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- 23 Answers
- 2 Best Answers
- 3 First Answers
- 6 Useful Answers
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About Me
As a third generation San Franciscan, Cheryl feels fortunate to have been raised in such a diverse, exciting city as San Francisco. Her fascination with real estate started at a young age. By her early twenties she had purchased her first home and learned first hand the rewards of sweat equity.
A subsequent purchase was a five unit property in the Sunnyside where she quickly became engrossed with San Francisco's complicated and ever changing rent control laws from a property owner perspective. This experience has proven invaluable not only for the successful management of her property but for her investor clients who rely on her vast rental experience to help them successfully fill their vacant units with well qualified tenants. The systems she's been consistently using for the past 10+ years has resulted in a track record of zero evictions!
Cheryl enjoys working with a variety of clients ranging from investors to commercial clients to first time home buyers. She firmly believes in the tremendous benefits of owning real estate including the tax incentives, the gradual building of wealth and the satisfaction of being a property owner.
She takes pride in helping clients navigate through the sale or purchase of a property, negotiating the best price and terms, as well as ensuring that all the details will be smoothly handled.
In her free time, Cheryl enjoys raising orchids, hiking with her dogs, renovating her Spanish Revival home, and enjoying the fantastic restaurants available in San Francisco and on the Peninsula.
Education:
BS Environmental Studies, Sonoma State University 1999
Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) 2008
Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) 2008
Affiliations:
• San Mateo Association of Realtors
• San Francisco Association of Realtors
• California Association of Realtors
• National Association of Realtors
• Women's Council of Realtors
• Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council
• San Francisco Small Property Owners Association
Contributor/Volunteer:
• Neighborhood Emergency Response Team-S.F.
• Surfrider Foundation-San Mateo Chapter
• Sustainable San Mateo
• Northern California Solar Association
CA Department of Real Estate License #01505551
A subsequent purchase was a five unit property in the Sunnyside where she quickly became engrossed with San Francisco's complicated and ever changing rent control laws from a property owner perspective. This experience has proven invaluable not only for the successful management of her property but for her investor clients who rely on her vast rental experience to help them successfully fill their vacant units with well qualified tenants. The systems she's been consistently using for the past 10+ years has resulted in a track record of zero evictions!
Cheryl enjoys working with a variety of clients ranging from investors to commercial clients to first time home buyers. She firmly believes in the tremendous benefits of owning real estate including the tax incentives, the gradual building of wealth and the satisfaction of being a property owner.
She takes pride in helping clients navigate through the sale or purchase of a property, negotiating the best price and terms, as well as ensuring that all the details will be smoothly handled.
In her free time, Cheryl enjoys raising orchids, hiking with her dogs, renovating her Spanish Revival home, and enjoying the fantastic restaurants available in San Francisco and on the Peninsula.
Education:
BS Environmental Studies, Sonoma State University 1999
Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) 2008
Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) 2008
Affiliations:
• San Mateo Association of Realtors
• San Francisco Association of Realtors
• California Association of Realtors
• National Association of Realtors
• Women's Council of Realtors
• Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council
• San Francisco Small Property Owners Association
Contributor/Volunteer:
• Neighborhood Emergency Response Team-S.F.
• Surfrider Foundation-San Mateo Chapter
• Sustainable San Mateo
• Northern California Solar Association
CA Department of Real Estate License #01505551
Testimonials
"As first time home buyers, it was a relief to work with Cheryl who was patient and thoroughly answered all of our many questions. She has excellent suggestions about how to maximize a home's potential and she helped us to visualize the possibilities for home improvement with a limited budget.
We would highly recommend Cheryl to anybody looking to buy or sell their home.
—Lisa C. & Jeff F.
Buyer
Santa Clara"
Lisa C. & Jeff. F. Tue Apr 25, 2006
Lisa C. & Jeff. F. Tue Apr 25, 2006
"I would like to commend Ms. Cheryl Bower for her excellent service during the sale of my property at 1730 Sanchez Street, San Francisco.
Ms. Bower was informative, professional and helpful every step of the way. I was not experienced in property sales and found myself relying on her heavily. My trust was not misplaced. She handled the sale and property transfer smoothly and efficiently.
I would certainly recommend Ms. Bower without reservation.
—Sue B.
Seller
San Francisco"
Sue B. Fri Sep 1, 2006
Sue B. Fri Sep 1, 2006
"Dear Cheryl,
I understand that escrow is closed and we are now the proud owners of an office building in San Francisco. I have to admit over the course of the last six+ months, I was hopefully optimistic that we would be able to find a suitable space. However, after several attempts at offers that were not accepted, my hope began to fade and I think I would have gone into a passive position if it hadn't been for your constant dedication and outstanding service.
Your tenacious searching for properties was never exhausted and you were always ready with solutions to any roadblocks that crossed our paths.
You graciously offer an outstanding portfolio of services to your clients. I am so happy that whenever we need real estate assistance, you'll be there to help us.
On behalf of my entire company, thank you, thank you, thank you. Everyone is very happy this process is complete."
Ron J. Fri Aug 4, 2006
Ron J. Fri Aug 4, 2006
My Q&A
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Cheryl Bower,…'s Questions (0)
Cheryl Bower,…'s Answers (23)
Cheryl Bower, Realtor, GRI, ABR answered:
As Jed mentioned, if you're working with an agent, your agent can help with evaluating how this property compares with recent sales. Other factors your agent can help determine is why the seller is selling, days on market (this is a fresh listing-at 14 DOM), where the pest inspection is at dollar wise, what has the interest been like at the opens, and what is the list agents track record (IE: are listings underpriced & selling over the list?).
There are a host of other variables besides looking at comps which are a guideline for pricing/value.
Crafting a strong offer is another important detail and is a combination of price and terms. The highest offer isn't necessarily the strongest/best offer. Buyers do ultimately set the market value of a property.
Good Luck! Looks like a great place.
There are a host of other variables besides looking at comps which are a guideline for pricing/value.
Crafting a strong offer is another important detail and is a combination of price and terms. The highest offer isn't necessarily the strongest/best offer. Buyers do ultimately set the market value of a property.
Good Luck! Looks like a great place.
Cheryl Bower, Realtor, GRI, ABR answered:
Hi Mike,
All good suggestions below. You mentioned house. If your property is a single family home (with no in-law unit, either legal or illegal) then it may be exempt under the rent increase limitations which could be additional incentive for your tenant to move at the end of the rental period if they knew there could be a substantial rent increase.
S.F. has very complicated rent rules so consulting with an attorney would provide peace of mind.
I'm happy to share my rental packet if needed. I've been successfully managing and renting my multi-unit property & SFH for 10+ years.
All good suggestions below. You mentioned house. If your property is a single family home (with no in-law unit, either legal or illegal) then it may be exempt under the rent increase limitations which could be additional incentive for your tenant to move at the end of the rental period if they knew there could be a substantial rent increase.
S.F. has very complicated rent rules so consulting with an attorney would provide peace of mind.
I'm happy to share my rental packet if needed. I've been successfully managing and renting my multi-unit property & SFH for 10+ years.
Cheryl Bower, Realtor, GRI, ABR answered:
Hi Molsie,
It's difficult to give a range on these renovations since there are too many variables & unknowns including property square footage & types of finishes that you're looking for with the kitchen and bathroom. If the foundation is brick you're potentially looking at a complete foundation redo vs. if it's concrete with no retrofitting/quake upgrades.
I'd get a minimum of three estimates for any of these projects. Project estimates can widely vary-if so you will want to determine why by asking detailed questions of each contractor. I recently had 5 estimates for exterior painting a couple of which were thousands of dollars apart from each other.
While you’re at it you will want to have the roof inspected which will occur when you have a contractor’s inspection.
If you’re working with an agent, he/she should have service professionals to refer you to.
It's difficult to give a range on these renovations since there are too many variables & unknowns including property square footage & types of finishes that you're looking for with the kitchen and bathroom. If the foundation is brick you're potentially looking at a complete foundation redo vs. if it's concrete with no retrofitting/quake upgrades.
I'd get a minimum of three estimates for any of these projects. Project estimates can widely vary-if so you will want to determine why by asking detailed questions of each contractor. I recently had 5 estimates for exterior painting a couple of which were thousands of dollars apart from each other.
While you’re at it you will want to have the roof inspected which will occur when you have a contractor’s inspection.
If you’re working with an agent, he/she should have service professionals to refer you to.
Cheryl Bower, Realtor, GRI, ABR answered:
Hi Mandy,
Start the pre-approval process if you haven’t already and interview a few agents. I don’t believe real estate lawyers will have the in depth market knowledge & MLS access that a Realtor has. A Realtor will be familiar with the inventory, neighborhoods, and has access to the MLS to pull market data and comparable sales.
An agent will also have a team of professionals (pest inspectors, home inspectors, roofers, etc.) to bring into the transaction during the inspection period. I continue to stay in touch with my clients after their purchase as a resource for their remodeling needs.
I always strive to provide a high level of service to clients and am able to do so through specialized education. I am an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) & a Graduate of Realtor Institute (GRI). I have also been buying, renovating and selling S.F. real estate for 15+ years.
Give me a call if you’d like to chat about the services I offer my buyer clients.
Start the pre-approval process if you haven’t already and interview a few agents. I don’t believe real estate lawyers will have the in depth market knowledge & MLS access that a Realtor has. A Realtor will be familiar with the inventory, neighborhoods, and has access to the MLS to pull market data and comparable sales.
An agent will also have a team of professionals (pest inspectors, home inspectors, roofers, etc.) to bring into the transaction during the inspection period. I continue to stay in touch with my clients after their purchase as a resource for their remodeling needs.
I always strive to provide a high level of service to clients and am able to do so through specialized education. I am an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR) & a Graduate of Realtor Institute (GRI). I have also been buying, renovating and selling S.F. real estate for 15+ years.
Give me a call if you’d like to chat about the services I offer my buyer clients.
Cheryl Bower, Realtor, GRI, ABR answered:
Per,
As Jed mentioned, no one knows when we've hit bottom until it's already passed-then one is buying on the upswing. Buying real estate is a buy and hold investment of 4-7 years.
Rather than time the market, if the numbers make sense, the mortgage payment is affordable, & one can make a commitment of owning a specific property for ~4-7 years, then that is the time to jump in regardless of what the market is doing. Not to mention the added benefits of tax deductions and the luxury of not having to ask a landlord permission to hang towel rods or paint the interior.
Interest rates are still at historical lows. No one has a crystal ball to see where interest rates and appreciation levels will be in the next several months but in my opinion and based on my 20 years of purchasing S.F. real estate, I don’t think there’s any better place to live and own real estate! We live in a world class city with excellent weather & culture.
As for your comment on agents recommending that you dissect the data, you’re hearing this because the media tends to incorrectly portray the market conditions with a broad stroke approach. San Francisco (& other Bay Area markets) have several micro-markets, so to properly understand how a neighborhood is performing, we have to study the data: days on market, price reductions, amount of inventory, etc. Properties that are well located, show well and are competitively priced are still receiving multiple offers!
Personally, I'd rather invest in something tangible, that I can manage & make improvements to rather than trust a financial advisor on which stocks/bonds to invest in & hope that those investments are well managed & profitable. That arena has certainly had its’ share of problems.
Good luck with your investment plan-I hope it works out for you. Hopefully, you won't be jumping into the market at the same time as other market timers.
As Jed mentioned, no one knows when we've hit bottom until it's already passed-then one is buying on the upswing. Buying real estate is a buy and hold investment of 4-7 years.
Rather than time the market, if the numbers make sense, the mortgage payment is affordable, & one can make a commitment of owning a specific property for ~4-7 years, then that is the time to jump in regardless of what the market is doing. Not to mention the added benefits of tax deductions and the luxury of not having to ask a landlord permission to hang towel rods or paint the interior.
Interest rates are still at historical lows. No one has a crystal ball to see where interest rates and appreciation levels will be in the next several months but in my opinion and based on my 20 years of purchasing S.F. real estate, I don’t think there’s any better place to live and own real estate! We live in a world class city with excellent weather & culture.
As for your comment on agents recommending that you dissect the data, you’re hearing this because the media tends to incorrectly portray the market conditions with a broad stroke approach. San Francisco (& other Bay Area markets) have several micro-markets, so to properly understand how a neighborhood is performing, we have to study the data: days on market, price reductions, amount of inventory, etc. Properties that are well located, show well and are competitively priced are still receiving multiple offers!
Personally, I'd rather invest in something tangible, that I can manage & make improvements to rather than trust a financial advisor on which stocks/bonds to invest in & hope that those investments are well managed & profitable. That arena has certainly had its’ share of problems.
Good luck with your investment plan-I hope it works out for you. Hopefully, you won't be jumping into the market at the same time as other market timers.
My Listings
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Specialties
Multi-unit properties, 1031 exchange, small commercial properties, S.F. & Peninsula residential leasing, eco-friendly renovation products, Burlingame homes, San Mateo Park homes, San Francisco real estate
Experience
Latest:
Realtor® for Cashin Company Realtors
June 2005—present
Previous:
Multi-unit property owner for Monterey Properties
Owner/manager of a pet-friendly multi-unit property in San Francisco.
October 1997—present
Certifications & Awards
GRI designation (Graduate of Realtor Institute)
BS Environmental Studies-Sonoma State University
BS Environmental Studies-Sonoma State University
Interests
walking my dogs, enjoying the great eats in San Francisco, raising orchids, never tiring of our fantastic Bay Area lifestyle even though I'm a S.F. native
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