Considered by many to be among the most beautiful cities of the world, San Francisco continues to lead homebuyers on a merry chase.

"San Francisco Bay Area home sales and prices edged-up again in September as a steady stream of buyers took advantage of affordable home financing and more homes came on the market," says Realtor Paul Ryan. "Sales volume and prices have started up again over the past month or so. Additionally, due to the current level of inventory, and a strong local economy, low interest rates (presently 6%+/- for a conventional 30-year fixed rate loan), property values are continuing to hold steady with above listing price offers still common.

Ryan explains, "According to the San Francisco MLS, the average amount of days on the market, for a single family home, is now approximately about 30 days. Some concessions are still very typical."

Says Realtor Jeffrey Tung, "With mild temperatures year-round, San Francisco is a multicultural area that is close to everything (mountains, ocean, snow, etc. ), lots of job opportunities, a wide variety of entertainment and activities, and much much more."

Tung says that most of the areas in San Francisco and San Mateo counties are now experiencing a change in the market.

"Here are some signs of a market shift," he says.

• more price reductions
• real estate agents are offering lunch or other incentives to attract agents to visit their listings
• agents are following up with other people to get feed back about the home they are selling
• properties are staying on the market longer
• more open houses

"Properties need a little help in order to be sold in this type of market place," advises Tung, "unlike the hot seller's market where everything sold quickly. There are a lot of buyers still interested in purchasing a property even though the consumer confidence level has dropped again. Interest rates have gone up and down but are still pretty low. Prices in the region are still increasing, compared to the same time last year, however the amount of properties sold have decreased in San Mateo county."

Published: October 21, 2002

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.