GREEN REALTOR NEWS | Vol. 25
Market Update | News | Photo Contest
The winner of our March photo contest was new Mill Valley homeowner and modern architect extraordinaire Lincoln Lighthill! Lincoln and his family searched high and low until they found the perfect mid-century home to return to its former glory. The house was neglected for many years but modern, green renovations are a specialty of his firm and he is relishing the challenge, acting as owner-architect-general contractor. The work is progressing quickly and they hope to move in this summer. Take a look below to see the work in progress.
He correctly identified the photo as the San Francisco Peace Pagoda, located in the plaza at the Japan Center Mall. Originally paid for and presented by San Francisco's sister city, Osaka, Japan in 1968, the plaza is now slated for renovation once again with construction set to begin in early 2024.
Scroll to the bottom to see if you can identify the location of the April photo. As always, the winner receives a $25 gift card to a local green business, Good Earth Natural Foods.
Big Announcement!
I moved to Vanguard Properties!
As some of you may remember, about a year ago I made a move to Attain Real Estate. While there are nice things about being part of a small team, I found that with so much of my business spread between Marin and San Francisco I needed a brokerage with great name recognition in both places. I couldn’t ask for a better solution than Vanguard! A local, independent brokerage for over 40 years, Vanguard features cutting edge marketing tools, offices throughout the Bay Area and a culture of collaboration. Their motto is “there is no I in real estate” - meaning that it’s a team sport. Cooperation and genuine care for one another sets us apart and it definitely shows by how I’ve been welcomed with open arms and showered with resources to help me, and ultimately my clients, be successful. I’m so happy to have made the move and thrilled to provide more and better services for everyone.
Market Update
As we look back on the first quarter, it’s evident that the real estate market has seen a significant decline in most key metrics compared to the unprecedented demand spike that was experienced in late 2020 and early 2021. The first quarter recorded an 18.2 percent reduced median sales price for single-family homes and an 8.5 percent decrease for condominiums compared to the same time last year. Despite these figures, the current real estate market sentiment is vastly different from what it was just a couple of months ago. Many buyers are taking advantage of the current landscape and securing deals that haven’t been seen in years. However, while the current situation seems promising for buyers, fluctuating mortgage rates and limited inventory continue to be a significant barrier in the market. As you see from the charts above, the amount of days a property is on the market before being sold is decreasing, while prices are starting to increase. Click the button below to see more details.
New Listing
631 O’Farrell #1511, San Francisco - $395,000
Fantastic city and bay views from this cozy living room
Some of you avid readers of the Green Realtor News may recognize this Art Deco gem from way back in 2021. The buyer was testing it out as a pied-a-terre in San Francisco and loved having a place in the city so much that he bought a bigger place and is now letting it go to a new happy owner. In going through the listing photos he said: “It looks so good! I should buy it!” Now it’s an even better deal at just $395,000. The Hamilton Building is located right in the heart of San Francisco with a walk score of 99 and transit score of 100! Walk out your front door, jump on the Powell cable car and make your way to Ghiradelli Square, where you can hop off at Buena Vista Café and get an Irish coffee. It doesn’t get more San Francisco than that! With grand public spaces and an enormous roof deck, the building has won numerous awards for historic preservation. The sunny unit has fantastic views, a large sleeping alcove, and separate dressing area. Open this Sunday, April 30, from 2 - 4 pm. Click the button below for all the details.
In Contract!
48 Hancock Street, San Francisco
Situated in an ideal location, just half a block from Dolores Park, 2 blocks from the Castro, and just a stroll from the hustle bustle of the Mission, sits this jewel box of a condo. A large patio sits just outside the front door, bathed with sun from the perfect southern exposure. High ceilings, ornate period details, pocket doors and hardwood floors provide the perfect mix of original Victorian charm with a beautifully updated kitchen, updated bathrooms, and stacking laundry in the unit. The two large bedrooms, one of them with an ensuite bath, feature large pocket doors opening to the living areas, allowing for flexible use of the space. The well-maintained 3 unit condo building features a shared yard with city views. The happy buyer is thrilled to be the winning offer on this gorgeous property just in time for summer!
The 100th Birthday Project
We took a break for the first couple of months of the year but our next project is now underway. A previous owner planted large palm trees just a few feet from our foundation on the west side of the house. While they provide privacy and shade from the afternoon sun, they are far too large for their location and are causing problems with the windows, siding and roof gutters. The local defensible space ordinance requires a buffer between plants and structures. The palm trees have to go. We started by digging way down to extract the roots. Then we created planting areas and added drip irrigation for climbing rose bushes that will go along the picket fence. Finally, we are moving the gravel pathway from the fence side of the passage to the house side, creating a buffer zone to mitigate the fire hazard. My first thought was yellow roses to match the house, but now I’m thinking a blush pink instead. What do you think?
April Photo Contest
All of the gorgeous local photos in our photo contest are provided by the Green Realtor News Artist-in-Residence, Esther Vermeer. Esther is a Mill Valley resident with a background in branding and graphic design. Originally from the Netherlands, she moved with her family to Montreal, Canada for a while, and came to the Bay Area 14 years ago, where she has since established herself in the world of interior design. She loves to journey around California and discover the lush natural beauty the state has to offer. You can reach her at esther@prevalentprojects.com.
If you know the location email me at lucinda@lucindaotto.com. The first person with a correct guess wins a $25 gift card to Good Earth Natural Foods!
I hope you enjoyed the Green Realtor News! If you know anyone buying or selling, or if you are curious to hear more about the market, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to help you or your friends make moves.
As one of my happy clients loves to say:
Everyone Needs A Lucinda!
