All Hallows’ Eve

Halloween Halloween might mean a night of relentless doorbell rings and handing out candy, or if you are lucky enough to still have trick-or-treaters of your own to take around, a night of scaring your nieghbors with your little goblins, but this Holly day is steeped in tradition.

All Hallows’ Eve gets its contraction "Halloween" from the “eve” or “even”, both abbreviations of evening. It’s the eve before All Hallows’ Day, perhaps better known as All Saints Day.

Rooted in Celtic origin, All Hallows’ Eve was the one day a year that the dead could come back and mingle with the living. Jack-o-lanterns and bonfires were lit to safeguard the living from the spirits.

For an interesting history of how the Catholics commandeered this day to prevent the Pagan holiday celebration, here’s a great link.

Be safe, and have fun.

Happy All Hallows Eve!

Belmont’s Beautiful Weather

It was really neat to meet our Belmont neighbors at our open house on Hallmark Drive yesterday–thanks to all who stopped by. We had an amazing turn-out and the weather couldn’t have been more cooperative. Incidentally we did a survey at the open house where we asked our guests if they thought the home was a good value. Overwhelming, but not the least bit surprisingly, potential buyers gave lower scores for value than homeowners in the area–propagating the theory that sellers always view their home as worth more than a potential buyer.

The many nice compliments on our blog and web page were also appreciated. I had no idea so many of you read our blog and it inspires me to keep it up. Feel free to comment on anything you read too because it gives me a sense that there’s a real-time audience out there.

So the story of the day is about the last of the nice weather for awhile. We had an unusually warm October with 70+ degree evenings ‘til midnight. For those of you new to Belmont, September and October are getting to be our best months of the year. I say getting to be because my anecdotal evidence is my memory going back 40 years when I distinctly remember September being rather cool and October downright cold.

This graph looks at what is referred to as “Cooling Degree Days”. Cooling degree-days are used to estimate the amount of heat that must be removed (through air-conditioning) to keep a structure comfortable. Heating and cooling degree-days are based on departures from a base temperature, typically 65ºF (18ºC).

One cooling degree–day is the amount of cooling required to keep a structure at 65ºF when the outside temperature remains one degree above the 65ºF threshold for 24 hours. One cooling degree–day is also the amount of cooling required to keep that structure at 65ºF when the temperature remains 24ºF above that 65º threshold for 1 hour.

So the bottom line is the more cooling degree days the warmer the month. Don’t forget when we have extreme weather storms this winter you can go to our live weather station located in Hallmark for current rain rate, or frost conditions.

 

October 26th 1881–A Day in History

Each year I post a new message on the anniversary of the “Shoot out at the OK Corral”, and also on Wyatt Earp’s birthday, March 19th (1848).

October 26th bears a lot of meaning for me. Most importantly it was the day my mother was born—and event without which this blog would not exist. My mother was a stall worth advocate of learning and the history that surrounds us. I fondly remember mornings when I would awake to find new message on our chalk-board in the kitchen that recounted some historical trivia—she was the first who said “What happened on this day in history?” It also marks the day of the famous shoot out near the OK Corral.

In 1992 I saw the movie “Tombstone”, and I thought at the time, “What an interesting movie, I wonder what really happened?” That led me on a decade of research into the life and times of Wyatt Earp and the Wild West.  Since then I have read every book I could get my hands on regarding the topic.

WyattKurt *Kurt Russell plays an excellent Wyatt Earp in the 1992 movie Tombstone.

In 1998 I had occasion to meet with several prominent authors of Wyatt Earp history. We met  in Tombstone, Arizona for a trip to recount the facts and places that preceded the shootout as well as that which transpired after the events on that fateful October 26th day in 1881 when the Clanton’s, Mc Laury’s, the Earps and Doc Holliday had it out in proximity to the OK Corral.

The trip was enlightening to say the least, and as is often the case, finding the truth is more fascinating than the Hollywood fiction.

As you’ve probably gleamed the famous shoot out at the OK Corral never really happened at the OK Corral—it was around back in a vacant lot close to Fly’s photo gallery. But who fired the first shot? Those who know for sure are long gone but many believe it was Wyatt Earp—the only one to come out of the fray unscathed. Interesting enough one of the most important details omitted from every movie ever made was the trial that took place after the shootout which could have sent the Earp clan and Doc Holliday to the gallows. There were many witnesses to the gunfight that day and as you can imagine every one of them told a slightly different version of what happened.  In December of that year the trial ended with the exoneration of the Earp’s and Holliday and with that the murder charges were dropped; but the acquittal set off a string of events including Virgil being crippled for life, the murder of Morgan Earp and the bloody massacre of the Clanton gang by Wyatt and his cronies.

For a good book to get a better understanding of the political environment which created the tension in this small silver mining town, I suggest you read a thesis now in book form written by Paul Mitchell Marks titled “And Die In The West”, still in print at Amazon.com.

Belmont Week in Review–Week Ending October 25th 2008

The media continues its relentless barrage of horror stories and down at ground zero people continue to go on with their lives buying and selling homes to fit a lifestyle, not a portfolio.

There are currently 56 Active listings for sale in Belmont down from 58 last week. The six new listings are typical for the last big push before the holidays and the seven homes that went into contract demonstrate the desire to nest before the winter.

NEW LISTINGS

Six new listing hit the market this last week and one of them was ours—we’ll dispense with that one first:

2824 Ext 500 sh  2824 Hallmark Drive, 4 Bed 3 Bath, 2430 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $1,298,900. Admittedly we are biased about this home not only because it’s our own listing but because we are also neighbors. Hallmark can be a busy street during commute hours but this home backs up to 300+/- acres of the Belmont Canyon open space with hiking and biking trails right out its back door. The orientation of the home is to the rear (as with most Belmont Height's homes) and you can’t get a more relaxing and tranquil setting. What truly makes this home unique is the level rear yard AND awesome canyon (and peek-a-boo) Bay Views. LIsted by Drew & Christine Morgan

OPEN SUNDAY 10/26 from 1:30-4:30 stop by and say hi, Christine and I will be hosting the open house. Here's a cool video tour if you want to get an early glimpse…

2835 Alhambra Drive 4 Bed 2.5 Bath 2,710 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $1,348,000.

This is the second home to have been listed in as many weeks. Alhambra is a great seclude dead-end street in the Belmont Canyon. This home has seen its share of turn over as we’ve seen it sell several times. This time though it has been updated and shows very well. There’s no level yard out back but it’s a neat home. OPEN SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10/25-26 1:00-4:00. Listed By Philip Watson, Prudential California Realty

3416 Beresford 4 Bed 2.5 Bath 1,810 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $949,915. Another nice Bay view home and with it, a yard two stories below. OPEN SUNDAY 10/26 1:00-4:30

Listed By Jimmy Chen, Out of Area Office

2949 Monte Cresta 4 Bed 2 Bath 1,670 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $899,000. Too new to review but it’s open Sunday 10/26 from 1:00-4:00 Listed By Katrin Kaukull, Century 21 Alliance

3901 Christian 3 Bed 2 Bath 1,660 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $868,000. This is a home where a thousand pictures isn’t worth one word—bad location. Nice home, but bad location. It’s the end home next to Ralston Ave. and every single homeowner and their cars must drive by this home to get in and out of this enclave. OPEN SUNDAY 10/26 1:30-4:30 Listed By Ron J. Bonhagen Sr., Intero Real Estate Services

3414 Beresford 2 Bed 1 Bath 890 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $649,000. This is a contractor’s special so don’t think you’re getting any real deal here. Be prepared, but if you want a good project it’s OPEN SUNDAY 10/26 from 2:00-4:00. Listed By Rosa De La Rosa, Regency Prime Properties Inc

PENDING SALES

Seven homes went pending last week which is a good sign of overall activity in Belmont’s housing market—more than half were over a million dollars.

SOLD

Monroe â†“ 2037 Monroe 5 Bed 4+ Bath 2436 Sq. Ft. LISTED for $1,199,000 SOLD for $1,167,000 in 68 Days—19 after it was reduced.

This was a very nice home but it was on a smaller lot (4,000 +/-Sq. Ft.). It was remodeled nicely and had Belmont Country Club Canyon views. It was originally listed for $1,279,000 back in August. In September it was lowered to $1,199,000 where it finally received an offer a month after being reduced.

Square footage and/or acreage information contained herein has been received from seller, existing reports, appraisals, public records and/or other sources deemed reliable. However, neither seller nor listing agent has verified this information. If this information is important to buyer in determining whether to buy or the purchase price, buyer should conduct buyer’s own investigation. Information deemed reliable but not guaratneed.

The information contained in this article is educational and intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute real estate, tax or legal advice, nor does it substitute for advice specific to your situation. Always consult an appropriate professional familiar with your scenario. These homes were not necessarily listed or sold by Drew & Christine Morgan.

Just Listed-2824 Hallmark Drive, Belmont, CA 94002



Drew & Christine Morgan (650) 508-1441




 
Drew & Christine Morgan
"Helping People Make Good Decisions"sm
(650) 508-1441

Just Listed–OPEN SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26th 2008 1:30-4:30
 

Located in the coveted Belmont hills enclave of Belmont Heights
in Hallmark, this well appointed home enjoys large rooms and a well
designed floorplan.

Two of the most highly sought after attributes in a home in Belmont
is having a level yard or a home with spectacular views–this home
has both! The rear of the home boasts a large family room with adjacent
dining area and kitchen which opens to a level rear yard with spectacular
pastoral canyon views.
Call for details and showing dates. (650) 508-1441
 
Features Include
 
Four Bedrooms
Three full baths
Lower bedroom for au pair or live-in guest
Hardwood flooring
Recessed lighting

Kitchen includes:

  • Birdseye maple cabinetry
  • New appliances
  • Recessed lighting
  • Corian counters
  • Eat-at counter
Excellent schools!
Dual paned bow windows
French doors
Approximately 2,450 Sq. Ft.
$1,298,900
(650) 508-1441


Belmont–Week in Review

The big news for the past few weeks is not what’s going on in Belmont but rather the world economies. We’ll leave that analysis to economists and instead show you how the credit crisis is affecting Belmont home buyers and sellers.

In fact the greatest factor affecting home sales is probably not the credit crunch at all, but consumer confidence. We’ve been through enough recessions to note that when consumer confidence is down so are home sales—understandably. But as Warren Buffet said yesterday, he buys when others are fearful and he’s fearful when others are greedy. If one were to apply that philosophy to the real estate market they’d be in great shape right now.

This graph is for the month of September over four years.

The news for Belmont’s housing market is not so grim. There are 58 single family homes for sale, once again up from last week but in perspective, right in –line with historical trends for this time of year.

The number of new listings (3) for sale is down which is good because the number of sales (2) are down too. This ratio is an important factor in gauging the housing market’s health. Currently the month’s supply of homes for sale in Belmont stands at 6.1—double that of just last month.

NEW LISTINGS

Pocket Listing:

What’s a pocket listing? It’s a home that an agent has listed but it’s not on the open market yet.

We have just such a listing which is scheduled to come on the market in time for this Tuesday’s agent tour.

2824Rear 3inch  2824 Hallmark Drive in Belmont—4 Bed 3 Baths 2,430 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $1,298,000. Many updates–just needs some maintenance. Shows great and has a hard-to-find level rear yard with pastoral canyon views—backs up top 300+ acres of open space and Water Dog Lake.

OPEN SUNDAY OCTOBER 26th 1:30-4:40

Drew & Christine Morgan—Call us for details or a private showing (650) 508-1441.

Pullman 2116 Pullman 3 Bed 2 Bath 1,810 Sq. Ft. home for $1,069,000. This remodeled home should sell fast. There’s no open house listed for it but watch in Sunday’s Open House guide just in case. Listed By Charles Rauch, CR Properties

2030 Arbor-3 Bed 2 Bath 1,780 Sq. Ft. home listed for $879,000. Too new to review but it looks well priced. Check it out on Sunday’s open houses

Sun 

10/19 

1:00-4:00 

Sun 

10/26 

1:00-4:00 

Listed By Mary Duvall, Coldwell Banker-San Carlos

1218 North Road 3 Bed 2 Bath 1,270 Sq. Ft. home for $900,000.

Well, it’s not entirely a new listings but it was listed so long ago that we’ll qualify it as new. Originally listed back in August of 2007 for a whopping $1,250,000, it lasted until January 2008 when it was pulled from the market at $1,050,000. Nice house but a real cliff clinger home and no yard.

Sun 

10/19 

2:00-4:00 

Sun 

10/26 

2:00-4:00 

 Listed By Michael Robles, Coldwell Banker-Burlingame

SALES

PALMER ↑2404 Palmer 3 Bed 2.5 Bath 2,120 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $1,085,800 SOLD for $1,100,000 in 4 days. One of our Belmont’s Best Deal picks of the week when it was listed.

↓2606 Carlmont Drive-4 Bed 2.5 bath 2,268 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $1,068,000 SOLD for $1,050,000 in 7 days.

Belmont–Coming Soon!



Drew & Christine Morgan (650) 508-1441




Drew & Christine Morgan
"Helping People Make Good Decisions"sm
(650) 508-1441

COMING SOON TO BELMONT
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Us

Located in the coveted Belmont hills enclave of Belcrest Gardens
in Hallmark, this well appointed home enjoys large rooms and a well
designed floorplan.

Two of the most highly sought after attributes in Belmont is a
home with a level yard or with spectacular views–this home has
both! The rear of the home boasts a large family room with adjacent
dining area and kitchen which opens to a level rear yard with spectacular
pastoral canyon views.
Call for details and showing dates. (650) 508-1441
Features Include
 
Four Bedrooms
Three full baths
Lower bedroom for au pair or live-in guest
Hardwood flooring
Recessed lighting

Kitchen includes:

  • Birdseye maple cabinetry
  • New appliances
  • Recessed lighting
  • Corian counters
  • Eat-at counter
Excellent schools!
Dual paned bow windows
French doors
Approximately 2,450 Sq. Ft.
Price has not yet been determined–call for details
(650) 508-1441


October’s Hunter’s Moon

october-2013-partial-lunar-eclipse_72598_990x742Today marks the occasion of the “Hunter’s Moon. A full moon which occurs each October after September’s Harvest Moon.

This can be found on NASA’s web site. According to folklore, October’s full moon is called the “Hunter’s Moon” or sometimes the “Blood Moon.” It gets its name from hunters who tracked and killed their prey by autumn moonlight, stockpiling food for the winter ahead. You can picture them: silent figures padding through the forest, the moon overhead, pale as a corpse, its cold light betraying the creatures of the wood.

So how many moons do we really have? Twelve to be exact:

  • January – Wolf Moon 
  • February – Snow Moon 
  • March – Worm Moon 
  • April – Pink Moon 
  • May – Flower Moon 
  • June – Strawberry Moon 
  • July – Buck Moon 
  • August – Sturgeon Moon 
  • September – Harvest Moon 
  • October – Hunter’s Moon 
  • November – Beaver Moon 
  • December – Cold Moon

Ever wonder why the moon appears so large at the horizon and so small up in the sky? This phenomenon referred to the “Moon Illusion” is best explained by scientists but it has everything to do with your brain’s perception of relative size as it compares the moon to objects on the horizon. Try taking a picture of the same moon and you’ll be sorely disappointed that your camera doesn’t see things quite the way you do.

Enjoy the show this week and as the moon rises near sunset and appears to fill the sky.

Belmont Housing Activity–Week Ending October 4th 2008

With all of the attention on November’s Presidential election, financial institutions folding over like the house of cards they were made of, and the bitter $7 Billion dollar bail-out pill that no one should have to swallow, it’s amazing any real estate transactions were done at all.

Here’s how the week went in Belmont:

We now have 55 homes listed for sale—up from 49 last week.

Nine new listings hit the market in Belmont while 12 members of Congress played politics with the bailout. Three homes went pending as two more banks merged into one. And finally three—only three—homes closed escrow (at the end of the month nonetheless) and as more banks failed.

Just to put the paltry number of sales for the month of September in Belmont in perspective, in September of 2001, after the United States was attacked by terrorists we still had twelve sales—three more than this September.

You can read our September monthly wrap-up for Belmont here.

NEW LISTINGS

2 Arroyo View Circle 3 Bed 2.5 Bath 1,270 Sq. Ft. TOWNHOME LISTED for $799,000. These town homes are 11 years old and are rather nice. OPEN SUNDAY 10/5 1:00-4:00 Listed By Nadr Essabhoy, Alain Pinel Realtors

1935 Hillman 4 Bed 2.5 Bath 2,580 Sq. Ft. home for $1,150,000. We saw this home last time it sold back in 2003 when it closed for $840,000. The outside façade is a little dated and there’s little yard as it is also a cliff clinger. Listed By Ken Ichiki, Alain Pinel Realtors

Miramar_2 813 Miramar Terrace 3 Bed 2.5 bath 1,860 Sq. Ft. home for $1,745,000. What a cool pad! Check this one out this weekend Sunday 10/5 from 1:00-4:30. This home makes you feel like you’re a movie star complete with pool guest house—Cabana boy optional. Listed By Julie Geyer, Carlmont Associates

Coronet 2430 Coronet Blvd. 3 Bed 1.5 Bath 1,460 Sq. Ft. home for $778,888. Too new to review but at that price this might not be around very long. Put this home on your short list for Belmont. OPEN SUNDAY 2:00-4:00. Listed By Lorelei Keim, Coldwell Banker Sure to be our Belmont’s Best Deal of the week!

North_101 809 North Road 3 Bed 1.5 Bath 1,160 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $629,900. This is a bank sale. It was on the market last year for $900,000. The seller bought it for $670,000 back in 2005. Now you know how far some of the prices have dropped. Decent home in a decent area. Listed By Jan Majeski, Alain Pinel Realtors

1121 Furlong 3 Bed 1 Bath 1,190 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $654,000. Located in Homeview, this home is a fixer upper. OPEN SUNDAY 10/5 1:00-4:00

By Mark Dunn, Out of Area Office

2812 Wakefield 4 Bed 3 Bath 2.490 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $1,388,831. Don’t you just love the exact pricing model employed by some agents? Seriously, this home has killer views, is pretty clean and updated inside. The yard is a bungee jump below but heck it’s hard to get everything you want for less than 2 million dollars. Listed By Donna Marie Baldwin, Coldwell Banker-Burlingame

533 Seagate 3 Bed 2 Bath 1,650 Sq. FT home LISTED for $609,000. I have absolutely NO information on this home because 1) there is no tour scheduled for agents, 2) there is no lock box to get in 3) there are no open houses scheduled and 4) there are no pictures. Sorry, but it’s NOT my listing. Listed By Frank Yim, Aquarius Realty

915 Academy 3 Bed 2 Bath 1,100 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $799,000. OPEN SUNDAY 10/5 1:30-4:30 TOO NEW TO REVIEW.

Re-Listed:

1224 North Road 2 Bed 1 Bath 980 Sq. Ft. home for $599,000. Re-listed with a new agent, this home has great S.F. Bay views but no yard. Nicely updated inside but we disliked the shared driveway. Listed By Trula B. Floyd, Help-U-Sell Floyd Realty

2207 Cipriani Blvd. 5 Bed 3 Bath 2,410 Sq. Ft home for $1,255,000. This home was listed last November for $1,255,000 and lowered to $1,199,000 where it sat for five months and did not sell. Now it’s back up at $1,255,000—hmm Listed By Adele Della-santina, Cashin Company

2406 Coronet Blvd. 4 Bed 3.5 Bath 3,390 Sq. Ft. home for $1,495,000. Well, it will be 3,390 Sq Ft when it gets completed. So far just the framing is up. When it’s done, it will be a cliff clinger with little rear yard unless they terrace something out of the hillside. Sorry No Open House.

SALES (Closed Escrow)

Notice all three homes sold over their asking price.

↑1514 Pine Knoll Drive 2 Bed 1 Bath 1,200 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $799,000 SOLD for $815,000—DOM 18

↑3410 Hillcrest 3 Bed 2 Bath 1,640 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $849,000 SOLD for $908,000—8 DOM. This was our Belmont’s Best Deal in the week it premiered.

↑1941 Hillman 2 Bed 2 Bath 1,120 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $778,000 SOLD for $803,000—2 DOM

If your property is currently listed for sale this is not intended as a solicitation of your listing. Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and includes no legal, accounting or real estate advice nor is this intended to be specific to your situation-always consult a specialist who is familiar with the details of your situation.

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Belmont–September Housing Statistics

Belmont’s housing sales for the month of September are in the books and the less than stellar report is probably not surprising given what you instinctively know.

Consumer confidence numbers are indicative of consumer sentiment and consumer confidence, although slightly higher than in August, is at only 59.8—indexed to 1985 when it was at 100. That’s not the whole story though as we predict it will drop once the consumer uncertainty over the seven billion dollar bailout are reflected in October’s numbers.

This graph illustrates the correlation between the number of available homes for sale and the number of sales.

Although inventory levels remain in check, the number of sales is disturbingly low for the month of September. As you can see by the interactive graph, September sales weren’t even this low in the month following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The difference of course is that inventory levels are much lower than in 2001 and that alone should help keep values from deteriorating at an unhealthy pace.

The median price has held its’ own but one must remember that the median price statistic is the median price of homes which sold, not necessarily what the median price is for Belmont homes. That said the median price rose by $3,000 over the month of August while the median size home sold was considerably smaller—210 feet to be exact. At $527 per square foot that is a significant sign that values are holding relatively firm considering the tumultuous environment and we give this market indicator a positive denotation on that very note.

Here’s how the numbers stack up as compared to AugusSpet_changes_from_pmt:

(click for a larger view)

 

This is Belmont’s Full report for September 2008:

(click for a larger view)

Belmontsept_2008_2

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