Hi Dawn--I am currently working with a buyer who is purchasing a Lower Pac Heights condo at Fillmore and Bush. Prices for condos there tend to be higher than $600,000, though there is a 1BR unit that just came on the market in my client's future building which is listed at $599,000 (2185 Bush).

You might want to expand your neighborhood options to areas such as Hayes Valley, NoPa, the Haight and other neighborhoods which are near Lower Pac Heights. TICs will also be in your price range; they are a whole other story and you should be aware of their ins and outs prior to spending time looking at them.

You'll most likely be in a 1BR price range in general for San Francisco, but there are exceptions. I'd recommend considering other areas that have similar attributes to Lower Pac Heights. Whatever you like about that particular neighborhood can most likely also be found elsewhere. You might like checking out some posts on my blog under the various neighborhoods (URL below). I've done a few pieces on what you can get in your price range (under the category "What You Can Get For..."). Best wishes!

this is may be good for you http://www.48terravista.com

I would look at:
1600 Webster
2040 Sutter
1521 Sutter

Each are already in your price range, or within striking distance, and a year ago they would have been priced higher. Until recently it would have been tough to find a 1BR for $600,000 in the better parts of Lower Pac Heights, but now you have options, and you may be able to negotiate surprisingly good deals in today's market.

You may also try my property search site too (link below) and I'd be happy to share my thoughts offline on any of the above properties.

Hi Dawn,
What type of place? Condo or TIC? If you're open to TICs, there will be more options.

Yes, I also agree that you may wish to expand your neighborhood choices. Based on what's most important to you, I can recommend other areas nearby that might work. Right now, I have clients looking for a home up to $650,000 in the surrounding neighborhoods and we are finding some good options.

If we can help further, let me know.
Cheers,
Danielle

Danielle Lazier, San Francisco Realtor
Zephyr Real Estate
415.731.5000 x158

Dawn,

There are currently 4 properties available in the Lower Pac Hts area under $600K - three 1 BR's and one studio. If you need a bigger place than that you may want to consider other neighborhoods close by where you can get a little more bang for your buck.

Clean offer is a great tool as it updates you when status on saved favorites has changed. The SFAR MLS auto search also works well because it allows your agent/broker to see all listings that come up with your criteria and creates a more interactive exchange.

The most important thing however is choosing the right agent/broker. Many people are under the misimpression that it doesn't really matter who your agent is because the buyer doesn't pay their fee, but a good agent/broker can save you tens of thousands through price negotiations and/or help you avoid buildings with issues. I would think of that part of it this way: imagine you are handing over $600K in cash to whoever it is representing you. Don't hire someone until you feel comfortable with that. I would interview several reputable agents/brokers and pick the one who best fits your needs and makes you feel the most comfortable that they know what they're doing and have your interests at heart.

Best Regards,

Lance King/Managing Broker
415.722.5549
lance@fixedrateproperties.com

I have some good ideas for you. I specialize in that area and my office is in Pacific Heights. Let me know if you need help.

Shaban Shakoori
TRI Coldwell Banker, SF's #1 Office

Hi Dawn,

If you're just starting out, I would suggest familiarizing yourself with some of the web tools available to assist. CleanOffer is a local resource that provides real time MLS data, but allows you full control over searches and management of listings you are interested in. After you set up and save a search, CleanOffer creates a folder with all of the listings matching your criteria. In the listings you can see photos and view property details, including a history of price increases and reductions. As new listings pop up they are automatically saved to this folder and you'll receive email notifications. You'll also receive an email each Friday afternoon with open house times.

The San Francisco MLS offers excellent tools as well. You can tap into the open house module yourself at http://www.sfopenhomes.com. Any member of our MLS could also set up a Client Portal for you. This works similarly to CleanOffer, except your agent controls the search. You have access to the folders and can manage the listings you like and don't like, but your agent can do that as well.

I prefer using our MLS because it allows me to interact and I feel that I can save time by eliminating listings and locations I know my clients won't like. For people who don't like to get a ton of email I think this is a better option. However, some folks love CleanOffer because it allows them complete control over everything.

If you haven't spoken with a mortgage professional, please do that as soon as possible. It makes a big difference. Not only will you know right away what you need to qualify, how much you can afford and what your financing will look like, but you'll have one of the most important pieces of your offer: a pre-approval. You'll be in the driver's seat.

If you're working with an agent, that person should be able to get you started. Any agent will need to learn more about your needs and interests to respond meaningfully to your question. If you're not working with someone, I would suggest searching here on Trulia for listings and start attending open houses. You'll learn much more about the market that way. Having said that, working with an experienced agent will be a great value to you as you compare and analyze properties and make offer(s).

Best of luck to you!

Jason Chapin
McGuire/Urban Bay
415-420-1143
jchapin@mcgurie.com

Hi Dawn,

Well, I think you would definitely find it beneficial to find a buyer's agent to guide you along the process. Any realtor who is a member of the San Francisco Association of Realtors can begin by sending you listings via email. Also, he/she can direct you towards a solid mortgage broker who can prequalify you so that when you find a place you want, you can move quickly.

If you would like to some help starting the process, please feel free to give me a call at 415 728 5580 or shoot me an email at peter_brunton@yahoo.com.