At the peak of San Francisco’s 2021 market frenzy, my buyers were over it. The Sunset was drawing 30–40 offers per listing—usually for fixer homes. We recalibrated. 1 Idora, in Forest Hill Extension, wasn’t drawing crowds—but it was fully renovated, had an oversized yard, and hit their lifestyle goals. The adjacent traffic was a tradeoff, but they saw what others didn’t: move-in readiness, standout design, and outdoor space that actually felt usable. I ran early diligence, structured a non-contingent offer, and helped them navigate a tricky listing agent to close without drama. The process was fast, focused, and aligned with their priorities—not the market’s noise. When the market’s irrational, you don’t need a bigger budget. You need a smarter strategy.