When a producer of HGTV’s House Hunters told me I was “a walking sound-bite” during our TV shoot last year, I wasn’t sure whether it was a compliment or not until my friend & AP journalist said the same thing yesterday on my Facebook page after I was quoted in Monday’s San Francisco Chronicle article by Carolyn Said: “Yes, yes, Noe Valley, say eager S.F. home buyers” about tech workers buying homes in Noe Valley & environs. According to my friend, “it means you’re coherent, you use telling vocabulary and you don’t go on forever.”

I’m still not so sure they don’t mean that I sound like a real estate-bot but hey, I’ll take the compliment!

Oh right, you are probably more interested in the news article on the local SF real estate market than you are in my personal musings and desire for the spotlight….so here you go. I’ll start with my quote!

94114 (Noe Valley & Castro) Single Family Homes Down 5% from the Peak. NTS!

The private bus routes sponsored by tech firms are a draw, said Zephyr agent Danielle Lazier. “We see a lot of first-time buyers from tech companies who still want to have a city lifestyle; they don’t want to live in the suburbs, but they work down south. What I notice is when people from Google, Apple, Yahoo and Genentech come in for a first meeting, we literally draw a line in the city because of the commute. Noe Valley is at the top of the list, then Bernal [Heights], Mission, Dolores, Cole Valley.”

The numbers tell the story. The median sales price in San Francisco has tumbled to $653,000, down 22 percent from its 2007 peak of $840,000, according to real estate information service Dataquick. That’s a far less dramatic slide than most other California cities. But in ZIP code 94114, which includes Noe Valley and the Castro, the median sales price for single-family homes now stands at $1.332 million, only 5 percent below its 2007 peak of $1.406 million.The median condo price is $820,000, down 8.5 percent from its 2007 peak of $896,000.

“It’s not completely bulletproof, but it’s more stable than other areas,” Lazier said. “Not everything sells over asking price the way it used to.”

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/19/BUIS1N7MM8.DTL#ixzz1n2iHPgD0

google maps - click to enlarge

Oakland neighborhood north of I-580, between Grand Lake and High Street

Though I have lived in Oakland for years, I am still finding new neighborhoods and amazing homes all the time. When I moved to the Lynn neighborhood of Oakland three years ago (some call it Highland Heights) I made it a point to explore the various neighborhoods north of I-580, between Grand Lake and High Street. Walking, I have found, has been the best way to get to know an area, and my dogs are happy to accompany me. One of these areas, Oakmore, has become my favorite.

Oakmore is home to craftsmen, bungalows, Mediterranean, contemporary and mid-century homes. Many of them in the northern section of the neighborhood boast of amazing panoramic views of the Bay and San Francisco. Though each street has its own character, one thing that remains consistent in Oakmore is the friendly, approachable feeling of its residents. Children are often seen playing basketball and skateboarding, and walkers of all ages are out with their dogs, making this neighborhood seem a bit old-fashioned, in a delightfully charming way.

4362 Whittle, offered by Sotheby's (www.eastbaysir.com)

Oakmore lies between the 580 and Highway 13, between the Park and Fruitvale exits (accessible via both). Developed in the late 20s and 30s, Oakmore was designed as a “model community” with its large lots, wide streets, and ample sidewalks. Dimond Canyon Park, an 80 acre wild open space, flanks the Northwest side of the area, providing not only walking and biking trails, but is also home to Montclair Golf Club. The south section is a short walk, bike ride, or drive away to such amenities as Farmer Joes, Peets Coffee, Safeway, Nama Sushi, and the tennis courts and pool of the Dimond Recreation Center. Park Avenue, located on the west side of Oakmore (bordering another great neighborhood – Glenview), is home to a myriad of restaurants, including Park Sushi, Marzano, Bellanico, and the brand new Rumbo Al Sur.

4015 Whittle, offered by Re/Max

Transportation to and from San Francisco is quite convenient.

For commuters, you’ll find a casual carpool pick-up location at Fruitvale and Montana, and a transbay bus stop at Macarthur and Fruitvale. I-580 is just south of Oakmore, and Highway 13 to Berkeley and Walnut Creek is just a short drive north. The Fruitvale Bart Station is a 10-15 minute drive south, while the MacArthur station is 10 minutes west by freeway.

The Oakmore Real Estate Market

There are currently 18 active listings in Oakmore, with a median price of $487,000. 16 homes were sold in the last three months, with the median sold price being $629,000.

If you are interested in learning more about buying or selling a home in Oakmore, contact us. We are a team of SF Bay Area real estate experts and our East Bay specialist is here to help.

Photos of Oakmore- click to enlarge:

2043 Clemens, sold 7/2011, The Grubb Company

4128 Fruitvale, sold 2/2011, Sotheby's

Houses on Fruitvale Ave.

Upper Fruitvale Ave.

Clemens Street

1322 Egret Dr, Sunnyvale, CA

Sunnyvale Home Sale

We helped our clients purchase this fabulous remodeled four bedroom, two bathroom home in Sunnyvale, CA!

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Pacific Heights Top Floor Condo for Sale

2950 Clay Street #302 @ Divisadero St

We are super excited about our new listing for sale - 2950 Clay St #302 Street San Francisco 94115, listed at $799,000 - Pacific Heights Contemporary Condo for Sale- because of it’s open floor plan, large rooms, great light & central location!

Property Details:

Welcome to 2950 Clay St #302, a contemporary top-floor condo in a 12-unit building. This condo is centrally located in a highly sought-after section of Pacific Heights. Enjoy the perks of living on a classy, residential block yet be easy walking distance to cafes, shopping, and activities such as The Mindful Body, Eliza’s, Food Inc., Solstice, Tortilla Heights, Alta Plaza Park, Laurel Village, Fillmore Street and more.

This condo features an open floor plan great for entertaining, an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances, engineered wood floors throughout the living areas, three large, freshly carpeted bedrooms, two remodeled marble bathrooms, including one master suite, and closets galore with custom modular shelving. Since the 4^th floor of the building is built back behind unit #302, relish the quiet of having no one above you. Enjoy the abundant natural light and southern exposure as well as partial San Francisco city and hill views, including the gold dome of City Hall. This unit also benefits from two exclusive storage lockers, one car deeded parking, and shared laundry.

Enjoy Pacific Heights living at its finest!

A Note from the Sellers:

Dear Prospective Buyer,

The Pacific Heights neighborhood is unlike any other in the city and is considered to be one of the most scenic and vibrant areas in SF.  Living here allowed us to enjoy some of the best things San Francisco has to offer. For example, Fillmore Street is just a few blocks away and has a variety of restaurants and cuisines to satisfy anyone’s palette. We’ve been going to our favorite Peruvian restaurant ‘Fresca’ for years and absolutely love their ceviche!  The convenience of being able to walk to Mollie Stone’s for groceries and then to our favorite bakery La Boulangerie for coffee made living in Pac Heights a unique urban experience.

The condo is surrounded by beautiful Victorian homes, churches and parks. Check out Alta Plaza Park, 2 blocks from the building. It has spectacular views of the city and bay, and we’ve enjoyed a few tennis matches at the free courts. Walking distance from the condo is Divisadero Street, which has great pubs and bars. We’ve spent many Saturday nights with friends at our favorite local “Lion Pub.”

Most of all, we have enjoyed living in our condo at 2950 Clay. We love the high ceilings with the wood panels, cozy fireplace and French doors in the living room. My husband and I like entertaining and cooking for friends and family, and the open kitchen layout was great for that. The bedroom and spare rooms are spacious, and the upgraded and remodeled bathrooms add to the charm of the condo. If you are looking for a modern, centrally located condo in a great neighborhood – this is it.

-Jaime & Michelle

Property Photos:

Showing Schedule:

Open House – Sunday 1/8, 2:00-4:00PM

Brokers’ Tour – all are welcome! – Tuesday 1/10, 10:00am-11:30am

Showings by appointment.

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720 Shrader St @ Waller

Cole Valley Condo

Our team helped these buyers into a gorgous top floor Victorian condo in Cole Valley.

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Buena Vista/Ashbury Heights Home

Danielle helped her buyer into this gracious Ashbury Heights home with charm and stylish updates.

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796 Elizabeth St @ Douglass

Noe Valley Condo

Danielle and Tanya helped their buyers purchase this charming three bedroom, one bathroom condo with parking in Noe Valley!

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3487 16th St @ Sanchez

Eureka Valley/Dolores Heights Condo Sale

We helped our buyers purchase this bright, quiet, spacious top floor condo in the vibrant Eureka Valley San Francisco neighborhood, close to Dolores Park/Valencia shops & BART.

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Bernal Heights New Construction Condos for Sale

 

361-363 Elsie St @ Santa Marina St – Bernal Heights Luxury New Construction For Sale

This is a rare opportunity to live in stylish luxury while also enjoying Bernal Heights’ coveted “country village in the City” feel. These luxury new construction condos in Bernal Heights hit the mark with high-end finishes, functional floor plans, house-like privacy, and a prime location with super easy access to Cortland Ave, Holly Park & public transit (J-Church, 24-Divis & 14-Mission).

Property Details:

363 Elsie Street – Offered at $995,000

• 2-Level Luxury Condo
• 3-4 Bedrooms; 1 Room Perfect for an Office, Guest or Child’s Room
• 2.5 Marble Bathrooms; Master w/ Jetted Tub
• 1 Car SxS Parking in Huge Garage
• Spacious Custom Closets with Organizers
• Exclusive-Use Large, Flat Walk-Out Patio & Yard Off of the Kitchen

361 Elsie Street – Offered at $989,000

•  Top Floor, 2-Level Luxury Condo
• 3 Bedrooms, including 1 Master Suite with Views and Jetted Tub!
• 2 Marble Bathrooms
• 1 Car SxS Parking in Large Garage
• Huge Custom Closets with Organizers
• Spacious, Private, VIEW Deck of Living Areas
• Open Living/Dining/Kitchen Floor Plan with Views and Great Light!

Features:

Bamboo Floors (living room, dining room, bedrooms and closets)

Marble Floors (kitchen and bathrooms)

Granite Countertop (kitchen)

Marble Countertop (bathrooms)

Crown Molding

Wood Double Pane Windows

Bosch Appliances (top of the line)

Kohler Plumbing Fixtures

Kohler Jacuzzi Tub (master bathroom)

Frame-less (glass) Shower and Tub Enclosures

In-Unit Washer & Dryer Hookups

Slate Tile Entrance

Security Gate

Secure Entrance from Garage into the Units

Intercom System (two controls)

Security System –ADT

High Efficiency Furnace (garage)

Tank-less Water Heater (garage)

Utility room (garage)

Automatic Garage Door Opener

HOA Dues = $263.00/month

Between Holly Park and Cortland Ave, this is prime Bernal Heights Village, serene yet central and convenient. Organic groceries, local butcher, cafes, yoga, gourmet bakery, Sushi, Italian, Peruvian, Californian, renovated public library, independent bookstore & video store, bank, neighborhood pride, and much more!

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WalkScore:

246 Sanchez St #A @ 16th St 

Eureka Valley/Dolores Heights Condo Sale

We helped our buyer find this great 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo in Eureka Valley/Dolores Heights San Francisco before it even hit the public market!

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