118 Coso Ave.

Beds: 3 Baths: 2.5 Square footage: 2,220

This three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home was built in 1909 and has about 2,220 square feet of living space. The foyer has intricate hardwood floors and a wooden staircase that leads to the upper level. The living room has a fireplace and bay windows that let in lots of natural light and provide cross-ventilation. The formal dining room has a modern light fixture and is open to the kitchen, which is perfect for dinner parties. The kitchen offers stainless steel appliances, a dishwasher, solid-wood cabinets and ample cupboard space. The backyard has a wooden fence for added privacy, a patio area and a hot tub.

Listing agent: Michael Salstein, Zephyr Real Estate eTeam, (877) 627-2805.

San Francisco, $1.395 million

272 Dalewood Way

Beds: 3 Baths: 3.5 Square footage: 1,923

This three-bedroom, 3.5-bath home has about 1,923 square feet of living space and offers breathtaking ocean views. The living room has elegant crown molding, a fireplace and hardwood floors. The formal dining room has a chandelier and the kitchen is adjacent. The kitchen has a gleaming black tile floor, stainless steel appliances and solid-wood cabinets. The master bedroom is sleek and modern with red walls and white trim, and the master bathroom has dual sinks and granite countertops. The garage provides space for two vehicles and added storage. It is conveniently located within one mile of Miraloma Elementary School.

Listing agent: Pamela Rummage Culp, Alain Pinel Realtors, (415) 640-3293.

San Francisco Chronicle and BlockShopper San Francisco scour the Bay Area to find what range of properties buyers can get for their money. This week, What You Can Buy features homes in the $1.287 million range.

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/What-you-can-buy-in-San-Francisco-for-1-179-4004343.php

484 Los Palmos Drive

Beds: 3 Baths: 1.5 Square footage: 1,450

Constructed in 1947, this two-story property features a living room equipped with a fireplace, recessed lighting and a wall of built-in shelving units. Highlights of the the kitchen include stainless steel appliances, tile flooring and glass-fronted cabinets. French doors open to a spacious back patio and serene garden area. This property provides a single-car garage. All bedrooms are on the upper level.

Listing agent: Donna Sullivan, Herth Real Estate. (415) 370-8845. donnahouse@aol.com.

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/15/RESL1P266M.DTL

In the greater San Francisco and San Jose markets, average rental prices increased by 10.4 and 12.2 percent, respectively, making the two areas the markets with the greatest rent appreciation in the country, according to a report by RealFacts, a company that analyzes rental data. The S.F. region includes parts of the East Bay, and San Jose includes other parts of Santa Clara County.

Click on the photo at right to see how rents have increased in the Bay Area.

Over the past four years, according to the survey, rental prices have climbed 13.7 percent in San Francisco, while occupancy rose only 1.3 percent. The City’s high apartment occupancy rate is one of the factors contributing to its rising prices, real estate experts agree.

“We’ve reached a point where there’s nothing out there,” said Craig Berendt, a broker with Berendt Properties. “People are knocking down my door to get an apartment.”

Renters now have to compete for apartments, sometimes creating a bidding war. Vacancies are filled quickly, and for above-average prices. Berendt recently rented a client an 800-square-foot Hayes Valley apartment with an outdated 1950s kitchen and without parking for $2,100 a month. About a year ago he would have been lucky to get $1,700, he said.

The tech industry, which is credited with contributing to the boom in both residential and commercial real estate, has created a renter profile of young, well-paid professionals who can afford the cream of the crop.

“Current renters moving in are pickier about what they want,” said Janan New, executive director of San Francisco Apartment Association. “They are willing to pay high rents, but don’t want to compromise on amenities.”

She said that means landlords have to deliver — by installing granite countertops, track lighting and other new features that also can drive up asking rates. The trend has made San Francisco a city that is increasingly unaffordable to middle-class residents, both New and Berendt said.

“I see our middle class really starting to dissipate,” Berendt said. “Obviously we don’t want that. We want a well-balanced class system, but the rents are just going through the roof.”

RealFacts’ report analyzes detailed data for 47 market survey areas in the country, including Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver and Tampa. Although the report omitted detailed information on major metropolises such as New York City and Washington, D.C., RealFacts spokeswoman Linda Burke said the company’s data on those cities supports its findings about San Francisco and San Jose.

sgantz@sfexaminer.com

Article source: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2012/01/bay-area-leads-nation-rental-price-increases

“It’s pretty surreal,” Gregg Lynn of Sotheby’s International Realty said about the terrace area.

Located at 188 Minna St. in Unit 28 D, the two-bedroom property boasts a unique opportunity to catch a bit of fresh air while surveying the city’s expansive skyline.

“It’s one of the largest two-bedrooms in the St. Regis,” Lynn said. “And it is the only one with an outdoor terrace. Having this in a luxury building is extremely rare.”

In addition, Lynn noted, the breathtaking views can be enjoyed from inside the living and dining areas via the floor-to-ceiling glass walls that offer vistas from the south and west. Take in parts of the Bay Area, Twin Peaks and the Yerba Buena Gardens.

“Beautiful view by day and night,” Lynn said. “It is probably the widest, most panoramic view available of any of the condos at the St. Regis.”

Lynn said having a terrace in a luxury space has its advantages.

“It is so rare out of all of the condos: St. Regis, Millennium Towers or the Four Seasons,” he said. “This is the only one with a floor plan that has an outdoor space. You can get fresh air immediately from the outside, which makes for a comfortable experience.”

The comfort flows throughout the 1,792-square-foot home with spacious living and dining rooms that include walls of glass with a Florida ceiling.

The luxury apartment also features a study-library with custom-made bookcases and a sliding ladder.

“That is one of the main reasons why people fall in love with this apartment,” Lynn said. “Large size, terrace and the Florida ceiling … definitely on the luxury side.”

Lynn said the chef-style kitchen – which highlights European Poggenpohl cabinetry, Kashmir gold-polished granite countertops and luxury appliances by Sub-Zero and Miele – will give residents the proper tools to prepare for any top-rated gathering.

“It’s very different than what you would see at a luxury space,” he said.

The master suite includes window benches, dual closets and a frameless glass shower.

Residents enjoy hotel-like amenities such as a bulter, doorman and access to room service and housekeeping. Condominium owners also have access to the St. Regis Hotel San Francisco’s Reméde Spa, fitness center and indoor lap pool. In addition, residents can dine at the award-winning Ame Restaurant or the private Vitrine Restaurant or enjoy spirits in the hotel lobby.

Lynn said residents will not have a hard time looking for activities.

“You’re conveniently located downtown. There are a lot of shops at Union Square, and you’re in walking distance of many restaurants,” he said.

“You are also in the center of all of the museums, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Contemporary Jewish Museum and the new Museum of the African Diaspora.”

Lynn said the luxury property, priced at $2.8 million, lends itself well to rent out to business associates or family and friends. But there are many more reasons why one would want to keep it private.

“This could be for people who want to live in the city and have a full-service, live-in hotel environment,” Lynn said. “They have a great location if they work in the financial area. This is for people that are affluent who want to live in the best service environment.”

Lynn also said the property could fit perfectly into a fast-paced jet-setter lifestyle.

“It could also be a great fit for people who have homes in other places but would like to have a home in the city,” he said. “They want a very convenient place where everything is taken care of – a place they can be for a couple of hours or days (and) then can go; a full-service staff that takes care of them while they are there and takes care of the property after they leave.”

This article appeared on page J – 6 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/11/REGI1LTAA2.DTL