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The San Carlos Real Estate Week in Review: 8/29/10

Chuck Gillooley — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:33:30 +0000

Inventory Analysis.

As August rolls to a close, it appears that the market is continuing its “mini-rally” from 2009. When the numbers are tallied next week, it will likely show that just as many (or more) homes sold in August 2010 as there were in the same month in ’09. Certainly, every Realtor and escrow officer I spoke with agrees that it was one of the busier Augusts in recent memory. And with the strong pending-sales figures that were racked up in August, we’re already entering the fall market with much more momentum than we had last year. It will remain to be seen how much the recent doom-and-gloom headlines on the economy will damper this enthusiasm..if at all.

Open House?

If you’re looking at open houses this weekend in San Carlos here’s the only link you’ll need: The San Carlos Open House Page. With one click, you get a “live” list of all the homes and condos that will be open this weekend in San Carlos! It’s updated continuously from the MLS, so bookmark this link and you’ll never have to wander around town looking for open houses again.

Here’s a snapshot of the San Carlos single family home market, as of 8/29. The previous week’s stats are in parentheses:

Price Range	Active	Pending	Ratio
< $1M	36 (36)	19 (15)	1.9 : 1 (2.3 : 1)
$1M –$1.5M	14 (16)	7 (8)	2 : 1 (2 : 1)
>$1.5M	12 (11)	2 (3)	6 : 1 (3.7 : 1)
Total	62 (63)	28 (26)	2.2 : 1 (2.4 : 1)

Single-Family Homes Sold in San Carlos:

Below are the single-family homes that sold this past week in San Carlos. Click on the respective MLS # to get all the details.

181 Coventry Court, San Carlos

181 Coventry Court (pictured). Sale Price: $1,600,000. Original List Price: $1,649,995. Difference: $49,995 (3.0%) below original list. Sold in 18 days. MLS# 81033622, listed by Bob Bredel of RE/MAX Today.

928 Heather Drive. Sale Price: $1,370,000. Original List Price: $1,495,000. Difference: $125,000 (8.4%) below original list. Sold in 32 days. MLS# 81031614, listed by Bob Bredel of RE/MAX Today.

82 Ensenada Road. Sale Price: $1,200,000. Original List Price: $1,150,000. Difference: $50,000 (4.3%) above original list. Sold in 9 days. MLS# 81036055, listed by Eliz Bianchini of Coldwell Banker.

158 Manor Drive. Sale Price: $992,000. Original List Price: $1,035,000. Difference: $43,000 (4.2%) below original list. Sold in 41 days. MLS# 81028961, listed by Carrie Du Bois of Coldwell Banker

(Click the “Homes Sold” button below see all of the homes that have sold in San Carlos in the past 3 months.)

Homes Sold in San Carlos

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Single-Family Homes Pending Sale in San Carlos:

The following homes went “Pending Sale” this week — click on the MLS # for more info:

1644 Belmont Avenue, after 70 days on the market. MLS# 81040502.
786 Cedar Street, after 22 days. MLS# 81038091.
990 McCue Avenue, 11 days. MLS# 81040345.
1125 Woodland Avenue, 5 days. MLS# 81041316
3341 Melendy Drive, 13 days. MLS# 81040328
870 Crestview Drive, 36 days. MLS# 81036696

(Click the “Homes Pending Sale” button below to see ALL the homes that are Pending Sale in San Carlos.)

Homes Pending Sale in San Carlos

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New Single-Family Home Listings in San Carlos:

Below are the new listings that hit the market this past week in San Carlos. Simply click on the MLS # of each home to get all the details.

1375 Orange Avenue, San Carlos

1375 Orange Avenue (pictured): $1,550,000 – 4BR/3BA, 2,300 sq ft on a 7,000 square foot lot. MLS# 81042544. Listed by Bob Bredel of RE/MAX Today.

286 Loma Road: $1,075,000 – 3BR/2BA, 1,890 sq ft on a 8,265 square foot lot. MLS# 81041644. Listed by Sandi Paoli of RE/MAX Today.

128 Club Drive : $999,888 – 4BR/3.5BA, 2,890 sq ft on a 7,022 square foot lot. MLS# 81042722. Listed by Ronda O’Leary of Cashin Company.

43 Pine Avenue : $799,950 – 2BR/1.5BA, 1,390 sq ft on a 6,042 square foot lot. MLS# 81042736. Listed by Vince Scherba of Alain Pinel Realtors.

1983 Brittan Avenue : $765,000 – 2BR/1BA, 1,010 sq ft on a 4,400 square foot lot. MLS# 81041643. Listed by Syliva Merkadeau of Coldwell Banker.

(Click the “Homes For Sale” button below to see ALL of the homes currently for Sale in San Carlos.)

Homes for Sale in San Carlos

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Condos and Townhomes Sold in San Carlos:

Below are the condos/townhouses that sold this past week. Click on the MLS # for all of the details:

13 Trillium Lane: Sale Price: $734,000. Original List Price: $778,888. Difference: $44,888 (5.8%) below original list. Sold in 64 days. MLS# 81022629, listed by Lorelei Keim of Coldwell Banker.

1700 San Carlos Avenue #101: Sale Price: $355,000. Original List Price: $124,995. Difference: $479,995 (26.0%) below original list. Sold in 402 days. MLS# 80953292, listed by Leila Totah of Coldwell Banker.

(Click the “Condos Sold” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that have recently sold in San Carlos)

Condos Sold in San Carlos

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Condo/Townhouse Pending Sales in San Carlos

The following condos/townhouses are now pending sale:

3364 La Mesa Dr #3, after 86 days on the market. MLS# 81026495.

(Click the “Condos Pending Sale” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that are pending sale in San Carlos)

Condos Pending Sale in San Carlos

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New Condo/Townhouse Listings in San Carlos:

The following condo/townhouse listings came on the market this past week:

4 Marigold Lane: $939,000 – 2BR/2.5BA, 2,040 sq ft. MLS# 81041647. Listed by Eddie Azzopardi of Realty Word Homesellers.

1 Sorrel Lane: $679,000 – 3BR/2.5BA, 1,709 sq ft. MLS# 81042492. Listed by Mary Duvall of Coldwell Banker.

772 Walnut St #10: $509,000 – 2BR/1BA, 910 sq ft. MLS# 81042194. Listed by Franklin Berry of Alain Pinel Realtors.

3321 Brittan Avenue #5: $429,950 – 2BR/2BA, 1,040 sq ft. MLS# 81041681. Listed by Carroll La Vrar of Coldwell Banker.

(Click the “Condos for Sale” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that are currently for sale in San Carlos)

Condos for Sale in San Carlos

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What’s Open This Weekend?

Click the “Open House” button to see ALL of the homes and condos scheduled to be open this weekend in San Carlos.

Open House in San Carlos

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Want Your Data Sooner?

Follow the White Oaks Blog on Twitter where I post San Carlos home sales updates as they happen. Just click on the Twitter button below.

Interested in more information on San Carlos? Become a fan of the White Oaks Blog Page on Facebook . Just click on the Facebook button below.

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(The “San Carlos Week in Review” series is a summary of new listings and home sales in San Carlos for the prior week.)

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The San Carlos Real Estate Week in Review: 8/22/10

Chuck Gillooley — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 05:18:32 +0000

Inventory Analysis.

School is back in session for most of the local high schools, and San Carlos School District gets back in session next week. That means vacations are over for many, and usually means the end of the August siesta that the real estate market seems to take every year. This August is certainly bucking the trend from previous years, though, as sales activity has remained solid throughout the summer. That leads me to believe that the September – November fall market will be healthy. We’ll soon see, because it’s right around the corner.

Open House?

Here’s a snapshot of the San Carlos single family home market, as of 8/22. The previous week’s stats are in parentheses:

Price Range	Active	Pending	Ratio
< $1M	36 (35)	15 (18)	2.3 : 1 (1.9 : 1)
$1M –$1.5M	16 (14)	8 (9)	2 : 1 (1.6 : 1)
>$1.5M	11 (13)	3 (1)	3.7 : 1 (13 : 1)
Total	63 (62)	26 (28)	2.4 : 1 (2.2 : 1)

Single-Family Homes Sold in San Carlos:

Below are the single-family homes that sold this past week in San Carlos. Click on the respective MLS # to get all the details.

31 Eaton Villa Place, San Carlos

31 Eaton Villa Place (pictured). Sale Price: $1,225,000. Original List Price: $1,225,000. Difference: $0 (0.2%) from original list. Sold in 0 days. MLS# 81041173, listed by Laura Bertolacci of RE/MAX Today.

233 Clifton Avenue. Sale Price: $1,075,000. Original List Price: $1,073,000. Difference: $2,000 (0.2%) above original list. Sold in 6 days. MLS# 81034025, listed by Zarine Batliwalla of Prudential California Realty

711 Cordilleras Avenue. Sale Price: $1,006,000. Original List Price: $939,000. Difference: $67,000 (7.1%) above original list. Sold in 10 days. MLS# 81033972, listed by Patrick Ryan of Alain Pinel Realtors.

104 Baytree Road. Sale Price: $900,000. Original List Price: $988,000. Difference: $88,000 (13.6%) below original list. Sold in 83 days. MLS# 81023930, listed by Joan Flood of Alain Pinel Realtors.

921 Rosewood Avenue. Sale Price: $852,000. Original List Price: $749,950. Difference: $102,050 (8.9%) above original list. Sold in 4 days. MLS# 81035259, listed by Maxine Dumas of Dumas & Company.

1547 Elm Street. Sale Price: $705,000. Original List Price: $659,000. Difference: $46,000 (7.0%) above original list. Sold in 0 days. MLS# 81035945, listed by Mike and Sandy Rostad of Coldwell Banker.

220 Winding Way. Sale Price: $160,000. Original List Price: $259,900. Difference: $99,900 (38.4%) below original list. Sold in 129 days. MLS# 81014536, listed by John Lee of MRL Group.

(Click the “Homes Sold” button below see all of the homes that have sold in San Carlos in the past 3 months.)

Homes Sold in San Carlos

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Single-Family Homes Pending Sale in San Carlos:

The following homes went “Pending Sale” this week — click on the MLS # for more info:

139 Rockridge Road, after 70 days on the market. MLS# 81028089.
112 Wildwood Avenue, after 161 days. MLS# 81010779.
982 Holly Street, 12 days. MLS# 81038664.

(Click the “Homes Pending Sale” button below to see ALL the homes that are Pending Sale in San Carlos.)

Homes Pending Sale in San Carlos

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New Single-Family Home Listings in San Carlos:

Below are the new listings that hit the market this past week in San Carlos. Simply click on the MLS # of each home to get all the details.

1456 White Oak Way, San Carlos

1456 White Oak Way (pictured): $1,395,000 – 3BR/2BA, 2,100 sq ft on a 5,750 square foot lot. MLS# 81040506. Listed by Loren Dakin of Coldwell Banker.

2520 Melendy Drive: $1,250,000 – 4BR/3BA, 2,580 sq ft on a 7,255 square foot lot. MLS# 81041446. Back on the market under a different brokerage. Listed by David Young of Coldwell Banker.

220 Bayview Drive: $999,888 – 4BR/3BA, 1,940 sq ft on a 10,620 square foot lot. MLS# 81041506. Back on the market under a different brokerage. Listed by Dave Blewett of Intero Real Estate Services.

1125 Woodland Avenue: $970,000 – 3BR/2BA, 1,513 sq ft on a 4,880 square foot lot. MLS# 81041316. Listed by Laura Bertolacci of RE/MAX Today.

1466 Belmont Avenue: $939,000 – 3BR/2BA, 1,430 sq ft on a 5,550 square foot lot. MLS# 81040502. Listed by Justine Ford of RE/MAX Today.

156 Plymouth Avenue: $789,000 – 2BR/1BA, 1,030 sq ft on a 4,428 square foot lot. MLS# 81041347. Listed by John Shroyer of RE/MAX Today.

(Click the “Homes For Sale” button below to see ALL of the homes currently for Sale in San Carlos.)

Homes for Sale in San Carlos

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Condos and Townhomes Sold in San Carlos:

Below are the condos/townhouses that sold this past week. Click on the MLS # for all of the details:

641 Cedar Street #301: Sale Price: $765,000. Original List Price: $775,000. Difference: $10,000 (1.3%) below original list. Sold in 12 days. MLS# 81015097, listed by Mike Masoumi of RE/MAX Properties West.

1701 San Carlos Avenue #4: Sale Price: $425,000. Original List Price: $439,000. Difference: $14,000 (3.2%) below original list. Sold in 22 days. MLS# 81033366, listed by Mike Masoumi of RE/MAX Properties West.

1456 San Carlos Avenue #201: Sale Price: $420,000. Original List Price: $429,000. Difference: $9,000 (2.1%) below original list. Sold in 16 days. MLS# 81030074, listed by Joyce Romeo of Intero Real Estate Services.

(Click the “Condos Sold” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that have recently sold in San Carlos)

Condos Sold in San Carlos

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Condo/Townhouse Pending Sales in San Carlos

The following condos/townhouses are now pending sale:

– There were no condos nor townhouses that went pending sale this week.

(Click the “Condos Pending Sale” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that are pending sale in San Carlos)

Condos Pending Sale in San Carlos

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New Condo/Townhouse Listings in San Carlos:

The following condo/townhouse listings came on the market this past week:

– There were no new condo or townhouse listings this week.

(Click the “Condos for Sale” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that are currently for sale in San Carlos)

Condos for Sale in San Carlos

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What’s Open This Weekend?

Click the “Open House” button to see ALL of the homes and condos scheduled to be open this weekend in San Carlos.

Open House in San Carlos

___________________________________________________________________

Want Your Data Sooner?

Follow the White Oaks Blog on Twitter where I post San Carlos home sales updates as they happen. Just click on the Twitter button below.

Interested in more information on San Carlos? Become a fan of the White Oaks Blog Page on Facebook . Just click on the Facebook button below.

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(The “San Carlos Week in Review” series is a summary of new listings and home sales in San Carlos for the prior week.)

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San Carlos Passes Green Building Ordinance

Chuck Gillooley — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:20:36 +0000

“Green” Point Scale…

Last week, the the San Carlos City Council approved a “Green Building” ordinance which will mandate stringent eco-friendly guidelines for new commercial and residential construction starting in 2011. The ordinance may also impact some residential remodel projects as well. San Carlos ordinance is very similar to one that was passed recently by the County of San Mateo for all new residential projects in its unincorporated areas.

Under the San Carlos ordinance, builders will be required to achieve at least 50 “green” points, as outlined on an industry standard checklist from non-profit Build It Green. According to Shaun Bishop’s article, builders can accumulate point by using water efficient fixtures, solar energy systems, or other eco-friendly building techniques. There are other non-point methods available for builders to gain green approval from the Building Department. The ultimate goal is to reduce greenhouse gasses that are a by-product of excessive energy consumption.

Starting in 2011.

The ordinance takes effect in 2011, and will obviously have an impact on larger residential remodel projects throughout San Carlos. If you have any questions regarding this ordinance, contact Chris Valley in the San Carlos Building Department.

While the City is trying to minimize the cost impact of these projects, it’s pretty clear that going green will likely cost homeowners some additional green.

Rating: 1.0/10 (2 votes cast)

The San Carlos Real Estate Week in Review: 8/15/10

Chuck Gillooley — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:35:51 +0000

Inventory Analysis

Now, this feels a bit more like a normal August. Only a handful of new listings hit the market, and activity was more relaxed than it has been in the past few months. This is to be expected, as many people are out of town squeezing in that last vacation since school is slated to start back up in less than 2 weeks. Look for activity to pick up again after Labor Day weekend, which marks the beginning of the fall real estate push.

Open House

Here’s a snapshot of the San Carlos single family home market, as of 8/15. The previous week’s stats are in parentheses:

Price Range	Active	Pending	Ratio
< $1M	35 (36)	18 (19)	1.9 : 1 (1.9 : 1)
$1M –$1.5M	14 (16)	9 (6)	1.6 : 1 (2.7 : 1)
>$1.5M	13 (13)	1 (1)	13 : 1 (13 : 1)
Total	62 (65)	28 (26)	2.2 : 1 (2.5 : 1)

Single-Family Homes Sold in San Carlos:

Below are the single-family homes that sold this past week in San Carlos. Click on the respective MLS # to get all the details.

929 Rosewood Avenue, San Carlos

929 Rosewood Avenue (pictured). Sale Price: $1,450,000. Original List Price: $1,450,000. No difference from list: Sold in 0 days. MLS# 81039316, listed by Loren Dakin of Coldwell Banker.

790 Knoll Drive. Sale Price: $950,000. Original List Price: $999,000. Difference: $49,000 (4.9%) below original list. Sold in 39 days. MLS# 81026436, listed by Justine Ford of RE/MAX Today.

167 Fairmont Avenue. Sale Price: $909,000. Original List Price: $839,000. Difference: $70,000 (8.3%) above original list. Sold in 8 days. MLS# 81037751, listed by Dee Edmonds of Coldwell Banker.

420 Park Avenue. Sale Price: $870,000. Original List Price: $889,000. Difference: $19,000 (2.1%) below original list. Sold in 47 days. MLS# 81026526, listed by Claire Haggarty of NBT Realty Service.

1966 Saint Francis Way. Sale Price: $735,000. Original List Price: $715,000. Difference: $20,000 (2.8%) above original list. Sold in 7 days. MLS# 81031730, listed by David Young of Coldwell Banker.

(Click the “Homes Sold” button below see all of the homes that have sold in San Carlos in the past 3 months.)

Homes Sold in San Carlos

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Single-Family Homes Pending Sale in San Carlos:

The following homes went “Pending Sale” this week — click on the MLS # for more info:

201 Emerald Avenue, after 10 days on the market. MLS# 81037608.
208 Crestview Drive, after 46 days. MLS# 81037507.
249 Alberta Avenue, 10 days. MLS# 81038073.
215 Exeter Avenue, 13 days. MLS# 81037996.
1455 Alameda de las Pulgas, 68 days. MLS# 81028037

(Click the “Homes Pending Sale” button below to see ALL the homes that are Pending Sale in San Carlos.)

Homes Pending Sale in San Carlos

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New Single-Family Home Listings in San Carlos:

Below are the new listings that hit the market this past week in San Carlos. Simply click on the MLS # of each home to get all the details.

3341 Melendy Drive, San Carlos

3341 Melendy Drive (pictured): $980,000 – 3BR/2.5BA, 2,210 sq ft on a 9,380 square foot lot. MLS# 81040328. Listed by Laura Bertolacci of RE/MAX Today.

2125 Brittan Avenue: $795,000 – 2BR/2.5BA, 1,590 sq ft on a 6,250 square foot lot. MLS# 81040178. Listed by David Young of Coldwell Banker.

990 McCue Avenue: $649,000 – 2BR/1BA, 1,030 sq ft on a 5,200 square foot lot. MLS# 81040345. Listed by Phillip Waddingham of Intero Real Estate Services.

(Click the “Homes For Sale” button below to see ALL of the homes currently for Sale in San Carlos.)

Homes for Sale in San Carlos

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Condos and Townhomes Sold in San Carlos:

Below are the condos/townhouses that sold this past week. Click on the MLS # for all of the details:

8 Pyxie Lane: Sale Price: $645,000. Original List Price: $649,950. Difference: $4,950 (0.8%) below original list. Sold in 83 days. MLS# 81028262, listed by Melanie Smith of Coldwell Banker.

(Click the “Condos Sold” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that have recently sold in San Carlos)

Condos Sold in San Carlos

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Condo/Townhouse Pending Sales in San Carlos

The following condos/townhouses are now pending sale:

222 Laurel Street #203, after 265 days on the market. MLS# 80954603.

(Click the “Condos Pending Sale” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that are pending sale in San Carlos)

Condos Pending Sale in San Carlos

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New Condo/Townhouse Listings in San Carlos:

The following condo/townhouse listings came on the market this past week:

15 Daffodil Lane: $899,000 – 3BR/2.5BA, 1,300 sq ft. MLS# 81039264. Listed by Connie Vial of Vial Properties.

(Click the “Condos for Sale” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that are currently for sale in San Carlos)

Condos for Sale in San Carlos

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What’s Open This Weekend?

Click the “Open House” button to see ALL of the homes and condos scheduled to be open this weekend in San Carlos.

Open House in San Carlos

___________________________________________________________________

Want Your Data Sooner?

Follow the White Oaks Blog on Twitter where I post San Carlos home sales updates as they happen. Just click on the Twitter button below.

Interested in more information on San Carlos? Become a fan of the White Oaks Blog Page on Facebook . Just click on the Facebook button below.

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(The “San Carlos Week in Review” series is a summary of new listings and home sales in San Carlos for the prior week.)

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All-Cash Buyers and Multiple Offers: Changing the Face of San Carlos Real Estate

Chuck Gillooley — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:09:48 +0000

They’re Out There…

Since the outset of this recession, we’ve been inundated with negative news about stagnant economic growth, high unemployment rate, foreclosures, etc… After listening to this drab news for so long, you start to question why anyone would ever consider buying a home in this climate — or more important, how they could afford to do so. It’s interesting talking with people lately — it seems like many have the impression that everyone around us is living on Top Ramen like starving college students. That’s the power of negative news.

For those home buyers who are confident enough in their own financial situation to forge ahead in this market, it’s easy to get lulled into a false sense of complacency that the poor economy has weeded out much of their competition. After all, just listen to all of that dire news! But anyone shopping lately in San Carlos has quickly realized that a) they’re not alone, and b) there are some well-heeled buyers competing with them for the same homes. One thing is for certain — the recession has done little to quell the occurrence of multiple offers… and yes, all-cash buyers in San Carlos.

Cash is King.

Since the beginning of this year, there have probably been a dozen or more homes sold in San Carlos where the buyer paid for the purchase in cash – no bank loan whatsoever. And these are not just starter homes — the prices for these purchases ranges from the $700,000 to well over $1M. That’s alot of cash! This phenomenon is not unique to San Carlos, either; if you follow other hot markets like Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Los Altos, it’s happening there as well — only with even more staggering amounts of cash. It’s pretty mind-blowing.

Unless you’re putting down a substantial amount of cash yourself, it’s pretty much “game-over” if you’re competing against an all-cash offer, regardless of what price you’re offering for the home. Why?

Contingencies? Nah…

The biggest reason that cash is king in these situations is that it removes the financial contingency entirely from the purchase contract. There’s no need for the seller to worry about whether the buyer can qualify for the loan, or if the home is going to appraise at the sales price, which significantly lowers the risk of the offer. And some sellers are more than happy to pay a price for this lower risk — if you’ve been in this situation, you’ve found that the all-cash offer is not necessarily the highest offer, and yet they win virtually every time.

Another interesting phenomenon is that some all-cash buyers aren’t even requiring a property condition contingency either. So if you’re a first-time buyer who has scraped together your 20% down payment and you’re up against one of these completely non-contingent (or “naked”) offers, unfortunately it’s lights-out. It’s that simple.

The Proper Perspective

It shouldn’t really be a surprise that this is happening. After all, even if unemployment is running at 12%, that means that 88% of the population is still gainfully employed. And let’s not discount the vast amount of personal wealth that was pocketed before the bubble burst a few years back. There’s still alot of money out there. That’s a fact.

But rather than marvel at where everyone is coming up with these mini-fortunes, it’s simply important to accept the fact that all-cash buyers are active in the market today. And if anything, the recession has narrowed their focus toward communities that are better suited to withstand a recession — communities whose school district hasn’t been decimated by budget cuts, or whose downtown area is still thriving despite all of the bad economic news.

Places just like San Carlos…

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The San Carlos Real Estate Week in Review: 8/8/10

Chuck Gillooley — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:56:55 +0000

Inventory Analysis

Buying activity remained strong this past week in San Carlos. Of the 5 homes that went into contract, 3 of them were on the market for less than two weeks, and one of them had 7 offers! Another occurrence that’s starting to become more common? All-cash, no-contingency offers. Yep, even in this economy… There are some very serious buyers out there who are determined to live in San Carlos, so you’d better know your competition if you’re out shopping for homes in San Carlos.

Open House

Here’s a snapshot of the San Carlos single family home market, as of 8/8. The previous week’s stats are in parentheses:

Price Range	Active	Pending	Ratio
< $1M	36 (35)	19 (20)	1.9 : 1 (1.8 : 1)
$1M –$1.5M	16 (20)	6 (6)	2.7 : 1 (3.3 : 1)
>$1.5M	13 (12)	1 (3)	13 : 1 (4.1 : 1)
Total	65 (67)	26 (29)	2.5 : 1 (2.3 : 1)

Single-Family Homes Sold in San Carlos:

Below are the single-family homes that sold this past week in San Carlos. Click on the respective MLS # to get all the details.

1951 Eucalyptus Avenue, San Carlos

1951 Eucalyptus Avenue (pictured). Sale Price: $1,698,000. Original List Price: $1,698,000. No difference from list. Sold in 0 days. MLS# 81033162, listed by John Shroyer of RE/MAX Today.

724 Knoll Drive. Sale Price: $1,100,000. Original List Price: $1,295,000. Difference: $195,000 (15.1%) below original list. Sold in 82 days. MLS# 81017274, listed by Michael Bruno of Cal-West Realty.

17 Sunnydale Avenue. Sale Price: $940,000. Original List Price: $939,950. No difference from list: Sold in 42 days. MLS# 81030709, listed by Dave Blewett of Intero Real Estate Services.

201 Bayview Drive. Sale Price: $840,000. Original List Price: $899,000. Difference: $59,000 (6.6%) below original list. Sold in 74 days. MLS# 81019951, listed by Jill Newgren of David Lyng and Associates.

113 Rockridge Road. Sale Price: $820,000. Original List Price: $869,995. Difference: $49,995 (5.7%) below original list. Sold in 17 days. MLS# 81030689, listed by Bob Bredel of RE/MAX Today.

2713 Brittan Avenue. Sale Price: $826,000. Original List Price: $819,000. Difference: $7,000 (0.9%) above original list. Sold in 10 days. MLS# 81031731, listed by Stephen Barsanti of Alain Pinel Realtors.

43 Pine Avenue. Sale Price: $799,950. Original List Price: $985,000. Difference: $189,050 (19.2%) below original list. Sold in 125 days. MLS# 81011182, listed by Gerald Girouard of Girouard Properties.

(Click the “Homes Sold” button below see all of the homes that have sold in San Carlos in the past 3 months.)

Homes Sold in San Carlos

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Single-Family Homes Pending Sale in San Carlos:

The following homes went “Pending Sale” this week — click on the MLS # for more info:

525 Emerald Avenue, after 56 days on the market. MLS# 81028081.
8 Dover Court, after 6 days. MLS# 81037548.
104 Baytree Road, 83 days. MLS# 81023930.
104 Windsor Drive, 11 days. MLS# 81036887.
167 Fairmont Avenue, 8 days. MLS# 81037751.

(Click the “Homes Pending Sale” button below to see ALL the homes that are Pending Sale in San Carlos.)

Homes Pending Sale in San Carlos

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New Single-Family Home Listings in San Carlos:

Below are the new listings that hit the market this past week in San Carlos. Simply click on the MLS # of each home to get all the details.

442 De Anza Avenue, San Carlos

442 De Anza Avenue (pictured): $1,450,000 – 4BR/2.5BA, 2,832 sq ft on a 7,425 square foot lot. MLS# 81038093. Listed by Marla Perego of Coldwell Banker.

817 Hemlock Street: $949,000 – 3BR/2BA, 2,210 sq ft on a 5,460 square foot lot. MLS# 81038984. Listed by Liza Vernazza of Coldwell Banker.

249 Alberta Avenue: $895,890 – 2BR/1BA, 1,130 sq ft on a 4,400 square foot lot. MLS# 81038073. Listed by Genella Williamson of Alain Pinel Realtors.

261 Cedar Street: $775,000 – 3BR/1BA, 980 sq ft on a 5,310 square foot lot. MLS# 81039012. Listed by Tatum Clarke of Intero Real Estate Services.

512 Prospect Street: $581,400 – 2BR/1BA, 880 sq ft on a 6,450 square foot lot. MLS# 81038410. REO. Listed by Michael Ames of Patriot Properties.

982 Holly Street: $499,000 – 2BR/2BA, 1,180 sq ft on a 5,850 square foot lot. MLS# 81038664. Short Sale. Listed by Claire Earley of Coldwell Banker.

(Click the “Homes For Sale” button below to see ALL of the homes currently for Sale in San Carlos.)

Homes for Sale in San Carlos

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Condos and Townhomes Sold in San Carlos:

Below are the condos/townhouses that sold this past week. Click on the MLS # for all of the details:

10 Clover Lane: Sale Price: $910,000. Original List Price: $975,000. Difference: $65,000 (6.7%) below original list. Sold in 65 days. MLS# 81020423, listed by Lizbeth Rhodes of Alain Pinel Realtors.

14 Pyrola Lane: Sale Price: $730,000. Original List Price: $718,000. Difference: $12,000 (1.7%) above original list. Sold in 12 days. MLS# 81031489, listed by Charlotte Van Orden of Coldwell Banker.

633 E Elm Street #11: Sale Price: $471,650. Original List Price: $509,000. Difference: $37,350 (7.3%) below original list. Sold in 162 days. MLS# 81004845, listed by Sean Clar of RE/MAX Star Properties.

(Click the “Condos Sold” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that have recently sold in San Carlos)

Condos Sold in San Carlos

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Condo/Townhouse Pending Sales in San Carlos

The following condos/townhouses are now pending sale:

3009 Melendy Drive #1, after 262 days on the market. MLS# 80953789.
3358 Brittan Avenue #5, after 60 days on the market. MLS# 81028040.

(Click the “Condos Pending Sale” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that are pending sale in San Carlos)

Condos Pending Sale in San Carlos

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New Condo/Townhouse Listings in San Carlos:

The following condo/townhouse listings came on the market this past week:

1700 San Carlos Avenue #202: $399,000 – 2BR/2BA, 1,300 sq ft. MLS# 81038379. Listed by Omar Galindo of Century 21 Alliance.

(Click the “Condos for Sale” button below to see all of the condos and townhomes that are currently for sale in San Carlos)

Condos for Sale in San Carlos

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What’s Open This Weekend?

Click the “Open House” button to see ALL of the homes and condos scheduled to be open this weekend in San Carlos.

Open House in San Carlos

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Follow the White Oaks Blog on Twitter where I post San Carlos home sales updates as they happen. Just click on the Twitter button below.

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(The “San Carlos Week in Review” series is a summary of new listings and home sales in San Carlos for the prior week.)

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Where to Find Permit Information on San Carlos Homes.

Chuck Gillooley — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:19:23 +0000

Need Permit History?

If you’re buying a home in San Carlos, it’s sage advice to spend a little time researching the permit history on the place before you get too far down the road with your purchase. Why? Since much of San Carlos was developed in the 1940′s through the 1960′s, there’s a very good chance that some level of work has been done on the home — anything from simply replacing the roof, to remodeling a kitchen, and all the way to adding significant square footage. It’s good to know whether this work was done with the blessing of the City Building Department, or whether it was done without their consent or knowledge.

A big reason why the City requires permits for home projects is that they want to ensure that the work is being done correctly. If you look at a typical permit card, you’ll see that there are various sign-off points by the City’s building inspector that shows they have been monitoring the project from the beginning. So a fully-permitted project will likely adhere to the building code that was in place when the job was completed, and minimizes short-cuts that the contractor might have been tempted to take.

Another entity that has an interest in permit status is the insurance industry. Insurance companies are getting more savvy when it comes to granting payments on home insurance claims — if an adjuster finds that damage was caused by un-permitted work, they have been known to deny claims for just this reason.

Here’s Where You Find It

What you do with the permit status information really varies depending on the risk aversion of the buyer. Some people don’t care whether work that was done on the home was permitted; to others, it may be mandatory that all of the major work on the home has a clean permit trail. But if you decide you want to find out what permits were issued (or not) for a property in San Carlos, here’s where you look:

Online. The City has online permit history from present dating back to February 1999 via the City’s website. Simply click on this site: San Carlos Online Permits. Click the first tab titled “Status of Building Permits” and enter the address of the property in question.
Cards: If you want to look for history prior to February of 1999, the City has old 5 x 7 permit cards that begin around the mid-1960’s through February 1999.
San Mateo County Assessor (650-363-4500). The County has permit history that somewhat dovetails with the City’s earlier records, but may also contain permit history that the City doesn’t have. So it’s worth checking both the City and County records for history.

The County Assessor has a permit history sheet that they’ll print out for people when they request permit history. The sheet may reference an actual permit number, or there may be a notation from the Assessor that states something like, “Found: Family Room Addition” with no permit number referenced. This should be a red-flag for you and when that statement is noted on the Assessor’s description of an area of the residence.

Why Won’t My Realtor Pull This Info?

It used to be common for the listing agent or the buyer’s agent to run down to City Hall and round up all the permit history for their busy clients. But lately, brokerages are discouraging or outright prohibiting their agents from getting into this path. Why? Liability. You can bet that some poor agent somewhere was sued because they perhaps didn’t locate ALL of the permits for a certain home. You’ll likely find that today your agent will direct you to the location of the permits, but you’ll need to do the detective work yourself.

Questions?

If you have more questions about building permits, or need help interpreting the permits that you have received, contact Chris Valley at the Building Department at the City of San Carlos at 650-802-4261. Chris was instrumental in providing me with the background info for this post, and his team is sharp and very helpful.

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