Stage 4, Lake

Market Update

Before we dive into the Lake district, here's an interesting tid-bit we picked up from Zee Chronicle. Headline: Home sales plunge, prices flat.
October sales down 24 percent from 2005; new houses costing less in many counties. You had to literally go to the very last paragraph (3rd from last sentence) to read this summary of sorts, "We still don't see anything that says the Bay Area market is tanking..."

If you'd like more reading, here are two other reports on the market:
Bay Area Housing Market Going Strong (pdf)
Wells Fargo: How long will the slowdown last...(pdf)
Take two Aspirin, call us in the morning, because you will get a headache reading all that.

Le Lac

If you're looking to live amongst throngs of tattoos, piercings, slim fit jeans, beatnick cafes, dark bars, and clubs that stay up late, this ain't the place for you. The Lake district is very quiet, and very much a family neighborhood. Single family homes in this district, especially north of Lake street, tend to fly off the shelf. However, there has been a little slow down for some condos and the less than perfect properties. The fog plays a huge factor the further you head west, significantly reducing the number of buyers, and scaring away many of those that thought they'd give it a try anyway. But when the sun does come out, you're steps from Baker Beach, Presidio Golf Course, the GG Bridge, Mountain Lake Park, and the Presidio is practically in your back yard. If you have your heart set on living in Pac Heights, but can't afford it, give Lake a try.

the listings

the stats

Maximum Overbid of the Week

This 4 bed, 2.5 bath home at 55 6th Ave in the Lake district, came on the market two months ago (9/14/2006) for $2.1MM. It spent 13 days on the market and sold $200,000 above asking or $2.3MM. Ce n'est pas mal. Non?

Comparison Shopping

Generally we don't like to repeat places we've been, but every now and then a reader from out of state contacts us, (Hi M.H.) and we have to go shopping in their town. This week we return to Bend, Oregon, where $2.3MM buys you a "Charming estate evoking European Country architecture...2.5 acre site...Two master suites...4 baths...bonus/game room...3 car garage...1,560 s.ft. coach house w/shop & 1/2 bath...waterfall/creek w/pond, fenced property w/ponderosa, aspen, fir & spruce trees." It sounds great, but wouldn't a "European Country" estate fit better in Europe? Just curious.

SFhotspots

You've probably driven by this place 100 times racing up and down California. Village Market has to be one of the best neighborhood organic corner stores in the city. They have some great fresh produce, excellent wines, lovely selection of flowers, and so much more. They also now have a location in the Ferry Building, but it all started here, so stop in and say Hi to Kamron. They are located on the South East corner of 8th Ave. and California.