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Hot property: Self-sufficient, solar, special
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The CEO of a Berkeley policy-research installed a solar array that looks large on the petite house, and he hasn't had to pay a penny for electricity since April 2003.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - The home Hans Bos bought to get into the market in 1998 had seen more than 100 years of tinkering, if the misty tales of its origin are correct.
But there’s no doubt that he added a modern twist in keeping with the spirit of San Francisco.
The CEO of policy-research firm Berkeley Policy Associates installed a solar array that looks large on the petite house, and now he pays nothing for electricity. The home is electrically self-sufficient.
“The thing that really prompted us on it was the run-up to the Iraq war,” Bos said. “The day those discussions really started to heat up, I went online and found out about the rebates.”
He still pays a natural gas bill to heat the house and a $5 monthly service charge, but otherwise hasn’t paid for electricity since April 2003, he said.
The house, 55 Laidley Street in the Fairmount Heights neighborhood overlooking Noe Valley, is made up of three parts, according to Bos and Redfin agent Gina Pio Roda. An appraiser said the oldest, middle section was likely built prior to the street’s construction in the 1880s, Bos said. It has very low ceilings, and the floor of the house was old-growth redwood that sat directly on the dirt, without a foundation — and was still solid when Bos had the floor opened up to do work on the property. He’s since installed steel reinforcement in that section of the house.
The other two sections, back and front, were likely built in the 1920s and 1940s. They have traditional foundations and slab floors, Bos said. And he and his girlfriend have spent the years making home improvements, though they were on the same tight budget that prompted them to buy this particular house in the first place, Bos said. They installed gas heat as well as an IKEA kitchen.
“It’s not a fancy kitchen, but it’s a nice kitchen, a very workable kitchen,” he said.
The lot is more than twice the size of the house, and features front and rear gardens.
Where: San Francisco
Asking price: $699,000
Property tax: $9,087*
The property: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 520 square feet per tax records (seller estimates closer to 800).
Notable: Solar array, 1,920 square foot lot, hot tub, history, quiet street, front and back gardens, views of Mt. Diablo, St. Paul’s Church and City Hall.
Agents: Regina Pio Roda and Chris Diez, Redfin, (877) 973-3346.
* Estimate based on 1.3% of asking
OTHER HOT PROPERTIES
Asking price: $479,000
Property tax: $6,227*
The property: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 572 square feet per appraiser
Description: One of six units in a TIC building — a Queen Anne Victorian near Union Street with hardwood floors, a remodeled kitchen and leased parking.
Notable: Wood-burning fireplace, bay window, Bay views, assigned storage, updated heating, Andy Sirkin TIC agreement, new roof, shared garden.
Agents: John LePage, Zephyr Real Estate, (415) 695-7707, www.2831-33webster.com
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Where: Pacifica
Asking price: $599,995
Property tax: $7,800*
The property: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,000 square feet
Description: Pacific Manor neighborhood home on quiet street with trees; house has new paint, new carpets, vinyl siding, new metal garage door.
Notable: Walking distance to park and school, views, hardwood entryway floor, yard, outbuilding in the back, manmade pond setup, gas stove, dishwasher.
Agents: Robert Garrison, Garrison Properties, (650) 755-2969, www.garrisonprop.com
VACATION HOME
Comments from Examiner Readers
4:23 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 15, 2008 re: "Hot Property: A home suitable for a lifetime of memories"
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2:37 PM MST on Sat., Oct. 27, 2007
re: "Hot property: Built for a family that never came"
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Examiner Reader said:
it's good for someone to have lifetime memories in glen park but like anything else in life, things may not continue to be as rosy. instead of waking up to the smell of a good breakfast and a quiet neighborhood, you smell the smoke of gunfire or voices screaming for murder. such is life in the big city of s.f. humanity character changes and some turn into monsters. and they live right door to you now.
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Examiner Reader said:
for health conscious..seniors..childern , the foggy mist of cool sodium chloride..perhaps laced with some windblown pesticides..offers san francicans..and those with respiratory problems better breathing..outside hyberparic systems..the eco climte flora and fauna are magnificent.breathtaking colors and creative in the match of flowers and vegetables on the wharf..the bay and its sea life and napa valley..are interesting for scientists ..and the hilly of san fran..are aeco walk for health hearts..or jogs.but you must work on frondlier bike reception for all those.great athletes..knowing how to use the gears on some of those spectacular inclines..it's not easy to leavesan francisco one you have been there..and the regions close buy are very magnetic in their appeal..
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