Last week Foster City had 43 condos and townhouses for sale with an average list price of $575,946.  These listings, had a median size of  2 bedrooms and 3.5 baths according to Altos Research our research company.  Frankly I find that interesting since almost all condos have 2 baths and townhouses have 2.5 baths.  Right now, it’s taking about 2 months for a property to sell.  Only about 1/3 of these listings are seeing price reductions so they are generally being priced to market and that’s good.  These are generally great values and allow buyers to get into Foster City, one of the communities around here that has generally held value over the real estate roller coaster these past two years with great schools, loads of parks and outdoor activities around, plus an easy commute across the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge to the east bay or up or down 101 to San Francisco, South San Francisco, Palo Alto or San Jose.  Foster City sits in the middle of San Mateo County making it an easy commute almost anywhere.

Looking at the price trends for Foster City condos and townhouses above, the chart shows prices have held over the past 18 months so it’s a great time to consider buying here.  The peak of the Condo/townhouse market in Foster city was in March/April of 2007.  The bottom, which most everyone missed, was January through March of 2008.  We’ve held steady every since.

Comparing Altos Research to Zillow’s home values estimates you can see some parallels.

We live in, and know, Foster City’s market. If you’re interested in buying here give us a call or hit the contact button on the sidebar. Let us know what you’re interested in and we’ll help you find it. Take a look at what’s currently for sale in Foster City condos and townhouses today, below.

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rliYes, it’s been a while since I’ve updated what’s going on with Burlingame real estate.  If you’ve been driving around town, you are definitely seeing a lot of for sale signs so there’s no shortage of houses to pick from if you’re interested in buying here.  There are 86 homes on the market today. Prices are trending downward, as the average number of days they sit before going into contract is now 82, and half of all listings have seen price reductions.  Burlingame is still a strong Buyer’s Market and there are lots of houses to pick from.

Prices range from a low of $499,998 (believe me you don’t want this one) to a high of $6,500,000.  According to Altos Research, the median list price of all homes on the market last week was $1,237,500. Burlingame has fantastic public schools, a quaint downtown and charm galore.  It’s a desirable town to live in and with interest rates at historic lows, a good time to consider if you can qualify for a loan. We would be happy to talk further with you about your real estate needs, just click to contact us button and we’ll respond.

Today I’m introducing Zillow’s take on Burlingame as additional data for you.  I am always hearing clients talk about Zillow this and Zillow that.  They are getting much better with their data but they are not 100% accurate and you should never use them as the gospel for home values. They are only as accurate as the last sale in the neighborhood you’re interested in, so if you’re looking for data, ask your Realtor.  Alex and I are here for  more in-depth information on the market and the house you’re considering.  We know the markets, and the neighborhoods, and can provide the information you want and need to make an intelligent decision.

Here’s Zillow’s data.

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The town of Hillsborough, formed in 1910, and named by William Davis Merry Howard because he originally came from Hillsboro New Hampshire.  The town sits on land that was part of Rancho San Mateo, Howard’s vast property purchased from the Mexican Governor, Pio Pico in 1846.  The Rancho was so large that after Howard’s death, the land was parceled into plots large enough to serve as estates for wealthy San Francisco businessmen who wanted to live “in the country” and commute to the city.  Members of the Burlingame Country Club decided that the Village of Burlingame and San Mateo were becoming too commercial and they didn’t want to pay for the necessary infrastructure needed for growing towns so  they formed the town of Hillsborough.

Four of the original mansions still stand today.  Harriet Pullman Carolan, the heiress to the Pullman Railway Car fortune, built Carolands and it as one of the largest private residences in the United States today.  It’s often opened for fundraising events.  William Randolph Hearst built the “Western White House” within the town.  It’s a mansion of similar structure to his Heart Castle, and is currently privately owned.

William Crocker, grandson of Charles Crocker, built Skyfarm in 1930.  Today it houses Nueva Day School.  Crystal Springs Uplands School, originally the Uplands mansion, was a gift of Templeton Crocker to his fiancée Helene Irwine , heiress to the C&H Sugar fortune in 1912.

Today, Hillsborough is still renowned for its wealth and diversity.  It’s currently number 25 in Forbes most expensive zip codes ranking.   The trees and wooded hillsides add to the towns beauty.  The three elementary schools and one intermediate school score among the highest scoring in the state.  The town sits just above El Camino Real and below Highway 280.  Most homes are in the hills and many have beautiful views of the bay, San Francisco and the canyons.

Hillsborough has no downtown, no industry, and only one park.  When the town incorporated in 1910, they passed zoning laws forbidding any business and practically none exist there even today.  There is one golf course west of Highway 280 abutting the Crystal Springs Reservoir, a racquet club and the two private schools.  Residents are orientated to Burlingame or San Mateo for most of their shopping and recreational activities.  Hillsborough is truly the bedroom community of the Peninsula.  Close the the bio-tech capital of the world, South San Francisco, major financial corporations in San Francisco and Silicon Valley residents tend to commute to their offices or travel for business through SFO.

Search homes in Hillsborough.

If you’ve never seen a serious bicycle race in person, this Sunday will be your chance to see one up close and personal when the annual Burlingame Criterium race takes place in downtown Burlingame.  These racers are serious as they whiz by in high speed making fast turns around the track.  Incorporated in the Criterium is the 7th Annual Ryan Phua Memorial Kids Ride for children 12 and under to race on the same course the adults will use.  There is no charge for children to race but parents are being asked to make a donation to the Ryan Phua Memorial Fund which has been established through the Lance Armstrong Foundation, to fund cancer related programs in the Bay Area.

A Criterium is a closed bicycle race, generally less than 5K in length that leads to large groups of riders making tight turns and often seeing mishaps while doing so.  These races are timed making them very interesting to watch.  Downtown Burlingame offers just the right kind of site for this race and it’s really exciting to watch.

The races begin at 7 AM for the Elite 4  men, then on to the Elite 4 women at 7:50 AM.  The last race concludes at 1:30 PM.  The kids race is at 10:20 AM and lasts an hour.  This is serious racing, folks.  There are cash prizes for all except the children where they receive ribbons and there is no cost for their entry.  It’s too late to enter in advance but you can register the morning of the race beginning at 6 AM, and up to 20 minutes prior to each race.

This race has been around for a long time and attracts a large number of people watching it.  Parking is always difficult in downtown Burlingame, so you if plan on coming, check out the map below for ideas of where to park and be prepared to walk a few blocks.  The race track will be closed to pedestrian crossing unless there is a race Marshall there to assist people when and where to cross.  These cyclists are moving fast and we don’t want to see injuries take place because of careless people.  Listen to the directions you are given by the Marshall working the track and follow them.  You will have an exciting day of bicycle racing to see and it’s expected to be a picture perfect day for it, too.

Keep your parking south of Howard or north of Bellview and you should be fine.  If you’re planning on coming down for breakfast and then watching, be sure to expect longer than usual lines at the many breakfast places downtown.  The weather is anticipated to be warm so it should be perfect viewing weather for everyone.