Archive for the 'San Francisco Neighborhoods' Category

Outdoor Space Has It Factor: Noe Valley Roof Decks, Patios & Gardens!

While out on city-wide real estate broker tour this week, I couldn’t help but notice how many of the Noe Valley homes were featuring fabulous roof decks, yards, patios and gardens! Here are a few pics to make my 9-5 buddies jealous

Outdoor space can really make or break a home in San Francisco- perfect for a morning cup of coffee or an after-work glass of wine, for entertaining guests and for the children to (safely) entertain themselves….

Because outdoor space is a San Francisco real estate rarity, it is a very powerful selling feature of a home. When the doors are open to a back yard or deck on a typical sunny Noe Valley day, it’s almost like a magnetic field is pulling you outside and whisking you past the living room or kitchen.

Many of the homes I previewed had their flaws: whether it be a not-so-perfect floor plan or a kitchen or bathroom that needed some TLC, but the almighty power of a south-facing yard makes those issues easier to stomach. Kind of like the power chocolate has to convince you that it’s “healthy”… (OK, maybe that’s just me!)

Tags: decks, Noe Valley, noe valley san francisco, outdoor space, patios, San Francisco Real Estate, yards

Bernal Yoga is Moving to 908 Cortland Avenue

Bernal Heights’ Yoga Studio Moving

Grab your mat and head down to Bernal Yoga’s new space at 908 Cortland ! After 10 years at 461 Cortland Avenue, across the street from The Good Life grocery store, Bernal Yoga is moving, expanding, flooding their studio with more natural light and letting all yogis stretch themselves toward sky high ceilings.  Or, as they describe their new studio :

“It’s with great excitement to announce we are moving to a brand new space in Bernal Heights. It’s just five blocks down the street at 908 Cortland Avenue. The new space is more spacious, with plenty of natural light, 2 bathrooms and high ceilings.”

I, for one, am happy that an oft forgotten and not as commercially-populated section of Cortland is getting some love.  Take a stroll to check out their new digs and while you’re down there maybe pick up some take-out from Little Nepal or Pizza Express or get a new Springtime hairdo at Cutting Edge Salon.

Oh, and take it from Mr. Mouse, our resident senior Pomeranian, frequent downward dog poses is the secret to staying energized, healthy and young!

View Larger Map

Tags: bernal yoga

419 14th St: Design Your Dream – Spacious & Unique Mission Dolores Condo for Sale

419 14th Street – Condo in a 4-Unit Building

Asking $1,100,000

POCKET LISTING – NOT ON THE MLS

Shown by Appointment Only.

We are super excited about our pocket-listing for sale – 419 14th Street San Francisco 94103, listed at $1,100,000- Huge Mission Dolores Condo Listing For Sale- because it’s unique, spacious, thoughtfully remodeled and ideally situated!

VISIT THE PROPERTY WEBSITE FOR THIS MISSION DOLORES CONDO.

Built in 1924, 419 14^th Street, is an incredibly spacious (2357 square feet per tax records) Edwardian condo in a 3-unit building, ideally situated in Mission Dolores /Valencia Corridor. Want to be walking distance to: Four Barrel Coffee, Mission Beach Cafe, Pauline’s Pizza, Pica Pica Kitchen, Little Star Pizza, clothing boutiques, bookstores, bars, entertainment, the Mission, Mission Dolores, the Castro, Duboce Triangle, BART, Muni, and more? There’s no need for a car in this “Rider’s Paradise” with 44 routes nearby! But don’t worry if you do need parking – leased parking is readily available.

This is an incredibly unique space so let’s take a walk-through. As you open the front door to the unit, you will find a formal entry that splits off into two sides. Through the reclaimed wood sliding door, enter the front half of the unit, which is a traditional two-bedroom, one bathroom condo. This space enjoys original, Edwardian construction detail, but has been meticulously remodeled using sustainable materials. The open “farm house-style” eat-in kitchen features the original wainscoting, bamboo cabinets and CaesarStone with lots of counter space & storage. The bathroom stuns with volcanic stone floors, sustainable sapele wood cabinets, stainless steel counters and huge shower over tub. An open living/dining floor plan is perfect for entertaining.

…Now for the “design your dream” part! The rear of the condo is approx. 1200 square feet of modern, open space, currently used as a home office. This is a blank canvas, ready for your vision – perhaps more bedrooms or a subdivision or maybe a killer master suite, you name it! This bright & airy space includes a half bath with laundry and a private deck – great for taking a break to soak up the afternoon sun!

This unit also boasts attractive softwood floors, natural light, and a shared yard sheltered with soaring Bamboo shoots. Design your dream and enjoy stylish, urban living in Mission Dolores.

 

 

Tags: 14th Street, Featured Listings, Featured Properties, listings, Mission Dolores

Easy Breezy Fro-Yo Coming to Noe Valley, San Francisco!

 

I will try to keep this short & sweet – FROZEN YOGURT IS COMING TO NOE VALLEY!

I’ve been taunted by this smiling Fro-Yo cup each morning when I walk into our Zephyr Real Estate office. That’s right – Eazy Breezy Frozen Yogurt is moving in right next door. I’m not sure if this is going to help or hurt our office of top-producing Noe Valley Realtors (shameless plug for my associate, Danielle Lazier, who is the #1 producing agent of 2011). Is it safe to sell real estate on a sugar high?

I agree with the interviewees in the April ‘Short Takes’ of the Noe Valley Voice: “The only thing that is missing in this area is a dessert place.”

Now our beloved Noe Valley really has it all!

 

Tags: eazy breezy, frozen yogurt, Noe Valley, noe valley events

A change to the culinary constellation in Bernal Heights

I just read that changes are afoot at Liberty Cafe and Bakery on Cortland Avenue here in Bernal Heights ! New owners Vega and Guiseppe (the very cool owners of  Vega and Vino Rosso, two of my fav Bernal Heights eateries) have plans for the quaint cafe, wine bar and bakery space.  From the sounds of it, they will be collaborating with Mutsumi Takehara (of Sandbox Bakery and Eat at 903, also on Cortland Avenue) to provide the citizens of San Francisco with more amazing bakery goodness and pizza deliciousness.  What will this mean for this beloved Bernal Heights institution ?  Distilled from the report on Inside Scoop :

• lunch, dinner and weekend brunch will still be served in the Cafe.
• Mutsumi Takehara will be handling things at the bakery. Inside Scoop writes: “[Vega] says it was a natural fit: they had a bread oven, and Takehara was looking for a proper one to make more bread.”
• In the evening, the bakery/back patio space will be serving thin-crust pizzas.  Expect heat lamps and movies on the patio, too!

Whoa ! Heat lamps, movies and pizza under the San Francisco sky ?!  Our own Foreign Cinema up here on the Hill ?!  I know where I’ll be spending my summer nights !

Noe Valley – Neighborhood of Choice for “Non-Suburban” Silicon Valley Professionals

“I heard that many buyers want to get in now before Facebook goes public (and spawns scores of new millionaires), which is pushing demand.” -Bernard Katzmann

Three weeks ago, a client (who works for a big pharmaceutical company in the South Bay & is looking to buy a home in San Francisco) asked me if it was true that social tech was pushing up real estate values in San Francisco and in particular, Noe Valley.

Two weeks ago, I spoke with Carolyn Said about this exact topic as she researched her upcoming article.

“We see a lot of first-time buyers from tech companies who still want to have a city lifestyle; they don’t want to live in the suburbs, but they work down south. What I notice is when people from Google, Apple, Yahoo and Genentech come in for a first meeting, we literally draw a line in the city because of the commute. Noe Valley is at the top of the list, then Bernal, Mission, Dolores, Cole Valley.” – Zephyr Agent Danielle Lazier

Last week, the Noe Valley Voice interviewed me about the role of high-tech workers in the local real estate market. I kid you not.

Want to know what I told that home buyer?

I told him that it did not really matter if it was true. What matters is that everyone is talking about how the Facebook, Zynga, LinkedIn and other IPOs are driving demand in our housing market. The role of perception and social psychology should not be underestimated when it comes to the behavior of the residential real estate market.

Read the San Francisco Chronicle Article

* Read Yes, yes, Noe Valley, say eager S.F. home buyers, all about tech home buyers and noe valley, bernal heights, mission dolores and cole valley real estate in Monday’s Chronicle with Bloomberg article by Carolyn Said.

The Glamour of Hollywood In Our Own Backyard – Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema Oscar Madness Party!

Get the diamonds out of the safe deposit box, unpack the bedazzled couture gown from cold storage and schedule hair and makeup because it is Oscar time!  Who needs to go to L.A. when all of your Academy Awards action can be had right on Cortland Avenue in Bernal Heights?  Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema, our very own stable of film star power, is hosting their annual “Oscar Madness on Cortland” party on Sunday, February 26, 2012, from 4:30 pm – 9:00 pm.

Before heading over to Progressive Grounds to watch the show live and on the big screen, stop by the Red Carpet Photo Op at Four Star Video.  We don’t want all of your painstaking preparation for the big night to be for naught, do we ?  During the live broadcast, enjoy snacks, drinks and the company of your Bernal neighbors.  Don’t forget to fill out a ballot with your choice for best film, best actor/actress, and all the rest of the categories — deliver your completed ballot(s) to Four Star Video by  5:00 pm on Feb. 26th to be eligible for prizes ( a $5 donation per ballot is suggested.  Donations will be accepted at the door at Progressive, too.).

Glam it up and ham it up, people!  On Oscar Night, we’re all famous!

 

Tags: bernal heights, bernal heights outdoor cinema, Oscar Madness Party, San Francisco

Noe Valley’s Honeycomb Salon is expanding its hive!

“Go big or go home!”

That is the answer Gillian Hanson, owner and operator of Honeycomb Salon, gave me when I asked her why she decided to expand Noe Valley’s hottest hair salon.  And Honeycomb isn’t just hot, it’s hip, creative, vibrant, and chock full of talent. A Noe Valley fixture since 2007, Honeycomb keeps getting busier and busier. It’s not difficult to understand why Ms. Hanson jumped on the opportunity to expand and redesign the salon when the space next door (formerly Big Discount Cleaners) became available. Cronin Construction of San Francisco has been hired to plan and design the new space and will also be swinging the hammers, so to speak.  Unlike “new” Coke, I think a Honeycomb Salon with more staff, more stylists, more chairs and more space is a fantastic idea!  As for the Grand Opening party later this Spring, I will be watching the mailbox for my invitation.

Honeycomb Salon is located at 3915 24th Street in Noe Valley, San Francisco. To find it, turn into the cute little courtyard — the one you never knew was there or never knew where it led to — tucked in between Savor and Casa Mexicana.

Recently, I had the chance to sit down and talk with Ms. Hanson about Honeycomb’s upcoming expansion, her adorable Yorkie, Madigan, and her favorite Noe Valley spots.

 

SFHL: The name of your salon is Honeycomb Salon.  I want to make sure I am using the right lingo.  Do you call yourselves a salon or is it something else ? Are you stylists or hair stylists ?

GH: We are a hair & makeup salon and call ourselves “hairstylists.” In our industry, a “stylist” is actually someone who does wardrobe. There are other terms that are a little outdated: like hairdresser & beauty operator. Technically, we are “cosmetologists” but that word feels really clinical, and doesn’t capture the fun part of what we do.

SFHL: Does your salon do more than cut hair ?

GH: We do! We have a great team of professionals who all excel in both hair coloring & cutting. We also do makeup and hair for special events & photo shoots.

SFHL:  How many stylists do you have in your salon ?

GH: Currently four hairstylists and one junior hairstylist.

SFHL:  Are you also a stylist in addition to being the owner ?

GH: Absolutely! I am as much a part of the team as I am the owner. I love the creative aspect of doing hair, building relationships with my clients, and making them look and feel great.

SFHL:  When I come in to get styled up, I see that the salon is always so busy.  Was that the impetus behind expanding ?

GH: Go big or go home, baby!

SFHL:  What is the expansion going to do for the salon ? more chairs ?  more stylists?  a blow-out bar ? Is it going to be one big Honeycomb or are you keeping the two areas separate as they are now ?  Most importantly, will Madigan get his own chair ?

GH: Definitely more chairs and stylists. The two areas will be joined to create one large salon. We plan on conceptualizing the salon by creating a dedicated “Color Space” and [a dedicated] “Styling Space”.  More talent makes for a wider array of skill sets. We also exchange creative energy and ideas with each other, which is great for us and ultimately great for our clients. Everyone benefits! If you know any amazing hairstylists, please send them our way!

Madigan prefers to be fluid and not tied to one chair. I guess you could say he’s an equal opportunity lap dog. [Editor's note: he sounds like a Pomeranian I know.]

SFHL:  How long do we have to wait before we can see the new Honeycomb ?

GH: The sooner the better! We’ll have our soft opening in March, and a grand opening party once we pull the new crew together.

SFHL:  Now, off the subject of hair, what is your favorite place to grab lunch or dinner on 24th Street ?

GH:  Savor has the best salads and the nicest staff in the world. Bernie’s makes the best cup of coffee, hands down. Noe Valley Bakery or La Boulange for sweet treats!

 

 

Tags: hair salon, honeycomb, Noe Valley

New Price! Open Sunday. 361-363 Elsie St – Bernal Heights Luxury New Construction For Sale in San Francisco!

361-363 Elsie Street — Condominiums

SUNDAY OPEN HOUSE — Sunday, February 5th, 12:00-1:30PM

Brokers’ Tour — Tuesday, February 7th, 2:30-4:00PM

Our fabulous Bernal Heights San Francisco luxury condo listings are still available and at great new prices! These won’t last for long so come take a look and spread the word to any friends or family who might also be interested. We’ll be open early so you can still enjoy the Super Bowl

Tags: bernal heights, elsie st, listings, open house, Zephyr Real Estate

$989,000-$995,000 – 361-363 Elsie St @ Cortland Ave – Bernal Heights Luxury New Construction For Sale in San Francisco!

Tags: bernal heights, condo for sale, listings, open house, Zephyr Real Estate, zephyr real estate listing