Top 5 Real Estate Buys in San Mateo County week of June 30,2008

There are some great real estate buys in San Mateo County right now. And at this point in time, buyers should  be very agressive in making offers!  Fence sitting is not wise and you could miss out.  Each week, I feature 5 properties that I think buyers should consider. They will not always be right for everyone, and I  try to cover several price-points and property types.  I  base my criteria on neighborhood comps & historical value trends, the neighborhood’s long-term investment potential, and the home’s long-term investment potential. Now more than ever, I encourage buyers to see beyond the obvious. Remember that neighborhood trends are changing, and “deals” are relative. The best “deals” are homes that need some improvement.  If you want a home that’s fully remodeled, you will pay top dollar! Remember, you can contact me if you need more information about these homes, neighborhoods and/or other available listings. It’s what I do…

1) 31 Kenton Avenue, San Carlos. This is a classic post WW II home on a woodsy street in San Carlos. These are the homes that sprouted up all over when San Carlos had it’s first real growth boom. 2/1 1020 square feet with a good size lot. You can expand and will likely want to. But  $675,000 in this neighborhood? That’s a FANTASTIC investment. Cute, clean, move-in ready. Update to your heart’s content.  Listed by Helen Cross of Coldwell Banker.

2) 1653 Carleton Ct. Redwood City. Woodside Plaza is and always has been, a great neighborhood. This listing is a deal. $819,995. Seriously, it doesn’t get better than that. The home is a 4/2 with 1460 square feet AND an ample lot at 6700 square feet. Kitchen is updated. The exterior is not much to look at but you’ll be adding your touches, anyway! Go see this one. Listed by Diane Rothe, Coldwell Banker.

3) 758 Arnold Way, Menlo Park. Ah, the Willows neighborhood. I love this area and it is  one of the last bastions of affordability in Menlo Park, west of 101. Homes here are being bouht & remodeled. Comps are well over $1 million and the Menlo Park schools will ensure your investment. The existing home is a 3/2, 1380 square feet. Generous 7,000 square foot lot. A smart buyer will scoop this up fast. Listed by David McKeever, Coldwell Banker.

4) 136 15th Avenue, San Mateo. If you like older homes with some architectural detail, here’s a good one for you. It’s a 1927 bungalow 3/1 1280 square feet. Beautiful hardwood floors and a nice sized lot you can work with. This neighhborhood (Hayward Park)is full of stunning remodels; one of my favorites. Drive around and take a look. Listed at &799,000 by Richard Williamson of Re/Max Today.

5) 108 Brook Street, San Carlos. This was the first street I lived on as a child in San Carlos and it’s still idillic. A cul-de-sac with an annual block party…what more could you ask for?  The home is a perfect starter and priced well at $729,000. 2/1, 770 square feet with expansion potential. White picket fence, rose garden, the works. Adorable. Listed by Janet Pepe Davis at Carlmont Associates.

Top 5 Real Estate Buys in San Mateo County week of June 23, 2008

 

There are some great real estate buys in San Mateo County right now. And at this point in time, buyers should  be very agressive in making offers!  Each week, I feature 5 properties that I think buyers should consider. They will not always be right for everyone, and I  try to cover several price-points and property types.  I  base my criteria on neighborhood comps & historical value trends, the neighborhood’s long-term investment potential, and the home’s long-term investment potential. Now more than ever, I encourage buyers to see beyond the obvious. Remember that neighborhood trends are changing, and “deals” are relative. The best “deals” are homes that need some improvement.  If you want a home that’s fully remodeled, you will pay top dollar! Remember, you can contact me if you need more information about these neighborhoods and/or their available listings. It’s what I do…

1) 1330 Hull Drive San Carlos. I’m not sure why no one is recognizing the value in this one. It’s on a street that’s full of remodels and the school is great.  A 3/3 at 1660 square feet, terraced decks in back; 6500 square foot lot. Bit of a view, too. It’s priced ok at $949,000 but it’s sitting. Comps are good here; appreciating, too.  So make an offer! Listed by Rebecca Ballesteros of Silicon Valley Capital.

2) 331 Lexington Way, Burlingame. This home has some great character, as most in this neighborhood do. Tree lined streets, lots of kids. Walkable to downtown Burlingame. $899,999; REALLY excellent pricing. It’s  a 3/1 (one baths were typical in pre WW-II homes; you can always add one), beautifully maincured yard. Go take a look at this one and buy in Burlingame…as you know, always a great investment. Listed by Mike Roberts at Coldwell Banker.

3) 170 Warren Road, San Mateo. A favorite neighborhood of home buyers for generation; San Mateo Park is beautiful. And home values are stable/appreciate year over year. This neighborhood is full of fantsatic homes from the  1920’s-1930’s with the kind of architectural detail that makes me swoon! This home is a good buy at $1,100,000 and has some amazing touches to work with. Move in ready, just needs your touches. 1500 square feet, 2/2, with a private yard, perfect hardwood floors, built ins…amazing.  Listed by Peggy Greene of Coldwell Banker. 

4) 508 ALameda de las Pulgas, Belmont. Yes, this house is on the Alameda, but it’s so charming and the lot is great at an ample 8,000 square feet. I think the price is pretty reasonable at $969,000. Moreover, I bet that price is a bit negotiable. It’s a 3/2 of 1500 square feet. Private feel and some great architectutral detail inside from 1941 when this neighborhood was the woods. I like it. Listedby John KIng at Keller Williams.

5) 920 Round Hill Road, Redwood City. OK, before you look it up I’m warning you…this one is all about the investment opportunity. It’s pink (likely grandma’s house), but it’s a nice rancher with good bones, 1600 square feet of remodel fun! And it’s the Roy Cloud School neighborhood so there’s your return on investment over time! Really, don’t let the pink paint throw you off. $998,000 is a good price and it’s been on the market for a bit so there’s some wiggle room, I would think. Listed by Marc Roos of Intero.  

America Cancer Society Relay for Life!!

hey! This weekend is the American Cancer Society Belmont-San Carlos Relay for Life…..and yours truly will be out there.  If you’ve never been to this event, you should come out:

The Realy for Life is the biggest national fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  Cities across the country  put on  24 hour relays where teams and their individuals (switching off), walk steadily that entire 24 hour period. The symbolism is that “Cancer Never Sleeps”.

The San Carlos-Belmont Relay takes place at Carlmont High School on the track. Starts in the morning Saturday, June 21 and goes until Sunday June 22nd. It draws about  33 teams, and that’s a lot of walkers!  Some  teams camp overnight, there is music, food, community, and some poignant ceremonies and presentations remembering cancer victims AND celebrating surviviors. Individuals are welcome (and encouraged) to come out as well, even just to walk a lap or two. I hope you do!

The best part of the weekend is the luminaria ceremony, where, after dark Saturday night, lights are lit completley around the track with candles remebering those who have been touched by cancer. It’s really a moving sight.

 A cancer survivor myself, it has been my honor for the last 2 years to participate in this event by providing dinner to the events’ 500+ participants, along with my felloe Lions Club members in San Carlos and Belmont.  Here is the link to the website…no need to register anymore; just come on over to Carlmont High.

 http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeCaliforniaDivision?fr_id=5045&pg=entry&JServSessionIdr007=37odk040r1.app311b&printer_friendly=1

Farmers Markets in San Mateo County

 

 

 

There are several  Farmers Markets in San Mateo County, mostly through September/October and I thought I’d post them so you could keep track. I hope you take advantage of them all summer, you can find one almost every day of the week!

Sundays: 9 AM-1 PM  Belmont Farmers Market ( CalTrain parking lot el Camino Real @ O’Neill)

http://www.pcfma.com/marketdetail.php?market_id=2

Tuesdays: 4-8PM 25th Ave San Mateo Farmers Market (194 w. 25th Ave) 

 http://www.pcfma.com/marketdetail.php?market_id=40

Tuesdays: 10AM-2PM @ Kaiser South San Francisco  (1200 el Camino Real, main entrance)

http://www.pcfma.com/marketdetail.php?market_id=26

Wednesdays: 10am-2 pm @Kaiser Redwood City (1150 Veterans @ Maple in parking lot)

http://www.pcfma.com/marketdetail.php?market_id=39

 Thursdays: 4-8PM: San Carlos (Hot Harvest Nights) (starting at the 700 block of Laurel Street)

http://www.pcfma.com/markethome.php?market_id=24

Saturdays: 9 Am-1 PM South San Francisco Farmers Market (Orange Memorial Park) 

http://www.pcfma.com/markethome.php?market_id=37

Saturdays: 9 AM – 1 PM San Mateo Farmers Market (College of San Mateo) 

 * also on Wednesdays

http://www.pcfma.com/markethome.php?market_id=15

Here’s the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association web site for other markets around the Bay Area, as well as some nifty info on the local harvests, etc. http://www.pcfma.com/

Top 5 Real Estate Buys in San Mateo County week of June 16th, 2008

There are some great real estate buys in San Mateo County right now. Each week, I feature 5 that I think buyers should consider. They will not always be right for everyone, and I  try to cover several price-points and property types.  I  base my criteria on neighborhood comps & historical value trends, the neighborhood’s long-term investment potential, and the home’s long-term investment potential. Now more than ever, I encourage buyers to see beyond the obvious. Remember that neighborhood trends are changing, and “deals” are relative. The best “deals” are homes that need some improvement.  If you want a home that’s fully remodeled, you will pay top dollar! Remember, you can contact me if you want more info or need an agent. It’s what I do…

1) 172 Bayview Drive, San Carlos. This is a DREAM property with panoramic views. A 16,000 square foot lot to play with to your heart’s content. The home itself is completely dated (3/2, 1600 square feet),  but liveable while you design your custom home. Seriously, this property has nothing but upside. Need a contractor referral? I have several…. you should pounce on this one. As I always say, the best opportunities are the fixers, folks. Priced really well for this high end San Carlos neighborhood $1,150,000. Listed by John Shroyer at Re Max Today.

2) 531 Hillside Road Redwood City (Emerald Hills). Here’s an amazing opportunity to buy a move in ready home that you can expand upon at your leasure. Talk about a great investment. The home itself is quite cute: a cozy cabin style home typical of the hundreds that have dotted these hills since the 1920’s. 2/1, 1080 square feet, pristine hardwood floors and other updates. Views of the east bay. The real kicker though, is the 16,291 square foot lot. It’s a complete steal at $749,950. Buyers are fence sitting  at their own peril. But you’re smarter than that!! This neighborhood is now at $1.5 million. Listed by Michelle Glaubert, Coldwell Banker.

3) 1244 Laurel Hill Drive, San Mateo. This is a rare Bank owned property in a high end San Mateo neighborhood. The price is certainly right. And  quite possibly available under asking since it’s been sitting for a while. Listed at $1,119,900.  It’s an expansive 2530 square feet and the lot is a large one at over 9,000. This is simply a lot of home for the money.  Listed by Michael Ames at cashin Company. PS: Need to know how to buy a bank owned property? I’ve been working with them since 2004. I can guide you.

4) 2000 Valparaiso Ave. Menlo Park. Menlo Park holds its value so well and they have seen consistent appreciation over the past severl years, including this one. This home is totally remodeled and sweet as can be. Located on the west side in a great neighborhood, this 3/1 has 1120 square feet and a sizable lot of over 8,000 sq feet. It’s priced really well at $1,149,000 by Tom Le Mieux at Coldwell Banker.

5) 516 Howard Avenue, Burlingame. This is a neat old Spanish style home with HUGE character. This neighborhood is booming; remodeling happening on almost every block. That tells you something. It’s a 3/1 at 1710 square feet which is quite large for a 1930’s Spanish home. The lot is a little over 5200 square feet; typical for the area. Lots of original architecture inside that you can work from. What fun! And a fantastic investment. Listed at $899,000 by Erik Winkler of Alain Pinel.

Top 5 Real Estate Buys in San Mateo County week of June 9, 2008

There are some great real estate buys in San Mateo County right now. Each week, I feature 5 that I think buyers should consider. They will not always be right for everyone, and I  try to cover several price-points and property types.  I  base my criteria on neighborhood comps & historical value trends, the neighborhood’s long-term investment potential, and the home’s long-term investment potential. Now more than ever, I encourage buyers to see beyond the obvious. Remember that neighborhood trends are changing, and “deals” are relative. The best “deals” are homes that need some improvement.  If you want a home that’s fully remodeled, you will pay top dollar! Remember, you can contact me if you want more info or need an agent. It’s what I do…

1) 910 Sunset Drive, San Carlos. Go get a contractor….and buy this house. If you’re a contractor yourself, what are you waiting for? The list price of $859,000 is about as low as it gets and you’re getting almost 10,000 square feet of lot in the hills of San Carlos. Priced at practically dirt value, it’s an old cabin, really ( we used to have lots of those around here), and the remodel potential is unlimited.  Existing dwelling is a 2/1 at 940 square feet.  You should see the comps in this neighborhood! Huge upside. Listed by Raquel Williams of Blue Point World Inc.

2) 729 East 16th Avenue, San Mateo.  This 3/1 in the  Sunnybrae neighborhood is listed at $689,000 and I have to tell you, this neighborhood is one to watch.  Lots of buying & remodeling going on here; great location. 1180 square feet, classic rancher with a few more updates needed; hence the great price. Lot is almost 5,000 square feet. Mature fruit trees & privacy. I like this one a lot. Listed by Paul Stewart of Cashin Company.

3) 2491 Massachusetts Avenue, Redwood City. This huge 4/3 rancher has 1900 square feet of living space on 6500 square feet of lot. Listed very well at $849,000.   The Woodside Plaza neighborhood is a fantasticright now and comps at over $1.2 million. Always a popular area and lots of remodeling projects happening in the neighborhood. The home is dated  but move in ready. This is a great one to grab. Liste by Jim Somers at Coldwell Banker San Carlos.

4) 1850 Alden Street, Belmont. Listed by Janet Pepe Davis at  Carlmont Assciates. Remodeled kitchen, baths, great landscaping all for $798,800.  A 2/1, 1010 square feet. Small but good starter. Especially of you don’t want to do any remodeling work. Lot is a good size at 5200 square feet.  Great price for this Belmont hills location. I will bet this gets several offers rather quickly.

5) 229 Stilt Court, Foster City. This is a 3/2 with 1700 square feet of living space. Lot is a standard 6,000 square feet.  Finding something this nice in Foster City under $1 million is a challenge. It has had some updates done including kitchen and dual pane windows. Listed at $968,888 by Paul Huang of Allwin Properties. This is a good buy in a neighborhood that retains its value.

Starter neighborhoods on the Peninsula: where the deals are!

Yesterday’s Chronicle featured a front page article on buyers (particularly first-timers), taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the current foreclosure and bank-owned listing boom. I was pleased to see this article because it reaffirms something I have always believed in; the entry-level neighborhoods on the Peninsula. These  neighborhoods aren’t high end; these are neighborhoods that need a little polishing. Areas that some turn up their noses at. Neighborhoods like Redwood City’s Horgan Ranch, the east side of Middlefield Road, or Lenolt. East Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, or Shoreview in San Mateo.  

 These neighborhoods are generally full of families and hard working folks who maintain their homes. And often their proximity to commerce, parks, and transit are unparalleled. So if you’re looking to get into the market and you’re not investigating these neighborhoods, you may want to think again. There will always be a starting market. Remember, the Peninsula itself is made up of dozens of micro-markets. And we will never build much in the way of new housing so our options are limited. Trust me, these unpolished neighborhoods will get polished sooner or later!

 

Developers in East Palo Alto are already working diligently to change the face of that community, and I believe it will happen. Redwood City’s new downtown development has brought new buyers to adjacent neighborhoods on the east side; the same is true in San Mateo. It’s an exciting time for buyers with some entrepreneurial spirit.

 

In real estate, you have to start somewhere. And with our inherent lack of inventory, entry-level neighborhoods will shift and appreciate. Savvy investors and property owners have known this for years. Some of the most successful real estate investors I know go straight for these neighborhoods. And they ride the improvement tide. So don’t overlook or underestimate them.  Drive around and look more closely. Are properties being remodeled? Are yards being landscaped? Are commercial developments getting facelifts? Those are the things to note.

 

If you’d like further input or guidance on some of these pockets of opportunity, I’m happy to help. Give me a call or shoot me an email. I’m planning an event that will cover some of this in July. If you’d be interested in attending, let me know.

 

Top 5 Real Estate Buys week of June 2, 2008

 

There are some great real estate buys in San Mateo County right now. Each week, I feature 5 that I think buyers should consider. They will not always be right for everyone, and I  try to cover several price-points and property types.  I  base my criteria on neighborhood comps & historical value trends, the neighborhood’s long-term investment potential, and the home’s long-term investment potential. Now more than ever, I encourage buyers to see beyond the obvious. Remember that neighborhood trends are changing, and “deals” are relative. The best “deals” are homes that need some improvement.  If you want a home that’s fully remodeled, you will pay top dollar! Remember, you can contact me if you want more info or need an agent. It’s what I do…

1) 45 Maple Way, San Carlos. Ok, this house has been on my list severl times. Why? because the sellers insisted it be listed too high and now it’s sitting. Would someone make an offer under asking already???? This home is in tip-top condition, owned by the same couple for over 30 years. a 3/2, 1250 square feet. Lot is 5,000 and it’s in a lovely San Carlos neighborhood west of the Alameda de las Pulgas. Listed a tad high at $929,000. Needs a little kitchen & bath update.  A smart buyer would write an offer and get a great deal. This is a wonderful home. Listed by Justine Ford, Re/Max Today.)

2) 103 Lakeview Way, Emerald Hills (Redwood City). Cute 2/2 of 1390 square feet with a big 10,000 square foot lot. A unique  chance to get into this highly sought-after neighborhood under $1million and move-in ready. An 85 year old cabin (like many properties in this area, folks used to come down from the city on weekends). Owned by the same couple for 30 years, it’s a bit dated on the inside but totally liveable while you remodel. At $850,000 This will sell quickly, likely with multiple offers. Listed by Judy Litteer at prudential.

3) 318 San Carlos Avenue, Redwood City. This is a short sale in a Redwood City neighborhood that has continued to appreciate since 2004. Comps at $1 million; borders Atherton.  Yes, it’s small, a 2/1, 740 square feet, but at this price, grab it and watch your money grow. Listed at $499,999. An especially good deal for well-qualified first time buyers. Listed by Raul Valdivia of Hogares Realty.

4) 16 Prague Street, San Mateo. I’ve always been a fan of North Shoreview and this is a great price for a really cute home that’s been well-maintained. It’s a short sale at $505,000. A 2/1 (typical 1947 home in this area). Lot is 5,000 square feet. New park just down the street and the Bayside trail is magnificent. Listed by Berta Tovar of Marshall Realty.

5) 1009 Windermere, Menlo Park. This neighborhood has consistently appreciated since 2004 and while it’s seen a slight softening in the 1st quarter of this year, (probably only temporary), this home is a great buy. Surrounded by a community of new homes that just went on the market, all in the high $900,000’s. A classis rancher, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1160 square feet and a nice big lot of 5900 square feet. Easily expandable. The home is neat as a pin and the Menlo Park schools ensure your resale value down the line. Listed at $849,950 by Mia Meier of Red Hawk Realty.