I stopped at 908 Steiner in Alamo Square on my broker tour today. The property was built for a family in 1888 and ultimately became a halfway house in the postwar years—giving way to a hippie enclave in the ’60s and ’70s. The current owners have preserved murals and original artwork from the hippie years, visible in some of the three-story Victorian’s many rooms.
But alas, here we are heading into 2009, and times have changed. Buyers aren’t necessarily looking for a preserved hippie house featuring wall-to-wall ornate carpet and wallpaper on every surface. They also don’t really like small bathrooms with multiple shelves showcasing various Barbie dolls. At the right price, well, maybe. But at the current $1,950,000 list price, these trappings begin to feel like a liability for the seller. Paired with no garage, this hippie Victorian may be on the market for a while.
Update: 908 Steiner sold for $1,275,000 in Sept 2009 (!)