Comments for Lex Leifheit

Comment on Mission Impossible? Buying a Home In San Francisco by Lex

Lex — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 17:51:17 +0000

Congratulations! If you started looking in November you were lucky … that’s a remarkable turnaround. And since you are in SoMA, stop by SOMArts one of these days!

Comment on Mission Impossible? Buying a Home In San Francisco by Rachelle

Rachelle — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:14:39 +0000

My gf and I started looking around for a condo in the beginning of November. We closed on a brand new place today in SOMA. It’s doable. Don’t give up on SF. It’s totally worth everything to own here.

Comment on Mission Impossible? Buying a Home In San Francisco by Lex

Lex — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:34:48 +0000

One of the things I was not expecting when I moved here was how much significance people place on where you live. Mat Honan wrote a great post a few years back that offers some good advice.

If you haven’t already tried it, you might consider checking out the sublets on Craigslist. When I moved here I was on a tight budget and started off in a sublet. Later my sub-lessor moved to New York and I took over the lease. Our friends Jessi and Will took the same approach and lived in a few sublets before settling into a neighborhood they were familiar with.

Good luck!

Comment on Mission Impossible? Buying a Home In San Francisco by Margey

Margey — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:52:42 +0000

I have recently begun following your blog and you have gotten me very excited about my decision to move with my partner to San Francisco in May. I graduated from the University of South Carolina about a year ago and currently work in communications, my man is a free-lance lighting designer. We are taking a huge risk as we do not have jobs waiting for us in SF. However, we are ready for the challenge and cannot wait to dive into the art scene and build friendships with the lovely people of your city. Of course we will not be looking into buying a home to begin but will be looking for an affordable studio apartment. Can you offer any suggestions on communities to look into?

Comment on Mission Impossible? Buying a Home In San Francisco by Mo

Mo — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:13:44 +0000

I’ll be eagerly following your via crucis, we’re in the same boat ourselves We’ve been trying to buy/rent somewhere as close as possible to Caltrain (too many years commuting . I’ve been meaning to crunch some numbers for renting vs. buying vs. buying a BMR. Realtors keep telling us BMRs are not worth it, but my little brain can’t accept that. Sure, you don’t get all that equity, but with the price difference you’d put the extra $ in some retirement account. Good luck!!

Comment on Mission Impossible? Buying a Home In San Francisco by Lex

Lex — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:26 +0000

Meg, I agree there is more space for your money in the East Bay. SF’s population of children under the age of 18 has declined from 22% in 1970 to barely 13% now. I was surprised how much talk there was about affordable housing at last night’s Mayoral Arts Forum.

Comment on Mission Impossible? Buying a Home In San Francisco by James Jeong

James Jeong — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:02:53 +0000

My niece has been trying to sell her condo for several months. It’s in the Carl Street area near UC Hospital in a development originally built through the nonprofit organization Bridge Housing. The organization helps working families into homeownership. In this particular development, the City of SF provides a second loan totaling $100,000 towards the purchase of the condo if you qualify based on family size and income. The City’s Office of Housing has done a poor job seeking families into this program assistance. The director recently left to join Mercy Housing.

Comment on Mission Impossible? Buying a Home In San Francisco by Meg

Meg — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:48:25 +0000

Thanks Lex. Here’s the rub. I know some artist couples that have saved and bought, but very few of them have children. We’re starting to look into buying in the East Bay because we want a small yard and a safe neighborhood for around $400,000. I don’t think this is possible in the City anymore. The sad calculus is that SF is great for singles and couples, but not so accommodating to small families because of real estate issues and the wacky public school system. Also, a lot of the programs for lower income families allow you to buy below market value, but when you sell the program’s guidelines limit your profit. I look forward to reading your blog and maybe learning about solutions to what seems like an impossible situation for us.

Comment on Mission Impossible? Buying a Home In San Francisco by Frances

Frances — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:19:15 +0000

I must admit, I was completely in awe when I heard you two were buying a house in San Francisco. And despite the fact that I already own a place — on the complete other side of the continent, no less — I’m encouraged and uplifted by your post. I love the idea of home ownership as going “all-in” and making a commitment to the community. It’s a welcome relief from so much talk about value and investment — the financial type — though surely, even now, it can be that, too.

Comment on Mission Impossible? Buying a Home In San Francisco by Lex

Lex — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:54:34 +0000

Congratulations! I was looking in SoMa, there are not too many homes under $500k on the market in general, but many of the better values I saw were in Western SoMa near my favorite arts center, SOMArts (where I work). My favorite had some unpermitted work but was gorgeous. Sounds like you found a good one.