Our simple math: living in the city = less time and money spent in transit. But if you must get down to details, check out the Terwilliger Housing & Transportation Costs Calculator, which we used to get some basic data in the image below. It’s pretty slick and definitely good ammunition to put in front of your boss when you ask to “work” out of the house or closer to home.

In regards to housing being “less expensive” outside of San Francisco (or any city):

-“Housing that appears affordable based solely on housing costs may not be truly affordable when it is located far from transit, jobs and services,” said Cisneros. “[The] report underscores the importance of broadening the understanding of housing affordability challenges to also include transportation costs, time and the environmental impacts of commuting.”

-[The report, Bay Area Burden] provides a comprehensive analysis of the “cost of place” in nine counties located throughout the San Francisco region by examining the costs and impacts of housing and transportation on residents, their neighborhoods and the environment. The report demonstrates the severity of the problem in the region and how the combined costs of housing and transportation are leaving San Francisco Bay Area workers with insufficient resources to meet their basic needs. The report finds that three fifths of all Bay Area residents live in communities that are unaffordable to households earning less than $80,000.

In terms of environmental impact (because it’s so hip to be green):

Bay Area Burden also demonstrates the unintended environmental impacts of [living in the 'burbs]. The successful implementation of greenhouse gas emission reduction plans in the transportation sector is particularly important in the Bay Area, where transportation accounts for 40.6 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 33 percent nationally. Bay Area Burden illustrates how densely developed urban counties like San Francisco are estimated to have substantially fewer vehicle miles traveled per household (19.4) and thus lower per-household carbon dioxide emissions (20.2) than do more rural and suburban counties such as Solano, where those figures are 50.4 and 49.4 respectively. Considering that less than one in ten (9.5%) Bay Area workers use public transit, compared with 26.5% in the New York Metropolitan area and 11.1% in the Washington DC region, these figures are even more compelling [and SAD!!!].

Obviously, we take this data and use it for supporting a healthy and vibrant life in the city of San Francisco, but it clearly extends waaaay beyond our boundaries to other world class cities (New York, Chicago, Singapore, Tokyo, Paris, London, etc.), so if you happen to live in one of those areas, we’d be happy to hear your thoughts (in the comments below).

We keep trying to tell you, the city is THE place to be, now and in the future, so get in while you still can…

-Bay Area Burden Housing/Transportation Report Key Findings
-BayAreaBurden.org
-Terwilliger Housing & Transportation Costs Calculator
[Props go out to the Center for Neighborhood Technology for providing much of the data, and the Center for Housing Policy who provided much of the analysis of that data for the report.]

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[Update 2: From "Garrett" in the comments below: "what this chart doesn’t measure is opportunity costs. it is a PAIN IN THE ASS to buy/sell/manage a TIC. i don’t care if it’s a 2 unit building or a 6 unit building, TICs always come with drama… if you want to condo convert it will cost money and you’ll have to deal with your partners and the city. if you want to sell, you’ll have to deal with equity/liquid cash issues. the drama/potential problem list goes on and on and on. so, not only is there a difference in “value” there is an even greater discrepancy between TICs and Condos when it comes to time, headaches and just general pains in the ass." Now how many Realtors are going to be that honest with you? Hats off to Garrett!]

RealDataSF is Misha Weidman…and we thank him for the graph. More details at his site.

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“For the past 12 months, all our attempts to refi to lower the rate to 5.25 or better have fallen short. Many times, it starts great – then stops short when reaching the line that says I don’t work regardless of any other financial info. (2 borrowers = 2 jobs for more than 24 months each)

We have found a broker that is ok to attempt a refi – but he’s asking for “Copies of 2007 and 2008 W2’s and 1040 Federal Tax Returns (all pages and schedules)”

Although I understand where this request comes from (and I agree that lax practices created the current mess) I’m extremely concerned about giving our most intimate and private information away.

From my point of view, there is absolutely no justification for disclosing to a loan officer:
- all details of all the medical bills.
- all details of fertility treatment, adoption, abortion and other family expenses and whatever items that can be listed.
- all details about your nanny and other children care expenses.
- all details about your religious life – who you gave to, and how much
- all details about your political life – who you supported and how much
- all details about your off shore bank accounts, details about your children college accounts, and other private stashes of money,
- a complete copy of your foreign tax returns
-etc.

The broker was adamant that banks are not accepting 1040 with ANY data missing, pages missing, lines blacked out….

If I understood correctly, an application including the authorization for the release of the Feds records (4506-T) – but missing OUR voluntary copy of the tax return won’t be accepted either (something we would have – somehow – agreed to).
The broker wouldn’t even understand why I agree to disclose this info to our accountant and to the Feds – and refuse to give it to several banks/lenders.

And so we get to my questions….

1. What is the legal ground for such a request – and is there a way to work with that type of requirement?
2. What are the legal protections against misuse of information – like personal retaliation (someone [posting] your info online or somewhere else?) – or even plain discrimination (loan officer doesn’t appreciate your political support on prop 8, or refuses to loan to an HIV positive couple?)
3. How much is my information worth? Where is the threshold when the savings is more important than my privacy?

Any information you or your readers can provide would be much appreciated.

Sincerely,

[A Regular Reader]“

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2. Document any 1964 Datsuns with a blown motor trapped in the garage for 40+ years:

3. Rip up disgusting kitchens and baths:

–

4. Go to Haight Street, buy a magic wand, tap it three times, and poof! Datsun gone and property remodeled!

–

–

[Notice the marketing remarks? "Two enormous storage areas which can easily accommodate surf boards..." So hip! Don't forget spell check. ]

5. Slap a new price tag on it…orginally $1,200,000, and now only $1,158,000, throw it on the market as a single family home, or maybe a two unit building, or even two separate TICs, give it a personalized property website, cross your fingers, and hope you can soon see some return on your investment (of time, money, sweat, and sleepless nights.)

It’s that simple…

-43-43 1/2 Downey, $1,158,000, Cole Valley [Single Family Home, Two Unit Building, Tenancies In Common]

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We received this email last night from the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, and we’re sure you all heard about the Emergent Closure of the Bay Bridge yesterday due to a “cantilever section made over Labor Day weekend[,which] snapped and crashed onto the upper deck of the span late [yesterday] afternoon, striking three vehicles and forcing the indefinite closure of the region’s busiest bridge”, but in case you hadn’t, now you know.

If you live and work in the city, emails and events like this should have little impact on your daily life (like us), but if you’re B & T, you’re bumming…

Golden Gate Transit Bus, Golden Gate Ferry and Gate Golden Bridge Customers:

In light of the closure of the Bay Bridge [last night] Tuesday, October 27, and the unknown timing of its re-opening, we want to caution all our passengers to expect delays on our systems during the closure. At the Golden Gate Bridge, we will have all lanes in the Toll Plaza opened by 4 am in anticipation of heavy southbound traffic and the roadway will be configured with 4 lanes southbound into San Francisco for the morning commute. Golden Gate Ferry will be prepared to add a high-capacity Spaulding vessel to operate after 7 am from Larkspur to San Francisco, depending on the passenger demand. Golden Gate Transit buses will operate as close to schedule as they possibly can, given the traffic.

Oh…we often forget we have a lot of out of town readers that might not know what exactly “B & T” means. Maybe one of our readers can clarify, because we don’t dare go there.

Yet another one of the many “reasons we live here” in the city.

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[We couldn't pick just one "favorite" photo to show you as example, so we grabbed three.]

["Exploding Psychology"]
–

["Shoe shine on Market Street"]
–

["Smoke 'em if you got 'em"]

You’ve likely already seen Caliber mentioned on any of the multiple San Francisco blogs around town, but we wanted to give them a chance to prove what they got before doing our little plug. Well, they’ve exceeded expectations and it’s quite simply an awesome site with really, really amazing photos and we’re more than happy to send them a little love, and send you their way.

Go ahead, you’re not that busy. Check them out.

-Caliber Photo Blog

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That gold must be worth something. Surely one of the countless banks they owe money to could pawn those off.

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Hey Alex,

Thanks for stopping by yesterday! Sorry I couldn’t make it. Thought I’d share the conversation I had with my boyfriend when I got home:

Boyfriend said “Have you met him?”
Me: “No, not in person.”
BF: “He seems pretty cool for a Realtor.”
Me: “He’s pretty cool for a human.”

Thanks for that! We’ll get together soon!

Oh but wait! According to this D-Bag, my numbers aren’t where they should be, so I’ll have to come back today and get you to sign on the dotted line. Okay?

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Go check it out. Looks like the surf is going to be absolutely horrendous, which means you’ll have more time to hang out, check out the Rip Curl wetsuits, and get autographs from the man (Tom Curren) himself!

Today, 8am- 12pm on Ocean Beach in front of the Wise Surf Shop.

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Let’s hope he’s not the neighbor, cuz that’s getting a bit too close.

-140 Faith, $760,500

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