Greetings, All:
Given February is a month in which we celebrate Valentine’s Day, my thoughts move to relationships.
From the time I was a child, relationships have always been important to me. I was a shy loner who below the surface wanted to be the opposite. Connecting with others was something I had to figure out. Some kids daydream about their future as a fireman or astronaut. At 9 or 10, I may have spent some daydream reserves imagining what it’d be like to have a girlfriend or wife, to be surrounded by friends and family. Why I eventually decided to purposely wait till I was in my mid-thirties to get married was based on my “logical” thinking, and that turned out not to work so well, lol.
But it was my lifelong desire to make connections that led me to becoming a Realtor – I see that. Selling real estate is all about establishing relationships, not a product “numbers game”. A home is an emotional investment, not based on future dollars returned, though there’s certainly an aspect of that in the buying decision.
I connect less with people who consider home just a place to sleep and park their belongings. I think a home is a reflection of who a person is, and finding that out is part of the challenge and fun.
When I consider what we look for in an ideal client relationship, it’s easy to draw comparisons to what we look for in a significant other. Instead of forcing issues and trying to piece together puzzles that don’t fit, we prefer to let opportunities develop, in their own time, in their own way. One of the reasons relationships are so valuable is because they can be an incredible source of stillness. “The market will speak.” “We’ve done what we can…it’ll happen when it happens.” Folks wonder how it is we’re able to remain calm and patient when we go to bat a dozen times for a buyer and lose to competition before securing the perfect home on the thirteenth try; or when working with a listing that doesn’t sell within a week (When I started my career, 6 month listings were the norm, not the 90 days they are, now.).
Relationships are also something you draw energy from. When it works, it works, and Natalie, Mo and those of you reading this know what I’m talking about. Relationships are a place to check thoughts against, to check frustrations against. To get another’s perspective of yourself and how things are going. It’s a lot of work. It will be painful and tough at times. Doesn’t that sound like a marriage?
In recent weeks I’ve been blessed to connect and work with clients I’ve had relationships with for 25, 30+ years. Young couples I met without children who now not only have grown children, but even grandchildren. We’ve been honored to work on multiple transactions with a number of our oldest, dearest clients, and it warms the heart each time we reconnect. Trust has been earned.
I decided long ago that with the limits of time in this life, it’s important to establish relationships with those who will add to our lives in the most positive ways. Some advice I’ve read: “Choose someone whose way of life as well as words, and whose very face as mirroring the character that lies behind it, have won your approval. Be always pointing him/her out to yourself either as your guardian or as your model. There is a need, in my view, for someone as a standard against which our characters can measure themselves. Without a ruler to do it against you won’t make crooked straight.” Do I take this advice and apply it to each potential relationship, working or personal? I Do.
Till next month, stay safe and healthy,
Derek & Natalie, Mo, and Arwin
|
by Patrick Carlisle, Market Analyst for Compass Bay Area
December is typically the month that sees the year’s lowest level of deal-making activity — i.e. listings accepting offers (going into contract) — which leads to January usually posting the lowest monthly number of closed sales. (Sales typically close 3 to 6 weeks after going into contract.) In the 11-county, greater Bay area, accepted-offer activity in December 2022 and closed sales volume in January 2023 generally hit their lowest monthly points in 14 to 15 years. (SF hit lower points in listings going into contract in January 2019 and, after the pandemic hit, in April 2020.)
|
New Listings | Just Sold | Announcement
|
We continue to love working with new transplants TO the City! Congratulations to Nick and Mari for scoring on this bright, corner condo in the Lake Street District at an amazing price! What a great time to be buyers.
|
* MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PRICE CHOP? No, it’s not a cheesy new Reality TV show…..it’s a reality amongst some super-high priced properties that are seeing some significant price chops off what many might deem ‘irrationally exuberant’ pricing? A Beverly Hills mansion just saw a 15% price cut, $15 million off its $100 million original price. The original price made headlines and now its price cut has too……which shows how many people will do and say anything to get a headline/media attention?
And of course, the media LOVE it! The more extreme, the better! Like reality TV…
* Liquidity in the banking environment is down allowing private equity to step in….. There is less capital and debt availability.
Multi-family still has solid activity. The traditional office sector will be tough. The economy has been remarkably resilient, but as the Fed raises rates, completed real estate projects may see large construction job losses as new building pauses. (CNBC)
* The more someone gets to know you, the more they will trust you and believe in your talents and skills. This leads to better opportunities, speedier decision-making, and higher margins. So invest time and resources into making and maintaining the right connections. (CNBC)
|
|
Nothing to See Here, It’s Just Another Data Point.
Purchased for $953,883 in September of 2016, a price which was in line with the pricing for the other 68 units in the new collection of city homes at 388 Fulton Street, “in our beloved Hayes Valley, SF’s most desirable, lovable, [and] walkable neighborhood,” the two-bedroom, 743-square-foot unit #213 features “the most efficient floor plan” in the building, with high-end appliances, shelving, and wide-plank wood floors.
|
Everything you need to know about the ‘forbidden’ Costco food court hack.
For the uninitiated, a Costco chicken bake is like an elevated Hot Pocket. This handheld treasure is made from the same pizza dough as Costco’s famous pizzas and sprinkled with cheese before being baked to perfection. The exterior has a delightful crunch from the cheesy Parmesan top, while the interior remains soft and chewy. It’s also stuffed with chunks of grilled chicken breast, creamy Caesar dressing, green onions, and three types of cheese: provolone, Parmesan, and mozzarella. Oh, and there are authentic bacon pieces sprinkled throughout. It’s like a Caesar salad without the salad.
|
|
|
Noe Valley is a charming, family-friendly neighborhood in the middle of a big city, offering a little oasis nearby the busier Mission District and the Castro. The neighborhood is home to a variety of boutique shops, great restaurants and cafes, a few bars, urban parks, and even a town square. With its young families and baby strollers and mom-and-pop shops, it’s a quiet place where the community is strong. Here are the best things to do, see and eat in Noe Valley.
|
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.
|
© Compass 2023 ¦ All Rights Reserved by Compass ¦ Made in NYC
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California operating under multiple entities. License Numbers 01991628, 1527235, 1527365, 1356742, 1443761, 1997075, 1935359, 1961027, 1842987, 1869607, 1866771, 1527205, 1079009, 1272467. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions. |
|
|