Greetings, All:
A couple of topics, having nothing to do with real estate.
A good friend of mine, Sabrina, wrote the following, and I just love its positive message: “
In addition to it being Chinese New Year today, I recognize and want to uplift that February 1st is the launch of Black History Month.
I see the intertwining of Black history into the Asian American experience in America. My civil rights are deeply connected to the battles fought by the Black community and that we are all still fighting today.
In the midst of firecrackers and family celebrations, I want to shine a light on my brothers and sisters.
Just as I want us to support Chinatown businesses, I also call us to support Black-owned businesses.”
https://oewd.org/black-owned-businesses-san-francisco
February is also American Heart Month (not to mention Valentine’s Day on the 14th – fellas, don’t forget!). Compass’s Chief Evangelist Leonard Steinberg reminds us that
“being successful and effective in the rather stressful real estate world – not to mention the rest of the planet! – requires a healthy mind and body….and heart.
Heart health is impacted by numerous things and more recently Covid is one of them. Integrative Cardiologist Dr. Tao recommends a focus on reducing excessive inflammation. There are many natural ways to reduce inflammation as well as to enhance practices that support repair and restoration of heart and whole body health, but of course I’m not a doctor so you should always consult with your physician before enacting any of this to be careful.
* Proper nutrition is essential to heart health.
Eat the rainbow! Fill your plate with organic vegetables and 1-2 daily servings of organic fruit. Fruits and vegetables are filled with polyphenols and fiber, which help to combat the effects of inflammation and oxidative stress.
Plant and animal sources of high quality protein o
rganic plant sources include: beans, peas, lentils, seeds, nuts, tofu.
Animal sources include: grass-fed beef, wild-caught small fish, free-range poultry and organic eggs.
Fiber-rich foods like: whole grains, leafy vegetables, and legumes. Please work with a nutrition coach to determine the right amount and type of fiber for you.
Minimize your intake of inflammatory foods eg. fried and char-broiled foods, refined sugar, processed meats and other foods, certain oils/fats, etc.
Stay hydrated! For most individuals, the daily fluid intake (in ounces) should be about ½ of your body weight (pounds). 1 fluid oz = 0.03 L = 30ml. For example, a 150 lbs person should drink about 75 oz (or 2.2 L) of fluids daily. With increased activity and sweating, you can add 12 ounces of water to your daily total for every 30 minutes that you work out.
* Regular movement to keep the heart strong and the blood flowing! Get up and stretch. Use the stairs. Walk lots. Consult your physician for the right amount of movement for you.
* Stress reduction practices. Stress increases the sympathetic nervous system “breakdown” of our body systems and negatively affects our blood pressure, blood vessels and blood clotting. Effective stress reduction practices include:
* Breathing exercises.
* Meditation and mindfulness
* Gratitude journaling
* Regular good sleep
* Maintain a clear conscience by doing the right thing: regret adds to stress.
* Many gain great value by being spiritually aware.
If COVID taught us one thing, it may be that being super-healthy all year round helps. This requires pro-active work and effort, building new habits and breaking old bad habits. I have no desire to live to be 150 years old, but I’d love to feel good till my last hour!”
Me, too! Thanks, Leonard.
This pretty closely follows the advice of Strauss Zelnick’s book: ”
Becoming Ageless: The Four Secrets to Looking and Feeling Younger Than Ever”, a book I’ve got on my nightstand at the moment.
Till next month – Good health, Good life!
Derek, Natalie, Mo & Arwin
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by Patrick Carlisle, Market Analyst for Compass Bay Area
2021 was one of the most frenzied real estate markets ever, with buyer demand far exceeding the supply of listings available to buy – and all the usual indicators, including home price appreciation trends, reflected this severe imbalance. As is the normal seasonal trend, listing and offer activity dropped substantially mid-November through early January, resulting in very low sales volume in the year’s first month.
As of 2/3/22, mortgage interest rates have risen 14% in 2022, putting them 34% above the low 1 year ago.
Inflation is at a 40-year high, and the Fed plans to make major changes to its interest-rate policies and its interventions in the economy generally. Consumer confidence has been dropping, and financial markets have seen considerable turbulence in the new year. Geopolitical risks of major-power conflict appear to be rising.
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New Listings | Just Sold | Announcement
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We were so thrilled recently to help our clients David and Betsy close on a gorgeous home that their young family can grow in and create new memories for years to come. As competitive as this market is, it bears mentioning that not only were we able to save them money, our successful win was partly due, according to the listing agent, to our relationship with that agent. Pays to have a good professional reputation.
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* And now for some MORE competition for entry-level home buyers: Blackstone plans to spend $1 billion to buy rental houses and lease them out at below-market rates, billing the program as a private-sector answer to soaring housing costs. Home Partners of America, a single-family rental company that Blackstone bought last year, is offering the program, called Choice Lease. It will provide tenants who meet an income threshold a 10% discount on monthly rent payments and the option to purchase their homes at below-market rates. Maybe there is an opportunity here too? (BLOOMBERG)
* Nearly 12% of first-time buyers indicated that selling cryptocurrency holdings helped build a down payment for a home in the 4th quarter of 2021, up from 8.8% of buyers surveyed in the 3rd quarter of 2020, and 4.6% of novice homebuyers in the 3rd quarter of 2019. (Bitcoin was trading around $67,000 in November 2021, and now it is around $42,000…..)
That’s roughly in line with the share of first-time buyers who relied on cash gifts from family for their down payment. 52% of first-time homebuyers said they grew their down payment by saving money earned through their paycheck. (Marketwatch)
* The NAR expects 30-year fixed mortgage rates to end 2022 at 3.7%, up from a recent 3.2%, while a consensus estimate collected by NAR forecasts a 5.7% rise in home prices in 2022. The sales price of the median existing-home was $353,900 in November. A $300,000 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 3.7% would cost about $1,381/month, about $84 more per month ($1,297/month) than at 3.2%. A $1 million mortgage at the higher rate will cost about $278 more per month….. which sounds manageable when many are experiencing rising wages and asset valuations.
* Job site Glassdoor released its annual 100 Best Places to Work in 2022 ranking, noting the metros that had the most companies represented on the list. The TOP 4 were San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, and New York. People praised the companies in these cities for their flexible work environments, strong benefits packages and access to senior leadership, among other perks.
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The stunning 2,200-square-foot live/work loft #102 at 355 Bryant Street returned to the market listed for $2,250,000 million last year after a “Luxury Live Auction!” failed to produce an acceptable offer in 2020.
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After announcing its permanent closure just three weeks ago, the much-cherished Bette’s Oceanview Diner on Berkeley’s Fourth Street is reopening — with a few key changes. The most drastic shifts, as first reported by Berkeleyside, will be to its name and its business model. Seemingly in respect to owner Manfred Kroening and his wife and restaurant namesake Bette (who died in 2017), the restaurant will be called just Oceanview Diner.
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Garoppolo to 49ers fans: ‘It’s been a hell of a ride’
Before Jimmy Garoppolo finished his 17-minute season-ending news conference, he wanted to deliver a message to the San Francisco 49ers fans who supported him the past five seasons.
“It’s been crazy, man. Just all the comebacks at Levi’s, comebacks on the road, ups, and downs. It’s been a hell of a ride guys,” he said. “I love you guys.”
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Aiming to prove that middle-aged dogs can learn new tricks, here’s a quick look at how we’ve adjusted to our current landscape for our selling clients. (Woof!)
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Visualizing your Upgrade:
Curious to know how Compass can transform a listing and improve its sale price?
Compass Lens uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to visualize the potential of your space! See exactly the difference working with us can make.
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Dynamic Digital Brochures:
Home features will come to life inside this dynamic, digital brochure while creating an immersive experience for even the most discerning of buyers. Pages will turn and videos will play while allowing us to capture real-time data and actionable insights from potential buyers.
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Video Creator:
We’re able to make quick (10 seconds or less) videos of our listings with essential details to our social feeds.
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Mobile Listing Ads:
We’ll run geo-targeted mobile ad campaigns to reach buyers in the right place, at the right time. Now more than ever, buyers and sellers are spending most (if not all) of their time at home. We’ll create a geofence around the neighborhoods where you’d like your ads to be seen. These ads will appear in mobile apps and will re-target viewers on their desktops and laptops.
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All of this is designed to bring proper exposure to our wonderful listings, and encourage eager buyers to make safe, virtual visits before making safe, in-person visits.
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Since Compass launched in 2012, we’ve been simplifying the real estate process one community at a time. Today, we have more than 250+ offices extending from coast to coast.
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Please let us know if you or a friend/colleague needs a fantastic agent in an area other than San Francisco. Through our network we can make the connections and introductions and help to find a perfect fit.
If you like what you have received, we encourage you to share it with your friends and follow us on Facebook & Instagram.
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