San Francisco’s Incredibly High Costs to Build
We all know that high demand and a shortage of housing units both drive up the costs to live in San Francisco. Yet one thing that isn’t discussed as often is San Francisco’s part in these high c...
THE BUZZ BLOG
December 11, 2019
December 5, 2019Do You Make Enough to Buy?
My last post showed us median home prices in the Bay Area. Now let’s look at income. The chart below compares median income by county. The difference in income among the top three (Marin, Santa ...
November 27, 2019San Francisco Median Home Price Now Above $1.5m
Yes, you read that correctly. Today a median house in San Francisco is $1,580,000, the highest in the Bay Area. And while not in this chart, a median condo is $1,125,000. Wondering what a median pri...
October 21, 2019When Selling a Home is Like Selling a Secret
When I moved here in the mid-80s, I learned San Francisco on foot by climbing its hills and counting its blocks. Back then the City unfolded itself to me in a series of unexpected moments as I stumble...
October 18, 2019The Latest San Francisco Real Estate Report
Still want some charts about the SF Real Estate Market? You can get your fill from our most recent Compass San Francisco Real Estate Report. If you’d just as soon hear my Cliff Notes version...
October 16, 2019The Transformation of a Grand Old Lady
My Victorian listing on Bush Street sat virtually untouched for over 70 years before we got it ready for sale. This video shows the “before and after” transformation framed by a terrific b...
September 6, 2019Looking to Become a Millionaire?
DID YOU KNOW? Warren Buffet who turned 89 this past weekend, made over 95% of his fortune after the age of 50 years. 95%!!! He only became a billionaire at the age of 56. Just like that $50 mill...
September 3, 2019How Strong is the Bay Area Market?
We’re topping it off with charts this week! For those of you who are just here for the graphs and data, I will not be offended if you leave off after you’ve digested the data below: We’ve ha...
August 5, 2019Single Family Home Rentals on the Rise
DID YOU KNOW? Demand for single-family rental homes is surging, and homebuilders are now stepping in, redesigning and reimagining the sector — and becoming landlords themselves. In 2018, about 43,00...
August 1, 2019Affordability Crisis Spreads to the Heartland
What began on the coasts, in areas like New York and San Francisco, is now radiating into the nation’s heartland, as well as to cities from Las Vegas to Charleston, South Carolina. Entry-level buyer...
July 26, 2019Fun Things to Do This Weekend July 27-28
One of the many reasons I love this city is that there is ALWAYS something fun to do. Here are just a few things to check out this weekend. “Crazy Funny Asians” Comedy Showcase July 28th, 7:00pm...
July 24, 2019Secrets to Happiness
DID YOU KNOW? 95-year-old billionaire Charlie Munger’s advice for a happy life is worth repeating: You don’t have a lot of envy. You don’t have a lot of resentment. You don’t overspend y...
July 15, 2019Luxury Russian Hill Remodel. Before and After Pictures
1750 Taylor #504 is a luxury co-op that sits at the apex of Russian Hill. It was purchased in its original condition by a real estate agent named John Farnham in 2016 for $1,667,250. John’s plan...
July 4, 2019Happy Fourth of July
San Francisco’s fireworks show will get under way Thursday at 9:30 p.m. or thereabouts from the foot of the Municipal Pier and from barges north of Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf. Here are a f...
July 2, 2019More Sleep Please
DID YOU KNOW? 78% of adults are losing sleep over work, relationships, retirement and other worries, according to a study released by Bankrate.com. 56% of Americans are lying awake at night worrying a...
June 13, 2019Homelessness in CA jumps significantly
DID YOU KNOW? Housing affordability is fueling a crisis of homelessness in California, despite billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded efforts (higher property taxes in LA). Homelessness jumped 12% and...
June 10, 2019LGBT notable events in 2019… so far
In honor of Gay Pride this month, let’s review all the LGBT victories in 2019 so far. I love seeing all these RIGHTS and bans finally happen. HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!! JANUARY Same-sex marriage become...
June 6, 2019Home Prices Still Rising
DID YOU KNOW? National home prices increased 3.6% year over year in April 2019 and are forecast to increase by 4.7% from April 2019 to April 2020. The April 2019 HPI gain was down from the April 2018 ...
May 23, 2019Babies born in the U.S. are at the lowest level in 32 years
DID YOU KNOW? 3.79 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2018, down 2% from 2017, a 32-year low. The total US fertility rate has generally remained below the “replacement” level of 2.1 since 197...
May 20, 2019Easy-breezy ways to eliminate more plastic
Our wonderful state of California has been at the forefront of limiting single-use plastics with statewide bans on plastic bags, straws and bottles. And while this is amazing, I can’t help but not...
May 16, 2019How well are you positioned?
The position of a home is a key factor when deciding what to buy. It’s also key when selling – doing so can help you highlight attributes that may be important in a buyer’s eyes, yet often ignor...
May 9, 2019Hey, Roomie!
With San Francisco real estate the highest in the nation, it’s easy to feel you’ve been priced out of the market. Are you starting to wonder how you’ll ever afford a home? Maybe it’s time ...
May 6, 20192019 San Francisco Decorator Showcase
April 27 – May 27 The esteemed San Francisco Decorator Showcase benefitting the San Francisco University High School financial aid program is underway and the photos I’ve seen so far are nothing s...
May 2, 2019Fun Things to Do This Weekend May 3-5
One of the many reasons I love this city is that there is ALWAYS something fun to do. Here are just a few things to check out this weekend. MUTEK San Francisco 2019 (2nd Edition) May 02, 5:00 PM ...
April 29, 2019Bay Area is now the most expensive place to build
According to a recent report by the British consulting firm Turner & Townsend, the Bay Area has just topped the list of most expensive metros in the world for construction. Yes, you read that corr...
April 25, 2019It’s Swell to be WELL
DID YOU KNOW? Is WELL certification the next LEED certification? A LEED certified building became a marketing status symbol about 10 years ago indicating a heightened awareness of green building fea...
April 22, 2019Mad for Marble
Marble seems to be all the rage these days. It’s popping up in remodels everywhere and has secured a spot on almost every 2019 design trends list. It is taking over countertops, floors, walls. ...
April 18, 2019Better Together
DID YOU KNOW? Those who believe in the concept of oneness – that all things are connected and interdependent – are more satisfied with their lives than people who don’t share this belie...
April 15, 2019Talkin’ Real Estate with Ryan Scott
I had the pleasure of doing my second radio program with KGO’s Ryan Scott a couple of weeks ago. Ryan and I have a shared love of real estate which makes these shows a lot of fun to record. We st...
April 11, 2019Increase the Value of Your Home – On Our Dime!
Many of our sellers worry about the up-front fees involved in getting their home ready for sale. Fortunately, Compass came up with an exclusive program to overcome this obstacle. The Compass Concier...
April 8, 2019Taxes Are Almost Due
The dreaded April 15th deadline is almost upon us. For those of you who have already completed your tax returns, Congratulations!! You are on top of things and must be relieved. As for the rest ...
April 4, 2019A WIN for Electric Cars!
DID YOU KNOW? In a symbolic first, electric cars outsold fossil fuel cars in Norway last month. 58.4% of new cars sold in the country in March were battery-powered, a historical high. Norway’s Parli...
April 1, 2019Tightening FHA Loans
DID YOU KNOW? The FHA told lenders this month it would begin flagging more loans as high risk. Those mortgages, many of which are extended to borrowers with low credit scores and high loan payments re...
March 29, 2019The Spring Selling Season is Upon Us
DID YOU KNOW? Homes listed in the first week of April get 14% more online views on average and are likely to sell 6 days faster than the average during the rest of the year. Homes sold in April are al...
March 22, 2019Fifty Shades of (Interior) Grey
DID YOU KNOW? According to Architectural Digest, Cornforth White by Farrow & Ball and Storm Grey AF-700 by Benjamin Moore are two of the most popular grey colors for home interiors. Grey has tak...
March 20, 2019Don’t Forget the Hallway
Too often a hallway is treated like a neglected cousin. In doing so a tremendous opportunity may be overlooked. That ‘lead-up’ that a hallway provides from an entry or transition to anothe...
March 13, 2019Why People Pay So Much to Live Here
In spite of having less square footage, smaller lots, and homes that even touch each other (I can’t tell you how many newcomers are surprised by that), San Francisco continues to be a HOT real e...
March 11, 2019Where have all the Sellers (and Buyers) Gone?
Where have all the Sellers (and Buyers) Gone? The chart below is an attempt to identify what counties nationwide have the highest number of residents migrating to and from the Bay Area. It was created...
March 8, 2019The “Should-I-Renovate-or-Buy-a-Better-House” blues…
I’ve heard that a home dramatically shrinks as soon as an owners’ children start to walk. Other diminishing factors can be aging parents moving in, teenagers who want their own space and more room...
March 6, 2019Don’t “Guesstimate”
Getting a firm grip on the numbers is the first thing a home buyer needs to do when undertaking the “search/find/buy” process. Until you know and understand what you can comfortably afford, there...
February 28, 2019What Does Comprehensive Marketing Mean For Your Home Sale?
In order to expediently sell your home for the best price possible, we at Compass must launch a comprehensive marketing campaign in order to show your property in its best possible light. But what doe...
February 22, 2019The Hunt for a New Home is On!
The following tips for finding the right home are geared for newbies to the market– and for veterans who could use a brush-up on the basics. 1. Make a List of “Must Haves” and ̶...
February 18, 2019Daunted by Disclosures?
Disclosure packages in San Francisco can run up to four inches thick–especially if the property is a condo in a large building. But buyers can cruise through them more quickly if they know how t...
February 15, 2019The Shrinking Apartment
DID YOU KNOW? According to a new report from real-estate website RentCafe and data-analytics firm Yardi Matrix, the average size of a newly-built rental apartment has shrunk by 52 square feet, or ...
February 11, 2019Sold: 1470 32nd Avenue
Magic Doelger Art Moderne. Four Bedrooms (Three Up; One Down). Two Baths. 1,730 Square Feet per Tax Records ...
February 11, 2019The Comforts of Home
Home is where we set the pattern of our days. The best ones create lovely habits. When I lived on Grove Street in NOPA, I adored reading in bed where I enjoyed a view of Buena Vista Hill. In my curre...
February 4, 2019Homeownership is Declining Among People Ages 24-32
DID YOU KNOW? Homeownership among people ages 24 – 32 fell 9 percentage points, to 36% from 45% between 2005 and 2014? According to the Fed said. many factors affected the homeowner rate but abo...
February 1, 2019A Word About the Luxury Market
The luxury market ($2.5M+) held up well in 2018 when it comes to sales volume. We did have some disappointed Sellers, however. A Spring in our Step This first chart shows the number of condo and ...
January 28, 2019How to Write a Real Estate Ad
Write It Like You Mean It– The following six tips come from copy writers who have helped me in the past– (shout out to Cynthia Long), a sales trainer and speaker named Matthew Ferrara, an...
January 21, 2019‘Don’t Cut the Agent Out’
Years ago, when I was taking some time off from actively selling real estate and focusing on family matters and on my real estate investments, a guy rang my doorbell and said he was looking to buy so...
January 18, 2019In The Doggy House
There’s something about a property that doesn’t sell within the first month it hits the market. Usually it’s due to overpricing. Perceived as a poor value, it develops an ugly stigm...
January 14, 2019How NOT To Sell Your House
I’ve been thinking lately of all the weird things sellers do without thinking to put buyers off when they go to look at houses. If your house is on the market or you are thinking of selling, her...