In the San Francisco Chronicle • April 19, 2026

The best renovations either create more usable space or make the space you have work better. In San Francisco, some improvements consistently deliver more value than others—whether you’re preparing to sell or building your forever home.

What are some important questions buyers should ask themselves as they search for properties?

A: There are so many — and most buyers don’t know which ones to ask, let alone entirely new topics to understand, until they connect with a good agent.

The early questions of preferences and location evolve: Do you like it? Can you see yourself there? But extrapolate out and the weightier ones emerge: Where are you in your life, and is this where you want it to take place?

As a former practicing attorney and mediator, I was trained to ask probing questions — to learn, to consider, to challenge. From years of doing real estate, I’ve developed a repository of answers to typical and atypical questions, and for things I don’t know, I have a deep network and research skills to draw upon.

Some clients ask if I want to see their scoring spreadsheets. I usually pass — because I’ve seen it so many times: when the right place comes along, a gut feeling takes over and the spreadsheet becomes a thing of the past. It’s the “this is the one” moment.

In San Francisco, the remaining questions come down to affordability and how far you’re willing to stretch against the competition. Now it’s time for questions of strategy and endurance.

Thinking about buying in San Francisco?

Finding the right home starts with asking the right questions—about the property, the market, your priorities, and what you're willing to do when the right place comes along. We'll help you work through all of it.

Start the Conversation

Years as an attorney and mediator taught me to ask questions—to listen, probe, and understand what really matters. Real estate has taught me something else: sometimes the right home changes the questions entirely. My job is to help buyers sort through both—the practical questions and the gut feeling—and know when it's time to make a move.

Kevin K. Ho · Vanguard Properties

415.297.7462 · kevin@team-kho.com