Hot Home Design Trends

For those of you looking to update you home's personality, here are 10 design trends that are still hot among designers and homeowners alike.

Worried that by the time you update your condo, townhome or house, these trends may go by the wayside? Like many before them, the popularity of these designs shall (probably) pass at some point, but for the most part, they each have enough sticking power to hang in there for years to come.  

1. Graphic tiles

With a foothold in history with their midcentury vibe, graphic tiles embrace color and pattern, making a statement that likens itself to art. If you choose a pattern that you appreciate, it will be something that will endure the test of of time.

2. Statement light fixtures

Lighting is a necessity for every home but can also serve as artwork. The wide variety styles and sizes of lighting can transform any room, giving it a distinct personality and presence as well as be functional and beautiful.

3. Sectional sofas

Homeowners wants spaces that offer comfort and usability and the sectional sofa offers both. Available to fit any design sense, sectionals work well in open floor plans, designating informal spaces for engaging with family and friends.

4. Minimalist design

A trend that benefits healthy living, minimal design creates a clutter-free living environment that is easier to navigate and clean as well as provides a sense of relaxation rather than feeling overwhelmed.

5. Stairs as a focal point

Stairs are being transformed into an architectural element instead of simply being seen as a utilitarian object. When incorporated as a design focal point of a home, stairs add visual interest as well as serving a transportation function.

6. Black window frames

Windows provide our homes with natural light and often amazing views. What better way to accent them than with a black frame? This bold move transforms windows into pieces of art, drawing attention to one of the key elements your home has to offer.

7. Mismatched materials

This daring use of materials, hues and textures, when used correctly, adds visual interest to any room. It adds character, color and keeps boring at bay.

8. Open floor plans

The top request of homeowners is a desire for an open, airy home environment. Gone are the separate, closed off rooms and instead are spaces that flow into each other and provide multiple use and invite connection.

9. Foregoing a formal dining room

Most homeowners no longer want or need a formal living room and many are also ditching the formal dining space. Instead, they want open spaces that flow and invite daily rather than occasional social interaction. An integrated dining space sparks family meals gathered around the table and also allows for larger parties to move about the home more easily.

10. Reclaimed materials

In addition to the sustainable, environmentally friendly aspect of reusing materials, incorporating reclaimed wood, metal and other materials adds personality and interest both inside and out.

Article excerpts from Houzz.

San Francisco Market Update March 2016

The Middle Heats Up

February 2016 figures showed particular strength in the single family home sector. Specifically, the middle one-third of the market ($1.1MM - $1.6MM) experienced nearly double the level of appreciation, as compared to the top- and bottom-third of the market. The middle also saw the lowest Days on Market (13 days), and the highest sale-to-list price ratio (117%). 

The national economy continues to show signs of strength, with recent reports showing better-than-expected gains in private sector employment. Furthermore, recent gains in oil prices helped global equity shares hit a two-month high. European and Asian equities rose on anticipation of further monetary easing in Europe, and stimulus measures in China. San Francisco Fed President John Williams stated that the U.S. economy is weathering difficulties in international markets, and that there is no tangible risk of a recession. In light of recent positive reports on the economy, it is expected that the Fed will resume their course of rate hikes this year.     

Median Sale Price

February 2016 Median

Median Neighborhood Values

Condominiums:

Single Family Homes

If you are interested in buying or selling in San Francisco, The Costa Group can help.

The Harrison VIP Event

Much anticipated, The Harrison will not only offer the ultimate in luxury living but stunning panoramic Bay and urban views. This one-of-a-kind modern condominium in the works in SOMA will offer 298 stunning residences designed by none other than renowned interior designer, Ken Fulk.   

A few members of The Costa Group attended The Harrison VIP event to learn more about the property. Luxury condos in 1, 2 and 3 bedroom floor plans are available for purchase. Set 'in the heart of SOMA, they enable a lifestyle like nothing San Francisco has ever seen.'

Since being revitalized, SOMA has earned its status as a San Francisco cultural center. Its lively nightlife, museums, theatres and music venues offer residents 'the very best of the city...right at your doorstep.'

Stacia Wickland, Nancy Ng, Franck Costa and Tyler Mende at the Harrison VIP event.

Stacia Wickland, Nancy Ng, Franck Costa and Tyler Mende at the Harrison VIP event.

The Harrison is not just another high rise condo complex. It will exude unparalleled beauty and class in large part due to the unique, luxury style imbued into each space by cherished San Francisco interior designer, Ken Fulk. His highly sought-after style has a wit and elegance has been featured in Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Elle decor.

"I strived to create an experience that feels like a life well-lived. That by living at The Harrison, you have the keys to the best of the city." ~Ken Fulk, Designer

"I strived to create an experience that feels like a life well-lived. That by living at The Harrison, you have the keys to the best of the city." ~Ken Fulk, Designer

We invite you to experience the beauty of The Harrison.....

Floor to ceiling windows provide panoramic views while Siberian oak flooring and custom brass and glass scones give the interior its own amazing view.

Floor to ceiling windows provide panoramic views while Siberian oak flooring and custom brass and glass scones give the interior its own amazing view.

Quartz countertops, state-of-the-art appliances and plentiful counter and cabinet space make this kitchen a joy to behold...and is sure to inspire your inner gourmet.

Quartz countertops, state-of-the-art appliances and plentiful counter and cabinet space make this kitchen a joy to behold...and is sure to inspire your inner gourmet.

Imagine falling asleep each night and awaking every morning in a well-appointed bedroom with stunning city views.

Imagine falling asleep each night and awaking every morning in a well-appointed bedroom with stunning city views.

A relaxing, soothing space filled with the finest amenities including rainfall walk-in shower, soaking tub and Waterworks fixtures.

A relaxing, soothing space filled with the finest amenities including rainfall walk-in shower, soaking tub and Waterworks fixtures.

If the distinct luxury of The Harrison appeals to you, contact The Costa Group for more information to to arrange a private showing.

 

San Francisco Residential Development-February 2016 Edition

The median new construction price per square foot has risen to $1,326. It is expected that the majority of all condominium units currently under construction will be released for sale in 2016, suggesting a potential shortage of new units in 2017. There are a number of developments in the approval, review and/or conceptual process including Tenderloin, Treasure Island, Mid-Market and Dogpatch, to name a few. 

For the most recent quarter, the median price for a new condominium was $1,290,000. 147 units closed while 516 units remain available. Price per square foot increased 11% year-over-year and 7% month-over-month.

The median price for resale condos was $1,100,000 with 562 units sold and 142 remaining on the market. Price per square foot was $958, a 1% increase year-over-year.

The below are some of the properties currently selling:

  • 450 Hayes
  • The District
  • 1001 Seventeenth
  • Lumina
  • The Rockwell
  • Luxe
  • Fulton 555
  • 72 Townsend
  • San Francisco Shipyard
  • Summit 800
  • 6 Mint Plaza

Click here to read the February San Francisco Development Report in its entirety.

If you're in the market to purchase a condominium in San Francisco, contact The Costa Group to find out how we can help you find the perfect home to fit your lifestyle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Dog Parks in San Francisco

San Franciscans love their pets. In fact, according to SFGate, in San Francisco, pooches outnumber people, or at least the younger ones. Just like humans, our furry friends need to run, play and socialize.

Whether you live in the Presido or Nob Hill, whether your dog loves the beach, meadows or trails, SFist has compiled a list of the best dog parks in San Francisco to take your canine companion for fresh air, a rousing game of catch or an off-leash romp.

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Google Fiber Coming to San Francisco

Yesterday, Google announced that it will provide its lightening-fast gigabit Google Fiber Internet service to certain apartment and condominium complexes as well as affordable housing in San Francisco. 

Gigabit speed allows users to download HD movies or backup computers in seconds instead of hours. It could significantly increase the productivity of those who work out of the home, allow for more efficient, collaborative online studying and even positively impact the tele-health industry.

Taking into account 'a number of factors, including the city's rolling hills, miles of coastline, and historic neighborhoods,' the company decided to piggyback upon existing fiber networks instead of laying its own line.

San Francisco will be Google's fifth city in the nation equipped with its Fiber Internet service. Currently, the two main high speed Internet providers in the Bay Area are Comcast and AT&T. 

Google's super high-speed Internet coming to a lucky few in San Francisco. 

Google's super high-speed Internet coming to a lucky few in San Francisco. 

"That's a good thing for consumers. We can get to better services and more competition without having to build lots of new or redundant networks," said Hovis, who works for local governments and nonprofits on broadband projects, some involving Google Fiber. "We don't see huge amounts of competition in broadband. It's really expensive to build these networks. It really leads to monopoly and duopoly.

The cost of Google Fiber to those lucky San Francisco residents is not yet determined but will most likely be competitive with current providers. Hopefully, the service will expand throughout the city. 

Google has also been working on plans to offer service in San Jose.

Are you looking to buy or sell in San Francisco? Learn more about The Costa Group and how we can help.

Essentials on Home Staging

It has become a common practice in real estate to enlist a professional stager to furnish and accessorize homes. These people know how to highlight spaces and appeal to potential buyers, which often leads to multiple offers above asking price. Experts say that a sparse, modern look appeals most to those in the market. 

According to the pros, here are some things sellers can do to help showcase their homes, whether they live in a condo in San Francisco or a home in Marin:

1. Reduce clutter

Buyers appreciate and are drawn to tidy, organized spaces. Go through your home and dispose of those items that are unneeded, either by selling, storing, donating or disposing of them. Ensure counter tops, bookshelves, cabinets and each room overall is neat and clutter-free.

2. Clear out closets

Yes, people walking through your home will look inside your closets. By cleaning out bedroom, linen and coat closets, these storage spaces will look tidy, organized and feel more spacious.

3. Paint

A fresh coat of neutral paint does wonders for giving your home a bright, clean appearance and is considered by many pros to be 'the best investment a seller can spend on staging their home'.

Neutral paint, contemporary furniture, and simple accents showcases this home's living room.

Neutral paint, contemporary furniture, and simple accents showcases this home's living room.

4. Accent walls

While not necessary, accenting one main wall in a bold color or with wallpaper adds visual interest. Be mindful to choose a color or wallpaper pattern that will be appealing. If you're unsure, best to ask for advice or forego this step. 

5. Remove (most) personal photos and knickknacks

It's acceptable to keep a few personal photos and knickknacks around, choose them wisely. Keep the declutter rule in mind and always remove items that include personal information, such as names and college information. A pleasant family photo here and there is perfectly fine but keep in mind potential buyers want to be able to envision their families in your home.

6. Don't make your home look staged

Trite staging tricks like the breakfast tray at the foot of the bed appear too contrived. Go for pleasing, simple furniture arrangement, attractive artwork, basic accessories and tidy spaces that make your house look and feel like a home.

7. Contemporary furniture

Most buyers appreciate a more modern look, so if your home has a lot of traditional pieces that are bulky, ornate or 'old', put those in storage and rent or buy more contemporary pieces.

8. New towels and linens

Crisp, clean linens on the beds and fluffy towels in the bathrooms are an inexpensive way to add color and impart a feeling of luxury.

9. Skip the scent

Many people have aversions to scents, so it is wise to avoid lighting candles, using air fresheners or doing anything that could impart an odor that a prospective buyer might find offensive.

Article excerpt from the NY Times. 

This Saturday: San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade

This Saturday, February 20th from 5:15 to 8pm, San Francisco's annual two-week-long Chinese New Year festivities will culminate with the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade. One of the top 10 parades in the world, San Francisco's celebration is the largest of its kind outside of Asia. 

Established in 1848, San Francisco's Chinatown holds the distinction of being not only the oldest Chinatown in North America but also of having the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. A major tourist attraction, the area covers 24 square blocks in downtown San Francisco, according to San Francisco's Planning Department, it is 'the most densely populated urban area west of Manhattan' with 15,000 residents living within its boundaries. 

Celebrating the Year of the Monkey, the parade includes elaborate floats, colorful costumes, school marching bands, stilt walkers, Chinese acrobats, martial arts groups and this year's Miss Chinatown USA. The parade's grand finale includes the 268 foot Golden Dragon and more than 60,000 firecrackers. Constructed in  Foshan, China, the 29 segment dragon is made of bamboo and rattan and is adorned with white rabbit fur, glittering lights and rainbow pom-poms, and silver rivets. With its 6-foot long head, it takes 100 people to carry the Dragon along the parade route.

         Golden Dragon in the 2009 parade. Image courtesy of David Yu photography. 

         Golden Dragon in the 2009 parade. Image courtesy of David Yu photography. 

 

Beginning at Second and Market Streets, meandering around the perimeter of Union Square, heading north on Kearny Street, the parade finishes at Jackson Street. Bleacher seats are available for $30 at various points along the route but many attendees opt to stand along the streets. Whether you sit or stand, it is best to arrive between 3:30 and 4pm.  Public transportation delivers riders very close to the parade route but if you are driving, parking south of Market is your best option.

                                           Map of the Chinese New Year parade route.

A wonderful place to call home, San Francisco is an amazing city filled with culture, art, and diversity. Learn more about The Costa Group and how we can help you buy or sell in San Francisco.

Public WiFi: Advice To Keep Yourself Secure

Many major cities around the nation offer free public WiFi, including San Francisco. This complimentary service is utilized by thousands of people, but some use it for more nefarious purposes than to check social media, catch up on the latest online news or do a bit of online shopping or banking. There are those who view public hotspots as a way to obtain private information from unsuspecting WiFi users. This can lead result in the theft of personal data as well as unauthorized access of personal online accounts and possibly identity theft.

But there are steps you can take to fortify your information against cyber criminals. Below are some steps to take before you log onto any source of free public WiFi, be it San Francisco's portal, an airport or your local coffee shop hotspot.

Before logging onto a free WiFi connection, ensure your secure.

 

1. Choose a secure network

If a public hotspot doesn't offer any kind of security, avoid any activity that requires you to provide login information. Do not engage in online banking or shopping unless the URL starts with HTTPS and shows a small padlock icon, indicating an encrypted, secure connection. If these are not present, your data may be exposed.

2. Set up a VPN

A virtual private network creates an encrypted tunnel from your device to the Internet through a remote server. Many businesses use VPNs and they are becoming available for personal use via third parties like HotSpot Shield for Windows/PC and Android users while Cloak is a great option for iPhone and Macs. There may be a nominal monthly fee but to keep your information secure, it's truly a small price to pay.

3. Delete saved public networks

Don't allow your device to remember or auto-connect to any public network. If it does, this allows hackers the opportunity to trick your device into accessing their malicious site by posing as the real one.

4. Get serious about passwords

Use strong unique passwords for each of your different, important accounts, such as your bank, email, shopping and social media accounts. To keep track of passwords, establish a secure password manager system like Dashlane. Where you're able, set up multi-level authentication, such as text messaged codes. If someone steals your password, they won't be able to access your accounts without the next level of authentication.

For more detailed information on using public hotspots securely, read this article from PC Magazine.

 

 

A Magical Experience: The Illusionists at the Orpheum

Mindblowing, a brain bender, jaw dropping...all describe The Illusionists, Live from Broadway, considered one of the most thrilling and sophisticated magic shows featuring the talents of 7 of the  world's master illusionists.

A show for all ages that wows with incredible acts of mind-reading, levitation, disappearance, illusion and water escapes, the 7 acclaimed performers combine the feats of past magicians such as Harry Houdini and meld it with modern illusion, theatrics and artistry for a show like no other.

The Illusionists-the world's seven top performers will leave you awestruck. 

The Illusionists-the world's seven top performers will leave you awestruck. 

The performers are:

Dan Perry, The Anti-Conjouror, specializes in shock illusions, combining magic with the macabre.

Yu Ho-Jin, The Manipulator uses mystery and elegant manipulation.

Kevin James, The Inventor is considered one of the world's most groundbreaking and innovative illusionists.

Andrew Basso, The Escapologist, conjours Harry Houdini in his life and death underwater escape performances.

Jeff Hobson, The Trickster and the show's host offers comedic relief, glamor and showmanship with amazing slight of hand.

Ben Blaque is The Weapon Master, performing dangerous acts of dexterity using crossbows.

James More is The Deceptionist, who uses fast-paced, high-risk illusions without the help of cameras or special editing: what you see is what you get. 

Considered a "high-tech extravaganza' by the New York Times, 'Houdini Times Seven' by the New York Daily News and 'Incredible, astounding, amusing, mystifying, perplexing and challenging...' by the Australian Stage this stunningly spectacular show is a definite must-see.

Performed in London and on Broadway and now on its world tour, the show is in San Francisco at the SHN Orpheum Theatre from February 16th through the 21st, 2016.