Not the easiest one, was it? In it’s location though, I’ll bet you all drive by it all the time. It’s the logo on the Foster’s Landing Apartments between Shell and Foster City Blvd. Congratulations to Nicole Fabris who nailed it first and who wins the $30.00 gift certificate to Otake Japanese at Beach Park Plaza. Also arriving with the correct answer was Erika Jahnke and Harish. Good knowledge folks! Thanks for playing, see you again on Friday!
The all knowing, all seeing eye! Kind of looks like the old CBS logo…or maybe I’m just dating myself? This weeks question? Where is this eye and what is it a part of? This weeks winner will receive a $30.00 gift card to Otake Japanese Restaurant at Beach Park Plaza. All the rules of the road are available to view on the left hand margin as well as on the bar above. The winner along with all other correct answer will not be published until Monday morning. Any and all quips, jokes, smart aleckiness and all wrong answers will be published ASAP. Thanks for playing! Have a great weekend!
The 25 page agenda packet has been released for the big pow wow scheduled for Monday in which a fourth elementary school will be discussed. It’s kind of tortuous to get through all 25 pages but there’s some interesting stuff there.
The attorney has rendered an opinion that “the sale of Boothbay Park to the School District is prohibited by Government Code Section 37111.1″ because “transfer of this park land to the District would not represent use for a ‘municipal’ purpose” and because “the City has not, within the last 3 years, acquired or developed an equal or greater amount of land for park purposes” that could replace the park. It’s also indicated that Port Royal Park might be restricted based upon the dedication that was made by the original developer in that section of town.
Further, it’s also opined that giving the land away would be a gift of public funds, which is prohibited under the Government Code. As such, the District would have to pay “fair value” based on an independent appraiser.
Hmmm…pretty interesting. Especially if you’re fighting to save Boothbay Park. It also sure would seem to put pressure onto the 15 acre/Parkview Plaza site again, doesn’t it? At any rate it sure will be an interesting meeting on Monday!
Yes, it’s that time again! The time when kids of all ages in Foster City start their weekly trips back and forth to Sea Cloud Park. Or should I say their parents start their weekly (and in my case, daily) trips back and forth to Sea Cloud Park. We have almost 1100 players signed up this year and they will be showing up with families in tow by 7:30AM for the opening ceremonies. They will be dressed from head to toe in their uniforms, anticipating their team name to be called out, so they can run around the field with their team banner waving high above. For me this means running around twice since I’m coaching two teams this year. No matter how good of shape I think I am, come opening day I still always manage to be sweating and exhausted by the time we get to the National Anthem!
I have been participating in soccer in Foster City since I was 5 years old. My youngest is starting his first year as a soccer player this season and is quite excited. Foster City is definitely a sports town and this is never more evident than on opening day of AYSO soccer. This year opening day falls on Saturday September 12 and if you have never experienced this day it is a sight to be seen.
As a coach and as a Mom, I always offer some safety tips to my players parents at the start of the season. Water, sun block, bug spray and a healthy snack before practice and a healthy breakfast of lunch before a game time are critical. I know these “tips” seem obvious but I can assure you that I have had countless players over the years (I have been coaching since I was in High School) show up unprepared for a game or practice.
Foster City AYSO is all about a positive experience for our children and these are some necessary tools to insure this experience. So, come on out to Sea Cloud on any Saturday through November and you will not be disappointed!
I am also coordinating an adult team in Foster City for those of you that are still players…so join the fun! I can be reached by e-mail at:
Good knowledge this week! Way to go folks! Friday’s pic was indeed the Foster City Fire Station on Hillsdale and our winner was Jeff Deeney who brings home the $30.00 gift certificate to Waterfront Pizza. Good job Jeff!. Also arriving with the right answer was Alex O, Manisha, Suresh, Nicole, Narayanan, Michael, Jim S, Harish, Shrikant, Erika and Alex Wei. Nice job! Hopefully, none of us will need the services of the FCFD anytime soon…but I’m sure glad they’re there! Have a great week!
Sorry I’m late…Sort of looks like a Transformer, huh? At least in my weird imagination it might. So, the question here in week 70 is, what is the place? This weeks winner receives a $30.00 gift certificate to Waterfront Pizza at Edgewater Place. All the rules of the road are available to view on the left hand margin and on the bar above. The winner and all other corect answers will not be published until Monday morning. Any and all jokes, barbs, quips and all wrong answers will be published asap. Thanks for playing, have a great weekend.
For years, friends, clients, friends of clients, family of clients and sometimes even clients of friends have called to ask some rudimentary questions about becoming a real estate agent. Usually we get together and have a nice chat and during that discussion I’ll usually hear the phrase “I think I’d like to try out real estate”. Here’s the thing, you don’t try out real estate…real estate try’s you out!
Once upon a time, before I became a realtor actually, I thought this would be an easy job…a lucrative easy job too! Ha! What was I smoking! In 2008, 60% of the agents in San Mateo county sold 1 house or less…86% sold 5 or less. I’m thinking that there haven’t been a whole bunch of agents lining up to buy the new Mercedes E-Class lately. So much for the lucrative part for most folks. How about the easy part?
In 2009 alone I’ve had several clients whose marriages were either falling apart or had recently fallen apart, folks in severe financial distress and folks who just lost a loved one and I’m in the middle of all of it. I have client’s that routinely show up a half hour to 45 minutes late and clients who have under reported their income or down payment, not only to me but to their lender as well, to the extent that I’ve just wasted all of the last couple of months showing them property. Not exactly an easy environment.
If you’re thinking about leaping into the fray and getting your license, here a few great 2009 stories to wet your appetite: An agent I know was on vacation in New York when a client called all excited about a house they had seen held open one Sunday. They insisted that he alone write the offer for them…no substitutes or pinch hittters. He left the family and flew back early, wrote, presented and ratified the offer for the clients…and at 8:00AM the following morning they called him to tell him that they had changed their mind. They didn’t really want that house after all.
Or how about this one: Another agent I know called her clients at a listing she had in Burlingame (the house had been on the market for 2 months) to tell them she would be going on vacation and explain how she would have a partner handle the business while she was gone. The seller said no, she couldn’t go on vacation and that if she did she would lose the listing. My friend explained that this was her 35th wedding anniversary and the trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity that her husband was surprising her with. The seller didn’t care, if you go you lose the listing she said.
Or this one: Yet another agent I know has a listing that a buyer came in paying all cash at the asking price and a week into the escrow the buyer requested to come over to the house to measure and show other family members their soon to be new home. The seller said no and in fact flatly stated that the buyer was not allowed into the house for the rest of the escrow. They have to wait until closing and they get the keys. That would sure make me feel all warm and fuzzy about buying that house…how about you?
Oops…I ranted again! Honestly, I love this business. I see it as a priveledge to be a part of the situations that have been placed before me. It’s not an easy job though.
What’s wrong with this picture? Currently, there are a total of 29 active condo/townhouse listings in Foster City. There are 22 condo/townhouse projects in Foster City, yet of the 29 active listings 11 of them are in only 3 projects…Promontory Point, Meridian Bay and Marina Point. That’s 39%. Conversely, there are currently 35 pending sales in the condo/townhouse category, a ratio that’s at it’s 2009 high by the way. There’s 5 pending sales in those complexes…or slightly under 14%.
Why the disparity, you ask? These are all nice projects and the unit’s in question are by and large in good shape. Average days on the market for these 11 units? 105. Average days on the market for all the others? 74. Why is it then that these nice units are not selling? I suggest it’s because of their high association dues. Promontory Point’s dues are $772.00 a month. Meridian Bay’s are $496.00 and Marina Point’s are $470.00.
OK, there’s others that are in that ballpark too…Isle Cove at $525.00 and The Islands at $547.00 yet there’s also places at Winston Square coming in at $245.00 and Marina Green at $308.00. Even City Homes arrives at $349.00. At least with Isle Cove and The Islands you’re most likely looking at a waterfront. The $500.00 a month range sure seems pricey to me…doesn’t it to you? What happens if flood insurance is mandated for these HOA’s? Yikes!
Seriosly, I like these projects. Meridian Bay is gorgeous…heck they all are nice developments! It’s just that the facts of the active listings would sure suggest that the market is not rushing to buy these places..and I don’t believe it has anything to do with the quality of the unit’s or the projects. It has everything to do with high HOA’s
Chris Canfield 
Robert Amato 
anonymous 
Alex Cortez 
Guru 
Julia Mitchell 
AR 
