The San Francisco Condo Loft » San Francisco Lifestyle

San Francisco Bay Area Commuting Tips

Anthony Longo — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:11:21 +0000

It used to be that location, location, location were the three most important words when searching for the right place to put down roots and call home. In today’s vastly changing economic and domestic climate those three words have transformed into location, commute, and information. For many San Mateo County residents, finding the perfect home, condo, or apartment may mean a further commute to the geographic location of their business or occupation. Some choose to live in the fast paced and vibrant atmosphere of a large metropolitan city, while others prefer the calm and serene feel of a bedroom community. A person living in the city of Mountain View and having a home in any of the beautiful Mountain View apartments may commute on a daily basis into downtown San Jose. Another person may find the condo or home of their dreams in Palo Alto, but run a prosperous business in San Francisco. Can we balance the personal vs. professional geographic conflict and have it all? The simple answer is yes and the secret lies in the choice and comfort of the commute. Whether your mode of transportation is Bart (Bay Area Rapid Transit), bus, rail, ferry, shuttle, or car, there is an abundance of information available online to chart your course. Schedules, fares, routes, times, prices, and other pertinent information can all be found with a few simple clicks of the mouse. Sites such as www.caltrain.com (California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and the Santa Clara Valley); http://www.bart.gov (Bay Area Rapid Transit);. http://www.samtrans.com (San Mateo County Transit District), www.sfmta.com (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency) all provide extensive information needed to plan any commute. San Mateo County’s, http://tripplanner.transit.511.org, is a site rich with commuter information! 511 is a free phone and Web service that consolidates Bay Area transportation information into a one-stop resource. 511 provides up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions, incidents and driving times, schedule, route and fare information for the Bay Area’s public transportation services. Car and vanpool referrals and bicycling information is also provided. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this resource is a must for any busy commuter in or around San Mateo County! Using public transportation and leaving the driving to someone else allows the commuter time to read, nap, review for or unwind from a work day, or simply relax. Staying calm, cool, and collected is a key factor in driving cautiously, defensively, and courteously. By being informed, allowing for plenty of driving time, staying composed, and following a few basic suggestions of commuting, the independent driver can greatly diminish stress in their commute. There are many ways to enhance time spent in our vehicles. When stuck in traffic, listen to a podcast or book on tape or CD. There are thousands of creative and personal interest podcasts available that can help make a commute an enjoyable rather than frustrating experience. Looking for new routes or points of interest you didn’t know existed? A GPS (Global Positioning System) is a great way to explore without getting lost. We have the technology, the resources, and the means to make our commutes pleasant. Life’s too short, let’s enjoy the ride!

For many San Mateo County residents, finding the perfect home, condo, or apartment may mean a further commute to the geographic location of their business or occupation. Some choose to live in the fast paced and vibrant atmosphere of a large metropolitan city, while others prefer the calm and serene feel of a bedroom community. A person living in the city of Mountain View and having a home in any of the beautiful Mountain View apartments may commute on a daily basis into downtown San Jose. Another person may find the condo or home of their dreams in Palo Alto, but run a prosperous business in San Francisco. Can we balance the personal vs. professional geographic conflict and have it all? The simple answer is yes and the secret lies in the choice and comfort of the commute.

Whether your mode of transportation is Bart (Bay Area Rapid Transit), bus, rail, ferry, shuttle, or car, there is an abundance of information available online to chart your course. Schedules, fares, routes, times, prices, and other pertinent information can all be found with a few simple clicks of the mouse. Sites such as www.caltrain.com (California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and the Santa Clara Valley); http://www.bart.gov (Bay Area Rapid Transit);. http://www.samtrans.com (San Mateo County Transit District), www.sfmta.com (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency) all provide extensive information needed to plan any commute.

San Mateo County’s, http://tripplanner.transit.511.org, is a site rich with commuter information! 511 is a free phone and Web service that consolidates Bay Area transportation information into a one-stop resource. 511 provides up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions, incidents and driving times, schedule, route and fare information for the Bay Area’s public transportation services. Car and vanpool referrals and bicycling information is also provided. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this resource is a must for any busy commuter in or around San Mateo County! Using public transportation and leaving the driving to someone else allows the commuter time to read, nap, review for or unwind from a work day, or simply relax.

Staying calm, cool, and collected is a key factor in driving cautiously, defensively, and courteously. By being informed, allowing for plenty of driving time, staying composed, and following a few basic suggestions of commuting, the independent driver can greatly diminish stress in their commute. There are many ways to enhance time spent in our vehicles. When stuck in traffic, listen to a podcast or book on tape or CD. There are thousands of creative and personal interest podcasts available that can help make a commute an enjoyable rather than frustrating experience. Looking for new routes or points of interest you didn’t know existed? A GPS (Global Positioning System) is a great way to explore without getting lost. We have the technology, the resources, and the means to make our commutes pleasant. Life’s too short, let’s enjoy the ride!

Living by the Bay- Ideas for Finding the Perfect Apartment

Anthony Longo — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:34:42 +0000

by Veronika Lazabal Finding a place to call home in the Bay Area is an adventure in and of itself—one that carries with it both a sense of excitement unequal to apartment hunting anywhere else, and a set of challenges unique to this part of the Golden State. Call them cozy, snug, homey or charming; the fact remains that apartments in and around San Francisco are small. So how can you be sure you’re getting the most for your money when it comes to your new bay area apartment or condo? Here are a few ideas for finding the perfect place for you: Prioritize Before taking a look at a single For Rent ad, it’s essential to decide what is most important for you in an apartment. Knowing what you can’t live without (and, in turn, the areas where you are willing to be flexible) will help you narrow down your choices before driving all over the city. For example, if sweeping vistas and a dishwasher are essential to you, then you might be willing to sacrifice counter space and live with smaller closets in exchange for a fully equipped unit in Mountain View apartments. Know thy Neighborhood Where an apartment or condo is located is just as important as what is in the space itself. Whether you’re working with a realtor, rental service or just scanning online ads, don’t forget to ask plenty of questions. Is there a garage with assigned spots? (Street parking in the Bay is notorious for being next to impossible to find) What’s the crime rate like for the area? If you have children, ask about nearby schools and parks. Taking the time to research a potential neighborhood before making a decision can save you from the heartache of falling in love with a unit, only to find out that you’re scared to come home after dark. Commute is Key This is California, after all, and getting to and from work can often seem like the longest part of your day. Many a renter has moved into a beautiful apartment overlooking the water, only to realize (4 months into their lease) that they just can’t handle the ridiculous morning commute. It might be worth it to you to pay a bit more rent in order to stay closer to the office. Also, don’t forget to look into the Bay Area’s public transportation options. You may just find that accessibility to the B.A.R.T and other commuter friendly alternatives can help you make the decision on where you want to call home. There is no place in the U.S quite like the Bay Area. San Francisco, Napa, San Jose, Sacramento… every city has its own unique feeling- an urban beat, a quiet retreat, a simple escape. Finding the perfect place to live may just come down to doing your homework, and deciding which personality suits yours best. Happy hunting.

by Veronika Lazabal

Finding a place to call home in the Bay Area is an adventure in and of itself—one that carries with it both a sense of excitement unequal to apartment hunting anywhere else, and a set of challenges unique to this part of the Golden State. Call them cozy, snug, homey or charming; the fact remains that apartments in and around San Francisco are small. So how can you be sure you’re getting the most for your money when it comes to your new bay area apartment or condo? Here are a few ideas for finding the perfect place for you:

Prioritize
Before taking a look at a single For Rent ad, it’s essential to decide what is most important for you in an apartment. Knowing what you can’t live without (and, in turn, the areas where you are willing to be flexible) will help you narrow down your choices before driving all over the city. For example, if sweeping vistas and a dishwasher are essential to you, then you might be willing to sacrifice counter space and live with smaller closets in exchange for a fully equipped unit in Mountain View apartments.

Know thy Neighborhood
Where an apartment or condo is located is just as important as what is in the space itself. Whether you’re working with a realtor, rental service or just scanning online ads, don’t forget to ask plenty of questions. Is there a garage with assigned spots? (Street parking in the Bay is notorious for being next to impossible to find) What’s the crime rate like for the area? If you have children, ask about nearby schools and parks. Taking the time to research a potential neighborhood before making a decision can save you from the heartache of falling in love with a unit, only to find out that you’re scared to come home after dark.

Commute is Key
This is California, after all, and getting to and from work can often seem like the longest part of your day. Many a renter has moved into a beautiful apartment overlooking the water, only to realize (4 months into their lease) that they just can’t handle the ridiculous morning commute. It might be worth it to you to pay a bit more rent in order to stay closer to the office. Also, don’t forget to look into the Bay Area’s public transportation options. You may just find that accessibility to the B.A.R.T and other commuter friendly alternatives can help you make the decision on where you want to call home.

There is no place in the U.S quite like the Bay Area. San Francisco, Napa, San Jose, Sacramento… every city has its own unique feeling- an urban beat, a quiet retreat, a simple escape. Finding the perfect place to live may just come down to doing your homework, and deciding which personality suits yours best. Happy hunting.

St. Patrick’s Day in San Francisco

Alex Clark — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:28:24 +0000

Market Street in Downtown San Francisco was awash in green this weekend, as the 158th annual San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade stepped off a weekend of celebration. It was a celebration of Irish and San Franciscan culture, not to be missed, and to be savored. And I do mean savor, as in flavor. With the weekend activities for kids, there were lots of food kiosks – selling Polish sausage, Philly cheese steaks, dim sum and Vietnamese food. Hey, this is San Francisco. And now, the pub crawl – a great San Francisco tradition. Not a beer drinker? Enjoy some Irish coffee, in the place where Irish coffee first came to the USA in 1952, the Buena Vista on Hyde Street. You can plan your pub visits by neighborhood here. Enjoy our great San Francisco celebration responsibly. And when you are ready to find a great San Francisco condo, give me a call. There has never been a better time to buy real estate, with our $10,000 California new home buyer tax credit, low interest rates, and lower prices. I can find the San Francisco condo that is right for you – searching sales, auctions, and even San Francisco foreclosures. Get your best San Francisco condo at your best price – and then receive money back at closing. Buying a San Francisco condo requires more than luck – and the pot of gold required is getting smaller! Contact me today, and learn more.

Market Street in Downtown San Francisco was awash in green this weekend, as the 158th annual San Francisco St. Patrick’s Day Parade stepped off a weekend of celebration. It was a celebration of Irish and San Franciscan culture, not to be missed, and to be savored.

And I do mean savor, as in flavor. With the weekend activities for kids, there were lots of food kiosks – selling Polish sausage, Philly cheese steaks, dim sum and Vietnamese food. Hey, this is San Francisco.

And now, the pub crawl – a great San Francisco tradition. Not a beer drinker? Enjoy some Irish coffee, in the place where Irish coffee first came to the USA in 1952, the Buena Vista on Hyde Street. You can plan your pub visits by neighborhood here.

Enjoy our great San Francisco celebration responsibly. And when you are ready to find a great San Francisco condo, give me a call. There has never been a better time to buy real estate, with our $10,000 California new home buyer tax credit, low interest rates, and lower prices. I can find the San Francisco condo that is right for you – searching sales, auctions, and even San Francisco foreclosures. Get your best San Francisco condo at your best price – and then receive money back at closing.

Buying a San Francisco condo requires more than luck – and the pot of gold required is getting smaller! Contact me today, and learn more.

The San Francisco Condo & Loft Blog Goes Live

Erica Farthing — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:52:11 +0000

In anticipation for the all new CondoDomain San Francisco (SF) search portal, we have pushed our local blog live! In the coming months we plan to release CondoDomain San Francisco and begin working with buyers looking to purchase in downtown San Francisco, CA! If you want to get a feel for what our site will be like in San Francisco, CA, please feel free to check out our Boston site. Why Buy With CondoDomain? 1. We are exclusive buyers brokers! We only do 1 thing…and we do it very well! 2. Condos! Its what we know! Its what we do! 3. Flat Fee! We run an efficient business that benefits YOU, not a commission based agency that is compensated when you spend more! Our average client receives more than a $13,000 refund back at closing… We’re Hiring! If you are interested in learning more about the company please write us or check out our Facebook Group here. About CondoDomain.com LLC CondoDomain.com is a web-based real estate brokerage based in Boston, MA. The company is expanding nationwide to offer its buyers’ brokerage services in more than 30 cities around the U.S. Currently operating in Boston, CondoDomain offers an innovative flat-fee business model allowing the majority of the commission to be refunded to the buyer. By combining up-to-date MLS feeds, new construction buildings, FSBO, Foreclosures, Lofts and Auction listings all on one site, CondoDomain has become one of the most popular and user friendly real estate websites available. CondoDomain.com offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee to all of its clients, ensuring a professional, efficient, and pleasant transaction. Visit www.CondoDomain.com for more information or feel free to dive into our blogs at www.CondoDomain.com/blog. For more information, please contact Erica Farthing at (877) 852-6636. Technorati Profile

Why Buy With CondoDomain?

1. We are exclusive buyers brokers! We only do 1 thing…and we do it very well!

2. Condos! Its what we know! Its what we do!

3. Flat Fee! We run an efficient business that benefits YOU, not a commission based agency that is compensated when you spend more!

Our average client receives more than a $13,000 refund back at closing…

We’re Hiring!

If you are interested in learning more about the company please write us or check out our Facebook Group here.

About CondoDomain.com LLC

CondoDomain.com is a web-based real estate brokerage based in Boston, MA. The company is expanding nationwide to offer its buyers’ brokerage services in more than 30 cities around the U.S. Currently operating in Boston, CondoDomain offers an innovative flat-fee business model allowing the majority of the commission to be refunded to the buyer. By combining up-to-date MLS feeds, new construction buildings, FSBO, Foreclosures, Lofts and Auction listings all on one site, CondoDomain has become one of the most popular and user friendly real estate websites available. CondoDomain.com offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee to all of its clients, ensuring a professional, efficient, and pleasant transaction. Visit www.CondoDomain.com for more information or feel free to dive into our blogs at www.CondoDomain.com/blog.

For more information, please contact Erica Farthing at (877) 852-6636.

Technorati Profile