Prop 8 Protests: San Francisco, CA, November 15, 2008, originally uploaded on by Pargon

If you’re a regular reader, I’ve been gone for a little while.  Even though I love writing this blog, I needed a little break to find my mojo again.  And so during the time away from blogging I’ve been working extra hard.  Accepting offers, rejecting offers, writing offers (getting them both rejected and accepted) and more.  Of course, along with working extra hard, I’ve also been playing extra hard and found myself taking a few small vacations as well as a bigger and longer jaunt across the pond to Germany and Israel.  I went kayaking.  I went scuba diving in the Red Sea.  I rode a camel in the Negev and Sinai Deserts.  I shopped.  I relaxed.  I explored.  And most of all, I enjoyed coming hom to the City that I call “home!”

And now that I’m done playing, I’ll be focusing again on providing you loyal readers (and those of you that have just happened to stop by) with interesting and informative information.  And occasionally, a little fun as well. 

Don’t forget to check back again soon for more posts about San Francisco Real Estate.  And don’t forget to check back next week for another awesome San Francisco photo.

And if you’d like to throw your photos into the pool of candidates for my SF Photo Friday collection, tag your SF Photos from Flickr with LubaSF. 

Happy Friday!  See you soon!

Tags: SF Historical Photos, SF Places, San Francisco Photos, San Francisco Snapshots by Luba
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Fort Funston, originally uploaded on by maison

As you guys know, I’ve put Open Shutter to the Past: San Francisco in Pictures on hold for a bit. 

Also, you’re probably noticed that postings in this SF Real Estate Blog have been pretty light this week.  

I’ve done a bit of a number on my back, and after seeing an awesome SF acupuncturist, I’m just heading on the road to recovery.  I’ve never been a big fan of acupuncture, but after 20 minutes of needles in my back, an infrared light, cupping, massage and then some magical medical plaster that felt like it was burning my back, I’m finally feeling a little better. 

But, I’m not feeling well enough to risk going horseback riding today, which was my original plan for this lovely Friday afternoon.  Instead, I’ll be taking it easy and letting my body finish its recovery.

And whether you’re taking it easy, or riding high this weekend, I hope you have an awesome time. 

And don’t forget to check back next week for another awesome San Francisco photo.

And if you’d like to throw your photos into the pool of candidates for my SF Photo Friday collection, tag your SF Photos from Flickr with LubaSF.

Happy Friday!

Tags: SF Places, San Francisco Photos, San Francisco Snapshots by Luba
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Biker on Bridge, originally uploaded on by pup ajax

Those of you that stop by often know that here on my San Francisco real estate blog, Friday’s are typically my historical SF photo post. 

But those that know me well know that I’m not very good at routines or schedules or doing the same things over and over.  Frankly, I get bored quite easily.  Which is why I love being a Realtor – it’s the one profession where every day is completely different. 

• No two houses are the same.
• No two transactions are the same.
• No two clients are the same.
• No two loans are the same.
• No two days are the same. 

And so, because I’ve been lucky enough to be a San Francisco Realtor, I never get bored. 

In fact, I often say that I’ll be doing this (helping people buy and sell SF real estate) for at least another 50 years, which means that I’ll be helping my client’s grandchildren buy their first homes!    I may need to have my (future) robot assistant carry me up and down the stairs when I look at properties, but I can’t imagine life without doing what I love for a living. 

But I digress – I guess where I started this whole post is by saying that I’ll be putting the Open Shutter to the Past: San Francisco in Pictures on a little hiatus. 

In its place, at least for the time being, I’ll be throwing in some SF Photos from Flickr. Why?  Because I like to do things a little differently from time to time. 

Will the Open Shutter to the Past be back?  Check back often to find out  and to see some awesome SF pictures. 

Happy Friday!  Hope you have a great weekend!

(A quick UPDATE - a brilliant comment from Maisnon below prompted me to add this note: If you’d like to share your photos with other blog readers, tag them with “lubasf” - I’ll be on the lookout for those first!)

Tags: SF Places, San Francisco Photos, San Francisco Snapshots by Luba
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I’m always getting asked about natural hazards. 

In case you don’t already know - San Francisco is kinda known as prime earthquake country.  But where you live has an impact on how an earthquake might affect you (and how much shaking your home will do.)

So I thought I’d throw a few maps up here for readers that are curious about the location of natural hazards in San Francisco.

Click on the map for a bigger view, and to be taken to the source of the map.

San Francisco Liquefaction Map

San Francisco Natural Hazards Map

My personal favorite, which is sort of a hazard because building a house on water is never a good idea, is a map of all of the creeks, marshes and landfill throughout historical San Francisco. This map is from the 1890’s. As with the others, click to see the map full size, and to see the source.

San Francisco Historical Creek Map

And finally - if you’re curious about the last little rumble you felt - check out this map which will show you the size and magnitude of the most recent earthquake.

San Francisco Recent Earthquakes

Tags: SF Historical Photos, SF Places, SF Real Estate Info for Buyers, SF Real Estate Info for Sellers, San Francisco Neighborhoods 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!  And if the last few days are any indication, I believe it!  Today, the weather is supposed to hit the mid to HIGH 80’s in parts of SF.

And when the weather heats up around SF,  people in flock to Ocean Beach to cool down.  They’ve been doing that for ages.  And this weekend will be no different. 

But with all of the parks in the City, to get your outdoor fix this weekend, you don’t have to go to the beach.  But I’m sure you’ll enjoy it if you do. 

No matter what you decide to do this weekend, wear sunscreen, drink lots of water and don’t drink and drive – I hope you have a great time and a safe time. 

See you back here Tuesday when the 3 day holiday is but a memory!   

Tags: SF Historical Photos, SF Places, San Francisco History, San Francisco Snapshots by Luba
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