoodies a...

Perhaps the best way to reflect on Dr. King's message today in San Francisco is all by yourself--at the meditative Martin Luther King fountain in the Yerba Buena Gardens.   The fountain is easy to miss because it blends so easily into its surroundings on the garden's South side. There's also litt...

Imagine this: you are an American millionaire living in Romagna, Italy, three hours from the nearest US consulate in Florence. You've been there at least five times, notarizing two house deals, two children's birth certificates, and obtaining four passports. You are friendly with the people insid...

Realtor Cindy Jones from Northern Virginia just introduced me to an awesome tool, BrickBits.com  that helps condo buyers measure HOA fees against the monthly costs of maintenance and upkeep on a single family home. The comparisons are eye-opening. I ran an estimate on a theoretical 2000 square f...

I got an email from Michelle Obama on Thursday. As one of her BFFs, I'm on her distribution list, along with about half a million other people. She offered an interesting perspective on Martin Luther King day, that I'd never really thought about. Here's an abbreviated version of her message: The ...

What questions should I ask an agent I'm interviewing? Today I ran across a handout with questions a buyer should ask an agent they're considering hiring. I think they're good questions. Here is how I would answer them: What are the most important skills and resources you offer your clients: I th...

2010 was a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for the San Francisco real estate market.  We kicked off with a strong spring market caffeinated by federal and state tax credits. This was followed by a sluggish summer, then a reversal of fortune with a strong finish from Labor Day on.  The 4th quarter of 2010 ha...

Last week an anxous client/friend contacted me because she was getting death threats from a stalker. She and her partner needed to move quickly into a doorman building with more security. She called me to see if I knew of anything. These clients are presently renters-- they are still putting toge...

A friend sent me this link from Herman Chan's website. Herman is not an agent, but a 'real estate personality.' And I'm proud to say he's San Francisco-based and proud to say he's an Active Rainer! I bet many of you already know about him, but those of you who don't need to sit up and take notice...