Hillsborough, Burlingame Luxury Homes Real Estate

I know you've heard that saying, "All Real Estate is Local" many times and in San Mateo County and especially in Burlingame and Hillsborough it's really so.  Lately, all media screams out at us on a daily basis how bad investing in real estate is and that everyone is being hurt by the sub-prime mess.  Guess what?  That just isn't the case.  Sure there are some areas of San Mateo County that truly are in trouble because of the sub-prime mess but certainly not Burlingame or Hillsborough.  The prices haven't dipped a bit all year. 

Read more »

If you are new to California, and especially to San Mateo County, buying a house here is likely going to be a different experience than what you've experienced in your old state.  To begin with we do not use lawyers in the buying and selling process.  In our area, Northern California, the Title and Escrow Company is the key to everything that we do once a contract has been ratified.

Read more »

Okay, it's been all over the press thes past weeks.  San Mateo County has finally joined in the price decline.  Hum.  Maybe yes, and maybe no.  There is still a shortage of housing in San Mateo County, especially in the mid-county area where we work, Millbrae, Burlingame, Hillsborough, San Mateo, Foster City, Belmont and San Carlos.  Everything is just about filled in so if you want to live here you pay the piper.

Read more »

Lenders today generally use two standard guidelines to determine how much of a monthly mortgage payment you can afford and what your debt ratio is.  The first guideline is that your household should spend no more than 28 percent of its gross monthly income (before taxes) on monthly housing expenses, including: mortgage principal and interest, hazard insurance, real estate taxes and private mortgage insurance, if applicable. However, some lenders will stretch that figure to 33 percent or more in our high cost area.  The second guideline is that your monthly household expenses (as outlined above) plus other debt should not exceed 36 percent of your gross monthly income, although some lenders will stretch this to 38 to 40 percent. 

Read more »

It is said that most people make a snap judgment about something within 10 seconds of first seeing it.  That especially goes for reactions to houses.  You either like it or you don't.  Color choices in houses can be a real turn off to people.  I think everyone has seen rooms in bright, obnoxious colors and wondered, "what were they thinking?"  One persons love of color is another persons disdain.  Love and hate are exact opposites.

Read more »