Here’s how we helped out-of-town homebuyers find the perfect South Beach condo for their son in San Francisco.
We love it when a plan comes together, especially when there's a tight deadline and our clients are counting on us. This recent success story with Josh Ortiz, our lead buyer specialist, is exactly the kind of challenge that gets us excited about what we do.
A family from Stockton called us with a situation many parents can relate to. Their son had just graduated from Harvard and landed a job in South San Francisco. He needed a place to live before starting work, and they had exactly two months to make it happen.
For further reading, check out our post on Investing in Real Estate for Your Adult Children in San Francisco
Two months might sound like plenty of time, but when you're dealing with San Francisco real estate and the buyers live 1.5 hours away in Stockton, every day matters. Their biggest worry was not finding a place in time for the job start date.
We get calls like this more often than you might think. Life moves fast, and sometimes real estate needs to move fast to keep up.
Josh knew right away that efficiency would be everything. With the buyers located in the Central Valley, for their own sake and to make this purchase happen, we couldn't afford to have them driving back and forth to the city multiple times for scattered viewings.
Instead of the usual approach, Josh organized two comprehensive property tours that covered about 15 San Francisco condos in total. This meant doing serious homework upfront, pre-screening properties, mapping out efficient routes, and making sure every single viewing was worth their time.
Josh stayed in constant communication with the family throughout the process, sharing valuable perspectives on the market and new listings as they came up. When you're working against the clock, communication can't be an afterthought.
When the buyers identified their preferred condo, located in the exciting South Beach neighborhood, Josh moved quickly. The property was listed at $1.599 million, and through some skilled back-and-forth with the seller's agent, we secured it for $1.555 million. That's $44,000 in savings right there.
But Josh kept pushing for his clients. The home inspection revealed some outdated GFCI outlets and minor cosmetic issues. Rather than letting these become deal-breakers or expensive surprises later, Josh negotiated an additional $2,500 credit from the sellers to address these concerns.
The entire transaction closed in 10 days. From our first conversation to handing over the keys took less than one month total. The son had his new home secured well before his job start date.
Our clients often say it best. (See more of our 500+ five-star reviews on Google and Yelp!)
Here’s what the buyer had to say about working with Josh:
"HIGHEST, HIGHEST praise for JOSH ORTIZ, our realtor. We are not from SF, and needed to find a home expeditiously. Josh was exceptional: consistently responsive, resourceful, insightful, and super sharp. He knows the SF market, trends, and negotiates all these factors flawlessly. Josh provided us with sage advice and saved us money, time, and stress. Thank you, Danielle, for Josh and all the elite attention and support!"
Looking back, several things made this success possible. Josh's deep knowledge of San Francisco neighborhoods meant he could quickly identify properties that made sense for someone commuting to South San Francisco. His strategic mindset and planning turned what could have been multiple frustrating trips into two highly productive tours.
The negotiation skills that saved our clients $44,000 plus another $2,500 in credits don't happen by accident either. They're the result of years of experience and hundreds of transactions in this market.
Most importantly, Josh understood that this wasn't just buying a condo but solving a significant problem for a family who needed their son settled before starting his career.
Everyone’s situation is different, but the fundamentals remain the same. If you're a recent graduate starting your first job, a family relocating to the SF Bay Area, or anyone facing a time-sensitive move, having experienced San Francisco buyer agents on your side makes all the difference.
SF real estate is important, complex, and deeply personal. When buyers try to navigate this market without proper guidance, especially under time pressure, it doesn’t always end well. But when you work with local agents who really understand San Francisco real estate, know how to strategize efficiently, and can negotiate effectively on your behalf, even the most challenging situations become manageable.
This family trusted us with making sure their son had a home before starting his new life in San Francisco. We take that kind of trust seriously, and we're grateful it worked out so well for everyone involved.
If you're considering your own real estate timeline, whether it's two months or two years, we'd love to hear about your situation. Contact us today and let's schedule an initial consultation to discuss your goals and see if we’re a good fit.
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