Fall San Francisco Real Estate Market Performs

The number of closings in October increased by nearly 40 percent versus the prior month, while total dollar volume increased by over 50 percent. The majority of properties (74 percent) sold in under 30 days and received 12 percent over the list price, on average. Tech Sector performance continues to fuel the steadfast demand. As an example, it is estimated that Bay Area venture capital funding is up approximately 25 percent year-to-date. Stock Markets have also made strides, with Reuters reporting that “The gains on the first trading day of the month followed the best monthly performance of the major indexes in four years in October.” The prospect of a December rate hike remains a possibility.

MEDIAN SALE PRICE

OCTOBER 2015 MEDIAN

CONDO/TIC | $1,100,000 | + 10% year-over-year

Single Family | $1,300,000 | + 9% year-over-year

MEDIAN NEIGBHORHOOD VALUES

Please Contact Franck Costa & Sara Werner Costa of The Costa Group, for your next home purchase or sale in San Francisco or Marin County.

San Francisco and Marin County Real Estate | Top 1% of Realtors | Award Winning |  415.730.2604 | costagroup@vanguardsf.com

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Boutique Brokerage Sets the Standard in Real Estate Office Design

SAN FRANCISCO – September 22, 2015 – Always at the forefront, Vanguard Properties is once again setting the standard for Bay Area Real Estate with the unveiling of its newly reinvented office at 555 Castro Street in San Francisco. Known for its fresh and exciting approach to buying and selling homes, the boutique firm’s redesigned space is a dramatic departure from traditional Real Estate workspaces. It reflects Vanguard's innovative thinking and collaborative team approach that have made it one of the most successful and influential brokerages in Northern California.

“Our company culture has always been about great style matched with open communication, sharing information and supporting one another’s success,” said Vanguard Properties CEO, James Nunemacher. “Our offices epitomize these values.”

Creative Director Mitch Laufer and Rohan, Wallace & Aherne contractors have created a friendly and welcoming environment for clients, visitors and agents. The interior features an open floor plan, multiple conference rooms and meeting spaces, and an outdoor sun deck. A recycled white glass reception desk and a suspended steel and American white oak staircase lead to California Space Organizer workstations equipped with Herman Miller chairs. 3-D recycled paper wall tiles by Inhabit, Saarinen conference tables, Shade Store NY window treatments, and lighting fixtures by Sonneman, Excel and Kartell highlight the multi-level space. Downstairs, the intimate lounge is an informal gathering place to meet with clients.

Established in 1986, Vanguard Properties is a market leader in buying, selling, and leasing Real Estate. With more that 300 licensed agents in its 10 offices throughout San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma counties, and Palm Springs, it is highly regarded for its distinctive design and marketing of homes. More information is available at www.vanguardproperties.com.

Should You Stage Your Home?

You've lived in your home and love it!  You've carefully chosen your furniture and accessories and are proud of it too.  You are ready to sell and your real estate agent suggests staging your home.  You may ask yourself, "Why do they want me to stage? Don't they like the home the way it is?"  The answer is of course your agent loves your home and for that reason is recommending staging or partial staging to bring out your home's best features.

What is staging?

Staging is the process of either adding, subtracting or replacing furniture and accessories to highlight the architecture, amount of light and general flow of the rooms in your home for ease of movement and to encourage "Oooh's and Ahh's" when prospective buyers view your home. 

What does it include?

It can include:

• Moving existing furniture into a new configuration or replacing it with furniture from the stagers collection
• Changing or removing carpets and area rugs, refinishing floors
• Changing or removing window coverings (drapes and blinds)
• Editing (removing) personal items and family pictures.  Think the fridge covered with pics starting all the way back in college.  
• Adding flowers or greenery, well placed accessories, like place settings & table runners, vases or sculptures, a stack of interesting coffee table books, a wall art grouping, bath accessories 
• Sometimes interior paint colors are recommended to freshen and lighten up the space. 
• Minor repairs may be recommended, changing a faucet, repairing a cracked window, adding window screens, refinishing a deck.  Your agent will weigh in on this before your stager arrives.
• Partial staging may be advised, when the stager uses existing furniture, art and accessories, editing out (storing away) additional furniture or items that may distract a prospective buyers eye.  Less is more in staging. A good, clean and uncluttered interior design will make the space more appealing.

Who are stagers?

Stagers usually have an interior design background and often act as designers in addition to their staging business.  Many Realtors form relationships with several staging professionals to offer their clients a variety of services and price points to choose from.

Is it worth the cost?

Staging has been shown to exponentially increase the final offer price for homes. The buyers first impression is so important.  You want them to walk into your home and feel right away that they could live there.  To judge the worth of staging, do a little sleuthing of your own. View homes for sale in your area to see what the trend is in your region.  Ask your agents for comparable pricing regarding asking price versus sale price on the homes you have viewed to determine how well the staged homes did in comparison.

The Real Estate Staging Association (a non-profit association to the staging trade), provides a free booklet that provides a comprehensive guide to staging including statistics.  The Consumers Guide to Real Estate Staging.

Your home is likely your biggest asset and you have taken good care of it.  Staging your home can be the last step to insuring you receive the highest and best value for your home.  Consult with your Realtor to determine if this is the right step for you.