http://www.socketsite.com/ San Francisco real estate tips, trends and the local scoop: "Plug In" to SocketSite™ Copyright 2009 SocketSite Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:00:00 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.33 Like there's any way we could resist the colonial facade of 120 Santa Ana Avenue leading up to a long 4th of July weekend. But don't worry, we're not there quite yet... ∙ Listing: 120 Santa Ana Avenue (5/6)... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/a_colonial_leading_up_to_the_4th_of_july_weekend_but_of.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/a_colonial_leading_up_to_the_4th_of_july_weekend_but_of.html Listings (for sale) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:00:00 -0800 In the last round of California Proposition 1C infill infrastructure grants voters approved in 2006, "San Francisco developers won seven state grants worth $96 million" versus one grant for $5 million the last time around. From J.K. Dineen: The biggest... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/san_francisco_developers_land_96_million_in_state_grant.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/san_francisco_developers_land_96_million_in_state_grant.html Industry Stuff Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0800 A plugged-in resident tipster reports on The Montgomery (74 New Montgomery): I've noticed a lot more people in the lobby, elevators, halls etc. the last two weeks then saw [they’re now 80% sold]…so between their price adjustments and/or the... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/74_new_montgomery_update_80_sold_and_feeling_a_bit_more.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/74_new_montgomery_update_80_sold_and_feeling_a_bit_more.html New Developments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:30:00 -0800 "An undisclosed U.S. private-equity firm bought the $40.8 million note on 250 Montgomery St. for about half its face value, according to industry sources. The sale was about 60 percent below the cost of the building, considering the previous price... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/a_halfprice_sale_for_san_francisco_class_a_commercial_r.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/a_halfprice_sale_for_san_francisco_class_a_commercial_r.html Commercial Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:15:00 -0800 According to John King, "Gap founder Donald Fisher and his family have decided to abandon their efforts to build a contemporary art museum at the Main Post of San Francisco's Presidio." In calling off an effort that began with... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/the_fishers_break_camp_with_respect_to_the_main_post.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/the_fishers_break_camp_with_respect_to_the_main_post.html Neighborhoods Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:15:00 -0800 Opus East and West (which developed Park Terrace at 325 Berry in Mission Bay) will file for federal bankruptcy protection, with Opus East expected to go the chapter 7 route while Opus West is expected to reorganize under chapter... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/park_terrace_developer_opus_west_to_file_for_bankruptcy.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/park_terrace_developer_opus_west_to_file_for_bankruptcy.html Industry Stuff Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:00:00 -0800 "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will begin refinancing mortgages with loan-to-value ratios of as much as 125 percent," up from the current 105 percent limit in a bid boost participation in anti-foreclosure programs. But the basic question of whether or... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/fannie_and_freddie_boost_their_ltv_limits_as_the_water.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/fannie_and_freddie_boost_their_ltv_limits_as_the_water.html Real Estate Economics Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:45:00 -0800 From the Craigslist post asking $12,500 per month: NOW AVAILABLE…ONE OF A KIND MANSION…5 BEDROOMS AND 4 BATHROOMS…GOURMET KITCHEN…FAB LIVINGROOM WITH ORNATE FIREPLACE…ROOF GARDEN WITH FABULOUS VIEWS OF CITY. USED AS THE TOP CHEF SAN FRANCISCO HOME ON BRAVO... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/are_there_any_top_chef_aficionados_in_the_house.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/are_there_any_top_chef_aficionados_in_the_house.html Rentals Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0800 Speaking of captain’s homes, if you’ve ever wandered around the area of what was once the Mark Hopkins Mansion, now home to the Mark Hopkins Hotel, and wondered what was behind a former carriage house entrance at 1030 Leavenworth,... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/behind_the_carriage_house_entrance_of_the_old_mark_hopk.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/behind_the_carriage_house_entrance_of_the_old_mark_hopk.html Listings (for sale) Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:00:00 -0800 According to Colliers International retail broker Ross Portugeis, "San Francisco’s retail vacancy rate leaped in the past year from 3 or 4 percent to 12 or 13 percent" but Portugeis feels the market started stabilizing in May. As always, time... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/san_francisco_retail_space_update_vacancy_rate_up_fouri.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/san_francisco_retail_space_update_vacancy_rate_up_fouri.html Trends Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:15:00 -0800 As we wrote in October of 2007: 57 months (no not days) after first hitting the market for $23,500,000, and nine months after undergoing an $8,000,000 renovation (and subsequently raising its asking price by $2,400,000), the list price on... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/perhaps_the_captains_house_300_sea_cliff_is_preparing_t.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/07/perhaps_the_captains_house_300_sea_cliff_is_preparing_t.html SocketSnaps Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:15:00 -0800 It’s a restored classic façade with a newly constructed interior and plan on 21st Street. Close to Muni would be an understatement as the developers traded a new J-Church sidewalk stop, fence and retaining wall in exchange for a... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/06/a_restored_classic_facade_with_a_newly_constructed_inte.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/06/a_restored_classic_facade_with_a_newly_constructed_inte.html Listings (for sale) Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0800 It’s a bit to the South but we’ve looked at it before. Purchased for $2,500,000 in November of 2005 and boasting $750,000 in upgrades since, "G’s" 356 Santana Row #306 down in San Jose returned to the market in... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/06/is_g_wondering_what_the_f.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/06/is_g_wondering_what_the_f.html San Jose (And South) Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:45:00 -0800 The delinquency rate for prime mortgages over 60 days behind continued to climb from 2.4% in the fourth quarter of 2008 to 2.9% through March 31, 2009 (up from 1.1% at the same point in 2008) as "first-time foreclosure filings... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/06/a_new_alltime_high_or_rather_low_for_us_prime_delinquen.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/06/a_new_alltime_high_or_rather_low_for_us_prime_delinquen.html Trends Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:00:00 -0800 According to the April 2009 S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index (pdf), single-family home prices in the San Francisco MSA gained 0.6% from March ’09 to April '09, down 28.0% year-over-year and down 45.8% from a peak in May 2006. For... http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/06/april_spcaseshiller_san_francisco_msa_top_tier_flat_oth.html http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2009/06/april_spcaseshiller_san_francisco_msa_top_tier_flat_oth.html Trends Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:15:00 -0800