The San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) has a mission is to provide for nearly 12,000 public housing residents and 21,000 Section 8 participants. A primary goal of the Authority is to continue to provide housing for these low-income households, while integrating housing and economic opportunities for residents and maintaining high standards of property management, fiscal management and service delivery. The SFHA owns several properties through San Francisco and is currently selling four of them, including a couple of very interesting opportunities (like 2 units in Bernal Heights for under $500K and a 7 unit development opportunity in Pacific Heights).

1. 275 thrift street: $335,000. (single family)
2. 75-77 Coleridge Street: $459,000 (2 unit building)
3. 1750 McAllister Street: $799,000 (land with 6 unit development potential)
4. 2451 Sacramento Street: $2,800,000 (land with 7 unit development potential)

make a comment

"Sexy, Dog-friendly Condo one block off Union Street"

[You gotta love that peak-a-boo Golden Gate Bridge view.]

The moral of this story, 1944 Green was just reduced in price to $1,695,000 and the marketing has turned to the canine loving crowd. (Whether or not a building accepts dogs is actually a very common question when selling condos, but we're not sure it needs to be the focal point. Of course, if it's not selling, why not try.)

Hold on....this listing has more story. It is the first we've seen where we will learn (without getting into contract) what the sellers will miss most about their home...

Our favorite line..."Practically no stairs or drama coming in and out of home with my belongings".

And for you to debate..."Green Street is like living in the palm of the hand of Pacific Heights-flat, gentle, yet still spectacular".

Finally, this goes to show that if you select and track homes that were previously out of reach or just a pipe dream, every dog has its day, and yours might be just around the corner.

-1944 Green [listing detail]

"Hi Alex,

I just heard a rumor that 9W at 2190 Broadway asked for $3.45M and closed for $5M. An overbid of 43%?"



Rumor mill says...TRUE! Also true: that puts the price per square foot of this condo that "needs updating" at $1,562.50; HOA dues are $2254.50; Days On Market 39; built in 1973; 3200 square feet; and one parking space.

Happy Friday!

-2190 Broadway 9W [listing details]

Just 33 minutes south of San Francisco, lays a hidden Peninsula treasure. A small town that is vibrant, perfectly tree lined-streets, friendly people, Downtown Santa Cruz Avenue is aligned with Ranger Rovers, Mercedes, BMW’s and the occasional Ferrari's or Lamborghini's. It is a modern day chic and posh Pleasantville with a dash of small town charm and the epitome of affluence in the Bay Area post-dotcom era. It's a mix of Pacific Heights and Hayes Valley. This charming town has a few fabulous boutiques worth making a day trip to! When you voyage out to Menlo Park, don’t forget to grab a bit to eat at Draeger's or a coffee and treat at Café Borrone.

Emilio Pucci Sundial Wedge ($280) - Head over Heels | 887 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, Ca - (650) 325-2400 | Vera Bradley Pinwheel Pink Amy ($30)- Calla | 895 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park - (650) 322-5524 | Lily Pulitzer Tied Up Cuff ($82) (also in Pink, White, & Chocolate Brown) - Calla | 895 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park - (650) 322-5524 | Joes Jens Stardust Super Flare/Lee ($174) - Pink Tangerine | 883 Santa Cruz Avenue Suite 4, Menlo Park - (650) 327-7900 | Theory Fialda Flower Top ($190)

Editors Picks

Head over Heels | 887 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, Ca - (650) 325-2400

Head Over Heels, a wonderfully unique, high-end shopping experience located in the heart of affluent Silicon Valley since 2006. Head Over Heels offers the most recognized global brands, as well as new products from up & coming design superstars in footwear, handbags, and jewelry. The finest in footwear, handbags, jewelry, and other fashionable accessories, including product from: Andrew Gn, Christian Lacroix, Dolce & Gabbana, Giuseppe Zanotti, Givenchy, Missoni, Oscar De La Renta, Roberto Cavalli, Sergio Rossi,Tom Ford

Pink Tangerine | 883 Santa Cruz Avenue Suite 4, Menlo Park - (650) 327-7900

Pink Tangerine is great if you're looking for a one stop shop. You can find everything here from jeans to intimates, from party dresses to basic tees. They even have really cool jewelry and sented candles and perfume. They have some "grown up trendy" shoes and accessories. It is a small store though, and their size inventory tends to be limited, so if you like what you see, ask to be notified when new shipments arrive. They offer Tory, Theory, Calypso and Joe’s.

Calla | 895 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park - (650) 322-5524

If you're a Vera Bradley or a Lily Pulitzer fan, Calla is your place! They carry their seasonal lines as well as some traditional polos. The collection in the front of their store is designed for a slightly older, conservative crowd. I thought the sales people were extremely nice and accommodating. They wanted to see what I looked like in everything and gave their honest opinions on how they though I looked. I'd take honesty over fake pleasantry any day.

4 Clothing Solutions | 809 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park - (650) 322-8444

Provides stylish, reasonably-priced, fashion in a customer-oriented, friendly environment. Trendy hot spot carried mainly their own lable, as well as August Silks and other lesser known high end designers.

Angela’s | 1129 Chestnut Street, Menlo Park - (650) 323-7410

Angela’s boutique offers a well-chosen selection of casual, dressy and classic pieces as well as trendy from designers such as Velvet, Strenesse, Paul Smith, Schumacher, Hache and Ter et Bantine.

A Cotton Tail | 883 Santa Cruz Avenue Suite 1, Menlo Park - (650) 330-0925

Last October we introduced you to The Tubbs Mansion. It's an historic piece of San Francisco that went up for sale for a mere $19,750,000. Can you really put a price tag on owning history? The home recently closed escrow (6/6/08--sorry for the delay) for $18,000,000 after sitting on the market for 180 days. The listing agents were also the selling agents.

The Tubbs Mansion [San Francisco Schtuff]
2515 Scott Street [Home San Francisco]
Listed by Tina Bartlett Hinckley & Ted Bartlett at McGuire Real Estate. Photo courtesy of the listing agents via MLS

From our reader:

One of my absolutely favorite houses is hitting the market. You probably already know this, but I haven't seen it on any of the blogs as of yet... 2960 Vallejo is now on Barbara Callan's website for 25 million... that's almost 5000k per foot, which is just astounding.

Hang on now, before you start freaking out about location, and size, and price, and square footage, and all that...the next email moments after:

Oops! I gave you the wrong address.. It's 2950 Vallejo... and it's 4000 per foot.. sorry!!

Apology accepted, still astounding (it's all perspective, you do get seven bedrooms and eight baths after all), and thanks for the tip.

[Update: "It's definitely 2950... 2960 Vallejo is the shingle property next door on the left. It sold in 06 for like 8 million"-from the same reader, whom we love!]

[Update #2: Some interior pictures are now available at Barbara Callan's website.]

Much nicer than expected, to be perfectly honest.

As a reminder, you can send tips, comments, or questions to theFrontSteps@gmail.com.

-2950 Vallejo [Barbara Callan, direct link to property not working, please navigate your way. At this moment the only pictures and details are what we've told you above.]
-2960 Vallejo [Byzantium Brokerage...Yasoo Steve!]

...and the after

...and even more. The before price of $2,675,000 (August 2005), the after price of $4,950,000 (two weeks ago) and the new after, after price, $5,250,000? Wait, what's that? They actually RAISED the price after two weeks on the market? As our reader notes, "[Twelve] Days on the Market and no sale. What does Malin [Giddings, Maximilian Armour] and team do? Raise the price 5% from $4.95 to $5.25. Classic!" So what gives?

We've known about this property at 2542 Fillmore for quite some time. We tried to secure a buyer to take it from the current seller prior to this recent remodel, but nobody we knew was up to the task. This is a sweet home, who wants it!?

Defying the odds and defying standards of redevelopment 2542 Fillmore is certainly a property to watch.

[Update: ...and according to a reader, now in contract (6/11/2008).]

-2542 Fillmore before [sfnewsletter listing detail]
-2542 Fillmore after [sfnewsletter listing detail]

[One] Day on market. In Escrow. I'd written about this one on [theFrontSteps.ORG] in the old days.

Buyers are out there and ready to strike!

We'd have to agree the high end buyers are out there, as are the mid-range buyers, but what about the low end?

-2401 Divisadero [MLS]

The Basic
A pencil skirt with a button white shirt and nice heels will apply almost anywhere. Just Be sure that your pencil skirt is in a solid colors. Try sticking to Beige, Brown hues, Gray hues, and of course the classic Black.

If you are applying to a more creative industry such as a Magazine company, a fashion-forward company, creative communications you can throw in a trendier top. It's about mixing and matching.

At a law office or financial firm you'll have to step it up little more. If you go the suite route, make sure your suite is very well tailored.

A general style tip is to choose a conservative base and then put on a piece of personal jewelry.

Women's Interview Attire

• Solid color, conservative
  
• Coordinated blouse
  
• Moderate shoes
  
• Limited jewelry
  
• Neat, professional hairstyle
  
• Sparse make-up & perfume
  
• Manicured nails (meaning making sure you don't have chipped nail polish or bright blue nails)

Editor's Boutique Picks for Interview Attire:
Mingle: 1850 Union Street, San Francisco - (415) 674-8811 www.mingleshop.com

Her: 2053 Fillmore Street, San Francisco - (415) 923-9628 www.her-sf.com

Jigsaw London: 2121 Fillmore Street, San Francisco - (415) 931-5520 www.jigsaw-london.com

Pink Tangerine: 883 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park - (650) 327-7900 *Peninsula Great Find!*

Also ...
Banana Republic, Club Monaco, J.Crew, Ralph Lauren, The White House Black Market, bebe

**images courtesy of E! Online**

-2221 Baker [sfnewsletter listing detail page]

-2021 Webster: The saga continues [Eddy! on theFrontSteps.ORG]
-2021 Webster [sfnewsletter listing page]

I'm sitting in the US embassy peering suspiciously out of the window - worried that the police look a little relaxed to be defending one of the number one terror targets in the world. I would really like to leave but it turns out I am the last person to be called. My number finally comes  - they haven't forgotten me after all. I approach the window for my interview, steeling myself for the barrage of questions and the beaming face I am greeted with takes one look at me and stamps my passport. Is this because I fit the white, middle class, well educated, well presented bill or because it is gone 4.30 and she needs a cup of tea I wonder?

Anyway Visa in hand I get through US immigration without being screamed at like a mule and I'm in. Not so much hassle after all. Not only am I in but I am installed in the most beautiful apartment in the swankiest neighbourhood in town (pacific heights) but I have a good job with some blogging folks. Things are looking good - the alien has landed and on her feet as far as I can see so far.

I was even asked by a man on the bus (muni) yesterday if I would like to run away with him. I didn't like to explain that I had only just arrived so was hardly about to run away, so I politely said sorry and shoved my ipod speaker back in my ear. Turns out this guy is an original hippy, tanned skin, deep smile lines and the clearest bluest eyes I have ever seen. About 20 years too old to run away with but I wish I had been ready to ask him more about himself. The english veneer of reserve will take a while to dissolve. And then the adventures will truly begin

There is a dog with views at 2342 Broadway being shopped at just under $6m--it's legit. Being marketed at $5.99M. Needs lots of work. Overpriced (in my opinion) considering the amount of work it needs, but it's got premier Pacific Heights views. It will probably hit MLS in a few weeks once sellers realize that no one is biting at $6M. It will sell for 5 something.

Thanks for the scoop! Sorry we can't deliver on the photo...yet. Given that it is 10:15pm, it's dark out, both Google and Windows Maps are failing us with the exact location, we can't run out and just snap a photo. But y'all could git er done for us. Send to thefrontsteps@gmail.com.

That photo big enough for you? ;-) Making up for what we lacked in the first photo.

Like we said, we would have taken it for the garage. Man is 2008 high end real estate starting off with a bang, or what?

[Update: According to a reader, the sales price is closer to $15M.]

-2820 Pacific [MLS]
-$17,500,000 and no picture of the garage [theFrontSteps]

I saw this condo at an open house on sunday - 2016 pacific #203. It seems like a steal. I'm wondering what is up with condo prices? This is a fully remodeled 2 br/2 1/2 bath for $1,295,000?!? Are prices dropping or is this too good to be true?

We're going to have to plead the fifth on this one. We have a policy at theFrontSteps of not commenting directly on any properties that one or more of our contributors might have an interest in personally, or for their clients. But our readers are free to discuss as much as you'd like.

Regarding condo prices, we'll just have to wait for the next numbers to come out, but don't expect any major declines.

-Stats & Numbers [theFrontSteps]
-Ask Us [theFrontSteps]
-2016 pacific #203 [redfin]

This week we’re going down memory lane in five districts–now up, Pacific Heights. We’re bringing it back to good old 1997 when Ben and Jerry’s introduced “Phish Food,” the world lost Notorious BIG, Bill Clinton was President and Mission Bay was nothing more than a place on the map.

Here's another cool factoid from the amazing (out-of-print) book on the history of the San Francisco Municipal Railway.

We know Upper Fillmore Street today as a bustling commercial district with high-end shops and restaurants married closely with its residential community. This is a direct result of the great 1906 earthquake.

After the quake, the Fillmore Street cable car line was the first line restored to service. The downtown shopping district was still buried in rubble, helping Fillmore Street become the temporary retail and civic epicenter of the City.

This page on the history of Japantown describes how "old mansions served as department stores, and churches and synagogues doubled as courthouses." The Muni book didn't go into as much detail, but the Japantown page also described the transition of Upper Fillmore Street to evolve into what we now refer to as Japantown.

I think it's easy to forget how strongly transit can shape our City.

Verbatim:

Absolutely fantastic 1bedroom in Pacific Heights off Lafayette Park. $599,000 for 610sqft, view, parking, prime location.

On the market for 2 weeks, accepted 6 offers yesterday! I offered $610,000 or $1000/sqft, and was 2nd to last! One of the bidders was a 26 year old Google guy i hear with 50% down. First time a unit in this building has come up in 5 years.

Damn. I bet this goes for close to $650,000 or $1,050/sqft.-Larry Leisure

Damn those Google guys! Better luck next time. Thanks for the report, and you wouldn't happen to know Captain Leisure would you?

-636 Steiner, an offer, and a UFC style beat down [theFrontSteps]
-Nothing Special, just $421,000 over asking...that's all (1809 Diamond) [theFrontSteps]
-2171 Sacramento #3 [MLS]

The scoop:
It is a foreclosure (not sure we mentioned that.) About an hour before it hit MLS, it received an all cash, non-contingent, over asking offer from a developer. (Offers were as they come, per the bank's request, not sure we mentioned that either.) About an hour after it hit MLS, a second offer was received. As of today (we haven't checked MLS) it should be ratified. Many more offers were attempted, but turned away.

The photos:
No wonder it went from 15 bedrooms to zero bedrooms

The fun:
You'll have to see the next post for that.

We're hoping some of you readers can go ahead and run the numbers on whether this thing would make sense for a developer. Assuming it needs EVERYTHING, and is historical.

-2201 Baker @ Jackson. Read the disclosures [theFrontSteps]
-Fixer Facing Foreclosure, Move Fast! [theFrontSteps]
-How to sell a home in Today's Market [theFrontSteps]
-Good Bones [theFrontSteps]
-Real Estate P*rn, for real! [theFrontSteps]

Not for the squeemish, 2201 Baker hits the market again, and our reader says, "... may be hazardous in areas. REO, banked owned, sold as-is with no seller disclosures...Is presently on UMB [Unreinforced Masonry Building] and Historically significant (exterior) lists...."
It has also gone from 15 bedrooms and $5M+ asking in 2005, to 0 (zero) bedrooms and $2,490,000 asking in 2007. It's still 5000+ square feet, but just WHERE did those bedrooms go?

Opportunity knocking for someone, that's for sure. Last recorded sales price, $2.2M in 2004, and it had 12 bedrooms then. Hmmm....

[Update: We're feeling generous, surf is not good yet, so why not go ahead and spill all the beans, at least that we found.
Last sold $2,200,000 on 8/31/04
Listed for $4,400,000 on 9/18/04 (that would have been a great flip!) and expired.
Re-listed, same agent, for $5,270,000 4/21/05...didn't sell.
Which brings us to where we are now. Fifteen less bedrooms, new agent, half the price, all the same headache, and one helluva 'n opportunity for the right buyer.
One last thing. We've been inside...it's a pit! And agree with "sleepiguy"...tear it down.]

-Stump the Stammtisch: UMB take two [theFrontSteps]
-2201 Baker [MLS]