The good news is that BMR units, that’s Below Market Rate units are included in this program!  This condo property is really beautiful and the condos are done with all of the bells and whistles you’d hope to find in a high-end property.  They’re close to the transit hub in Millbrae for CalTrain or BART commutes.

Here are the Rules.

1.  If you intend to buy a unit you need to download an application for this program here.

2. Be Pre-Approved for a loan before you apply for this program but make sure your lender is aware of this program and has seen the application.

3. Go to 151 El Camino Real in Millbrae and pick your new home.

4.  Sign the contract for the purchase.  If you need a Realtor to represent your interests, and I suggest you have one, call us.

5. You also must bring your application, which has been filled out in full, along with you when you’re ready to buy your new condo.  Make sure you have made a copy of it to give to your lender.

6. Once you’ve been approved by your lender, you must notify Belamor Millbrae Paradise that the loan underwriter has approved you so they can proceed with the paperwork with the City of Millbrae.  The City will deposit $15,000 into your escrow account.  You will not be able to choose the title and escrow company for your purchase so be prepared to work with the company Belamor Millbrae Paradise has selected.

7.  Once you have signed all paperwork at the Title company, and have been notified that you are on record with the County of San Mateo as the home owner you then go to the sales office of Belamor Millbrae Paradise to get your keys and a home warranty.

This really is the first home assistance program I’ve seen in several years.  Don’t expect the offer to last long.  Once the amount of money Millbrae has set aside for it is used up, you’ll be out of luck.

If you need help with this contact us.

San Mateo’s Eggstravaganza

This is the premier hunt in the County and the oldest one, too.  This will be the 34th year it will take place. It’s held at Central Park at El Camino Real and 5th Avenue beginning at 9 AM and running until 1 PM.  Start your day off with their annual San Mateo Sunrise Rotary’s Pancake Breakfast for a cost of $8 per adult and $4 per child and enjoy the fun with a full tummy!  Breakfast is between 9-11 AM.  There are egg hunts for children of all ages beginning at 9:30 AM.  The morning is filled with art and games, a community parade at 10:30, and music by Andy Z beginning at 11 AM and a magic show by Magic Mike at Noon.  Children as young as toddlers can participate in their own hunts but bring your own baskets!

Foster City’s Egg Hunt at Ryan Park

If your children haven’t had enough hunting time head over to Foster City at 1 PM and begin the fun there.  It’s an annual event run by the Foster City Lion’s Club and is on the lawns at East Hillsdale and Shell Blvd.  The egg hunt will be at 2 PM for chocolate eggs.  Bring your baskets and watch the fun.  Your children will leave with a full basket of goodies as well as a visit from the Easter Bunny!

Belmont’s Twin Pine’s Meadow Hunt

Belmont’s annual hunt starts at 9 AM on Saturday.  The hunts will take place for age groups and it’s for children between 3 and 10.  Bring your baskets and let the kids have fun.  It’s free and will take place rain or shine.

Menlo Park’s Easter Egg Hunt at Burgess Park

This hunt begins at 10 AM and runs until Noon. It’s kicked off with a visit from the Easter Bunny at 10 AM  There are hunts for toddler’s under 2 beginning at 10:30; 3-4 year olds at 10:45, 5-6 year olds at 11 and 7-8 year olds at 11:15 AM.  It’s a morning filled with fun things to do from a ride on the Old Tom Fire truck to a photo with the Easter Bunny.  Crafts, and toys will be there to occupy the children while their siblings hunt for their eggs.  Bring your baskets.  Burgess Park is at 701 Laurel Street.

Millbrae’s Spring Festival and Children’s Egg Roll

The Millbrae Rotary is hosting this for Millbrae children and begins at 11 AM until 2 PM with the Easter Bunny, games, face painting, a petting zoo and of course, an Egg Hunt!  Grab BBQ burgers for your lunch as a fund raiser for the mills High Interact Club.  Millbrae’s Rotary Park South Aston and Millbrae Avenue.

Awesome Egg Dive at the Burlingame Aquatic Center

If you’re looking for something different in the way of an egg hunt and have older children this might be fun.  Saturday afternoon between 2:30 and 3:30 PM will be a pool egg hunt where the kids jump into the water for eggs and and then exchange those eggs for prizes. This will take place at the Burlingame Aquatic Center. The competition is for children between 5 and 7 and 8 and 14 and they can splash and swim and have fun.  There is a cost of $6 whether you’re a resident of Burlingame or not.  Parents are encouraged to watch from the bleachers on the pool deck.  The Aquatic Center is at  1 Magnini Way, Burlingame.

The Burlingame Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast

The annual Burlingame Lions Club’s Easter Egg hunt and pancake breakfast will take place on Saturday beginning at 8 AM.  This is a full breakfast and always well worth it.  Then the hunts begin according to age.  First up will be the toddlers at 9 AM and then up to the older children throughout the morning.  With over 4000 chocolate eggs to be found this will be a fun morning.  The San Mateo Elks Band will be playing during the morning and t local artist and face painter , TwikieDeeStar, will do free face painting for the children.  This will be held at the Burlingame Lions Hall, 990 Burlingame Avenue.

Thanks for a reader for this one on Sunday.

On Sunday, Malibu Castle and Grand Prix has a hunt and entertainment in Redwood City.  Registration begins at 11:30 and ends at 12:45 PM.  The hunt begins at 1 PM.  Face painting, a petting zoo, and of course the Easter Bunny will be there.  There is a charge but this should be fun for all ages! http://www.malibugrandprix.com/site/Redwood/pricing.html?egg#egg

The elementary school for the community is Spring Valley School on Murchison Drive and that street is the main street up the hill for the Millbrae side of the estates. The area primarily has single family homes, but you do find some condos and apartments but in the flat-lands near Mills High School and way up in the hills, just below 280 – where the views are amazing.

Right now, there are 9 houses for sale.  One of those houses is Bank Owned, too.

There were 2 sales within the past couple of weeks making it is an active market in the Millbrae side of the Mills Estates.  This community, like its sister side in Burlingame attracts professional seeking close proximity to SFO, easy commutes to San Francisco or the Valley and excellent schools.

We would be happy to show you any of the 9 active listings should you be interested in them.  Call us at 650-696-2820.

Belmont

Let’s start with Belmont. Their concerts are always on Sunday afternoons from 1-4PM at Twin Pines Park on Cottage Lane. They begin in June and run through July.

June 15 – Stompy Jones – Jumpin’ Jazz and Swing

June 22 – Refugees – Tom Petty tribute

June 29 – Tom Rigney and Flambeau – Cajun Fiddling

July 6 – McCarty and Company – Pure Country Western

July 13 – Groovy Judy – Flower Power Funk Rock

July 20 – Blue-Rock and Roll Rhythm and Blues

July 27 - D-5 – Rockin’ the Par

San Mateo

Hop over to East 5th Avenue and Laurel in Downtown San Mateo for free  Thursday night concerts from 6 to 8 PM. These concerts run most of the summer.  Bring your lawn chair or a blanket to sit on, pack your picnic and enjoy the music.

June 12 – The Sun Kings – Beatles tribute

June 19 - Fast Times – 80′s dance party

June 26- Inoahband – R&B/Neo-Soul

July 3- Toot Sweet Jazz Band – Dixieland/New Orleans Jazz

July 10 - Blusion – Funk/Fusion

July 17 - Fotia – Traditional/Modern Greek Music

July 24 – Los Boleros – Latin-American dance

July 31 – native Elements – Roots Reggae

Burlingame

Sunday afternoons in July ,get yourself to Washington Park’s Recreation Center Patio.  The concerts begin at 1 PM. Free lawn seating.  Bring your picnic lunch.  BBQ’s are sponsored by the Youth Advisory Committee for a fee.

July 6 - Oscar Reynolds – Bolivian Afro-Peruvian Fusion Trio

July 13 - The Sun Kings – Beatles tribute

July 20 - City Rocks – San Francisco Rock History Review 1965-1985

July 27 – California Cowboys – Country-Rock

Millbrae

Central Park in Millbrae is the place to be on Sunday afternoons at 1 PM in August. Bring your picnic, blanket and have fun.  There will be BBQ Hot Dogs and Hamburgers available to purchase.

August 3 - Big Rain – Rock Country, Funky Blues Crossover

August 10 - Cocktail Monkeys – The Finalist in the 98.5 KFOX Last Band Standing contest with Classic & Dance Rock

August 17 - Jukebox Heroes – Dance music

August 24 - Unauthorized Rolling Stones – Rolling Stones tribute

Foster City

All of the concerts in Foster City are on Friday night at 7PM at Leo Ryan Park Amphitheater, East Hillsdale Blvd & Shell Blvd. They begin in July and run through mid-August.  Bring your blankets or chairs, picnic dinner and boogie.  It can get cold at night, so don’t forget to bring warm jackets.

July 11 - Livewire

July 18 - Orchestra d’Soul

July 25 – Nathan Owens

August 1 - Journey Unauthorized

August 8 - Fred McCarty & Company

August 15 - Unauthorized Rolling Stone

San Carlos

San Carlos’ concerts are on Friday evening, 6-8PM at Burton Park in August. Bring blankets, chairs, and picnic dinners.

August 1 - California Cowboys – Country Rock

August 8 – Groove Kings – Rock ‘n Soul

August 15 - String of Pearls – Big Band Swing

August 22 – Sun Kings – Beatles Tribute

August 29 - E-Ticket Band – Oldies Rock n’ Roll

Millbrae, CA

The city is named for Darius Ogden Mills, a rich financier who founded the Bank of California and bought land from the Sanchez family to build his country estate.  The Scott’s refer to a “brea” as rolling hills, and Mills turned into Millbrae at some time in the late 1800’s.  The Mills estate went from Skyline Boulevard down to Bayshore Highway, now 101 and 280, east and west and from Millbrae Avenue south to Trousdale Drive  There were multiple lakes at one time, with the largest where the football field for Mills High School now sits. The mansion burned down in the early 1950’s.

Mills also owned the land where Mills Field stood, the first airport.  It had been a dairy farm and was converted to an airport.  San Francisco International Airport still sits on part of the original land.

The city has about 30,000 residents today.  Some of the areas of the city were developed after WWI, and in 1927 the Highlands, homes built for the upper market above the downtown area between Chadbourne Avenue and Taylor Boulevard, Magnolia Avenue and Ashton, was developed.  The area is known today for its beautiful tree lined streets and Spanish style homes.

After WWII, the town began to grow and more houses were built in the northern part of the city.  The
Mills Estate was developed in the mid-1950’s through 1970’s for the upper market.

The downtown is a bustling street with many restaurants and shops.  Millbrae’s schools are considered
excellent.  Mills High School is a top ranking school.  Weather is moderate, and the hills do a good job of keeping the fog away from the main part of town.

The BART station and CalTrain station are a major transit hub.  Millbrae, sitting across from SFO has many residents who work in San Mateo County, or up in San Francisco.

Last week Millbrae had 50 houses for sale.  They were on the market for an average of 68 days, and the number of homes coming to the market  appears to be moving upward.  Prices are trending downward, yet most homes in Millbrae are selling for over a Million dollars today.  A far cry from how this city of about 20,000 use to be, where modest homes housed families of modest means.  Not today.  The median price last week was $1,087,500.  Millbrae is considered a flat Cold! Buyer’s market.

The residential housing market is a great example of supply side economics with the supply and demand, and market conditions determining price.  Altos Research calculates the Market Action Index by measuring available supply relative to the current level of demand.  Index value above 30 indicates conditions favor the seller.  Sitting at 18, Millbrae is very much favoring the Buyer.  Yet the seller hasn’t figured that out as they’re still pricing homes high.  Altos Research also feels that the current pricing conditions are relatively fragile.  If the market cools off further, watch for prices coming down.

Price and Value can be measured by looking at the Price per Square Foot.  Despite the fact that home prices are rising fairly consistently, the price per square foot of homes listed in Millbrae is declining.  This can often be attributed to new and remodeled homes on the market.  Buyers in the area are paying more but also getting more for their money.

Another reason Millbrae is staying up in price has to do with the schools.  Mills High School has become a magnet for buyers from San Francisco.  Mills is part of the San Mateo Union High School District and consistently has high test scores.

Millbrae’s homes are about 59 years old,  mostly built post WWII.  They’re mostly 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and about 1600 square feet in size.  The average lot is 5000 feet.  They’re pretty much like the other Peninsula cities I write about.   If you’d like more information about Millbrae’s real estate market, let me know.  I can get you a copy of the full report we subscribe to from Altos Research.

Our area has what I call a public-private education system.  What do I mean by this?  I mean you may send your child to a public school, but be prepared because you’re going to be asked to pay a whole lot of money to that school for anything and everything they need that’s not covered by our property taxes.  Now, the private comes from the foundations that have sprung up in our public school districts.  You don’t see these foundations in low income districts, mind you, but only in high wealth areas.  The areas where the schools know that they can come begging to the parents, and the local residents for funds. And, get them.

The schools have gotten creative since these foundations first showed up back when my three kids were in elementary school.  We’re talking back in the early 1980′s.  They should have by now, since they’ve had over 20 years to create new reasons for us to fund them.  Expect to get a phone call soon from your local district if you live in the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary District.  Or San Mateo Union High School District, for that matter.  They’ll come asking you to donate.  One school within the district, Baywood in San Mateo, puts on an auction that raises a whale of a lot of money — somewhere in the low six figures.  This money pays for teachers as well as “enrichment”.  The things that we used to expect to see taught in elementary school like art and music, new books for the library, computers for the computer lab, field trips, etc.

So, the API scores are out and as expected Hillsborough Elementary leads the pack in the number for the districts: 959 out of a possible 1000. This is expected as Hillsborough is a very high wealth area.  Burlingame Elementary follows with 874, Belmont and San Carlos are just behind with 873, Millbrae follows with 834 and San Mateo-Foster City has 801.  San Mateo-Foster City is the largest district with the widest range of incomes and therefore scores.  So, I ask what does this mean?  Is it really so critical to you as a buyer that you’ll pass up a great home near an okay school just to try and buy one for much more money near the top school?  Does it matter if you don’t have children yet?  Does it matter for resale?

These are questions I pose often and everyone has a different answer.  In my thinking, if we can change the demographics around a specific school with moreeducated parents, the school with improve their test scores.  So, why should it matter today when the child of the future (maybe 6 or 7 years away) will go there?  It doesn’t.  You can only be concerned with what’s going on today and not try to project the future.  Even though I collect magic wands and crystal balls, they’re only for fun.  Do you see anything in them?

Altos Research has placed all of our 7 cities, Millbrae, Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Foster City, Belmont and San Carlos in the Cool Buyer’s Market Action Index.  I wrote about this last month so if you’re following this you shouldn’t be surprised.  So what does this mean for a buyer – or – the seller, for that matter?  Does it mean there are great bargains out there?  Yes and no.  Yes if you’re looking at entry level
property, both single family homes and condos or townhouses.

Foster City, a planned community with many condos and townhouses is showing prices holding steady and has a median price for a condo or townhouse of $640,000 and there were 47 of them for sale last week.  The average days on the market are climbing and it’s 61 days.  No surprise on that because that’s normal at year end.  Foster City’s Market Action is a 22.  San Mateo, too, has many condos and townhouses and we’re seeing prices trending upward to a median price of $589,000, but so are the average days on the market, 82 days and there are 149 of them for sale. Their Market Action Index sits at 20. If you would like to see the reports on this, let me know and I’ll email one to you.

As for single family houses, the weakest Market Action Index is Millbrae, sitting at a 20.  Prices are steady with a median price of $1,088,000 and the average days on the market are climbing upwards to 66 days and there were 56 houses for sale in Millbrae last week.

Burlingame ties San Mateo at being the next weakest with a Market Action Index of 21.  Prices are trending downward in Burlingame, but last week’s median price was $1,373,500.  There were 60 houses for sale and the average number of days on the market were moving downward to 72.

San Mateo also sits at a 21 for their Market Action Index.  As San Mateo is the largest city here, and has the biggest variety of single family homes, the median price was $799,000 but the most expensive house is listed at $1,998,000.  There were 154 houses for sale with an average of days on market of 76, and that’s moving upward.

San Carlos sits with a Market Action Index of 22 and a median price of $1,058,000.  There are 45 houses for sale and the average days on the market is 84 and climbing.

Next comes Hillsborough and their Market Action Index of 23, which is an improvement over the past couple of weeks.  The median price for a home is $3,299,000 but it sees a high average number of days on the market of 120, and that’s climbing up. There are only 37 houses for sale at this time.  Prices have
been trending downward in Hillsborough for a while and if you’re looking in the marketplace you can negotiate some good deals.

Belmont sits at 24 for Market Action and has a median price of $949,000.  Average days on the market is 62 and climbing and there were 49 houses for sale last week and more coming on the market.  Prices have been holding flat in Belmont.

Finally, Foster City, with the lowest number of houses for sale at 16, and an average of 50 days on the market and dropping, sits with a Market Action Index of 25 and a
median price for a house of $1,219,388.

The Market Action Index reflects Altos Research’s calculation of the available supply relative to the current level of demand in housing.  Index values above 30 indicate conditions favoring the seller with a Seller’s Market and below favoring the buyer.  The more you drop below 30 the more into a Buyer’s Market you go.  None of our cities are much below with the exception of San Mateo zip code 94401 where the majority of entry level houses sit.

Comparing Altos Research data to the data I used the other day from MLS Listings, our local MLS shows some differences and some similarities.  Altos Research measures the market weekly, MLS Listings does it monthly and does not drill down into zip codes.  I have all of the data available to you should you wish to see it, just ask.

December is a great time to be looking for a new home . There are some great houses for sale and as they sit on the market the seller’s become more open to negotiation on price.  This is the time you need to use a smart Realtor with experience in negotiation and one who understands this kind of market.  We are here to help you with all of your real estate needs.

5 Fairview Place

When you’re out and about on Sunday, we have a great listing for you to see at 5 Fairview Place in Millbrae.  If the sun is out and shining the views will take
your breath away as you watch the planes take off from SFO, and see Mount Diablo in the background.  The Open House is between 1:30 and 4 PM.  Fairview is off of  Lomita.

The house sits in  Lomita Park, a  wonderful neighborhood of older homes nestled into the hills of  Millbrae.  It’s close to BART, CalTrain, SFO, 101, an easy commute to San Francisco and  has the temperate Millbrae weather.

This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home has shiny hardwood floors throughout.  The large kitchen features new appliances and a laundry room right next door.  The house sits on a cul de sac that is perfect for children to play in safely.  Millbrae schools are coveted by so many because they are excellent.  It’s a nice home for $948,000.

Stop by and say hello to Alex.  He’ll be there to greet you!

Today Mills Estates is an area that covers both Millbrae and Burlingame.  It once belonged to Darius Ogden Mills, the wealthy gentleman who founded the Bank of California in the mid-1800′s.  Their name is where the name “Millbrae” came from.  Mills Estates was develped in the late 1950′s and 60′s mostly, with the final development taking place in the early 1970′s.  About half of it is in Millbrae and the rest in Burlingame but the only way you know which town you’re in is by looking at house numbers.  Some streets change numbers right in the middle of a block, like on Ashton, Castenada and Loyola where numbers begin in the 200′s and 300′s and then jump to the 1800′s when the houses are in Burlingame.  The same issue happens on some of the street running up and down the hill with one side of the street in Millbrae and the other in Burlingame.

35 Manzanita Court in Millbrae

We’re holding open this fabulous house in the Millbrae side of the Mills Estates, at 35 Manzanita Court.
It’s a large home with a pool.  Four bedrooms, two and one half baths, fantastic kitchen (one of the best I’ve seen in years) and 2900+ square feet of living space.  Come by to see us and see this house.  It’s in the coveted Millbrae School District with Spring Valley Elementary School, Taylor Middle School and Mills High
School.

The commute from this house down to the Silicon Valley is an easy one, as it’s close to 280.  Need to go north to the City or South City?  You’re a hop skip and a jump
away.  It’s close to SFO, BART and CalTrain.  In short, this is a great family home.  Come over and see us between 1:30 and 4 PM Sunday, September 16th.