We lived in San Francisco until 1994, with my three children all graduating from high school there. Two attended Urban School and the youngest graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral. The City was truly our home.

I'm back in the City, now, to attend part of the Real Estate Connect conference, arriving too late for most of the Rebar Camp (those attending Rebar are fortunate, though, since I know so little about what they're talking about). I decided to take a walk down Market Street and back from, roughly Powell.

It's amazing how the City has changed, yet in some ways, it hasn't. It seemed to me that there are fewer really poor street people than before, but those who are there are more desparate-looking than ever. Also, I don't recall so many attempts at street scams, but then, maye I look like a non-resident now. When we lived here, we could spot outlanders/tourists in a heartbeat.

In some ways, it's still the same. From, say, the intersection at Taylor heading west towards Castro, Market St. is as scuzzy as ever. It seems as though no interesting commercial stuff has ever been able to get legs there. Off Market, in that part of the Tenderloin around Taylor and Eddy, it's positively Third World. I think the same people who were there when we lived here are still leaning against the walls there.

On the other hand, Market St. towards the Embarcadero is much livelier. I didn't see the Peet's that used to be there, but I don't recall exactly where it was anyway.

One fixture is still there. Blondie's on Powell still has some of the best street pizza ever.

I have realized it is the middle of summer vacation and I promised Rhiannon and her BFF Amelia we'd do some little day trips. So far, we haven't. I also noticed I've had a total of 3 days off since March. I have a lot of work to do, StagersLIST.com is taking up a lot of time, and so are my other clients.

So I made a bit of a compromise for this Friday. My daughter is in a summer program that gets out at noon. I'm going to take Amelia with me to pick her up, then we'll head over to San Francisco. First stop... Well, an appointment with one of my clients... BUT that won't take long AND there is an Italian restaurant a few doors down (the kids love spaghetti), so we can start with lunch after my appointment!

Also, my client, Mark Peterson-Estrada does Reiki treatments and has offered Rhiannon and I a free treatment. It will be nice for her to meet him in person and decide if she's interested in that (I'm pretty sure she will be). Mark participates in/sponors some wonderful, healing community support programs. See, it's a good Stop 1!

Once websites have been discussed and our tummies are full of spaghetti, we will head off to the Fisherman's Wharf area, "San Francisco's Most Popular Destination". We are planning our day trips so that we only have to park once or twice, since parking is a big deal in San Francisco, as I'm sure it is in other busy cities.

Rhiannon was at Pier 39 on a "grandpa day" a few weeks ago and noticed the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum, which they didn't have time to visit. Also in this area we have chosen to visit the Wax Museum and the Aquarium. Big bonus, I've found coupons for admission on all three (click a link to print the coupon).

There's plenty more to do in the Fisherman's Wharf area, but we only have from about 2:30 or 3pm until closing time at 11pm (hopefully we'll be done before then), and I think we'll wrap it up at the Hard Rock Cafe (most restaurants validate 1-2 hours of parking). You could also take a dinner cruise, visit Alcatraz, shop till you drop, walk to Ghiradelli Square and get some chocolate... it could easily be a full day or weekend trip. You can also look at the sea lions, who have their own webcam, which is one of my favorite things. They're very cute as they sun themselves on the pier. There are too many things to list. Don't forget your "Escaped from Alcatraz" or "I Heart San Francisco" t-shirt.

Some things to remember when you visit Fisherman's Wharf:

• Wear your sunscreen, even if it doesn't seem hot.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes!
• It's very crowded so keep an eye on the kids.
• Don't be in a hurry, there's a lot to take in.
• Have a great time!

- Chris

More links, in case you didn't get enough, here are the websites for the attractions we are visiting:
Aquarium of the Bay
Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum
Wax Museum

With the demise of some lenders like Greenpoint-Paul Financial and the pressures being placed on banks to get away from Stated Income lending could make it difficult for borrowers coming out of 5-7-10 year option Arms. Working with an experienced professional with years of experience and relationships is imperative. With changes in guidelines and loan amounts more FHA and full doc loans will be needed.

I'm headed to SUCCESS in San Francisco!!!!

Joining is easy if you are a blogger you can save some money. This is not intended to be a secret but a sweet peice of information. If you are a blogger you can put the connect up on your blogsite and get a big blogging discount. There are rules...easy ones...write why you are coming and blog after about why you went. You have to also join and be a member. Joining and blogging you get the best of all worlds BOTH membership and the event. Imagine meeting Laurie Manny! I don't know that she will be there but I am willing to bet she will. She is actually amazing and real. That is, real smart and real down to earth too. So See you in San Francisco everyone.

This is truly the place to be this year to hone in on all the inside track. They have a news section, Blog, Community and just hit that big blue square above and connect yourself.

I heard all about it last year....secondhand, hand me down info...This year its going to be live.

Through the first quarter of 2008, San Francisco home sales are down approximately 55% in volume but prices experienced a slight rise of 3% based on the median value, compared to quarter 1 of 2007. While homes sales volume has dipped into a range not seen since 2003, the median value of homes has remained relatively stable. San Francisco home values have actually remained relatively stagnant since Q1 2005 and have remained just about even over the last 3 years. Based on the data, San Francisco shows signs of being a strong market but with the large dip in sales volume for Quarter 1 2008, there may be a significant price decrease to follow in Quarter 2. Prices will certainly decline if the the volume does not pick up soon.

San Francisco consumers looking to purchase a home are certainly in the driver’s seat. The sharp decline in sales volume has genrally made sellers much more flexible and willing to work with buyers. Many buyers have decided to wait until the market bottoms out, but the only way to know when the market has hit rock bottom is when it starts to come back up. That being said, if you are in a position to purchase real estate, this is the time to buy. The Market may continue to slide but if you buy a home you can afford with the intent to live in it for 3-5 years, you will be able to weather the storm of an unpredictable market.

SharpBuyers.com Realtors will provide you with the tools to better understand the market and identify what type of property best suits your needs. In addition to their real estate knowledge and expertise, SharpBuyers.com Realtors will provide you with with a real estate rebate of up to 50% of their commission at closing. The rebate can be used for closing costs or any way a home buyer desires.

1. There is no other place that has everything for the blogging real estate agent

2. The best and the brightest will be there on and off stage

3. What more could you do for your career that take a rocket boost

4.It needs to be now or pay more later

5.You can tell all your friends that you are going and they will say WHAT'S THAT?

6.You can try and explain to your spouse that it is going to grow your business

7. It is a tax write off. up to 2000 to further your education per year!

8. San Francisco is a great place to visit

9.You could discover more than 2 things a day to improve your internet education

10. Be there or just miss out till next year, when you would say I wish I went in 2008!

http://www.inman.com/events/real-estate-connect-san-francisco-2008/blogger-pricing

I will be leaving Redondo Beach with my Auburn Alabama friend, and my orange county friend to learn so much in such a short time, and to have a great time with other realtors.

Yesterday I went to the Legion of Honor in San Francisco to see the part 1 of 5 of Highlights from the Israel Antiquities Authority: The Dead Sea Scrolls and 5,000 Years of Treasures and an Annie Leibowitz exhibit which ends today.

The Legion of Honor was totally packed yesterday. We checked out the Highlights from the Isreal Antiquities Authority first. The highlight was 2 fragments of the dead sea scrolls. One was a piece from Genesis and the second was from Psalms. There was also a collection of gold coins and jewelry from Tiberias, and a newly excavated and restored Byzantine glass table with gold foil. It was the first time for some of the artifacts to be seen outside of Israel. The exhibit was smaller than I expected but was worth it to see all that history.

The big attraction was the Annie Leibowitz exhibit. It had 197 photos mostly taken between 1990 and 2005. It took an hour and a half to see everything. The most attention was paid to the Vanity Fair cover of a pregnant Demi Moore. There were several pictures of her family. We had a good time.

By the time I got home after a long day of playing in San Francisco I was too tired to even get on Active Rain to read all the interesting posts from yesterday.

Have a great day and the next time you are in San Francisco take some time to visit the Legion of Honor. It's a great museum with great views of the bay and the Golden Gate bridge.

The ups and downs of the real estate market are directly linked to consumers- and right now, the consumers in the San Francisco Bay area have it made. After the real estate market’s recent downfall, properties in the area are priced lower than ever, and consumers are eagerly scouting out their next investment.

If you invest in real estate, you are already familiar with the market’s roller coaster like behavior. Property values soar and plummet on a regular basis. Yet even when the market hits rock bottom, it is only a matter of time before the buyers re-enter the market and the abundant supply of property dissipates. As the story goes, the market reaches equilibrium temporarily until speculators and buyers push prices beyond the comfort zone. Once again, the market experiences another downturn until consumers decide to reinvest.

These constant fluctuations cause real estate to be one of the most predictable and unpredictable markets out there. The good news is, right now we are entering a ‘predictably’ profitable market, especially in the Bay area. The recent slump has made parts of San Francisco more desirable than it has been over the past couple of years. Duplexes that sold for $600,000 two years ago are now listed for $400,000. Who wouldn’t jump at a $200,000 savings? Those who have previously avoided investing in real estate because of its high risk and higher prices are now jumping at the bargains. Prices are low, condos are plentiful…and the market along with property values have no where to go but up.

Truth be told, it is a great time to tap into the real estate market anywhere right now. Prices have been slashed due to the markets downfall, so if you invest now your property values and your bank account will increase before you know it. To find great deals, browse hundreds of thousands of listings, or to simply feed your curiosity Condo.com is the site to visit. Condo.com- The World’s Largest Condo Marketplace has a $150 billion inventory and is run strictly by condo evangelists. So whether you’re a first time buyer or routine investor, Condo.com can assist you every step of the way.

This has nothing really to do with Carlsbad real estate, other than, perhaps, a suggestion for something to do.

I just got back from a mini-vacation in San Francisco. Yep, took the phone and laptop so I was not completely at rest, but with coverage in place for my listings, and great connectivity, it was easy to play…although NOT so easy to stay away from blogging. Not being near a computer for many hours at a time helped. But the blogging addiction was apparent.

Gotta get my blogging dose in so here’s a replay of the trip.

For anyone heading to San Francisco, there is an amazing array of fun things to do, depending on what floats your boat and your budget. The city is a terrific place to walk around in, and the public transportation is great, but a trip outside the city is well worth the time. Anyone who has been there knows what I mean. This city captures my heart again every time I visit…especially when visiting with someone I love deeply. :)

First off…I would normally NEVER EVER write something positive about my plane trips. Just doesn’t happen. Ever.

Virgin America changed all that. $79 roundtrip each from San Diego to SFO. On-time, the best customer service I have seen in a while, cool colors in the plane (mood lighting with pinks and purples that vary with the time of day), leather seats, and state-of-the art touch screen technology with personal entertainment systems at each seat – music videos, music, movies, TV, chat with neighbors at another seat, and WWW access coming soon. Check out their website – very cool. They fly between Seattle, Las Vegas, LA, SFO, San Diego, NYC and Washington, DC for now.

So here’s a recap:

• On-time quick trip to SFO via Virgin America for far less than the cost of gas
  
• 45 minute ride on the BART to Powell Stop (3 blocks from hotel) – THE BEST way to get around the city, and another gas savings - no cable cars this time, the wait is too long at the main stops because of the tourists.
  
• Stayed at the Villa Florence just ½ block from Union Square in the heart of the best shopping/gallery/eating area – great restaurant there called Kuleto’s (Northern Italian)
  
• Discovered a new vodka for my cosmo – TRU vodka – all organic, and the hotel bar donates a dollar for every drink made with TRU to save local trees
  
• Explored more stores and galleries than I can name but a few stand out – Gumps, Manika (jewelry, but we were only looking, for now), Virgin Records, an open-air art show at Union Square
  
• Rented a car at discount rentals on Mason for the day trip – OK so we used some gas, but it was an economical car
  

Here is a terrific way to explore Marin County just over the bridge

• Day trip:
  • A quick drive down the crookedest street in the world - Lombard Street
  • A beautiful drive through the Marina District, the Presidio and over the Golden Gate Bridge
    
  • Being a tourist in Sausalito for an hour or two
    
  • Muir Woods – home of 1000 year old Redwoods, incredible serenity and beauty for $5 (only the cost of your grande latte at Starbucks)
    
  • Mountain Home Inn on Mt. Tamalpais with fabulous views of the entire bay area for lunch (we were there 18 years ago)
    
  • sat on the beach at Stinson Beach in 96 degree heat
    
  • took an amazing drive through Point Reyes National Park all the way out to the lighthouse with incredible vistas and an amazing coastline. Thank goodness so much has been done to preserve this wilderness
    
  • Dinner at the Stinson Beach Grill – very charming seaside town at the edge of large hills
    

Next day...

• A visit to one of our favorite gallery, Arthaus, in SOMA to see good friends
  
• Wonderful dinner at Anzu at the Hotel Nikko
  
• A step back in time with a live concert by Ashford and Simpson at Rrazz at the Nikko
  
• A very late night visit (1 AM) to Space Gallery
  

On Saturday

• Breakfast at Café Bean for terrific Dutch pancakes
  
• Several hours at the best Farmers’ Market I have ever seen on the waterfront at the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco. Lots of organic farm produce, and food to suit just about every taste
• Popped into the Hyatt and took at look at the sky-high lobby - remember the movie High Anxiety?
  
• A last visit to Union Square where we discovered, and enjoyed, the Taiwanese American Cultural Festival – what fun in such an international city. Check out the short video of the kids.
  

We covered lots of ground but had an amazing time. Hope you enjoyed just a few suggestions of some very neat things to do in San Francisco. The weather was amazing – so different from the fog and chilly air one often experiences there.

The housing costs are high but the trade off is the opportunity to live in an incredibly diverse and vibrant area. The market has shifted some in the last couple of years, so if you are thinking about moving there, give me a shout – I know a number of great agents there who would go out of their way to assist you.

Enjoy the Slide Show!

As I am listing a home in University Heights, I have been analyzing Portola recently and can share the following statistics with you. (If you'd like to see the pretty colored charts, email me and I'll send them to you.)

Last year, there were a total of 136 listings of single-family residences.. (I say listings as opposed to individual properties as one home alone was withdrawn FIVE times!)

In 2007, over half of these 136 properties, 71, or 52.2% SOLD; approximately 43% were withdrawn or expired; 3% are still active (averaging 200 days on the market and a median price nearly $200,000 higher than the median price of those that sold) and 2.2% are pending.

This is an average of 6 sales per month and 55 days on market.

Let me give you some numbers for 2008. I can share my thoughts and then you may draw your own conclusions...

So far in 2008, there are 51 houses in all statuses (active, contingent, expired, inactive, pending and sold). Thus as far as overall activity, this is close to 2007. (2007: 136 listings divided by 12 months is 11.33 per month of some type of listing. 2008: 51 divided by 4 1/3 months equals 11.86 listings of different types per month.)

As I mentioned, in 2007, there were 71 sales or about 6 per month. So far in 2008, there have been 11 sales are about 2 1/2 per month. If I'm optimistic and add the contingent (1) and pending sales (4) in for a total of 16 transactions this year, divided by 4 1/3 months, that yields almost 4 per month--either way, the sales activity is behind last year's.

My chart shows 43% active, 22% sold, 27% other and 8% pending.

What does all this mean? Are sales down because there is less inventory? After all, there are half as many sales so far this year as there are listings and depending on how one looks at it, a 5 1/2 to 8 month supply of inventory--with no new listings.

What concerns me somewhat about this area is that there are half a dozen short sales.

As the median price is down from $722,000 last year to $573,000 this year and the median days on market have increased 33% (from 55 to 73); I'd say that there is some good opportunity here to buy--in my opinion--in Portola. The people whom I know who live there have lived there for 30 years and love their neighborhood. Of course, some streets are more desirable than others.

As far as selling, I am very optimistic about my listing as it's on a desirable street and doesn't have a lot of comparable competition. With new paint and (unwarranted rooms) in the lower level, it will sell because it is in good condition and has a great location.

A few last thoughts...
1) One of my clients moved TO the Portola District as that's where she grew up and wanted to live and raise her family.
2) Other people hate San Bruno as there isn't any decent shopping.
3) I still don't know an easy way back to the freeway. :)