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A TIC Joins My Real Estate Microcosm

My little rundown block in San Francisco is becoming quite the real estate market microcosm. So a new unit just came onto the market. That’s it to the right there–the lower left window in the blue building beside the rather putrid green apartment complex that I will neither confirm nor deny is the site of (more&hellip)

Super Tall Firehouse Explodes onto San Francisco Market

Discerning readers may recall that we gushed over a stunning firehouse-turned-real house last April. Well, there’s another fire a-blazin’ and this time it’s my burning desire for the latest real estate listing to hit the San Francisco market. All these firehouses for sale begs the question, what happens if there’s a fire? Are there any (more&hellip)

SF Saga: Finding Our Home (part 6)

This is the final chapter of a six-part series on my San Francisco Real Estate Saga, a months-long period involving countless house tours, sleepless nights, gut-wrenching decisions, and a total of three separate moves. The goal is to give people a sense of what’s involved with buying real estate, no matter the location or price. (more&hellip)

Subterranean Glass House in Big Sur

I couldn’t just sit back and let this house exist, un-drooled-over. I had to crack open the ol’ WordPress and let the gushing flow. The interior alone is enough to knock you over. But then you realize that this house is literally built into a CLIFF. The 1,900 sq ft home sits on 40 acres (more&hellip)

Warehouse Nouveau: Life in an Old Factory Looking Good

It’s not that I wasn’t aware of this San Francisco neighborhood. People just don’t really talk much about it. I guess it used to be sketchy, and it’s still full of warehouses and empty streets, which turns off some people. And we only looked at one horribly depressing condo back during our house-hunting binge, so (more&hellip)

Fat, Happy, and Condo-Hopping: Creative Open Houses

With the real estate market still tight, even in resilient places like San Francisco, realtors are having to get creative to lure buyers. This is how I think it should be. A few years ago, real estate become too easy for everyone involved. Buyers bought too easily, sellers sold too easily, and realtors made huge (more&hellip)

Creative Real Estate: Tenancy in Common (TIC) Agreements

In many parts of the US and the world, real estate and zoning restrictions force people to devise creative ways of owning and transferring real estate titles. One such market work-around I’ve encountered lately is the tenancy in common, or TIC. TICs are common in San Francisco, and to a lesser degree in New York (more&hellip)

From Putting Out Fires to Inflaming Desires

A breathtaking home is on the market in San Francisco’s Noe Valley neighborhood. The four-story modern wonder used to be a firehouse, and the exterior retains many of the original elements. It’s been on the market for a couple years now, and has endured a dramatic 25% price drop from its original listing price of (more&hellip)

Reader Profile: Buying at Top of Market with No Regrets

Name: Jane Age: 57 Occupation: Writer/Columnist, Vacation Rental Owner Location of property: SOMA (South of Market) in San Francisco Size: 600 sq ft, 1 bdrm/1 bath Years Owned: 3 What motivated you to buy? I had just divorced and needed to find my own home. My ex husband and I had been living in a (more&hellip)

Stunning SF Home, with Separate Guesthouse

I’ve always dreamed of having a beautiful house with a separate little cottage that I could rent out (even in my dreams I know how to pinch a penny). Or once I’m fabulously wealthy I could use it for house guests or in-law visits. This house is the physical embodiment of our dream. Whoever buys (more&hellip)

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