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The Housing Market With Nowhere to Go (but Up) [San Fran]
New York Times ^ | 02 March 2014 | Nick Bilton

Posted on 03/09/2014 8:35:01 PM PDT by Lorianne

Not long ago the pink house at 1829 Church Street, in the Glen Park neighborhood here, hit the market for $895,000.

It sold for $1.425 million — $530,000 over the asking price — in less than two weeks.

The story of this fixer-upper, with three bedrooms, two baths, linoleum floors and an Eisenhower-era kitchen, is in some ways the story of the moment in the city, where longtime residents complain that Silicon Valley money is basically ruining the place for everyone else.

More wealth is concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area than just about any other place in the nation. Google alone, the story goes, minted 1,000 millionaires when it went public. Ditto Facebook. And Twitter? Some estimate 1,600. Tech worker bees are doing just fine, too, with average base salaries now north of $100,000.

To understand how all this money is transforming San Francisco, for better and worse, look no further than this city’s hyperventilating real estate market. As technology companies have moved in — more than 5,000 start-ups now make their home locally — the influx of well-paid workers has pushed rents and home prices through the roof. Worsening matters, San Francisco has also become a bedroom community for many of the young people who work in Silicon Valley. Each day, Apple, Facebook, Google and others shuttle tens of thousands of their employees to work using private buses that have become a controversial symbol of rising tech wealth.

At a recent open house for 1829 Church Street, the broker explained the property’s dilapidated appeal.

“It’s a block away from all the tech shuttles,” he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at bits.blogs.nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; US: California
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 03/09/2014 8:35:01 PM PDT by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne

The entire U.S. housing market has no where to go but up. Except, perhaps, for the multi-million dollar properties traded by the very rich.


2 posted on 03/09/2014 8:42:04 PM PDT by RoosterRedux (The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing -- Socrates)
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To: Lorianne

just another California housing bubble


3 posted on 03/09/2014 8:42:15 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: Lorianne

Who would want to live in aids-ville?


4 posted on 03/09/2014 8:44:41 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: Lorianne

Who would want to live in aids-ville?


5 posted on 03/09/2014 8:44:41 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: RoosterRedux

there are those whos desire to save the so called environment....is based on inflating the value of their own real estate.

curb building..... and guarantee a housing shortfall...and higher prices on most existing homes..

theyve been doing it in most of california for years.


6 posted on 03/09/2014 8:51:17 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey (Jesus came to Save not Entertain / Ground John Kerry Now!)
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To: Lorianne

That’s quite a hefty mortgage for an average sized old home.
Add in the state, city and other taxes plus the higher cost of living there. A lot less to save for the future.


7 posted on 03/09/2014 8:52:11 PM PDT by tflabo (Truth or Tyranny)
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To: Lorianne
“We’re in an absolute housing crisis right now,” Mr. Wiener said. “There’s no easy solution, and it’s going to take us time to fix this.”

Well actually, Mother Nature DOES have a VERY easy solution that none of these bright and shining people worry about at all...


8 posted on 03/09/2014 9:01:52 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: tflabo

Exactly....to put it another way. A $100k salary in tthe SF area is the equivalent ( after state and local taxes and housing costs) are subtracted, of about a $50K income in much of Florida or Texas..


9 posted on 03/09/2014 9:14:43 PM PDT by ken5050 (I fear a world run by adults who were never spanked as kids and got trophies just for participating)
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To: Lorianne

If it goes up it would be because the dollar is so messed up it takes twice as much as it costs before.


10 posted on 03/09/2014 9:23:57 PM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: ken5050

Average family can not come up with $500,000+ for old dumpy houses.


11 posted on 03/09/2014 9:24:55 PM PDT by OldArmy52 (The question is not whether Obama ever lies, but whether he ever tells the truth.)
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To: tflabo

20% down =$285000, monthly payment = $7600 (5% i + 30 yr)


12 posted on 03/09/2014 9:25:49 PM PDT by HonkyTonkMan
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To: OldArmy52

Sure they can...nothing down, and a 3% 50 year mortgage...oh, wait a sec..we’ve seen this before..


13 posted on 03/09/2014 9:26:14 PM PDT by ken5050 (I fear a world run by adults who were never spanked as kids and got trophies just for participating)
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To: tflabo

Earthquakes might hurt the values.


14 posted on 03/09/2014 9:28:00 PM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: Lorianne

The housing here is a joke. So your houses are worth a lot but you can’t afford to move up. My husband and I tried to move many times in 2007 but were out bid. Now the prices are higher and even though we could sell our house we could not afford to buy anything better so whats the point.

My husband was laid off in November and we are still afloat but in the event we have to sell our home we will never be able to buy a home here again. The homes in my neighborhood which are cookie cutter ranch style 1200 sq ft. built in 1954 are going for close to 800K which is a joke we bought our house for $350K in 1998 and it was joke then as well.


15 posted on 03/09/2014 9:28:19 PM PDT by funfan
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To: Lorianne

Leading realtors in that area report between half and 3/4 of purchasers are from communist China, with the local tech companies playing a distant second as source of buyers. Also included are some folks from other foreign countries. But it’s mostly PRC — communist factory managers and the like who are being permitted to leave — and with suitcases of money. Both were prohibited or restricted just a few years ago. Now the escrow companies give out Chinese language instructions (which include request to not bring cash Into office but to use bank drafts or wires please Instead). Leadjng realtor goes to shanghai and Beijing to hold sales seminars in big fancy hotels there. Realtors giving guided buying tours with Chinese guides and Chinese translated purchase forms. Realtors holding sales meetings in expensive country clubs with Chinese narration. Entire neighborhoods filling up with Chinese and other foreigners as American food groceries are replaced by Asian specialty food stores. And yes the ownership group at big tech companies can also buy. Almost everyone else cannot afford Tricky tacky sixty year old tract houses now at a million dineros in average areas and 2 million in preferred districts.


16 posted on 03/09/2014 9:40:58 PM PDT by faithhopecharity (")
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To: faithhopecharity

Anything under a million is usually called a “ starter home”. Or a “ fixer- upper special “ if it’s a dog. The nice houses that you’d like to live in, not necessary luxurious or very large, can go much higher than two million in a number of decent to good areas. Realtors advise that mostly Chinese bidders can often compete against each other so that our commie friends are giving themselves a high priced. Costly introduction to the operation of a free market as they buy up most of the housing. .


17 posted on 03/09/2014 10:00:05 PM PDT by faithhopecharity (")
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To: faithhopecharity
Leading realtors in that area report between half and 3/4 of purchasers are from communist China...

They may be from communist China but it is raw capitalism that is putting so much money in their pocket.

They are rich and buying property and more often than not they are paying cash. Interest is a dirty word to Chinese.

On the other hand, Americans put a big screen TV on their credit card and make payments that nearly double the cost of the TV.

Question. Are you complaining about people working hard, saving their money, taking risks to start a company and succeeding?

18 posted on 03/09/2014 10:01:13 PM PDT by gunsequalfreedom (Conservative is not a label of convenience. It is a guide to your actions.)
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To: gunsequalfreedom

Not complaining at all. Just observing Thanks.


19 posted on 03/09/2014 10:11:59 PM PDT by faithhopecharity (")
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To: faithhopecharity

Sorry. I was trying to make a point. Did not mean to be attacking you.


20 posted on 03/09/2014 10:19:12 PM PDT by gunsequalfreedom (Conservative is not a label of convenience. It is a guide to your actions.)
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