But realizing that changes would have to be made before Hank's arrival, they converted a breakfast nook into a nursery.
"The idea and designs were Maggie's; the financial analysis and sweat equity were mine," said Bryan Mason.
"Sweat equity" is a term referring to labor invested in a property to increase its value. The Masons, however, are renters.
So why exert effort -- and spend money -- for a makeover? After all, any increased value goes into their landlord's pockets, not theirs.
The couple, who have been in their San Francisco apartment for five years, determined that staying put was more cost effective than moving and paying increased rent. After receiving their landlord's conditional blessing, they got to work.
"Paint, the right furniture and small home improvements don't take more than a few days," Bryan Mason said. "And they make our place a home, even if it is someone else's house."
The median price for a single-family dwelling in the Bay Area hit a record $720,000 last month, up from a year ago, according to a report released Wednesday by DataQuick Information Services. According to a California Association of Realtors report released last year, just 12 percent of Bay Area households can afford to purchase a median-price home.
