Andrew Bates

We all want the highest price we can get for our property. We have seen that home prices have always risen in the past so it's highly likely we will overprice our property. Please don't allow yourself to be ensnared in the overpricing trap.

It's unfortunate you won't know your property is overpriced until it's too late.

Disappointments you'll face

• Ad response will be extremely slow because the public recognizes overpriced property. Keep in mind that people buy by comparison.
• Only the unaware will make an offer on an overpriced property. Why? Even if you accept their lower offer, they still won't get a bargain because the final price is no less than the "fair market value".
• It will be easier for buyers to make a favorable decision on other properties that are priced fairly. Do you want to set an example to drive folks elsewhere?
• If you're lucky enough to find a buyer at your price, escrow won't close because your price is higher than the appraised value and the loan application will be rejected.

Things you can do

• Always work with an experienced professional who knows the market in your neighborhood and has expert negotiating skills. Take advantage of the research and advice your broker can provide in getting you the highest and best price for your property.

Remember you're competing with all the other similar properties in your neighborhood; so price your property at a price point lower than your competition.

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To be profitable, foreclosure investing requires extensive research and preparation. Amassing the following information will give you the details you will need to negotiate a profitable deal:

As you can see there is a fair amount of information to put together and you'll need all of it to put together a favorable deal for yourself. You should consult with your tax advisor, real estate attorney or realtor before negotiating any deal. After all of this, your deal still needs to be better than all the others from investors bidding on the same property. So if you're not afraid of the time and work involved, big money can be made in foreclosure buying. Home prices are at rock bottom now and good bargains are available. In ten years property acquired today will probably double in value.

The Glen Park neighborhood is

nestled between Twin Peaks to the north and Noe Valley and Castro districts to the east. Located in the middle part of the city it is easy to travel to other parts of the city by car or public transportation. Muni's 35 Eureka and 52 Excelsior connect to the Muni Metro System; the 35 goes to Castro Street Station and the 52 goes to Forest Hill Station. Additionally the 52 connects to the Bay Area Rapid Transit District at the Glen Park Bart Station.

The Glen Park neighborhood was the San Francisco Planning and Urban Association's first project. A plan to beautify and populate land on the hills of San Francisco to be developed with the topography of the area was undertaken. A major developer of the area was Eichler Homes. Eichler had architect Claude Oakland design a mid-century housing tract consisting of homes ranging in size from 1,629-2,020 square feet. There are several unique amenities with these homes such as tongue & grove ceiling and Japanese Shoji style closets and courtyards consistent with the indoor/outdoor living theme. Many of these homes are still occupied by their original owners.

The San Francisco Police Academy is located in Diamond Heights. A shopping center in the area consists of a large supermarket, bank, coffee shop and professional offices. There are several schools including the School Of Arts High School, disignated a California Distingished School and the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department located in Diamond Heights. Playgrounds in the area include George Christopher behind shopping center and Walter Haas at intersection of Diamond Heights Boulevard and Addison Street.

Currently there are 17 active listings in Diamond Heights. There is a wide range of selling prices for single family homes and townhouses, ranging between $800-$2.1Million.

"Little Switzerland"

The intersection of Diamond and Bosworth streets is considered the center of the Glen Park Neighborhood.

Glen Park located at the southern edge of the hills in the interior of San Francisco, to the south of Diamond Heights and Noe valley, west of Bernal Heights and east of Glen Park.

Glen Park also know as Little Switzerland is often described as having a village like atmosphere because of its small size and mom and pop stores, restaurants and saloons. Its narrow streets are flanked by colorful single-family homes, and great views of the city from its hills. Property values in the area range between the low $700 thousands to over $2,9 million depending on amenities and views.

A new San Francisco Public Library was recently completed on Bosworth Street a few steps from Diamond Street. Public transportation is good in the area because there are 5 Muni bus lines plus the J Church Muni Metro Line, Glen Park Bart Station and interstate highways 280 and 101.

Glen Canyon Park a small haven for hikers and dog walkers occupies about 70 acres along a deep canyon adjacent to the Glen Park, Diamond Heights and Miraloma Park neighborhoods. Grass chomping goats are used in June every year to ‘mow' Glen Canyon Park.

In 2003 the SF Planning Commission drafted the Glen Park Community Plan to resolve existing traffic, transit, parking problems, improve connections and pedestrian safety, enhance local business vitality, build transit served housing and explore ways of retaining the beloved character of Glen Park into the future. One of the ideas discussed was new housing on Wilder Street west of the Bart transformer and removal of housing on this private parcel.

Oh, by the way don't forget your chance to win this months $1000 Sweepstakes. Just visit my website: http://batesrealestategroup.com and click on '$1000 Sweepstakes'. Good Luck!

The Mexican government in 1839 gave a land grant of the area now known as Bernal Heights to Don Jose Cornelio de Bernal. The don grazed cattle on what he called Rancho Rincon de las Salinas y Potrero Viego. The area known at the time as Bernal Hill has a colorful history. A French merchant acquired the land in 1860 subdivided the area into smaller lots that was first populated primarily by Irish immigrants who farmed the land and ran dairy ranches. There was even a gold rush on the hill. In 1876 con artists started a ‘gold rush' by planting gold on Bernal Hill.

Built high atop a hill with solid bedrock foundation, Bernal Hill survived the great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. Because of the sparse development in the area, it was saved from the firestorm that ravished the city after the earthquake. Cortland the main road through the area started filling with small shops as the former cattle land on the Bernal hilltop was developed for workers busy rebuilding San Francisco. The ‘earthquake cottage's located in other parts of the city were moved to Bernal Hill. Some of these cottages built to house earthquake survivors from different areas of the city are still standing today.

During World War II there was another population surge to Bernal Heights as African American families moved to the area from the south to take jobs at the nearby Naval Shipyard at Hunters Point. The meat packing plants in China Basin also provided jobs. My family was one of those families that moved to Bernal Hill from Alabama to take advantage of the employment opportunities in the area after the war. During the Vietnam War the hill became known as ‘Red Hill' as many anti war activists took up residence in the area.

Bernal Heights is primarily residential with a limited commercial strip along Cortland Avenue. There is a bookstore, a number of restaurants, bars and the Alemany Farmers Market and Alemany Flea Market. The public library built by Frederick Myers with funding from the Works Progress Administration in 1940 is still on Cortland but undergoing renovation. The Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center established in 1979 is working to promote affordable housing services, senior and youth services for the residents of the area.

Bernal might prove attractive to young families as well as the first time home buyer because of the quiet streets and large concentration of single-family homes with backyards in the area. There are three parks in the area. If you're a dog owner, Bernal Heights Park is where you take your canine friend for a romp in the park completely leash-free. Home prices in the area are lower than in other parts of the city. Transportation to or from the area is difficult at best as there are only two bus lines that service the area.

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