San Francisco Peninsula Update on the Housing Market
February 11, 2013
On the San Francisco Peninsula there are 14 active and 16 pending sales in Burlingame. Low inventory continues to be a problem everywhere. It is amazing how agents keep coming up with properties to sell to their waiting “pent up” buyers. Our Burlingame office just had 50 offers on a pair of fixer properties in San Mateo, which sold all cash substantially over asking price. There is little new inventory coming on in Hillsborough, however the high end is starting to show movement with four properties over $10 million and two over $5 million now in escrow. This is very encouraging to see high-end buyers actively in the market. Our Palo Alto manager says the inventory is even scarcer (if possible) than last year – while the demand is higher. Lack of inventory is the biggest concern for agents and clients in the Redwood City-San Carlos area. Agents are working in a wider area in order to find properties for their buyers. In San Mateo, our manager sees a slight increase in listings. Homes that are off-market coming back on the MLS in the Woodside and Portola Valley area. Sales have picked up over the past two weeks. Everyone has lots of buyers – not too many sellers yet.
Uses for Holiday Cards
January 25, 2013
American card, circa 1940 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Holiday cards always make me smile and reminisce about the person who sent it. I really hate to dispose of them, so mine are still sitting in a basket – for one more look. This year I plan on recycling some of the cards by sending them to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. Please read below for further information on how to do this.
I also heard a clever idea for the family photo holiday cards. Take a picture of the card with your smart phone and then store it as the picture in your contact information. Then every time that special person calls you will see the wonderful family photo.
Donating Tips for St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
- All types of greeting cards, including Christmas are accepted.
- Only the card front can be used (please check to be sure the backside of the front of the card is clear of any writing, etc.)
- They do not accept Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards.
- 5 x 7 size or smaller is preferred
- To mail large quantities in the least expensive way, use the United States Post Office in a Flat Rate Box (available at the Post Office), which holds up to 70 pounds.
- Mail donations to :
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005
Best Performing Cities
January 22, 2013
Cities on the Peninsula and in Silicon Valley have made the list of Best-Performing Cities nationwide by the Milken Institute.
The United States’ best-performing metro area is San Jose, the capital of Silicon Valley. Other cities with strong exposure to technological innovation scored high in the new ranking: Austin, Texas (No. 2, up from fourth place); Raleigh, N.C. (No. 3, up from No. 14); the Washington, D.C., metro (No. 5 from No. 17); and Cambridge, Mass. (No. 8 from No. 12).
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City were ranked 36 on the list in 2012, compared to their 52 spot in 2011.
“People expect tech to be one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy, and it was,” Ross DeVol, chief research officer of the Milken Institute and one of the report’s authors, said in a statement.
“A perhaps less expected highlight of this year’s rankings is how the national resurgence in manufacturing is reflected in the greatly improved fortune of local economies, especially in the upper Midwest,” he said.
Among this year’s biggest gainers in large metros is Holland-Grand Haven, Mich., leaping 108 places to No. 40. Other Midwestern hotspots include Minneapolis-St. Paul; Gary, Ind.; Warren, Mich.; and Indianapolis. Each city moved up at least 70 spots in this year’s index.
The Best-Performing Cities index includes measures of job, wage, and technology performance to rank the nation’s 200 large metropolitan areas and 179 smaller metros.
Unlike other “best places” rankings, it does not use quality-of-life metrics, such as commute times or housing costs. In the Institute’s index, employment growth is weighted most heavily due to its critical importance to community vitality. Wage and salary growth measures the quality of jobs created and sustained.
Article compliments from Patch.
Celebrity Historical Homes For Sale
January 6, 2013
Al Capone’s house in Varadero (Photo credit: Dani Figueiredo)
Al Capone’s house in Varadero (Photo credit: Dani Figueiredo)
Happy New Year Everyone!
Please enjoy our new Celebrity Homes that are Historical that are on the Market. Check out Regan, Al Capone, and Virsace…
http://xfinity.comcast.net/video/legendary-celebrity-homes-on-the-market/13783107803
San Carlos One of Top Real Estate Home Prices
December 2, 2012
How much does it cost to buy a four-bedroom, two-bath house?
This year, Los Altos/Los Altos Hills, at an average price of $1,706,688, is the most expensive market in the country when it comes to how much house your dollar will buy, according to Coldwell Banker’s annual Home Listing Report.
And San Carlos isn’t far behind, ranking 10th on the list, with an average listing price for a four-bedroom, two-bath home priced at $1,230,880 (wedged right between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Greenwich, CT). Belmont comes in at number 15, with an average home price of $1,098,777.
In fact, of the nation’s top five most expensive markets, four are on the lower Peninsula and Santa Clara County, and all are in California. Besides Los Altos, they include Saratoga ($1,582,434), Menlo Park ($1,506,909), and Palo Alto ($1,495,364). Newport Beach, in the No. 2 position ($1,658,000), was the only market outside of the Bay Area in the top five.
Coldwell Banker attributes Los Altos’ ranking to the confluence of tech and desirable locations. Google, Apple, Facebook and Stanford University are all located within 15 minutes of Los Altos, Coldwell Banker observed. And, so are the other top-five cities Saratoga, Menlo Park and Palo Alto.
And Los Altos Hills is the town that brought you the $100 million home, purchased by Russian tech investor Yuri Milner in 2011.
“The success of many of our native tech companies has shined a spotlight on Silicon Valley and our real estate market in the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Rick Turley, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in the San Francisco Bay Area, in a written statement.
In fact, among the top 20 most expensive markets in the country, ten of them are on the Peninsula or in Santa Clara Valley. They include the additional cities (in order of price) of Los Gatos, San Carlos, Cupertino, San Francisco and Redwood City.
High demand, low inventory, desirability and population projections all figure into the prices, Turley said.
Conversely, the most affordable was in Redford, Michigan, where the average a four-bedroom, two bath house cost $60,490—or 28 times less than the same house in Los Altos.
Coldwell Banker lists both the top 20 most affordable and the most expensive in the chart below.
For a state-by-state ranking, see this Coldwell Banker link.
| Rank | Most Expensive State | Avg Listing Price | Most Affordable States | Avg. Listing Price |
| 1 | Los Altos | $1,706,688 | Redford, Mich | $60,490 |
| 2 | Newport Beach, Calif. | $1,658,000 | College Park, GA | $62,080 |
| 3 | Saratoga | $1,582,434 | Detroit, Mich. | $65,155 |
| 4 | Menlo Park | $1,506,909 | Cleveland, Ohio | $70,0665 |
| 5 | Palo Alto | $1,495,464 | Poinciana, Fla. | $76,341 |
| 6 | Los Gatos | $1,444,214 | Hastings, Fla | $78,840 |
| 7 | Rye, N.Y. | $1,312,250 | Jonesboro, GA | $79,686 |
| 8 | Kailua, Hawaii | $1,238,208 | Park Forest, Ill. | $81,107 |
| 9 | Carmel-By-the-Sea | $1,232,167 | Augusta, GA | $83,966 |
| 10 | San Carlos | $1,230,880 | Johnstown, Penn. | $84,173 |
| 11 | Greenwich, Conn. | $1,200,525 | Cleveland Heights, Ohio | $84,535 |
| 12 | Cupertino | $1,151,145 | Saginaw, Mich. | $85,345 |
| 13 | San Francisco | $1,132,086 | Fort Pierce, Fla. | $89,292 |
| 14 | Weston, Mass | $1,105,692 | Country Club Hills, Ill. | $90,788 |
| 15 | Belmont | $1,098,777 | Irvington, N.J. | $92,264 |
| 16 | Boulder, Colo | $1,084,183 | Lehigh Acres, Fla | $92,819 |
| 17 | Orono, Minn. | $1,070,203 | Terrell, Texas | $96,329 |
| 18 | Mercer Island, Wash. | $1,059,411 | Warren, Mich. | $96,349 |
| 19 | Darien, Conn. | $1,056,933 | Ellenwood, Ga. | $97,850 |
| 20 | Redwood City | $1,010,394 | Maricopa, Ariz | $97,886 |
Biggest Gingerbread House
December 1, 2012
In keeping with its annual tradition, Walt Disney World’s Grand Floridian opened up its life- sized cookie doorsfor guests to buy gingerbread treats and holiday décor in the lobby of the Victorian-themed hotel. |
Santa Comes to Hiller Aviation in San Carlos
December 1, 2012
- Join us for Christmas Carols by the San Carlos Community Band
- Cookies, sodas and candy canes
- Santa will be available from 10am-12pm to listen to the kids Christmas list
- No Charge for Santa’s arrival – sponsored by the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce
- Museum doors open at 9:30AM
Special Snow Globe with Your Address
November 28, 2012
Snow Globe icon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This is a fun snow globe for this time of year. You just have to put in an address and it shows up with your house in snow. Of course, this is based in Google. I watch my house change all the time in google. All you need to do is:
ENTER YOUR ADDRESS and ZIP CODE (City & state not needed)
Then click the “Shake” button.
http://www.draftfcb.com/holiday2011/
My friend, Doug Anderson shared this with me and I thought it would be fun for everyone.
Happy Holidays!
Nancy
World’s Most Expensive Home
November 25, 2012
English: Panorama of the beachfront of Nice, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Check out this video on the world’s most expensive home which is located in Nice, France.
Happy Thanksgiving
November 21, 2012
During this time of Thanksgiving Celebrations, my thoughts turn to you with warm appreciation for your continued support, loyalty and trust!
May the day be filled with happy cheer and memories that last throughout the years!
Wishing you and yours a Healthy & Happy Thanksgiving!
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