2013 January | Dear Vixen - Catherine Gacad

Airbnb Awesomeness

Posted on January 31, 2013 // Leave a Comment

I got our tax statement from Airbnb. We earned approximately $4,000 for 2012. That’s practically 20% of our total 2012 rental cost. How F*ing crazy is that?

The hosts we are staying with in the Mission are seriously the nicest people in the world. They invited us over after work tonight to have drinks in their home. Their high school teenager was just as cool; he chatted with us about how he prefers the guitar over the drums.

Anywho, the woman said we seemed totally responsible and asked us if we’d be interested in staying in their home (their actual home, not their rental units) while they are on vacation – for free!

Hello, how cool is that?!

I am loving Airbnb. How can I invest?

Filed Under: Posts // Tagged: airbnb, host, san francisco, SF, tax statement

San Francisco Ballet 2013 Opening Night Gala

Posted on January 31, 2013 // Leave a Comment

This season marks the 80th anniversary of the San Francisco Ballet, the oldest professional and most heralded ballet company in the United States. I’ve been so stressed with everything that I didn’t have time to get a new dress to wear to the ball. I felt so under-dressed compared to all the women dripping with diamonds in their floor-length gowns. Next year, I vow to get all gussied up.

I just want to cry every time the principal dancer Yuan Yuan Tan gets on stage. She is my absolute favorite. I found this clip on YouTube which is the same dance that she performed at the gala. Dean and I have agreed that the year she retires (which should be soon), we are buying season tickets. There’s no one like her, so incredible!

Filed Under: Posts // Tagged: 2013, opening night gala, opera house, san francisco ballet, sf ballet, youtube, yuan yuan tan

Livin La Vida Loca

Posted on January 30, 2013 // 2 Comments

We are keeping it real, living in the Mission this week on our quest to try out different neighborhoods before we buy. We rented our apartment in Nob Hill to a nice British gentleman who is in SF for work. Last time we tried the Potrero neighborhood, which we loved. This time, we opted for the Mission. We are a block away from the hospital on the corner of Hampshire and 23rd. I have to admit, I didn’t have very high expectations, but I am really loving it here. Sure this ‘hood is a bit grittier, but it’s got character. I haven’t felt unsafe. Lots of people always on the bus and walking around. I feel like I’m living in Mexico City!

The 9L bus whisks me to and from work so quickly, I’ve been shocked. This is my first experience dealing with a timely Muni bus! Can’t beat that!!

The apartment we’re staying in is small, but lovely and fine for us which makes me think we really don’t need a lot of space. Dean and I are so low maintenance. If the 2 of us can live in this treehouse for a week, then a reasonably-priced, minimalist home should be enough. We always joke that people buy big homes purely to put more shit in it.

What’s great about the couple renting to us is that they are doing exactly what I aspire to do. They own a 2-unit building, live upstairs, and rent the downstairs unit. The rent for the downstairs unit covers their mortgage. Score! In addition to the 2-unit building, they pounced on this tiny loft next door which they had used for family and friends visiting from out of town. Now that Airbnb has blown up, they’ve been renting it out to RAVE reviews. The rental is inexpensive. It’s nice and clean. And they’re the nicest hosts ever. So they’ve got a great little side business going.

large

Filed Under: Posts // Tagged: 23rd street, airbnb, buy, hampshire street, livin la vida loca, mission, muni, potrero, rent, san francisco, sell, SF

San Francisco Apartment Tour

Posted on January 30, 2013 // 2 Comments

I wanted to follow-up my San Francisco Home Tour post with a similar post on apartments.

Buying a home in SF is unbelievably stressful. You should be cashing in those stock options. Your granny hopefully wrote you into her will. Money better be growing on trees in your backyard. If anyone has saved $100,000 – 250,000 and is within my reader age range of 30-50 years old, email me. I want to know how you amassed that money so I can share your story on my blog. I am particularly drawn to people who are self-made, who paid their own way through college and graduate school.

Personally, the reason Dean and I have been able to sock away money is because of Dean’s apartment. Our saving grace is a 1-bedroom with parking in Lower Nob Hill with a reduced rent of $1,700. It is easily rented on Airbnb which helps offset vacation costs.

When you start to calculate the cost of renting in SF, home prices don’t even seem that ridiculous anymore. Like I said, a mortgage on $1,000,000 home in SF will be cheaper than some of the rents below.

Here are 2-bedroom apartments I would consider living in and their price tag. I would never feel comfortable paying these rents and would probably fight and research to find that under-priced gem in an unknown alley of the city.

$3800 / 2br – NEW Apt #1 in 4-Unit Victorian in the Heart of the Mission (mission district)

—–

$4695 / 2br – 1300ft² – 2BR/1BA REDUCED! FURNISHED Very Spacious Victorian Flat *Pet Friendly* (hayes valley)

—–

$2850 / 2br – 2 BR Flat- New HW Floors Near BART & Rainbow Grocery! (mission district)

—–

$3775 / 2br – Charming 2×2 Apt w/ Polished Concrete Flooring & 9’6″ Ceilings! (potrero hill)

—–

$3775 / 2br – 884ft² – OPEN HOUSE Tonight, 1/29, from 6pm – 7pm. (potrero hill)

—–

$2995 / 2br – Bright, Large unit w/ SF Character & New Hardwood Floors (mission district)

—–

$3795 / 3br – Mission District 3 Bedroom/2 Bath. Fully Remodeled with garage! (mission district)

Filed Under: Posts // Tagged: airbnb, apartment tour, hayes valley, home tour, lower nob hill, mission, potrero hill, rents, san francisco, SF, stock options, victorian

Money Monday: Cash Out Refinance

Posted on January 29, 2013 // Leave a Comment

I’m having a major freak out because I’m in the early stages of getting my place ready to sell. The tenants have been given notice. I sold one of my beautiful velvet couches last weekend. Stagers and painters will be submitting bids soon. I was mentally prepared to make this the focus of my life.

Now the curve ball.

The reason I moved forward with selling my place is because I couldn’t refinance it. The last appraisal came in at an abominable $400,000 even though I paid $455,000 for it. I tried again last October with a different broker who guaranteed no fees and no appraisal cost. After the appraisal, I never heard back from the guy. I called, I emailed, nada. I figured the appraisal must have sucked again.

But miraculously, the company called me yesterday asking for a status since the broker I had been working with left the company. That’s why I hadn’t ever heard back. Looks like my appraisal came in at $500,000. It dawned on me (after clearing my mind and meditating for 10 minutes last night) that I should go for a cash-out refinance which will pretty much solve all my problems.

1. I won’t have to sell.

2. I can extract some of the equity in my home and use that for my next down payment.

3. I can reduce the rate and shorten the term to 20 years.

4. In 20 years, this is going to finance our retirement!

Filed Under: Posts // Tagged: appraisal, cash out refi, cash out refinance, money monday, mortgage, refi, refinance, rent

Blunder Woman!

Posted on January 28, 2013 // 2 Comments

Many moons ago, on the Burning Man playa, a friend of mine came into camp and gave me a Wonder Woman doll that he found laying in the dust. Whenever I look at the doll, I feel inspired. I think, “Yeah, I can do it. I’m just like Wonder Woman!”

Well those days are long gone because I can’t do it all anymore. I’ve spent my whole life giving, contributing, and leading, and it’s finally time to say NO!

Clearly this is all my fault because too many times in the past, I’ve said yes. But this is a new era and I’ve decided that 2013 is going to be the year of ME.

ME, ME, ME, ME! That’s right, just me!

I’ve got a house to sell.

I’ve got a ghost baby to conceive.

I’ve got a blog that is finally (after years of hard work) gaining significant momentum.

That means no more time for alumni councils or alumni functions.

Sorry, but I’m sure others can step in to help with our 20-year high school reunion. Why don’t we just pick a night and have drinks at the Forbidden Island in Alameda? Zero stress, zero planning.

I’ve got to curtail my time commitment to Burning Man. That may be the death of me, dealing with new volunteers and responding to questions about shifts and the schedule and tickets. Yikes!

I’m also big on group events. More bang for your buck, if you ask me. But what drives me batty are the people who can’t do the group lunch or the happy hour, and next think you know I’ve got emails asking for a 1×1 dinner or brunch. At least until my home is sold, I cannot deal with the 1x1s. I’ve got a handful of things scheduled over the next two weeks, but that’s it.

I’m on lock-down until my house is sold and the cash is in my hand.

Filed Under: Posts // Tagged: blunder woman, burning man, playa, reunion, wonder woman

On Raising Children without God

Posted on January 27, 2013 // 1 Comment

In one of the highest viewed posts to CNN’s iReport site, a contributor recently posted her views on religion in an article titled ‘Why I Raise My Children without God.’ While I am a regular church-going, daily-praying Catholic, I staunchly respect her view. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. What kind of society would we live in if we could force our religion, our politics, our personal beliefs on others? What would that say about our religion, our values, our ability at acceptance if we refused to acknowledge counter-points?

The CNN blogger rightly brings up interesting rebuttals to the presence of God. I understand that it would be difficult to believe in a deity who cannot be seen or heard. She writes, “No imaginary person is going to give us the answers or tell us why. Only we have the ability to be logical and to problem solve, and we should not abdicate these responsibilities to “God” just because a topic is tough or uncomfortable to address.” I can fully appreciate that instead of believing, she’s going to take accountability and work to solve problems. There are too many religious people who say that everything is God’s will which drives me bat-shit-cray-cray. God helps those who help themselves. Get it together, people!

I believe in God mainly because I was raised in the faith. If I hadn’t been forced to go to church every week, or attend Catholic schools, or pray every night, I probably wouldn’t believe either. Instead, I was immersed in Catholicism. My best friends believe. I married a man who, along with his family, shares my religion.

Did I ever question the existence of God? Of course, because I am a free thinker! But at the end of the day, I don’t have scientific evidence. I can’t give a powerpoint presentation with specific bullet points on why God is all-knowing. This is why it’s called faith. Is it blind faith? Of course not. Everyone has their own road to believe or not. But I can personally say that God listens. That is my truth and that’s what’s important. It’s actually all that matters.

Because religion is important to me, I will raise my child in the faith. That includes church, prayers, and all the rituals that go along with Catholicism. It includes private Catholic school which for me is non-negotiable. I want my kid to be loved by our faith, to love the faith, but most importantly to have a foundation of love and acceptance.

Filed Under: Posts // Tagged: atheism, atheist, believe, blogger, catholic, catholicism, cnn, faith, god, i report, why i raise my children without god

Fashion Friday: Wrinkles!

Posted on January 26, 2013 // 2 Comments

We had a cousin reunion last weekend and snapped these very fashionable photos. Look at how old I look compared to my cousins. See those lines between my eyebrows and on my cheeks? Damn, I am old.

The pretty young things without me fudging up the picture.

Filed Under: Posts // Tagged: cousins, family reunion, fashion friday, wrinkles

San Francisco Home Tour

Posted on January 25, 2013 // 2 Comments

Here’s a glimpse at what’s on the market in SF. Yeah, it’s pretty insane what people pay to live in the city. I can only imagine what it would be like if we moved anywhere else in the U.S. with the exception of NYC. The conversation would go like this, “$350,000 for a house? Yeah, I can put 50% down.”

—–

1015 Florida Street, $665,000

Can’t say I love the ‘hood, but price looks like a steal for a 2 bedroom with a little character. I’ve never been a fan of the newer buildings with a ton of units; kinda like living in a dorm. I like the older buildings. Price is right for this one.

—–

3691 Market Street, $699,000

This one’s gorgeous if you don’t mind living in the hills near Twin Peaks.

—–

109 1/2 Germania Street, $629,000

I love this one, but no parking. Too bad, so sad.

—–

744 Moultrie Street, $649,000

I don’t know Bernal that well, but here’s a cute condo.

—–

374 11th Street, $729,000

I am not a fan of lofts. Too much air, I guess. But this one’s a beauty! I really like how the bedrooms are compartmentalized too. I used to live on this block with an ex, in a loft, and hated it. Way too close to the club scene. But so pretty, right?

Filed Under: Posts // Tagged: 11th street, bernal heights, florida, germania street, home tour, house, market street, moultrie street, nyc, price, san francisco, twin peaks

Drakes Bay Oyster Company

Posted on January 24, 2013 // 2 Comments

Our last stop during our Point Reyes escapade was Drakes Bay Oyster Company, where we popped in for a dozen of the biggest oysters I’ve ever slurped down. Ironically, we ordered small oysters and they ended up being huge. We wondered what the large ones were like.

The place really is a shack and unlike Hog Island, not pretentious. No picnic baskets, no beer on ice. Just honest-to-goodness, fresh, juicy mega oysters.

Drakes has been in the news because their lease expired and the federal government (who owns the land) refuses to renew it. Drakes is calling foul play and saying there’s a clause and provision allowing the farm to operate for a minimum of 10 more years. We’ll see how all of this plays out.

But seriously, let’s all plan a big group vacation to Point Reyes. This place rocks.

Filed Under: Posts // Tagged: drakes bay oyster company, national seashore, oyster farm, oysters, point reyes