Save Our Schools Daily Journal Pic

I attended an insightful meeting the other night of PTA/PTO Presidents in San Bruno. I learned that ALL of the public schools in California are expecting a lot of teacher and counselor layoffs next week. San Bruno’s only middle school, Parkside Intermediate will possibly have the most layoffs cutting out music (they have an awesome marching band), art, leadership, counseling, and more. Our elementary schools will have no art, music, PE, large classroom sizes of 30+ kids per class, no English tutoring, GATE programs, loss of funds to improve libraries and to supply instructional material like BOOKS and one school, I hear, will loose up to 7 teachers, leaving them with 4!!

On March 4th, 2010, our PTA/PTO’s organized a peaceful rally along El Camino Real and at San Bruno’s City Hall. All of our public schools participated by holding signs that said “Save Our Schools!” Our guest speakers included students from Rollingwood Elementary School, Assemblyman Jerry Hill, and our Mayor Jim Ruane.

Even if one doesn’t have children or children in school, communities are affected! The governor’s proposed budget cuts to education changes the whole dynamics of a school and the city it’s in. I even heard that in this challenging economy, there are some people who can’t afford to keep their kids in private schools and are depending on public schools to be there! If schools struggle our property values will go down because some won’t want to live near a school in trouble! Crime will go up and residents will get nervous! It could potentially be a BIG change in our lives and not for the better, either.

We are so proud of our public schools! Parents, teachers, and friends spend a lot of time and energy working together to keep our children’s schools a safe and fun learning environment for this to happen! We want our children and our cities to thrive, not be suppresed.

A date to remember are Wednesday, March 17, 7:00 Crestmoor Elementary School – A follow up budget meeting where decisions will be made to determine the future of our schools. 

Feel free to pass on this link to other people you know who might find this news interesting.  The website below is the California Teacher’s Association website that talks a lot about what’s going on with the budget cuts.

http://www.cta.org/Issues-and-Action/Budget-Crisis/Index.aspx

DeanRizzi
http://www.drlending.com/

Nicole Machado- Prudential California Real Estate

So far, in 2010, San Bruno real estate inventory is low making it a great new environment for homeowners who have been thinking of selling! Currently there are only 30 homes for sale ranging from $299,000 for a small one bedroom home to $1,000,000 brand spanking new homes in a new developement! Md range is about $550,000-$600,000.

With interest rates still teetering between 5 and 6%, home buyers are out in full force looking for good deals before the rates hike up!

What we are seeing is pretty quick sales of homes in the lower and mid ranges while the high end homes are taking awhile. They are selling though! It took quite a few months but the new homes in the Skycrest Develoment next to Lunardi’s have all sold! One most recently at $918,000!

 FHA loans are popular with a low amount of 3.5% down but many homebuyers are purchasing with 10-20% down that has been saved or come from equity lines on a home meaning that many of our buyers these days are move up buyers who have managed to build equity in their first homes! That’s great news!

The competition in the low and mid ranges are still bank owned homes and short sales but there are some regular sales out there amongst them!

As I walk the neighborhoods placing neighborhood newsletters and notepads on people’s doorsteps, I notice that most people are staying put. People who own homes or rent them for that matter like where they live here in San Bruno and don’t plan on selling anytime in the near future unless a fantastic job opportunity comes along, a new family grows out of a small home, or an senior downsizes. I don’t blame them. I live here, too, and I enjoy my neighborhood in Huntington Park. I like that I am walking distance to everything, even though I choose to drive. I imagine that’s how a lot of people feel.

At this point of my life with my kids in elementary school and taking part in all that San Bruno Park and Rec has to offer, I am here as a San Bruno neighborhood resource. If you want to know what’s going on in the park, Chamber of Commerce, real estate, or anything else, chances are I can help you. I also help people buy and sell houses in San Bruno and other parts of the peninsula. Please visit my website and check out my videos at: www.KarinCunningham.com

Your friend,

Karin

Yes, crab season is underway, and I’m starting to hear news of CRAB FEEDS all around the San Francisco Peninsula.  What a chance to stuff yourselves with crab while supporting great causes.  Here’s a little a plug for one in my hometown of Millbrae:

Hosted by Mills High Grad Night, Mills Sports Boosters, & Millbrae Lions Club
Saturday, February 6^th from 6:30-9:30pm at the Millbrae Recreation Center
For more information, visit:  http://millsgradnight.com/media/Crab_Feast_Flyer.pdf

Know of any others?  Add them to this blog via the Comments section, and if there are enough, I’ll come up with a calendar for those who want to have a CRAB FEED MARATHON over the next couple of months.  Bon appétit!

www.JeanJoh.com
Jean Joh- Prudential California Realty-  Residential real estate

Photo courtesy of Lee Panza

On Sunday, December 6th @ 5:30 p.m. there will be a wonderful event happening in the adorable little town of Brisbane, CA.   It is called “Festival of the Stars”,  and is called that because Brisbane is famous for the lit up stars that most citizens have on their homes.    Although many people start lighting them at the very beginning of December, this evening is the official night when everyone turns them on.   It is quite a sight and can be seen all the way from Highway 101.   The stars, both  large and small, are provided free to anyone who lives in town…all they need to do is add the lights.

To celebrate, every year the citizens, young and old,  gather at the top of Visitacion & Klamath Streets (Madhouse Coffee).    Everyone is given song sheets and then we march down the hill singing Christmas carols (I will be your fearless song leader.) 

 We end up at the Community Park where the holiday tree is lit and a few local groups do brief performances.  Then comes the big event – Santa arrives on a firetruck!    Coffee, cocoa and cookies are provided at no charge.   

For those of you who are not familiar with this little town, it is located between San Francisco and South San Francisco and is perched on the side of San Bruno Mountain.   You should take Highway 101 to get there.  

It’s a wonderful evening and everyone is welcome!     I hope to see you there!

Kathy Wall
(415) 608-4168
www.michaelandkathy.com

1. Interest rates are at historic lows: Lower interest rates means you can now buy more home then you could have a year or two ago.

2. Prices have come down: Even if your current home may be worth less than the last peak in the market, the next home you are looking for will probably be as well.  The percentage decrease will actually help you get more house when buying up to a larger home.

3. There are still a good amount of homes on the market right now, both new construction and existing, giving you lots of choices and negotiating power.

4. You can move in to your new home faster, as many builders either have completed homes in inventory or they can start working right away due to the production slowdown.

5. You may have outgrown your home, but its probably someone else’s ideal starter home. With the $8,000 tax credit just recently being extended and the new $6,500 tax credit for move up buyers, now is the time to market your home to first-time home buyers.

For more information about the tax credit please visit http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

This Real Estate Blog is by Adam Chinn