Home of the Week: Russian Hill Estate May Set New San Francisco Price Record

A unique compound on two hillside lots at 950 Lombard St. in San Francisco’s Russian Hill could break the record set earlier this year for a lavish urban penthouse that sold for $38 million. Spearheaded by Babac Doane of Ken Linsteadt Architects and developer Greg Malin (Troon Pacific), the project combines two structures — a circa 1907 shingled house by noted Bay Area architect Willis...

Wine Country Housing Markets: One Year After the Wildfires

Executive Summary: After the initial rush for homes following the Tubbs Fire in October 2017, North Bay home sales activity slowed more than in the rest of the Bay Area, particularly in Sonoma County. Sales of residential lots in Sonoma County have jumped by 265 percent year to date from 138 parcels sold in 2017 to 504 this year. More than 75 percent — or...

Home of the Week: Sweeping New Masterpiece in Mandeville Canyon

Expansive, light-washed spaces and softly glowing woods combine to beautiful effect in this new gated estate at 2333 Mandeville Canyon Road. Covering some 10,600 square feet, it offers an environment for living and entertaining on the grandest scale. Every element of the residence reflects the utmost in artistry and quality, from wide-plank French oak flooring to dramatic lighting. The entry opens to a vast center...

Most California Renters Want to Own a Home

Eighty percent of California renters aspire to homeownership. A lack of money and insufficient knowledge of the home-financing process may be preventing more renters from making the jump to ownership. California accounts for six of the nation’s 10 most expensive rental markets as of December, led by San Francisco at No. 1. Even with limited affordability conditions, homeownership is still a cornerstone of the California...

Shopping for a California Home? Here’s How Long It Might Take.

The average Golden State homebuyer took two months to close a purchase earlier this year, with Bay Area shoppers spending 10 weeks. Forty-four percent of California homebuyers exceeded their budget, while about one-third sacrificed property size, commute time, and school district. Despite high home prices, most Californians are staying in the state. Golden State residents who aspire to homeownership should expect to search for at...

Real Estate Roundup: Bay Area Claims 3 of the Nation’s 5 Wealthiest Counties

Here’s a look at recent news of interest to homebuyers, home sellers, and the home-curious. MARIN, SAN MATEO, AND SANTA CLARA COUNTY HOUSEHOLDS EARN MORE THAN $150,000 PER YEAR A recent PropertyShark analysis found that half of the nation’s 10 most expensive real estate markets are located in the Bay Area, and now another study underscores the region’s impressive wealth. SmartAsset has ranked America’s 25...

Silicon Valley Projected to Post the Nation’s Largest Inventory Gain in 2019

Nationwide, the number of homes for sale is forecast to increase by less than 7 percent by the end of next year, while the San Jose metropolitan should see a double-digit-percent gain. Home price appreciation in all major California metro areas is projected to outstrip the national average of 2.2 percent. Mortgage rate increases will drive up the average monthly payment by 8 percent in...

California Boasts 80 Percent of the Nation’s Most Expensive ZIP Codes in 2018

San Mateo County’s Atherton ranks as America’s priciest ZIP code this year, with a median sales price of $6,700,000. Santa Monica, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Portola Valley rank among the nation’s 10 most expensive real estate markets. San Francisco ties New York for the highest concentration of high-end U.S. housing markets on a city level, while Los Angeles has the most on a county...

Home Remodeling: How Much Can You Save by Doing It Yourself?

  Eight in 10 U.S. homeowners think that hiring an improvement professional is too expensive, but 68 percent say that the cost is preferable to doing the work themselves. Homeowners who renovate a kitchen, a bedroom, or a recreation room themselves can save more than $20,000. Do it yourself with caution: Almost half of all homeowners have undertaken an improvement project that ended poorly. Nearly half...