Fifty 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...
THE BUZZ BLOG
March 22, 2019
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 nine charts below are an attempt to identify what counties nationwide have the highest number of residents migrating to and from the Bay Area. They we...
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...
January 11, 2019How much was the highest priced home sold in 2018?
The highest sales price achieved in 2018 was for a home at 2900 Broadway (cross street Baker), a 5BR/6BA home which sold for $32,000,000 in November. Yes, you read that right. $32 million. Those mus...
December 27, 2018Video! How to Make Ceilings Look Taller
Felipe Rodriguez of Spaces Design is passionate about his work. He’s also a charismatic and enthusiastic teacher....
December 26, 2018Sold: 786-792 21st Avenue
786-792 21st Avenue is a 1920's style, 4 unit building located just across Fulton Street from the famed Golden Gate Park. ...
December 25, 2018MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Wishing you all a safe, warm and happy holiday with family and friends....
December 21, 2018Holiday Fun in San Francisco
Here are a few holiday treats to check out in San Francisco this weekend. Macy’s teams up with Union Square to present their annual holiday tree, ice skating rink, SPCA holiday windows and photos wi...
- December 20, 2018
Video! An SF Diamond in the Sky
We worked very hard on this video, and our Seller loved the result, which shows off the things she loved most about living her old Noe Valley home. You can learn more about the 1500 Diamond at www.SFD...
December 19, 2018Christmas is almost here – How do I decorate?
I’ll admit it: I hate decorating. The garlands around the doors are the worst part. My arms wind up over my head for so long they go numb, and it’s a b*tch trying to get them up without nailing bi...
December 14, 2018Looking for Some Discounts?
October 2018 saw the highest number of price reductions in 6 years– a signal of changing market conditions. The number of expired and withdrawn listings – no sale – also started to c...
December 13, 2018Video! Ebony, Bamboo and Bleach
This 60-second video displays Meredith’s knowledge and opinion on flooring styles. She has a much better eye for design than I do....
December 12, 2018How Does Your County Stack Up?
Were you to study appreciation all by itself, the market looks quite healthy–and San Francisco held its own when compared to other counties buoyed by the tech sector. My own speculative brain wo...
December 7, 2018Six “What were we thinking?” home design trends
The 1990s brought us saggy pants, sideways baseball hats and Catholic school girl attire. They also delivered some home design trends we are happy to wave goodbye to. This slideshow offers up the ones...
December 7, 2018Happy Faux Fur Friday
Animals rejoice as we celebrate Faux Fur Friday! Now is your chance to pull out that neon leopard print fur you’ve been waiting to wear. ...
December 6, 2018Video! Tenderloin Apartment Tour
We closed on this TIC up the street from the Curran Theater earlier this year. This video was one of my earlier efforts at a home tour, but it I still think it nicely shows the space. Some people thin...
December 4, 2018More Ways To Improve Your Credit
Yesterday we began a discussion on improving your credit before going to get qualified for home financing. Today we’re going to continue looking at that topic to look at some more tips from MyFico...
December 3, 2018How Can I Improve My Credit?
There’s really no getting around the fact that in order to get the best deal on home financing – and often to even qualify in the first place – your credit must be in good shape. Here’s the g...
November 30, 2018Happy National Mason Jar Day!
It’s hard to imagine what food photographers, hipster coffee shops, bloggers and DIYer’s would ever do without the mason jar. You can make a dull green smoothie look like a delectable treat. Strin...
November 29, 2018Video! Open House Tips
I know. It was a bad hair day. But the information here is really good and you should watch it....
November 29, 2018Video! How to do a Real Estate Selfie Video
People make selfie videos look so easy! This was originally intended for Meredith’s eyes only but she loved it and begged me to make it public. So here I am—in all my awkward glory....
November 28, 2018San Francisco Mines Gold in Michelin’s 2019 Bib Gourmand List
Michelin’s Guide star rating carries enormous cache in the restaurant world. The precursor to the Michelin Guide stars awarded each year (coming out next week) is the Bib Gourmand List, a lesser fir...
November 23, 2018Happy National Flossing Day!
It’s National Flossing Day. And what perfect timing considering most of us spent all day yesterday chomping on turkey, stuffing, cranberries, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie....
November 21, 2018Famous SF Restaurants: Ernie’s
If you’re pining for the legendary restaurant Ernie’s, go rent Vertigo and fast forward to the part where Scotty gets his first glimpse of Madeleine. For this scene, Hitchcock recreated the restau...
November 21, 2018Video! The Transformation of 16th Avenue
I already posted a video of this 2BR/1BA home in its full “Before” state with some goofy captions. This one shows the “show-ready” version with some before and after film work. Hat tip to Spac...
November 15, 2018Video! The Little House that Needs Some Love
When I dropped by this fixer listing at 2347 16th Avenue before the renovation was completed. It was fun filming it in all its current glory. The after version of the home will be posted next week. Yo...
November 14, 2018JUST SOLD for $3.5million: Haight Ashbury Painted Lady
I call this landmark Haight Ashbury Victorian the “Prettiest Listing I’ve Ever Had.” Originally a grand mansion, today it’s a 4-unit building, with a lavish owner’s unit, a ...
November 12, 2018Median Home Values in SF Less Than 1M Very Rare These Days
San Francisco has 102 neighborhoods from its borders to innermost heart. And as a rather startling snapshot of just how expensive SF is for buying a home, only 15 of those neighborhoods have median ho...
November 9, 2018Happy Peanut Butter Lovers Month!
It’s good with breakfast, lunch, dessert, in smoothies and even cocktails! To celebrate, here is a recipe for my absolute favorite peanut butter cookie, the Peanut Butter Blossom. Enjoy! View th...
November 8, 2018Video! Hayes Valley Then and Now
I love chattering about the old days. Meredith grabbed this footage when I was talking about a listing I had back in 1992....
November 7, 2018The San Francisco Luxury Home Market
In these charts, various price thresholds will be used for the “luxury home” designation, depending on when the chart was first created, if different property types are being combined, or the angl...
November 6, 2018How Far Does $6,500 Go In Renting in San Francisco These Days
If you have somewhere around $6,500 in your pocket every month to doll over to the landlord for rent, then—in a variety of neighborhoods in San Francisco—this is what you’ll get for your money. ...
November 5, 2018Famous SF Restaurants: Blum’s
Located in Macy’s on Union Square 1955-1970 In the summer of 1965, 13-year old Betsy Block’s favorite thing to do each weekend was eat dessert at Blum’s (“never lunch, only dessert”) and see...
November 2, 2018Happy National Deviled Egg Day!
What would a cocktail party be without this easy little, paprika sprinkled favorite?...