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Gobbledygook—Seven Ways Buyers Sabotage ThemselvesI generally shy away from blogging about practical tips or market prognostications, but having this week heard several first-time buyers’ plans to shoot themselves in the proverbial feet, I thought I’d offer just a smidgen of advice. Here are seven wrong ways of thinking that make it hard for a so-called buyer to actually buy. “All my agent cares about is making a sale&quo... more...
Blogged on 2/1/2012
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This Week's 10 Most Viewed Properties on McGuire.comThe hunt for a new home varies in shape, size, price range, amenities, as well as neighborhoods; it’s really up the individual buyer to figure out what they’re looking for and explore the properties which catch their eye. That being said, some listings tend to have more luck than others—for a number of reasons—and so to shed some light, here are the top 10 prop... more...
Blogged on 1/31/2012
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Get the Scoop on San Francisco MLS ChangesBeginning January 2012 the San Francisco Multiple Listing Service (MLS) added additional status categories in response to the changes in the current real estate market. In the past once an offer was received and until contingencies were removed, a property was listed in the MLS online simply as Active-Continued. Weeks to months may pass while an offer on a property wades through the appro... more...
Blogged on 1/27/2012
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San Francisco Parking Tips: Reviewing David LaBau's Finding the Sweet SpotThere’s no question that I’m parking obsessed, I admit it freely. Over five years ago, when my compact station wagon died, I bought a Mazda Miata. A major part of my choice was based on the length of the car. Many friends and business associates thought I had gone round the bend, but five years later it is clear I was a visionary ahead of my time. Fast forward to to... more...
Blogged on 1/20/2012
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Jack London’s Paradise: Marin CountyTwice last week, I found myself trying to describe to out-of-area clients, the difference between living in Marin versus their other options the East Bay or the Peninsula. This conversation comes up a lot with buyers moving here for jobs in San Francisco, as Marin tends to be a bit pricier and has a smaller supply of homes (i.e. less housing stock) than the East Bay and much of the Peninsula. I... more...
Blogged on 1/19/2012
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Smack Dab in the Heart of SFFor 25 years I’ve been touring houses, condos and buildings in San Francisco, and I’ve come to love particular enclaves. Some are best kept secrets, some are under-valued. Some have features only residents can truly appreciate. One of these micro-neighborhoods is tucked at the far western border of NOPA. Once upon a time it was known as part of Hayes Valley, and some fol... more...
Blogged on 1/18/2012
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Get Your House Naked and Ready to Sell!Clutter is always on the minds of Realtors, Sellers and Buyers. I don’t know if there has been a scientific study to find out if homes with less clutter sell faster, but I am sure that every Realtor I know would agree this is true. Buyers have come to expect that homes are staged, or at least look staged. The minimalist look is IN. It is not inexpensive to stage a home and as t... more...
Blogged on 1/13/2012
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New Year’s Resolutions for Buyers and SellersThere is no way to get around the fact that buying, or selling a home involves major decisions. It’s time consuming in the best of circumstances, emotionally draining and overwhelming in the worst. A few good New Year’s resolutions are worth considering. When you say to yourself, “there are so many details, I don’t know where to begin,” you can fall back on your... more...
Blogged on 1/9/2012
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Salesforce.com, Inc. Signs Major Lease for its Spot in Downtown SFThey’ve done it again—in addition to the 14 acre Mission Bay Campus being built in 2013—it appears Salesforce.com, Inc. needs additional space to house all of its employees and peripherals. The company just signed a $339M lease at 50 Fremont Street for 18 years; the city’s longest term in the last 10 years. The big move is scheduled for this summer. This wi... more...
Blogged on 1/9/2012
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2012: Birth of the New Buyer & Death of the Real Estate "Specialist"In the old model of real estate sales during the boom years, a seller hired a neighborhood specialist to sell their home. The neighborhood specialist sold many homes in their area, the seller saw their signs, gotten their post cards, and hired them because they felt comfortable with them. Specialists give the SELLER a higher degree of comfort but this is not BUYER based selling. In a ... more...
Blogged on 1/6/2012
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