California has one of the strictest requirements for water conservation plumbing fixtures, but it doesn’t prevent you from taking 10-hour showers (especially if you have a tankless water heater) except by penalizing you on your water bill. In one of the houses that I built, there were a few water “conservation” features that I included. The first …
Living on the Peninsula, there is a wide range of properties available that can be suitable to all needs and budgets. They range from $20 million+ large sprawling estates on 1+ acres in Atherton and Los Altos Hills to $1 million 900 sq ft houses with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. Your budget and desired location will …
If you were going to sell your house in the Bay Area, how would you go about doing it? First, most would find a real estate agent. How do most sellers find a real estate agent? See article. A good real estate agent (or one of their designers) will give you a list of improvements to your house that …
Real estate agents are not the same. Just because you have a sister-in-law or brother-in-law who is a Realtor, it does not mean that she or he will be the best person to buy or sell a house for you. Most people choose a real estate agent because the agent: 1) is a friend or relative, 2) …
If you are building a new home or doing a significant remodel, what are your building options? One option is to use a general contractor. A general contractor is generally a jack of all trades. They can do limited amounts of electrical work, plumbing, carpentry and other trades but they can do small remodels or even build homes …
Home Builder vs. General Contractor vs. Owner-Builder Read More »
Everyone who has watched a home flipping show on TV or sees how much a house is purchased for and then sold for 4 months later after a significant remodel says, “I can do that”. Yes, you can. Well most of you. The question is: should you? There are three variables that determine your profit: 1) how much you …
Home Flipping & Spec Homes in The Bay Area (and Other Pricey Areas) Read More »
I am asked this question quite often. What most people will pay to build a house will be different from what I would pay given my experience in building so I can’t give you a good number. The number that I hear most general contractors and homebuilders on the Peninsula throw out is $400 to $500/sq ft. The …
Bay Area Price Per Square Foot Construction Cost Read More »
Everyone has an idea of what their dream home would look like. The style, the layout, the fixtures, and the details are all up to you when you are designing your dream house. That’s both a blessing and curse. Having nothing to start with except a blank slate and the confines of the zoning requirements of your city …
During periods of a scorching hot real estate market in the Bay Area, finding an elusive, attractive, off-market or pocket listing was like hitting the lottery. Off-market listings are not on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and are typically priced at “nice-to-have” prices and so you knew the price you needed to buy the property and …
On the Peninsula, for the last few decades, we’ve been accustomed to seeing properties sell over list price. Sometimes, it’s just a few thousand, and sometimes, it could be a million dollars over list price. The reality is that list price has become just a marketing tool and it’s less relevant than it was previously. Some agents list …
