Update on 1447 Funston Ave

In an earlier post I mentioned that the property on Funston Ave would go over asking from $729k to the high 800s. Today I checked on MLS and it actually went for $920,000! Craziness!

Nikki in the news!

  I was recently asked to participate in an article published by Realtor Magazine and my god they kept me in the story--how exciting is that?

Niche Marketing: Finding success in the Condo Craze.  Experts offer advice for real estate practitioners navigating the expanding condominium market. by Michelle Hofmann

I'm in the Marketing for Sellers and Smart Tips for Buyers sections, so check it out! Okay, below are my parts in case you want to skip everything else.  But, I highly recommend the Tips for Buyers section--there is some great advice to consider when you are looking for a condo.

Whether you’re marketing a loft, conversion, luxury skyscraper, or oceanic wonder, you need to attract buyers who fit the condominium culture, says the Nikki Gunn, a sales associate with Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate in San Francisco. “We’re selling a lifestyle, not just a home,” Gunn explains. “A doorman can offer both security and convenience. But some people like to be pampered. And others don’t want any fuss at all.”

Gunn says many of her clients are second-home buyers who want to vacation in San Francisco. “So calling the doorman to make a dinner reservation or order theater tickets is a thrilling perk,” she explains.

Gunn asks clients to read the most recent HOA meeting minutes. “This is where you’ll find complaints about a noisy neighbor, upcoming special assessments, and HOA fee increases. When you are paying $450 to $650 in HOA fees on top of an $800,000-plus mortgage, you want to know if the board is considering a 5 percent increase,” Gunn says.

The incredible rising ceiling

I love quirky real estate tidbits...

Curiously, while downpayments are shrinking, ceilings in many new homes and apartments are on the way up, according to a National Association of Home Builders survey. The average ceiling used to be eight feet high, but over the past ten years ceiling heights have drifted up towards nine feet. Although statistics show that people in general have become slightly taller in the past decade, the demand for higher ceilings is more a matter of aesthetics than physical need. "You get a very warm feeling when you walk into a home with a higher ceiling," Philadelphia builder Goro Hovnanian told the New York Times. "Buyers always see the value."

Your personal resource

A woman called into the office today needing to talk to an agent about referring a roofer to her landlord.  She found herself in a hectic moment as her ceiling was starting to leak, so she called Pacific Union.  As a former client, she remembered that we have an Approved Vendor List that includes names and phone numbers of tradesmen, accountants, financial planners, and lawyers, including roofers. This list is updated regularly and each vendor on the list must adhere to certain standards of quality and commitment to their trade--Pac Union only refers the best.  If you find yourself in need of a trusted resource, give me a call!  I would be more than happy to help.