Hello My Favorite People!A New Way To Look At Homes For Sale. . .

If you are going to open houses this weekend, here are a four fresh ways for you to look at the homes you visit: 1. Picture yourself coming home—

Architects and designers frequently miss this point. I grew up in a custom-built home that took your breath away when walked through the front door. But the back door, which we used the most, forced us through a dead-ugly utility room before we could get to the rest of the house.

2. Review traffic flow Walk from the front door to the back door, through the various rooms and think about furniture placement. Your trajectory should lead you along the edges of the main rooms and easily move you to the private rooms. If your path forces you through the middle of the living areas, you will feel a sense of discomfort.

Is your price range putting you into a home that’s tight on square footage? Consider bringing multiple uses to hallways and connecting spaces with shelving, or window seats. I also like spotlighting hallway walls for art.

3. How does it look and feel to really live there Consider your vantage points. What will you see when you sit on the sofa? How does it look when you stand at the sink and turn your head in either direction?

What you see through a home’s windows is also important. While San Francisco homes generally don’t offer the perfect view from every room, a bit of greenery or a pleasant outlook through at least some of the home’s openings can help considerably.

When shopping for condos, I encourage buyers to pay attention to how the unit relates to others in the building. Depth of perspective through the windows and/or outlook that includes some landscaping will be an advantage upon resale.

4. Realistically consider your lifestyleMy last house had dreary outlooks onto the street from the living and dining rooms– but I didn’t care, because when company came over it was usually in the evening when no one could see the streetscape anyway. When I was home during the day, most of my time was spent in my bedroom reading or working in my office—these rooms had the best views of the back yard and Buena Vista Park.

Room proportion is also a consideration. Some of my clients are focused on private spaces and want big bedrooms. Others are big on entertaining and are willing to sacrifice bedroom size for a large living/dining/kitchen area.

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This Sunday (June 17) I will be holding open 988 Fulton, #244, a two-bedroom, two-bath Alamo Square condo that feels great to come home to. Its courtyard setting has a large fountain surrounded by greenery. Detached on three sides, the floor plan offers generously proportioned bedrooms, and nice Eastern views.

The price is right too, at $698,000. This listing started at a higher price a few weeks ago. Since it got dropped below the $700K threshold it’s awash in activity. Offers are due Wednesday.

If you’d like to talk some more about how to look at a home (or get your home ready to show its best), please call or email me. I’m always happy to share ideas and information.

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Before government rebates, the average cost to install solar panels hovers right around $20,000. To see how long it will take you to recoup your investment,findsolar.com can help you figure out the cost benefits over time. In addition to doing the simple math around savings on your utility bill, it also factors in appreciation and tax savings. Findsolar.com also has a wealth of information about different kinds of systems and state programs designed to incentivize and help you go solar.

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Hello My Favorite People:We’re kicking off this buzz with some new Paragon listings that haven’t hit the market yet. If you want a sneak preview of any of these properties, call me and I’ll get you in:

Pacific Heights Old World Elegance. Three bedroom/two bath condo in a 1912 building. Big square footage (+/-1900 square feet) - prime location across from Lafayette Park.. Updated bath, nice upgrades in kitchen. Has parking. Has an elevator Priced at $1,395,000.

Russian Hill Pied-a-Terre. Small studio at Leavenworth and Green on a yummy block with great architecture and views. Northwest views. Leased Parking. Priced at $559,000.

Valencia Corridor Flat. 1400 square foot Craftsman condo on Guerrero at Clinton. Two bedrooms plus sunroom/one bath. Parking and small garden in back. If you’re not familiar with this neighborhood, it’s worth getting to know. Appreciation here has been phenomenal over the last 5-10 years. Priced at $819,000.

Uber Cool Loft on Uber Cool Brady Street. I love this alley off Market right near Gough Street. Nearby landmarks are McRoskey’s Mattresses (did you know the Queen sleeps on a McRoskey’s?), Deliseos (best gourmet take-out in the City), and Martuni’s (where once in a blue moon you can catch my cabaret act with Dorian Sarris). One loft-bedroom, one-and-a-half baths. Price will be in the $600,000 range.

Inner Sunset Single Family. Cross streets are 15th and Judah. Easy walk to shops, restaurants and transportation. Two bedroom/one bath up with plans (that may even be permitted already?) to add a master suite and second bedroom down. Has a garage. The Inner Sunset has experienced some of the best appreciation in the City over the past few months and comparable homes have broken the $1M price point. Priced at $825,000, this looks like a great deal.

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2075 Sutter #529 has sold and closed and our Sellers are delighted to be moving on. While the home was an ideal size for them when they bought it proved to be a tight squeeze after they had three children. To learn more about the sale, please log on to the listings section of my website.

Are you growing up and out of your current home? Ready for a change of scenery? As always, I’m here to help! So call me—and remember, there’s no such thing as a stupid real estate question!

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