Buyer caution versus pent-up demand

The pricier the home, the happier its sellers might be as the market softens. Photo: Garey De Martini

After an incredibly hot early spring start, San Francisco’s real estate market may be cooling off a bit. But just a bit. “Anecdotally, we are hearing that some buyers are s... Read More

San Francisco's a unique city, and its markets are a bit surprising now. Photo: Gary De Martini

Real Estate

May’s mixed bag of real estate news

By Garey De Martini

Sure, home prices in San Francisco are high, it’s a seller’s market with fierce competition among buyers, and single family homes are more in demand than condos. Blah-blah-bla... Read More

Some glimmer of hope for buyers — but not a lot. Photo: Hsansone17/Pixabay

Real Estate

The real estate market, two years after shelter in place began

By Garey De Martini

A year ago I wrote in this column that it had been a little over 12 months since shelter in place protocols were initiated due to the coronavirus pandemic. I wrote, “At long la... Read More

It’s no longer “location, location, location.” Now it’s “move-in ready, move-in ready, move-in ready.” Photo: Garey De Martini

Real Estate

Affordability is in the eye of the beholder

By Garey De Martini

San Francisco is not the most expensive place to live in the world. In fact, it doesn’t even crack the top 10. Bet you can’t even guess which city is the most expensive place ... Read More

Real Estate

One big real estate mystery solved

By Garey De Martini

The fact that demand for San Francisco real estate remains high is not a mystery. The city is surrounded by water on three sides, so geography alone limits the number of homes tha... Read More

Real Estate

San Francisco real estate in 2022

By Garey De Martini

In short, next year is likely to be a lot like 2021 when it comes to San Francisco real estate. A seller’s delight, and not much fun for buyers — especially if you’re lookin... Read More

Expect fewer crazy price hikes in 2022, analysts say. Photo: Sylvain Collet/Pixabay

Real Estate

A sign of the times

By Garey De Martini

Think you’ve seen fewer open house signs in San Francisco lately? That is likely the case, but perhaps for a different reason than you might expect. It’s not necessarily becau... Read More

There’s an intergenerational competition in the evolving housing market. Photo: Kevin Schwarz/Pixabay

Real Estate

Playing the percentages

By Garey De Martini

The arrival of November typically marks the beginning of a slowdown in San Francisco’s real estate market. Everyone seems to take a collective breath — including buyers, selle... Read More

Multifamily rentals are tied to office leasing, and that’s lagging in the city. Photo: aschaeffer/FreeImages.com

Real Estate

The more, the merrier

By Garey De Martini

We wanted to know how multiunit properties are faring in light of the pandemic and eviction restrictions. We spoke recently with real estate broker Terrence Jones and found his an... Read More

Real Estate

A moderating market, homeowner wealth, migration trends, and more

By Garey De Martini

The national housing market appears to be slowing down, according to Michelle Robertson, reporting for SFGate. She quotes Daryl Fairweather, the chief economist at housin... Read More

Rents appear to be heading upward and concessions downward in San Francisco. Photo: Garey De Martini

Real Estate

Rents less of a bargain

By Garey De Martini

Rents are soaring across America, and climbing slowly in San Francisco. Nationwide, residential rents are up 7.5 percent so far this year, three times higher than normal, accordin... Read More

The rebound in San Francisco and California has been strong. Photo: Garey De Martini

Real Estate

San Francisco’s amazing economic surge

By Garey De Martini

The pandemic that had been so much a part of life seemed to just vanish in San Francisco on June 15. California and the city officially reopened, and it turns out, both had been e... Read More

There’s hope for buyers, even if they’ve lost out on homes before. Photo: Garey De Martini

Real Estate

A buyer in sellerland

Buying a home in San Francisco’s red-hot real estate market

By Garey De Martini

Since the start of 2020, California has experienced one of its hottest housing markets in recent history. Not only are many homes across the state selling at well above the asking... Read More

An upcoming wave of new IPOs could introduce more buyers into the local market, photo: Garey De Martini

Real Estate

Ready for the rebound

By Garey De Martini

Californians are not leaving the state en masse, but they are leaving San Francisco, according to a recent Los Angeles Times report. Net exits from San Francisco in the last nine ... Read More

How fast will San Francisco attract new or returning residents as the pandemic remains to be seen. Photo: JHaynam/Pixabay

Real Estate

365 days later

By Garey De Martini

It’s been just over a year since shelter-in-place protocols were initiated due to the coronavirus pandemic. At long last, there truly seems to be some light at the end of this t... Read More

Real Estate