Tuesday

San Francisco Trades Jobs for Homes


The Planning Commission is considering rezoning areas in four neighborhoods. These areas contain about 5 million sq ft of light and small industrial use properties and may be converted into housing development.

All the areas involved are part of an earlier San Francisco, one that employed and prospered as the industrial part of the city: SOMA, Potrero, the Mission and the waterfront. The recent developments of the last 10-15 years show residential and office development has begun to compete with industrial uses.

I certainly appreciate the value that the influx of internet workers to our city has done. They bring wealth and creativity to San Francisco and have put us on the map in very different ways than ever before. I dont even mind being, in part, a bedroom community for Silicon Valley. But I dont think its in our best interest to shut out people who actually make things.

Im sure this has to do with the disappearance of blue collar working families everywhere, as countries like China and Mexico become the new American work bench.

What do we do with the labor force that are not programmers or scientists? Couldnt we support the re emergence of light industry to support working families, provide jobs and take back (at least in some small ways) some of the jobs we have lost to other countries. That would be a truly balanced program, not just some affordable housing, but to actually address the issues of non technical working people by supporting the development of new light industry.

Heres the Benefit

1. 10,000 new homes.

2. 15% must be low income

3. Higher tax revenues for the city

Heres the Cost:

1. A loss of economic diversity

2. A loss of blue collar jobs

3. A more homogenized San Francisco - LA north?

Attend the next meeting and tell them what you think....The next Board of Supervisors meeting is on Monday, September 15 starting around 1:30-2:00pm, room 263.


Thanks for Reading
Howard Bell
www.yourpropertypath.com
A web site of over 450 articles related to real estate focused primarily on property management.
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Sunday

Fisherman’s Wharf : Finally an Eco Friendly Plan


Coming Soon......No Longer a Tourist Trap


A plan to be more welcoming to pedestrians and cyclists and less auto-friendly will cost $10 million to improve the world-famous tourist attraction. San Francisco has dedicated about $100,000 for planning and designing, another $10 million has not been secured. The city would apply for federal and state grants to help secure the plans success.

The area generates a lot of cash for the city and the hope is to create a more European feel and keep that cash coming.

Plans call for removing on-street parking and removing one traffic lane to create a bicycle lane and wider sidewalks with benches.

The city plans to host a number of community meetings on the proposed street makeover before developing a final plan next year. if the city is successful it may again draw interest from San Francisco's citizens. We hardly go there as it is...way too unattractive


Thanks for Reading
Howard Bell
www.yourpropertypath.com
A web site of over 450 articles related to real estate focused primarily on property management.
Your Property Path New Brief
http://wwwyourpropertypath.blogspot.com/
Snap News updates real estate markets and all things of interest to property owners and real estate professionals.

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The San Francisco Zoo Conversion


It will become an rescue animal facility if the board of supervisors votes up on it.

Many of you may have already heard that the problems the zoo has had recently will be corrected by changing its mission and its focus. The exception to the rule will be for the breeding of exotic animals such as Lions, Tigers and Gorillas.

I think this is a great idea, i have never liked the idea of caging animals for a lifetime. This is fitting and humane way. Out with the jailer and in with co-existence.

The critics argue that this approach would play havoc with existing grants and donations. Not a frivolous point, since a change in mission would deprive the zoo of at least some of the existing funding that has a different focus than the proposed changes.

I have a friend that is involved in animal husbandry of native species. They raised Navajo sheep, mustangs and wild turkeys and released them back to their native habitats. Peters project is well funded from private sources and I think that the new mission statement could be expanded to include repopulating California with native plant and animal species. I would bet there is great interest in this and that many new sources of funding would become available for a such project.

Tom Ammiano put it best when he said: " I think its incumbent upon the zoo to have a higher calling than the current form its taking".

Thanks for Reading
Howard Bell
www.yourpropertypath.com
A web site of over 450 articles related to real estate focused primarily on property management.

Your Property Path New Brief
http://wwwyourpropertypath.blogspot.com/
Snap News updates real estate markets and all things of interest to property owners and real estate professionals.

Saturday

Property taxes: Still Rising in San Francisco


If you missed the deadline this year to get your property reassessed then mark it for next year. Home values are down and will probably continue to decline through next.

Here is the Catch

House property taxes are rising in the face of declining values. County assessor Ting explains it this way. Prop 13 limited the ability of the city to raise property taxes. This limit is so severe that even though homes have declined in value, they are still above the assessed value of many homes.

Ask for a Review

If you find yourself in a situation where your homes taxes are rising, even though the value has dropped, have your house reassessed. Go to sfgov.org/assessor and fill out the request for a reassessment. fax it to 415-664-7915.

Thanks for Reading
Howard Bell
www.yourpropertypath.com
A web site of over 450 articles related to real estate focused primarily on property management.

Your Property Path New Brief
http://wwwyourpropertypath.blogspot.com/
Snap News updates real estate markets and all things of interest to property owners and real estate professionals.

Wednesday

New Real Estate Trends in San Francisco


What do you do with older historic buildings...Well the Ritz Carleton has built eight floors of luxury apartments onto a building that was once the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi.

690 Market

A new approach to real estate that has been unfolding at 690 and also at Ghiradelli Square has been fractional ownership. Most of these fractional ownership condos are starting at a million and they are targeting or perhaps creating a new demographic. You can buy 1/12 of this beauty at an asking of only $ 279,000. Its a beautiful 2 bedroom 2.5 bath living space.

The developers have found a niche that targets people who want the amenities of a first rate hotel or spa combined with the right to be there in full tenancy, at least part of the year. The buyer has use for a minimum of 21 days use per year, unlimited space-available per diem days, reciprocal use at other RC Club Resorts. Its a hybrid club/condo and has almost sold out. You can have a a RC club or resort experience in the heart of downtown San Francisco with investment potential. Really an interesting idea.

Thanks for Reading
Howard Bell
www.yourpropertypath.com
A web site of over 450 articles related to real estate focused primarily on property management.

Your Property Path New Brief
http://wwwyourpropertypath.blogspot.com/
Snap News updates real estate markets and all things of interest to property owners and real estate professionals.

Sunday

The San Francisco Real Estate Market as of August 10 2008

The median single family home price as of August 10 2008 for San Francisco is $849,962.


But the demand for housing is significantly below 30. Above 30 would indicate a buyers market.


And inventory is building



DOM is a good indication of a healthy market. The number of days on market will vary for different price levels.

I was just looking at the San Francisco MLS and days on market for 4-8 million dollar homes looked like 45-55 days. A friend with Caldwell Banker tells me that the market that is the flattest is the middle market. Those not affected by economic cycles are buying with ease.

Thanks for Reading
Howard Bell
www.yourpropertypath.com
A web site of over 450 articles related to real estate focused primarily on property management.

Your Property Path New Brief
http://wwwyourpropertypath.blogspot.com/
Snap News updates real estate markets and all things of interest to property owners and real estate professionals.

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Thursday

Hunters Point: Reshapes Itself and San Francisco


Public housing has never been considered a thing of beauty.

But in San Francisco, we have been redesigning public housing to be very functional and livable. Consider Valencia Gardens. Located in the Mission it is a symbol of good design and development. Defensible design features includes private back yards and decks and fenced-in play yards

It replaced 246 dilapidated and blighted public housing units with 260 new mixed income flats and townhouse units with multi-purpose facilities. The revitalization also includes a new ancillary senior housing site with 60 new apartments and a new senior center.

Building on the success of Valencia Gardens San Francisco is looking to re-create the urban blight known as Hunters View. The really interesting part of this story is that the builders want to include things like community areas and retail space to help enliven the community.

Support Hunters View

The remake of the project requires that the Supes amend the zoning ordinance to allow mixed use areas such as retail in public housing projects. What could make more sense than to create a community based local business. The local community invests in itself, the city collects taxes, jobs are created and a community is energized.

Thanks for Reading
Howard Bell
www.yourpropertypath.com
A web site of over 450 articles related to real estate focused primarily on property management.

Your Property Path New Brief
http://wwwyourpropertypath.blogspot.com/
Snap News updates real estate markets and all things of interest to property owners and real estate professionals.

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Saturday

San Francisco's Outer Sunset: One of the Priciest Areas in the Country

ZIP code 94122.
One of the countries the country's most overpriced areas is ZIP code 94122. Believe it or not, thats the Sunset district, located near the Pacific Ocean and Golden Gate Park. I like the Sunset because of its fresh air, low density and quiet. It doesnt seem to be so caught up in the "new" San Francisco" of reverse commutes, 3G wireless, start ups and pricey restaurants. Its more like a ordinary neighborhood rather than overheated and hip.

But the new black? When Forbes mentioned that the Sunset was the one of the highest priced areas in the country....well, that is proof, for sure, that we were in a speculative and even irrational boom. Median prices surged from $560,000 in June of 2003 to a peak of $771,000 in March of 2008, based on Trulia price data pulled from the MLS.

According to the Forbes article, San Francisco prices in the Outer Sunset have declined 10% dropping to $692,000. Based on asking prices and asking rents, though, the market still has a way to fall before reaching equilibrium.

Thanks for Reading
Howard Bell
www.yourpropertypath.com
A web site of over 450 articles related to real estate focused primarily on property management.

Your Property Path New Brief
http://wwwyourpropertypath.blogspot.com/
Snap News updates real estate markets and all things of interest to property owners and real estate professionals.

You can add this page to your favorite Social Bookmark site: