Occasionally I get a question from a reader of the blog that’s worthy of sharing with the world - I thought this one was worth sharing. Hope you think so too…

Oh - and if you have questions you’d like answered, email me - I know stuff.

A reader recently wrote in to ask:

Q.  Hi Luba.  I just read your June 18 blog regarding Daly’s proposed ordinance that would place two-unit TICs in the condo lottery and was wondering if you’ve heard any additional news about this.  Thank you.

C.M.A.  I’ve heard mixed answers and am not sure about the truth of any of them.

I recently heard that Daly is trying to put this legislation on the November 2008 ballot – but he needs the votes of three other supervisors to succeed.

But I also read on Socketsite.com on July 2nd that the legislation is not moving forward, period.  At least not now.

I’d like to believe the latter, but am prepared to deal with the former until I can get my hands on something more official.

Tags: SF Real Estate Blog Reader Asks, SF Real Estate Info for Buyers, SF Real Estate Info for Sellers, San Francisco News and Events by Luba
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I can’t say I always like the way the San Francisco Association of REATORS functions.  I definitely can’t stand the exorbitant fees they charge us to use the MLS and to be members (and if you’re not a member, you may as well not try to sell real estate in SF.)  And the MLS doesn’t always work as it should. And, well - I’m not here to diss them, so I’ll just stop.

The SFAR actually just did a pretty cool thing and revamped the fast facts they provide to us, REALTORS.

The SFAR hooked up with Terradatum, the award-winning real estate technology solutions company, to imprive the format of market data appearing in the Fast Facts section of REALTOR® Advantage Online each week, which I, then, share with you all.  But it’s not JUST the format that’s improving, the data itself is getting better too.  Now there will Days on Market (DOM) data as well months supply of inventory.  WOO HOO!  Seriously.  WOO HOO!

According to the email I received today from the SFAR:

Beginning with the August 12, 2008, issue of the publication, and continuing weekly thereafter, the Fast Facts section will provide a snapshot of market statistics for San Francisco and Daly City.  A different property type will be featured each week (i.e., Single Family Homes, Condo, 2-4 Units) and statistics will be given for each district 1 through 11, for the city overall (Districts 1-10) and for Daly City (District 11). 

The data Teradatum and the Association are intending to provide appears below…..

Also appearing below is a set of terms and definitions that will be used in the presentation of market data. Although it was published earlier, it is being published again so that readers can more readily understand the data fields presented.



NUMBER SOLD reflects the number of properties in the market segment that closed escrow during the month.

NUMBER FOR SALE is the number of active properties on the market for one day or more that month.

MEDIAN PRICE (SOLD) reflects the “middle” price point of a group of properties that have successfully closed escrow on a monthly basis, i.e. half sold for more and half sold for less than the median price.  Tracking the movement of median prices over time provides a good indicator of the direction market forces are moving. 

If the percentage change is positive between the two periods then there is upward pressure on prices in that market segment. If the percentage change is negative between the two periods then there is downward pressure on prices in that market segment. 

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET (DOM) reflects how long it has been taking (on average) to draw an offer on a reasonably priced property exposed to the market.  The AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET is defined as:

The average number of days it took all of the properties that went under contract during the period to accept a first position offer.

MONTHS SUPPLY OF INVENTORY (MSI) is a measure of how long it would take, in months, to sell the existing inventory at the current sales rate for the specific neighborhood and property type.  The MONTHS SUPPLY OF INVENTORY is defined as:

The number of active properties on the market for one day or more that month, less the number of properties that have been withdrawn or expired, divided by the number of properties that have gone under contract for the month being measured.

Tags: Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor, SF Real Estate Fast Facts, SF Real Estate Info for Buyers, SF Real Estate Info for Sellers, San Francisco News and Events by Luba
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Ok.  So sometimes we’re number 2.  But hell, according to Curbed SF, Forbes Magazine has rated San Francisco as:

• one of the best places to buy a home
• one of the best places to sell a home
• one of the best cities EVER (at least for young professionals)

Um… like… no duh!  The City is awesome. 

You can’t go wrong buying a home in SF.  As a long term investment, it’s always proved to be solid.  AND it’s just a great place to live.  (Don’t expect to turn around and sell it in a year or two and make a ton of cash.  I did say “long term investment.”)

You can’t go wrong selling a home in SF IF you bought it as a long term investment.  (If you bought in the last two years, try to hold on to it a little longer before selling.  You may very well lose money after factoring in selling costs.)

And if you’re a young professional, “long-term job opportunities, plenty of singles and impressive starting salaries” are just a few othe reasons that makes Forbes fall in love with SF.

Will Forbes’ love affair with the City by the Bay ever end?  How could it.  Even they left their heart here.

· Best Cities To Buy A Home [Forbes]

· Forbes lathers “best city” praise on SF Forbes lathers “best city” praise on SF [Curbed SF]

· The Good News: SF Second Best for Home Sellers [Curbed SF]

Tags: Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor, SF Real Estate Market Conditions, San Francisco News and Events by Luba
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Welcome back to Photo Friday - my little way of taking a break from San Francisco Real Estate and instead blogging about our great City’s past instead. All photos are published with permission from the San Francisco History Center and San Francisco Public Library.

The word around the weather channels is that this weekend is going to be NICE in the City!  Today, the weather is supposed to hit the mid 80’s in parts of SF.

And when the weather heats up around SF,  people in flock to Ocean Beach to cool down.  Unfortunately, these same beachgoers bring with them trash, bottles, cigarette butts and general filth.  A photo I took with my cameraphone on a hot April day gives you an idea of the aftermath. 

And apparently, people have been trashing the beach since long before I was born. 

Today’s Photo Friday shows the “Sand Cleanup Machine!”  The newscopy that went with the photo in 1948:

“BEACH CLEANUP STARTS-There shouldn’t be any broken glass, cigaret [sic] butts or other annoying refuse in the sands of Ocean Beach any more, now that the city’s new sifting and cleaning machine is in action. The device, which cost $9433, went to work yesterday afternoon. It will take a month to go through all the sand from the zoo to the Cliff House.”

Hmmm… I’m not sure how well the machine really worked, but if people trashed the beach then like they do now, I’m guessing that machine wore out after just a few days of cleaning. 

Anyhow - it’s too nice outside to be writing long blog posts, so this about wraps things up for the day.  Get out there and enjoy the nice weather!

Oh, and please, if you do come to the beach to escape from the heat in the rest of the City, please - be coureous and take your trash with you when you leave. 

Thanks and Happy Friday!

Tags: Green Living in SF, Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor, SF Historical Photos, San Francisco History, San Francisco Neighborhoods, San Francisco News and Events by Luba
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Welcome back to Photo Friday - my little way of taking a break from San Francisco Real Estate and instead blogging about our great City’s past instead. All photos are published with permission from the San Francisco History Center and San Francisco Public Library.

I swear - it seems that more and more often, idiots people are driving their cars right into the MUNI tunnel at West Portal Station.  In fact, there was ald 87 year old woman who did it yesterday, there was a drunk guy that did it a few months ago. 

The tunnel was built in 1918, and contrary to what it seems is becoming popular belief, it was always meant for streetcars. 

Over the years, the West Portal area, like most of San Francisco, has gone through a major transformation.  When this photo was taken, the area was just starting to be developed by local self-made developer Fernando Nelson.  By the 1930’s, West Portal Avenue had come to look similar to the way it looks today, with little shops that line the avenue.  By the 1960’s and 1970’s, it was determined that San Francisco needed to improve its public transportation (as if that still isn’t the case today) and so the old West Portal tunnel was demolished and in 1976, a new one was built in its place, along with the surrounding metro station. 

And it’s been there ever since.  The tunnel, people, is just for streetcars.  Please, please, please stop trying to drive through it! 

Have a good weekend, and if you’re driving, please, try to remember to stay on the road and out of MUNI tunnels. 

Tags: Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor, SF Historical Photos, San Francisco History, San Francisco News and Events by Luba
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