ProFILes
P RO F I L ES Text by Kim Olson
Where does our home end and our life begin? We ask so much of the place we live. Our homes are our shelter, studio, nursery, entertainment center, and single biggest investment. Every day we live in them we make them more our own. But sometimes we need to walk out our front door and see how everyone else lives. In the following pages are seven homes as different as the people who own them. Time to get to know your neighbors.
profiles
will appear every issue. They won’t be staged,
modeled, made-up, or body-doubled. If you or someone you know would like to be part of this series, please let us know.
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Photo by Michelle McCarron
No scooters or cats were harmed in the making of these photos.
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Kudzai Nyandoro, 30, engineering student and co-owner of The Shona People’s Gallery (www. zuvha.com) Mona Nyandoro, 33, Peace Corps recruiter and co-owner of The Shona People’s Gallery with Wesley and Tandiwe
Fresno Digs 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom house Price tag $220,000 (2005) Clinchers Affordable and close to a major university, with a great backyard for the kids
Ten years ago, after serving in the Peace Corps on the West African island of Sâo Tomé, Mona Nyandoro was traveling in Zimbabwe when she took a rafting trip on the Zambezi River. That’s where she met Kudzai, who was working as a safety kayaker. The two clicked and, a year and a half later, were married and living in the U.S. The couple ultimately landed in San Francisco, where they started their family. Daughter Tandiwe (pronounced Tawn-dee-way) arrived first. Then last year, the Nyandoros learned their second child was on the way. “I thought, ‘We can no longer pay $1,600 a month for rent,’” Mona says. “We knew we had to leave the Bay Area.” Friends in Fresno told her how much bang homeowners got for their buck in the Central Valley. Amazed and now hopeful, the Nyandoros headed southward to search for a house. They had been living in San Francisco’s historic, culturally diverse Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, so they were naturally drawn to Fresno’s Tower district, which has a similar vibe. It was there that they found—and bought—a 1921 bungalow-style house with a nice open layout and a giant kitchen. The family of four (Wesley arrived on New Year’s
doros may open a shop there to sell the Zimbabwean art they import. “Buying a home is a huge investment, so one tends to be a little nervous,” Kudzai says. “But we’re very happy here. It’s nice to be in a place that we can call our own and where we feel rested.” Photo by John Walker
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Eve) already feels at home in Fresno. In fact, the Nyan-
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Pam Andres, 33, hotel convention services manager James Sakamoto, 34, graphic designer
San Rafael Digs 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condominium Price tag $645,000 (2005) Clincher Located just a hop to restaurants, shops, and nature
James Sakamoto and Pam Andres started out as roommates back in 1997. But Cupid snuck up, and what began as a practical arrangement ultimately became something else entirely. The two Bay Area residents discovered they had plenty in common, including a taste for the active life—with both willing to tackle nearly any sport—and a love of travel. Despite their wanderlust, however, they eventually decided to put down roots, at least between vacations. “We were renting a house in Sausalito and just watching the housing market grow around us,” Pam says. “So we decided to look.” They hunted for a year and, after being repeatedly outbid, began to lose heart. Then they heard about a three-level condominium in a historic area of San Rafael, in Marin County, and decided to take a peek. They loved that it was in the downtown area and yet close to nature for quick access to hiking and mountain biking. Pam and James made an offer and, after a bit of negotiating, got the keys. “It was a little scary—I can’t tell you how many times I ran the numbers—but we really like it here,” James says. “There’s a lot of diversity in the restaurants and activities.” In fact, the two are constantly hoofing around their new environs. “We’ve never walked around so much,” Pam says. “We even have a little hill
San Rafael, the bridges, and Mt. Tamalpais.” Photo by Winni Wintermeyer
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right above us that we hike up, with an eagle-eye view of
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Jaime Steele, 29, product manager at CNET Networks Tim Steele, 33, owner of Green Planet Recycling and part-time mortgage broker
BENICIA Digs 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom house Price tag $458,000 (2005) Clincher Pleasant weather, a walkable neighborhood, and good schools (for children to come)
Jaime and Tim, who met in a college French class eight years ago and got hitched five years later, were renters in pricey Mill Valley, north of San Francisco, when they got the homebuying bug. “We’d spent a heck of a lot of money renting for years and figured our money would be better spent on something we could own,” Tim says. They had their hearts set on staying in bucolic Marin County, but ultimately cast a wider net, investigating seven different Bay Area locales before ultimately focusing in on Benicia, a waterfront city with small-town charm located east of the bay. “We found a really cute neighborhood in Benicia with a lot of older homes that have more character,” Jaime says. The one that ultimately captured their eye was a single-story L-shaped 1940s house with a nice yard. While the asking price had just been lowered, it was still beyond Tim and Jaime’s agreed-upon $400,000 budget. But they decided to take a deep breath and make an offer anyway, ultimately meeting the owner in the middle. Now comfortably situated in their new place, the Steeles can hardly imagine living anywhere else. They’ve planted a vegetable garden and five fruit trees in their yard, take regular strolls along the water, and love the
Marin, but now we love it out here.”
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close-knit community, which always seems to be throw-
Photo by Winni Wintermeyer
69
ing a parade or holiday gathering. “It’s important to keep your mind open and explore locations that you might not be familiar with,” Tim says. “At first, we wanted to stay in
Dan Grove, 36, Website producer
Oakland Digs Studio one-bathroom loft Price tag $266,000 (2003) Clincher Roomy garage space for working on projects
When Dan Grove bought his light, airy Oakland loft, he wasn’t even looking for a new home. “I’d been afraid of the market because I was seeing people paying $800,000 or $900,000 for a small two-bedroom house,” he said. “I thought, ‘How will I afford anything?’” Then, he got a call from his college buddy, who lived in a loft right down the street. The unit next door to him was for sale and he urged Dan to give the owner a call. The building, once a laundry facility, had been divvied into 33 loft units. After renting the units for several years, the owner was now selling them. Dan called the guy, who showed him the available unit the next day. The loft had 700 square feet of living space on top and 700 square feet of garage space below, with a big industrial, roll-up garage door. It was the perfect setup for Dan, who works on computers and older cars and had always wanted a big garage to use as a shop. “It was a fantastic opportunity at the right price and the right time,” Dan said. He agreed to buy the loft on the spot. The owner, a commercial real estate agent, whisked him back to his office to fill out paperwork and then to the bank to set up an account for Dan. “I got the deed ten days later,” Dan said. “It happened so fast he can still hardly believe it, but I haven’t looked back. I love it here. I’m still pinching myself that I had an opportunity like that.” Photo by Michelle McCarron
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Shorty Lorenat, 61, retired teacher Tom Lorenat, 73, retired teacher
Foster City Digs 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom house Price tag $72,000 in 1976; the house directly across the street recently sold for $1.2 million Clinchers A roomy interior, a generous yard, and a family-friendly community
When Tom and Shorty Lorenat were first married, they were quite happy in their cozy little Fresno townhouse. But once their two daughters were born, the place seemed to close in on them. They simply needed more space. “We wanted to remain in Foster City, but it was all landfill and, at that time, people weren’t sure if we were going to float into the bay or what would happen, so you could get more house for your money,” Shorty quips. “Still, we were the first of that group that needed two incomes to buy a home because the cost of living had started to rise.” The house they chose, which they’ve now lived in for 30 years, passed muster because it had plenty of room and was located just a block from a park with a beach. The Lorenats furnished their new home by snatching up items at model home sales. “Tom ended up becoming a flea market junkie and every week he would seek out hidden treasures,” Shorty says. “So now, we have an eclectic mix of modern and Asian pieces.” The Lorenats recently embarked on a major home revamp, gutting and remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms, removing the “cottage cheese” ceilings, and adding touches like crown molding. Change as it may, Shorty says, the house will always be home. In fact, one of the Lorenats’ daughters, who has a
daughters grew up and went to school and played soccer here,” she says. “All of their fondest memories are right here in this house.” Photo by Michelle McCarron
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20-month-old, just bought a house ten doors down. “Our
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Lawrence Clarke, 51, San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) employee Nick McMillan, 37, landscape architecture student
SAN FRANCISCO Digs 2-bedroom, 1 bathroom house Price tag $556,000 (2003) Clinchers Great flow and natural light inside and a garden out back
Some say that car trouble always happens at the worst time, but Nick McMillan might disagree. Nine years ago, he was attending a Valentine’s Day party when his car broke down. The party host suggested that he ask one of the other guests, Lawrence Clarke, for a ride home. The two hit it off and have been together ever since. After eight years of renting, they got the itch to buy their own home. “The market was doing really well and I felt some pressure, to be honest, to jump on the bandwagon,” Nick says. “But we also just wanted a place to call our own.” They initially targeted the quaint, quiet Bernal Heights and Glen Park neighborhoods—both replete with the older, character-rich homes they both like—but encountered sticker shock. So their realtor suggested the Excelsior, a more affordable, up-and-coming neighborhood. “We saw this place and just fell in love with it,” Nick says. “It had great views out the living room windows, a beautiful fireplace, and a nice quality to the light. And there are French doors that open onto a deck and garden.” The house also had a full, unfinished floor below the living space—and the owners even had plans drawn up by an architect to finish it. Nick and Lawrence made an offer and, after a brief tug-o’-war with another bidder, got the house. “It was actually kind of frightening going over our $500,000
says. “This house is just perfect for us.” Photo by Betsy Jay
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limit, but now I think we made a good decision,” Nick
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Delicia Kamins, 37, freelance writer and college instructor
San Francisco Digs 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom condominium Price tag $285,000 (2001) Clincher Loads of San Francisco panache
When Delicia Kamins found her dream home—a Victorian building on a tree-lined street in desirable Cole Valley—she knew she had to have it. “I loved the glass doorknobs and moldings,” she says. “It was a true San Francisco place.” But her offer was the lowest of 23 bids on two available units. What’s more, the fledgling freelance writer didn’t have a regular job. What she did have, though, was passion and creativity. To convince the tenants-in-common owners that she’d be an ideal neighbor and business partner, she compiled a portfolio that included glowing letters from friends in the mayor’s office, at KGO-TV and other city institutions, testimonials from former neighbors, photos, and a San Francisco magazine story that named her one of the city’s most eligible singles. “I used anything that showed how much a part of San Francisco I am,” she says. “I wanted them to know that I care about living here.’” She also kicked in a good faith estimate of $5,000 to show she was serious. Her innovative approach paid off. “When my offer was accepted, I had to hear it eight times,” she says. A few years after settling in, Delicia met her husband Isaac, who settled in as well. The building is now converting from a TIC to condos, to the Kamins’s delight. “At first, I wasn’t ready to handle all the responsibilities of home ownership on my own,” Delicia says. “Being in a TIC helped me learn how to be a homeowner gradually—and now I’m ready.” EQUITYSUMMER 2006
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Photo by Betsy Jay
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Where does our home end and our life begin? We ask so much of the place we live. Our homes are our shelter, studio, nursery, entertainment center, and single biggest investment. Every day we live in them we make them more our own. But sometimes we need to walk out our front door and see how everyone else lives. In the following pages are seven homes as different as the people who own them. Time to get to know your neighbors.
profiles
will appear every issue. They won’t be staged,
modeled, made-up, or body-doubled. If you or someone you know would like to be part of this series, please let us know.
EQUITYSUMMER 2006
EQUITYSUMMER 2006 62
Photo by Michelle McCarron
No scooters or cats were harmed in the making of these photos.
63
Kudzai Nyandoro, 30, engineering student and co-owner of The Shona People’s Gallery (www. zuvha.com) Mona Nyandoro, 33, Peace Corps recruiter and co-owner of The Shona People’s Gallery with Wesley and Tandiwe
Fresno Digs 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom house Price tag $220,000 (2005) Clinchers Affordable and close to a major university, with a great backyard for the kids
Ten years ago, after serving in the Peace Corps on the West African island of Sâo Tomé, Mona Nyandoro was traveling in Zimbabwe when she took a rafting trip on the Zambezi River. That’s where she met Kudzai, who was working as a safety kayaker. The two clicked and, a year and a half later, were married and living in the U.S. The couple ultimately landed in San Francisco, where they started their family. Daughter Tandiwe (pronounced Tawn-dee-way) arrived first. Then last year, the Nyandoros learned their second child was on the way. “I thought, ‘We can no longer pay $1,600 a month for rent,’” Mona says. “We knew we had to leave the Bay Area.” Friends in Fresno told her how much bang homeowners got for their buck in the Central Valley. Amazed and now hopeful, the Nyandoros headed southward to search for a house. They had been living in San Francisco’s historic, culturally diverse Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, so they were naturally drawn to Fresno’s Tower district, which has a similar vibe. It was there that they found—and bought—a 1921 bungalow-style house with a nice open layout and a giant kitchen. The family of four (Wesley arrived on New Year’s
doros may open a shop there to sell the Zimbabwean art they import. “Buying a home is a huge investment, so one tends to be a little nervous,” Kudzai says. “But we’re very happy here. It’s nice to be in a place that we can call our own and where we feel rested.” Photo by John Walker
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Eve) already feels at home in Fresno. In fact, the Nyan-
65
Pam Andres, 33, hotel convention services manager James Sakamoto, 34, graphic designer
San Rafael Digs 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condominium Price tag $645,000 (2005) Clincher Located just a hop to restaurants, shops, and nature
James Sakamoto and Pam Andres started out as roommates back in 1997. But Cupid snuck up, and what began as a practical arrangement ultimately became something else entirely. The two Bay Area residents discovered they had plenty in common, including a taste for the active life—with both willing to tackle nearly any sport—and a love of travel. Despite their wanderlust, however, they eventually decided to put down roots, at least between vacations. “We were renting a house in Sausalito and just watching the housing market grow around us,” Pam says. “So we decided to look.” They hunted for a year and, after being repeatedly outbid, began to lose heart. Then they heard about a three-level condominium in a historic area of San Rafael, in Marin County, and decided to take a peek. They loved that it was in the downtown area and yet close to nature for quick access to hiking and mountain biking. Pam and James made an offer and, after a bit of negotiating, got the keys. “It was a little scary—I can’t tell you how many times I ran the numbers—but we really like it here,” James says. “There’s a lot of diversity in the restaurants and activities.” In fact, the two are constantly hoofing around their new environs. “We’ve never walked around so much,” Pam says. “We even have a little hill
San Rafael, the bridges, and Mt. Tamalpais.” Photo by Winni Wintermeyer
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right above us that we hike up, with an eagle-eye view of
67
Jaime Steele, 29, product manager at CNET Networks Tim Steele, 33, owner of Green Planet Recycling and part-time mortgage broker
BENICIA Digs 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom house Price tag $458,000 (2005) Clincher Pleasant weather, a walkable neighborhood, and good schools (for children to come)
Jaime and Tim, who met in a college French class eight years ago and got hitched five years later, were renters in pricey Mill Valley, north of San Francisco, when they got the homebuying bug. “We’d spent a heck of a lot of money renting for years and figured our money would be better spent on something we could own,” Tim says. They had their hearts set on staying in bucolic Marin County, but ultimately cast a wider net, investigating seven different Bay Area locales before ultimately focusing in on Benicia, a waterfront city with small-town charm located east of the bay. “We found a really cute neighborhood in Benicia with a lot of older homes that have more character,” Jaime says. The one that ultimately captured their eye was a single-story L-shaped 1940s house with a nice yard. While the asking price had just been lowered, it was still beyond Tim and Jaime’s agreed-upon $400,000 budget. But they decided to take a deep breath and make an offer anyway, ultimately meeting the owner in the middle. Now comfortably situated in their new place, the Steeles can hardly imagine living anywhere else. They’ve planted a vegetable garden and five fruit trees in their yard, take regular strolls along the water, and love the
Marin, but now we love it out here.”
EQUITYSUMMER 2006
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close-knit community, which always seems to be throw-
Photo by Winni Wintermeyer
69
ing a parade or holiday gathering. “It’s important to keep your mind open and explore locations that you might not be familiar with,” Tim says. “At first, we wanted to stay in
Dan Grove, 36, Website producer
Oakland Digs Studio one-bathroom loft Price tag $266,000 (2003) Clincher Roomy garage space for working on projects
When Dan Grove bought his light, airy Oakland loft, he wasn’t even looking for a new home. “I’d been afraid of the market because I was seeing people paying $800,000 or $900,000 for a small two-bedroom house,” he said. “I thought, ‘How will I afford anything?’” Then, he got a call from his college buddy, who lived in a loft right down the street. The unit next door to him was for sale and he urged Dan to give the owner a call. The building, once a laundry facility, had been divvied into 33 loft units. After renting the units for several years, the owner was now selling them. Dan called the guy, who showed him the available unit the next day. The loft had 700 square feet of living space on top and 700 square feet of garage space below, with a big industrial, roll-up garage door. It was the perfect setup for Dan, who works on computers and older cars and had always wanted a big garage to use as a shop. “It was a fantastic opportunity at the right price and the right time,” Dan said. He agreed to buy the loft on the spot. The owner, a commercial real estate agent, whisked him back to his office to fill out paperwork and then to the bank to set up an account for Dan. “I got the deed ten days later,” Dan said. “It happened so fast he can still hardly believe it, but I haven’t looked back. I love it here. I’m still pinching myself that I had an opportunity like that.” Photo by Michelle McCarron
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Shorty Lorenat, 61, retired teacher Tom Lorenat, 73, retired teacher
Foster City Digs 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom house Price tag $72,000 in 1976; the house directly across the street recently sold for $1.2 million Clinchers A roomy interior, a generous yard, and a family-friendly community
When Tom and Shorty Lorenat were first married, they were quite happy in their cozy little Fresno townhouse. But once their two daughters were born, the place seemed to close in on them. They simply needed more space. “We wanted to remain in Foster City, but it was all landfill and, at that time, people weren’t sure if we were going to float into the bay or what would happen, so you could get more house for your money,” Shorty quips. “Still, we were the first of that group that needed two incomes to buy a home because the cost of living had started to rise.” The house they chose, which they’ve now lived in for 30 years, passed muster because it had plenty of room and was located just a block from a park with a beach. The Lorenats furnished their new home by snatching up items at model home sales. “Tom ended up becoming a flea market junkie and every week he would seek out hidden treasures,” Shorty says. “So now, we have an eclectic mix of modern and Asian pieces.” The Lorenats recently embarked on a major home revamp, gutting and remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms, removing the “cottage cheese” ceilings, and adding touches like crown molding. Change as it may, Shorty says, the house will always be home. In fact, one of the Lorenats’ daughters, who has a
daughters grew up and went to school and played soccer here,” she says. “All of their fondest memories are right here in this house.” Photo by Michelle McCarron
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20-month-old, just bought a house ten doors down. “Our
73
Lawrence Clarke, 51, San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) employee Nick McMillan, 37, landscape architecture student
SAN FRANCISCO Digs 2-bedroom, 1 bathroom house Price tag $556,000 (2003) Clinchers Great flow and natural light inside and a garden out back
Some say that car trouble always happens at the worst time, but Nick McMillan might disagree. Nine years ago, he was attending a Valentine’s Day party when his car broke down. The party host suggested that he ask one of the other guests, Lawrence Clarke, for a ride home. The two hit it off and have been together ever since. After eight years of renting, they got the itch to buy their own home. “The market was doing really well and I felt some pressure, to be honest, to jump on the bandwagon,” Nick says. “But we also just wanted a place to call our own.” They initially targeted the quaint, quiet Bernal Heights and Glen Park neighborhoods—both replete with the older, character-rich homes they both like—but encountered sticker shock. So their realtor suggested the Excelsior, a more affordable, up-and-coming neighborhood. “We saw this place and just fell in love with it,” Nick says. “It had great views out the living room windows, a beautiful fireplace, and a nice quality to the light. And there are French doors that open onto a deck and garden.” The house also had a full, unfinished floor below the living space—and the owners even had plans drawn up by an architect to finish it. Nick and Lawrence made an offer and, after a brief tug-o’-war with another bidder, got the house. “It was actually kind of frightening going over our $500,000
says. “This house is just perfect for us.” Photo by Betsy Jay
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limit, but now I think we made a good decision,” Nick
75
Delicia Kamins, 37, freelance writer and college instructor
San Francisco Digs 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom condominium Price tag $285,000 (2001) Clincher Loads of San Francisco panache
When Delicia Kamins found her dream home—a Victorian building on a tree-lined street in desirable Cole Valley—she knew she had to have it. “I loved the glass doorknobs and moldings,” she says. “It was a true San Francisco place.” But her offer was the lowest of 23 bids on two available units. What’s more, the fledgling freelance writer didn’t have a regular job. What she did have, though, was passion and creativity. To convince the tenants-in-common owners that she’d be an ideal neighbor and business partner, she compiled a portfolio that included glowing letters from friends in the mayor’s office, at KGO-TV and other city institutions, testimonials from former neighbors, photos, and a San Francisco magazine story that named her one of the city’s most eligible singles. “I used anything that showed how much a part of San Francisco I am,” she says. “I wanted them to know that I care about living here.’” She also kicked in a good faith estimate of $5,000 to show she was serious. Her innovative approach paid off. “When my offer was accepted, I had to hear it eight times,” she says. A few years after settling in, Delicia met her husband Isaac, who settled in as well. The building is now converting from a TIC to condos, to the Kamins’s delight. “At first, I wasn’t ready to handle all the responsibilities of home ownership on my own,” Delicia says. “Being in a TIC helped me learn how to be a homeowner gradually—and now I’m ready.” EQUITYSUMMER 2006
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Photo by Betsy Jay
77
