SFnewsletter Week ending April 29, 2005

Dear Friends: ****Buy your next home with no money down. Listen to a free recorded message with information about this option by calling 1-888-207-9619 ext. 9001. Brought to you by Laurette Foggini at Pinnacle Bancorp.**** _____ Welcome: Hello and welcome to the newest members of the list. To opt-out, either email me at sfnewsletter@gmail.com, or click on the "unsubscribe" button below. If you know anyone who would like to be added to this distribution, they must opt-in by emailing me. Most importantly, don't forget to click on the "New on Market", and "Sold" reports below. They are what make this newsletter tick.* $____ Market Update: This section is getting more and more difficult for me to come up with something interesting to say. I prefer not to bore you with averages, interest rate speculation, crystal ball sales predictions, and so on. So until the market takes a turn for the worse, I'm really going to limit what I say here, or possibly get rid of this section altogether. This week the market is still very, very good. !!!____ HOT in SF: This is a new section as of this week. I'm negotiating with a couple local magazines/newspapers to bring me content for this section. Until then, if you know of a good NEW restaurant, bar, club, show, shop, etc. let me know, and I'll announce it to the world in this section. $$___ Maximum Overbid(TM) of the week**: The winner this week is a house on Hale Street in Portola. Two Bed, one bath, one car parking. Roughly 1350 square feet. Asking $425,000 sold for $660,000. The owners certainly said a few "hale" Mary's on that one. You have to love the description...and my corny joke: link $$$___ Comparision Shopping: We truly are insane here in San Francisco. This one is a reality check. It's amazing that we don't all take our equity we've built up here and run. Run to the hills. Run to the country. Just run!!!! This is what $650,000 (yes $10,000 less) gets you in Charlotte North Carolina: link $$$$___ My Thoughts: If you need to find me this weekend, try looking here: link Happy Aloha Friday! alex New on Market Report: report SOLD 04/15/05-04/28/05: report SOLD 04/01/05-04/15/05: report

SFnewsletter Week ending April 22, 2005

Dear Friends: ****Are you looking to purchase or refinance residential property? Want great rates, expert advice and quick turnaround? John Ward, at TD Financial, partners with a variety of lenders to meet your individual needs. Call him today for more information and a free evaluation. (415) 292-2602.**** _____ Hello and welcome to the newest members of the list. To opt-out, either email me at sfnewsletter@gmail.com, or click on the "unsubscribe" button below. If you know anyone who would like to be added to this distribution, they must opt-in by emailing me. Most importantly, don't forget to click on the "New on Market", and "Sold" reports below. They are what make this newsletter tick.* $____ Market Update: This market is bringing back memories of one of my most dreaded classes at UCSB, Economics 101. Something about the Theory of Supply and Demand? Is the market going to turn? Who knows. I certainly do not. What I do know is that as long as properties are receiving upwards of 40 offers, there is way more demand than there is supply. However, sellers shouldn't get cocky, because that many offers is largely a part of under-pricing. And as I said last week, buyers shouldn't get scared away from writing offers, because you may just be the only one that DIDN'T get scared away and you can go home to a nice piece of San Francisco real estate. $$___ Maximum Overbid(TM) of the week**: It's funny. When I'm going through the overbids I'm thinking, "15% over, that could be it...oh 22% over, maybe that is it...nope there's 35% over, that's got to be the one...oh wait, there's 42% over, that's it for sure...nope! Are you kidding me!!?" The lucky overbid this week is 49% over asking. The house is on Church Street in Noe Valley. A 1938 square foot, three bedroom, one and a quarter (don't forget that quarter) bath, with two car parking. Asking $855,000 sold for $1,275,000!!! Here's a link to the property description. $$$___ Comparison Shopping: All you Cypress Hill and Snoop Dogg fans out there will appreciate that the price between asking and selling on the Overbid home was $420,000. What does that buy you in Jamaica? Well, $420,000 USD is equal to roughly 25,623,929 Jamaican Dollars, and I found this house for you with 5 acres and fruit trees. $$$$___ My Thoughts: Tried a great new restaurant last night, Tamal. Tamal is located on the corner of 12th. and Howard. They serve "Mexican Tapas". Really, really good food. Wear warm clothing though, because the only bad thing about the restaurant is that it was a bit drafty. Happy Aloha Friday! alex +For future reference, the only content that changes weekly is the Advertisement on the top of the page, the Market Update, the Maximum Overbid of the Week(TM), Comparison Shopping, and My Thoughts. So next time you get this newsletter, you can skip the Welcome, and the legal junk below, and get right to the good stuff.+ New on Market Report: report SOLD 04/08/05-04/21/05: report SOLD 03/25/05-04/07/05: report

SFnewsletter Week ending April 8, 2005

Dear Friends: _____ Hello and welcome to the newest members of the list. To opt-out, either email me at sfnewsletter@gmail.com, or click on the "unsubscribe" button below. If you know anyone who would like to be added to this distribution, they must opt-in by emailing me. Most importantly, don't forget to click on the "New on Market", and "Sold" reports below. They are what make this newsletter tick.* $____ Market Update: The market in San Francisco continues to shine. The Sun on the other hand is having a hard time with that. Well, this is San Francisco, and things happen differently here. It's no wonder the market is doing its own thing. Check out this link regarding Home Financing from CNN Money.com. Thanks Ryan for the link! $$___ Maximum Overbid(TM) of the week**: Bernal, Bernal, Bernal. Lots of activity in Bernal Heights. Clearly THE hottest spot in the city. Check out this DUMP! Two bedrooms, one bath, one car parking, asking $438,000 sold for $657,000...cash! Make sure when you check out the description you click on the "additional pictures" link on the description page. It's truly remarkable, but on the other hand the developer is going to make a ton of money when they flip it, if the market keeps going where it is. Time to move to San Francisco, Pete! Here's a link to the property description: $$$___ Comparison Shopping: I decided to make San Francisco buyers feel a bit better than usual, and searched for something in New York City. I found a couple things under $450,000, but I liked this co-op the best. (Call me if you'd like an explanation as to what a co-op is.) I especially like the terrace which is the "fourth room for most of the year". Seven hundred square feet, tons of "discounts", and low HOAs of $1,021. Makes San Francisco look like a bargain! $$$$___ My Thoughts: Wondering where that place in NY is? Check out Google's new Maps: Show me the map! Happy Aloha Friday! alex New on Market Report: Report SOLD 03/25/05-04/07/05: Report SOLD 03/11/05-03/24/05: Report

SFnewsletter Week ending April 1, 2005

Dear Friends: ****If you need a great hand made Turkish rug or kilim, check out my friend's store, A Woven Expression at 260 Utah Street. Online at www.awovenexpression.com. Ask for Soner!**** _____ Hello and welcome to the newest members of the list. To opt-out, either email me at sfnewsletter@gmail.com, or click on the "unsubscribe" button below. If you know anyone who would like to be added to this distribution, they must opt-in by emailing me. Most importantly, don't forget to click on the "New on Market", and "Sold" reports below. They are what make this newsletter tick.* $____ Market Update: The market has taken a turn. Most properties are selling under asking, and overbids are pretty much a thing of the past. Interest rates are climbing through the roof, and we're headed for a big downturn in the market. April Fools!!!!! No changes. The market is still extremely active and the same as it has been for quite some time. A good time to sell if you need to, and a good time to buy while rates are still low. $$___ Maximum Overbid(TM) of the week**: 2 Northwood Drive in Westwood Park, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car parking, detached corner home, around 1932 square feet, asking $849,000 sold for 1,326,000!!! How about that?!! Here's a link to the property description: link $$$___ Comparison Shopping: I searched, and I searched, and I searched again to find a house in Costa Rica for $1,326,000 and I came up empty. But for a little bit more than they were asking on this home in San Francisco, you could have this place in Costa Rica: link $$$$___ My Thoughts: Gone Surfin'! Happy Aloha Friday! alex New on Market Report: report SOLD 03/18/05-04/01/05: report SOLD 03/04/05-03/17/05: report