Comments on: SF: Single Family Homes Under 600K http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html Redfin Bay Area Sweet Digs Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:59:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: RJ http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html/comment-page-1#comment-5613 RJ Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:50:16 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html#comment-5613 20 years historical prices for housing in SFO by districs and roads : I am working on a school project and I am looking for historical prices of housing in San francisco by districs and road. It will help me to diagnose the trend in a particular locality. I am sure many of the realtors have this data. I would appreciate if you can provide me the data. Please contact me ==> rondevouz@gmail.com 20 years historical prices for housing in SFO by districs and roads : I am working on a school project and I am looking for historical prices of housing in San francisco by districs and road. It will help me to diagnose the trend in a particular locality. I am sure many of the realtors have this data. I would appreciate if you can provide me the data. Please contact me ==> rondevouz@gmail.com

]]> By: David http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html/comment-page-1#comment-5609 David Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:00:16 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html#comment-5609 Well, you can get a nice 1000-1500 sq ft condo in decent parts of Chicago for under $300K, and you won't be stuck someplace like the Sunset (which, honestly, is not "City living," it's more like an internal suburb). A livable house in Chicago proper is still gonna cost you at least $400K (Jefferson Park), and in a good 'hood (equal in amenities to Noe Valley, i.e. Lincoln Square, Roscoe Village, North Center, Andersonville/Uptown) will cost you at least $550-$650K. If you're a school teacher, you have a portable job, again, if I were in your position, you better believe I'd be high-tailing it to any one of the charming, pretty cultured mid-size cities in the US that are actually affordable on that salary (Portland, Madison, Iowa City, Bloomington Indiana, Charlottesville, Raleigh-Durham, Nashville, Chattanooga, Fort Collins, Bellingham, that town where Dartmouth is, Hudson river valley in NY State, some smaller towns in Connecticut, etc etc). YOu have summers off? Road trip! :) Find the spot for you. or stick around here, but realize yeah, you're probably not buying a house in SF proper. Well, you can get a nice 1000-1500 sq ft condo in decent parts of Chicago for under $300K, and you won’t be stuck someplace like the Sunset (which, honestly, is not “City living,” it’s more like an internal suburb). A livable house in Chicago proper is still gonna cost you at least $400K (Jefferson Park), and in a good ‘hood (equal in amenities to Noe Valley, i.e. Lincoln Square, Roscoe Village, North Center, Andersonville/Uptown) will cost you at least $550-$650K.

If you’re a school teacher, you have a portable job, again, if I were in your position, you better believe I’d be high-tailing it to any one of the charming, pretty cultured mid-size cities in the US that are actually affordable on that salary (Portland, Madison, Iowa City, Bloomington Indiana, Charlottesville, Raleigh-Durham, Nashville, Chattanooga, Fort Collins, Bellingham, that town where Dartmouth is, Hudson river valley in NY State, some smaller towns in Connecticut, etc etc). YOu have summers off? Road trip! :) Find the spot for you. or stick around here, but realize yeah, you’re probably not buying a house in SF proper.

]]> By: Anna http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html/comment-page-1#comment-5608 Anna Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:57:22 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html#comment-5608 yes, true, that's why i went "lowball" with the 600K cap. You're probably right that one could live in Oakland for cheaper, but commuting to my job and school would be expensive and horrible, plus I am afriad of Oakland. Also, with the prices of food, gas, commuting, rent, utilities, and parking tickets, well, it would take me a long time indeed on a teacher salary to raise 120K. Of course, your point is well made that if I can't save as much as this, I can't afford a 600K house at all. I'm well aware I cannot. Sigh! Maybe I should try Chicago. I know you always compare it to here... yes, true, that’s why i went “lowball” with the 600K cap. You’re probably right that one could live in Oakland for cheaper, but commuting to my job and school would be expensive and horrible, plus I am afriad of Oakland.

Also, with the prices of food, gas, commuting, rent, utilities, and parking tickets, well, it would take me a long time indeed on a teacher salary to raise 120K. Of course, your point is well made that if I can’t save as much as this, I can’t afford a 600K house at all. I’m well aware I cannot.

Sigh!

Maybe I should try Chicago. I know you always compare it to here…

]]> By: David http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html/comment-page-1#comment-5607 David Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:13:26 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html#comment-5607 Don't live in SF. Rent in Oakland for a few years before you save enough money to "move up" to your SF hood. Additionally, "cheap rental" means cheaper than buying. If you're anticipating shelling out $4K/year in payments, there are plenty of rentals for $2500/year. That saves you $18,000/year (you should definitely be able to save that, after all, how are you going to make your payments if you can't save the difference between rent & PITI)? Last time I checked (well, ok, my brother), you could easily rent a house in the Sunset for $2400/month. And as you point out, if all you can afford is $600K, you're not living anywhere more expensive than the Sunset (and even then, it's hard to find a spot at that price there). Don’t live in SF. Rent in Oakland for a few years before you save enough money to “move up” to your SF hood. Additionally, “cheap rental” means cheaper than buying. If you’re anticipating shelling out $4K/year in payments, there are plenty of rentals for $2500/year. That saves you $18,000/year (you should definitely be able to save that, after all, how are you going to make your payments if you can’t save the difference between rent & PITI)? Last time I checked (well, ok, my brother), you could easily rent a house in the Sunset for $2400/month.

And as you point out, if all you can afford is $600K, you’re not living anywhere more expensive than the Sunset (and even then, it’s hard to find a spot at that price there).

]]> By: Anna http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html/comment-page-1#comment-5601 Anna Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:27:42 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html#comment-5601 emphasis on cheap rental. I have never found one in the 10 years I've lived here; frankly prices have gone from bad to worse. emphasis on cheap rental. I have never found one in the 10 years I’ve lived here; frankly prices have gone from bad to worse.

]]> By: David http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html/comment-page-1#comment-5598 David Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:00:08 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/sfbay/2008/08/sf_single_family_homes_under_600k.html#comment-5598 If you're anticipating buying in SF, and your minimum payment is ~$4,000, that means your household income should be at least $120,000. You should have been able to save $120,000 for your down payment by being frugal for a few years and living in a cheap rental. If you’re anticipating buying in SF, and your minimum payment is ~$4,000, that means your household income should be at least $120,000. You should have been able to save $120,000 for your down payment by being frugal for a few years and living in a cheap rental.

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