The Wilkas Group » Foster City real estate

Here’s Where to Get More Data When Buying a Home: Foster City CA

lenorewilkas — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:23:52 +0000

Realtors are prohibited by federal law from steering buyers to locations or homes, and included in what we can not say is what the demographic of a community is all about. Sure we can give nuances and use buzz words that are benign but give an idea to some, but we really can never tell you that one place is better for you than another for blah blah blah reasons.

Finally, a website has come along that aggregates demographic data including census data, and research data to provide a picture of a community. Take Foster City for instance. I ran a report on this city and some of the information being provided includes General Lifestyles, Neighborhoods, Schools, and Crime. The website is PicketReport.com and as someone who has always loved data, this site is cool. The picture on the left is a heat map of the demographics in our immediate area.

According to the PicketReport, Foster City is made up of Flourishing Families (affluent middle-aged families and couples earning prosperous incomes and living very comfortable active lifestyles). Foster City has a high walk-score, high school scores, and almost no crime. Now, this is a lot of the data I can legally give about Foster City and do, but it also drills down further about the demographics, which is the stuff I can’t legally give.

If you’re a data wonk, and want to know more about the communities around Foster City such as San Mateo, Hillsborough and Burlingame, this will give you the info all in one place. You will love this site if you are in marketing. It’s not 100 percent accurate but it does give you an idea of what our communities are all about in one place. The ask you to sign in but if you register I don’t see any value to you as the end user. You can get your snap shot of the zip code you’re interested in without registering.

It’s a free service and you can get the information by zip code just keep in mind it isn’t totally perfect. Then again, almost nothing is perfect, is it?

Here’s what’s for sale in Foster City today.

Showing properties 1 - 7 of 7. See more city of Foster City real estate.
(all data current as of 2/12/2012)

$1,179,000 : 269 Avocet Ct, Foster City

5 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,690 sq ft

Lot size: 6,630 sq ft

Year built: 1969
$869,000 : 632 Matsonia Dr, Foster City

4 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,760 sq ft

Lot size: 5,320 sq ft

Year built: 1964
$999,990 : 850 Gull Av, Foster City

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,160 sq ft

Lot size: 5,320 sq ft

Year built: 1966
$1,529,000 : 1001 Monterey Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,170 sq ft

Lot size: 8,540 sq ft

Year built: 1978
$975,000 : 54 Port Royal Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,890 sq ft

Lot size: 6,798 sq ft

Year built: 1985
$1,189,000 : 760 Coronado Ln, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 2,110 sq ft

Lot size: 4,857 sq ft

Year built: 1977
$849,000 : 921 Swan St, Foster City

5 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,540 sq ft

Lot size: 5,700 sq ft

Year built: 1966

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Why Has the US Post Office Disenfranchised Foster City?

lenorewilkas — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:06:24 +0000

According the the 2010 Census there are 30,567 residents living in Foster City. Foster City doesn’t even have it’s own zip code, making it the largest city in San Mateo County without its own zip code. Why then does the US Post Office no longer wish to deliver mail through the post office in Foster City when there are that many residents there? Why did someone arbitrarily decide that a city of this size doesn’t matter and in order to save money this city would be reduced to a town the size of, say Hillsborough, with only 9200 people and no post office?

If you live in Foster City you know your City doesn’t show up as Foster City in many web sites when you go to order products online. You input 94404 and up pops San Mateo. We don’t live in San Mateo, we live in Foster City. Sure we’re 1/3 the size of our sister city but we are own municipality and when other cities within this county, with smaller populations, have their own Zip Code and Post Office, we’re being treated like third-class citizens.

Do you realize that you now must must go to San Mateo to do any postal business with the exception of mailing out packages? All mail is now going out of the Delaware Street post office in San Mateo for Foster City mail, making more work for the workers there so they don’t have time in the day to deliver our mail as regularly as it used to be delivered. The local Foster City delivery people have been “repurposed”. Expect to stand in long lines at the San Mateo post office if you hold your mail when you travel. Plan on hours and hours of delay.

If you’re finding that your mail deliveries have been coming at different hours of the day, or on some days, not coming at all, this is the reason. Sure the US Postal Service is having financial difficulties and they need to streamline processes but is this the way to do it? How many other cities in San Mateo County no longer have post offices providing full services? How many other cities of the same size as Foster City do not have their own Zip Code?

If you live in Foster City and want things to change you need to contact Jackie Speier’s office and tell her how you feel about this. Contact her by email or phone: (650) 342-0300. It’s also time for the City Counsel of Foster City to demand some changes. Are you as mad as I am? If you are, let’s do something about this!

Market Report – Foster City CA – 10.07.2011 Condos and Townhouses

lenorewilkas — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 22:05:30 +0000

Foster City is known for its top schools and scores but not everyone can afford to buy a house in Foster City. Since this is a planned community, there are many options to own in Foster City for less cost than a house runs. There are condos built to be condos, not converted from apartments like in so many places in California. There are townhouses that really are single family homes but attached like row houses, and then there are condos that look like townhouses but are condos and you don’t own the land the unit sits on.

Foster City is the perfect commuter’s paradise. Right in the middle of the Peninsula and equal distant to the San Francisco or San Jose business communities. Add it the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge that lands in Foster City and one can commute anywhere in the Bay Area with ease.

Here’s the market report for condos and townhouses. If you want more information let us know. We’re here to answer your questions provided you don’t already have an agent who should be doing that for you.

90-day stats for Condo properties in FOSTER CITY, CA as of February 3, 2012
Median List Price:	$453,506	Average List Price:	$498,618
Total Inventory:	24	Price per Square Foot:	$340
Average Home Size:	1,329	Median Lot Size:	n/a
Average # Beds:	2.06	Average # Baths:	1.99
Homes Absorbed:	2	Newly Listed:	2
Days on Market:	117	Average Age:	33

Here’s what’s on the market today. If you see something online that peaks your interest contact us through the Contact Us form above.

Showing properties 1 - 14 of 14. See more city of Foster City real estate.
(all data current as of 2/12/2012)

$539,000 : 880 Carina Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,546 sq ft

Lot size: 840 sq ft
$699,950 : 1423 Marlin Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,530 sq ft

Lot size: 1,757 sq ft
$369,000 : 625 Portofino Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,395 sq ft
$675,000 : 740 Promontory Point Ln #3304, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,980 sq ft
$415,000 : 820 Sea Spray Ln #108, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,233 sq ft
$640,000 : 1082 Gull Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,460 sq ft

Lot size: 1,757 sq ft
$329,900 : 8209 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 998 sq ft
$244,500 : 3106 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

1 bed, 1 full bath

Home size: 748 sq ft
$652,000 : 1117 Outrigger Ln, Foster City

3 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 1,540 sq ft

Lot size: 974 sq ft
$255,000 : 7202 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 998 sq ft
$506,902 : 126 Albacore Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,370 sq ft

Lot size: 1,875 sq ft
$360,000 : 661 Portofino Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,395 sq ft

Lot size: 1 sq ft
$439,900 : 2213 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,505 sq ft
$499,000 : 764 Comet Dr, Foster City

2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 980 sq ft

Lot size: 1,955 sq ft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

April 2011 Market Report: Foster City CA

lenorewilkas — Tue, 10 May 2011 20:55:18 +0000

Foster City was the first planned community in California and what makes it so like-able is the variety of housing choices offered. If you’re in the market to buy a home you can choose from a condo, a townhouse or a single family house with a wide choice of prices. Any one of them might sit along one of the waterways running throughout the city, near a park, or near the trails that run at the perimeter of the city. Throw in top schools and one can see why people want to live in Foster City, the mid-point of the San Francisco Peninsula.

We’ll start first with the single family homes for sale and see a median price of just under $1 million dollars making it a rather expensive place to settle in but with the opportunity to buy a townhouse, often larger in square footage than the smaller homes, Foster City becomes much more affordable. The chart below is showing the Foster City real estate market for last week and it’s showing a trend of pricing moving downward for the week. Since prices, houses and influences change weekly one week it might trend down and the next up or flat.

Let’s compare the Condo and Townhouse market of last week. Most of Foster City has PUDs (Planned Unit Developments) and these are houses, townhouses, and condos and they come with homeowners associations, and monthly fees. Almost all of these PUDs have pools, club houses, and some have tennis courts, too.

The median price for the Condo and Townhouses for sale last week was half a million bucks, about half of the price for a house and price per square foot isn’t a huge difference. Go figure?

Here’s what’s been going on during the first 4 months of 2011 from the MLS data. The market has heated up with more listings and more sales. Interest rates are historically low and one can buy in Foster City with a conforming loan and 20% down. That’s helping to make home ownership a possibility for so many people today.

Sitting in the middle of the Peninsula with outstanding schools and an easy commute south to Silicon Valley or north to San Francisco, people love living on the water, enjoying the outdoors and many sports activities available in Foster City. Here’s some of what’s for sale right now. If you’d like to see something in person, call or email us and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Showing properties 1 - 21 of 21. See more city of Foster City real estate.
(all data current as of 2/12/2012)

$539,000 : 880 Carina Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,546 sq ft

Lot size: 840 sq ft
$699,950 : 1423 Marlin Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,530 sq ft

Lot size: 1,757 sq ft
$1,179,000 : 269 Avocet Ct, Foster City

5 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,690 sq ft

Lot size: 6,630 sq ft
$369,000 : 625 Portofino Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,395 sq ft
$675,000 : 740 Promontory Point Ln #3304, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,980 sq ft
$869,000 : 632 Matsonia Dr, Foster City

4 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,760 sq ft

Lot size: 5,320 sq ft
$415,000 : 820 Sea Spray Ln #108, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,233 sq ft
$999,990 : 850 Gull Av, Foster City

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,160 sq ft

Lot size: 5,320 sq ft
$1,529,000 : 1001 Monterey Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,170 sq ft

Lot size: 8,540 sq ft
$640,000 : 1082 Gull Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,460 sq ft

Lot size: 1,757 sq ft
$329,900 : 8209 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 998 sq ft
$244,500 : 3106 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

1 bed, 1 full bath

Home size: 748 sq ft
$975,000 : 54 Port Royal Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,890 sq ft

Lot size: 6,798 sq ft
$652,000 : 1117 Outrigger Ln, Foster City

3 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 1,540 sq ft

Lot size: 974 sq ft
$255,000 : 7202 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 998 sq ft
$506,902 : 126 Albacore Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,370 sq ft

Lot size: 1,875 sq ft
$1,189,000 : 760 Coronado Ln, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 2,110 sq ft

Lot size: 4,857 sq ft
$360,000 : 661 Portofino Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,395 sq ft

Lot size: 1 sq ft
$439,900 : 2213 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,505 sq ft
$849,000 : 921 Swan St, Foster City

5 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,540 sq ft

Lot size: 5,700 sq ft
$499,000 : 764 Comet Dr, Foster City

2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 980 sq ft

Lot size: 1,955 sq ft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

How’s the Market in Foster City, CA – 2.4.11?

lenorewilkas — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:33:05 +0000

Here’s the market snapshot for Foster City, CA. Comparing to the other communities around here it’s doing okay with low inventory and prices holding upwards. This is a perfect example of all real estate is local, local, local and then hyper-local. The average price for a home in Foster City is $1,002,584. The average price for a condo or townhouse in Foster City is $544,528. It’s important to remember that Foster City is a planned community with apartments, condos, townhouses and houses all over the city and each offers a different price point. Foster City also has 8714 homes making it the second largest in our immediate area.

Here’s the snapshot of what went on in Foster City in January. There were 20 homes for sale and 42 condos or townhouses for sale. There were 9 homes under contract and showing pending sale, and 17 condos or townhouses showing pending sale. Only 1 home closed escrow in January and no condos or townhouse closed escrow. Again, this isn’t unusual for January since those sales had to happen either late November or during December, the quietest period of real estate we have.

Here’s what’s for sale in Foster City now. First will be homes then will be condos and townhouses. If you see something online you’d like to see in person give us a call at 650-696-2820 for a showing.

Showing properties 1 - 7 of 7. See more Foster City homes for sale.
(all data current as of 2/12/2012)

$1,179,000 : 269 Avocet Ct, Foster City

5 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,690 sq ft

Lot size: 6,630 sq ft
$869,000 : 632 Matsonia Dr, Foster City

4 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,760 sq ft

Lot size: 5,320 sq ft
$999,990 : 850 Gull Av, Foster City

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,160 sq ft

Lot size: 5,320 sq ft
$1,529,000 : 1001 Monterey Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,170 sq ft

Lot size: 8,540 sq ft
$975,000 : 54 Port Royal Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,890 sq ft

Lot size: 6,798 sq ft
$1,189,000 : 760 Coronado Ln, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 2,110 sq ft

Lot size: 4,857 sq ft
$849,000 : 921 Swan St, Foster City

5 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,540 sq ft

Lot size: 5,700 sq ft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Showing properties 1 - 14 of 14. See more Foster City Condos.
(all data current as of 2/12/2012)

$539,000 : 880 Carina Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,546 sq ft

Lot size: 840 sq ft
$699,950 : 1423 Marlin Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,530 sq ft

Lot size: 1,757 sq ft
$369,000 : 625 Portofino Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,395 sq ft
$675,000 : 740 Promontory Point Ln #3304, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,980 sq ft
$415,000 : 820 Sea Spray Ln #108, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,233 sq ft
$640,000 : 1082 Gull Av, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,460 sq ft

Lot size: 1,757 sq ft
$329,900 : 8209 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 998 sq ft
$244,500 : 3106 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

1 bed, 1 full bath

Home size: 748 sq ft
$652,000 : 1117 Outrigger Ln, Foster City

3 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 1,540 sq ft

Lot size: 974 sq ft
$255,000 : 7202 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 998 sq ft
$506,902 : 126 Albacore Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,370 sq ft

Lot size: 1,875 sq ft
$360,000 : 661 Portofino Ln, Foster City

2 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,395 sq ft

Lot size: 1 sq ft
$439,900 : 2213 Admiralty Ln, Foster City

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,505 sq ft
$499,000 : 764 Comet Dr, Foster City

2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 980 sq ft

Lot size: 1,955 sq ft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Where’s the Market Trending? Foster City, CA 02.15.10 Condos & Townhouses

lenorewilkas — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:45:51 +0000

I started the trending report with Foster City, CA single family houses and now I move over to the Condos and Townhouses. As a planned community, there are many of these to choose from. Some of the townhouses are really attached single family homes, and some are really townhouse-style condos. As Realtors we know the difference and it’s our job to explain that to you if you’re looking for one. Since Foster City’s single family homes are significantly higher in value than the condos or townhouses you get more for your dollar considering them, if you want to move to Foster City for the schools.

Play around with the data to see the trends over the past 4 years. They start during the bubble years and move to the lean years. What you are looking at is the Median Price versus the Median Inventory across all price ranges. Surprisingly, Foster City had the least deflation in home prices around here. Good for the home owner, for sure, but maybe not so good for you if you’re a buyer. If you click on the Max link you’ll see $1million on two occasions. There are some very high-end condos in Foster City that were selling in the low million dollar range several years ago.

The Wilkas Group lives in Foster City and knows the community well. If you are considering making a move into or out of Foster City we’d like to assist you with that. You can reach us by clicking the the “Contact Us” button to the left and we’ll respond by email or phone, your choice.

Where’s the Market Trending? Foster City, CA 02.15.10 Single Family Homes

lenorewilkas — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:33:12 +0000

I’m starting with Foster City, CA single family homes to take a look at market trends today. We’re only looking at the median price versus the median inventory. Oh though I wish inventory was higher around here, but alas it isn’t so we have what we have for data. If you want to have fun, click the top left numbers from 1 month through to a total of the data Altos Research has from 2006. Four years of data is a good indicator of how a market has trended, no?

Foster City is a great family community with parks everywhere, a lake in the center of the town, the Park and Recreation buildings feature the only teen center in any of our communities around here. More on the Vibe is coming. If you have a family and like outdoor activities this is where you should live. It’s a planned community featuring prices for almost every budget and fabulous schools.

The Wilkas Group is here to assist you with your real estate needs, whether you live in Foster City or Burlingame, Hillsborough or San Mateo. We’re easy to reach. Click on the “Contact Us” button to the left. We’ll answer you by email or phone, your choice.

Year-end Look at Foster City CA Market

lenorewilkas — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:56:55 +0000

Foster City, like San Mateo, offers a good selection of single family houses for sale as well as condos and townhouses. I’ll start with the single family houses to show you what the market has been like. Over all Foster City is the healthiest market in our area. Prices are up and we’re seeing that there were 2 months where prices exceeded the list price. This is something we haven’t seen in several years. Foster City sits in a perfect location for commutes to bio-tech or hi-tech, east bay or the City. Schools are tops, there are loads and loads of parks for families to utilize and they do, too. It’s a planned community with apartments, condos, townhouses and single family houses. The waterways snake through the city and boating is a big pass time.

Like our other communities last year didn’t see a lot of sales, even after the banks opened up their lending and gave out loans rather than moths, but prices have been pretty good. There haven’t been a lot of short sales or REO’s, yet. We know there will be some, but not sure how many. Foster City is one of the few places one can buy entry level, and move up within the community. If you are thinking about buying a short sale or REO in order to get to Foster City from somewhere else, you need experienced agents working these tricky deals. The Wilkas Group is experienced and trained in the nuances of short sales and bank owned sales. Whether you are buying or selling we know how to help you achieve your real estate needs.

Foster City, California

lenorewilkas — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:49:00 +0000

Known as the City of Blue Lagoons, Foster City’s lagoons were built to resolve an engineering problem when the city was first being developed. Foster City is located on land originally known as Brewer’s Island, which was originally marshland that had dried out after dikes and levees were constructed near the turn of the 19^th Century. It was then primarily as a diary farm for many decades.

In 1958, developer T. Jack Foster purchased the land with the idea of creating a planned community, a popular idea at the time. But there was one major problem; the silty clay mud sat at sea level which wasn’t good. The Army Corps of Engineers estimated it would take 45 million cubic yards of fill to raise the land to bring it up to eight to twelve feet needed to build on. But a local engineering firm came up with a novel solution – raise the land four or five feet and create a central drainage basin to impound the water before it was pumped back into the bay. The concept worked and Foster City now has, as its centerpiece, a 218 acre lagoon that winds its way through the city. The drainage basin still works perfectly even with severe storms battering the area some winters.

Foster City, named for T. Jack Foster, was incorporated in 1971 and is now is home to about 30,000 residents. It’s the home of several major bio-tech corporations and has high-tech companies as well. It was the first planned community in the western United States. There are single family houses, townhouses, condominiums, and apartments running in various areas of the city and many of them sit along side the water with beautiful views.

The city is half way between San Francisco and San Jose making it a great place to live, if one commutes. The San Mateo Bridge is at the eastern part of the city and when the bridge first opened the 12-miles span was the longest bridge in the world. Foster City is is only 20 minutes away from Half Moon Bay making its location central to everything on the Peninsula.

The elementary schools belong to the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary District and with three elementary and one middle school they all test high. There is no high school in the city so students have their choice of two of the San Mateo Union High School schools nearby in San Mateo.

There are parks everywhere in Foster City, and several of them have beaches allowing for water play. Boating on the lagoons is only done with electric power, sail boats or paddle boats. The Bay Trail wanders along the shoreline of the bay and is well used all year long.

Foster City is a great place for families with much to do outdoors. There is a wonderful Library and Recreation Department in the center of the city. A new teen building offers teens activities just for them including a skateboard park. Many of the tennis courts around town have lights enabling night play.

Check Out Some Homes Currently For Sale In This Area

[listingpress citystate='Foster City,CA|' zipstate='' proptype='Single Family|' beds='0' baths='0' minprice='0' maxprice='0' features='' /]

San Mateo Area Inventory is Climbing & Prices Are Dropping

lenorewilkas — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:18:55 +0000

The saying a picture tells a thousand words is what today’s blog is all about. I thought it would be interesting to compare the housing inventory versus the housing prices for Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo and Foster City. The charts show one year of data.

What most of these have in common is a drop in Median Price over the past few months and an increase in Inventory, or in other words, in the number of listings. Are we beginning to see pre-short sale inventory coming on the market? My guess is yes. San Mateo is an exception and that may be because it has the largest number of homes for sale across the widest price expanse. If you are interested in getting more detailed information about one of these cities, let me know. I did not break down San Mateo by zip code or break out condos or townhouses from San Mateo or Foster City. I can provide that data for you should you want more. Just ask me.