As San Mateo Coastal Real Estate agents; we understand the importance of hosting a great open house.  Buyers want to see the ins and outs of your home and there are six key ways to help your home have a successful open house!

1. Make it Generic- While it’s great to make your home personal, your pictures, children’s art or your to do list on the refrigerator can be a large distraction to potential buyers.  They need to be able to envision themselves in your home, so putting away those personal items will help buyers picture their life in your coastal home.

2. Clear Counters- Look at your kitchen or bathroom counters from a outsiders viewpoint.  Do you have too many appliances cluttering your kitchen counter?  Clearing this space will make their appear to be more room for cooking or their own storage.  If your bathroom counters are filled with perfumes, toothbrush holders, etc… take time to put them in cabinets or drawers so buyers can see the actual size of the space.

3. Set the Table- This may not seem necessary, but having your dining room table set with nice place settings add a touch of class and can help the San Mateo Coastal buyer envision hosting their own dinner parties.

4. First Impressions- Believe it or not, a nice doormat or attractive porch can really set the tone for the entire open house.  If there’s an old doormat , chipped paint or nothing special about the entrance to your home, buyers may feel that you don’t really care.  A welcoming setting from the start will instantly let buyers know that your home is well-maintained and that each area of your home is cared for.

5. Get to the Heart- The best way to appeal to the buyers’ heart is through offering something special when they walk in the door.  Whether you bake fresh cookies, have hot chocolate or coffee in the cooler months, or have lemonade for them on your counter as it starts to get warmer; these added touches will set your home apart.

6. Don’t Stick Around- While it may be tempting to want to hear what the potential buyers have to say, it can be awkward when the seller is present.  They will feel that they can’t openly express their thoughts to the agent and will not feel as comfortable when looking throughout the home.  Even if you take a walk through the neighborhood, being away from the home during an open house can make all the difference.

Hosting an open house can seem like a nerve-wracking process, but it’s the best way to get your home sold.  By taking note of these tips; you’ll be well on your way!  If you have questions about selling your San Mateo Coastal home; please let us know!  You’ll want someone who knows the area, has experience in selling homes on the coast and can be with you every step of the way.  Feel free to contact us with any questions you have or to learn how we can help sell your home!

Held in the Pumpkin Capital of the World, the festival includes pumpkin carving and pie-eating contests, a Halloween costume contest, haunted house, Great Pumpkin Parade, giant weigh-off champion pumpkins, homestyle foods, harvest-inspired arts and crafts, and three stages of blockbuster entertainment.  The festival is presented by the non-profit Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee.

If you are a fan of arts and crafts you will love this event! Here you can purchase one of a kind unique works of art directly from its creator. Over 250 artists and craftspeople from throughout the West will display their creations in the beautiful autumnal atmosphere of the San Mateo coast.  This world-famous festival showcasing works in media ranging from wood, stone and metal to clay, leather and textiles features everything from masks and moccasins to mobiles and musical instruments

This great family friendly event in our community is on October 15th and 16th from 9am-5pm! Admission is free.  Hope to see you there!

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It takes place  outdoors at intersection of Main Street and Kelly Avenue (May through September) and indoors at La Piazza at 604 Main Street (November through April) It starts at 9am and ends at 3pm. For more information call 650-712-9439 in Half Moon Bay.

Remember, when you purchase flowers from the market you are contributing to the local economy, supporting longtime family businesses and helping those businesses stave off overseas competition. Plus you can  enjoy a relaxing Saturday outing in a close-knit community where ties to the land run deep.

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Friday – Sunday each week, local bands perform live at the Brewing Company in Half Moon Bay, bringing sounds to the shore from jazz and blues to world beat and reggae. Bands perform Friday and Saturday nights from 7-10 p.m., and Sundays from 5-9 p.m.

So, relax like the locals do, with a pint of locally brewed beer, some live music, and a seat beside one of the pub’s patio firepits, overlooking the Pacific.

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Mullins Bar and Grill is located at 2 Miramontes Point Road in Half Moon Bay.  Where they will serve from 11 AM to 9 PM.

For more information visit their website or call  650-726-1818.

Happy Father’s day!

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The weekend is finally here and if you are looking for a family friendly way to unwind, this is it! Half Moon Bay Library will host Family Movie Night on Saturday, June 11th.  Movie starts at 6:00pm. Doors close promptly at 6:30pm..

 Gnomeo and Juliet, rated G, will be shown. Gnomeo & Juliet is a 2011 animated fantasy film based on William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. The film is directed by Kelly Asbury, and the two main characters are voiced by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt.

The Half Moon Bay Library is located at 620 Correas Street in Half Moon Bay. For more information call 650-726-2316.

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1.) This is when your house will get the most exposure 

The spring, and particularly the month of May, is when most buyers enter the real estate market. This surge of buyers dramatically increases the exposure for your house . The best chance of getting quality offers (perhaps even multiple offers) is RIGHT NOW!

2.) Foreclosures and short sales will increase in about 90 days

The good news is that the number of people paying their mortgage on time is increasing. This will lead to less distressed property sales later this year and throughout 2012. The not-so-good news is that there is still a large inventory of existing foreclosures and short sales that will still be coming to market.

As an example, LPS reported in their latest Mortgage Monitor that:

• There are still twice as many loans going 90+ days delinquent as are starting foreclosure
• There are almost three times the number of foreclosure starts as there are foreclosure sales
• Distressed property inventory levels are almost 45 times the rate of monthly foreclosure sales 

This means that there is a backlog of properties which will start coming to the market in about 90 days as banks clear up their paperwork challenges. These properties sell at dramatic discounts. They will be your competition. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have recently discussed the magnitude of this challenge.

3.) Interest rates have risen over the last six months

Interest rates have stabilized recently. However, in the last six months, interest rates have climbed over 1/2%. Every time the rates increase 1/4%, approximately 250,000 buyers are eliminated from qualifying for a mortgage. In an environment of volatile rates, waiting could mean that there will be fewer buyers eligible to purchase your house. It also could mean that you will pay a higher rate on the next home you buy.

4.) Qualifying for a mortgage is about to get even more difficult

Besides increasing rates, there are other factors that will hinder a buyer’s ability to qualify for a mortgage as we move forward. Lending standards have been getting tighter over the last year. And as the government debates the new proposed guidelines (QRM), banks are gearing up for even more stringent standards.

Morgan Stanley recently stated:

“Recent developments in issues such as GSE reform, Dodd-Frank securitization rules, and foreclosure settlement issues suggest a tighter and more expensive environment for mortgage credit.” 

This may impact any potential purchaser for your property and may also impact your next purchase.

5.) It’s time to get on with your life 

Probably the most important reason to sell is so you can get on with your life. You placed your home on the market for a reason. Do not allow a less-than-stellar housing market prevent you from reaching your goals as an individual or as a family. Think about the reasons you decided to move in the first place. Are these reasons still important to you? If you have to take less than you were originally hoping to get for your house, your family has a question to ask each other: Is the dollar difference in sales price worth putting off our plans? Only you and your family know the answer to that question.

Bottom Line 

If you plan to sell this year, the reasons above prove that selling now makes more sense than waiting to later in the year. Sit with a real estate professional in your area today to fully understand your best option.

Article from KCM Blog

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2. Know Where to Look- Internet sites such as Trulia, Zillow and Realtor.com are nationally recognized as the top real estate sites.  These options include an abundance of homes as well as tools for financing, tips, area information and much more!

3. The More the Merrier- Don’t limit your search to a single site.  Check out many sites at once to get a larger picture of the housing market in the San Mateo area.  Think of each online tool as a piece to the puzzle in putting together a list of your tops homes!

4. Stay in the Know- Many internet tools offer rss feeds or email campaigns that you can have delivered right to your inbox!  These are a great way to stay on top of all that’s going on in the market- and all you have to do is sit back and allow the information to come to you!

5. Read Any Good Blogs Lately?- Real Estate blogs are a great way to keep a finger on the pulse of the latest news.  Of course, not all blogs are created equal (and we happen to think ours is pretty great!), but find local blogs to the area in which you  desire to find your home.  Oftentimes they’ll provide you with community information, new listings in the area and much more!

If you have any questions about your internet home-buying search; let us know!  We provide the latest services in technology to help both our buyers and sellers.  Check out other articles in this blog, or find out more information about the San Mateo Coast on our website!  Contact us for help finding your dream home!

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Chef Gason Alfaro is offering an Irish themed menu to be served throughout the day which includes traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage as well as Stout Beef Stew made with the Brewing Company’s Imperial Stout in Half Moon Bay.

Bring your family or meet your friend to St. Patricks day! This event starts at 7:00 pm and goes until 10:00 pm. For more information call 650-728-2739.

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The district will be holding a meeting at Seton Coastside Hospital on March 17^th at 7pm.  They are looking for suggestions from the community on how to implement this momentous change.

So, come to Seton Hospital after celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.  Yes, the district was sensitive to the date of the meeting.  Tongue in cheek, Mrs. Slater-Carter said, they just didn’t want to hold the meeting on April fool’s Day.