All Forum Posts by: Nicola Rutherford

As an architectural designer I primarily use Revit, by autodesk. It has a learning curve for sure, but it is a really powerful program capable of doing everything you've asked about, and makes it incredibly easy to translate into sheets for permitting and construction. Not free like sketchup though! If you know someone with an education email you can typically get a free version with full capability. 

Hi  @Namit Raisurana, I'm a bay area local architectural designer with about 6yrs experience who is currently taking my architecture licensure exams. My experience is in public/institutional/commercial and hospitality, but I am very interested in residential architecture as well.

I'm not sure it's exactly what you're looking for, but there is a series called architect as developer by architect Jonathan Segal down in San Diego. It should give you a good rundown of the process from a design perspective, which might be helpful. That is my personal dream! I love design, and well made buildings with contemporary living environments, and I love architecture and construction, but sometimes find the clients limiting. 

Following because I'm also interested to see what comes up. Hope you find what you're looking for! 

Best, 

Nicola

Yes! I'm not sure if she's on here but my agent was Christine Holt www.xtineholt.com 

She was super responsive and negotiated me a great deal to close on my first offer. plus she's a lovely person all around! She also helped my best friends get the house they loved a couple blocks away from me last month.

Hi Krystin!

Also a novice from the bay area here, not sure I have enough experience to answer your question, but I can say I relate! I was in a very similar quandry 6 months ago but I decided to buy local. I couldn't handle spending 30k per year on *someone else's* mortgage any longer! It is possible to keep your expenses lower if you are willing to look in Oakland or Richmond (or another suburban area) or if you manage to catch a great deal for your first property, they are out there if you have a good team and act quick! Especially if you're comfortable putting in a little work on the place. Even with just 3% down my mortgage in Central Oakland is hundreds less than 3k per month before renting any rooms. Thanks to those sweet, sweet low interest rates. 

If you've managed to save up enough for a deposit, you could just keep saving and have your next purchase be oos rental while you build equity in your home. 

If you had a killer rent situation like $700/mo it would make more sense to keep renting and invest elsewhere. Just my 2c! Whatever you do it sounds like you'll be taking steps toward future security and that's awesome.