An ARM (And Quite Possibly A Leg)
As you already know from diligently reading SocketSite, adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are all the rage in our fair city and account for the vast majority new mortgages. What you might…
Yes! Yes! No.
The title naturally caught our eye (Why You Can’t Afford a House in San Francisco), and we think the author’s analysis gets off to a strong start. But then he…
Trade School Versus Academia
Yes, once again it’s the academics squaring off against the Realtors®. Not too surprisingly, they offer two wildly different views. Play along and see if you can match the forecast…
Freakonomics Freaks NAR
Freakonomics just moved to the top of our summertime reading list. Pointing to data that suggests that “full-service” “realtors get 3-4% more for their own houses and leave their own…
You Are Here (A)
Eric Jansen of Trident Capital waxes poetic on his “Seven Steps” in the boom-bust cycle of housing (not to be confused with the deadly sins or highly effective habits). Although…
30,067 Fewer Home Buyers
According to the California Association of Realtors, only 8% of San Francisco households can currently afford to buy a median-priced home in the city. That’s down from 12% in April…
Greenspan Speaks
Although we don’t always listen to, or agree with, Chairman Alan Greenspan, one part of his recent testimony definitely caught our eye. The dramatic increase in the prevalence of interest-only…
Riotous Living Anyone?
According to a study by the California Building Industry Association, Bay Area homeowners have increased the equity in their homes by roughly $234 billion over the past five years. Which,…
Great Advice For Buyers
James Stewart at SmartMoney hits the nail on the head. If you’re a first-time buyer looking to purchase a primary residence and you can easily afford the down payment, ongoing…
San Francisco’s Housing P/E
As sales prices have risen, and rents have dropped, San Francisco’s residential “rent ratio” has climbed to a nation-wide high of 34.1 (according to The New York Times). We’re higher…