If you’re thinking of remodeling your San Francisco home, you should consider incorporating some green building practices or materials into your plans. Green building designs can include anything from using recycled materials to installing a rainwater collection system outside your home.

Here are just a few reasons why a green home is better for your health, your bank account and the environment:

• Better health. Surprisingly, indoor air pollution from toxic materials and cleaning products is usually far worse than outdoor air pollution. This aggravates conditions like asthma and allergies. Green homes tend to have better ventilation and fewer problems with mold and mildew. A simple switch to toxin-free building materials and cleaning products makes everyone breathe easier inside your San Francisco  home.
• Lower cost. It’s true that building a green home will cost more upfront. However, the difference is probably not as great as you think. Green building materials are more available and less expensive than they used to be because more people are using them. You have to look at more than just the cost of the home, though. A green home will consume up to 40% less energy and up to 50% less water than a standard home. This means you will save money on your utility bill each month.
• More environmentally friendly. Green homes use less energy which helps us reduce our dependency on non-renewable energy sources.  Plumbing, environmentally-friendly bathroom fixtures and water-conserving irrigation systems lower water consumption and help protect our water resources. Most green building materials are made with recycled products and reduce the amount of waste that ends up in our landfills.

You can create a green San Francisco home that’s ideal for your family.   Call Patten and Monfredini at 415-345-3133 or email us at lmonfredini@pacunion.com

Keyword/Tag: San Francisco home

LINKS:

indoor air pollution

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/

Green building materials

http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com//Public/Home/index.cfm

Environmentally-friendly bathroom fixtures http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pp/lists/find_faucet.htm

 Is it possible? Is this the year to buy San Francisco real estate? Why would 2010 be special? Well, let’s look at the current house hunting conditions, which might give some insight:

• Home prices are lower than they’ve been since 2003. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the median price of homes in the U.S. was around $170,000 by November of last year.

• Fixed mortgage rates have almost reached record lows. Although they are subject to change from week to week, at the time of this writing, 15 year fixed and 30 year fixed mortgages were 4.45% and 5.06%, respectively.

• The high number of foreclosures has been painful for many homeowners. However, it has also created great deals for those who want to buy [city] real estate, but don’t want to spend their entire life savings at once.

• The extension and expansion of the Obama administration’s homebuyer tax credit has been a driving force for many home sales. The government has handed out a large amount of tax credits to many first-time buyers, and will be paying out more as the purchase date draws closer.

 So, is it the year to buy a house? Only you know for sure. The economy is up and running once again, but the unemployment rate is still at 10%, and may go higher. The answer to “can I buy a home” depends on whether you have a stable job or not; look at your industry, company and job before answering. The good news is that, while unemployment may still rise, it’s expected to level off and start decreasing mid-year.

 For those who can afford a home, want to buy one, but are waiting for the bottom of the market, don’t wait too long. The San Francisco real estate around the corner with the “SOLD” sign might have been your dream home!

 If this is a good year for YOU to buy a home, We can help. Call us at 415-345-3133 or email us at lmonfredini@pacunion.com for more information.

Keyword/Tag:  San Francisco home for sale

 Links:

National Association of REALTORS®

http://www.realtor.org/

 Fixed mortgage rates

http://www.bankrate.com/bir/

 Search for your San Francisco Home at www.SFPropertyFinder.com

If you watch television home improvement shows, you’ve surely seen shows about rehabbing homes. When you buy [city] real estate that needs repairs, you can get it for a great price and build instant equity once the work is complete. Whether you decide to live in the rehabbed home or sell it, you've gotten a good deal.

Here are the first five rules for rehabbing San Francisco  real estate:

1. Buy low. The good news is that homes needing work usually already have discounted prices. You want to buy the home for as little as possible because you are going to have to spend more money rehabbing the home.
2. Have a budget. You need to know before you begin the project exactly how much money you have to spend. Include the cost of the house, labor costs, permits, and the price of materials. Don’t leave out anything, and do everything in your power to stick to the budget you set.
3. Take good notes. Walk through the home with at least a flashlight and a way to write down notes. Count the number of windows, doors, and rooms. Write down anything you see that will need to be replaced or repaired, including flooring, walls and ceilings. Include anything that seems out of the ordinary to you. These notes will help you plan your rehab.
4. Be realistic. Many buyers underestimate the amount of time and money it will take to rehab a home. Round your expected costs up to the nearest $5000. Set aside part of your budget for problems that may arise during the rehab. You never know when a wall is hiding a structural defect that you will have to repair. Keep your timeline flexible.
5. Hire professionals. You will be able to do some of the work yourself, but you will need professional help for some of the work. Find a good plumber, electrician, carpenter, and roofer. Negotiate prices with them and never pay them for all the work until the job is completed.

Looking for homes to rehab?  We can help.  Call  us today at 415-722-4840 or email us at lmonfredini@pacunion.com for more information about rehabbing San Francisco real estate.

Keyword/Tag:  San Francisco real estate

Links:

Rehabbing [city] real estate

http://www.all-foreclosure.com/howto/section3.htm

Have a budget

http://www.homeinspectorlocator.com/resources/Costtorepair.htm

Hire professionals

link to the page on your website where you recommend services or link to:

http://www.findcontractors.com/

I can hear you now, “Oh, no! Not another article on curb appeal to sell my San Francisco] home!” To which we reply, “Oh, yes.” One more time around the block, but this time, we’re doing it in style.

 The 21^st Century Curb

Curb appeal is that thing you do to pretty up the outside of your home. It’s the landscaping, the painting and the checking of the little details. However, many home sellers (and real estate agents, for that matter), don’t take into account that the curb nowadays isn't just the view from the front of your house. In the 21^st century, the “curb” starts right here on the Net.

 Your online home listing has only three seconds - three short moments of time - to catch a potential buyer’s eye and turn them into an interested party. Unfortunately, it’s hard not to be biased or become used to the problems and eyesores your home may have. Because first impressions are so crucial and the housing market is glutted with competition, you have to bring it up a notch to get your home sold.

The Right Perspective

Most real estate agents park across the street, when they’re showing a home. So, to get the same perspective of your home as potential buyers will have, walk to the other side of the street and stand where potential buyers might stand. Go ahead; walk over there.

 Once you’re on the other side of the street, turn around and look at the house for a few seconds. Most buyers don’t look for very long, so don’t stare, just glance. Then, as you slowly walk back to the house, keep your focus close, no more than a few feet out. What are you seeing?

• Yard ornaments
• Plain façade
• Obstructed pathway to the door
• Driveway stains
• Yard tools
• Leaves

 These are just a few things that might be detracting from the beautiful home you have to sell. Take one last look around – a long, searching look from the front door – and see if anything stands out. If it does, fix it up!

The Virtual View

 When you hire Patten and Monfredini as your real estate agents, we will create a professional virtual tour of your home, including its curb appeal.  Your virtual tour will appear on key real estate websites giving your home maximum exposure with a 24/7, world-wide virtual open house. 

 Give us a call today at 415-722-4840 or email lmonfredini@pacunion.com for more information.

 Keyword/Tag:  San Francisco

 Landscaping

http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/index.html

Eyesores

http://www.simplyjen.com/2009/05/are-you-immune-to-your-homes-eyesores.html

Video tour

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_tour

Welcome home to this outstanding remodeled home located in Cole Valley in San Francisco. Four bedrooms, 3.5 baths and a huge garage make this the perfect family home walking distance to Golden Gate Park and delightful shops and restaurants.  The floor plan provides comfortable contemporary living and boasts over 2600 square feet

The home has easy flow to the Living Room, Dining Room and the Gourmet Chef's Kitchen. Elegant French Doors provide access from the dining room to a wonderful deck and steps to a landscaped yard. A powder room and three closets complete this level.

The second level has a lovely Master Bedroom Suite, two addtional bedrooms, a full bath and a custom built laundry area. Each bath is complimented with heated floors. The lower level has a gorgeous bedroom with lots of light and a luxurious bathroom with a separate hallway and door to the yard.

A large garage and ample storage compleste this perfect home.  

Open House Sunday, January 31 from 2-4 PM

1.Tidy up kitchen cabinets

2.Add or replace tile

3.Add a breakfast bar or kitchen island

4.Install granite tile instead of slab in kitchen

5.Freshen up a bathroom without retiling

6.Clean out the basement

7.Add a room if you can

8.Spruce up cabinet fronts in kitchen and bathrooms

9.Replace broken or out of date light fixtures

10.Tech up the garage

" Home ownership, by and large, tends to improve communities. Homeowners are more invested in the city and neighborhood where they live-emotionally as well as financially. And with the stability that ownership provides, they are more likely to get involved in making things better, from neighborhood parks to local schools. This is generally accepted civic wisdom-except in San Francisco where progressives have enlisted the Board of Supervisors in an idealogical quest to squelch home ownership whenever possible..... There is no better example of this  than the condo conversion lottery, San Francisco's annual game of chance in which just 200 lucky owners of tennancies-in-common win the right to convert collective ownership of a building into individual ownership of a unit.

Go to www.bizjournals.com  to read the complete article regarding the challenges of San Francisco Real Estate. Seems like buying a single family home or an entire building maybe the best solution for a while.

At this time of year we send holiday cards, bring live trees into our living rooms, put lights inside and out, bake all kinds of cookies, buy more gifts than we planned and watch "It's A Wonderful Life" over and over again. All good things to do in the month of December.

The most important thing we want to do this month is thank everyone who has made our lives magic in 2009. Our friends, families and our valued clients who trusted us to do the right thing on their behalf-who invited us into their lives and gave us the opportunity to find them the perfect home or to sell their most important investment. Thank you from the Patten and Monfredini Group and we wish you  a peaceful holiday season.

The Patten and Monfredini Group have two buyers in contract with closings slated for December 15, 2009 and a listing in contract set to close on December 11.

Sharing a great recipe for Pecan Shortbread Cookies- I always double the recipe so I have enough for friends and families.

Enjoy- http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pecan-shortbread-recipe/index.html

Decide on your favorite neighborhood and we will find you the perfect home . The Patten and Monfredini Group know the San Francisco market and can help you find the home that makes you happy. Give us a call or send us an email-we look forward to working with you.

This Sunday October 25 from 2-4 PM come visit our open listings:

1150 Lombard #35 -Russian Hill Three bedroom Condo listed at $1,499,000. Views of Alcatraz Island and the bay, two car parking

1101 Pacific Avenue #301- Nob Hill two bedroom condo listed at $759,000 with 1 car parking and spectacular roof deck in a 12 unit elevator building

190 San Benito Way- A gorgeous single family home in St. Francis Wood perfect for elegant entertaining with a spacious living room and dining room overlooking the back garden. A two car garage, master bedroom suite with a walk in closet, two full bathrooms and a powder room complete this incredible home listed at $1,550,000.

Come by and see the best of San Francisco!

This rarely available property is an amazing value at $1,499,000. Come by on Sunday October 25 between 2-4 PM. 1150 Lombard Street #35

Come by 1101 Pacific #301 on Sunday October 25 from 2-4 PM and discover your new home.

A master bedroom suite upstairs has a custom built in closet, fireplace in the sitting room. This beautiful home is walking distance to transportation, restaurants, shopping and parks.

Come by 190 San Benito in San Francisco on Sunday October 25 between 2-4 PM to see this magnificent home listed at $1,550,000.

This sunny, bright and spacius two bedroom 1 bath condominium is located in the center of Nob Hill  in a twelve unit secure elevaor building. This property has one car side by side parking and an in unit laundry. Beautiful hardwood floors have been installed throughout the unit. The magnificent roof deck is shared by all in the building and has incredible panoramic views of San Francisco. This property is steps away from the City's charming cable cars that will whisk you to Union Square shopping or the famous Fisherman's Wharf for a quick shrimp cocktail.  This is a heart of San Francisco condominium waiting for the intelligent buyer.

Do you want to live in Russian Hill? Come see a charming one bedroom one bath condominium with parking and an in-unit laundry- only $699,000.

How about a spectacular three bedroom, 2.5 bath, two car parking with wonderful views of Alcatraz and the bay? A concierge to meet your every need twenty four hours a day? You must see 1150 Lombard Street in the heart of Russian Hill for $1,499,000.

Can you see your family living in the Marina Cow Hollow area in the heart of the City? Come visit the sophisticated three bedroom two bath multi level condominium with two car parking a fabulous roof deck and a beautiful garden. This incredible home is located at 2769 Union Street and is a must see at $1,950,000.

Would you like to live in Nob Hill and take the cable car to work or shopping in Union Square? This two bedroom one bath condo with parking and in unit laundry is the perfect first home. The roof deck is shared by all twelve units in this elevator building. Picture your self having a glass of wine and watching the lights of San Francisco sparkle. $759,000.

Is it time for you buy the perfect home for entertaining? 190 San Benito Way is the home to purchase. The living room, dining room, entry hall, family room and huge kitchen with an indoor barbeque promises to provide the best venue for you and your guests. Located on one of the best blocks of St. Francis Wood, this two bedroom, 2.5 bath, two car parking single family home is availabe at $1,599,000.

Patten and Monfredini are proud to present the best of San Francisco at open houses this Sunday.