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Million Dollar Listing SF's Roh Habibi On the New Brooklyn & What Buyers Need to Know

rob habibi, san francisco, real estate

Photo Credit: Sam Sherdel Photo

If you’re a reality television junkie, you will probably recognize Roh Habibi. As one of the stars of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing San Francisco, Habibi is an agent with Coldwell Banker Previews International and consistently comes out on top of the SF real estate game. In fact, last year he placed in the top six percent of 4,000 San Francisco Association realtors, which probably had something to do with his being chosen for the show’s fourth installment (though he stresses that it was sheer luck).

With an influx of tech companies, SF has been in the middle of a pretty big housing boom for a while now. According to Habibi, the city is now the financial hub for the West Coast, which definitely drives up market competition and prices. “We have so many great things to offer: Silicon Valley (the birth of bio tech), a flourishing finance market and healthcare industry, fantastic location near Lake Tahoe, Wine Country, Yosemite National Park, beaches [and] outdoor recreation. There is something for everybody.”

roh habibi, san francisco, real estate
Photo Credit: Sam Sherdel Photo

Now that the agent is in such high demand, we took the opportunity to get his thoughts on the real estate market, his favorite sold home, what it takes to close a deal, advice for new buyers and where to find the trendier, up-and-coming alternative to San Francisco.

Mila Pantovich: What do you recommend for new buyers looking to enter the city for the first time? In the rush to close a deal, what common mistakes do you see buyers and sellers making?

Roh Habibi: Buyers have the Internet at their disposal. They should begin the process six months in advance, researching neighborhoods, agents, schools, lifestyles, price comparisons etc. Then they should hit the open house circuit and see as many properties [as] they can. They want to get that out of their system.

When the time comes to get serious, if they are financing they should get a fully underwritten pre-approval, so when they write an offer it will look the same as cash. They should write a heartfelt biography of themselves ([their] family and situation) and give that with the offer to the sellers to touch an emotional button. By doing these things they will have a great chance at buying quickly. 

roh habibi, san francisco, real estate
Photo Credit: Sam Sherdel Photo

MP: On your end, what does it take to close a deal?

RH: Closing a deal is a science; real estate is tricky. When representing sellers, my job is to mitigate the risk they take on with a potential buyer. I go through their proof of funds, call their lender to get a really good idea on how qualified they are, make sure their contract has as minimal contingencies as possible to avoid falling out of escrow and have them sign a full disclosure packet with their submitted offer. I also have the selling agent do their avid within 24 hours of a ratified contract. In addition, title and escrow needs to be in order, which is a big part.

MP: Is it difficult to have the buyer and seller meet halfway, when both have expectations of the market and what they will get/sell for what price?

RH: Clear lines of communication and compromise get transactions done. The seller needs to not be greedy over the limit and the buyer needs to pay the price to get the home they are in love with. Little things sweeten the deal for both and everyone needs to come out feeling like they won. 

roh habibi, san francisco, real estate
Photo Credit: Sam Sherdel Photo

MP: With tech making such a large impact on the city, where do you see the market going in the future?

RH: Up, up and up! San Francisco proper is way underpriced compared to other global hub cities. You can buy brand new development here for $1,200-2,000 price per square foot and in other places, like NYC and Shanghai, the going rate is $6,000 price per square foot. [SF is] a fantastic place to park your money and the price points will definitely increase over time to catch up.

MP: What has been the most lavish home that you have sold? How much was it listed/sold for, and can you explain why it stood out to you?

RH: 285 San Anselmo Ave. is the best home I have sold; a monstrous estate that was just beautiful in every way. The home was built in the 1920s in a residential park, modeled after the Italian Renaissance. It was on a half-acre of land and had a true motor court leading to the home. I loved the juxtaposition of old and new. The exterior façade and grounds had not been touched, [but] the interior was completely gutted and remodeled [to be] warm yet contemporary. The price ended up at $6,285,000.

roh habibi, san francisco, real estate
Photo Credit: Coldwell Banker/The Habibi Group

MP: Are there any areas directly surrounding SF that have a more up-and-coming trendy feel?

RH: Oakland and the East Bay are more up-and-coming in a sense that SF is pricing many buyers out of our market and Oakland is turning into our new Brooklyn. Many tech companies are moving over there—Uber just bought the old Sears building and will be moving 3-4,000 employees there. The homes are affordable and the neighborhoods are changing. There is such a taboo with Oakland, as people think it’s the hardcore ghetto, but it’s a really nice place.

MP: Do you have a particularly impressive listing right now that you’d like to highlight?

RH: I have a listing now in the Oakland Hills that is one of the most spectacular homes in all of the East Bay.

Mila Pantovich

An avid traveler, Mila Pantovich lives in the UK with her husband and cat. She has been working with JustLuxe as a writer and editor since 2012 and has been featured in several publications. Follow her travels on Instagram: @MilaPantovich ...(Read More)

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