Archive for March, 2010

946 Elizabeth Street

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
  • Traditional Lay-out
    • Upper Level
      • 3 Bedrooms + Master suite
      • 2 Baths
      • Laundry
      • Downtown/Bay/Bay Bridge/East Bay View

 

  • Main Level
    • Open Floor-plan
    • Entry
    • Living Room w/Fireplace
    • Dining Room
    • Half Bath
    • Kitchen w/Island
    • Family Room
    • French Doors to Patio and Garden

 

  • Lower Level
    • 2 Car Garage
    • Storage
    • Extra Laundry
    • Media Room (legal 2nd unit)
      • Full Bath
      • Pullman Kitchen
      • Built-in Desk and Bookshelves
      • French Doors to Patio

 Nestled on the Western slope of Noe Valley, this newer traditional home presents a warm and inviting enclave for its owners. The carefully thought-out floor-plan is evident upon entry. A formal entry allows transition from the outside to the inside and the glass panel double-door entry baths the entry way with natural light.

The main floor not only benefits from its size but also from the open floor-plan and windows that bring light into the space. There is a living room with fireplace, dining room and half bath in the more formal entertaining space. The open kitchen will, however, be where everyone gathers as it is set up to be a natural magnet with a wide inviting well-appointed kitchen, large over-sized island, family room and a wall of French doors inviting the indoors to the outside and the garden beyond.

 The upper floor has the much-sought after bedroom floor. This home was constructed with a fully appointed master suite, two additional bedrooms and a full second bath along with a spacious double sized laundry closet. There are views of downtown/Bay/Bay Bridge and East Bay from this level. A large skylight also rains down sunlight over the hallway and stairs.

 The lower level has the two-car side-by-side garage that is highly sought but an additional parking space can be had in the driveway plus a fourth on the street in front of the driveway if guests were arriving. There is a storage closet in the garage and an extra space that houses a second washer/dryer. What a dream!

 The lower level also has a large media room with French doors to a patio, Pullman kitchen, built-in desk and bookshelves along with a full bath. This space works seamlessly into the house, however, can be cleaverly closed off for separation as it has a separate legal address (948 Elizabeth).

The International Real Estate Federation Spring Meetings

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

I’m off to Washington D.C. to attend the national Spring meetings for the International Federation of Real Estate (FIABCI). Besides serving as the President for the Local Council, I’m also a new appointee to the Strategic Planning Committee. My association with this organization is just one way I promote our San Francisco listings to a wider audience. The internet tools available through FIABCI are great but there is nothing like personal relationships to connect an out-of-area or international buyer with one of our listings.

I’ll be posting updates from the meetings to keep you up to speed on what I learn from my colleagues attending from other U.S. markets as well as international ones. Send me a comment as I post if you have questions or would like me to focus in on an interesting subject more intently.

Working hard to keep you connected….

All the Best,

Lance

415-793-6140

Heard on the Street: Brokers' Tour Recap

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

900 Clayton, San Francisco, California

Yesterday was Brokers’ Tour and the market in San Francisco’s more desirable districts appears very strong. The strongest seems to be Noe Valley/Castro/Upper Market and related areas. 900 Clayton asking $2,239,000 was first shown on Sunday’s open house and by last night had 2 offers and was ratified. The house has an interesting history. The sellers bought a new home and moved to Sonoma in 2008. This house went on the market the day Lehman Brothers fell apart and was quickly withdrawn. The sellers thereby waiting (to their benefit) to put it back on the market once the economy had regained its footing.

Today was the sales meeting at my office and agents reported heavy Sunday open house traffic throughout this district.  The inventory has gone up. Yesterday, there were at least 9 new homes in the $1.2million+ category. This should give buyers a selection of properties to see this coming weekend. And, we’ll measure the results.

I should have access to February’s statistics tomorrow and will post those but it seems things are pointing up at this stage.

I’ll keep you posted….

Lance

415-793-6140

The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco Hosts Presentation of the Annual Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

I recently attended the Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco’s event hosted by Gaul Searson showroom in the Design Center. There the Harrison Group presented their Annual Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America and summarized highlights from their recently published book, The New Elite…Inside the Minds of the Truly Wealthy.

It was an extremely informative presentation which I captured some of for your viewing. I hope you enjoy it.

San Francisco's Noe Valley Luxury Homes Show Demand with Multiple Offers

Monday, March 1st, 2010

418 Liberty Street, San Francisco

The house at 418 Liberty in the desirable Dolores Heights neighborhood hit the market at $2,395,000 and really needs a full interior remodel but due to the desirability of the location, views, overall size and relatively good condition, it garnered 5 offers (4 were all cash, I was told).

Noe Valley’s location, weather and overall desirability continue to push it to the top of the City’s list for home buyers. The buyers I’m encountering in the $2million+ price range are comprised of a majority of folks from out of the area. I would say North side families head the list followed by folks moving into San Francisco for the first time or returning.

If you’re not familiar with Noe Valley, check it out on Nabewise. com or better yet spend an afternoon along 24th Street or at one of the local parks. And if you’d like some first hand information, give me a call.

All the Best,

Lance

415-793-6140

Sunday Open House Attendance Poll: Print Advertising Appears Dead

Monday, March 1st, 2010

I polled all attendees to my open house today and the results are continuing to run fairly consistently: print advertising appears dead. I did have one person in two weeks say they saw the newspaper ad but the largest numbers are coming in with their agents or told by their agents (30%); online ads (25%); signs (25%); neighbors (10%) and then those invited by me (10%).

This continually speaks to how the public receives and uses information and where sellers should make sure they’re present. The old school history in me pulls me toward print but even when you pick up one of the free-bees like ‘The Real Estate Times of San Francisco’ it’s a ghost of what it was in its hey-day.

So the next time you’re searching for real estate, I know you’ll start ‘on-line’….just like me.

All the Best,

Lance

415-793-6140