Author Archives: Misha

Looking Back at 2009: Half-Empty or Half-Full?

Posted on February 5, 2010 by Misha

Less than two months into the new year and a brand new decade and already 2009 may seem as far away as a bad dream – assuming you still have a job. It’s hard to remember just how close to … Continue reading →

Posted in Data, Market news, single family homes | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Forget Statistics: 714 Duncan Loses 23% in 18 months

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Misha

Catching up on the endless paper-work the other night, I came across that rare thing:  a property that sells twice in a relatively short time with no major renovations performed in the interim. This “sales matching” technique is what the … Continue reading →

Posted in Data, Market news, Noe Valley | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The View From Space: 2010

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Misha

The View from Space – 2010 Ken Rosen is a smart guy.  He’s the co-chair of the Fisher Center of Real Estate and Urban Economics at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and the investment adviser of choice … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Market news | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

New Year’s Greetings

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Misha

Another glorious winter’s day in San Francisco.  My family and I biked over the GG Bridge to Sausalito and then took the ferry back to Fisherman’s Wharf. Thirty-five years in this town and I’ve only done that ride twice.   The … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging, Personal | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

A Faltering Housing Market?

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Misha

George may have left office a year ago, but there appears to be a growing consensus that the likely shape of the recovery will be a “W.”  How appropriate, if you believe that we are reaping the bitter fruit of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Market news | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Continued Improvement in the Housing Market or Borrowing from the Future?

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Misha

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported yesterday that existing home sales in October rose to their highest level in more than two years.  Nationally, sales were up 10.1% over September and up 23.5% year over year. Most of the … Continue reading →

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TICs, San Francisco’s Involuntary Reflex — Part 3: The Condo Premium Per Square Foot? Or not…

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Misha

Last post, we determined that the current difference between the average (annual) price of a condo and that of a TIC is  $86,000, down from a high of $124,364 in 2006.  (That’s a 30%+ drop, by the way.)  Here’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in Condominiums, Data, Tenancy In Common | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

TICs, San Francisco’s Involuntary Reflex: Part 2 — The Data

Posted on November 5, 2009 by Misha

There are weeks when I look through the new listings on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and it seems like there are more TICs for sale than condominiums.  Turns out, this just isn’t true.  Here’s a chart showing relative sales … Continue reading →

Posted in Condominiums, Data, Tenancy In Common | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

TICs, San Francisco’s Involuntary Reflex: Part 1

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Misha

Inconvenient and Ugly A tic is an involuntary and habitual muscle spasm, frequently in the face.  If you live in San Francisco, a TIC is also what many people end up with when they buy a flat in one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Condominiums, Tenancy In Common | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Fears of a New Chill In Home Sales

Posted on October 29, 2009 by Misha

That was the title of an October 27 article in the New York Times, and, as one of my readers and clients pointed out, it’s what I’ve been tentatively suggesting as a possible scenario for this winter. See here, for … Continue reading →

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