Saturday afternoon at 3 PM listen to the Foster City Community Chorus sings a program called “We Are Lights” at Transfiguration Episcopal Church in San Mateo, and repeats it again Sunday afternoon same time and same place.  Ticket information here  and they are $20.

Also on the same weekend Peninsula Cantare performs their holiday program in Palo Alto at the First Baptist Church at 7:30 PM and the following afternoon, 3 PM at Trinity Presbyterian Church in San Carlos.  This is the final concert for Music Director Janice Gunderson, who is retiring and features Mozart Requiem and selections of the Handel messiah and solosits Susanna Jimenez, Soprano; Donia Gariaeff, Alto;  Brian Thorset, Tenor; and Michael Morris, Bass.  Tickets available at the door and are $20 for general admission and $15 for students/seniors.

Masterworks Chorale of San Mateo performs their program, “Carols Around”, the  following weekend, December 11 and 12. The Saturday program is at 8 PM and the Sunday program is at 4 PM, both are at Grace Lutheran Church in Palo Alto.  Buy tickets here and are $20 advance purchase, $25 at the door, and $10 for students.

Finally, Viva la Musica! performs Sunday December 11 at 4 PM and the following Sunday, December 18 at 4 PM.  The musical selections are Gloria’s by John Rutter and Randol Alan Bass accompanied by brass and percussion ensemble and organ.  Tickets available here are $25 preferred, $22 general, $20 seniors and $15 students/groups.

All of these choral groups are non-profit organizations and the sales of tickets helps to keep them singing.  If you love to sing, check them out and see which one might be a good fit for you.  They’re always looking for new voices to make music with.

It’s been a while since I’ve given a report on any of our markets, so yes, it is about time to let you know the good, the bad and the ugly.  Yes, there is ugly in San Mateo County, just not here.  The town of Hillsborough, California is definitely not an ugly market, it’s a little gem of a town.  No downtown.  No businesses really located there except for those who cheat and work from home.  Large lots.  Large homes.  Fabulous schools.  Big prices.  Beautiful views.  Tree filled lots.  What’s not to like?

Last week there were 55 homes for sale ranging from a low of $1,699,000 to a high of $18,000,000.  Obviously there’s a great deal of difference between the lowest priced home in Hillsborough and the highest.  The average number of days a Hillsborough home is on the market today is 123 days, and that’s a reduction of late.  There were 6 houses “absorbed” — either sold or removed from the market for other reasons.

Median Price

One third of all listings have seen a price reduction during the 123 days on market, yet the median price has risen recently to $3,480,000. The median price for a Hillsborough home has generally been in the $3 million range the last part of 2008.

Market Action Index

Altos Research, the company who provides our research established a Market Action Index that delineates between a Buyer’s Market and a Seller’s Market.  They set this line at 30.  We haven’t seen a Seller’s Market in 18 months.  Clearly we sit in a Buyer’s Market, where buyers are offering prices below list and too many sellers are still thinking the market is Q-1 2007.  Those days are long gone.  A seller who wants to sell their home needs to price correctly, be willing to negotiate with the buyer, and be realistic about the market in Hillsborough.  We are not at bottom, that was a little while ago, but we are bouncing along a little about it.

The Quartiles of the Hillsborough CA Market

Every single market Altos Research covers is divided into Quartiles with the 25% least expensive home to the top 25% most expensive home.  This is how you can see which quartile has sales.  There were 2 in the first Quartile, the most expensive; None in the second Quartile the Upper-Middle 25%; there was one in the third Quartile, the Lower-Middle 25%; and three in the Lower-Quartile.  As you can see the Average Days on Market was only 65 for the lower-Quartile, too.

If you have wanted to move to Hillsborough, have great credit, money in the bank, and a good job this is the absolute best time to be able to do this.  We have many beautiful homes for sale there and it would be our pleasure to show them to you.  Give us a call at 650-696-2820 for more information.

This weekend, starting Friday and running through Sunday, is the annual Harvest Festival at the San Mateo Event Center on South Delaware.  This is your chance to go on me.  I have some tickets to give away to the first 4 people emailing or calling me.  You can have a pair of tickets to attend this great shopping extravaganza and to kick off your holiday shopping.  The Harvest Festival features artists working in the fine arts, in crafts, one-of-a-kind jewelery, and unusual gift items.  If you like to give the unusual this is your chance to go shopping with your pair of tickets!

The show runs between 10 AM and 6 PM both on Friday and Saturday and from 10 AM to 5 PM on Sunday. There’s a drawing for a trip to Paris waiting for your ticket stub.  Go going and ask for your pair.

One of the new features at the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show is the Charity Parcel Check . Everyone knows that carrying all those bags, garden ornaments, paintings, and so on can be extremely tiring, especially for your guys!

This year at the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show we will be having a local charity run a Charity Parcel Check . All money raised at this new customer service goes directly back to this worthwhile organization. A great way to contribute to a local community organization!

So, San Mateo, Foster City, Hillsborough and Burlingame residents here’s your chance to get a pair of tickets from me.  Just call me at 650-867-2909 or email at info@wilkasgroup.com for yours.  Hurry!!

I’ve written before giving The Top 10 things NOT to do while in escrow but obviously I need to spell it out once again because someone didn’t read the list. The top thing not to do while in escrow is to change jobs.  That is the #1 No-No on the Top Ten List!  What will happen?  Hum, where shall I begin?

1.  The lender will get very angry at you and will make you start the entire application process over again.

2.  The seller of the house you’re trying to buy could tell you to take a walk and you could lose your deposit up to the full 3% you have down,

3.  The length of the escrow will double at a minimum.

4.  Your credit rating could tumble.

5.  The loan you thought you were going to get might have vanished.

6.  The interest rate on the new loan, assuming you now qualify for one, will no doublt be different.

7.  You might not be able to afford the house any longer.

8.  The lender you had may no longer be around

All of this is serious business when you’re buying a home.  Do not make changes in employment during an escrow.  If you must change your job do it after you close escrow.  Suck it up and wait those few extra weeks.  Your new employer should understand and hold that job for you and if they don’t, is that someone you really want to work for anyway?

Mistake Number 1

Over-Pricing. It’s so easy to think your home is worth more than it really is today.  The peak of the real estate market was in January 2006, not today in May 2008.  We are at the bottom of the market so pricing your home correctly is really important if you really want to  sell it.  Be flexible when an offer comes in.  Don’t take the offer personally.  This is a business transaction and the best deals allow both the seller and the buyer to feel good about it.

How do you determine a reasonable listing price?  Let your agent give you the statistics on all homes sold in your area for the past 60 to 90 days.  You need to look at how long the houses were listed (Days on Market), the list price, the actual sales price, and how long it took to sell.  You need to do some homework, too.  I like to take my clients on a field trip looking at every house for sale in the area with the eyes of a buyer, and compare what they have versus what your home has.  This is a brutal test for you, but really will help you remove yourself emotionally from your home. Remember, this is a business transaction.

Mistake Number 2

Negligent Housekeeping. Come on now, take a critical look at your home and really look at what needs to be done.  Is your shower clean, with white grout and no mold anywhere in the bathrooms?  Are the walls freshly painted?  Is your home cluttered with too much furniture, books, toys, and junk?  Time to clear it out.  I’ve written a lot about clutter and how to get rid of it.  How does your furniture look?  Is the upholstery clean?  If not, buy an inexpensive cover for your sofa and chairs, and watch how it freshens up the look of the room!  Do you need new carpet?  Buy new, neutral colored carpet for the entire house.  Anything you buy to enhance your home for sale is tax deductible.  Get to it!

Buyers need to be able to envision themselves living in your home so a good objective look at how it is today is very important.  If you can afford it, a stager can come in and help you make your home “buyer friendly”.  A stager can use your own items, moving things around from room to room, or have you clear out furniture and bring in their own. Stagers try to keep a home neutral in feeling so it will appeal to the largest number of potential buyers.

Mistake Number 3

Failing to Fix-It.  Buyers, unless they are really looking to buy a fixer-upper, prefer to move into a home that is in perfect, or near perfect condition.  If they have to fix the roof, replace the carpet, sand the hardwood floor and have it stained, or put in new appliances, they may not want to buy your home.  In fact, they may not want to even stay in it to really look at.  Fix everything that you can before it is listed.  Have a property inspection and a pest inspection before putting it on the market, and fix the problems that are mentioned in the reports.  Then have the inspectors come back a second time and give your home a clean bill of health.  Spending the money before you sell, will put more money into your pocket at the close of your escrow.  Replace appliances.  Put in new carpet, new flooring, new tile.  You will see an ROI, when you get that Return On your Investment.

Mistake Number 4

Not Identifying Exclusions.  This can be the cause of a contention just at the most critical point in the sale.  Be sure to specify all sales considerations or exclusions from the sale such as light fixtures, appliances, the flat screen TV that is on the wall in the Family Room.  Rule of thumb, anything affixed to the house stays with the house.  That includes curtain rods, light fixtures, appliances or fixtures.  If you don’t want to sell it with the house, it must be notated in the listing agreement.  Better yet, that chandelier you spent a huge amount of money for?  Take it down and replace it with another one before you list the house.  As for the flat screen?  If it means the difference between a ratified contract and the buyer walking?  You can always buy a new flat screen but you might not find a new buyer offering you the same money.

Mistake Number 5

Misunderstanding the Agent Agreement. If you do not understand the Listing Agreement, ask questions before you sign it.  Your agent is your advocate but you must understand what is expected from her and what she expects from you, too.  Take time to have your Realtor explain every document you must fill out and sign.  Question fees before you list, not after.  You are selling your home and you want the best Realtor out there who works for a quality brokerage.  Ask. Ask. Ask.  What will your agent do to market your home?  What will it cost to stage your home?  How much do those inspections cost?  Can these things be paid for out of your escrow?

Take time to ask questions.  Be satisfied with the answers.  Check references, if you dont know the agent.  A good Realtor doesn’t mind this, and will be there to answer all questions.  Finally, when you do have your home on the market, do not stay in it during showings.  Do not talk to potential buyers.  They don’t want to see you, and they sure don’t want to hear your sales pitch.

After you have a ratified agreement, if the buyer’s ask to talk with you about the little quirks of your home, show them how to turn on the sprinkler system, or what you need to do to winterize your home.  Those little tips are important to the new owner.  Some sellers even leave a list of local tradesmen who have worked on their home, along with babysitter names, and good restaurants.  Its like a welcome package to the buyer, especially if they are new to your community.

Caution! Prisoners loose

Whoa there Nelly, how in heavens name could San Mateo County blow it so succinctly last week when Josue Orozco escaped from Juvenile Hall and not notify the Highlands residents?  There are over 700 homes above the San Mateo County Youth Services Center and not one, I repeat, not one was notified of the escape of the gang member. These people heard about the escaped murder from the news.

One would think that the County would have a plan in place to do thus, but alas, no plan was is there, yet .  All they can say is Oops.  Since the County does have a system in place for emergencies wouldn’t one think that this might, just might, fall into that category? Okay, they say they’re working on it now and it should be in place soon, but it’s a little late, don’t ya think?

Authorities don’t think Orozco went into the Highlands community but likely headed south via a waiting car.  He may have headed so far south as to be in Mexico by now, but it doesn’t change the need for
communication by the County on this issue.  This kind of escape effects anyone within a couple of mile radius of Juvenile Hall, not only the Highlands.  Add in Belmont and other parts of San Mateo to the equation, too.

The County has an alert system that you can register for online here.  The San Mateo Highlands is a great community of Eichler homes.  It’s family orientated, has a great recreation department, pool and
community.  It deserves better.

Congressman Tom Lantos

Upon hearing the news that Tom Lantos had died this week a blanket of great sadness engulfed San Mateo County.  Congressman Lantos
represented our district in Washington, DC for almost 28 years and he
was a really important figure to all of us.  He will be greatly missed by his constituents and by his colleagues in Congress. His courage, his outspokenness, and his deep caring of those without a voice will be lost forever from the halls of Congress.  He leaves very big shoes to fill.

Even prior to the news that Lantos was suffering from cancer, there
was a lot of movement about a serious challenge for his seat in
Congress.  Many people felt it was time for a new voice and when
Jackie Spier starting showing interest in running against Lantos, many
felt it would be a good thing to have a strong challenger run against
him in June.  In January, when Lantos announced that he had cancer, Jackie Spier came forward and said she was going to run for his seat with Tom’s blessings.

Now, with the death of our beloved Congressman, we anticipate seeing former State Senator Jackie Spier, a very courageous woman who too has known suffering, will stand where Lantos once did and represent San
Mateo County in Congress.  The formality of a special election is needed but once it has been set and taken place, we will see the next phase of representation for our County by a strong advocate for our rights and freedoms. Although her feet are smaller than Tom’s, we hope to see her fill his shoes one day.

San Mateo County has been especially blessed with some amazing Congressional representatives during the past three decades.  From Congressman Leo Ryan, who was tragically murdered while on a fact-finding trip for Congress to Congressman Tom Lantos we were well served by strong and intelligent representatives and now we’re on to the next chapter. His voice may have been silenced but his memory and hard work for those disenfranchised in the world had not ended.

May his memory be inscribed in The Book of Life.