A handy guide for buyers and sellers By Cathy Madrid-Garibaldi AVP/Commercial and Residental Escrow Officer Buyers: DO remember to arrange for fire/hazard insurance for your new property. Different insurers may quote premiums that vary by hundreds of dollars for the same property! It’s a great idea to get at least three quotes, and start that process early; each agent will have many questions for you, and some will want to do at least a drive-by inspection of the property before giving you a quote. Once you’ve settled on the agent you want to use, give his or her contact… read more.
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
Glossary of Common Real Estate Terms
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM): A mortgage where the rate changes over time in line with movements in an index. ARMs are also referred to as AMLs (adjustable mortgage loans) or VRMs (variable rate mortgages). Adjustment Period: The length of time between interest rate changes on an ARM. For example, a loan with an adjustment period of one year is called a one-year ARM, which means that the interest rate can change once a year. Amortization: Repayment of a loan in equal installments of principal and interest, rather than interest-only payments. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) : The total finance charge (interest, loan fees, points)… read more.
Andrew’s Frequenty Asked Questions
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009Q: Why does it seem like I can generally get more for my money with a TIC in a 3-unit building than in a 2-unit building? With the market in San Francisco remaining quite healthy with relatively low inventory and large price tags, entry-level buyers continue to consider partial interest purchases in buildings (as Tenants in Common – TICs) at the same time they seek out more traditional condominium purchases. Most TIC listings are 2-4 unit buildings that are offered for sale as a whole, although we are beginning to see larger building sales offered and structured as TICs as well. The… read more.
Virtual staging sparks sales of vacant homes
Sunday, July 19th, 2009Judy Richter The Chronicle Realtors already use the Web to showcase their listings online, where buyers peruse them before hitting the home tours. Now comes virtual staging. Here’s how it works: A real estate agent e-mails photos of a vacant home to a stager, who digitally adds tables, chairs, lamps, art work and other items to make the space look more inviting. The… read more.
Saturday, April 4th, 2009
Many people think that their homeowner’s policy protects them against earthquake damage, but most standard homeowners, mobile home owners, condominium, and renters insurance policies do not; instead, it must be purchased separately. By law, insurers must offer earthquake coverage to their policyholders, through the California Earthquake Authority (CEA). The cost runs approximately $4 per thousand of coverage, and typically has a 15% deductible. There are government disaster-relief programs available, but they are intended more so to help you start getting back on your feet, not necessarily to rebuild your home and replace personal items lost in an earthquake. It is important… read more.
City of San Francisco- Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Service
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009Want to know the name of your district supervisor? Or perhaps you’re looking for post office or library? The following link is a compilation of many of the City’s most requested and used services, along with a directional map. http://gispub02.sfgov.org/website/nuviewer/monsmap.asp?bhiw=1239&bhih=774 Courtesy of the City of San Francisco’s Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services.
Obama, Dems Ready to Move on Housing
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009Goals: Boost lending, prevent foreclosures Matt Carter Inman News Barack Obama will be sworn in today as the nation’s 44th president with a green light from Congress to unleash the second half of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, and with legislation providing an additional $825 billion jolt to the economy on tap. Before Obama took the oath of office, lawmakers had introduced a slew of measures in the new year aimed at spurring home purchases and preventing foreclosures. Some of those measures — including tax breaks for first-time homebuyers, and a return to the higher loan… read more.
Real Estate Markets Likely to Rebound
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008It’s tough all over, but some say these 10 cities have the best–and worst–chances for speedy recoveries. Dorothy Pomerantz Forbes.com If you’re a homeowner seeing property values plummet, look to the commercial real estate market for solace. It might tell you which areas will recover fastest–and which will likely remain weak. The Urban Land Institute recently asked 700 real estate professionals to name the best (and worst) places to invest in commercial real estate in the coming year. Those surveyed included private developers, Realtors and Real Estate Investment Trust executives. Their answers also apply to the residential market, since the… read more.
City Planning Process to Get Easier
Friday, August 15th, 2008Good news for homeowners By Zephyr Real Estate News The good news: Reforms are in store for the San Francisco Planning Department. The bad news: You now have one less thing to commiserate over cocktails with your fellow city homeowners. Whether you’ve attempted a major project like adding … read more.
Saturday, August 9th, 2008
Are your assets protected for your heirs? By Martha Daetwyler Taking the time to prepare an estate plan is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your family. A well drafted estate plan will make sure that your assets go where you want them to and will minimize the time and expense involved in the transfer of your assets after your death. Also, you can make sure that your financial affairs and medical decisions are handled as you would wish during any periods of incapacity. This month, we’ve brought in estate and trust expert Martha Daetwyler, an experienced and highly… read more.
Real estate can tell you a lot about people and markets.
Hundreds of Web-savvy startups have sprung up in San Francisco’s oldest buildings in the South of Market district (called “SOMA” for shorthand). So behind that sleek new Apple iPhone whatever-it-does application… 
