Comments on: Groceries cost 14% more in the Bay Area than Seattle or Washington DC

By: Pralay

Pralay — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:32:00 +0000

Some of us also get airline miles and hotel points.
—–

That sounds sooooo on-topic! What do you do with miles and points? Buy grocery?

By: zanon

zanon — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:05:17 +0000

RE actually makes a good point. about 6 weeks ago, the airport suddenly went from empty to packed (I go through SFO every week). Not just here either, also on the other side.

By: Axxel

Axxel — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:48:07 +0000

> Many in the Bay Area get free drinks at work. Wow, I'm sure that's something that only happens in the RBA. > Google employees get free dinner. Good to know that Google only has offices and cafeterias in the RBA. > Some of us also get airline miles and hotel points. It's true, business travel in the US is only done to and from the Bay Area. In fact, credit cards with travel points are uniquely RBA and not generally available to every American with a pulse.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:19:23 +0000

“In the rest of the country, it costs 100-150 $/sf to build, but in the RBA somehow wood, drywall and nails cost so much more and can’t be simply transported in.”

The actual cost of materials isn’t appreciably higher, but the cost of labor is a lot higher, as are permits.

However, that doesn’t explain appraisals.

I was recently looking at a house that was listed for $599k. It was a 3 bedroom place, around 1400sq ft, that had been recently remodeled.

It’s appraised value put the building at $280k and the balance in the land.

A nearly identical home anywhere else would have seen the building appraised for less than half of that.

I can totally understand the higher value of land. It makes complete sense — but why do buildings become more valuable just by virtue of where they’re located? Is the plywood of a higher quality? Is the drywall magic?

By: DreamT

DreamT — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:37:28 +0000

Irvine, do you mean John Wayne/Santa Ana? That airport is never packed, even after labor day. Even San Jose is busier.

By: Real Estater

Real Estater — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:20:53 +0000

The above list is misleading. Many in the Bay Area get free drinks at work. Google employees get free dinner. Some of us also get airline miles and hotel points. For example, I’m prepping for another business trip (to OC). Will definitely check out Irvine. From what I’ve seen, airport is packed. Lots of folks are traveling despite the downturn.

By: Axxel

Axxel — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:36:32 +0000

It's a little known fact that Washington is a barren wasteland. Incapable of growing local produce of any kind. All food must be transported in from California, which, given the vast distances involved, probably takes weeks, right? I hear the ethylene gas used to warehouse ripen Burbed's "Red Roma Tomato" is better here too. Seriously folks, local food in the Bay Area is quite good, but its not unique.

By: no estater

no estater — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:27:55 +0000

#11 – steve, Los Altos is just clearing out “dead wood.” Obviously those folks didn’t deserve to live in the RBA.

By: rick

rick — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:47:15 +0000

Um, yeah our groceries are grown local, even groceries in Washington is probably grown here though, we make up 1/3 of the produce in the US.

By: steve

steve — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:51:14 +0000

a little icing for your 4th of july cupcakes:

435 BLAKE St Menlo Park, CA 94025
Beds: 3
Baths: 3
Sq. Ft.: 1,538
$/Sq. Ft.: $1,167
Lot Size: 8,250 Sq. Ft.

Jun 26, 2009 Listed $1,795,000
Mar 30, 2007 Sold $2,005,000
Aug 10, 2005 Sold $1,375,000
Apr 12, 1996 Sold $530,000

Wow! 2005 buyer was a genius. No loan docs on file, so I don’t think it is a short sale. Not to go all RE on you, but if this moves north of $1.5M I’d view it as a sign of strength.