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Montara real estate

Utilizing the Internet for House Shopping In San Mateo County

When searching for your  San Mateo Coastal home don’t forget the most useful tool out there…..the Internet.   Whether you are moving across town or into the next state, you can rely heavily on what the internet can provide to help cut down on their costs of finding that perfect place.  Looking for a home in the San Mateo Coastal area? Below are 5 great tips to help you!

1. Narrow it Down
- It’s possible to spend countless hours searching for homes and “oohing and aahing” over the interiors of those that are out of your league. It’s always fun to look, right?  Yet for those who are seriously searching, your best bet is to contact a lender and get pre-aproved for a mortgage.  That way, you know how much you can realistically afford, which will help narrow down your search.


2. Know Where to Look
- Internet sites such as Trulia, Zillow and Realtor.com are nationally recognized as the top real estate sites.  These options include an abundance of homes as well as tools for financing, tips, area information and much more!


3. The More the Merrier
- Don’t limit your search to a single site.  Check out many sites at once to get a larger picture of the housing market in the San Mateo area.  Think of each online tool as a piece to the puzzle in putting together a list of your tops homes!


4. Stay in the Know
- Many internet tools offer rss feeds or email campaigns that you can have delivered right to your inbox!  These are a great way to stay on top of all that’s going on in the market- and all you have to do is sit back and allow the information to come to you!


5. Read Any Good Blogs Lately?
- Real Estate blogs are a great way to keep a finger on the pulse of the latest news.  Of course, not all blogs are created equal (and we happen to think ours is pretty great!), but find local blogs to the area in which you  desire to find your home.  Oftentimes they’ll provide you with community information, new listings in the area and much more!

If you have any questions about your internet home-buying search; let us know!  We provide the latest services in technology to help both our buyers and sellers.  Check out other articles in this blog, or find out more information about the San Mateo Coast on our website!  Contact us for help finding your dream home!

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San Mateo County Weekly Real Estate Update

We’re happy to report that the weather co-operated with open houses this Sunday.  It will take the rest of the week to tell if the buyer’s were doing more than looking.  Below is the final analysis of how the local real estate market faired  last week, as reported by the office managers.

SF Peninsula — Our Burlingame offices report a steady to improving market. The Hillsborough market over $2 million is “robust” as long as the price is reasonable and the home is well staged. Hillsborough is often perceived as a bargain compared to other high-end markets on the Peninsula.

Across the hill in Half Moon Bay, our local manager says there has been a noticeable drop in activity on the coast these past couple of weeks. Buyers continue looking but are not writing offers. Our Menlo Park offices say they are seeing strong sales in the over $2.5 mil market – a $3.85 million listing in Menlo Park is getting three offers today!  Buyers are exhibiting even more discretion as the ratio of houses sitting while others go multiple is rising.  Houses sit until the price is reduced and then the buyers jump. The “off-the-market” high-end properties continue to attract buyers. With all the technology we have, word of mouth networking continues to be a factor. One recent off-market sale went for $7.9 million in Atherton. The Redwood City office says inventory is still low.  Open houses, particularly first time opens, are extremely well attended.  The attitude of the buyers seems to be positive. Palo Alto remains a very strong market with more than half of the transactions getting multiple offers. Finally, the San Mateo and the Woodside markets are holding steady. The over $3 million market is doing well with three sales over this price in the last couple of weeks. Woodside is slowly waking up. Portola Valley has been much stronger the last couple of weeks – brisk sales of $1.3 million to $4 million.

In summing up last week’s Bay Area real estate market, Rick Turley, President, SF Bay Area, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage added;

“We continue to see a mixed market throughout the Bay.  The common thread seems to be low inventory at the entry level and generally more multiple offers in the entry level. The mid-price market is probably the most perplexing with a lack of move-up buyers.  The increased activity at the Luxury end is certainly a strong sign, but common thread here is that this sector remains very price sensitive; luxury buyers are pulling the trigger when they perceive value.”
If you would like to read the entire report , go online to www.cbsfbaymarketwatch.wordpress.com

Ready to start looking at what is available in the area?  Start your Home Search today by visiting Coastal Real Estate

IMPORTANT! 30 YEAR WAIT IS OVER

Today, March 8th 2011 is a momentous day on the Coast.  Kathryn Slater Carter, from The Montara sewer and water district made an announcement at our Realtor Tour meeting.  After a 30 year moratorium, water permits will be available.  The last permit for a city water hookup was issued in 1981.  The district will begin issuing permits to homes that are currently on wells.  There will also be permits for vacant lots and new construction.  I asked if the district website had information on the new policy.  They have not updated the website yet.  Questions can be directed to Clemens the district manager at 728-3545.

The district will be holding a meeting at Seton Coastside Hospital on March 17th at 7pm.  They are looking for suggestions from the community on how to implement this momentous change.

So, come to Seton Hospital after celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.  Yes, the district was sensitive to the date of the meeting.  Tongue in cheek, Mrs. Slater-Carter said, they just didn’t want to hold the meeting on April fool’s Day.