Realtors Help Seniors

February 16, 2010 · Lee Ginsburg · 1 Comment

RSVP is Coming

May 3-7

Get The Word Out!

WHAT IS RSVP?
RSVP is an annual week-long community outreach program that takes place in May 3-7 during “Adopt-A-Senior” Week. Realtors of San Mateo County provides free assistance to seniors who cannot otherwise perform certain household tasks due to physical or financial constraints.
FREE HOME SERVICES FOR SENIORS & THE HOMEBOUND
Washing windows, changing furnace filters, turning over mattresses, vacuuming, changing light bulbs, replacing smoke detector batteries and other similar household tasks are just a few chores that Realtors will perform.
The program is one way Realtors and Affiliates can give back to their communities.
Who is eligible? If you are a senior or homebound and live in San Bruno, South San Francisco, Daly City, Millbrae, San Mateo, Burlingame, Belmont, Foster City or anywhere in San Mateo County.
INTERESTED IN FREE HELP
Please call San Mateo County Association of Realtors at 650-696-8200 or
register now at http://www.samcar.org/userfiles/file/RSVP10_homeownerAPP.pdf

Lee@leesellsmore.com

Where To Eat In San Bruno?

February 16, 2010 · Karin Cunningham · 5 Comments

Ok, so I love to help people buy and sell houses but still I need to eat! I LOVE to eat and I love to cook! I love to dine out and I love family and friend gatherings at home over a large home cooked meal. Since I live and work in San Bruno, I like to dine locally. Sometimes I go to San Francisco, my hometown, but most of the time, when we have the opportunity to dine out, we go local!

A few of my favorite places are Don Pico’s for Mexican fine dining, La Paloma Taqueria, Hon Lin for Chinese, Sushi House, Famous Johnny’s for pizza and beer, Amma’s Kitchen for Indian, and the West Coast Cafe for Italian. All of these places are walking distance from my house.

Living in San Bruno is really super convenient. From my house, I can walk to the Mexican market, the dry cleaners, the library, and the corner grocery store. Not to mention I can walk to my kids’ school, our friends’ houses on Friday nights for “family fun nights”, and my office, if I am so inclined. I always drive and it’s just 6 blocks away!

I love Don Pico’s a lot! I mean a lot lot! My favorite dish is the crab enchiladas with green sauce made with “real” crab! I could live on the chips and salsa. I love spicy salsa with good flavor! I also love the ambiance at Don Pico’s. It’s a warm, comfortable room with a lot of traditional Mexican decorations and some impressive ones, too! My favorite being a big framed picture of Frida Khalo! The booths are from Original Joe’s on Powell Street in San Francisco! The proprieter is Isaac Mejia. He’s great! He is welcoming, enthusiastic about his food, and keeps his menu delicious and interesting. He’s currently the president of the San Bruno Lion’s Club. His sisters help at the restaraunt, too. They are fantastic! On Friday and Saturday nights there is a live guitar player/singer. It’s just awesome!

Check out their website: www.DonPicosBistro.com

Frida, My Hero

Do you have a favorite San Bruno restaraunt?

www.KarinCunningham.com

Short Sale vs. Foreclosure – Ethical Considerations

January 28, 2010 · Kathy Wall · 5 Comments

I have recently begun thinking a lot about the ethical considerations of short sales and foreclosures. Please believe me when I say that I am completely empathetic with those people who are losing their homes because they were tricked into going for one of those terrible loans or because they have lost their job. That being said, I question the ethical decision making process in a lot of other cases. Just a couple of examples:

We hear stories all the time about people who bought second, third and fourth homes using those crazy interest only, “pay what you want, when you want to” loans. They all thought that they were going to be land barons, making big bucks on the rentals or buying the property, fixing it up and flipping it for a huge profit.

Now, the homes that they bought in Fresno, Sacramento, Lodi….heck, all over the country… are no longer worth what they paid for them and, because of the economy, they can no longer require the high rents they were getting in the beginning. In many cases, the owners can still afford to make the payments, but now don’t want to because they feel the value is not there, so they simply walk away from the properties. That seems wrong to me. Read more

What Does Zillow Tell You About Your Home?

January 27, 2010 · Annie Chang · 2 Comments

Ever since the launch of its website in 2006, Zillowhas increasingly gained its popularity as a convenient tool to look up home values. When I work with prospective buyers or sellers to explain the market value of their homes, I often hear the famous line “but Zillow says…!” followed by “so how accurate is the Zestimate?”

Thanks to Zillow for providing a detailed video of “A Guide to the Zestimate” to explain how the home values are generated. I hope you will find this video helpful!

Posted by Annie W. Chang | www.TalkofRealEstate.com

San Mateo County Real Estate Wrap up 2009

January 20, 2010 · Nicole Machado · 2 Comments

Below is a chart that compares the San Mateo County Real Estate Market in 2009 to the San Mateo County Real Estate Market in 2008. As you will see the results are comofrting and shed some positive light on what is to come in 2010. Although interest rates are scheduled to rise as early as this Spring and foreclosures loom in the back ground, as long as inventory stays slow and steady the market should remain on a positive steady but upward incline. Now is a great time to take advantage of the low interest rates and tax credits that are currently provided. Please click on the thumbnail below for a full picture.

Nicole Machado- Prudential California Real Estate

An Open Letter to Potential Home Buyers and Fence Sitters

January 19, 2010 · Lee Ginsburg · 2 Comments

Dear Home Buyer and Fence Sitter,

The window of opportunity is closing. Let me explain my thoughts. Prices in the Bay Area are already inching up, same with interest rates. The time to receive the Federal Tax Credit of $8000 or $6500 is rapidly approaching. (Must be in contract by April 30, 2010) FHA is talking about increasing the minimum required down payment and or increasing the cost of required mortgage insurance.

You can purchase a home today and your costs will be fixed for the next 30 years. What else can you buy and maintain the same cost for the next 30 years? Rents will continually go up. You are at the Landlords mercy. It is time to get off the fence. The first step is to get pre-approved. This will tell you what the bank will loan you. There are many loan programs out there. I could refer you to someone if you would like. The pre-approval process is easy, is no cost and with no obligation. If you don’t do it now you will never know.

You do not need a large down payment. You can purchase a home with only 3.5%. Yes you need mortgage insurance. I don’t like mortgage insurance but if that is the only way to own a home, then go for it. Mortgage insurance will go away once you have 20% equity. Economists think values will increase substantially in the next 3-5 years and that will more than make up for the mortgage insurance. Some people tell me they want to save for a larger down payment. That bothers me because from my experience most people cannot save as much as prices increase. Read more

San Mateo County Storm Watch

January 17, 2010 · Nicole Machado · 3 Comments

I received this information from a friend and thought I would share. Although it pertains to information in regards to South San Francisco, there are some great tips on how to be prepared in case of emergency.

This is a hazardous winter weather alert. Beginning Sunday and continuing through the rest of the week…a series of strong storms are expected to roll across the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Regions. The first storm is forecast to bring substantial rain across the Bay Area Sunday into Monday. Additional storms are then expected for much of next week. During the next seven days 10 to 20 inches of rain are expected to fall in the coastal mountains and 8 to 15 inches in the inland valleys and foothills. Due to many days of rainfall local flooding could occur. In addition, the storms beginning Tuesday or Wednesday are likely to also produce strong gale force winds that could cause property damage and power outages. Depending upon the intensity and duration of the rainfall coupled with a high tide localized flooding could occur in the low lying areas of SSF (San Mateo Ave. Airport, etc.).

This is the strongest storm of its type that has hit SSF for several years IF the forecasters are correct in their assessments! Read more

San Bruno Real Estate “Shake Up” 2010!

January 15, 2010 · Karin Cunningham · 3 Comments

112 Georgia Ave. San Bruno, Ca. $419,000

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! Read more