December 31, 2007

True or False Fridays: Answers

While it may be slow out there in real estate land, there are still some happenings worth shaking our heads at, cracking a joke about, or just plain marveling at what the Bay Area has to offer its residents. Answers from last Friday’s quiz:

(1) I have wanted to live up in Woodside since my teens. I love the trees, the laid-back atmosphere, and the large lots. For the most part, Woodside is unaffordable to most, with the majority of homes over $2mil, but recently two homes came on the market under the $1mil mark, giving me a sign of hope.

ANSWER: False. The cheapest home available in Woodside as of this writing was $1,095,000. In fact, there is a lack of homes available in this town at the moment, with a total of only 19 on the market. Six are between $1-2mil, three are between $2-3mil, three are between $3-5mil, and seven are over $5mil.

(2) Periodically you see the Sweet Digs mavens writing about their pet peeves. One in particular, the photos (or lack thereof), is a pretty steady complaint. But there is one home in Marin County where the realtor took this to heart and posted 39 photos.

ANSWER: True. Kudos to Steven Mavromihalis of Pacific Union Realty. He took the time to get 39 photos taken of 210 Beach Street in Belvedere. Listed less than a month ago at $11,500,000, this 7 bedroom, 9 bath home of over 7,000 square feet is one that most of us will never have the pleasure of seeing in person. But thankfully we can wander the halls, albeit virtually. Oh, and there is a bonus video tour here.

(3) San Francisco is not the only city with a listing priced at $65,000,000. In addition to that Pacific Heights manse, there is a second listing in the Bay Area for a 12,000 sf home on an acre. Once a grand home, it has been refurbished over the years to the tune of $32mil and restored in a manner befit a king (or queen, or very weathly investor).

ANSWER: True. The second home, called Locksley Hall and located on Belvedere Island in Marin County, has been listed for 3 years and is now in contract. Sold, you ask? Yes, with furnishings. Hard to believe in this economy. What is even more surprising is that it is rumored to be the highest selling home ever in the Bay Area. For the full scoop, check out this article in The Wall Street Journal.

Recent Sweet Digs Posts:

Oakley to Wal-Mart: Out Devil Out!

Berkeley: Top of the Market Feels the Pain

Berkeley: New Releases As Well As A Rerun

Oakland Recent Sales

SF and Daly City: Sneaky or Squeaky Clean?

E-mail List Gives Inside View of Richmond

The Down Low in Hercules

Recent Sales in El Sobrante

SF: Data Crunching…Carefully

Strike A Bargain?

Mid-Peninsula Sales Report: Some Surprises