Open House on Saturday 1-4 pm Sept 12, 2009 BANK OWNED (REO):   6 Years New   Price Reduction!   1213 WAYNE WY, San Mateo 94403 (San Mateo) This townhouse is ready for your personal touch! Located in one of San Mateo's newer communities...just walking distance to parks, Starbuck's, Whole Foods & more! Easy freeway and public transit access! Great floorplan with spacious eat-in kitchen featuring gas stove, 2 master suites on top floor, a full laundry room and attached 2 car tandem garage.Open Saturday 1-4 pm  List Price $589,900  Presented by James Light DRE # 01859975 REALTOR Intero Real Estate 1100 Park Place, Suite 100, San Mateo, CA 94403 Direct: 650-931-8484   For more information visit www.InteroRealEstate.com/agents/jameslightor call 650-931-8484   This house won't last long. If y... 09/11/2009

Mayra is a license real estate agent, Foreclosure and Short Sale Specialist in San Mateo, San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara and Alameda County. If you would like information on current homes available for sale in San Francisco Bay Area or San Mateo, call Mayra at 650-996-8961 or email Mayra.espinosa@prurealty.com or you can visit her website. For all your real estate needs she can help you get started today. •        Building wealth:  owning a home even now is the best long-term investment you can make. Home prices have fallen in this difficult economic times but appreciation in future years should be expected. •         Stability: knowing that you can raise your family in one location without having the owner asking you to move out it will make buying a house the right thing to do.  ... 09/07/2009

Mayra is a license real estate agent, Foreclosure and Short Sale Specialist in San Mateo, San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara and Alameda County. If you would like information on current homes available for sale in San Francisco Bay Area or San Mateo, call Mayra at 650-996-8961 or email Mayra.espinosa@prurealty.com or you can visit her website. For all your real estate needs she can help you get started today. To get FREE money: The $8,000.00 Tax credit available for first time homebuyers. That is a tax credit (FREE money) from the government, which you do not have to pay back, as long as you stay in your new home for at least 3 years. Remember the $8,000 tax credit expired April 30. Must be in contract by April 30 and close escrow on or before June 30, 2010. The Tax Credit is not only ... 09/07/2009

Eight simple things to prepare for an open house •1.       Mow your lawns and make sure the yard looks great •2.       Sweep and dust off your front porch area. •3.       Hire a cleaning service. A spotless clean home shows off a home better than anything. •4.       Lock up all your valuables including jewelry and money. Better yet, take them out of the house and store them at a friends or family member's house.  Although your real estate professional will be on site during the open house it would provide fewer temptations. •5.       Turn on all your lights inside the house even if it is the daytime. Extra lights always helps add brightness to a room. •6.        Send your pets to a neighbor's house or take them outside.  If that's not possible crate them or confine them to one room and ... 08/26/2009

Are you looking for a jumbo loan in San Mateo, CA? I can help you. As a mortgage broker in Burlingame (right next door to San Mateo), I am able to match you with the best jumbo loan for your needs because we are partners with many of the best jumbo lenders in the country.As a mortgage broker, I save you money, time, and hassle in obtaining a jumbo loan.I save you money because I offer a smorgasbord of jumbo loan programs.If you call a bank they will offer you only the programs they have. Their jumbo loan programs may or may not be competitive. Their underwriting guidelines may not meet your needs. The benefits I offer is that I know who offers the most competitive jumbo loan rates. In addition, I know what the underwriting guidelines are of each of the lenders. With this knowledge I am ... 08/21/2009

Are you looking for an insurance agent in San Mateo, CA? Well, you need to meet Kelly Corwell. Kelly is an energetic insurance agent who takes the time to educate her clients about risk, and how insurance will provide her client's peace of mind knowing that they will be protected from any unexpected event that may occur in their lives.   The Corwell insurance agency serves the Greater Bay Area (locally in San Mateo and Burlingame). It is affiliated with Farmers Insurance and Financial Services. Kelly takes pride in being a very "hands on" insurance agent. She conducts annual reviews with each of her clients to make sure they are properly protected. Life changes, and Kelly makes sure that her clients are protected with the inevitable changes that life brings. Kelly is an insurance agent ... 08/11/2009

REOs and short sales have generated a tremendous amount of buzz in the media, as well as among San Mateo County home buyers, but are these homes really the ‘deals’ they claim to be? Join us on June 6th at 10am where you will learn… The differences between short sales and REOs The process for buying a short sale or REO The risks associated with these complex transactions An action plan for getting a great deal Join us Saturday June 6th at 10am in San Mateo …where you will learn How to Find a Great Deal in San Mateo County. Admission is free, but reservations are required as space is limited. To register, please visit www.HomeBuyingTuesdays.com or call (650) 655-2500. 05/02/2009

It’s time to start your home search and you’re lost. Whether you’re looking for your first home, your fifth, a vacation place or an investment property, there are certain rules you need to follow, but they’re not all that well-known. In our thirty years in real estate, we’ve picked up a few tips & tricks for home buyers. Did you know… There is a loan program that will help you finance the cost of cosmetic repairs, eliminating the fear of having to front thousands of dollars to fix a property in disrepair? When seeing a home, you should always bring a tape measure, camera and pliers? You can purchase a home with as little as 3.5% down payment, or 0% down payment in certain geographical areas? Sellers are now willing to offer concessions such as prepaid mortgage interest to lower your mo... 05/02/2009

  The San Mateo County Association of REALTORS and SAMCAR are urging Real Estate agents to bring their clients to their SAMCAR HOUSING EXPO'09. They hope the consumers will come to take advantage of the information and free source materials being offer to educate consumers about obtaining and owning a home.   Workshops:   First time homebuyers                                                                     Baby Boomers and Aging Adults           Real estate investor           Foreclosure prevention They will have four separate educational workshop speaking areas in the same building featuring local experts and nonprofit organization and. Over forty exhibitors will be there offering information and free source materials about local real estate market. My office Prudential California ... 04/10/2009

I just closed my first referral from Active Rain, Yes! Si! Oui!,ja!.  Five months ago, I got a phone call. They found my profile at Active Rain. I was so excited; I could not believe it was happening to me. He was looking for an agent with experience working with first time homebuyers. The buyer was looking in San Francisco, San Mateo County or Alameda County, it was very challenging to find the dream home with his tight budget, but we did not lose our hope and kept looking.  After several reject offers and viewed numerous homes. We finitely found the perfect house at a nice neighborhood. My buyer fell in love with this home.  It was an REO with 7 offers.  We played hard and got our offer accepted.         If you have not received a referral from active Rain yet, keep Blagging, comment... 04/05/2009

   For the past few days, I have being listining, watching and reading about twitter. I when to and typed into the search box what is twitter? I got 39,500,000 hits.  After reading a couple of search result, I signed up, and surprise! I had two followers; one of them is an old friend. It is FREE and easy to sign up!                 Shortly after completing all the information, an e-mail will be send to you, so you can activate your account.   Activate Phone: http://twitter.com/devicesInvite Your Friends:  http://twitter.com/invite Now you are ready to stay connected to your friends, family and colleague. 02/26/2009

   Sam Spade in San Mateo:Legendary mystery writer Joe Gores launches his new novel Spade & Archer at San Mateo's "M" Is for Mystery bookstore One of the reasons I like living in San Mateo County is to enjoy our many local cultural events. Here's an example: Today, San Mateo's "M" Is for Mystery bookstore hosted legendary mystery writer Joe Gores for the launch of his eagerly-anticipated new novel Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon. As I write this, it is February 14, Valentine's Day, 2009. Today is an appropriate day for the publication date of Spade & Archer, because it was 79 years ago today, on February 14, 1930, that Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon was first published. I enjoyed attending the launch event. The bookstore was crowded with every... 02/14/2009

Does this beat anywhere esle in the country? This is the first time I have ever seen someone actually pumping gas at this station.  This gas station has the highest gas prices in the entire San Francisco Bay Area! 05/28/2008

Talk about controversy… the Bay Meadows Development Project has more people expressing their opinions and staking out positions than there are passing through the Carlmont Starbucks each week. So why not mine too? Well I’ve seen many well-intentioned men and women take up positions on the topic for various reasons and, frankly, I don’t get many of their stances. If there is an issue here at all, it is: what is the most cost-effective and best use of this property? - It’s clearly not a financially troubled race track. Those who fight for keeping the track because of its historical significance should be reminded that we have museums for that type of remembrance. And, those that argue about increased traffic and congestion must keep in mind that increasing congestion on the Peninsula is i... 04/30/2008

ParksideSingle Family Residential   Days On  YearsCurrent InventoryClosed SalesMarketAverage Sales PriceTotal Sales Volume2007-Q47882668,4375,347,5002007-Q110410814,7503,259,0002007-Q213939747,1116,724,0002007-Q315520777,9003,889,5002008-Q1165119637,9003,189,500Summary613156722,88722,409,500The average sales price in Parkside has dropped in the first quarter of 2008. So far we only had 5 completed sales in Parkside, but activity has picked up in April.  If you would like to find out the current listing price or sales price of any home in Parkside, San Mateo, feel free to give me a call or send me an e-mail request at sabine@sabinedillon.com.  Make sure you include the complete property address with your request.Sabine Dillon Property Previews Specialist   Direct: 650-596-5441  sabine@sa... 04/29/2008

The San Mateo City Council approved the plans for Bay Meadows on Monday night. The 84-square acres of racetrack land will now be converted to shopping, commercial and residential areas. Opponents were concerned about traffic and the loss of the historic racetrack… supporters mentioned the positive impact the new housing and recreational areas will have on the community. But what does it really mean for San Mateo County residents? We’ll give you our opinion on Friday, but until then, keep sending in your votes! For more Bay Meadows information, visit our blog Living Well in San Mateo and search Bay Meadows. 04/23/2008

Lure Restaurant invites for a spring dinner and opportunity to taste wine from the Halter Ranch Vineyard.  Check ythe menu and make reservation!  Lure Restaurant Presents:   Halter Ranch Wine Pairing Dinner   Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:00 p.m.   Enjoy a sumptuous five-course meal crafted by Chef May Yong to showcase a range of wines from Halter Ranch Vineyard & Winery of Paso Robles.  On hand will be Winery Representative, Jim Whit, to guide us through the evening’s selection. Experience how well these wines pair with food, and then stop by 750ml Wine Lounge & Retail Store to purchase your favorites.   Featured Menu   First Course Kona Kampachi Carpaccio with Strawberries, Radish, with Pimente de Esplette Paired with: 2007 Halter Ranch GSM Rosé   Second Course Spring Risotto with Florida ... 04/13/2008

With less than 30 days left until April15th, many San Mateo homeowners are scrambling to get their paperwork together for their tax preparer appointment. In all the frustrated and anxiety filled moments before the meeting, many homeowners may forget a few of the tax deductions they may be allowed. As a reminder, here are just a few that may help you with your income taxes this year. Be aware that before you make any of these deductions, you need to speak with a tax professional first before doing so. 1. PMI - Private Mortgage Insurance is an extra insurance that lenders require when a homeowner puts less than 20% down payment on a home. in essence, lenders would prefer an 80% Loan-to-Value, however those borrowers with an LTV higher than 80% must pay an insurance premium each month. But... 03/21/2008

With the new stimulus package being nearly passed by the President, now is the time to start thinking about refinancing out of those higher interest option arm rates or purchasing a new home. We all know how California has suffered through this housing slump, mainly because of our higher median home prices. The majority of Californians could not even think about refinancing their homes due to the fact that our homes are still to far above the conforming loan limit of $417,000. While we sat and watched many parts of the country such as the Midwest and Southern portions of the US refinance into lower conforming rates, we were basically held hostage by the secondary markets where loans are bought and sold. Since the credit crisis became news, the secondary market has virtually closed down ... 02/09/2008

I had coffee the other day with Mike Lanza, a fellow who has developed a website specifically looking for neighborhoods around North America that still have children playing outside in front of their homes.  His website is called Playborhood.  Mike has had a hard time finding any neighborhoods in the town he lives in, Palo Alto, and it got me to thinking.  How often do we see kids playing outside any more?  I posed a question to some of my friends with school aged children on whether they allowed their kids to play outside and they said yes, with some supervison.  They told me about a couple of areas in San Mateo that regularly have kids out after school and on weekends.  I see this in many areas of Foster City, too, but Foster City is designed to have kids play in the many parks that s... 02/03/2008