"Since their pre-IPO stock is still locked up, they’re taking out “quiet loans” — borrowing against their equity beforehand so they can put in an all-cash offer. "
Depends on loan agreement I guess. Best case they are out of some worthless stock. Worst case well they overpaid for house and now their stock is worthless and they have to cover difference.
Going off the actual definition, and not the political party that has historically used the term, the San Francisco bay area is one of the most conservative and least liberal regions in the country. The peninsula isn't even the most extreme, the north bay is.