Technology is a wonderful thing, don’t get me wrong.   It has changed our lives immeasurably, and when applied properly, this change is positive.  But keeping up with the “latest and greatest” in technology presents an interesting paradigm.  At what point does the race to improve technology outpace the benefits that technology brings us? This is a phenomenon known as “feature creep.” We’re constantly being implored to “upgrade” anything we own that is remotely electronic.  Whether it’s the... Read Full Story

Few elements of a real estate transaction are more confusing and widely misunderstood than the Counter Offer.   And it can be even more mystifying when you consider deals where the seller is countering more than one offer.    In reality, the concept of the Counter Offer is pretty straightforward, but its implementation in a real estate contract is where most of the confusion occurs. Why is this important?  Regardless of whether the market is hot, cold or somewhere in between, the Counter... Read Full Story

The summertime blues (or snooze) is still in effect in Emerald Hills and Farm Hill Estates.  There was only one home to close escrow, and a handful of new listings.  Look for things to pick up a bit in September and October.  Historically, the market experiences an uptick in these two months. Click on the addresses for more details and photos. Home Sales 3042 Muller Ct: (Pictured above) Sale Price: $1,085,000. Original List Price: $1,069,950.   Difference: $15,050 above original list... Read Full Story

Here’s a “scoop” for you.   The Cowabunga Creamery has officially opened its doors in San Carlos this weekend, and they’re unleashing a secret weapon on unsuspecting ice cream lovers:  Marianne’s Ice Cream.  Yep, it’s true — Cowabunga Creamery will be showcasing Marianne’s Ice Cream as their main brand. For those of you who know about Marianne’s Ice Cream and regularly visit the main shop in Santa Cruz (like my family does) you know why this is such a big deal.   Marianne’s is an... Read Full Story

Hey, what do you know?  Things are starting to warm up a bit in San Carlos, and I’m not talking about the weather (although it was indeed a little toasty outside this week.)   We’ll soon be heading out of sleepy season for real estate and into the final two active months of the year (September and October.)   Look for the pace of new listings and home sales to pick up in the next few weeks.   That’s the topic of this weeks podcast… Download audio file (San Carlos Week in Review - 8-10-08.mp3... Read Full Story

Is re-painting one of your children’s rooms on your “to-do” list this summer?   Yep, me too.   I don’t mind the actual painting part of painting the room, but picking the colors out is probably my least favorite activity on this planet, next to getting my teeth drilled.   Anything activity that involves so many similar choices and options just makes my head spin.  I truly admire interior designers for their ability to make something useful out a sea of seemingly identical 1″ x 1″ samples... Read Full Story

In case you might not have noticed, I added a new key feature to the Emerald Hills Blog.   At the top of the right side-bar, you’ll see a section titled “NEW!  MLS Home Search.”   This new MLS software has a bunch of really cool features, the first of which is the single-click access.   If you click on the “Home Search: Emerald Hills” link, you’ll immediately see a neighborhood view of ALL the homes currently for sale in both Emerald Hills and Farm Hill Estates — all with one click! I... Read Full Story

I have to admit that I have a big soft spot for the Farm Hill Estates neighborhood that is in between Jefferson Ave and Farm Hill Boulevard.  Having grown up in that area, I had lots of childhood friends who lived on Red Oak Way, Glennan, Round Hill Road, and Stony Hill Road, just to name a few.  This neighborhood is blessed with picturesque streets, nice homes, and the proximity to Roy Cloud School is ideal for families with youngsters.  That’s why the new listing at 914 Stony Hill Road... Read Full Story

Sometimes the criteria varies when I decide on a “New Listing of the Week.”   It may be the nicest home to hit the market that week, or perhaps it’s in a noteworthy location.  Other times I’ll highlight one because it appears to be an exceptional value.   This week’s winner at 1241 Crestview Drive has a little bit of all of these.  This home has 3-bedrooms, 2.5-baths, with 2,300 square foot of living space on a big 9,380 square foot lot.  It’s being offered at $1,099,000 by John Herrmann of... Read Full Story

There are lies, d**** lies, and statistics.   I’m sure you’re familiar with this statement that was made famous by Mark Twain.  It’s funny how this rings true in today’s technologically-driven society, where data of seemingly any kind is available right at your fingertips. No matter what you want to know, or how you want to see it, it’s probably only a couple of clicks away. So why is this relevant to the real estate market in San Carlos?  Let’s take a peek at the numbers for July 2008... Read Full Story