I was reviewing sales in Noe Valley today and came across the final selling price for 752 Elizabeth. This was a 3BR/2BA, 1440 square foot house with a two-car garage and cute garden that was listed for $1.5M. The seller received 17 offers, and the home sold for $2,150,000 in an all-cash transaction. (About half the offers were for cash, by the way.)
This kind of market activity tends to scare buyers off—and with good reason. The reality? Unless you have cash or a hefty down payment and can go into contract with no contingencies and a fast close, you can’t compete in high-demand neighborhoods like Noe Valley. A successful house hunt, as a result, will largely depend on how flexible you can be with respect to location and amenities. Continue Reading