Larry Rosen

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A house in the Berkeley hills with a million-dollar view of the San Francisco Bay – literally – has made news. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>

Bay Area real estate offers house (sale) of cards

Here’s how Berkeley hills residence sold for $1 million over asking price

A house in the Berkeley hills with a million-dollar view of the San Francisco Bay – literally – has made news. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>
When development plans for a mall in Elk Grove didn’t pan out after more than a decade, another project to build a casino is in the works. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>

The tale of the ghost mall in Elk Grove

Doomed development makes way for a casino

When development plans for a mall in Elk Grove didn’t pan out after more than a decade, another project to build a casino is in the works. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins>
The tech company Opendoor provides customers the opportunity buy homes with all-cash offers. (Courtesy Opendoor)

Buyers and renters beware: Koch Industries could be your new landlord

New home buying methods may have a hidden downside

The tech company Opendoor provides customers the opportunity buy homes with all-cash offers. (Courtesy Opendoor)
Perceived supply and demand in the Bay Area’s expensive rental market can play a big part in determining what people pay. (Shutterstock)

Bay Area rental market is rebounding — but why?

Hearing about people leaving town can have as big an effect as actual economic factors

Perceived supply and demand in the Bay Area’s expensive rental market can play a big part in determining what people pay. (Shutterstock)
Realtors discussing the local scene on the “Southern Oregon Real Estate Show” podcast (the city of Klamath Falls, Ore. is pictured) describe a “sold-out market.”<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>

Not everybody is moving from SF to Austin

Pandemic has pushed city dwellers to smaller towns

Realtors discussing the local scene on the “Southern Oregon Real Estate Show” podcast (the city of Klamath Falls, Ore. is pictured) describe a “sold-out market.”<ins> (Shutterstock)</ins>
While reports have indicated people are leaving The City in droves, it appears that those who can afford a single-family home of $3 million or more are staying – or arriving. (Shutterstock)

Not everyone is leaving San Francisco, as home sales soar

Business booming for high- high-end, single-family houses

While reports have indicated people are leaving The City in droves, it appears that those who can afford a single-family home of $3 million or more are staying – or arriving. (Shutterstock)
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos – pictured testifying via video at a congressional hearing in July 2020 – recently announced a program in which Amazon is seeding $2 billion in funding for affordable housing.<ins></ins>

Amazon may not be all evil

Online giant is helping funding affordable housing in three cities

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos – pictured testifying via video at a congressional hearing in July 2020 – recently announced a program in which Amazon is seeding $2 billion in funding for affordable housing.<ins></ins>
Starcity, an outfit providing co-living spaces in urban areas, is developing a property at 457 Minna St. in San Francisco. <ins>(Courtesy Starcity)</ins>

Talkin’ ’bout a Starcity revolution

Company offers high-tech boarding houses and investment opportunities

Starcity, an outfit providing co-living spaces in urban areas, is developing a property at 457 Minna St. in San Francisco. <ins>(Courtesy Starcity)</ins>
Redfin’s online home-buying service becoming available in S.F. enables people selling and purchasing single-family homesto close a deal without a real estate professional.<ins> (Shutterstock photo)</ins>

Virtual home-buying in The City: Not a revolution … yet

Service new to San Francisco another blow in humans vs. technology war

Redfin’s online home-buying service becoming available in S.F. enables people selling and purchasing single-family homesto close a deal without a real estate professional.<ins> (Shutterstock photo)</ins>
During the pandemic, online searches for real estate have mushroomed because we’re fantasizing due to boredom. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>

Redfin, take me away

COVID has become the golden age of real estate search portals

During the pandemic, online searches for real estate have mushroomed because we’re fantasizing due to boredom. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>
With the loss of open houses due to the pandemic, home buyers are relying heavily on online real estate sources. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>

Lack of open houses brings COVID casualties

Viewing hundreds of properties is out, hyper-targeted online searching is in

With the loss of open houses due to the pandemic, home buyers are relying heavily on online real estate sources. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>
Pandemic-era measures to ease stresses in The City’s rental market may not be helpful to small landlords in the long run.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>

San Francisco supes save the day — with a catch

Rent relief funding has strings attached in form of Proposition I

Pandemic-era measures to ease stresses in The City’s rental market may not be helpful to small landlords in the long run.<ins> (Courtesy photo)</ins>
Doorstead, a new tech firm, is finding success serving people who want to rent their property. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>

COVID winners — but for how long?

Real estate tech firm promises guaranteed income for landlords

Doorstead, a new tech firm, is finding success serving people who want to rent their property. <ins>(Screenshot)</ins>
Much of the pandemic-era real estate action in The City is related to the glut of condominiums on the market. (Shutterstock photo)

It’s the condos, stupid

Young, new SF residents are the ones selling due to COVID-19

Much of the pandemic-era real estate action in The City is related to the glut of condominiums on the market. (Shutterstock photo)
Ingka Centres, real estate partner of Swedish furniture giant IKEA, has purchased the long-vacant building at 945 Market St. (Courtesy IKEA)

Market Musings: IKEA to the rescue?

Mayor Breed is among supporters of the retail giant moving to 945 Market St.

Ingka Centres, real estate partner of Swedish furniture giant IKEA, has purchased the long-vacant building at 945 Market St. (Courtesy IKEA)
Realtors truly are invaluable to their clients, working with myriad people involved in the complex process of buying and selling a home. (Courtesy photo)

Market Musings: Tech replacing Realtors? Please.

There are few, if any, ‘easy’ commissions for real estate professionals

Realtors truly are invaluable to their clients, working with myriad people involved in the complex process of buying and selling a home. (Courtesy photo)
Perhaps the most fun thing about matters of real estate is taking the opportunity to fantasize about owning a lake house, place on the beach or big-city penthouse. (Courtesy photo)

Market Musings: Landlord Go vs. Zillow

For a real estate break, choose dreaming over gaming

Perhaps the most fun thing about matters of real estate is taking the opportunity to fantasize about owning a lake house, place on the beach or big-city penthouse. (Courtesy photo)
During the pandemic, people buying houses in The City are seeking open space rather than proximity to bars and restaurants. (Courtesy photo)

Market Musings: An unprecedented familiarity

Home buyers interestingly seeking suburban qualities in S.F.

During the pandemic, people buying houses in The City are seeking open space rather than proximity to bars and restaurants. (Courtesy photo)
Millions of homeowners stand to benefit from refinancing as 2020 has seen very low interest rates and extraordinary effects of COVID-19. (Courtesy photo)

Market Musings: Pandemic brings new surge of refi madness

Mortgage business booms with appealing rates, uncertain market

Millions of homeowners stand to benefit from refinancing as 2020 has seen very low interest rates and extraordinary effects of COVID-19. (Courtesy photo)
To understand what is happening in The City’s real estate market during the coronavirus crisis, read beyond the headlines. (Courtesy photo)

Market Musings: Unraveling the pandemic exodus from San Francisco

A funny thing happened on the way to the apocalypse — everyone decided to leave San Francisco. Or did they?

To understand what is happening in The City’s real estate market during the coronavirus crisis, read beyond the headlines. (Courtesy photo)