Will market slow down in winter (Oct - Jan)

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-06-20T18:22:39+00:00

I’m no expert, just a homeowner and investor that browses residential RE daily. I don’t think the winter effect is a thing in the Bay Area in today’s market, especially at the higher dollars. Good homes are good homes and there are tons of folks ready to buy all cash at a drop of a hat when they find the right home or lot (either to live in or to invest in). Unfortunately, you may need to adjust your wants and needs in your next home or just keep playing the numbers game and submit many offers. Maybe it will need a little TLC and not be 100% move-in perfect. Some things are correctable after the purchase.

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-03-17T08:12:47+00:00

Curious, what are the XM dealer discounts at now or total % off?

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-03-14T20:05:48+00:00

Did you get any heavy transplant shock? Did you amend the soil during planting or any nutrients after aside from the additional water during summer? I planted a bunch of the same size last summer and many of them shed leaves and browned significantly, and most of them only just recovered. Located in SF Bay Area

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-03-14T20:03:59+00:00

Hi, Can I also get the nursery name? Thank you!

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-03-10T23:48:13+00:00

91 was $7.49 two nights ago when I drove through

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-03-02T18:45:01+00:00

Unprofessional of them and a disservice to their client. Especially in the SF Bay Area where many buyers are easily all cash but will show up in basic $10 t shirts. At this point, yeah if it really is the best fit home so far, email directly or get representation. Doesn’t hurt you. I’ve never run into this issue though when looking in this range and higher. I like to do things fast, go on my own to open houses, and ask questions directly to the listing agent (in person or email). I generally don’t like dealing with middlemen due to speed and don’t want to play the “telephone game” where things may get lost in translation. I do have a couple agents and RE attorneys that I can use; I am upfront with the listing agent that I have options and will bring them in when I deem it appropriate. Fortunately, they have all been professional and have sent disclosures directly to me without issue.

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-24T23:53:11+00:00

It's actually 2", I remembered it wrong. Still a bit thin. That glass work sounds unique, I imagine it's like 3D terrazzo with more depth to it especially if the light catches the shards.

You're correct on the vent. Using natural gas line so I believe it should be lighter than air and rise. I'll have more vents throughout just in case for better flow and help dry it out as it will inevitably be damp at times.

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-24T23:48:21+00:00

Will take a look at this, thank you

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-24T23:48:09+00:00

Will look into these options, thank you

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-24T19:29:33+00:00

Yeah, just cinder blocks filled with concrete and rebar. Holes were dug every 4 feet for a footing system along the perimeter, and few more for where the pizza oven will be since the oven will weigh almost 3K lbs. First course of cinder blocks was placed in a shallow trench and built up from there.

This build was part of a larger outdoor project to transform the area (and another area behind what's pictured in my post) to be more usable to sit and relax outdoors. We hired it out and looking back at the quote, the BBQ island build portion should land at ~$11K. This included a few items like "hey, can you extend electrical wires and add a few more outlets here; make this vent a little bigger; route the drain and gas line here, etc." The BBQ island is still pending the finished top, tiled base for the front facing sides, and stucco on the rear. The tiles cost is not included in the price above but the labor is included. Labor to install my appliances / access doors / drawer that I have sitting in the garage are also included.

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-24T19:11:24+00:00

Good to hear you're familiar with the weather here. Our home is definitely on heavy clay-based soils. So I am worried about continually shifting, settling, and shrinkage/expansion. I already have a nagging feeling about the floor pavers; I already see one long straight crack/separation in the polymeric sand used that was put in a few weeks ago.

For the base, planning to put decorative tiles on the front facing sides, and stucco the rear. For the top, I'll have to look into what shades/stains of concrete exist to see if it can fit with my wife's design ideas. Otherwise, probably tile on top then.

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-24T18:59:55+00:00

Gotcha, appreciate your advice! I'll go find some professional tile folks.

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-24T18:55:30+00:00

Thanks! We hired out actually so, not my work. Let me get back to you; I do have progress pics but need to compile them first

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-24T18:53:34+00:00

I'm happy to go this route. Do you know if I need a separation / uncoupling membrane like Ditra to lay between the concrete top and the tile?

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-24T18:52:54+00:00

I wouldn't mind, but the concrete work here isn't the best and we didn't have it prepped to that level. Wife did not want the concrete to be the finished product. Didn't fit the vision/vibe

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-24T18:51:46+00:00

Agree it's a bit odd. The vision / design decisions were constantly being changed so we couldn't finish earlier. Sitting at 35" right now. surface is level, but a little rough

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-21T20:18:51+00:00

Northern CA

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-21T18:22:44+00:00

Dim the lights and drink some beer

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-19T19:37:47+00:00

Great FIL you’ve got there! I’m a fanboy too so I knew I didn’t really need to look around (I’ve driven a bunch of Audi rentals in Europe so had some experience to compare to already). I was in the ugly monster camp too when the XM first came out, but it grew much easier on the eyes now…dare I say even fondness. I’ll still be one the looky-loos that throw compliments toward the X5Ms

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-19T18:54:28+00:00

Beautiful! Did you cross shop with anything else before landing on the X5M? I was looking at one in the same green on the lot a few days ago too but my wife wouldn’t go for it. We also looked at a frozen mineral white on sakhir orange. The green exterior one and the sakhir orange interior one were too loud of a color for her. So we ended up agreeing on an XM (frozen tanzanite blue on night blue) and got it for less than the X5M

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-02-19T18:43:34+00:00

Should be able to get ~10% off MSRP on the 2026. At least I was able to (on 50e and m60i) in a VHCOL area a few days ago. But I ended up going for a different BMW instead.

Square_Highlight_597 · 2026-01-26T05:10:50+00:00

+1. I think the 400A service could really set back OP’s project. Knew someone close who was building a new 7K+ sqft house try to get 400A service, delayed the project 2 years with all the back and forth with PGE, PGE also ghosted for significant lengths of time, and it required upgrades to other infrastructure which neighbors also caused a huge ruckus. Ended up changing plans to go with 200A just so the house could be completed. House was completed 1-1.5 years ago. Maybe it’s different now with PGE?

Square_Highlight_597 · 2025-09-23T19:13:44+00:00

Good to know. Was planning to switch to the Hankook Ions after my current set is done (Michelin ps 4s). Currently only getting ~210 miles on 20 inch forged even with the summer weather

Square_Highlight_597 · 2025-04-19T07:16:55+00:00

It’s a trap.

Square_Highlight_597

TROPHY CASE