Is the Bay Area Home Buyer Obsessed with School Scores
Many homebuyers in San Mateo, San Bruno, Burlingame, Millbrae and up and down the peninsula purchase their homes based on school scores. I am not sure if API, Academic Performance Index, (http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/ ) scores is an accurate evaluation method to determine a young person’s education. I find the API scores of a school to determine the college you child goes to as reliable as a City’s Median home prices is in determining the value of your home. Homes in a city are varied and encompass a large diversified area just like a school’s diversified student enrollment and have high and low performing students.
Many of our public schools have a large population of intelligent non- English speaking immigrants. Teachers are trained and cater to that specific group and they also teach to the more advanced student by offering enrichment classes, honor classes, etc. Both of my son’s went to a public High School in San Mateo that possibly has the lowest scores amongst the San Mateo High Schools. They both graduated and went to very good schools. In their graduating class several students were accepted into Harvard, Stanford, MIT and more of the top schools. Some of their friends went to a private high school, were not happy, did not perform well and transferred out. A peninsula high school with a rating of 10 has had an epidemic of suicides. Top scores is not the final answer. Read more
Pumpkin Patch, Cabbage Patch…Millbrae Patch?
photo credit: Patrick Hoesly
photo credit: Patrick Hoesly
Just a couple examples of what you’ll find on the Patch for Millbrae, where I live:
- A list of events in the area to celebrate the Lunar New Year throughout the month of February: http://millbrae.patch.com/articles/chinese-new-year-events
- A list of the ten best restaurants opened in 2010: http://millbrae.patch.com/articles/10-best-millbrae-restaurants-opened-in-2010
Or how about in San Bruno, where my office is located?
- Mastick Avenue Residents Vow to Keep Neighborhood Safe After Shooting: http://sanbruno.patch.com/articles/mastick-avenue-residents-vow-to-keep-neighborhood-safe-after-shooting
- San Bruno Real Estate Enjoys Growth for Third Month in a Row: http://sanbruno.patch.com/articles/san-bruno-real-estate-enjoys-growth-for-third-month-in-a-row
There’s a patch.com site for almost every city in the Peninsula: South San Francisco, Burlingame, Pacifica, Belmont, Foster City, San Carlos. What a great way to keep on top of what’s happening in your area or if you’re thinking about moving, to get another taste of the city you’re considering.
Jean Joh: Visit my website at www.jeanjoh.com or follow me on twitter as jeanjoh.
San Francisco Giants World Series Trophy is Coming to Daly City
The San Francisco Giants World Series Championship Trophy is coming to Daly City from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 18, 2011. Giants fans can get an up-close view of the trophy when it comes to City Hall, 333 90th Street. This once in a lifetime opportunity is free to the public. Parking around the Daly City Civic Center is limited, so fans are encouraged to carpool or take public transit (SamTrans Route 121 stops at Edgeworth Avenue and 90th Street).
“For more than 52 years, our dedicated fans have supported us through thick and thin,” said Giants Managing General Partner and CEO Bill Neukom. “The trophy belongs to them as much as it belongs to us, and we want to thank our fans by extending the World Champions celebration throughout Giants country.”
Since this is a first for the Giants, they are not sure how many people will visit the trophy, but initial “viewing” parties were tremendously popular with fans. The Giants are going to do their best to accommodate everybody, but the lines will be managed on a first-come, Read more
2010 Remodeling Cost as Compared to Resale Value
Remodeling Magazine annually researches the cost of remodeling with the help of Home Tech Information Systems. They also research the value remodeling adds with the help of the National Association of Realtors. They put this information together by regions. For a complete report please go to http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2010/costvsvalue/national.aspx
Below are the results for the San Francisco region.
A small difference in the size or scope of a project, or in the quality of finishes and accessories you choose, can dramatically affect the cost.
The “value” of a project at resale is always subject to forces that are difficult to predict. Changing how a space is used may meet the immediate needs of the current homeowner, but may be at odds with what prospective buyers are looking for. How the value of a remodeling project is perceived also depends on a variety of factors that traditionally affect home values, including the condition of the rest of the house, the value of similar homes nearby, and the rate at which property values in the surrounding area are fluctuating. Comparable values are particularly difficult to judge in the current economic climate, in which the effect on the value of surrounding homes of foreclosed properties and short sales are part of the equation. The mere presence of a large number of unsold homes, whether new or existing, well-maintained or distressed, can have a constricting effect on surrounding home values. Read more
Things to Consider When Buying a Flipped Property
Lately, I’ve been seeing an increasing number of homes that have been purchased by investors, fixed up a bit and then put on the market, i.e. the “flip.” This is to be expected with the onslaught of foreclosures that has taken place over the last few years, coupled with insightful investors (many of whom are real estate agents) who’ve seen golden opportunities in real estate and have taken advantage of the low interest rates and low home prices. I’ve actually had two clients purchase such homes in the past six months, and have shown many more. The most attractive part about buying these homes is that the investors usually have done some basic work to make them move-in ready. Fresh paint, fresh carpet, new fixtures, even new landscaping – all of these help to make the home more attractive and appealing. But here are a few things to keep in mind:
1) Even though sellers are still required to fill out disclosure forms, the information will often be limited b/c the sellers have never lived in the property. In this sense, it’s almost like purchasing a bank-owned property.
Vacant Homes a Target for Homeless and Criminals
I was scheduled to do an open house at one of my listings in a terrific San Francisco neighborhood today. When I arrived at the property and unlocked the door, the first thing that I saw were 2 men’s socks and a bunch of dirt, along with something that looked like a dirt clot, but later turned out to be a rock.
Since this house has always been immaculate, I knew that something was radically wrong, so instead of entering the house, I first called the owners. When I was unable to reach them, I decided to call the police. Although it turned out that the intruder had already left, I’m so glad that I did call them, because it turns out that they were able to get really good evidence of who had entered.
This home had previously been “staged” and furnished, but the owners had requested that the staging be removed due to cost concerns, so it is now completely vacant. Although we kept the front drapes closed so that people would not notice that it was vacant, someone clearly noticed, broke a downstairs window and spent at least one night in the property, apparently ripping down one of the drapes and using it as a blanket. Read more
MEET & GREET
February 19th Hillsdale shopping center is hosting a Meet & Greet event. It’s an all day event lasting from 10a.m.- 4p.m. It should be really fun and interesting!
Free admission
Over 30 family related businesses
Child fingerprinting
Free face painting
Location: Hillsdale shopping center, San Mateo
For more information: 650.344.5200
Hope to see you there!!!
Bernadette Ramirez
http://www.bramirez.prucal.com/
Why Real Estate?
Everyone likes real estate, whether what’s constructed on it serves as an abode or an investment. Real estate is tangible. Unlike stocks and bonds, real estate can be touched, handled and improved. Real estate provides “psychic revenue.” There is a pride of ownership that comes with real property that doesn’t come with other property.
Financial media are rife with articles on why owning residential real estate isn’t such a good idea. They point to arguments on how real estate decreases mobility or how much it costs to maintain. The articles have some validity, but they are often marked by glaring omissions. Yes, real estate can limit mobility in a slow economy, but it has always been that way. There is nothing new to this point. Read more
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