Buyers and Sellers Blog

Couldn't Sell in 2009? Give It a Shot in 2012!

Posted On: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - 2:35pm | Posted by: Eileen Bermingham

Many homeowners who attempted to sell property in the 2009-2010 timeframe weren’t successful. The MLS is littered with property histories showing withdrawn or expired listings across those two years. This activity was mainly due to the fact that buyers were sitting out the market and economy, loans were a challenge to obtain, and sellers generally were looking for more money than their homes were worth.

But the variables have certainly shifted this year in San Francisco. Cash

Why Not Refinance Your TIC Loan?

Posted On: Monday, May 14, 2012 - 7:25pm | Posted by: Kevin Dunn
Tags: refinance TIC rates. franctional interest TIC loans., tenancy in common, TIC loans, TIC's

I am always looking out for my clients best interest and searching for strategies that might benefit them.  If you have a TIC fractional interest loan that you had obtained two or more years ago you may consider refinancing it. Current rates per David Park Branch Manager of Integrated Mortgage are at an all time low.

The SF Inventory is Finally Arriving

Posted On: Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - 6:00am | Posted by: Eileen Bermingham

Buyers and Realtors have been complaining about the lack of residential inventory in San Francisco since earlier this year. Indeed, it seems like buyers are fully engaged in our single-family home, condo and multi-unit offerings and have hit the market looking for property all at the same time. That means that for every cool house in a central location, there are 10-15 sets of buyers waiting to pounce.

Buyers Will Pay For "Done," Even in So-So Locations

Posted On: Monday, May 7, 2012 - 5:25pm | Posted by: Eileen Bermingham

Despite most San Francisco buyers' firm proclamation at the outset of their house hunt that they won't pay for someone else's renovation, many are doing just that. One trend that doesn't appear to be slowing is that of buyers snatching up fully renovated single-family homes---and paying dearly for them, even if the homes are not in prime locations within a given neighborhood. (Because not everyone can afford a newly renovated home in the heart of Noe Valley, right?)

Mission All Grown Up---And Still Growing

Posted On: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 - 6:00am | Posted by: Eileen Bermingham
Tags: 179 san carlos

I was running home on Monday morning after dropping my car off for servicing in SoMa. My route home brought me through the Mission, and I suddenly found myself reflecting on how much things have changed there since I first moved to San Francisco in the late '90s.

Back then, I remember picking up my personal trainer to go to Crunch on Van Ness at 6:00am. She lived on San Carlos and 19th, and though she was willing to take public transportation to meet me at the gym in the early morning,

Russian Hill's Pick ...

Posted On: Sunday, April 29, 2012 - 4:24pm | Posted by: Silvana Messing

My pick today is a prime Russian Hill 2 story remodeled top floor residence with GG bridge views-- Beautifully constructed master suite on top floor not to mention the high end finishes and dramatic chef's kitchen open to an expansive living room/dining room.  It's a 5 star in my opinion!   If you are a fussy buyer and want turn key- this is it!   Contact me to schedule a showing - you won't be disappointed.  Priced at $1,095,000 it will go fast!

TIC rates are at

Understanding Market Conditions

Posted On: Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 11:23am | Posted by: Teri Cavanaugh
Tags: san francisco real estate, Understanding Market Conditions


What Does LEED AP Mean?

Posted On: Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 11:18am | Posted by: Teri Cavanaugh
Tags: green building

First Quarter of 2012 Ushers in Busy Spring Season

Posted On: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 - 6:00am | Posted by: Eileen Bermingham

Momentum seems to be steadily building as we enter the Spring real estate season. Though volume for single-family houses was down in comparison to the last quarter of 2011, condo and TIC sales remained steady---as did prices.

For example, a total of 514 single-family homes sold in the past quarter at an average of $963,337 (down slightly from the average $970,872 price in Q4 2011). And 504 condos sold at an average of $748,622, along with only 66 TICs (average of

Short Sales Require Committed Buyers

Posted On: Friday, April 6, 2012 - 6:00am | Posted by: Eileen Bermingham

It's unfortunately been fairly common over the past couple years to encounter properties being offered as short sales. In a nutshell, a short sale simply means that the seller owes more on the property than it's worth. Not only is the owner going to come up short on what's owed on one or two loans, but he or she will also not be able to cover selling costs such as broker commissions, city and county transfer tax, and various reports typically paid for by the seller and provided