Michael Ackerman

James,

Take a look at 316 Rutledge or better yet come by and visit during our open homes. There is a beautiful garden suite with its own bathroom and enough room for a fitness area, yoga mat and treadmill all in the same part of the house. http://www.316Rutledge.com Close by you'll find jogging around Bernal Hill exhilerating and probably one of the least 'trafficked' areas since a good portion of the top of the hill has been blocked to traffic. - Fri Jun 27 2008, 16:46

James,

You’re an intelligent guy and you've already answered your own question why people don't put them in. So don’t be unrealistic, thinking sellers are going to build a specialty room in order to sell their home to you alone.

Simply put, in the world of selling property, majority “wants” rule over minority “desires.” You’re in the minority for the same reason you see more Starbuck's on every corner than you do healthy juice bars. Remember they occupy valuable real estate too!

It’s all about space. In this town where every square foot is valuable, any good designer/stager/realtor will show each room off, attracting what the majority wants thereby providing the square footage’s highest and best use. Be imaginative when you go home shopping. For every 'staged' media room you see, picture yourself ripping out the equipment and borrowing from your home equity line to build out the fitness room you desire.

If you want it all, be prepared to reach into your pocket and set your sites above $2 mil and you’ll have the luxury of more square footage in order have the fitness room of your dream. If you’re under that threshold, then get imaginative! You may also want to consider the many fine condominium’s which have a fitness center.

Check out my listings at:

http://38GlenCourt.com this Sunday 1 – 4. With over 2,100 sq ft you could make the entire lower master suite into the fitness center you want with your own bath!

or

http://www.639Minna.com this Sunday 1 – 4 Nearly 2,000 sq ft and huge spaces you could build an entire area with mats, mirrors and equipment.

or

http://168-170-21stAvenue.com this Sunday 1 – 4 You can see the potential of all that storage space downstairs for the fitness center of your dreams, you could even build in a sauna too!

So use the muscle between your ears to its best use and imagine the possibilities rather than waiting for someone to build what you want.

All my best,

Michael Ackerman, Zephy Real Estate, 415 695-2715 or ABZ@ZephyrSF.com - Sun Feb 10 2008, 09:32

Julia,

Real estate is all about location, location, location. I see from you're zip you're in the Cow Hollow/Marina neighborhood. Believe me there is far more demand for a beautifully prepped and staged home in the Marina for under 3 mil, along with other prime areas of this town. (Pac Hts, Russian and Nob Hills, Noe Valley, Lake District, Sea Cliff etc... The media reports on doom and gloom and they can't get a handle on positive news. (Doesn't sell media advertising!) People in the hardest hit - over built - areas experience. (In Las Vegas, Phoenix and LA markets can't believe we're seeing multiple offers over asking price for some of these homes as they draw from their own experience.

Believe me, it really jogs and boggles their minds! But really - How can you compare a 4 Br 3 Ba home in a suburb of Las Vegas or Los Angeles to one that's a block from the Marina Green or sits above Union Street?

Even Carol Lloyd of the SF Chronicle SFGate.com fame wrote a great article about the Tale of Two Cities in San Francisco. We really do have two "San Francisco's", actually many more than two!

So be my guest and take a look at 168 - 170 21st Avenue in the beautiful Lake District. You'll see there is a margin there to flip it into a property like 162 23rd Avenue two blocks away! }:-) And even more upside if two owners buy and hold for 2-3 years to go condo. I can't tell you what the future will bring as my crystal ball has fog rolling through it like everyone elses, but the prospect for people continuing to move to the world's most favorite City is still great and we can't increase the supply of land and we certainly can't build enough housing for everyone who wants or desires to live here fast enough.

All my best,

Michael Ackerman, Zephyr Real Estate, 415-695-2715, ABZ@ZephyrSF.com - Sun Feb 10 2008, 10:52

Julia,

It's all about location, time and margin. The area hardest hit by flippers in San Francisco right now are south of Ocean and Geneva Avenues. There you can see the results of some investors getting hurt in some bad flips.

But opportunites abound and right now people see the potential at 168 - 170 21st Avenue in San Francisco is perfect for that scenario.

http://www.168-170-21stAvenue.com Open this Sunday, February 10th from 1 - 4

I recommend you think in longer time frames. Buy the property, live in it as you renovate, sell it after two or more years. There you have the best of all worlds and are least likely to get hurt by market fluctuations. If you think about, holding a property for two or more years simple means you don't get hit as hard by the tax man!

Work smart! When you work with a Realtor who knows value and has contractor / architect / builder resources, you're working with a pro who can coach you. Hook up with a professional you 'click' with and allow them to show you the benefits and risks.

You can make money in any market - you just need to work smart!

Michael Ackerman, Zephyr Real Estate, 415-695-2715 - ABZ@ZephyrSF.com - Sun Feb 10 2008, 10:05

P,

News flash... Yes you can buy for around $950,000 a beautiful 3 Bedroom 3 1/2 Bath home in the Bernal Heights / Glen Park neighborhood. Let me assure you this home if placed in the Noe Valley would be upwards of 1.4 mil, but since it's only a few blocks from the very convenient Glen Park BART Station, Glen Park shopping and restaurants, it's only priced at $949,000.

Come by today, Sunday February 10th from 1 - 4 and see this beautiful 5 year NEW home at 38 Glen Court at Milton Street. (1/2 Block from Bosworth and Milton for Google / Yahoo Maps. Glen Court is a private lane and is confusing the heck out of mapping software!)

http://www38GlenCourt.com

All my best,

Michael Ackerman, Zephyr Real Estate, 415 695-2715 or ABZ@ZephyrSF.com - Sun Feb 10 2008, 10:14

You may not be able to find a stand alone single family home in Noe Valley for that amount. Stop wasting your time. The latest offering at $699k at 439 Clipper is in contract after receiving many many many offers, probably landing somewhere north of $850k - $900k. That's not to say it's livable... It was a true fixer, but would yield around $1,250k or more finished. (Yes, even on busy Clipper Street)

What you can afford and what you want to live in are not going to be a match for you in Noe Valley. Some people might point you to a 1 br 1 ba cottage on 29th Street and one on 28th Street, but those are also sold and they were part of a three unit HOA.

You may try to aim your house search south to Bernal and Glen Park, but I think you'd find more affordability in the Sunset, Sunnyside, Mission Terrace and Merced Heights neighborhoods. You could pick up bargains in the Excelsior, Portola and Crocker Amazon neighborhoods if you were so inclined, but then those are not Noe Valley and that's why they're bargains!

If you'd like to meet sometime, please feel free to visit our offices in the *heart* of the Noe Valley at Zephyr Real Estate. We have internet tools and *real* neighborhood experts too. The Noe and Eureka Valley, Bernal Heights, Hayes Valley, Inner Sunset and Richmond are just some of the neighborhoods I sell in.

If this came across to harsh, please do not make the mistake of confusing my professionalism with arrogance. I try to be diplomatic, but I won't candy coat things, preferring to tell you straight so you can save your time and minimize your pain with facts. I eat, live and breathe real estate every day that ends in the letter 'Y'. That means 24/7 That's what makes a top agent in San Francisco. - Sat Feb 2 2008, 07:43

Caroline,

A good realtor or even a good search for some key words will give you the answer -- In this day and age where the buzz is about being green, you can bet you're bottom dollar that the advertising for the home will "Scream" about how "GREEN" it is. I could probably find a couple in the MLS and point you to them.

And because "GREEN" homes are a newer concept, you can also bet the price will reflect the concept at a premium. Drop me a ine in private and I'd be happy to point you in the right direction. There have only been a handful that have been built so far.

Michael Ackerman, Zephyr Real Estate "We're all about San Francisco" - Thu Feb 7 2008, 07:50

James,

You're asking questions the late night infomercials put on whole seminars about. They want to get you hooked into the programs, software and seminars they sell. Let's just say foreclosures are for the big boys with bucks and fortitude and leave it at that. You certainly don't expect to go into a championship poker game thinking you're going to win, armed only with the knowledge of the game that two queens and a three jacks make a full house would you?

There are many many web sites where you can read to your hearts content, but they tend to overlook the many risks, pitfalls and chances to lose your money and your shirt. If you want bargains that are safer, email me about REO's. They're you're better bet, in my humble opinion.

Michael Ackerman, Zephyr Real Estate - Thu Feb 7 2008, 07:44