Danielle Lazier

Archive for the 'Useful Information and Resources' Category

USGS Map of San Francisco Earthquake Seismic Hazard Zones

Feeling stable? Check out the USGS United State Geological Survey Map of Seismic Hazard Zones in San Francisco, aka the San Francisco Earthquake Map.

http://gmw.consrv.ca.gov/shmp/download/pdf/ozn_sf.pdf

Tags: earthquake map, seismic hazard zones, usgs

Green Living for Homeowners

Everything now a days is “green” friendly.  Even SFHotlist is green (have you received our fun SFHotlist reusable bag?).  Here are some great resources for finding out how you can live green and some green living tips for homeowners.

FYPower.org/Flex your power: Enter a zip code and search for local rebates, energy audits, etc.

Cheers.org/California Home Energy Efficiency Rating Services: Rates and certifies home builders on energy-efficient construction

Green.CAR.org/California Association or Realtors: Has information for homeowners, Realtors and the general public on how to green their living spaces

EasyEcoBlog.com: Blog posts with tips that are doable with minimal effort

NARI.org/National Association of the Remodeling Industry: Facts about green remodeling

EnergyStar.gov: Offers guidelines for energy audits and management, green construction and rebates

Tags: Green Living

San Francisco Real Estate – Buyer Beware or Get a Professional Home Inspection

Part of an ongoing series of San Francisco real estate & related guest bloggers, here is one of San Francisco’s top residential home inspectors, Bill Thomson of the Thomson Builder Group, letting you know all about the home inspection process when buying a home in San Francisco.

“ASK THE INSPECTOR… ABOUT HOME INSPECTIONS

One of the most important processes in buying a home is having it properly inspected.  The inspector can give you information about the property so that you will be more familiar with it and as a result have a better understanding of it. (SFHotlist – This is true whether you are buying a Bernal Heights single family home or a Mission Dolores condo.)

FINDING A HOME INSPECTOR:

Your real estate agent is a good resource for recommendations of home inspectors.  (SFHotlist – We keep an updated list of reliable local home inspectors for our clients to choose from. Other San Francisco home resources & service providers) Be sure to choose an inspector who is a licensed general contractor.  There is no licensing body for home inspectors themselves.  Choosing an individual who is a licensed general contractor can ensure that your inspector has reasonable qualifications.  Your inspector should at least have 10 years experience as a licensed general contractor

Be sure your home inspector has specific experience in expecting homes in the part of the Bay area in which the building is located.  If you’re purchasing a home in San Francisco, for example you want an inspector who has specific experience with the types of problems and repairs that typically occur in buildings of the type you’re purchasing. (SFHotlist – For example, are you buying an Inner Mission loft, a Duboce Triangle TIC, or maybe a Forest Hill single family home? Make sure your inspector knows the type of architecture.)

Your home inspector should not only be making specific recommendations for repairs but should also provide advice on the maintenance of the building and the installations with in it.

It’s a good idea to choose an inspector who has specific experience with the building department that has jurisdiction over the area in which the building is being purchased.  Most of my experience is in San Francisco.  I’m very familiar with the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection and the codes that they apply.

Your home inspector should have appropriate insurance.  They should carry errors and omissions insurance of at least $500,000.  This can protect you in case there is a serious mistake.  An example would be the report indicates that the furnaces in good condition, but two months later the furnace causes fire that damages the property the inspector’s errors and omissions insurance could come into play regarding that damage.

If you are using one of the larger San Francisco real estate companies such as Zephyr Real Estate, Pacific Union, McGuire, Paragon, Coldwell Banker, Prudential, Vanguard Properties or any of the other larger companies they will likely insure that a “Certificate of Insurance” by the inspector is on file with them.  However, it never hurts to ask.

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Tags: bill thomson, Home Inspection

What’s the deal with San Francisco Rent Control? Or I’m thinking of buying an investment property or renting out my home. What should I know?

Recently, a client mentioned that they may relocate out of San Francisco and were considering keeping their home as rental property. She wanted to know, “What’s the deal with San Francisco rent control and what kinds of things should I know before becoming a landlord in our great ‘Republic of San Francisco’?”

To summarize: San Francisco has one of the most draconian rent control rule books in the United States. If you know of a City with stricter rent and eviction control rules, please let me know as I’m genuinely curious!

And because we’re San Francisco, the power lies with the tenant, not the property owner. Whether you own one little condo or an entire city block, the deck of cards is stacked against you in this town as a landlord. Don’t get me wrong, I adore our “San Francisco Values.” But sometimes, I think, “OMG, this is insane.” C’mon, don’t you? But then, I go back to Texas for a visit and remember just how much I appreciate it here in SF…  And, hey, where are you going to find home value appreciation like ours (with or without the restrictions)?! Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: eviction control, investment property, landlord-tenant, rent control

Retrofit Buildings in the Bay Area

With the Loma Prieta Earthquake‘s 20th anniversary coming up this year on October 17th, we are all thinking about earthquake safety, right?

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Tags: 72hours, bay area seismic retrofit map

Buying a home in San Francisco? Love or loathe the fog? Learn about our SF weather patterns and micro-climates so you know where you want to live!

Tags: fog, sf weather, weather, wunderground

FAQ: Where can I look up my San Francisco property tax bill?

The Property Tax Person Cometh…

For information on your property tax bill: view and print your bill, pay online, appeal your assessed value, etc etc, visit San Francisco’s Office of the Treasurer. You’ll find all the information you need!

Want to estimate property tax on a listing you’re interested in? 1.2% of the purchase price is a good, conservative rule of thumb. This is the annual amount, btw.

For example, on a $900,000 home, the annual property tax will be about $10,800.

Tags: Frequently Asked Questions, San Francisco Property Tax Bill, tax questions