While the stucco, tiles, wrought iron railings, doorways, beamed ceilings and wooden trim of both the overhauled façade and second floor of 3271 Baker Street are all true to the traditional Spanish/Mediterranean ethos of the house, the new first floor master suite is a bit more Ibiza (and the kitchen Italian).
And for the record, we’re not complaining (about either the suite, the island or Italy).
∙ Listing: 3271 Baker Street (4/2.5) – $3,395,000 [3271baker.com] [MLS]
Nice place! Even though the downstairs master looks like the inside of the Matrix nightclub on Fillmore St.
Am I the only anal-retentive person who can’t stand the fact that the only two light fixtures on the outside of this ($3,395,000) home are mismatched? Symmetry people – is it too much to ask for?!?! Thx, I feel better now…
Sparky,
It looks like the photo was taken with a wide angle lens, standing in front of the right hand outdoor light, making the left hand light appear distorted.
Even this home could not resist the mighty influence of the DWELL look, so popular with flippers throughout the city, especially Noe Valley. I thought most of the rooms were rather attractive in saving interior wood trim, ceiling moldings and some cabinets, but the downtstairs moves back into heavy Dwell territory and has all the charm of an empty Miami bar. Will the reign of the Dwell look ever end in this city?
Hmmmm… No need to use a wide angle lens as there is plenty of room to stand back and get a normal shot from the street.
Sparky might be right. Mapjack shows the pre-remodel facade without the lamp on the left : http://www.mapjack.com/?8aEnWmMvbFhEFDnA . So the two lamps were installed at two different times, perhaps separated by decades.
I guess we’ll need some boots on the ground to confirm whether or not there’s a mismatch.
Crockett and Tubbs called, they want their bedroom back.
Love this place! Great Price!
Does it begin to look like the Marina is a better deal than the “beloved” Noe Valley?
What do you mean by better deal? This place is over $1100 a foot. There’s a 4100 foot place on 28th st, with big views and one more bath and bed for 100K less.
Even more relevant to the discussion, do you guys have any idea how much this place would cost in London?
Let’s be serious. 28th Street is the middle of nowhere. This is arguably the most beautiful part of the city. No contest on location.
“any idea how much this place would cost in London?”
Do you mean “Central London” or “Real London” ?
Well certainly not as much this week as last week! (And probably not as much as when I began typing this.)
I recently made a decision not to remodel the back of my garage as a master suite thinking that most buyers wouldn’t want to be forced to use a concrete subfloor for their main bedroom. Maybe I was wrong if this house sells for >$1100/sqft. Any thoughts?
Price per foot sounds reasonable for something that’s smaller, but for 3000 total sq ft? not sure each incremental sq ft at that large a size should get that high a valuation. Nice house though.
One can make an argument for Noe appreciating more than the Marina lately, tho. I agree this part of Baker is really lovely and I really like what they did with the place. But when you start talking about “better deal” it starts to become quite relative and subjective. Twenty-eighth is remote to some, and perfectly located to others such as southward commuters. There are beautful finishes here versus another 1100 square feet and extra rooms there. Tranquil views nearby versus big views from multiple rooms — because this Baker property isn’t quite across from the Palace of Fine Arts. Also in the agent’s notes the l.a. mentions that Sotheby’s does not warrant the square footage.
I think you, anon, are over Noe Valley. That’s cool. So am I. It stopped making sense a while back, IMO. I find it odd that people have come to view Noe as “better” than Ashbury Heights or upper Cole Valley, for one thing. But hey, what are you gonna do?
where is the dog?
Great location, great house, great profits. You’ll find out the profits as soon as you find out when and how much this was bought for. Amazing.
per propertyshark, 1.7mil on 11/22/06
and I think this house is gorgeous and I’d take the Marina over Noe any day…although the upstairs and the master and a little incongruous
“I find it odd that people have come to view Noe as “better” than Ashbury Heights or upper Cole Valley, for one thing. But hey, what are you gonna do?”
Thank you FLUJ, I could not agree more. I find Noe pricing odd as well as the ever expanding boundries of what is “Noe Valley”. (Someday Noe Valley may extend to SFO) THIS house on the other hand, really is in the Marina, and since I own on Prado (but rent it out currently). You get more value for your money in many parts of town than Noe, and despite all of the Marina bashing, it is one of the cleanest safest parts of town. I am still a big believer in the always increasing value of owning north of California, and enjoy that my block is a GOOGLE bus free zone.
sleepiguy missing from this discussion? I always like his input in D7 on homes over $3M. Maybe he isn’t commenting because this place is more like $2.9M.
Still folks…. what people aren’t realizing is that there are a lot of places that will get $1k psf if they are Done WELL (e.g., DWELL) 🙂
If you have the coin — buy a place and fix it up. The Marina Green house last year forever changed the flip concept / economica in the Marina IMO — even though there was some sketchy masking of final price on that place.
The Marina has a different demographic than Noe Valley. It also has a more certain risk of damage in an earthquake. The Marina has always been an alternative to Pacific Heights and neighboring areas which are supposed to be more expensive. At this price, you would be better off with a less chi-chi and more traditional house in Pacific Heights, Jordan Park, Cow Hollow, Russian Hill. If this house were actually facing or viewing the Palace, it would be a different story. As it is, not more than an ordinary one-story over garage, albeit with a lot of fuss. Some people do pay for fuss.
This is why you always have to buy in the best areas like D7. You spend $250-300/sqft building, and you sell for $1,000-1,200sqft.
I remember just 2 years ago, 1 story Marina bungalow homes were selling for under $2million. Price strength and profits are incredible.
Many prefer Marina to Cow Hollow/Pac Heights b/c th streets are brighter, and you can walk outside to the park and water on a flat block.
This is a real stretch on pricing in my opinion…but the market will soon speak…seems to me it might be overpriced by about $250,000 (at least). Newly converted downstairs space off of the garage (the “international super room” per agent description) should not command $1,125/sf…not even in the Marina…not even if internationally super space.
They are also calling what appears to be a sun room a bedroom…? (“accessed off Bedrooms one and two” per listing agent.)
The listing agent has also set an offer date…also interesting. I’ll be very curious to see where this one settles out…
I agree with what “ok” said and some more detailed complaints (i’m a complainer):
1. the master bedroom is on the ground level behind the garage. sleeping on a concrete floor does not command $1100/sq ft. Also access to this room is via the main stairway past the entry way to the home – doesn’t feel like good feng shui. there is no other option of making another bedroom the master.
2. the result of #1 is a single-car cramped garage.
3. the sunroom is in fact a sunroom not a bedroom. it has 2 entrances, both through other bedrooms – typical for the marina. the “4th bedroom” is r.e.agent hype.
4. faux wood edwardian beams mixed with a dwell fireplace from the Matrix Fillmore – inconsistent design.
5. the kitchen, while well appointed, is cramped and has poor flow. for a 3000 sq ft house, the kitchen should be larger and more inviting.
The fugly place on Avila for $2.6 hasn’t sold yet so I’d be a little concerned about the price of this one.
It’s a hard sell to convince someone they have to enter their bedroom by going through their brothers… or to convince another that occasionally your sister will walk through your room to get to hers…
The downstairs bedroom certainly doesn’t look too cozy. But it appears to be the access to the backyard… not much privacy when the kids have a friend over
I agree with my fellow posters that this is substantially overpriced at $3.4. There is just not enough there, even if well decorated to some people’s taste. Remember the 1989 earthquake, and what the Marina looked like with demolished buildings and fires. Smart people do not buy there for that reason, unless the building has been seriously retrofitted. I doubt this will give the flipper a lot of profit, if he paid 1.7 and put 600 into it. I bet it sells for 2.5 to 2.7m. A few hundred thousand is not worth the trouble of dealing with contractors.
I absolutely disagree with my fellow posters..the house is gorgeous and worth the current asking price, maybe more, as crazy as that may seem in super high priced SF. Consider 153 Avila just sold for $2.975M on 5/15, which was nearly 600 Sq.Ft. smaller, not nearly as tricked or “slicked” out, and not nearly as nice a location..I’m a big fan of being within a stone’s throw of the Palace of Fine Arts.
At any rate, better to put your cash in a prime SF property like this one, than lose it in the stock market! Rather use my money to live life and enjoy, rather than just try and make more money.
This house should sell for at least $2.8 million.
The Marina has such a distinct neighobrhood boundry, that no matter what some may say, it is able to maintain a since of identity and VALUE. The boundry of the Marina does not seem to expand the way listings in various southern sections, such as the Mission, are now ALL “Noe Valley”. Investing in the Marina is as safe a long term plan as I have found, and my parents have the same situation on Balboa Island, which with a limited supply of homes, appreciates at about 17% a year on average over the last 10 years. There are only a set quantity of single family homes in the Marina available at any one time. This house will sell wtihing 45 days.
“Remember the 1989 earthquake, and what the Marina looked like with demolished buildings and fires. Smart people do not buy there for that reason, unless the building has been seriously retrofitted.”
– according to building permit records this building has been seriously retrofitted + that’s what earthquake insurance is for. Fortunately the Marina is full of very smart people.
“There are only a set quantity of single family homes in the Marina available at any one time. This house will sell wtihing 45 days.”
– agree that scarcity value will be what moves this home. just not sure of price.
“I agree with Murka..153 Avila went for $1203 per square foot. This house is definitely better, bigger, nicer. $1100 per sq. ft. is a steal.”
– The fact that this house is bigger than Availa is exactly why it SHOULDN’T sell for the same price/sq ft. Learn about diminishing returns on each incremental square foot.
“Consider 153 Avila ….. not nearly as tricked or slicked out”.
– disagree. The kitchen, overall layout, consistecy of high quality finishes and design + 2 car parking was better at Avila.
[Editor’s Note: The original “I agree with Murka” comment was removed as it was left by…”Murka.”]
This house might sell in 45 days if the owner is a real seller…if he is sticky on price, it sits for a long time and will not sell…despite the unique pull of the Marina. $3.4M is totally unrealistic.
that’s what earthquake insurance is for
Earthquake insurance is an extreme rip off. Anyone with enough money to buy such a propery should be able to do much better by insuring themselves, making improvements, or both.
can you explain how one self-insures his largest asset, one for which he mostly likely borrowed to buy?
I am glad to see that some others are addressing the earthquake issue in the Marina, which is perhaps most serious in the landfill area, where this house is located. The “Big One” will harm the Marina more than any other residential neighborhood, as the 1989 one did. The Marina of course did not yet exist in 1906.
Insurance may cover the value, but it will not replace the painting of your great-grandfather or your collection of 18th century Venetian glass. If it is bad enough your Federal furniture will be damaged and repairs greatly reduce its value. If there is a fire, everything will go.
In addition to the ambiance, this is why the Marina has until recently been less expensive than Pacific Heights. It is a beautiful neighborhood. It just has one big problem.
The house will sell. I just think it is over-priced.
The SF Chronicle has an article today on “soft-story” retrofit against earthquakes. A house like this one is pictured as an example. There is also a map showing the vulnerable areas. This house is right in the middle of one of the biggest. If I were going to spend 3.4m, I would look elsewhere.
Just offering another factor on this home’s pricing. Check out the google street view map of this address, or stroll by yourself. The house sits directly opposite Bay Rd., at the “T” intersection. Not only does that type of location always make the street seem bigger, busier and “cement-y”, but it’s horrible feng-shui, if you go for that kind of thing.
It the “Big One” does happen, nobody will be immune. Bridges closed, power down, water unavailable, communications grids ruined, freeways unusable due to various structural failures, etc. etc. Will the Marina get hurt worse than Pacific Heights, yes, but who will care when we are all trying to get out of here.
Bedrock versus landfill is not about being immune. We will all be affected. Some more than others. Some much more than others. That is definitely the type of thinking that has seen the Marina rebound so incredibly over the last 19 years. We are all in it together to an extent. But I’m not sure the guy whose house is a pile of rubble is going to feel a whole lot of solidarity with his neighbors three blocks south who are high and dry.
Price just reduced $397,000 (11.7%). Now asking $2,998,000.
It was reduced to 993 a foot, and that is consistent with the average $psqft for Marina SFRs this year (990). Between this one and the barely 5-E Ashbury property, I’m seeing a pattern. Holler about the percentage reductions. Take no interest in how far in front of the curve the initial pricing was. Makes for some fun back and forth, don’t it?
Cheapy remodel!! Just alot of gimmicks and new paint, albeit sloppy. Check out how tired the hardwood floors are!
Despite a “Smart and Sophisticated Renovation” (not to mention a “Motivated Seller”), the listing for 3271 Baker Street has been withdrawn from the market.
It’s back with another major haircut!
Could be yours for only $2,798
Back again, this time unstaged at $2.6
Any bets on how fast this falls into foreclosure?
OK, 12 months.
Bought for $1.7 and has maybe 300 in upgrades. They have some room to fall be foreclosure. This place is getting close. 800psf and it sells. Might sell at this price honestly. Funny that we’re all trolling this old thread. 🙂
“Any bets on how fast this falls into foreclosure?”
Sure. I bet the 5th of Never.
“Any bets on how fast this falls into foreclosure?”
Rookie mistake, LMRiM. You should know foreclosures aren’t allowed in 94123.
Why would this fall into foreclosure? Tell us Dude. Or don’t, and let your quickie snide quip stand for all of space and time.
I would have to interject that I have been amazed at some peoples’ tenacity and their ability to sustain negative cashflow seemingly indefinitely
Case in point: my current neighbors: Paid $480k for a tiny house on the Peninsula in 2004 and it has only been rented for 6 months (at $1800/mo asking rent) in the past 4+ years. (And their first tenant — last year — was evicted for non-payment after only a couple of months).
Based on neighborhood comps they are deeply underwater at this point. A wily investor (me) might hypothetically offer the bank $220k for the place. Generous, consdering a much larger house down the street was bought for $320k last year (and then flipped for $540k after extensive work).
I predicted they would give it up to foreclosure in late 2007 but I was completely wrong.Its kind of amusing now to watch and wait until their loan resets (10 months to go?) and then reality sets in.
The couple in question already divorced over the issue so add to that a huge cash loss which they will never recoup on their low incomes and its an all-around financial catastrophe for them. Not to mention the wife gained 30 pounds at least.
Not that that is very relevant to this thread but its an interesting counterpoint to the idea that homeowners and real estate investors behave rationally and will just liquidate their portfolios at the slightest whiff of trouble.
“I would have to interject that I have been amazed at some peoples’ tenacity and their ability to sustain negative cashflow seemingly indefinitely”
On behalf of the banks and taxpayers of the United States of America I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to these homeowners for voluntarily throwing themselves on that grenade instead of walking away.
“On behalf of the banks and taxpayers of the United States of America I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to these homeowners for voluntarily throwing themselves on that grenade instead of walking away.”
Sadly (or fortunately), many of the people that found their way into this mess don’t have the sense to find their way out of it either.
FWIW, the new MLS link is:
http://sfarmls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Sanfrancisco&PRGNAME=MLSPropertyDetail&ARGUMENTS=-N370058714,-N230364,-N,-A,-N16527896
Series of price reductions = foreclosure
??????
If I may, series of price reductions is not equal to a foreclosure. But a series of price reductions is also not not equal to foreclosure. It’s somewhere in between.
Hence the invitation to place bets.
hmmm. You bring up a good point chuckie. Here’s one for you.
People playing to a certain audience who love to be snide, often without real reason
=
People who comment on a house that has had several price reductions, but is not in foreclosure, and not really fair to be talked about in such a light
?????????
Redfin shows in its sales history that 3271 Baker “sold” on November 25, 2008 for $2,550,000:
http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Francisco/3271-Baker-St-94123/home/1948371
Could this be a refi? What are the loans on it today? Hey, who knows?
Did they pay $1.7M for the original asset before they paid big $$ to remodel it, or did they actually pay more? I mean, maybe there was some money paid for furnishings to save taxes, and the ACTUAL sales price was $1.9? No one knows the story here. Not you, not me, not Captain Caveman, nor Dr. Satchel Paige 🙂
Are the taxes delinquent already to the tune of more than $30K? Or do the bureaucrats at the assessor’s office have it wrong when they list publicly its status as “tax defaulted” and show that the owner failed to pay any property taxes this year or last? No one knows. Certainly, one would need an “expert” realtor to help him figure it out here, right?
Will it sell at this price, even though it failed to sell at just 7% higher back in September – back before the markets literally melted down? Maybe? Maybe not? No one can know, really. What wearies me is those who think they can call it. That’s all. They cannot 🙂
*********
Thanks, fluj. It was just like a 5 second riffey on foreclosure, but I’m glad to see you took it up, as you always do of course. (THREE posts from you, fluj, responding to three different posters, and ANOTHER one appropos of nothing (Posted by: fluj at January 9, 2009 6:46 PM)? You really do work it, bro.)
Sincerely, can anyone see any info about the supposed $2.55M “sale” listed on Redfin? Is it a refi, or perhaps some type of recast (almost exactly two years to the day from the initial purchase)? Can anyone see how many loans are on 3271 Baker now?
From the movie, “The sixth sense”
Cole Sear: I see debt people.
Malcolm Crowe: In your dreams?
[Cole shakes his head no]
Malcolm Crowe: While you’re awake?
[Cole nods]
Malcolm Crowe: Debt people like, in graves? In coffins?
Cole Sear: Walking around like regular people. They don’t see each other. They only see what they want to see. They don’t know they’re debt.
Malcolm Crowe: How often do you see them?
Cole Sear: All the time. They’re everywhere.
Yeah well you have no idea about foreclosure and you said something stupid and snide. good one.
Hey flujie,
In honor of all the realtor bashing that’s been going on recently here’s a blast from the past:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubsd-tWYmZw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubsd-tWYmZw
hahhahahah. Good one. That guy is p.o.’d.
fake foreclosure, fun for everyone!
Took the time to drive by this place today and it’s a lot smaller on the outside that the pics make it out to be. It’s also has a street that at the end of Bay so at night anyone driving down that road will have headlights coming into view.
http://www.mapjack.com/?McEnWvQvbFjE
The house next door that sold earlier in the year on the right is also under extensive construction.
This is a tough situation. Now its competing against 3627 Scott at $2.2 although that is an odd situation.
I feel like these places are stuck and are going to have a hard time selling.
There are still homes selling. There was a SFH on Webster just south of California for $1.9 that just went into contract. I was surprised to see it go into contract actually, can’t wait to see what it closes at.