Archive for April, 2011

San Francisco Real Estate Update

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Sitting between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, the 7 mile-by-7mile piece of dirt we San Franciscans call home is bucking national housing trends. I’m a Realtor on the streets and live it day-to-day and after 20 years here I can tell there isn’t enough inventory for current demand. I see it with my buyers and with visible activity in ‘on’ market and ‘off’ market sales.

San Francisco is a city of neighborhoods and each one has its own nuances and likewise its own ‘denizens’ and converts. This creates leaders and laggards and thereby popularity and higher prices and faster sales. The national numbers released by Case Shiller show most of our country still struggling. San Francisco is the gateway to the industries and jobs of the future as well as the fast growing nations of China and India. You don’t have to look further than the private buses that Google, Genentech and others send into San Francisco daily to see that their workers value living in the ‘center of it all’ to know that there is heightened demand for living ‘in the city’.

Current inventory for single family homes sits at 2.4 months and for condos at 2.9 months according to Trendgraphix and the San Francisco Association of Realtors.

Prices have shot up in both categories since the first of the year by approximately 25% even though it’s off by slightly 3% from the same time last year. It is the fall of inventory by around 44% year-over-year that is the key here in my belief as a Realtor and a consumer. I was always taught that a ‘normal’ market has an inventory of homes at the 3 month level…we’ve fallen below that and are at the point of rising prices and quickening pace. Only time will tell, but the word on the street is that with all the new IPO’s that will hit this year in the tech world, everyone is expecting lots of newly minted millionaires to be demanding their piece of San Francisco’s dirt.

Lance Fulford, MBA

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70 Valley – SOLD

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

A contemporary re-interpretation of a former Victorian, the owners have painstakingly remodeled and expanded what was originally a single family home by adding a second floor to what was a single story home and a small second unit below. Now, there are two separate units. #70 is the largest and feels like a single family home with an open contemporary floor plan behind the contemporary palate painted exterior. Upon entering the spaces opens up in front of you with the home anchored by an architectural staircase with large skylight which provides a flood of light in the center of the home.

There is an a large open space that is used as a living room with fireplace and a dining room area that ties the living room to the central kitchen. This is the anchor of the home and the place all your friends will congregate during parties and casual get-togethers. There is a bedroom with en-suite bath and a second large bedroom with en-suite Roman spa inspired bath and a deck. This level is finished with a laundry closet near the kitchen in the central area of the house.

Upstairs the sellers created a private serene second floor for the master bedroom suite with private bath and large, spacious private South facing deck. There is a fireplace, walk-in closet and bath with abundant windows, custom tile and designer fixtures.

This home is completed with a private one-car garage.

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3961 26th Street – SOLD

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Ideally situated near the shopping along 24th Street in San Francisco’s Noe Valley and the Church Street MUNI street car line, this remodeled Victorian is the ‘picture perfect’ San Francisco home. A charming front garden adds to the idilic setting while ascending the stairs to the front landing and porch. Once inside there is a formal living room with bay window and fireplace and a front bedroom (currently used as a music room). The main floor also has a formal dining room, open plan kitchen with French doors to a South facing rear deck and a second bedroom and a full bath with claw foot tub.

Downstairs is a master bedroom with front garden view and bath along with a child’s bedroom and laundry room. There is also the interior access to the garage on this level and a glass paned door to the rear garden.

The upper level on what was the attic floor has a full bedroom and bath with stall shower along with a loft area the current owner uses as an office. There is additional storage in the unfinished eve at the back of the house which is accessed from the loft. (The rooms on this level are unwarranted.)

This home has garnered strong reviews so call for your showing today.

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Dolores Heights

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Dolores Heights is a relatively affluent neighborhood of hills, cul-de-sacs and steep staircases and offers beautiful views of San Francisco. The neighborhood is a mixture of Victorian and Edwardian homes. It offers a patch of serenity strategically located between upper market street to the west, Dolores Park to the east, Noe Valley to the south and The Castro / Eureka Valley to the north.

In addition to having the variety of Noe Valley and The Castro and the open space of Dolores Park, the neighborhood is close enough to the Mission District to enjoy the bakeries, cafes, taquerias and used-book stores of this vibrant area. The current rich culture of the Mission District is a result of the Central American and Mexican families that have been congregating in the area since the 1950s.
We’ll cover more about Dolores Park and Mission Dolores and The Mission District in future blog entries.

For public transportation, Dolores Heights is conveniently served by the muni J-Church line which makes for an easy commute to downtown and the Financial District.

If you’re interested in this neighborhood and would like to get a good feel for the area, take the J-Church to the top of Dolores Park. Stroll along the upper end of the park and enjoy the views of downtown San Francisco. Walk up Dolores Street and take a quick stroll along some of the side streets to get an idea of the serene feel of the neighborhood.

If you’d like more information on Dolores Heights or any area of the city, give us a call. We’re glad to help!

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Duboce Triangle

Monday, April 11th, 2011

The “Duboce Triangle” neighborhood boundaries are Market St., Castro St. and Waller St. The neighborhood takes its name from Duboce Street and Duboce Park, both of which are named for Colonel Victor Duboce.

Colonel Duboce served in the Spanish – American War with the First California Volunteers. After the war he was a prominent member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He died on August 15, 1900. In honor of Colonel Duboce the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution praising the Colonel’s “high character, loyalty, and amiable disposition,” and changed the name of Ridley Street to Duboce Street.

In the 1960’s the federal government provided money for “slum clearance’. Rather than demolish the stately Victorians in the neighborhood, San Francisco used the funds to renovate the housing, bury utility lines, and widen sidewalks, narrow streets and plant trees. Though the neighborhood is bounded on one side by Market Street, the foresight of the Board of Supervisors has created a distinctly residential and refined area.

As the Twin Peaks Neighborhood is to the west and Alamo Square is to the north, the area is sheltered from the fog and is one of the sunnier areas of San Francisco.

The neighborhood is also easy to get to from almost any area of San Francisco as Muni lines M, L, K and T all stop at Church Station, one block southeast of the neighborhood, and the N-Judah stops at Duboce Park. The J – Church stops in the Lower Haight district which is a short walk to the Duboce Triangle.

There are many shops, restaurants and public areas to recommend in the area. We recommend hitting the Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays and then strolling the area to get a feel for the neighborhood. The Farmer’s Market is located on Noe St. between Market St. and Beaver St. near the community garden.

Duboce Park was originally designated as a site for a hospital in the 1850’s. The site remained vacant and in September of 1900 was designated a city park and named, of course, for Colonel Duboce.

The park is on Duboce Street and is bordered by Scott St. on the west and Steiner St. on the east. The park is one block long and two blocks wide

Dogs are allowed off leash to play in the Multi-Use Area in the southeastern section of the park.
There is a children’s play structure in a fenced section west of the Multi-Use area.
A basketball court with multiple rims is located just beyond the children’s play area to the west.
A “Public Lawn” area is located across from the children’s play structure and is designated for people only (no dogs)
There is also a labyrinth for meditation, contemplation and relaxation.

The Harvey Milk Recreational Arts Building is located on Scott Street on the southwest end of the park and is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 9:30 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. The 55 year old building was officially rededicated to slain civil rights activist and city supervisor Harvey Milk in 1979

The center is dedicated to the visual and performing arts. It hosts a sound recording studio, digital labs, a ballroom, dance studio, art studio and multiple exhibition galleries. The building is also home to the San Francisco Photo Center, the oldest public darkroom for traditional black and white process printing in the United States.

For more information on classes, events and festivals, visit their web page by clicking on the name of the center above.

One last note on the Duboce Triangle neighborhood: Leticia’s, an iconic Mexican restaurant, has reopened after many years and is located on the corner of Market and 15th St. across from their former location. This is the same Leticia’s with the same owners, same chef and a new location. (Where Thai Corner Express used to be)

Check it out

2200 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94114-1506
(415) 864-5384

As with many San Francisco neighborhoods the Duboce Triangle has much to offer, and we can hardly cover everything in this blog.
If you have questions, or you’re looking for a neighborhood that suits you, give us a call and let us use our expertise to help.

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Golden Gate Park

Monday, April 4th, 2011

The story of Golden Gate Park begins in 1860 when San Franciscans, inspired by Central Park in New York, began to think of creating their own civic open space.

Though plans were put into motion in the 1860’s, it wasn’t until 1870 that a young field engineer named William Hammond Hill developed a topographic map of the new park site. Mr. Hill was named park commissioner one year later and is responsible for the park’s initial development.

In 1870 three-fourths of the park was covered by sand dunes blasted by the harsh wind coming off the Pacific Ocean. Many thought that plants would never grow in this challenging environment. Within five years there were close to 60,000 trees in the park. Approximately 95,000 trees were planted over the subsequent four years bringing the total to 155,000 trees over 1,000 acres of land. The famous Dutch Windmills found at the western end of the park were initially built to pump water throughout the park to support the ambitious landscaping. They were placed in 1903 and 1905.   Today, only the north windmill remains.

In 1894 San Francisco hosted the California Midwinter International Exposition.  The expo was intended to increase tourism and boost the economy. The Japanese Tea Garden was built for the expo along with a fine arts museum. Outdoor activities were showcased by the building of horse stables and the preservation of vast open green spaces.

There have been many additions to the park over the years, including the De Young Museum, built in 1921. The extensive botanical gardens and Strybing Arboretum were designed in 1890, but due to a lack of funds they did not become a reality until 1937.

Park fauna has also changed over the years. Moose, caribou and antelope once galloped through the meadows. Donkeys, goats and chickens inhabited the Children’s Playground. Zebras, elephants, kangaroos, ostriches and peacocks also roamed the park. In 1927 John McLaren, Park Superintendent, moved the animals to a new home in the San Francisco Zoological Garden. Today, the only animals to officially call the park home are the bison located at the Buffalo Paddock.

Golden Gate Park today has earned the title of one of the most visited parks in America, entertaining over 13 million visitors per year.  It continues to evolve while maintaining old customs and traditions.  We’ve offered a short list of the many attractions and activities in the park, but space here doesn’t permit a complete list with descriptions. We recommend the parks official web site at  http://sfrecpark.org/ggp.aspx .

MUSEUMS AND GARDENS AT THE PARK

California Academy of Sciences: Focuses on 11 scientific fields, so there’s something interesting for a visitor of any age.

Conservatory of Flowers: Spectacular collection of over 1,700 plant species from around the globe. Some of the most popular plants include the conservatory’s carnivorous plants, rare orchids, prized century-old philodendron and lily pads that could hold the weight of a small child.

Garden of Shakespeare’s Flowers: Home to approximately 150 plants and flowers mentioned in the Bard’s poems and plays.

Japanese Tea Garden: This intricate and private (depending on the season) complex of paths and ponds features Japanese and Chinese plants.

De Young Museum: The oldest museum in San Francisco. The first and second floor feature permanent collections of American paintings, decorative art and sculpture, and an international collection of carvings, textiles and costumes, to name a few of the many exhibits.

The basement is reserved for their many special exhibits.

Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden: Thousands of tulips interspersed with Iceland poppies.

San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum: A 55-acre horticultural paradise with more than 8,000 plant varieties.

Rose Garden: Designed in 1961, the garden highlights hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora and miniatures.

ACTIVITIES AT THE PARK

Archery: An archery field lies just north of the golf course. Lessons and equipment (for rent or purchase) are available at the nearby San Francisco Archery Shop.

Basketball: Pick-up games are usually going on in the Panhandle.

Biking and Skating: Seven miles of paved trails lead you by lush waterfalls and gardens.

Dog Runs: There are three areas for your canine friend to frolic with other dogs ;: the southeast section bordered by Lincoln Way, Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., 5th Ave. and 7th Ave.; the northeast section off Stanyan St. between Hayes St. and Fulton St.; and the western section, bordered by Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Middle Dr., 34th Ave. and 38th Ave.

Fly-Fishing: There are no fish in the ponds, but the fly casting pools are considered some of the best in the country for practice.

Golf: A nine-hole public golf course is located at the west end of the park.

Handball: The park has two indoor and two outdoor handball courts which are open every day.

Horseshoes: 16 courts are available.  They were renovated in 2009 .

Kezar Stadium: An all-weather track is available for public use and a field can be reserved for various sports. There are a gymnasium and basketball courts available in the pavilion.

Lawn Bowling: The San Francisco Lawn Bowling Club manages three greens and offers free lessons.

Lindy in the Park: Swing dancing every Sunday (weather permitting), from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Free beginner lesson at 12:00 p.m. John F. Kennedy Dr. between 8th Ave. and 10th Ave.

Pétanque: This French bowling game, similar to bocce, has a small but devout following in the Bay Area. Bring your own equipment.

Spreckels Lake: This artificial lake hosts both wind-powered and motor-powered model boats.

Stow Lake: This beautiful lake, the largest in the park, is popular with fly fishers and amateur boaters.

Strawberry Hill: A good day hike, this naturally formed island in the middle of Stow Lake provides views of the surrounding park, the Golden Gate Bridge and Mt. Tamalpais.

Tennis: There is a tennis complex in the park containing 21 courts. Reservations are required. See the Golden Gate Park Tennis Club website for more info.

Disc Golf: There is a permanent 18-hole course at Marx Meadow.

There are many other sights and activities at Golden Gate Park, in fact, too many to list in this article. An arts and craft, Ocean Beach, the Childrens Quarter, the Buffalo Paddock, McLaren Lodge, and the National AIDS Memorial Grove. The San Francisco Opera provides a free annual outdoor concert.

We really can’t do proper justice to this amazing landmark in this space. The best way to get to know the park is to visit often.

Golden Gate Park, one more reason to love San Francisco.

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