Local vendors will also be present with their merchandise/services available, and free prizes from these local vendors and The Melting Pot will be given out. If this sounds like a good time to you, then come on out to 2 North B Street in San Mateo for great food and lots of fun with your girlfriends!

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If you are aware of these specific costs and budget for them, they won’t surprise you on closing day and cause you financial stress.

Below is a guide to some of the more standard costs that you may be faced with on closing day.

• Loan Origination Fee or Points: These are the fees charged by the lender for generating your loan.
• Broker Fee: These fees are occasionally combined into the Loan Origination Fee.
• Credit Report: Lenders may require this fee up front to obtain and review your credit history. (Approx. $21 – $60)
• Appraisal Fee: This fee is normally non-refundable and will vary depending on the value of the home.
• Inspection Fee: Fees paid to have a Certified Home Inspector evaluate the structural and mechanical condition of the home.
• Title Search: This search will provide verification that the seller owns the house you are buying.
• Title Insurance: This fee insures against losses as a result of any title defects.
• Prepaid Interest: To pay up the mortgage interest to the first of the following month.
• Mortgage Insurance: Insurance to protect the lender in the event that the borrower (mortgager) is unable to repay the loan.

These are some of the most common costs involved with closing. Once you have applied for your loan, the lender will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate of what they anticipate the closing costs to be.

Be sure to do your homework and ask extensive questions about these items and your closing on your new California coastal home will go much smoother on closing day.

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Prior to the event, the map with the garage sale locations will be available at the same web address. Remember, by opting to pass along reusable items to others rather than taking them to the dump, you will conserve natural resources, reduce the burden on the local landfill, help out others in the community, and make some money in the process! Whether you are buying or selling this Saturday in Half Moon Bay, this is an even that you don’t want to miss!

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Below are some of the top mistakes sellers make that you want to avoid when you are preparing your house for the market:

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to go it alone, get advice from others on what looks neat and organized. Get your realtor’s advice; or if selling on your own, have a trusted third party walk the home with you and point out areas that look cluttered or cramped.
• There is no need to make extensive renovations or replace all the furniture. Keep things simple and your investments small. Updates to paint, replacing light fixtures or changing out pillows or bedcovers can all go a long way to giving your home an updated look without major expense.
• Leave out personal items and knick-knacks. Be sure to remove family photos, school projects and other personal items that might make it hard for a new family to envision themselves living in the space.
• If you need some inspiration, visit a few model homes for sale for ideas on attractive staging ideas for open spaces. Open up heavy curtains with tie backs and make sure that your furniture isn’t in the way of creating bright open spaces. If you need to take some things out, try temporary storage.
• Avoid painting with dark or intense colors. Keep your wall and flooring colors to neutral, adaptable tones. Even if bright or varied color palettes are trendy, they are too much for most prospective buyers.
• Avoid over-staging with accessories. Over the top accessories, including flowers, scents, and home décor items not only make it look like you are trying too hard, they can detract from the real form and functionality of your house.

Keeping it simple is the key to getting results from staging your home. Clean, uncluttered and neutral surroundings show off the possibilities of your home to your potential buyers.

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Travel back in time at this great event in San Mateo County, so make sure you make plans to attend! For more information, please call the Sanchez Adobe site 650-359-1462 or the History Museum 650-299-0104.

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1 — Experience

Purchasing a new home may well be the largest expenditure that you ever make. So it simply makes good business sense to enlist all the help you can get.

A seasoned real estate agent has completed more real estate transactions already this year than you’ll likely make in your lifetime. That adds up to a whole lot of knowledge and experience. Experience that can help navigate you safely and securely through every aspect of the buying process.

2 — Knows the Market

A real estate agent will know what’s happening in a particular area, or neighborhood, and help you decide if a home you find is a good value. Once you find a property that interests you, your agent will show you “comps” (comparable properties) of similar homes that have sold recently, as well as those that are currently on the market.

And if your real estate agent works with an established firm, he or she will have instant access to a host of proprietary tools — and property information — that may be difficult, or even impossible, to find on your own. All this information will help you make a well-informed decision.

3 — Saves Time

A good real estate agent is an organizational genius. He or she will manage to get you in to see new properties as soon as they become available — and arrange the most appointments possible within your available time slots, no matter how limited.

But remember, accessibility is a two-way street! Be sure to support your agent by being as flexible as possible — especially when your time is very limited.

4 — Good Listener

If you decide to use a real estate agent, look for someone who asks as many questions as you do. When you mention a price range, does the agent give you a ‘standard’ list of available properties, or is he or she able to make — or adjust — his or her recommendations based on what comes up in your conversations?

How interested is the agent in listening to your point of view? How many questions does he or she ask? After all, your real estate agent’s recommendations should vary substantially based on your personal needs and goals (for example, you may be starting a family, need to configure your new home to accommodate an office, need space for your son’s new car, or be downsizing).

5 — Tells the Truth (even when you don’t want to hear it!)

Expect that a good real estate agent will challenge you once in a while, ask the tough questions, and yes, even disagree with you occasionally. When he or she makes a recommendation that seems off-base, give your agent the opportunity to give you the facts — and share his or her knowledge and experience — before making a decision. Learn to trust your agent’s intuition, insights, and perspectives; they’ll often lead you in the right direction.

6 — Respects Your Budget

One of the most important things that your real estate agent will do is help you determine how much you can afford to spend. He or she may well ask you to consult with your accountant, financial planner, and/or mortgage broker before you make this important decision.

In some markets, there’s a lot more to purchasing an apartment than having cash for the down payment, and securing financing. For example, most Manhattan cooperative buildings (‘co-ops’), which account for about 75 percent of the properties in the city, will also look at your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), and your post-closing liquidity (yes, it can be a bit complicated!).

A good real estate agent will understand the particulars of your market, and help you find a terrific housing solution that you’ll be able to qualify for financially — and that will be possible within your budget.

7 — Team Player

Your real estate agent should be able to recommend a great team of professionals to support your purchase — from mortgage brokers and appraisers, to contractors and designers and real estate attorneys.

8 — Getting to Closing

Remember that finding the right property is only the beginning. Be sure your real estate agent is well prepared to negotiate aggressively on your behalf, and assist you in finding financing, if necessary. Your agent should be ready to follow through with your bank or mortgage broker, any other agents involved in the deal, and with your real estate attorney, until the purchase is complete.

9 — Gives Timely Updates

Throughout the buying process, stay in touch with your real estate agent regularly. He or she should give you regular updates on new properties, any changes in the local real estate market, mortgage rate changes, and so on. And you should update your real estate agent right away should any of your priorities change, or if your research turns up a property you may be interested in seeing. The result of working together closely? Finding just the home you’re looking for, more quickly.

10 — The Relationship

Don’t underestimate the importance of personality when you choose your real estate agent. You’ll be spending a lot of time with them — and entrusting them with one of the most important transactions of your life. So be sure to find someone you not only trust and respect, but also look forward to working with.

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Adults over the age of 21 can enjoy the wide range of music, comedy, and awesome food all set in this historic California building built in 1945 with an inviting, come-as-you-are, come-cut-loose atmosphere that lives up to its mantra: “WALL-TO-WALL Swingin’ FUN!”

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• As part of your moving plan, appoint one person in the family that will be in charge of the pet. This will eliminate any confusion as to who has responsibility and will help for a smoother move.
• Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian a few weeks before your move for a check up. Be sure to attain your pet’s veterinary records so that they can be forwarded to your new veterinarian. Make sure you obtain any needed permits or registrations too.
• Prep your new home for pets. Pets may be frightened and confused in new surroundings. Choose a room that you can set up for them with all their familiar items such as toys, foods, bedding, etc. Pack these items in a handy spot so they can be unpacked right away.
• If you are moving your pets by car, be sure to plan for several stops along the way. Pets may find car travel extremely distressing and stopping for fresh air and breaks can help. Don’t forget any medications your pet might need as well as a leash.
• If you are traveling long distance and plan on staying overnight at a hotel, be sure to call in advance to make sure that pets are accepted.
• If your pets are not micro-chipped be sure to get a new pet ID tag with your new address and contact phone numbers and if they are micro-chipped be sure to update the info with your microchip company.

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La Costanera

The fun starts Friday night at 7:00 PM and goes until 10:00 PM in Montara!  Cost is $15, call (650) 728-1600 for more information.

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What is an escrow?
An escrow is an arrangement in which a disinterested third party, called a escrow holder, holds legal documents and funds on behalf of a buyer and seller, and distributes them according to the buyer’s and seller’s instructions. The escrow becomes the depository for all monies, instructions and documents pertaining to the purchase of your home.

How does the escrow process work?

 The escrow is a depository for all monies, instructions and documents necessary for the purchase of the home, including  funds for the down payment, lender’s funds and documents for the new loan. The duties of an escrow holder include: following the instructions given by the principals and parties to the transaction in a timely manner; handling the funds and/or documents in accordance with instructions; paying all bills as authorized;  closing the escrow only when all terms and conditions have been met; and, distributing the funds in accordance with instructions.

Do I need documentation?
Receipt of your deposit is generally included in your copy of your purchase contract. Your funds will then be deposited in your separate escrow or trust account and processed through your local bank.

What information will I have to provide?
Typically you will be asked to complete a statement of identity as part of the necessary paperwork. Because many people have the same name, the statement of identity is to identify the specific person in the transaction through such information as date of birth, social security number, etc. This information is kept confidential.

How long is the escrow?
The length of an escrow is determined by the terms of the purchase agreement and can range from a few days to several months. Typically an escrow often takes an average time of 30 to 45 days.

When does the escrow process end?

The escrow process ends when you actually close on the home, during the closing procedure. This is when all funds are transferred accordingly, when all documents are signed, and when you get the keys to your new coastal home.

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