Many people have trouble relaxing, even in their own San Francisco homes.  Why?  Frequently, it’s because of too much visual stimuli such as unfinished projects, knickknacks and clutter.

You may think the answer to being able to relax is to move into a “better” home.  However, what usually happens is that you move your unfinished projects and clutter with you.  Instead, if you take the time to get organized, you may find – like many owners who have backed out of a sale – that you don’t need to move, you just need to re-organize.

Take a moment from your busy, stressful life to read these tips and discover how you can improve and de-stress your personal castle:

1. Add money to your wallet. Unwanted or unused items can be turned into cash. eBay and Craigslist are two heavily-used websites where you can sell your unwanted/unused items.  Make a little cash and clear the clutter.

1. Be generous. If you don’t want to sell your items, don’t throw them away.  Donate them to places such as Goodwill.  Online, there’s FreeCycle, where you can share your items and give them away to those who really need them.

1. Keep it clean. Set up a system to decide what to do with mail. Many people end up with piles of mail throughout the house. Rather than letting it pile up, decide the day you get it where that mail goes: trash, take action or file away.

1. Include your family in the de-clutter process. After all, your spouse and kids live there, too. As well, if others have a chance to give their input, they may be more willing to keep your [city] home organized. Let others in your family have a part in the decision-making process and implementation.

1. Take stray worry off your mind. You may be subconsciously worried about things in your home. Reduce the potential stress by creating a sense of safety. For instance, make sure your smoke detectors are working, that you have a radon meter (if necessary) and a carbon monoxide detector.

You may be thinking, “Home isn’t what stresses me out.”  Are you sure?  You might be pleasantly surprised how relaxed you’ll be when your home is de-cluttered. Your San Francisco home can truly become a place where you leave the stress at the door.

If you’re looking for a home to relax in after a hard day, we can help. Call Patten and Monfredini at 415-345-3133 or email us  at lmonfredini@pacunion.com for more information.

Keyword/Tag; San Francisco home

Links:

Goodwill

http://www.goodwill.org/get-involved/donate/

FreeCycle

http://www.freecycle.org

Keep your home organized

http://www.lifeorganizers.com/cm_articles/102_10_ways_to_declutter_your_home_280.html

Free San Francisco Home Search:

http://www.SFPropertyFinder.com

Buying Buying a Home with a San Francisco Real Estate Agent

 If you have never purchased a home before, you may not yet recognize how crucial it is to acquire the services of a professional San Francisco real estate agent. 

 Buying a home will probably be the most expensive purchase you ever make.  Therefore, you undoubtedly should consider enlisting the help of a REALTOR® who has experience, extensive knowledge of the area and integrity.

 Benefits of using a professional real estate agent

 Having your own buyer’s agent to walk you through the entire home buying process saves you a lot of time and stress, as well as money. 

 You decide: 

• Size of home desired
• Style preferred
• Location
• Price range

 That’s easy!  With this basic information, your agent begins the hard part: searching for the perfect home for you and successfully guiding you through the purchase process.

Your agent helps with:

• Generating a small defined list of good choices
• Forming a realistic budget
• Financing
• Determining what a home is really worth
• Making offers for you
• Negotiating with the seller
• Alleviating stress that’s a part of any transaction of this magnitude
• Overseeing your home inspection
• Renegotiating any problems found in the home inspection
• Explaining and demystifying taxes, interest, and other particulars
• Finalizing all the paperwork and details with the lender, seller and title company
• Closing on the sale

All the hours your agent invests assisting you and making sure your best interests are looked after financially, legally and emotionally are well worth the real estate commission he or she receives after you finalize your purchase.  And typically, as the buyer, you don’t pay the commission.  The seller pays it!

Where to find a professional San Francisco real estate agent

 We specialize in helping people just like you buy homes.  Let's get started!  Give Patten and Monfredini a call today at 415-345-3133or email us at lmonfredini@pacunion.com

 Links:

Buying A Home

http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/topics/buying_a_home

Benefits  of using a professional [city] real estate agent

http://homebuying.about.com/od/realestateagents/tp/Whyhireagent.htm

Real estate commission

http://homebuying.about.com/od/realestateagents/a/Whopaysagents.htm  

Free San Francisco Home Search:

http://www.SFPropertyFinder.com

Charming studio in the heart of Russian Hill in San Francisco. Large eat in kitchen, hardwood floors, bedroom nook in historical building. This urban oasis has a shared landscaped garden and is short walk to Polk Street and Union Street shopping and restaurants.

Gorgeous San Francisco building in Pacific Heights just three blocks from Lafayette Park, Union Street, shopping, dining and transportation. Elegant and oversized light filled 1 bedroom, 1 bath corner condo with remodeled kitchen with breakfast bar,separate eating area and office with lots of closets and stunning hardwood floors. 1 car parking, elevator building and onsite manager.

6 Reasons to List Your San Francisco Home for Sale

You don’t list your San Francisco home for sale on a whim; you don’t just decide you don’t like the one you have. Selling a home carries significant financial, emotional and family repercussions. Selling your home is one of those life decisions, the ones you discuss with your spouse, look over with professionals and use experts to move forward.

 While you might have been able to list your San Francisco  home for sale and have it sold quickly at the beginning of the decade, that’s no longer the case. Now, you have to be truly motivated in order to get your home sold.   Unmotivated sellers, those without concrete reasons, are not serious sellers. 

 If you’re a motivated seller, on the other hand, you have several new marketing weapons at your disposal. These include government incentive programs, short sale practices, state-of-the-art technology and creative marketing plans to help consummate the transaction.

 Are You A Motivated Seller?

So, think about it. Are you a motivated seller? There are a number of reasons people are motivated to sell. These reasons include:

1. Lifestyle Change – The time for a quieter way of life has arrived. The nest may be too empty. You may want more freedom and less household commitment. In any case, a change of lifestyle is a very strong motivation to sell.
2. Relationship Changes – Partners get together and partners divide. Marriage, divorce and newborns all set the stage for household change.
3. House Too Small – As families expand, it can be more cost effective to move rather than over-improve. For example, it can cost over $10,000 for a room extension on your home.
4. Time to Upgrade – Prior to the recession, American families moved an average of seven times per marriage. Although those numbers have dropped some, we do still seem to seek the greenest pastures.
5. Changes in Neighborhood - Many homeowners move because of local community issues. A school system may trim budgets or the homes may not be increasing in value. A desire for neighborhood change could be your motivation.
6. Health Issues – People with health issues who cannot continue or afford household upkeep are moving to smaller, more protected and service oriented communities. If this is you, you can definitely consider yourself a motivated seller.

If you’re motivated and have a City home for sale, you already know the market is competitive. However, professional representation, an astute marketing plan and expanded reach can help you locate the perfect buyer.

 Are you a motivated seller?  Patten and Monfredini would be honored to help you get your home sold. Call us at 415-235-9077 or email us at lmonfredini@pacunion.com for more information.

 Links:

Disconnect Your Emotions

http://www.examiner.com/x-13206-Chicago-Residential-Examiner~y2010m2d23-Chicago-Home-Sellers-Series--The-Emotion-of-Selling

 Marketing weapons

http://www.freeshipping.org/blog/9-tips-to-sell-your-home-in-2010/

 $10,000 for a room extension

http://www.costhelper.com/cost/home-garden/add-room.html

At Patten and Monfredini, we listen to what you really want and then we make it happen. Email us at lmonfredini@pacunion.com or call us at 415-345-3133 when you are ready to buy or sell in San Francisco.

You've gotten your financing, your offer has been accepted and you just have to wait the few weeks until your closing date and your new San Francisco real estate is all yours. Nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong!

Technically nothing is likely to go wrong in that period of time, when it comes to the actual process of the property transfer. However, people often make critical mistakes that cripple their deals in that tense time right before closing.

Things You Shouldn't Do Before Closing

Buy a new car: Don't buy a new car or any big ticket item that might flag your loan company. Your credit will be continuously under review and your real estate loan can be turned down at any time up until closing, even after it was accepted. Keep that in mind when doing anything that will impact your debt-to-income ratio.

Quit or change jobs: This will also look suddenly troubling to your finance company. Don't give them any reason to change their minds. If you really need to switch jobs, hopefully it can wait a few weeks.

Move money around: Keep things as stable as possible during the weeks before closing. There are few things that can't wait. Even if you had planned to move to a new bank, or buy into stocks or IRAs, but were delaying it in order to get your loan in the first place, don't jump the gun now. Wait a few more weeks.

Take new credit card offers: No matter how attractive they are, don’t accept any new credit offers. In fact, you’ll probably get a glut of junk mail or email offers for new credit cards now that you have been approved for a big loan. Don't do it. Wait until after closing, if you have any desire to take them. Your loan company will get nervous if you suddenly have the opportunity to build a lot of debt.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling San Francisco real estate, give Patten and Monfredini  a call today at 415-235-9077or email us at lmonfredini@pacunion.com.  We will guide you step-by-step through the entire process including your successful closing.

Keywords/Tag: San Francisco real estate

LINKS:

Property transfer

http://www.ehow.com/how_2095613_transfer-property-title.html

Debt-to-income ratio

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/07/debt_to_income.asp

Before closing

http://www.first-time-home-buyer-center.net/preparing_for_closing.htm

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

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!

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.