California is facing a housing crisis – and it’s getting worse. Put simply: there’s not enough homes. Too many potential homeowners and renters are simply priced out of the market. This November, we can take decisive action to protect homeownership and private property rights in California. As a REALTOR®, fellow citizen and Californian, I’m asking you to join me to vote YES on Prop 5 and NO on Prop 10. What is Prop 5 Prop 5, the Property Tax Fairness Initiative, removes the unfair moving penalty for seniors, the severely disabled and disaster victims across the entire state while still ensuring they pay their fair share of property taxes. What is Prop 10 Prop 10 will make California’s housing crisis worse. It’s the wrong solution for a state that desperately needs to create more affordable housing for middle class families. Seniors, veterans, both gubernatorial candidates – Democrat Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox – and affordable housing experts all oppose Prop 10 because it will make housing less available and less affordable. It’s absolutely critical that we rally to vote YES on Prop 5 and NO on Prop 10 this November. Together, we can make our voice heard and protect the American dream of homeownership for all Californians. For more information on the YES on Prop 5 and NO on Prop 10 campaigns, please click here.

Spring is just around the corner, and there’s no lovelier time to shop for fresh produce at our many farmers markets. So skip the grocery store and use our guide to find the market nearest you. You’ll be supporting local ag and saving money all while chomping on the most mesmerizing produce of the season. Alemany Farmers’ Market (Courtesy of Caleb in the City) The Alemany Farmers’ Market was the very first farmers’ market in all of California, and it remains the only city-run market in San Francisco. Often referred to as the “people’s market” for its affordability and as the “grandaddy” of farmer’s markets for its history, Alemany—long a leader in the movement for the availability of sustainable and affordable produce—is a perfect place to explore the fruits of our small farms’ labor. // Saturdays from dawn to dusk; 100 Alemany Blvd. (Bernal Heights), sfgov.org.  Castro Farmers’ Market (Courtesy of Castro Farmer’s Market) The Castro market’s evening time slot makes it the perfect place to get inspired for tonight’s dinner or tomorrow’s breakfast. Amble through the ample stalls and wait for California-grown ingredients to catch your eye—perhaps some asparagus (particularly brawny this season) to roast with fresh lemon, or plump, crimson cherries for a clafoutis. Twenty vendors bring produce, meat, fish, mushrooms, soap, baked goods, and even fancy cheese. // Wednesdays 4-8pm; 288 Noe St. (Castro), pcfma.org Clement Street Farmers’ Market (Courtesy of David Toshiyuki) The Clement Street Farmers’ Market is run by the Agricultural Institute of Marin, which means it’s sure to be fresh and fancy. […]

Established in 1976 as a logical extension of Sotheby’s fine art auction services, Sotheby’s International Realty has since developed into the world’s premier luxury residential real estate brokerage offering tremendous advantages. With expertise on the local level, combined with our access to important international markets, we ensure that the homes we represent receive the far-reaching exposure they deserve. EXPLORE ALL ADVANTAGES

Highlights from last week’s top real estate news stories, including the one time Los Angeles home of Groucho Marx and a newly constructed home in Southampton. Source: artofliving.sothebyshomes.com

It’s no secret Bay Area home prices are among the highest in the country, but Estately wanted to show how those prices vary depending on which BART or Caltrain stop a home is near. To do this, Estately Real Estate Search analyzed the last six months of home sales for houses, townhouses, and condos that were within a one-mile radius of each BART and Caltrain transit stop. We then broke them down by price per square foot. At an average of $1,630 per square foot, Caltrain’s California Avenue stop in Palo Alto is the Bay Area’s most expensive transit stop to buy a home near. Pittsburg/Bay Point BART stop, the furthest from downtown San Francisco, is the least expensive at $219 per square foot on average. BART Top ten most expensive BART stops Stop name Median sale price Price per square foot Avg commute to city center (min) Homes for sale nearby Embarcadero $1,150,000 $1,191 0 Southeast San Francisco Montgomery St. $1,100,000 $1,149 2 Southeast San Francisco Powell St. $1,008,000 $1,099 4 Southeast San Francisco 24th St. Mission $1,372,500 $1,001 9 94110 16th St. Mission $1,239,500 $998 7 Southeast San Francisco Civic Center $950,000 $994 6 Southeast San Francisco Millbrae $1,323,500 $854 25 Millbrae Glen Park $1,100,000 $817 11 Glen Park San Francisco Int’l Airport $825,000 $735 32 Millbrae Rockridge $1,077,750 $704 20 Rockridge Average commute time (min) to Downtown San Francisco—Embarcadero Station. Top ten least expensive BART stops Stop name Median sale price Price per square foot Avg commute […]

A welcoming interior and breezy outdoor spaces await at an earth-toned Edwardian with an east-west orientation in the Presidio Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. “It’s an open floor plan with tons of natural light,” said Carrie Goodman of Sotheby’s International Realty, who is listing 440 Locust St. for $1.68 million. “Plus, it’s close to dinners at places like Spruce or Garibaldis as well as hiking in the Presidio.” “The great room’s living and dining areas open to a tiled deck pointing toward the morning sun. It’s a condo that lives like a home. There’s no one on either side,” Goodman said. Sited just north of California Street, the condo stands two blocks from the Presidio Heights playground and is a handful of intersections away from UCSF’s Laurel Heights campus. Those in need of truly expansive outdoor spaces can venture north for a few minutes to reach the Presidio’s southeastern edge. Thick moldings wrap around the great room warmed by a gas fireplace and lined with hardwood flooring. Stone counters and stainless steel appliances outfit the horseshoe-shaped kitchen illuminated by a centrally located skylight. Task lights beneath the cupboards illuminate the kitchen’s work space. Both bedrooms open to east-facing outdoor spaces, and the master suite includes a walk-in closet. A powder room accompanies another full bathroom shared by the guest quarters and public area. Boutiques, restaurants and city life are immediately available at Laurel Village and on Sacramento Street. Visit www.440locuststreet.com for full details. Listing agent: Carrie Goodman, Sotheby’s International Realty, […]

The Wall Street Journal Greenwich Estate Once Owned by Leona Helmsley Seeks $49.895 Million The Financial Times Why the Monterey Peninsula in California is on course for growth. The Wall Street Journal Sunset Boulevard: From Louche to Luxury The San Francisco Chronicle Cole Valley home once called ‘The House of Tomorrow The Cape Cod Times Cape Property Market Surges Curbed New York Minimalist $4M LES Loft Has a Clawfoot Tub In the Bedroom The New York Post Ashley Olsen spotted house-hunting in the Hamptons The Los Angeles Times Marlon Wayans cuts ties with his longtime home in Sherman Oaks The Los Angeles Times Actress Nicollette Sheridan cleans up in sale of Bel-Air income property Source: artofliving.sothebyshomes.com

Colonial-style homes hold a special place in our country’s heart. Defined by symmetrical designs, steep roofs and central chimneys, Colonial-style homes are an American icon. Explore six charming colonial-style properties, from an exquisite Hamptons waterfront state to the historic 1780 William Marston House in Cape Cod, that showcase the beauty of this architectural style. Source: artofliving.sothebyshomes.com

For many who come to Santa Fe from parts elsewhere, the town’s architecture and enchanting natural environs have an energizing magic that leads them to see life from a fresh perspective. The elegant and sophisticated Hacienda Bella Vista is a fitting fixture for such an outlook-altering landscape, blending as it does Southwestern architecture and European inspiration—the stalwart ruggedness of the American West with the classical refinement of the Old World. A European influence is evident from a distance, the home’s barrel-tile roofline creating an unmistakable silhouette and its cobblestone drive offering an appropriately regal introduction. The hacienda has been carefully sited for appreciation of some of the most breathtaking vistas in the region, from robust badlands to the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which rise and stretch north to Colorado. The estate, spanning some 50 acres, is a portion of a homestead that for many years was owned and stewarded by Adelina “Nina” Otero Warren—renowned suffragist, educator, politician, entrepreneur, and writer—and her friend Mamie Meadors. Every element within has been carefully selected and crafted, from travertine tile and antique French hardwood flooring to impeccably Soffit-lighted hallway library shelves and tilt-and-turn Albertini windows and doors. While the home’s style is timeless, every space has been designed to ensure the utmost in modern luxury and comfort. The generous granite-clad chef’s kitchen includes a Wolf range, discreet freezer drawers, and a superior built-in espresso machine. The kitchen is attended by amenities invaluable to the entertainer—an extensive butler’s pantry and a 350-bottle temperature-controlled wine […]