How to Rock a Mortgage Application Without Hurting Your FICO Score   "What's your rate?" "How much will I qualify for?" "Are you a banker or a broker or a lender?" Nope, nope and nope.  None of these are the #1 question we get before a prospective borrower makes an application for a pre-approval.  So what is the most asked question? "Will making a mortgage application hurt my FICO score?" Yep, that's it.  That's the one that keeps some otherwise strong and qualifiable buyers on the sidelines and paralyzed by the irrational fear that simply by having a lender make a hard credit inquiry, and access their Equifax, Experian and Transunion scores, that they will somehow see their excellent credit rating vanish in the face of that lone (or multiple) inquiry. So, let's walk around all day long... 03/24/2022

Five Tips for Rocking Home Ownership in 2022   If you searched unsuccessfully for a home and suffered one heartbreak after another in 2021, 2022 hasn't necessarily greeted you with open arms either.  Near non-existent inventory in many areas, fierce competition and rising interest rates have all conspired to make the landscape rockier still. Despite this, I've found five tips can be a universal help in getting you into contract, regardless of your own individual circumstances.  Rock them with me on Youtube:  Ready to find Paradise City?  Please give me a like or subscribe on YouTube!  Welcome to the jungle,  Rob SpinosaSVP of Mortgage LendingGuaranteed RateNMLS: 22343 Cell/Text: 415-367-5959 rob.spinosa@rate.com Marin Office:  324 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, CA  94960Berkeley ... 02/24/2022

Protect Your Home From Foreclosure - Know what options are available to you so that you can choose the best forbearance solutions for your situation.What are the forbearance alternatives for homeowners after September 30, 2021? Homeowners, if after September 30, 2021, you are still experiencing financial hardship, here are some alternatives that may be available for you: Mortgage Relief: These programs are intended to help address missed payments during forbearance and potentially make your monthly mortgage payment more affordable.  These may include:Payment deferral - Deferring your missed mortgage payments, so your mortgage payments you owe are not due until your loan is paid off your loan, refinance, or when you sell your home.  Loan modification, which would permanently change the t... 09/21/2021

The Four Horsemen of Deals Dead  My wife likes to joke that all I do for my job is talk to people.  "I hear you in there yucking it up all day..." So maybe there is always an element of the truth in jest, but an aspect of these conversations that she does not take into consideration is the near-constant battle I fight fending deals from The Four Horsemen; Delay, Indecision, Unfounded Expertise and The Unreasonable Pursuit of Perfection. When these vigilantes appear over the horizon of any real estate transaction, having a powerful defense can turn them away and save even the most vulnerable purchase or refinance.  The enemies of our real estate transactions can be real persons; buyers, sellers, family members, agents, lenders, underwriters, appraisers --- you name it.  But also, and mor... 09/06/2021

Lower Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationLower Pacific Heights is located just south of the Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco, California, as its name suggests. California Street is to the south, Presidio Avenue is to the west, Gough Street is to the east, and Geary Boulevard is to the north. The majority of the structures in this suburb, like those in Pacific Heights, have been replaced as a result of the damage caused by the San Francisco Earthquake. Today Lower Pacific Heights is a fashionable, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood noted for its varied clientele, stylish eateries, and sushi bars in Japantown. Lower Pacific Heights, which is located in the heart of San Francisco, has convenient access to the city's many attractions and major... 07/27/2021

Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationPacific Heights is an affluent community in San Francisco's north-central district. Presidio Avenu and San Francisco Presidio are on the west, Green Street is on the north, Van Nesse Avenue is on the east, and California Street is on the south. High-end residential complexes, luxury single-family houses, private schools, extravagant eating and shopping, and well-kept public spaces make the suburb one of the city's most sought-after areas. Pacific Heights has an amazing variety of luxury residences, including some of San Francisco's most opulent estate mansions. The upscale residential neighborhood is home to a number of well-preserved historic buildings, notably the Spreckels Mansion and the Haas-Lilienthal House, w... 07/27/2021

Duboce Triangle, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationDuboce Triangle is a mixed-use area located southwest of San Francisco's Downtown District in the city's core district. Market Street, Castro Street, and Duboce Avenue encircle the triangle-shaped neighborhood. The neighborhood's central location makes it convenient for many of the city's major business districts. Market Street connects to Downtown San Francisco, making it a great choice for busy professionals working in the city. Families will find plenty of shopping and food options in the neighborhood, as well as an excellent outdoor activity in the local parks. Residents are also within a short walk from The Castro area, which offers excellent entertainment for those looking to spend time outside with friends. T... 07/27/2021

Glen Park, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationPotrero Hill is a seaside neighborhood on San Francisco's coast. South of 16th Street, north of Cesar Chavez, and west of the Bayshore Freeway is the neighborhood. When Don Francisco de Haro offered a land grant to cattle ranchers in 1835, he named it Potrero Nuevo, which means "new pasture." During the Gold Rush era, the area had substantial immigration, and as the city became increasingly industrialized, urbanization grew more intense. During the internet boom of the 1990s, several industries were transformed into office space. The neighborhood's eastern section is still largely industrial, with several ports and warehouses. The majority of Potrero Hill's residential real estate is located west of the Southern Embarcade... 07/27/2021

Mission Dolores, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationThe easternmost neighborhood in the Eureka Valley region southwest of San Francisco's Downtown District is Mission Dolores. The long-standing church that serves as the community's major landmark gave rise to the neighborhood's name. The Mission San Francisco De Asis is the city's oldest building, having survived wars, floods, earthquakes, and other natural calamities. Francisco Palou and Pedro Benito Cambon, both members of the de Anza Expedition, built the church on October 9, 1776. The church assisted in settlement of Spanish settlers in Upper California and worked to convert the indigenous people. Today, the church continues to function as a Catholic institution with regular Sunday masses and other church-related... 07/27/2021

Inner Richmonds, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationInner Richmond is the eastern part of the identically called Richmond District in San Francisco's northwestern region. North of Golden Gate Park, south of the Presidio of San Francisco, west of the Western Addition, and east of 19th Avenue, this neighborhood is located. Residents benefit from good transit choices that connect them to the city's other communities because they live in a well-developed area of the city. Families will find lots of schools, public parks, shopping, and food options in the neighborhood. You'll appreciate what the Inner Richmond area has to offer if you're searching for a move-in ready home to buy and move into with your kids. Following the 1906 earthquake, the region's development accelera... 07/27/2021

Glen Park, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationGlen Park is a hilltop community in the city of San Francisco, California, located in the south-central part of the city. The neighborhood is located on the southeastern edge of the Central Hills' San Miguel Range, with views of the city's attractive suburban districts. The hillside region was once a dairy farm, but it was purchased by realtor Archibald Baldwin in 1897, who turned it into a master-planned residential community. The project included a large recreational area that was integrated into beautiful suburban parts. The community's main selling feature became Glen Park and Mission Zoo, which drew families to a rather remote neighborhood. The Glen Park area has a wide range of architectural styles. Much older Victo... 07/25/2021

Bernal Heights, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationBernal Heights is a lovely residential neighborhood in San Francisco's southeastern section. San Jose Avenue, Dolores Street, and Cesar Chavez form the northern and western boundaries of the neighborhood. The I-280 runs through the suburb to the south, while the Bayshore Freeway runs along its eastern boundary, separating it from the city's southeastern waterfront industrial parks. Residents have easy access to surrounding business and industrial parks, and the neighborhood is connected to Downtown San Francisco by nearby rail transit and bus stops. Bernal Heights, as the name says, is located on a hillside, with Bernal Heights Park, which offers great views of the surrounding neighborhoods. During their free time, r... 07/25/2021

Eureka Valley, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationEureka Valley is a largely residential area in San Francisco, California, located southwest of the Downtown District. The Castro, 19th Street, Corbett Heights, Corona Heights, Dolores Heights, Duboce Triangle, Hartford, Mission Dolores, and Dolores Heights are all sub-neighborhoods of Eureka Valley. The neighborhood is one of the greatest in the city, with a bustling and exciting living environment adjacent to the city's major urban districts.  Because of its many cultural landmarks and historical attractions, the area is one of the most frequented city districts. With many Irish immigrant families residing in the wood-frame cottages and two-story homes, the region began as a working-class neighborhood for neighboring... 07/25/2021

Inner Sunset, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationInner Sunset, Central Sunset, and Outer Sunset are the three sectors of the Sunset District, which is San Francisco's largest neighborhood. The neighborhood is the most populous in the city, with the most people and households, and is an excellent choice for families seeking a new home in the area. South of Golden Gate Park, west of 19th Avenue, west of Cole Valley, north of Forest Hill, and northwest of Midtown Terrace is the Inner Sunset area. The neighborhood is centrally placed, just a short drive from the city's business, leisure, and commercial districts. The Inner Sunset District is mostly made up of residential communities, with two hillside subdivisions thrown in for good measure. The suburban city streets of ... 07/24/2021

Nopa, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationNorth of the Panhandle, or NoPa, is a San Francisco, California, urban neighborhood. The area is located north of The Panhandle Park, west of Alamo Square, and east of the University of San Francisco Campus, as its name suggests. Turk Boulevard, Divisadero Street, Fell Street, and Masonic Avenue are among the streets that make up the suburb border. Residents of this neighborhood, which is located in the heart of San Francisco, have accessibility to everything the city has to offer. NoPa is close to everything, including the bustling Downtown District to the east, Golden Gate Park to the west, surrounding universities, and several cultural and historical treasures and attractions. During the early years of San Francisco, NoPa, ... 07/24/2021

Haight Ashbury, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationThe Haight-Ashbury area is located west of San Francisco's Downtown District. The neighborhood is located to the east of Golden Gate Park, south of The Panhandle, and northwest of Buena Vista Park. With the installation of the Haight cable car line in 1883, the neighborhood grew from various farms and acres of dunes into an entertainment destination. Through continual gentrification, Haight-Ashbury evolved into an upper-middle-class area as San Francisco became more urbanized. During the 1960s, the neighborhood was also home to a strong hippie and activist culture. There was a lot of media attention in the area because of the significant music and cultural influences anchored in this community. The many music clubs, ... 07/24/2021

Richmond District, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationThe Richmond District is a large neighborhood in San Francisco's northwestern quadrant. Richmond District covers numerous neighborhoods north of Golden Gate Park and south of the Presidio of San Francisco and Sea Cliff, and is not to be confused with the similarly named city of Richmond. Outer Richmond, Central Richmond, Inner Richmond, and Lake Street are some of the neighborhoods that make up the district. The district mostly acts as a residential area of the city. Excellent schools, wonderful outdoor activities, retail options, and much more are all within easy reach for residents.  Residential construction in the Richmond District began in the 1920s and has continued through the decades. Some homes were replac... 07/24/2021

Cole Valley, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationCole Valley is a beautiful area in the western part of San Francisco, California, located adjacent to the southeastern border of Golden Gate Park. Castro to the east, Haight-Ashbury to the northeast, and Twin Peaks to the south are the suburb's boundaries. Residents are just a short walk away from some of the city's greatest outdoor attractions and public facilities, including Kezar Stadium and Golden Gate Park. Commuters may easily access the city center through the Carl St & Cole S light rail station and neighboring bus stations. Cole Valley, the city's smallest neighborhood, evolved from its commercial core at Carl and Cole's intersection. These bustling streets are still lined with stores, cafés, restaurants, and a ... 07/21/2021

Alamo Square, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationAlamo Square is a primarily residential area in San Francisco's Western Addition district. The area is centered around Alamo Square Park, which offers stunning vistas of the “Painted Ladies,” a well-known Victorian row house icon. The neighborhood has been completely gentrified, with the majority of residents being young and from the upper middle class. Despite the fact that the Western Addition has seen a lot of development, substantial parts of Alamo Square have been maintained to keep its distinct beauty and character. The William Westerfeld House, the Archbishop's Mansion, the mansions of the Russian and German Imperial consuls, and many Victorian homes are still intact today and serve as important cultural landmar... 07/21/2021

West Portal, San Francisco, CA Community and Real Estate InformationWest Portal is a lovely neighborhood in San Francisco's southwestern part, surrounded on the north by Taraval Street, the west by 19th Avenue, the south by Sloat Boulevard, and the west by Kensington Way and Portola Drive. It used to be a dunes and vegetable growing region with little to no residential activity on the site where it now stands. It began to grow in the 1910s and continued until the 1920s when the region was effectively split from the previous Rancho San Miguel land space. Fernando Nelson and Sons were the community's principal developers. It now boasts a population of around 3,000 people who really enjoy the little town's charm. West Portal real estate consists of a mix of single-family houses and condomi... 07/16/2021