The Forbidden Fruit is Thy Neighbor’s Tree

Do you have a neighbor that’s a nuisance? Many do, yet they may be unaware. We’re talking about nuisance trees. Say your neighbor’s tree has limbs over your fence, or the neighboring tree’s roots are damaging your driveway. What can you do about it?

The good news is you do have rights—but they’re limited. You can’t just walk on over to your neighbor’s property and start cutting the offending tree down, or roots back, as that could be trespassing. But California Civil Code 3346 does consider the encroachment of branches or roots onto your property to be a nuisance. You are allowed to trim the tree or roots from a neighboring property that are encroaching onto your land so long as that tree is not destroyed or permanently damaged. If your actions destroy your neighbors’ tree, or even cause substantial damage so that the tree’s value is impacted, you can be held liable for treble damages (three times the actual amount).

picking an Apple Tree

What about the fruit from your neighbor’s tree? This time of year your neighbor’s tree could be bursting with peaches, pears, lemons, and limes—almost falling off of the trees. Almost, being the operative word. If your neighbor has a fruit tree that overhangs your property, the fruit on the tree belongs to that of your neighbor, even if it’s on your side of the fence. Any fruit that has fallen from your neighbor’s tree onto your property is considered the fruits of your labor for picking them up. In other words, they’re all yours.

Case Law regarding trees.

The information contained in this article is educational and intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute real estate, tax, insurance, or legal advice, nor does it substitute for advice specific to your situation. Always consult an appropriate professional familiar with your scenario.

Drew & Christine Morgan are REALTORS/NOTARY PUBLIC in Belmont, CA. with more than 25 years of experience in helping sellers and buyers in their community. As Diamond recipients, Drew and Christine are ranked in the top 50 RE/MAX agents nationwide and the top 3 in Northern California.  They may be reached at (650) 508.1441 or emailed at info@morganhomes.com.

For all you need to know about Belmont, subscribe to this blog right here. You can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Morganhomes and on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/morganhomes

Critical Steps to Financial Planning

Financial planning is an integral part of any successful portfolio.

We don’t pretend to offer financial advice, but we do offer real estate advice and the two often overlap.

For example, every two years a married homeowner filing joint tax returns can sell their primary residence and enjoy the first $500,000 of capital gains tax free. We’d be remise if we didn’t remind those to whom we’ve sold homes about this option to keep more of their equity in their own pocket.

Of course, we realize that most people don’t move every two years just to save on capital gains. 

First, homes don’t appreciate that much in two years to realize the savings, and people get entrenched in their neighborhood, while others just love their house and have no plans to move, but failing to plan ahead, could cost one hundreds of thousands of dollars.

When Might One Consider this Option?

If you have lived in your home in the Bay Area for more than five years you’ve probably already surpassed the $500,000 capital gains abatement threshold. 

Are you outgrowing your home? With interest rates are still at historically low levels, now might be an ideal time to consider a move up into the space you need.

If you’re retired or near retirement and would like to downsize, selling your home while the market is at record highs might be the time to employ that exit strategy you’ve been considering.  Afterall, when the last market correction occurred it took 7 years for the median home price to return to the previous high. Seven years is a long time to postpone retirement just to wait for home prices to rebound to current levels.

Worried about higher property taxes on a larger home? The recently passed Proposition 19 in California just might help mitigate the hit of higher property taxes with the ability to carry your existing low tax base to your replacement property and pay only a small increase if buying a more expensive home. 

If you’re downsizing, you can carry your existing tax base without adjustment.

We’re here to help answer any of your questions on how to make a move possible if you choose to do so.

If you have questions about tax implications or estate planning please seek advice from your attorney, CPA or other professional.

Drew & Christine Morgan are REALTORS/NOTARY PUBLIC in Belmont, CA. with more than 25 years of experience in helping sellers and buyers in their community. As Diamond recipients, Drew and Christine are ranked in the top 50 RE/MAX agents nationwide and the top 3 in Northern California.  They may be reached at (650) 508.1441 or emailed at info@morganhomes.com.

For all you need to know about Belmont, subscribe to this blog right here. You can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Morganhomes and 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, insurance or legal advice, nor does it substitute for advice specific to your situation. Always consult an appropriate professional familiar with your scenario.

Why Must we Barbecue on the 4th of July?

Finally, we can get back to the American tradition of having friends and family over for a BBQ—and what better day to do it than on the 4th of July.
Traditionally we celebrate our nations’ independence from Great Brittan on this day, and this year we add to that our independence from isolation during the pandemic.
You may already have decided what you will be cooking for your celebration, but do you know why we carry on the tradition of cookouts on the 4th?

The theme originated when politicians would hold rallies on the 4th of July (which was not yet a national holiday) to commemorate our nation’s independence and have a captive audience. To feed the throngs of people they resorted to barbeque—whole hogs in particular.
The move from barbecue rallies on the fourth to backyard cookouts probably had less to do with people not wishing to endure the preaching of politicians, than it was simply more people were choosing to live in the suburbs after WWII.


GRILLING VS. BBQ—What’s the difference?

Barbeque cooking is typically cooking meat low and slow over indirect heat whether over an open pit or in a covered box where wood is used to create smoke for flavoring and preservation.
Grilling is typically done using direct heat in a gas grill or open style kettle grill using charcoal wherein the food is cooked more rapidly.

Trivia for your get-together:

DID YOU KNOW…
It wasn’t until 1941 that Congress declared Independence Day to be a paid federal holiday.
5% of all US beer consumption takes place on the 44th of July.
The name barbeque came from the Arawak tribe of the Caribbean and South America who used sticks to create a flame over a fire and place the meat on it. They called this method of cooking “Barbacoa”. The Spaniards eventually brought this form of cooking to the southern states where it took on the name Barbeque.
Kingsford charcoal was invented by Edward G. Kingsford who helped Henry Ford—yes, the car manufacturer—procure a stretch of timberland to supply wood for his auto plants. The burnt wood was repurposed as it is today into briquets for grilling.

Happy Independence Day, and thanks for reading along.

Drew & Christine Morgan are REALTORS/NOTARY PUBLIC in Belmont, CA. with more than 25 years of experience in helping sellers and buyers in their community. As Diamond recipients, Drew and Christine are ranked in the top 50 RE/MAX agents nationwide and the top 3 in Northern California.  They may be reached at (650) 508.1441 or emailed at info@morganhomes.com.

For all you need to know about Belmont, subscribe to this blog right here. You can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Morganhomes and 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, insurance or legal advice, nor does it substitute for advice specific to your situation. Always consult an appropriate professional familiar with your scenario.

Housing Market’s Unbearable Heat

The Bay Area housing market is as hot as it’s ever been for sellers, but the real heat is on buyers to get a home as throngs enter the market. It’s no longer race to get a home, it’s a marathon.

Frustrated buyers are using low interest rates which have empowered them to bid higher in multiple offer situations. The result, prices are rapidly rising.

Take San Mateo County for example. We compared May of 2020 to this year and across the board, the numbers show high demand and higher prices.

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Reports of low inventory creating the feverish market are simply misreported. Low inventory implies there are no homes for sale, but looking at the numbers, one can easily see that the number of New Listings are up 14.2% over last year, while inventory of available homes to purchase is down 36%. There are scant homes to choose between, because more homes are selling and faster than before, not because fewer homes are coming to market.

The Months of Inventory in the last column says it all. Months of inventory represents the time it would take to sell the current inventory of homes at the current sales pace. That’s down from 2.4 months of inventory last year to less than one month of inventory in 2021 (the national average is typically six months of inventory).

The YOY median home sale price increase of a staggering 26% YOY illustrates the effect of demand outstripping supply, as buyers outbid one another to secure a home before interest rates rise, and their buying power is reduced, or their mortgage payment goes up.

In our town of Belmont, we see a similar pattern, but since it’s a smaller sample size, some of the numbers are more pronounced. 

Take the number of new listings for sale—up 53% over 2020, yet the available homes to sell are down 35%. This is clearly due to the 122% increase in closed sales.

It’s understandable to question why then did the median home prices rise half of what they did in the overall San Mateo County stats? Simply put, Belmont started with a higher median home price, and has less elasticity in the price threshold to increase at the same rate as less expensive areas included in the San Mateo County Statistics.

What could cool this superheated housing climate? Any number of things, but higher interest rates could be the first to show on the horizon.

Drew & Christine Morgan are REALTORS/NOTARY PUBLIC in Belmont, CA. with more than 25 years of experience in helping sellers and buyers in their community. As Diamond recipients, Drew and Christine are ranked in the top 50 RE/MAX agents nationwide and the top 3 in Northern California.  They may be reached at (650) 508.1441 or emailed at info@morganhomes.com.

For all you need to know about Belmont, subscribe to this blog right here. You can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Morganhomes and 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, insurance or legal advice, nor does it substitute for advice specific to your situation. Always consult an appropriate professional familiar with your scenario.

2581 Hallmark Drive – JUST LISTED!

Four walls and a roof over your head isn’t the only way we define the word ‘home.’ Home is more than just a shelter, it’s where we love, it’s where we feel, it’s where we can be ourselves and it’s where life happens—this home fulfills all of those dreams. We could describe it as chic, luxurious, inviting, and comfortable, but one really must see this home in-person to appreciate the complete experience.

Built by Blackwell, this home is the highly coveted single-level “Carlmont” model in prestigious Upper Hallmark. It has been lovingly enhanced, remodeled, and remade in a contemporary style best described as “living at the same time; belonging to the same time”. The result? Gracious, streamlined spaces that radiate harmony.

Step from the slate tiled front porch, inside to the formal entry and step upon rich hardwood flooring that emanates throughout the entire living area. We first come to the large open office and spacious remade great room which includes a custom modern gas fireplace with tiled mantle façade.

Soaring ceilings guide you through the open style formal dining room to a copious entertainment area encompassing a family room with a glass gas fireplace and granite hearth, nearby an expansive gourmet kitchen. 

This remarkable kitchen was redesigned with soaring ceilings and a generous island offering a place for casual meals, conversations or food preparation station. Here we also find a butler’s bar with built-in wine storage, and a smart glass doored pantry. Crisp white cabinetry wakes up one’s senses and are keenly offset by the warm Caesarstone® counters. A welcoming array of high-end stainless appliances including a large LG® refrigeration unit, Viking® combination microwave and convection oven, Dacor® six burner gas stove top with Viking®stainless hood, and Bosch® dishwasher make this kitchen deeply functional while staying true to the sensible flow for guests and home chefs alike.

Down the hallway we uncover three more bedrooms and several more baths—all updated to today’s demanding standards. The owner’s ensuite enjoys its own private place to bathe in luxury with a grand walk-in shower and seamless glass doors. A secluded water closet with Toto commode, dual sinks, while the fine cabinetry even has powered drawers to keep the Caesarstone® counters uncluttered while the adjacent full walk-in closet can accommodate the most extensive wardrobe.

The level rear yard is perfect for entertainment options which features a wood deck with overhead LED illuminated lighting, patio dining area and grass play area. Dine alfresco and enjoy the wooded Hallmark Park backdrop in this delightful rear yard.

Prestigious Belmont Heights, also known as the Hallmark area of Belmont, is an admired and picturesque location. This area is adjacent to over 1,000 acres of open space and trails, with sweeping panoramic views of San Francisco and the Bay. Over the back fence is Hallmark Park which has tennis courts, children’s play area, with views of neighboring Crystal Springs Reservoir and the open space. 

Belmont is ideally located on the Peninsula between San Francisco and the Silicon Valley with SFO International airport just a short drive away. It’s close proximity to major travel arteries—Highway 101, 280 and Caltrain are only a few miles away. For this very reason, many who choose to live here select this strategically ideal location. The Carlmont Village Shopping Center offers a variety of retailers and restaurants including Starbucks, Hassett Ace Hardware, Lunardi’s, Bank of America and Ladera Nursery. Nearby popular gathering spots include, Vivace Ristorante, Iberia Restaurant, Waterdog Tavern and the Farm House Restaurant.

Contact us to find out why more people are moving to the Mid-Peninsula. 650-508-1441

  • Four bedrooms—one currently employed as an office
  • Two and 1/2 updated baths—shower over tub
  • Owners ensuite—hardwood flooring, Toto® commode, walk-in closet with built-in organizers, recessed lighting and soaring ceilings.
  • Updated island kitchen with newer sleek appliances including L.G Refrigerator and Bosch® dishwasher, Dacor® six burner gas stove, Viking® stainless hood and oven including microwave and convection oven.
  • Large open communal kitchen and family room—granite façade glass rock gas fireplace
  • Large great room with soaring ceilings, recessed lighting—full wall tiled gas fireplace
  • Approximate sq. ft. ~2,210 sq. ft. home
  • Substantial ~7,800 sq. ft. lot
  • Built in 1974—updated by current owner
  • Rich engineered hardwood flooring
  • Multiple outdoor dining and entertainment deck areas—level rear grass yard area
  • Newer heating and air conditioning—NEST® controls
  • Solar panels (owned) with German Sonnen® battery storage system
  • New electrical panels and wiring
  • Rachio® smart watering system
  • Ring® security cameras
  • Three-car attached garage—completely finished space
  • RV or boat parking with power and dump station
  • Award winning Belmont schools
  • Conveniently close to San Francisco International Airport, Half Moon Bay and Coastal towns, major commute arteries, nearby parks and plenty of excellent shopping and dining options

Reports available to qualified parties

Click here for a 3D tour of this fantastic home!

HOMES SALES TANK DURING SHELTER IN PLACE

When Critical Thinking Skills Vanish

We’re not sure what housing market the National Association of Realtors are referring to, but their headlines continue the “glass is half full” mentality which only serves to mislead the public in an effort to bolster their own organization—one which I might add, we are forced to be a part of, for better or for worse.

Take these headlines ripped from the email blasts by NAR just today…

This first one is a classic example. Sight unseen offers are growing from what? From when before the shelter in place order when no buyer in their right mind would buy a home sight unseen?

Then there’s this glass half full headline. All this tells me is that 75% of buyers do NOT accept the virtual buying scenario. And it’s not as if buyers really have a choice right now, so 25% took a leap of faith and dove in to the pool of house hunting no matter what is happening in the world.

What we do not know for certain yet, but soon will find out, is that these buyers are probably taking advantage of desperate sellers, and getting deep discounts on home prices. We’ve been hearing anecdotal stories from our colleagues of prices renegotiated downward immediately following the COVID outbreak.

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And lastly, the electronic signature platform Docusign’s CEO pronouncing that they have yet to see a slowdown. Wonder why? Since sales have dropped in San Mateo county by 78% this year compared to last year during the same period, from when the shelter in place order was initiated until today (one month).

Perhaps it’s because today, that is the ONLY way one can sign a contract, when before it was optional?

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Here are the facts. In San Mateo County during the period from March 17th until April 17th of this year, during the COVIT 19 shelter in place order, when it became illegal to show an occupied home, sales of single-family homes have dropped 78% over the same period in 2019.

The amount a seller has received from the few sales that have already closed, indicates that sellers are receiving on average 100% of their asking price. Not bad, all things considered, yet that’s a 5% downswing over the same period last year.

Truth be told, it’s too early to measure the damage that the mishandling of the COVID 19 outbreak will inflict upon the housing industry, or the economic health of the U.S. as a whole. 

We seem to be getting enough mixed messages from our leaders, and we would hope that the REALTOR trade organizations wouldn’t fall into the same trap, as if our fragile sanity relied upon drinking Kool-Aid from a glass always half full. 

Drew & Christine Morgan are REALTORS/NOTARY PUBLIC in Belmont, CA. with more than 25 years of experience in helping sellers and buyers in their community. As Diamond recipients, Drew and Christine are ranked in the top 50 RE/MAX agents nationwide and the top 3 in Northern California.  They may be reached at (650) 508.1441 or emailed at info@morganhomes.com.

For all you need to know about Belmont, subscribe to this blog right here. You can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Morganhomes and 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, insurance or legal advice, nor does it substitute for advice specific to your situation. Always consult an appropriate professional familiar with your scenario.

California to Offer $3,000 Subsidy for Earthquake Retrofitting

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re living near a major earthquake fault. Now if you’re unsure if you live near an active fault, this web site . Temblor, co-founded by Ross Stein from the USGS, is very useful for determining the proximity to, and estimating the damage from, an earthquake near your home.

We don’t have to go into graphic details about what could happen to your home and those who may reside within in the event of a significant earthquake, but here’s a good image from the California Earthquake Authority as to what damage can be done to homes with older unbraced foundations.

Sure one can purchase earthquake insurance, but that only helps to rebuild after the devastation of an earthquake has occurred. What earthquake retrofitting is designed for is to help prevent damage to your home, property or lives during or after an earthquake.

We did a blog post not long ago about the benefits of an automatic gas shut off valve. This article has to do with the program California is offering of up to $3,000 of a subsidy towards retrofitting your home’s foundation to help withstand an earthquake under a program entitled Earthquake Brace and Bolt, or EBB.

Limitations apply, for example Belmont didn’t even make the cut this year for retrofits, while San Carlos, Foster City, San Mateo and Redwood City along with a whole host of other cities nearby did. This is a link to a complete list of towns covered by the program this year. 

Additionally, this is not for homes with a slab foundation, or homes built after 1979, and there are other restrictions such as the height of your home’s cripple wall, so follow this link to get some more details from their short video.

The window for registration is open now and closes fast:

2019 EBB Program ZIP Codes – Registration Period will Open October 9 – November 13, 2018

Drew & Christine Morgan are REALTORS/NOTARY PUBLIC in Belmont, CA. with more than 20 years of experience in helping sellers and buyers in their community. As Diamond recipients, Drew and Christine are ranked in the top 50 RE/MAX agents nationwide and the top 3 in Northern California.  They may be reached at (650) 508.1441 or emailed at info@morganhomes.com.

For all you need to know about Belmont, subscribe to this blog right here. You can also follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Morganhomes and 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