We’re taking the rest of the week off. And encourage you to do the same. And while you’re at it, grab the camera and a notepad and stroll around your neighborhood. Take some pictures, scribble some notes, uncover a scoop; and then drop us a line. Then do the... Read More »

A new study by researchers at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School suggests that housing prices in San Francisco are NOT overvalued. The study, titled “Assessing High Housing Prices: Bubbles, Fundamentals and Misperceptions”, points to “basic economic factors, including low interest rates, strong income growth and... Read More »

Closed since October 2001, the Cinema 21 on Chestnut Street will rise like a phoenix from the flames (and in an entirely new light). The model — hashed out by the property owner, the Marina Merchants Association and the Neighborhood Theater Foundation — uses ground-floor retail as an engine... Read More »

Icer Air Organizers announced their tentative date/time for the rescheduled event: September 29 at noon. And no, that’s not a typo, September 29th is a Thursday. That’s one way to cut down on the crowds (and picket waving NIMBYs.) · Sponsors modify plans for ski jump · Organizers... Read More »

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that 44.8% of all mortgage applications last week were for refinancing activities (versus new home purchases). Implications? Considering mortgage rates have been at historic lows for the past couple of years, it suggests that homeowners, “aren’t cutting their interest rates at all; rather, they’re... Read More »

Nothing like being labeled a housing “Danger Zone” (as if earthquakes weren’t enough). CNN/Money confirms that the majority of buyers in San Francisco (and 49% of buyers in Oakland) are resorting to “non-traditional” loans. Not new news to our readers (other than the moniker), but the quote from the... Read More »

According to DataQuick, the median price for a Bay Area single-family home hit $651,000 last month (versus $643,000 in July, and up ~19% from last August). At the same time, however, the number of sales fell 4.1% from 2004 and “…insiders say the number of homes for sale has... Read More »

Know the difference between a Benjamin Moore Mulberry, Behr Plum Jam, and Glidden Valhalla? What about the difference between a Queen Anne Victorian, Gothic Revival, and a San Francisco Stick? Neither did we until readers tipped us to these two sites: Colorcharts – billed as the “online library of... Read More »

If you don’t heed the warnings of the academics, at least take a lesson from the history books. Excerpts from a recent article in Knowledge@Wharton: What’s driving this market? Most important: Are these loans ticking time bombs that could shock the financial markets and economy... Read More »