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I recently pulled data for a neighbor who is evaluating selling his Burlingame home. It's a bit of a mixed bag with trends but overall there is an improvement from October 2008.
Days on market is down slightly:
Median price is up:
Inventory is down:
Units sold has been on a consistent upward trend with the exception of August & October 2009.
There has been a steady up tic in buyer demand as of April of 2009 with properties going into contract at a 33% increase.
Then we hit the expireds. Wow!! A 129% increase in expireds. Expireds include withdrawn and canceled listings as well. I did a little more digging & pulled these properties in the MLS. Pricing was a good cross section of Burlingame properties ranging from ~$2,000,000 to the low of $779K for a bungalow on the east side.
Apparently there was a rather large group of sellers for the month of October who didn't have realistic pricing in place, putting their overpriced property on market & letting it linger for up to 6 months before taking it off market.
Who whee!! We must have had a group of tired, frustrated agents who didn't get paid at the end of the day (or more accurately at the end of 3-6 months).
October had a sale high of $3,050,000 and a low of $525,000, which was a short sale in Lyon Hoag (east side)-a super cute 2br/1ba Craftsman Bungalow with no parking (it's pretty rare to come across homes without parking in Burlingame unlike S.F.) and a small lot (3125sf vs. the average 5000sf). It so reminded me of a San Francisco property.
To wrap it up, Burlingame properties that are well priced & show well are selling within 30 days & sometimes within the first week with multiple offers.
Cheryl Bower, Realtor , GRI, ABR
Cell 415.999.3450
cheryl@cbower.com
DRE #: 01505551
I'm very excited to at last be paying a visit to Heath Ceramics in Sausalito this weekend. Better yet, it's their annual 20% off sale. I've been so drooling over their tile (my other favorite for tile is Walker Zanger with stores in Hayward & San Francisco).
I'm thinking about new tile for a bathroom in need of upgrading and between these two places I should be able to find inspiration! Both stores also sell seconds or discontinued tile, a great way to save a few bucks since their tile can be pricey but very high quality.
As an aside (forgive me, I will occasionally digress): when updating rooms in your home, it's typically the labor that is the most expensive cost. It's so obvious when developers or home owners cheap out on material. There is a time and place for Home Depot vs. higher quality tile or higher quality construction products. One needs to balance resale value as well as not over improving for one's neighborhood.
Check in with your local Realtor for feedback when doing your next project. After all, we see hundreds of properties a year & are also getting lots of feedback from buyers as to their likes/dislikes. A misstep in product selection could end up being a huge miss for future buyers which will end up coming out of your bottom line when you're trying to sell your property.
Subtle nuances such as choice of wood floor finish (please!!! don't use high gloss sheen-it's tacky & reflects too much light; matte/low sheen is better & allows the wood grain to better show through) to doors (No hollow core doors!!! They scream cheap. It's not that much more money to purchase solid doors) to choice of tile (Home Depot tile does not belong in new construction or renovated bathrooms/kitchens especially in some of our higher end neighborhoods/communities).
Don't get me started on vinyl windows! I'll save my thoughts on vinyl for a future post. ;-)
At last! I'm circling back round to my original point which is to go check out Heath Ceramics this weekend!
Cheryl Bower, Realtor , GRI, ABR
Cell 415.999.3450
cheryl@cbower.com
DRE #: 01505551
As of the latest Burlingame e-newsletter, there are exciting environmental changes underway! It has taken time, but it seems like green/eco-friendly construction & living are finally gaining momentum.
Now if Burlingame would implement recycling pick-up on a weekly basis rather then the current bi-monthly schedule as well as start a home green garbage compost program (currently just yard waste is picked up). Thus far my complaints and suggestions to Allied Waste have fallen on deaf ears.
My understanding is that more frequent pick ups are expensive but I believe there would be an increase in recycling by Burlingame residents. If it's not "easy" it's not going to happen is my feeling. As it currently stands, we also have to sort paper from glass/cans/metals adding another layer of inconvenience.
In comparison, San Francisco has a great recycling program consisting of weekly pickup, one bin for paper and glass, and home composting pick up. Currently, I have to store 6 bulky bins due to Burlingame's recycling system. Ah well, I'll keep working on this.....
Two architects have been elected to lead the new Burlingame Citizens Environmental Council, an organization of citizens who plan to help their community become more environmentally sustainable by reducing carbon emissions, preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
The group elected Stan Vistica as Chair and Jerry Winges as Vice Chair. Vistica, an architect based in San Francisco, has served on the Planning Commission for 10 years. Winges owns an architectural firm in Burlingame.
The Burlingame Citizens Environmental Council (BCEC) began meeting this fall after the city's Green Ribbon Task Force disbanded. The Task Force, which was formed in 2007, completed its work when the city's Climate Action Plan was adopted by the Burlingame City Council last summer.
BCEC plans to promote the adoption of green building practices in Burlingame and to make certain the city meets deadlines outlined in its Climate Action Plan. Representatives will work closely with local schools. Among its local initiatives will be a Drive Less Challenge, bike tours, a tour of sustainable homes and a green business incentive program. The group plans to continue the successful green speaker series and Green Street Fair pioneered by the Green Ribbon Task Force.
"I am delighted to lead Burlingame citizens in our effort to clean up the planet while improving lifestyles. One of our goals is to attain measurable environmental improvements using the Climate Action Plan as a baseline. It's going to be exciting," said Vistica.
Vistica noted that BCEC is currently looking for individuals to help design a Web site for the group, write grants and assist with community outreach.
BCEC invites other interested Burlingame residents to join. The organization's next meeting will be held Thursday, December 3, at 7 p.m. at TRG Architects in Burlingame.
For more information about BCEC, contact Vistica at hapvist@gmail.com or Winges at jlw@wingesaia.com.
To learn more about what the City of Burlingame is doing to address climate change, see the Sustainable Burlingame section of the city's Web site. The city's progress on sustainable programs is outlined at http://www.burlingame.org/index.aspx?page=1374.
Cheryl Bower, Realtor , GRI, ABR
Cell 415.999.3450
cheryl@cbower.com
DRE #: 01505551
Here is the latest "what are they thinking?" proposal from the ever creative city of San Francisco; a new proposal from S.F. Animal Control that would force property owners to accept pets in their rental units.
As a major pet lover (& owner of 2 dogs & 2 cats) and pet friendly rental property owner, I fully support providing pet friendly rentals and have a screening process for pets (dogs in particular). I also encourage my small group of clients who I handle leases for to go pet-friendly.
It should be a property owners personal choice to allow pets and NOT something that the city should force on property owners. There is also tremendous liability that property owners can face if there ever is an issue with a pet. I'm sure & hope that all pet-friendly property owners have been even more diligent in the screening of dogs after the horrible mauling of Diane Whipple in 2001.
There are also restrictions from insurance companies as to what dog breeds are allowed on a property. This proposal just does not make sense for either property owners or tenants!!
What are your thoughts?
Full details as provided from the November Small Property Owners of San Francisco Institute (SPOSFI) newsletter:
In its October 8 public meeting, the S.F. Animal Control and Welfare Commission proposed a new law that would prohibit property owners from excluding pets in rental units.
Still in the discussion phase, the proposal has yet to be referred to the Board of Supervisors, whose approval would be required to make it law. In keeping with the SF/SPCA’s “no-kill” policy, the Commission aims to increase pet-friendly housing to increase the number of pet adoptions. In fact, SF/SPCA has extended its efforts to cities far beyond San Francisco.
While admirable in theory, it is entirely unacceptable to import animals to San Francisco from other jurisdictions and expect (require) property owners to bear the burden by allowing them into their rentals.
In 2007, when the Commission first proposed to increase the number of pet-owning tenants in the city, the Board of Supervisors made it clear that it did not want property owners compensated for the substantial added wear-and-tear and liability created by pets.
Not only did the Board vote against implementing a 5% rent surcharge to pet-owning tenants; it ousted the three commissioners who had supported the idea. In its proposal, the Commission has clearly failed to foresee the serious repercussions property owners and tenants alike would suffer under such a mandate.
Property owners will inevitably be held responsible with the impossible charge of maintaining their tenants’ comfort as non-pet-owning tenants pass through common areas. Irresponsible pet owners will put a strain on tenant relations as allergy-suffering tenants are forced to endure daily exposure to animals, tenants who fear certain animals are forced to interact with them daily, and tenants are disturbed by animal smells and noises which will inevitably emanate from
their neighbors’ apartments.
In addition, the Commission proposes allowing only “non-dangerous” pets in the mandate. However, any animal behaviorist will tell you it is impossible to determine an animal’s temperament purely by breed or species.
San Francisco property owners do not need more laws dictating how they manage their buildings. Instead, they should be given incentives to voluntarily allow pets into their buildings.
Posted by:
I'm a S.F. native & 15+ year investor, specializing in multi-unit rental property. Service, experience and dedication for each and every client.
As a third generation San Franciscan, Cheryl feels fortunate to have been raised in such a diverse, exciting city as San Francisco. Her fascination with real estate started at a young age. By her early twenties she had purchased her first home and learned firsthand the rewards of sweat equity.
A subsequent purchase was a five unit property in the Sunnyside where she quickly became engrossed with San Francisco's complicated and ever changing rent control laws from a property owner perspective. This experience has proven invaluable not only for the successful management of her property but for her investor clients who rely on her vast rental experience to help them successfully fill their vacant units with well qualified tenants. The system she's been consistently using for the past 10+ years has resulted in a track record of zero evictions!
Cheryl enjoys working with a variety of clients ranging from investors to commercial clients to first time home buyers. She firmly believes in the tremendous benefits of owning real estate including the tax incentives, the gradual building of wealth and the satisfaction of being a property owner. She takes pride in helping clients navigate through the sale or purchase of a property, negotiating the best price and terms, as well as ensuring that all the details will be smoothly handled.
In her free time, Cheryl enjoys raising orchids, hiking with her dogs, renovating her Spanish Revival home in Burlingame, and enjoying the fantastic restaurants available in San Francisco and on the Peninsula.
Education:
BS Environmental Studies, Sonoma State University 1999
Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) 2008
Affiliations:
• San Mateo Association of Realtors
• San Francisco Association of Realtors
• California Association of Realtors
• National Association of Realtors
• Women's Council of Realtors
• Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council
• San Francisco Small Property Owners Association
• Build It Green
Contributor/Volunteer:
• Neighborhood Emergency Response Team-S.F.
• Surfrider Foundation-San Mateo Chapter
• Sustainable San Mateo
• Northern California Solar Association
CA Department of Real Estate License #01505551
I love helping clients through the complexities associated with the San Francisco market, whether it be rent control issues, condo conversion, TIC properties, or how to update a 100 year old property while retaining it's Victorian charm and detailing. My experience helps clients determine if a property is the right match for their needs.
My clients range from first-time buyers, to investors, to owner users. Property types include residential, commercial, mixed-use and multi-unit.
As a Burlingame resident, I am also able to help clients who are relocating from S.F. to the Peninsula or vice versa.
To help clients navigate through the onerous paperwork associated with a purchase or sale, I implement a variety of tech systems: electronic signature, efax, and web based transaction management software so that they can review and sign documents at their leisure. It's a virtually paperless, streamlined system that helps create a smooth transaction with minimal impact on a client's work & travel schedule.
I am also dedicated to continually improving the services & market knowledge that I provide my clients. Real estate laws, contracts, technology and policies are always changing. To keep up with the latest developments, I regularly attend continuing education courses and am currently working on my GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) and ABR (Accredited Buyers Representative) designations.
I am the person that a client trusts implicitly to get the job done while always looking after their best interests.
Dear Cheryl,
I understand that escrow is closed and we are now the proud owners of an office building in San Francisco. I have to admit over the course of the last six+ months, I was hopefully optimistic that we would be able to find a suitable space.
However, after several attempts at offers that were not accepted, my hope began to fade and I think I would have gone into a passive position if it hadn’t been for your constant dedication and outstanding service.
Your tenacious searching for properties was never exhausted and you were always ready with solutions to any roadblocks that crossed our paths. You graciously offer an outstanding portfolio of services to your clients. I am so happy that whenever we need real estate assistance, you’ll be there to help us.
On behalf of my entire company, thank you, thank you, thank you. Everyone is very happy this process is complete.
Ron J.
San Francisco Commercial space
I would like to commend Ms. Cheryl Bower for her excellent service during the sale of my property at 1730 Sanchez Street, San Francisco.
Ms. Bower was informative, professional and helpful every step of the way. I was not experienced in property sales and found myself relying on her heavily. My trust was not misplaced. She handled the sale and property transfer smoothly and efficiently.
I would certainly recommend Ms. Bower without reservation.
As first time home buyers, it was a relief to work with Cheryl who was patient and thoroughly answered all of our many questions. She has excellent suggestions about how to maximize a home's potential and she helped us to visualize the possibilities for home improvement with a limited budget.
We would highly recommend Cheryl to anybody looking to buy or sell their home.
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Real Estate Update for San Francisco Homebuyers and Sellers
