Successful Selling in San Francisco with Kevin Ho & Vanguard Properties 

Is it Time to Sell?

Sure, you hear it all the time: there is no better time to sell than now. But is it really true? If you’re an owner in San Francisco it may well be. We have been in a market cycle whereby  inventory is very low (replacement properties are hard to find) but also a time where low mortgage rates favor buyers (who can buy more) and sellers (who can sell and buy for more). There are, of course, capital gains implications, decisions on when best to come to market and what terms a seller can place on a sale that should be considered and they will be if you work with Kevin Ho.

The latest MLS data from February 2014 says that median sale prices in San Francisco are up. They’re up 35.7% for single-family homes and 23.5% for condominiums. Moreover, inventory is down by 17% for single-family homes and nearly 19% for condominiums, TICs and stock-cooperatives.

All of this data more than suggests that demand will outpace supply for quite some time beyond 2013. The fact that 1/3rd of my clients won their respective properties in 2013 while still not being the strongest offer made is also telling that we presented the best and strongest terms possible and that nearly 2/3rds of them had written at least one other offer for a home before getting the home they eventually bought.  It should also give you the confidence to know that I will be able to help you assess the merits of offers that come in.

If you want a realtor who lives and breathes your deal, keeps you constantly abreast of your property’s progress and does nice little things like pay for cleaning services himself, you have to call Kevin Ho.  The era of the blue haired real estate yentas is over. We have ushered in the era of smart, technology literate, well educated, vibrant deal closers like Kevin Ho. Thanks Kevin.

— Peter G.

Advertising Executive, Bay Area news organization (Residential Seller, The Palms, SOMA)

Custom Property Websites for Kevin’s Listings

Among my skills is web design. Here are some of those sites:

Mid-Market Condos

(788 Minna)

Eureka Valley/Castro Luxury Condo

(4658 18th Street)

Large, Top-floor Inner Mission Listing

(873 South Van Ness) 

Stately Nob Hill Two-Unit Building

(1228-1230 Leavenworth)

More than a Flash.

I think it should hardly come as a surprise that the breakneck positive growth starting in February 2012 continued well into 2013, which turned into the year of multiple bids, way-over-asking price offers that were contingency-free. It’s my thought that 2014 will also be a strong one where both buyers and sellers have power:

• The condo conversion lottery legislation will continue to have its impact felt – most people probably failed to appreciate what these would be when they passed the changes in April 2013, but we’ll see more activity play out in 2014 (remember if you’re converting in 2014 materials due soon);
• Mortgage interest rates will rise – it’s just a matter of when not if but will remain historically and relatively low;
• The city’s housing crunch will be felt evermore with more drama, more emotions, and now, promised tinkering with rent control and eviction control laws such as the proposal that would make new building owners wait 5 years before using the Ellis Act to empty a building;
• More money, more cash. Those who have waited on the sidelines will get off the bench. If past IPOs are any indication, the twitter money that’s released after the typical 6-month stock sell restriction period ends in April won’t have an immediate impact. But money from Google, Apple and Facebook among others like Genentech will.
• More investor-based money will enter the market.
• Buyers will get fatigued of off-market  listings, pre-emptive offers and multiple offers.

It’s definitely a seller’s market. So what are you waiting for? Give Kevin a call today to learn more.