Real Data SF

My take on the San Francisco housing market

San Francisco home prices have recovered somewhat since they hit their lows around April of 2009, when they were down nearly 30% from their all-time highs.  As of August, they were down “only” around 19%.  Where will they go from here?  My guess is that they will go more or less sideways for a while, though I remain concerned about the possibility that a jobless recovery may eventually pull the real estate market back down.  Winter 2009/Spring 2010 will be critical in my view.

At the same time, interest rates are very low historically right now, and no one would argue that the long-term interest rate trend is going to be anything but up.  In fact, some have suggested that if the economy remains sluggish, there’s some danger of stagflation.

No one can hope to time the absolute bottom of the market — and I don’t think people should buy homes as an investment anyway — there are better ones in terms of return.  But I do think that, between the major recalibration in prices that we’ve witnessed and the low interest rate environment that we’re in, this is a pretty good time to be out looking for a home — assuming that your credit’s excellent and your job feels secure.

The market is a far cry from its frenzied highs of recent years and that improves the prospects of finding a decent home at a reasonable price — if there is or ever was such a thing in San Francisco.

How can I help?  How am I differerent from other agents?

Buying or selling a home in San Francisco is one of the most complicated and stressful decisions you will ever make.

The forest of federal, state, and local rules governing almost every aspect of the transaction doesn’t make it any easier. I can help guide you through the process by explaining details, answering questions, and assuring that you and your transaction receive my personal attention.  If I don’t know the answer, I’ll tell you that — and then I’ll go and find it.

Do I mean personal attention? Yup. Because I will never work for more than four active clients at a time. I take my fiduciary obligations very seriously.  That means I put your interests before mine. I believe in conducting my business and my life ethically.  If you want to talk to some of my previous clients, let me know.

I am happy to provide detailed suggestions on readying your property for sale and assistance with referrals to contractors and other specialists. And I will carefully monitor your transaction as it goes through escrow and keep you informed every step of the way.

Some people aren’t interested in a lot of facts and figures. Others are. I’ll be happy to drill down into the MLS’s database to get you the information you need so that you can make an informed decision. Take a look here or at my blog for some great sales data and interactive graphs.