As if there isn’t enough bio-diesel controversy over the food for fuel debate now we have a little skirmish arising here in San Francisco. When we walk by any San Francisco restaurant (particularly the ones that have that delish yet oh so bad for you fried cuisine) we can smell where this fuss originated – the fryers. Yes, it’s that oh so wonderful french fry grease that companies like Blue Sky Bio-fuels and Got Grease work with to create biofuel. To us this method makes much more sense to reuse old oil and grease than to the create fuel directly from real food. In this case the grease skirmish remains between the City of San Francisco and the private sector. Both Got Grease and Blue Sky pick up grease (usually for free) from small restaurants, but now the City jumped into the fryer and... 06/27/2008

Our weekly installment, Reduction Roundup, will be available for your viewing pleasure each Wednesday. This little gem will bring you some of our favorite price reductions of the week. If you have questions, know of a good reduction that should be featured or want to know about a specific property, just ask… Reduction 4 Address: 76 Caselli Ave. Why: Because there is a Koi Pond and more toilets than beds Original Price: $2,598,000 Current Price: $2,298,000 Reduction 5 Address: 4 College Terrace Why: Because it’s a 3 bed/1.5 bath, 1700 square foot, bank-owned home selling for $441/sq ft. Original Price: $789,900 Current Price: $749,000 Reduction Roundup [SF Schtuff] make a comment 06/26/2008

District Map (PDF) Condominiums District 1 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 17 15 Median Selling Price 905,000 850,000 Average DOM 30 62 District 2 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 1 3 Median Selling Price 790,000 937,000 Average DOM 2 33 District 3 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 4 3 Median Selling Price 440,000 380,000 Average DOM 50 86 District 4 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 7 5 Median Selling Price 585,000 606,000 Average DOM 37 40 District 5 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 42 32 Median Selling Price 911,000 938,500 Average DOM 29 52           District 6 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 15 8 Median Selling Price 842,000 831,500 Average DOM 26 35 District 7 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 31 32 Median Selling Price 1,295,000 1,075,000 Average DOM 36 50 District 8 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 51 4... 06/26/2008

Our weekly installment, Seductively Sold, will be available for your viewing pleasure each Monday. This little gem will bring you all of the Condo/Loft/TIC sales in San Francisco from the previous week. If you would like the sales information for Single Family Homes or multi-unit buildings, just ask… Address District Asking $ Selling $ D.O.M. 955 Grove St #3 Alamo Square $349,000 $335,000 280 1947-A McAllister St North Panhandle $450,000 $450,000 111 1261 Grove St #3 Alamo Square $549,000 $530,000 40 260 Mullen Ave Bernal Heights $549,000 $502,000 60 1530 Jones St #3 Nob Hill $559,000 $560,000 444 2345 Jackson St #4 Pacific Heights $579,000 $579,000 62 61 Whitecliff Way Silver Terrace $579,999 $577,000 105 700 Dorado Ter #56 Mount Davidson $585,000 $580,000 20 1 Daniel Burnham Ct #1608... 06/26/2008

Aaron Peskin and Jake McGoldrick have proposed increases in the rate of the city’s real property transfer tax. Both proposals are intended to leave the rate for less expensive properties unchanged while focusing on properties in the mid- to high- price range. State law requires tax increases affecting real property to appear on the ballot and to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the electorate for passage. It is not known at this time whether either or both of the proposals will appear on the municipal ballot in November. To provide a basis for comparison, set forth below are the current transfer tax rates, as well as those proposed by Supervisors Peskin and McGoldrick. Changes to the transfer tax ordinance currently in effect are underlined. Current Rate Structure: Over $100 and les... 06/26/2008

Market. Started by Quakers and farmers in the 1980s to serve low-income families, this farmers market is a community hub and one of the few places near the Tenderloin to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. It's run on a shoestring by a nonprofit whose board members are elected by the farmers who sell their produce at the market. And it is about to be taken over by City Hall's Real Estate Division. Just opposite the plaza that houses the heart of the City affordable fresh food markets, their will be the resurrection of city urban gardens that will also help provide fresh sustainable food for all. SF Victory Gardens and Slow Food Nation, this project will not only create a fruit-and-vegetable garden in Civic Center Plaza, it'll create an archipelago of urban agriculture throughout the city, ... 06/25/2008

Here’s the latest Fast Facts update from the SFAR. Updates are provided almost weekly and each week is a different sector of the market (ie. Condos, Single Family Homes, 2-4 unit dwellings, etc.). Check back next week for more statistics. Fast Facts Condominiums District 1 May 2007 May 2008 Number of Sales 17 15 Median Selling Price 905,000 850,000 Average DOM 30 62 District 2 May 2007 May 2008 Number of Sales 1 3 Median Selling Price 790,000 937,000 Average DOM 2 33 District 3 May 2007 May 2008 Number of Sales 4 3 Median Selling Price 440,000 380,000 Average DOM 50 86 District 4 May 2007 May 2008 Number of Sales 7 5 Median Selling Price 585,000 606,000 Average DOM 37 40 District 5 May 2007 May 2008 Number of Sales 42 32 Median Selling Price 911,000 938,500 Average DOM 29 52 District 6... 06/24/2008

Living in San Francisco can be a wonderful experience.  Around every corner is a unexpected view of something amazing: a gingerbread dripping Victorian; Alcatraz; the East Bay Hills; goats on a hillside "mowing" the weeds; a fountain; Sutro Tower; and on and on and on.  I wake-up every day and rejoice in this, my hometown. 06/24/2008

I just sent this to the company EcoBroker International. I know it will be controversial but I'm taking the action in the hope that it will cause good future outcome.   While I applaud your goals I have to ask a few pointed questions. I have a broker's license and in this industry it means something to say I am a broker. Do the people that take your course work have to have a broker's license? If not they should not call themselves brokers for the simple reason that they are not and it is confusing to the public. As far as the NAR not recognizing any 3rd party designations, I don't think that's quite accurate either. NAR has many affiliated designations and they also buy certain designations. S.R.E.S. being a clear example started by a group here in the foothills of the Sierra and bough... 06/20/2008

  Our NEW weekly installment, Reduction Roundup, will be available for your viewing pleasure each Wednesday. This little gem will bring you some of our favorite price reductions of the week. If you have questions, know of a good reduction that should be featured or want to know about a specific property, just ask… Reduction 3: Address: 665 Townsend Street Why: Because now it costs half. HALF! (almost) and it’s “reduced for immediate sale” Original Price: $149,000 Current Price: $79,000   Reduction 4: Address: 375 Diamond Street Why: Because it’s an “architecturally signif home” and was reduced by half a mil. Original Price: $3,250,000 Current Price: $2,750,000 Reduction Roundup [SF Schtuff] make a comment 06/18/2008

Purchased for $859,000 last May, this 1881 square foot, 2bed/2.5 bath “loft” in the oh-so-hip Central Waterfront, just steps from the MUNI T-third can be yours for $749,000. Who would sell such a luscious unit for $110,000 less than they bought it for just 13 months ago? The bank my kiddies, the bank is selling this precious little piece… 1099 23rd Street #21 [MLS] *image a la mapjack Bank Owned in the Dogpath [SF Schtuff] make a comment 06/18/2008

Our weekly installment, Seductively Sold, will be available for your viewing pleasure each Monday. This little gem will bring you all of the Single Family Home sales in San Francisco from the previous week. If you would like the sales information for Condo’s, TIC’s or multi-unit buildings, just ask… Address District Asking $ Selling $ D.O.M. 256 Parque Dr Visitacion Valley $399,000 $423,000 15 100 Orizaba Ave Ingleside Heights $579,000 $548,000 23 48 Cayuga Ave Mission Terrace $499,900 $565,000 5 837 Brussels St Portola $549,000 $610,000 12 175 Cotter St Mission Terrace $620,000 $620,000 83 549 Grafton Ave Ingleside $649,000 $630,000 42 19 Porter St Bernal Heights $639,000 $635,000 55 183 Prague St Excelsior $659,000 $637,000 32 5324 Anza St Outer Richmond $749,000 $658,000 65 1432 Oak... 06/18/2008

Last October we introduced you to The Tubbs Mansion. It’s an historic piece of San Francisco that went up for sale for a mere $19,750,000. Can you really put a price tag on owning history? The home recently closed escrow (6/6/08–sorry for the delay) for $18,000,000 after sitting on the market for 180 days. The listing agents were also the selling agents. The Tubbs Mansion [San Francisco Schtuff] 2515 Scott Street [Home San Francisco] The Tubbs Mansion: Sold [San Francisco Schtuff] Listed by Tina Bartlett Hinckley & Ted Bartlett at McGuire Real Estate. Photo courtesy of the listing agents via MLS 06/18/2008

With the demise of some lenders like Greenpoint-Paul Financial and the pressures being placed on banks to get away from Stated Income lending could make it difficult for borrowers coming out of 5-7-10 year option Arms. Working with an experienced professional with years of experience and relationships is imperative. With changes in guidelines and loan amounts more FHA and full doc loans will be needed. 06/16/2008

Back in the day before "sustainable" and "organic" represented the trendy food terms, Alice Waters created her restaurant Chez Panisse as a place for her friends and her friend's friends to eat. Last week, she spoke with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome who took time off from trying to balance the city’s budget while turning the city Green to act as host for the San Francisco City Speaks forum. The discussion, which focused around good, sustainable, fair food brought about several issues and illustrated that people and companies continue to “Greenwash” especially where food is concerned. It’s not just saying that your company or business is green or sustainable but rather as Waters said, “ I look for people who really share the same values.” Are you listening Wal-Mart? Newsom seemed ki... 06/13/2008

Our NEW weekly installment, Reduction Roundup, will be available for your viewing pleasure each week. This little gem will bring you some of our favorite price reductions of the week. If you have questions, know of a good reduction that should be featured or want to know about a specific property, just ask… Number 1: Address: 75 Mountain Spring Ave Why: because it was reduced one miiieeeeelion dollars Original price: $5,495,000 Current price: $4,500,000   Number 2: Address: 425 1st Street #2602 Why: because it has killer views and it was reduced after only 19 days. Original price: $1,379,000 Current price: $1,299,000 make a comment Reduction Roundup I [SF Schtuff] 06/12/2008

District Map (PDF) Single Family Homes District 1 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 18 26 Median Selling Price 1,597,500 1,433,642 Average DOM 35 34 District 2 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 48 51 Median Selling Price 897,000 835,000 Average DOM 32 35 District 3 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 16 10 Median Selling Price 813,500 639,500 Average DOM 37 53 District 4 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 36 27 Median Selling Price 1,225,000 1,087,680 Average DOM 33 35 District 5 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 36 35 Median Selling Price 1,457,500 1,299,000 Average DOM 32 29 District 6 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 5 3 Median Selling Price 1,725,000 979,000 Average DOM 37 47 District 7 May-07 May-08 Number of Sales 13 14 Median Selling Price 4,650,000 3,545,000 Average DOM 36 49 District 8 May-07 May-08 Nu... 06/11/2008

Our weekly installment, Seductively Sold, will be available for your viewing pleasure each Monday. This little gem will bring you all of the Condo sales in San Francisco from the previous week. If you would like the sales information for Single Family Homes, TIC’s or multi-unit buildings, just ask… Address District Asking $ Selling $ D.O.M. 1001 Pine St #212 Downtown $398,000 $400,000 31 240 Lombard #930 North Waterfront $429,000 $400,000 117 2250 24th St #223 Potrero Hill $499,000 499,000 56 33 Vandewater St #201 North Beach $525,000 $512,000 19 1000 Steiner St #203 Western Addition $549,000 $549,550 18 2001 McAllister St #242 North Panhandle $595,000 $575,000 56 1839 15th St #365 Mission Dolores $629,000 $620,000 54 1820 Vallejo St #202 Pacific Heights $679,000 $679,000 86 3324 Octav... 06/11/2008

I'm headed to SUCCESS in San Francisco!!!! Joining is easy if you are a blogger you can save some money. This is not intended to be a secret but a sweet peice of information. If you are a blogger you can put the connect up on your blogsite and get a big blogging discount. There are rules...easy ones...write why you are coming and blog after about why you went. You have to also join and be a member. Joining and blogging you get the best of all worlds BOTH membership and the event. Imagine meeting Laurie Manny! I don't know that she will be there but I am willing to bet she will. She is actually amazing and real. That is, real smart and real down to earth too. So See you in San Francisco everyone. This is truly the place to be this year to hone in on all the inside track. They have a news... 06/06/2008

Through the first quarter of 2008, San Francisco home sales are down approximately 55% in volume but prices experienced a slight rise of 3% based on the median value, compared to quarter 1 of 2007.  While homes sales volume has dipped into a range not seen since 2003, the median value of homes has remained relatively stable.  San Francisco home values have actually remained relatively stagnant since Q1 2005 and have remained just about even over the last 3 years. Based on the data,  San Francisco shows signs of being a strong market but with the large dip in sales volume for Quarter 1 2008, there may be a significant price decrease to follow in Quarter 2.  Prices will certainly decline if the the volume does not pick up soon. San Francisco consumers looking to purchase a home are certai... 06/06/2008