Noe Valley Deck

Noe Valley Roof Deck

Noe Valley Patio

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!)

Frozen Yogurt in 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!

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.

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!

There is no doubt that Team SFHotlist is a full-service Real Estate team.  They help you sell, help you buy and help you with any other of your Real Estate needs.  They’ll go the extra mile, or, the extra pour, as the case may be at the  1st Annual Noe Valley Holiday Wine Walk.  Come visit us at Zephyr’s 24th Street office on Wednesday evening, Dec 7th, 4-6pm and we’ll show you our mad wine pouring skills which are only rivaled by our mad real estate skills.

Enjoy the festive holiday atmosphere with us in the heart of Noe Valley on the evening of December 7th.  Get your $30 “Tasting Wristband”, meander along 24th Street and drop in at the 20+ participating merchants and businesses for a wine tasting, a quick bite and other special treats.

If you see Danielle, ask for the “Bruce pour”.

Salute !

1311 Guerrero Street #2- 3-Unit Building – $301.67/month HOA dues
FIRST SUNDAY OPEN HOUSE — Sunday, September 11th, 2:00-4:00PM

We are super excited about our new listing for sale – 1311 Guerrero Street #2 San Francisco 94110, listed at $779,000 – Noe Valley/Valencia Corridor Condo with Elevator for Sale- because it’s bright, open, luxurious and ideally located!

WANT PHOTOS? VISIT THE PROPERTY WEBSITE FOR THIS NOE VALLEY/VALENCIA CORRIDOR CONDO.

Welcome to 1311 Guerrero Street #2, a spacious luxury condo in a 3-unit building. This condo is ideally situated in Noe Valley, yet just a hop, skip & a jump to the Valencia Corridor. Want to be walking distance to: Pi Bar, Anthony’s Cookies, Papalote Mexican Grill, Arizmendi Bakery and Natural Resources, just to name a few? Or take advantage of the easy 280/101 freeway access plus both MUNI & BART nearby so you can jet around the City/Bay in no time!

This condo’s features include all the perks of 2006 construction: an open floor plan perfect for entertaining, a deluxe gourmet kitchen with granite counters, cherry cabinets & high-end appliances and two large bedrooms & marble bathrooms, including one master suite that opens onto an exclusive-use deck. This unit also boasts Bamboo and eco-friendly Marmoleum floors, an in-unit washer & dryer and one car parking.

Did we mention the elevator access directly into the unit? This rare feature is accessible and convenient for groceries, strollers, luggage, late nights, moving, shopping sprees, tired legs… you name it!

Enjoy having it all on Guerrero Street.

A NOTE FROM OUR SELLERS:

“To those looking for a wonderful home:

Five years ago, we were ecstatic to find such a beautifully finished, newly constructed home in the heart of our favorite sunny neighborhood in San Francisco.  Two kids later, it is now time for us to find a bigger space.  We leave with a heavy heart because 1311 Guerrero is by far our favorite place we have ever lived, and are sad to be moving.

Living in new construction in an old city is a fantastic treat.  Everything works and the finishing touches are beautiful! The kitchen is the center of our universe so we absolutely loved having the open kitchen equipped with granite countertops and stainless appliances and the beautiful cherry cabinets.  The marble bathrooms are clean and beautiful, and it’s a comfort to know that the building meets the most modern structural safety guidelines and is equipped with a fire safety system.  Finally, having an in-unit elevator is absolutely priceless. Not once did we have to lug groceries, children, furniture, or grandparents up the stairs!

Our family believes in promoting sustainable living, so we loved the Bamboo eco-friendly floors and the incredible energy efficiency of the property.  We even installed Marmoleum floors in both bedrooms made from all natural materials to be easy to clean, asthma, and allergy friendly.  The kitchen cabinets are FSC-certified wood with low VOC content.

The location of our condo is absolutely perfect.  It’s officially in Noe Valley, and being nestled up against the Mission district allowed us to walk to amazing restaurants, cafes, parks, and cultural experiences in every direction!  Culinary delights like Papalote, Arizmendi Bakery, La Taqueria, and Pi Bar are literally around the corner.  Every Saturday, we bought produce at the farmers market on 24^th street.

The property is also a commuter’s dream.  The five-minute walk to BART means an incredibly quick commute downtown, and its proximity to both the 101 and 280 freeways means an amazingly fast departure down to the peninsula for work or play.

We hope you, as the next owner, appreciate and love our home as much as we did!

- Amy, Doug, Jack & Ben”

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Real Estate Realities: Tales from the front line of buying and selling San Francisco real estate:

How to Properly Mix Business with Pleasure

While at a client’s housewarming party, I was introduced to my client’s friend, Steve, who was looking to buy a house in San Francisco. It was a party so we had a casual, light-hearted conversation, and he asked me to follow-up with him during the work week.

The next business day, I called Steve. He said hat he was frustrated with his current Realtor. The agent was sending him real estate listings he couldn’t afford and/or didn’t like. Steve sensed he was neither a good listener nor a strong negotiator.

Steve came in for an initial consultation with my team and we created a focused, strategic plan to achieve his goals. After touring about 6 homes in Noe Valley and Bernal Heights, each of which met his needs, we made a successful offer and closed a smooth escrow. We used a focused approach and he found the right home.

Last month, I went to Steve’s house-warming party and met a lady who was hoping to sell her house in…well, you know the rest.

We are thrilled about our new listing for sale – 448 Fair Oaks Street San Francisco 94110, listed at $769,000 - Valencia Corridor Noe Valley Top Floor 3 Bedroom Condo with Parking – because it’s bright, ideally located and a great value.

WANT PHOTOS? VISIT THE PROPERTY WEBSITE FOR THIS NOE VALLEY EDWARDIAN CONDO LISTING.

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448 Fair Oaks Street is a spacious top floor condo in a 3-unit building. Fair Oaks is a beautiful street ideally situated in Noe Valley, yet just a hop, skip & a jump to the Valencia Corridor. Want to be walking distance to: Pi Bar, Anthony’s Cookies, Papalote Mexican Grill, Arizmendi Bakery and Natural Resources, just to name a few?

Close to transportation – MUNI, BART & Freeways – as well as restaurants, shopping, schools & entertainment, you will truly be living in a “Walker’s Paradise!”

This condo features two bedrooms, plus a smaller third bedroom, perfect for an office, guest room or baby room. The front of the condo offers generous city views of San Francisco and Bernal Heights, while the back is serene with trees and an open feeling. Skylights let the natural light flood into this condo. Enjoy the comfort of newly refinished hardwood floors, fresh paint and a large laundry room with in-unit washer & dryer. One car side-by-side parking and a private deck complete this fantastic condo!

448 Fair Oaks Street – 3 Unit Building – LOW $276/month HOA dues

FIRST SUNDAY OPEN HOUSE — Sunday May 15th 2-4PM

Luxury New Construction Condos Noe Valley

Recently, I had the opportunity to preview The Nove, brand new luxury condominiums for sale in Noe Valley, just off of the Valencia Corridor. Here’s a random tid-bit for ya: I used to live next door back in my youthful, “renter-years”!

Many of you have followed this plot of land located on Guerrero Street between 22nd and 23rd Streets as it was once the Palm Broker, then Flora Grubb Gardens, and now, oui, bien sur, Noe Valley luxury condos for sale. (What doesn’t eventually become condo?)

They are not quite finished yet but coming VERY soon. If you want a sneak-peek, email or call to let me know. The condos are gorgeous. They are large, open, modern, with functional floor plans and natural light. Yes, Guerrero Street is busy but the interiors are quiet and for convenience with major hipster cache, you cannot beat this location. I love it around here. Walk or bike everywhere (Noe Valley, Mission Dolores, Valencia Corridor’s foodie heaven) but still have a safe garage for your hot rod. Easy access to freeways and public transit (280, 101, BART, J-Church, etc).

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The Scoop:

• 9 new construction LEED certified luxury homes for sale
  • 6 condos Guerrero Street
  • 3 town homes with private garage on Ames Street
  • All 3 or 4 bedroom homes with large square footage, around +/- 2000 square feet
  • Designed by Handel Architects, of Millennium Tower fame (Also a fabulous place to call home. Private RN74 Bartender? Hello, lover.)
  • Studio Becker kitchens
  • Clean lines, open floor plan, modern aesthetic
  • Exact pricing TBD but around $1,400,000 to $1,500,000 on average

As a local Noe Valley Realtor Team, we know the players and the deals. Let us help you buy the right home at the right terms…

Guerrero & San Jose Street Parks

The latest San Francisco “Street Park” is on its way! Located at the corner of San Jose Avenue, Guerrero Street, and 28th Street, we are so excited about San Francisco’s latest urban greening.

Check out the Pavements to Parks website for more information!

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