5th Annual Mustang Stampede – October 14.

5K Fun Run/Walk.

The Central Middle School PTA has announced that sign-ups are now being accepted for the 5th Annual Mustang Stampede 5K run/walk.   The date of this year’s event will be held on Sunday October 14th, with check-in beginning at 8:00 AM and the race starting promptly at 9:00 AM.   Started 5 years ago as a fundraising event for San Carlos’ Central Middle School, this event has gained in popularity and attendance every year.  It’s the only major fundraising event for the PTA of Central Middle School, so they really rely on donations and participation to make it a success.

For those of you who are not runners, you can walk the 5K course and even take the baby stroller along.   And if you can’t attend at all, there’s always the option to sponsor a particular runner, or to just make a donation to the event.  You can register in advance or make your donation online for this year’s edition:  2012 Mustang Stampede Registration.

Pancake Breakfast, T-Shirts, Prizes.

Just to make sure that you put all of those calories right back on, there will be a pancake breakfast right after the race!  Also, as in the past, your registration fee includes a t-shirt.  There will also be a random drawing for some prizes as well.   So get some exercise, socialize, and help your middle school all in one morning!
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Deadline for Sign-Up: 2012 Annual City-Wide Garage Sale.

Last Day to Register.

Today is the last day to register for the annual San Carlos City-Wide Garage Sale, which will be held next Saturday September 29th from 9:00 – 4:00 throughout the City of San Carlos.    If you want to get your name on the garage sale list that will be distributed early next week, you need to sign up today at this link:  2012 City-Wide Garage Sale.

This great event is organized and sponsored every year at no cost to the citizens of San Carlos by the great folks at San Carlos Together.    So make plans to clean out those garages next weekend… so that we can all make room to store even more junk!
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Are you ready to step up to the most comprehensive data available about the San Carlos Real Estate market? Then subscribe to the White Oaks Blog for free by clicking here. Be sure to follow the White Oaks Blog on Facebook at https://Facebook.com/WhiteOaksBlog , and on Twitter @WhiteOaksBlog.
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Federal Reserve Action is Great News for San Carlos Buyers.

Economic Stimulus.

In a competitive, inventory-constrained real estate market like we’ve seen this entire year in San Carlos, buyers are constantly reminded to “be patient and persistent” in their quest to find a place to live.   For people who are not under the gun to find a new house, they’ve begrudgingly adopted this strategy since there’s simply not enough homes to go around.  But the one fear in the back of every buyer’s mind is that if it takes too long to find a house, they’re going to lose out on the obscenely low interest rates that we’re enjoying right now.

Well, the Federal Reserve’s plan that was announced  last week should sufficiently squash that fear..

Rates Low Through 2015

In a sweeping move to help stimulate the sluggish economic growth across the country, the Fed announced that it will spend $40 billion per month in mortgage-backed securities, and will keep interest rates at rock-bottom levels through mid-2015.    This move may seem somewhat surprising on the surface to those of us who live in this separate universe known as Silicon Valley, where the freeways are jammed and high-tech jobs once again appear to be plentiful.    But the rest of the country is not enjoying the wave of economic recovery that we’re experiencing here, so the move was deemed necessary.

This is great news for both buyers and sellers of real estate in San Carlos.   The Fed’s move means that mortgage backed securities will once again be an very low risk investment, and that we’ll enjoy another 3 years (at least) of historically low mortgage interest rates.  That should keep the fire stoked under the San Carlos real estate market for the foreseeable future.

Now, if there were only some houses to buy….
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Are you ready to step up to the most comprehensive data available about the San Carlos Real Estate market? Then subscribe to the White Oaks Blog for free by clicking here. Be sure to follow the White Oaks Blog on Facebook at https://Facebook.com/WhiteOaksBlog , and on Twitter @WhiteOaksBlog.
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The San Carlos Real Estate Week in Review: 9-15-12.

San Carlos Real Estate Summary.

Buyers got some very welcome news this week with an announcement from the Federal Reserve that they will be taking aggressive measures to stimulate the economic growth in the country.   More details on this are forthcoming in a separate post, but suffice it to say that this action will ensure that interest rates are at very attractive levels for a long time.     The housing market in San Carlos seems oblivious to whatever else is happening in the rest of the country.    Great houses on great streets still command hot bidding wars and multiple offers, as was evidenced at 2084 Alma Street this week.    And no matter how many listings get pushed onto the market, the inventory never seems to climb above the low-30 mark.

Here are the numbers for the week:

By The Numbers.

Below is a high-level snapshot of the market performance for single-family residences in San Carlos. This data is for the week ending 9-15-2012:

>>> Click Here to Read the Full Post
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Are you ready to step up to the most comprehensive data available about the San Carlos Real Estate market? Then subscribe to the White Oaks Blog for free by clicking here. Be sure to follow the White Oaks Blog on Facebook at https://Facebook.com/WhiteOaksBlog , and on Twitter @WhiteOaksBlog.
Get the best coverage on the San Carlos real estate market delivered right to you!
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Coming This Weekend: 935 Alameda, San Carlos

Exceptional Value in San Carlos.

You just don’t expect to see the word “value” associated with a home for sale in San Carlos these days.  With demand skyrocketing for just about any home that’s remotely close to downtown, prices have been following suit.  It’s almost impossible to find a 3-bedroom house on the downtown side of Alameda in San Carlos that doesn’t start with a “9″, or worse yet a 7-digit number starting with  a “1″.   At the time of this post, there are only 5 homes total for sale in all of White Oaks/Oak Park and Howard Park with only one of them being in Howard Park — and that one is a whole lot closer to $2M than it is $1M.

That’s why I’m pleased to offer a very nice alternative to those looking for a really great Howard Park home without breaking the bank:  935 Alameda in San Carlos.

Open This Weekend.

When you come through the door, you’ll immediately see that 935 Alameda is a whole lot of house for just $899,000.   This home is in absolutely move-in condition and has the following features:

• 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms in 1,760 square feet of living space.
• Large 8,250 square foot lot, 2-car garage.
• Huge living room with elegant tile fireplace.
• Spacious kitchen/family room combination area.
• Updated bathroom with new tile, tub and modern shower.
• Gleaming hardwood floors in the living area and throughout the upstairs bedrooms.
• Finished basement area that’s ideal for craft room or home office.
• Indoor laundry area (in basement).
• Great central location that’s close to everything you need in San Carlos.

Here are just a little taste of what you’ll see this weekend:

Open house hours this weekend will be on both Saturday and Sunday from 1:00-4:00 PM with first showings available on Friday – contact me or your agent if you’d like to see this great home.  Don’t miss out on this one!
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Are you ready to step up to the most comprehensive data available about the San Carlos Real Estate market? Then subscribe to the White Oaks Blog for free by clicking here. Be sure to follow the White Oaks Blog on Facebook at https://Facebook.com/WhiteOaksBlog , and on Twitter @WhiteOaksBlog.
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Why Don’t More Citizens Attend San Carlos City Council Meetings?

A Good Question.

That very question was posed to me over year ago by Council Member Matt Grocott after a series of council meetings that played out in front of a virtually empty council chamber.    And this was right on the heels of the police and fire outsourcing discussions, which drew such large crowds and media attention that the meetings had to be moved to a larger facility to accommodate the demand.

But here he was only weeks later, staring out from the dais at a bunch of empty seats.  “I don’t understand.  We’re making some very important decisions that impact the City of San Carlos, and nobody seems to care.”   At the time, I offered the following three possibilities for the lack of attendance:

1. Time.   The council meetings are held from 7:00PM – 10ish on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.  People in San Carlos are usually pretty busy,  and Mondays are one of the busiest evenings of the week since it’s back to work or school for the majority of citizens.
2. Apathy.    After attending the discussions on the police and fire outsourcing, I told Mr. Grocott quite bluntly that this process left a very bad taste in mouths of many San Carlos citizens who attended these meetings.   It didn’t seem to matter if 10 people or 10,000 people voiced their opinion — the “power base” of that the Council that was in place at that time seemed inflexible on pushing their initiative through –whatever the topic seemed to be.  The votes were always 4-1 or 3-2… with those 3 or four always being the same group.   “Arrogant” was the word most people I talked to seemed to associate with that particular Council.  And that wasn’t just because they had to render some tough decisions that probably weren’t popular at that time — it was the often condescending manner in which certain members of the council seemed to address those who took the time (and guts) to stand up in front of a big audience and voice their opinion, and the lack of consideration of other options that were often voiced.
3. Tedium.   The final point I made was on a bit of a lighter note, but nonetheless true — these meetings are tough to sit through!  With all of the befuddling rules that govern how the council must hear and vote on a particular item, it’s easy for the average citizen to lose track of what they’re voting on in the first place!    That process is mandated by the Brown Act and other laws, so there’s not much that can be done to spice a process that can be mind-numbingly boring at times.   After a few of these meetings, you feel like you’ve earned a pin, much like the Giants used to award the ol’ Croix de Candlestick if you stayed through an extra-inning night game.

Big Decisions.

The latter part of of Mr. Grocott’s statement rings very true – no matter which particular meeting it happens to be, there are some very important things that are being discussed in these meetings that will impact the future of San Carlos.  I attended last Monday night’s meeting — there were about 14 or so of us in attendance,  but half were scheduled speakers on the different agenda items.   The remaining half-dozen of us learned a couple of interesting facts — did you know that the City is considering a very aggressive “green” initiative for new construction that may require independent LEED certification for all significant commercial AND residential construction projects?    This could add significant $$ to your project if you’re considering a remodel on your home.

Or did you know that the City will consider (as part of their long-term goals) connecting Crestview Drive directly Interstate 280?   I had no idea!    And if you’re at all interested in the status of the Wheeler Plaza project, or the Transit Village, there’s probably no better place to find out what’s happening.

A Kinder, Gentler Council.

One thing that struck me immediately with the current council that is seated is the complete change in attitude that seems to emanate from the dais.   Gone is that aforementioned arrogance — there’s nobody watching the 2:00 clock like an over-zealous referee when someone from the public is voicing their opinion.    There are no laptop lids or smartphones on the dais to compete with the attention of the council members.  I was genuinely impressed by the thought and consideration that was given to each issue that was discussed, as well as to the opinions that were offered by council members and public alike.   I left the meeting with a renewed sense of interest in the process, and more important, a rejuvenated belief that the City is indeed on the right track.

Go!

I know we’re all extremely busy.  The meeting that I attended was the first I had been to in over a year!    And I know my schedule will not permit me to attend all of the meetings.  But I plan to attend as many as I can — someday I may even understand how the whole process works.   But if you’re at all concerned about the future direction of San Carlos, it’s worth a few hours of your time to attend a few meetings.  Here’s the general schedule:  San Carlos City Council Meetings.

After all, it’s hard to complain about the solution if you’re not involved in the process.
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Are you ready to step up to the most comprehensive data available about the San Carlos Real Estate market? Then subscribe to the White Oaks Blog for free by clicking here. Be sure to follow the White Oaks Blog on Facebook at https://Facebook.com/WhiteOaksBlog , and on Twitter @WhiteOaksBlog.
Get the best coverage on the San Carlos real estate market delivered right to you!
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The San Carlos Real Estate Week in Review: 9-8-12.

San Carlos Real Estate Summary.

As expected, buying activity continued at a brisk pace this past week, with 9 homes ultimately finding new owners.    Now that summer is just about over, buyers are back on task and out looking in full force.  The foot traffic at open houses definitely picked up this week, and it’s expected to remain that way throughout the fall — provided there’s enough inventory to give people things to look at.  On that note, only 4 listings made their debut last week which wasn’t enough to push the inventory back above 30 again.   This, combined with the number of multiple offers that still appear to be happening, has made this year a very frustrating one for many home buyers in San Carlos.  Patience and persistence are two qualities that are going to be essential in the coming months…

Here are the numbers for the week:

By The Numbers.

Below is a high-level snapshot of the market performance for single-family residences in San Carlos. This data is for the week ending 9-8-2012:

>>> Click Here to Read the Full Post
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Are you ready to step up to the most comprehensive data available about the San Carlos Real Estate market? Then subscribe to the White Oaks Blog for free by clicking here. Be sure to follow the White Oaks Blog on Facebook at https://Facebook.com/WhiteOaksBlog , and on Twitter @WhiteOaksBlog.
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Labor Day: An Anniversary for Some.

A Special Weekend.

Labor Day has a different significance for many people.  For some, it’s the last getaway before summer slips way; for others, it’s a day to relax and barbecue in the back yard with friends and family.  But gauging on the number of homes that closed escrow last week, this Labor Day is a moving day for a whole bunch of new homeowners!

That’s what Labor Day was for us 21 years ago when we bought our first home in San Carlos.  We spent the weekend moving out of our apartment on Walnut Street and into our smallish 2BR home on Howard Avenue.  Our apartment was only a block away from Bell Market (now Bianchini’s), which was a good thing because Bell Market was the only place open on Laurel Street after 6PM!  Today, you can’t even get a parking spot on Laurel most evenings.  What a difference a couple of decades has made.

When we moved into our house, there were only two kids on our entire block.  Today, there are over 20 — and that number continues to grow as homes continue to change hands.  It’s no wonder the San Carlos School District is wrestling with finding enough desks and rooms for the swelling enrollment in the city.

My parents thought I was crazy for spending $350,000 on a house back in 1991, but the market (and a whole lot of luck) proved them wrong.  I don’t think anyone predicted the rise in real estate value in San Carlos since then.  I wasn’t terribly concerned about the fact that our house only had 2 bedrooms.  We were lucky enough to find a house that sat on an 8,800 square foot lot, so I knew that gave us an option to stay and add-on if we wanted to.

Our Realtor at the time made an interesting comment — she said “Don’t worry about your first house — most people move in 5-7 years anyway.”  To her credit, she was right.   Most people do move several times in their lives.   But we were the exceptions.   Although the look of the house (and our street) has changed quite a bit, that address has remained ours for the past 21 years…and hopefully for many more.

So on this Labor Day, whether you’re camping, BBQ’ing, moving into your new house, or remembering back when you did, make it a great Labor Day, San Carlos….
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Are you ready to step up to the most comprehensive data available about the San Carlos Real Estate market? Then subscribe to the White Oaks Blog for free by clicking here. Be sure to follow the White Oaks Blog on Facebook at https://Facebook.com/WhiteOaksBlog , and on Twitter @WhiteOaksBlog.
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