I’ve lived in the Bay Area since the good old 90s, ranging frequently across the bridges. On the Golden Gate side in search of Sonoma’s open roads, pinot noir, fertile farms and tasty tables, and on the Bay side for live music, constant culture and the blizzards of Tahoe beyond. I’ve learned and lived through many great neighborhoods, settling in Nob Hill in SF but continuing to poke around looking for hidden gems in the cities and countryside.
Soon my curiosity turned into into a side gig bringing life back to overlooked bungalows and Craftsman fixers in the flats of Oakland and Berkeley. I loved the blending of the new with irreplaceable elements of the original, and uncovering those key upgrades for each property to unlock the magic within.
In my spare time I can be found on the ski slopes, biking on the road and mountain, searching for the perfect ramen, or catching live music all over. You know, Bay Area stuff. Also known to adopt stray pittie mixes from the shelter and teach them how to surf, ski and eventually become movie stars (still waiting for that last dream to come true…).
In 2021 after decades in tech building sites and apps for eBay, Samsung et al, I moved the real estate side-gig to front and center, adding a Sonoma focus as I saw the pandemic-fueled migration out of the city.
Today, there are great opportunities up in the country and back in the city. With a little more space in SF and the East Bay still growing up, there’s room for buyers to find their place. The towns of Sonoma, Petaluma, Sebastopol and Healdsburg continue to refine their offerings for those with city tastes who want country space.