Carol Solfanelli | Compass | DRE License # 01347033 | 415-297-7031 | carol.solfanelli@compass.com
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Realtors Giving Back!

BreakfastCharity

I attended the First Harvest of Hope Charity Breakfast this morning, sponsored by the Welcome Home Project, which is part of the San Francisco Association of Realtors Charitable Foundation. All of the proceeds from this event will be used to purchase new household items like bedding, cleaning supplies, small appliances and more for the homeless moving into permanent housing. Did you know there are almost 7000 homeless people on the streets of San Francisco? That’s not an acceptable number anywhere,

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The Secret to Getting an SF Property at a Good Price!

downton photo

There are a number of ways that buyers can get a good price for a property, even in this heated market. Three things a buyer can look for are 1. an out of town listing agent; 2. an overpriced property; or 3. an unusual issue with a property. The first two things – an out of town agent and an overpriced property – often go hand in hand. My clients wanted to make a low ball offer on a home

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How Not Having Parking Can Get You the Place You Love!

Streetparking

Recently, I was thinking about how to get clients into the places they want which are often over their price range. For most people, not having parking is a deal breaker. But, for those who don’t have oodles of money and want that perfect place, they may take advantage of the opportunity that listings which advertise “no parking” can provide. Typically, these properties are less expensive than those with parking and stay on the market longer which improves the ability

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Pacific Union – Brokerage of the Year!

Pac Union Lobby

In case you missed it, Pacific Union was named 2016 Brokerage of the Year in the Bay Area! I am proud to work for such an innovative and professional company. The award was presented by The Luxury Marketing Council of San Francisco and San Francisco Magazine. The award was made to recognize a brokerage “where innovative strategy, bold action and collegial culture combine to drive change and success.” I can certainly attest to all of these qualities, especially the innovative

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The Incredible Appreciation of SF Real Estate!

poster  san francisco invents the tech chamber of commerce

Recently, two different clients of mine contacted me about a recent sale of a property near his home. Each client had bought a unit in 2011, a year that the real estate market was just starting to come back from the 2008 downturn. Properties were staying on the market a bit longer then and motivated sellers were negotiating. Just five years later, each could likely now sell his property for $500,000 more than he paid! One client bought a two

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Adding Value to Your Home with a Kitchen Remodel

KitchenJackson

Remodeling a kitchen can be an unpleasant task, especially if you aren’t planning on moving out to do the renovation. However, based on recently released data, a major kitchen remodel in the San Francisco Bay Area can result in a return on investment of between 12% and 35%. “Remodeling Return on Investment” by Jim Tibbs, August 9, 2016. http://sfbaytimes.com/remodeling-return-on-investment/ My husband and I have done three kitchen renovations and have learned from each. It can also be a lot of

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What SOMA Luxury Condo Buildings are Doing to Attract Buyers!

HarrisonPantry

Yesterday, on Broker’s Tour, I went to see the Harrison, a new luxury development in SOMA designed by Ken Fulk. I have known Ken since he was doing basic stagings for $700,000 homes, and now he is an internationally celebrated designer. Upon entering from the valet parking area, my colleague and I came upon the pantry, pictured above, which is a terrific amenity available daily for the residents. We were offered many tasty treats, including delicious pastries, coffees, teas, pellegrino,

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Sailing Around the Bay!

SailingCarol

San Francisco has a lot to offer in the way of fun activities. There are things you can do in this city that you can’t do anywhere else – like sailing in San Francisco Bay! The wind in the bay is like nowhere else, one of the reasons America’s Cup was held here in 2013. My husband, Michael, decided a number of years ago that since he was living in SF, he should learn how to sail. He decided to

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What’s On The SF Market For Around $1M?

DiningrdAve

An often asked question is what can you buy for $1M in San Francisco? In many parts of the country,$1M can buy you a mansion – not so in SF! When I did a search for properties listed on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) between $985,000 and $1M, 32 properties came up. What are these properties? There are 11 single family homes, 18 condos, and 3 two-unit buildings. The homes are from 1 – 4 bedrooms and average 1435 square

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A Bit of a Change in Noe Valley

DiningNoe

We are at a half-way point in 2016, and the market generally, and even in Noe Valley, started to change the beginning of this year compared to the last half of 2015. Looking back at the last six months at a hot neighborhood like Noe Valley and comparing the prior six months (June – December, 2015) confirms what agents have been saying generally about the market. In Noe, fewer homes and condos sold in the first six months of 2016

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