Posted on 31 December 2008 by Vicki Moore
photo credit – Scott Eggers
The official waiting period for the start of Maverick’s Surf Contest is upon us. Every year the “master of ceremonies,” Jeff Clark, sends out the call to the best surfers in the world announcing that the contest will begin.
Those invitees will have 24 hours to make it to the San Mateo County coastal hamlet of Princeton, California to compete in the Super Bowl of big wave surfing.
Up until a year or two ago, you could pull right up to the parking lot, hop out and walk out to the bluff. Now they have shuttle buses and parking lots set aside for miles around.
With the advent of web casting you can view it from the comfort of your computer – and best of all you won’t need binoculars or sun screen.
We used to hear via word of mouth that the contest was about to start. Now you can get the announcement on your cell phone by texting “Mavericks” to 81595. ($1 charge.)
The history
Current conditions
MySpace
Flicker
Popularity: 57% [?]
Posted on 30 December 2008 by Vicki Moore
Credit for Energy – Efficient Improvements to a Personal Residence by a Homeowner - sound like tax language? It is. Anyway, the credit is back. It was available for 2006 and 2007 but not 2009. Well, it’s back for 2009.
So if you were thinking about putting in double-pane windows or buying new appliances, maybe this will be the impetus.
One of the 2008 Tax Acts – credit for solar, wind and other alternative energy expenditures by homeowners – does extend through 2016.
Popularity: 51% [?]
Posted on 29 December 2008 by Vicki Moore
Posted on 22 December 2008 by Vicki Moore
Quench your
Coupon Cravings with this site. Not only are there great ideas to save money but Erin doles out suggestions on how to get free stuff - yes, I said free. Like this
three-day deal at CVS or Win It Wednesday –
free Banquet Dinner Coupons.
Walmart and YouTube
Grocery Coupons
Coupon Mom
Peninsula Online Community
Free WiFi
Want to keep track of San Mateo’s Money-Saving suggestions? Subscribe to my blog feed.
Popularity: 57% [?]
Posted on 15 December 2008 by Vicki Moore
Want to have a fun night out without spending a ton of money? Get on
Goldstar’s alert email list to receive discounts on everything from facials to the ballet, musicals to comedy shows. Discounts run from free to half price. It’s a great service and it’s free.
Want to keep track of money-saving suggestions? Subscribe to my blog feed.
Popularity: 51% [?]
Posted on 15 December 2008 by Vicki Moore
This week had a better showing for a lot of cities as compared to
last week. Cities like Brisbane, Burlingame, Hillsborough, and San Mateo sold more houses than were listed. Daly City, El Granada, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Redwood City and Redwood Shores all kept up with the new listings by selling just as many.
Most homes sold for under the asking price; but Menlo Park had a surprising showing of selling 5 of its 6 listings for over the asking price.
For the third week in a row Belmont, Burlingame, Daly City, El Granada, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Montara, Moss Beach, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, and San Mateo all saw a decline in the number of homes available for sale.
| |
Available |
Listed |
Into Contract |
At List |
Above List |
Below List |
| Atherton |
23 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Belmont |
42 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| Brisbane |
8 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Burlingame |
42 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
3 |
| Daly City |
159 |
9 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
| El Granada |
15 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Foster City |
27 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Half Moon Bay |
60 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Hillsborough |
50 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Menlo Park |
98 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
| Millbrae |
35 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Montara |
21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Moss Beach |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pacifica |
75 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Portola Valley |
26 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Redwood City |
167 |
9 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
| Redwood Shores |
12 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| San Bruno |
60 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| San Carlos |
62 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
| San Mateo |
133 |
8 |
11 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
| South San Francisco |
119 |
10 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Woodside |
40 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Got a San Mateo County real estate question? Call me at 650.888.9268 or send me an email Vicki [at] CallVicki.com. If you like what you’ve read, subscribe to the San Mateo Real Estate Blog feed.
Start your San Mateo home search here.
Popularity: 64% [?]
Posted on 11 December 2008 by Vicki Moore
I’ve
gone on and on about median prices and what they mean. You can catch my soapbox theory at that post.
Here’s the straight dope: The median prices are calculated by looking at the MSA or Metropolitan Statistical Area. As Realtor.org says, MSA’s “are as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and include the specified city or cities and surrounding suburban areas.” What’s that mean? It means that San Mateo County is lumped in with San Francisco, Oakland and Fremont.
California existing home sales
| 2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2007.III |
2007.IV |
2008.I |
2008.II r |
2008.III p |
Qtr. |
Yr. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
% Change |
% Change |
| 601.1 |
459.9 |
355.0 |
314.4 |
305.2 |
310.0 |
388.8 |
498.0 |
28.1% |
58.4% |
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont Metropolitan Statistical Area
| 2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2007.III |
2007.IV |
2008.I |
2008.II r |
2008.III p |
% Change |
| 715.7 |
752.8 |
805.4 |
824.2 |
778.0 |
701.7 |
684.9 |
615.7 |
-25.3% |
San Mateo County Median Sales Price Q3 2007 & 2008
| |
2007 Q3 |
2008 Q3 |
% of Change |
| San Mateo County |
1,147,720 |
777,777 |
-47 |
| Atherton |
4,300,000 |
3,925,000 |
-9 |
| Belmont |
937,250 |
900,000 |
-4 |
| Brisbane |
1,025,000 |
860,000 |
-7 |
| Burlingame |
1,359,000 |
1,212,000 |
-11 |
| Daly City |
710,000 |
560,000 |
-22 |
| East Palo Alto |
584,900 |
315,000 |
-47 |
| El Granada |
970,500 |
655,000 |
-33 |
| Foster City |
1,175,000 |
1,088,000 |
-8 |
| Half Moon Bay |
1,150,000 |
859,837 |
-26 |
| Hillsborough |
2,852,000 |
2,323,750 |
-19 |
| La Honda |
665,000 |
250,000 |
-63 |
| Loma Mar |
647,500 |
1,100,000 |
69 |
| Menlo Park |
1,207,000 |
1,340,000 |
11 |
| Millbrae |
975,000 |
980,000 |
0.5 |
| Montara |
1,145,000 |
847,500 |
-26 |
| Moss Beach |
819,000 |
700,000 |
-15 |
| Pacifica |
728,825 |
580,000 |
-21 |
| Pescadero |
645,000 |
2,150,000 |
97 |
| Portola Valley |
2,430,000 |
2,050,000 |
-16 |
| Redwood City |
872,500 |
790,000 |
-10 |
| Redwood Shores |
1,194,000 |
1,065,000 |
-11 |
| San Bruno |
755,500 |
599,500 |
-21 |
| San Carlos |
1,151,000 |
1,020,000 |
-12 |
| San Mateo |
945,400 |
825,000 |
-13 |
| South San Francisco |
700,000 |
580,000 |
-18 |
| Woodside |
2,335,000 |
1,600,000 |
-32 |
Got a San Mateo County real estate question? Call me at 650.888.9268 or send me an email
Vicki [at] CallVicki.com. If you like what you’ve read, subscribe to the
San Mateo Real Estate Blog feed.
Start your San Mateo home search here.
Popularity: 89% [?]
Posted on 10 December 2008 by Vicki Moore
Daly City and South San Francisco have continued to steadily decline in inventory. Daly City from over 5 months’ inventory in January to just under 2 in November. South City from 6 months to 2.3 months’ inventory.
The only dramatic changes have been increases in inventory. Atherton, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Montara and Portola Valley have all double in numbers comparing January to November.
Looking at other stats in Foster City, it appears that that increase is having an impact: The median sale price has gone from $1,227,500 in January to $999,888 in November – a drop in median of over $225,000. The percentage of list price dropped from 99.31% to 97.23%.
| |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
Jul |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
| Atherton |
8.5 |
4 |
3.6 |
3.1 |
6 |
2.8 |
5.0 |
14 |
6.8 |
7.25 |
23 |
| Belmont |
3.4 |
2.2 |
1.3 |
2.3 |
2 |
1.86 |
1.9 |
3.8 |
3.2 |
3.6 |
2.8 |
| Brisbane |
3.7 |
5.5 |
2.3 |
15 |
8.5 |
3.25 |
3.5 |
5.5 |
3.0 |
5.5 |
8 |
| Burlingame |
2.8 |
2 |
2.1 |
1.8 |
2.4 |
1.6 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
2.7 |
2.94 |
3.5 |
| Colma |
1 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
1.5 |
4 |
2.0 |
3 |
1.5 |
| Daly City |
5.3 |
3.8 |
3.2 |
3.5 |
2.2 |
1.6 |
2.0 |
1.96 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
| El Granada |
8.3 |
8.3 |
8.7 |
4.7 |
3.3 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
2.7 |
2.9 |
4.8 |
3.8 |
| Foster City |
2.7 |
2.3 |
1.3 |
2.2 |
1.8 |
2.14 |
3.0 |
1.2 |
3.3 |
3.75 |
7 |
| Half Moon Bay |
6.5 |
3.9 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
6.3 |
7.9 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
5.7 |
6.25 |
15.75 |
| Hillsborough |
3.1 |
3.3 |
2.9 |
3 |
5.8 |
4.3 |
4.8 |
4.1 |
3.4 |
7.63 |
7.4 |
| La Honda |
11 |
12 |
12 |
6 |
3.5 |
4.3 |
7.5 |
6.5 |
7.5 |
6.5 |
10 |
| Loma Mar |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
3.0 |
3 |
2.0 |
2 |
2 |
| Menlo Park |
3.7 |
2.8 |
3.1 |
3 |
1.9 |
2.2 |
2.8 |
4.1 |
3.7 |
4.73 |
4 |
| Millbrae |
6.3 |
3.7 |
2.4 |
2.7 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
1.9 |
2 |
2.0 |
2.56 |
3.5 |
| Montara |
7.5 |
8.5 |
5.7 |
6.3 |
7 |
3.6 |
9.5 |
10 |
12.0 |
13 |
24 |
| Moss Beach |
4.5 |
14 |
3 |
9 |
4.5 |
5.7 |
2.2 |
2.4 |
18.0 |
4.25 |
7.5 |
| Pacifica |
3.3 |
4.7 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
4.5 |
2.97 |
3.2 |
2.76 |
3 |
| Pescadero |
9 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
9.0 |
10 |
11.0 |
9 |
8 |
| Portola Valley |
7.5 |
6.7 |
3.1 |
4 |
2.9 |
2.4 |
4.6 |
10.5 |
13.0 |
3.4 |
13.5 |
| Redwood City |
4.2 |
3.7 |
2.7 |
2.8 |
2.5 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.9 |
2.6 |
2.58 |
3 |
| Redwood Shores |
1.8 |
2 |
1.7 |
1.2 |
5 |
3 |
2.3 |
0 |
3.5 |
16 |
13 |
| San Bruno |
3.6 |
3.9 |
3 |
3.4 |
2.1 |
1.7 |
1.5 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
1.5 |
| San Carlos |
2.7 |
2 |
1.8 |
2 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
1.4 |
1.8 |
2.2 |
3.65 |
3.6 |
| San Gregorio |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2.0 |
2 |
2.0 |
2 |
2 |
| San Mateo |
3.9 |
3.6 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.3 |
1.6 |
2.0 |
2.4 |
1.8 |
3.08 |
3 |
| So San Francisco |
6.1 |
7.7 |
4.6 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
3.1 |
2.5 |
1.98 |
2.3 |
2.74 |
2.3 |
| Woodside |
5 |
13.5 |
4.4 |
3.8 |
12.5 |
18.3 |
6.7 |
8.6 |
9.8 |
16.67 |
14 |
July 2008, 2007, 2006 absorption rates
August 2008, 2007, 2006 absorption rates
September 2008, 2007, 2006 absorption rates
October 2008, 2007, 2006 absorption rates
November 2008, 2007, 2006 absorption rates
Got a San Mateo County real estate question? Call me at 650.888.9268 or send me an email Vicki [at] CallVicki.com. If you like what you’ve read, subscribe to the San Mateo Real Estate Blog feed.
Popularity: 76% [?]
Posted on 09 December 2008 by Vicki Moore
It seems that the cities with the most dramatic year-to-year changes are the ones where we’ve seen the biggest price drops, short sales and foreclosures: Daly City, South San Francisco, East Palo Alto. Buyers have been flocking there looking for deals – and finding them.
As agents we can often anticipate changes before the numbers actually show it. We’ve been talking about how ironic it is that these properties have been receiving multiple offers, sometimes over the asking price – as low as they may be. Some of these areas have seen incredible declines in inventory. The question is: Will that continue?
I wish I knew and so does the rest of the nation. The only way we know when we’ve hit the bottom of the market is when we look back at the statistics; oftentimes, after the decline has started to resolve.
| |
11/30/2006 |
11/30/2007 |
11/30/2008 |
| Atherton |
3.2 |
11 |
23 |
| Belmont |
1.3 |
2.4 |
2.8 |
| Brisbane |
1.6 |
4.5 |
8 |
| Burlingame |
1.4 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
| Colma |
0 |
2 |
1.5 |
| Daly City |
2 |
8 |
1.7 |
| East Palo Alto |
3.3 |
21.7 |
1.1 |
| El Granada |
6.3 |
25 |
3.8 |
| Foster City |
1.1 |
3.8 |
7 |
| Half Moon Bay |
2.1 |
6.9 |
15.8 |
| Hillsborough |
3.2 |
3.1 |
7.4 |
| La Honda |
5 |
15 |
10 |
| Loma Mar |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Menlo Park |
1.4 |
2.4 |
4 |
| Millbrae |
2.6 |
5.4 |
3.3 |
| Montara |
6.3 |
6.3 |
24 |
| Moss Beach |
13 |
5.5 |
7.5 |
| Pacifica |
1.9 |
6.7 |
3 |
| Pescadero |
8 |
12 |
8 |
| Portola Valley |
3.1 |
8 |
13.5 |
| Redwood City |
2.5 |
4.5 |
3.1 |
| Redwood Shores |
1.7 |
2.5 |
13 |
| San Bruno |
2.6 |
5.9 |
1.5 |
| San Carlos |
1.8 |
2.2 |
3.6 |
| San Gregorio |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| San Mateo |
1.4 |
2.6 |
2.96 |
| South San Francisco |
3.5 |
6.2 |
2.3 |
| Woodside |
7 |
2.5 |
14 |
The absorption rate is a quick way to see if the number of homes for sale in San Mateo County is going up or down. It’s just one of the statistics used to evaluate pricing.
What you’re looking at is how many months’ inventory there is on the market. The assumption is that it will take X number of months for all of the houses currently on the market to sell. More inventory = longer to sell.
You can also see if the area is a buyer or a sellers’ market. The National Association of Realtors defines a balanced market as one is which there is 6 months of inventory. More than 6 months, it’s a buyers’ market; less is a sellers’ market.
July 2008, 2007, 2006 absorption rates
August 2008, 2007, 2006 absorption rates
September 2008, 2007, 2006 absorption rates
Got a San Mateo County real estate question? Call me at 650.888.9268 or send me an email Vicki [at] CallVicki.com. If you like what you’ve read, subscribe to the San Mateo Real Estate Blog feed.
Popularity: 69% [?]
Posted on 08 December 2008 by Vicki Moore
Twice as many homes were fresh to the market this week in San Mateo County than last week. One house sold last week compared to 31 this week. There are 13 new homeowners this week to last week’s 4. Looks like it’s been a busy week countywide.
San Mateo wins most new listings at 15; Daly City is a close second with 14 new ones to choose from.
While most cities declined in inventory, Atherton, Portola Valley, Redwood Shores and Woodside stayed at the same number of homes available. Pacifica is the only city that increased in available homes – just by a few.
| |
Available |
Listed |
Into Contract |
At List |
Above List |
Below List |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Atherton |
23 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Belmont |
47 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Brisbane |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Burlingame |
47 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Daly City |
166 |
14 |
11 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
| El Granada |
19 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Foster City |
27 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Half Moon Bay |
62 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Hillsborough |
52 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Menlo Park |
102 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Millbrae |
38 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Montara |
23 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Moss Beach |
13 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pacifica |
75 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Portola Valley |
27 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Redwood City |
175 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Redwood Shores |
13 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| San Bruno |
60 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| San Carlos |
65 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| San Mateo |
142 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| South San Francisco |
117 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Woodside |
42 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Got a San Mateo County real estate question? Call me at 650.888.9268 or send me an email Vicki [at] CallVicki.com. If you like what you’ve read, subscribe to the San Mateo Real Estate Blog feed.
Start your San Mateo home search here.
All the best,
Vicki Moore
Popularity: 59% [?]
