The definition of a mansion varies from person to person but we’re weighing in and calling this best of tour home in San Carlos so unique as to rise to the level.
Perched on the prestigious Hyde Park development with sweeping views of the surrounding canyons and San Francisco Bay, this stately home offers a plethora of elegant verandas and vistas to choose from.
Swank and extraordinary best describes this home and it comes with an equally extraordinary price tag for San Carlos where the average home sold this year for just over $1,400,000—yet there’s nothing average about this home. Listed by Coldwell Banker at a cool $4,988,000.
Drew & Christine Morgan are REALTORS/NOTARY PUBLIC in Belmont, CA. with more than 20 years experience in helping sellers and buyers in their community. They may be reached at (650) 508.1441 or emailed at info@morganhomes.com.
You can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Morganhomes and also find them on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/morganhomes
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.
Today’s Best of Tour was chosen due to its awe factor of being what I would consider my dream home. Imagine living lakeside in a mountain retreat but really just minutes from downtown Redwood City with its nightlife and great restaurants, not to mention the “Weather Best by Government Test” slogan the city boasts.
But get your wallet out as this amazing five bedroom five and one-half 4,250 square foot home will set you back a cool $4,498,000 if there are no multiple offers…
Drew & Christine Morgan are REALTORS/NOTARY PUBLIC in Belmont, CA. with more than 20 years experience in helping sellers and buyers in their community. They may be reached at (650) 508.1441 or emailed at info@morganhomes.com.
You can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Morganhomes and also find them on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/morganhomes
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.
We see a lot of homes on tour but this home stood out as our best of tour because of its outdoor recreational areas for all ages and the indoor entertaining space for large gatherings.
This stunning 6 bedroom, 5 bath Tudor style home is in the sought-after Emerald Hills location. This rare opportunity affords one a large, level lot with a rural feel, yet it remains close to 280, downtown Redwood City and San Carlos. This ideal floor plan offers plenty of room for large gatherings and entertaining, with a master en suite and 3 additional bedrooms upstairs, 2 bedrooms downstairs, including extra-large bedroom suitable for in-laws/au pair. A “Great Room style family room with custom entertainment center and wet bar is open to the remodeled kitchen. Enjoy resort-like living with pool, fire pit and outdoor kitchen including a recessed outdoor flat panel TV for the sports enthusiast in your household.
Welcome to 2009 and our weekly review of homes for sale in Belmont. This year we’ve been slow to get out of the gate with new listings. The inventory of homes for sale in Belmont is currently at 31 but that includes 29 carried over from December which didn’t sell. To give an idea how out of whack that is the average days on market (including the two new listings in January) is at 125! With the average home selling in Belmont in 2008 in 44 days these stale listings are going to need some serious price reductions in order to sell in 2009.
So we begin the year with over three months of inventory which is the same as last year but double what it has been averaging during an active market year.
Here are the only two new listings so far in 2008:
NEW LISTINGS
2408 Palmer Ave. 3 Bed 1 Bath 1200 Sq. Ft. home on a 5,200 Sq. Ft. lot LISTED for $749,950. This home is a little tired but with a little fresh paint and some cosmetic work it could be a fine home in a great neighborhood—just around the corner form Cipriani Elementary school and the dog park. The downside is the one car garage buy at this price it rivals homes listed on the east side near 101. We give this a BEST DEAL of the week and not just because we don't have much to choose from. Listed By Sandy Paoli, RE/MAX Today. OPEN SUNDAY 1/11 1:30-4:00
2662 Belmont Canyon Road– 4 Beds 3 bath 2205 Sq. Ft. home on a 14,375 Sq. Ft. lot LISTED for $ 1,013,000. If this address sounds vaguely familiar it should. It was listed last year in April for $1,188,888. It received an offer when listed at that price in July but soon fell out of escrow (no we do not know why). It was lowered to $1,035,000 but never sold. It’s a nice home, though it resides on a rather steep hillside which could turn off people with small children. Listed By Christina J. Galletti, Alain Pinel Realtors. NO OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION AVAILABLE.
SOLD HOMES
As you might expect it’s too early in the new year to have many homes close escrow, and most buyers like to close at the end of the year for tax purposes, but this home slipped into 2009.
↑3407 Lower Lock—3 bed 2 bath 1,550 Sq. Ft. home on a 5,500 Sq. Ft. lot LISTED for $ 899,888 SOLD for $905,000. So the first sale of the new year went over asking. Nice.
Belmont’s housing picture settled down a bit as homeowners who had stalled temporarily in the wake of October’s housing news began to list their homes for sale for a pre-winter push.
→NEW Click on the play button to hear a brief market overview.
There are 53 homes for sale in Belmont, down from 57 in the last several weeks.
Five new listings have recently hit the market, three have been re-listed and there were three that closed escrow as well.
ACTIVE HOMES
1943 Hillman—4 Bed 3.5 Bath 2,969 Sq. Ft. home on a steep up slope 8,500 Sq. Ft. lot. LISTED for $1,195,000. OK, the lot is steep and if you don’t mind stairs you’ll actually find a level rear yard area out back. Nicely appointed home with remodeled kitchen. Listed By Val Shevelyov, Quest Real EstateOPEN HOUSE INFO NOT AVAILABLE.
528 Davey Glen—4 Bed 2.5 Bath 2,190 Sq. Ft home on a 7,350 Sq. Ft. lot LISTED for $1,139,000. Davey Glen is a busy street with mixed use (i.e. Condos, homes, businesses).Note—this home last sold in 1997 for $479,500. And who says Peninsula Real Estate is a bad investment. Listed By Bryce Cook, RE/MAX TodayOPEN SUNDAY 11/23 1:00-4:00
1902 Miller Ave.—3 Bed 2.5 Bath 2,030 Sq. Ft. home on a 9,800 Sq. Ft. lot LISTED for $999,999. This home has a nice setting and is reminiscent of the Brady Bunch home of the 1970’s—though it has been updated. Listed By Wendy Grainger, Wendy P. Grainger, BrokerOPEN SUNDAY 11/23 1:00-4:00.
3402 Lower Lock—3 Bed 2 Bath home on a 5,500 Sq. Ft. lot LISTED for $899,888. This home shows impeccably and has a very nice secluded rear level yard. Listed By Debbie Wilhelm, Coldwell BankerOPEN SUNDAY 11/23 from 1:40-4:30.
1941 Alden Street—3 Bed 1 Bath 1,330 Sq. Ft. home on a 5,500 Sq. Ft. lot LISTED for $ 865,000. Nice updated ranch home and it shows rather well. Elevated in the rear—level; yard below. The street is moderately busy. Listed by Debbie Sharp, Alain Pinel RealtorsOPEN SUNDAY 11:23 1:00-4:00 and again on 11/30 (same times).
1021 Elmer Street (no photos)—3 Bed 2 Bath 1,250 Sq. Ft. home on a level 5,000 Sq. Ft. lot in Sterling Downs (AKA east side of El Camino). LISTED for $689,000. This is a pre-foreclosure sale bargain hunters start your engines… Listed by Cameron Thompson, Alain Pinel RealtorsOPEN SUNDAY 11/23 2:00-4:00 and again on 11/30.
RE-LISTED HOMES
2007 Monroe Ave. 2 Bed 1 Bath 930 SQ. Ft. home on a 4,000 Sq. Ft. lot. RE-LISTED for $655,000 with no price reduction. This home has potential. Don’t let the 930 Sq. Ft. scare you away—it has a bonus room below which adds another 250 Sq. Ft. probably. Listed By Peter Vece, Dumas & Company
1909 Lyon Ave. 3 Bed 2.5 Bath 1,629 Sq. Ft. home on a 5,150 Sq. Ft. lot LISTED for $865,000 down from $869,888. The real price reduction was from $912,000 back in August. This home is now a very good deal and someone should jump on it. Nicely appointed and very clean. It has a level rear yard on a ½ level down access. Listed By Celeste L. Pagan, Carlmont AssociatesNO OPEN HOUSES LISTED.
2422 Hastings Dr. 3 Bed 2.5 Bath 2,250 Sq. Ft. home and a 4.032 Sq. Ft. lot RE-LISTED for $1,108,000 (same as before).These homes are along Hasting Drive and they are usually attached, though some are technically detached. This one has a canyon view and it’s an end home on the block so it has a neighbor on only one side and great canyon views out the other two (the front has a street view). It started at $1,038,000 back in August 2008 and was lowered to $1,018,000. It didn’t sell and a new agent listed the home at the same price. Listed By Jun Kyu Chung, East West Realty
SOLD HOMES
↑1500 Escondido Way—4 Bed 2.5 Bath 2,080 Sq. Ft. home on a 17,120 Sq Ft. Lot LISTED for $1,250,000 SOLD for $1,375,000 in 12 Days. This home was unique in that it has a huge level lot and is located near downtown on one of Belmont’s premiere secluded cul-de-sac streets. The only negative to this home was it backed up to Ralston Ave. and Chula Vista so it does get some street noise. Other than that, it’s a one-of-a-kind home and worth every penny they paid over for the home.
↓1314 Paloma—3 Bed 3 Bath 2,390 Sq. Ft. home on a 4,320 Sq. Ft. lot. LISTED for $995,000 originally. It was lowered to $925,000 after three weeks and two weeks later it received a contract and SOLD for $900,000.
It’s interesting to note that the two homes above were both remodeled yet the smaller one received $425,000 more. One can never underestimate the allure of a park-like level rear yard. It’s also interesting to note that appraisers typically will allow only $5.50 per square foot credit for land. At that rate Escondido should have only received $970,000 rather than the $1,375,000 it did. Clearly appraisers are way off on estimating the value of usable land vs. just land (i.e. a sloping lot).
↓809 North Road—3 Bed 1.5 Bath home LISTED for $629,900 SOLD for $607,402 in Nine days. This was a great starter home on the west side of El Camino.
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.
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This is not intended to be a representation of homes listed or sold exclusively by Drew or Christine Morgan or Carlmont Associates.
With no new listings for two weeks in a row, it’s nice to see a little activity before the winter market slows to a snail’s pace.
There was no agent "Tuesday tour" this week due the Veteran’s Day holiday so most of these homes we’ll not view in person until next Tuesday; and I won't be updating the week's activity until a week from Saturday–the normal day for my Belmont Update post.
Belmont has 53 homes currently for sale which is higher than normal for this time of year but with no new listings for two weeks in a row and four sales last week inventory should start to wind down.
Five new listings popped up recently and here they are:
3817 Naughton-4 Beds 3.5 bath 2,103 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $1,550,000
Naughton is a nice street and this home shows beautifully. This is a great home for people who do not need a large level yard but want nice views–though it does have a level yard area out back. Also, if you are adverse to climbing stairs this home is not for you. OPEN SAT 11/15 1:00-4:00 & SUN 11/16 1:00-4:00 Listed By Bob Bredel, RE/MAX Today
2856 San Juan—3 Beds 2 Bath 1,540 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $1,088,000
Situated on a relatively busy section of San Juan, but on a very large 16,670 Sq. Ft. lot. Though a lot of that is sloped up in the rear so it’s not really usable. The home has been upgraded very nicely. Still, it seems priced a tad bit on the high side. Listed By Richard Beale, Beale Properties NO OPEN HOUSE LISTED.
2614 Read.—4 Beds 4+ Bath 2,800 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $1,000,000. The sad story is this is a short sale. It was purchased back in July of 2006 for $1,233,000 and they put a lot of work into it since. This is one of those Belmont homes with a bungee line to the rear yard. Listed By Bryan H. Yoshida, Provida Mortgage & Realty, Inc NO OPEN HOUSES LISTED.
1308 Academy—3 Beds 2.5 Bath 3,400 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for 998,000
I did a little reconnaissance on this home since they haven't posted any pictures or tours on-line. Frankly the home is not ready to be shown just yet but I've included a sneak peak that I took with my own camera.
Listed by Eda Diridon in our office at 3,400 Sq. Ft. on a 9,150 Sq. Ft. lot in the heart of Belmont’s Country Club area this home has a small creek which runs through the rear yard. There’s a nice deck at ground level and some flat yard area. The home has a dramatic setting with soaring windows that look out upon your own miniature park. It needs updating, but this is a good deal for the size home. NO OPEN HOUSES LISTED YET.
1905 Lyon—3 Beds 2 Bath 1,350 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $739,000.
What’s up with Lyon this year? There have been about five homes for sale this year alone. Too new to tour also but it looks to be a home that needs some updating. Listed By Kristin F. Leishman, Patriot Properties OPEN SUN 11/16 1:00-4:000
RE-LISTS
15 Kitte Lane—4 Beds 3 Bath 1,900 Sq. Ft. home on a 9,000 Sq. Ft. lot for $900,000. If this home seems familiar it should. It was listed back in April of 2006 for $1,355,000. It’s now a short sale approved at $900,000. So what’s the catch? It has a small landslide problem in the rear yard where it needs a retaining wall to prevent the creek from eroding the lot. Sounds horrible but it’s a simple engineering feat to the tune of $150,000 probably (my estimate). Other than that, it’s a great location and nice home. Listed By Marcin Pendzialek, House of Homes Realty & Mortgage
NO OPEN HOUSES LISTED
1218 North Road—3 Beds 2 Bath 1,543 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $825,000. This too should sound familiar but are you ready for this…back in August of 2007 it was listed for $1,250,000. No prices have not dropped that far they just overpriced it by a long shot. It’s a real cliff clinger home and a driveway that would give any normal driver cause for alarm. Nice views though and the price is in-line now for this completely rebuilt home. Listed By Michael Robles, Coldwell Banker-Burlingame OPEN SUN 11/16 2:00-4:00
SALES
↑2308 Casa Bona (pictured)-3 Beds 2 bath 1,570 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $899,000 SOLD for $925,000 in 4 days. This was a nicely remodeled home and priced to sell as you can see by the multiple offers.
↓3215 Upper Lock—3 Beds 2 bath 1,500 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $849,988 SOLD for $792,000 in 42 days. Why did this home sell for so much less than Casa Bona (above) being that they are virtually the same size? A) Casa Bona was totally remodeled and this home was all original—and it lacked the views.
↓809 North Road—3 Beds 1.5 Bath 1,160 Sq. Ft. home LISTED for $629,900 and SOLD for $607,402 in 9 days. Nice clean starter home in a trailer park atmosphere neighborhood—hence the good price.
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.
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This is not intended to be a representation of homes listed or sold exclusively by Drew or Christine Morgan or Carlmont Associates.
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 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
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
↓ 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.
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.
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.
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
↑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.
