There seems to be fewer places to buy Christmas trees in San Mateo than when I was a kid. Maybe its because I’m not paying as much attention to Christmas trees as I did when I was 10, or maybe there really are fewer places. In any case, if you’re looking for a place to buy a Christmas tree in San Mateo, here are a few places I’ve found.

Where to Buy Christmas Trees in San Mateo

Home Depot

2001 Chess Drive, San Mateo
Xmas trees from $20-$50

Rite Aid

666 Concar Drive, San Mateo
There are two tree lots in this parking lot

Best Christmas Trees are in Half Moon Bay

When I was a kid we use to love going to Half Moon Bay with my parents and godparents the day after Thanksgiving, getting on a bumpy hayride that dropped you off in the middle of a forest, picking our tree and watching my dad and godfather cut it down. Then they would have to drag it back to the hayride, throw it on the truck then get it off the truck, tie it to the car and drive over 92. To this day I’m not really sure why they did this for so many years as I know now how miserable this experience must have been for them. But, my sister and I loved it so maybe that’s why.

My point in telling you this long story is if you have kids, going to a tree farm in Half Moon Bay is a must do. Here are a few that allow you to cut your own tree down.

Santa’s Tree Farm

78 Pilarcitos Creek Road, Half Moon Bay
www.SantasTreeFarm.com

Lemos Tree Farm

12320 San Mateo Road (Highway 92), Half Moon Bay
www.LemosFarm.com

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Best San Mateo Neighborhoods for Christmas Lights with Map
  
• Redwood Shores Homes Decorated for Christmas
  
• BBest Belmont Neighborhoods Decorated for Christmas with Map
  
• Best Redwood City Neighborhoods to Tour Christmas Lights with Route Map
  

Enjoyed this Post? Why Not Subscribe?

If you have enjoyed Living Well in San Mateo – san mateo real estate, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.

Most Walkable San Mateo Neighborhoods

The most walkable San Mateo neighborhoods are going to be found near the revitalized Downtown area, which is between 2nd and 5th Street from about B Street to El Camino and near the new Bay Meadows Development.

Specific Neighborhoods Near Downtown San Mateo

The closest to Downtown San Mateo are Hayward Park and the Eastern Addition neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are a stones throw from restaurants, movie theater, shopping and other Downtown amenities.

If you want to get a bit farther away, you can cross El Camino to the San Mateo Park, Aragon and Baywood neighborhoods. The homes closest to El Camino would be considered the most walkable homes in these neighborhoods. However, with mostly flat terrain, a greater percentage of each of these neighborhoods are easily accessible to the Downtown area.

Specific Neighborhoods Near Bay Meadows

Near Bay Meadows, you’ll have the Bay Meadows neighborhood, Fiesta Gardens neighborhood and San Mateo Village neighborhood that will provide a great deal of walkability. The homes closest to Hillsdale Blvd in San Mateo Village and the townhomes located in Bay Meadows will be closest to shopping, restaurants and transportation. Fiesta Gardens is a bit longer of a walk, but still manageable with the flat terrain.

Curious About a Specific Address?

We’ve included the Walkscore for City Gardens Townhomes at 128 N El Camino, San Mateo in the Walkscore tile below. If you’re curious about a specific address, enter it into the box below.

Want to Learn More About these Neighborhoods?

Visit our San Mateo Neighborhood Guide for detailed descriptions of each of these neighborhoods.

Considering a Move to San Mateo?

Call us at (650) 655-2500 or email us at info@LivingWellinSanMateo.com to schedule a no obligation consultation. We’ll help you come up with a game plan to buy San Mateo real estate.

Search Walkable San Mateo Homes

Search Walkable San Mateo Condos

Enjoyed this Post? Why Not Subscribe?

If you have enjoyed Living Well in San Mateo – san mateo real estate, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.

If you have bought a home in San Mateo County in the last several years, you may be eligible for a reduction in your property taxes. Upon request, the tax assessor will reassess the tax value of your home. By following a few rules, you may save yourself some money.

How to Lower Your San Mateo County Property Taxes – Thank Prop 8

In 1978, California voters passed Proposition 8, which allows for a temporary tax reduction when a home’s market value on Jan. 1 is less than the prior year’s assessed value.

Let’s say you bought a house in 2006 for $500,000. In January 2008, it should be assessed at $510,000, allowing for the 2 percent inflation adjustment which the law permits.

But suppose comparable homes in your neighborhood are now going for $400,000. You might qualify for a $100,000 reduction in assessed value, which would save you about $1,000 on your tax bill. Here is how to apply…

How to Apply

The first step is an informal review. Homeowners who think the value of their home Jan. 1 is less than the assessed value can request an informal review from their county assessor. The tax assessor, using sales data as of Jan. 1 for comparable homes in the neighborhood, will determine whether a temporary reduction is warranted. Homeowners can request an informal review by filling out this form.

If homeowner and assessor cannot agree on a value through this informal process, the homeowner can file a formal appeal with the county’s assessment appeals board. The appeal must be filed by Sept. 15 or Nov. 30, depending on the county, and might require a fee. The homeowner who disagrees with the tax assessor’s determination may submit his or her case to the appeals board, which has the final authority on the property’s value.

Property Tax Reduction is Only Temporary

You should be aware that the Proposition 8 reduction is only temporary. After you are granted a reduction, the assessor will automatically review your home’s market value as of Jan. 1 each year and may adjust the assessed value; however, the assessed value cannot go higher than it would have been had you never received the temporary reduction.

For more information, visit the San Mateo County CARE website or email the San Mateo County Tax Assessor at assessor@smcare.org to request a “Decline in Value” Reassessment Application Form.

Enjoyed this Post? Why Not Subscribe?

If you have enjoyed Living Well in San Mateo – san mateo real estate, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.

San Mateo’s Central Park

Central Park in San Mateo has something for everyone. Picnic grounds, playground, train, baseball/softball field, Japanese Tea Garden, Arboretum Society and tennis courts are just some of the amenities you’ll find.

Where is Central Park?

Central Park is bordered by 5th Ave and 9th Ave and Laurel Ave and El Camino Real in San Mateo, CA.

View Central Park San Mateo CA in a larger map

Central Park has several playgrounds with all sorts of equipment. Slides, monkey bars, play structures and plenty of space for the kids to run around. There are also plenty of benches and open space for parents and, of course, dogs.

On the weekends, kids can ride a train for $1.50 per ride and get a snow cone. Obviously during the week the park is much less busy than on weekends, but there is still enough to do for everyone to stay pretty spread out.

Parties and Picnics?

There are several picnic tables and BBQ pits at the San Mateo Rotary Picnic Grove located just inside the gates on the El Camino Real and 9th Ave side. On the weekends these tables do fill up fast so get there early to make sure you get a table.

San Mateo Japanese Tea Garden

A unique addition to San Mateo’s Central Park is the Japanese Tea Garden, which is open from 10am – 4pm on weekdays and 11am – 4pm on weekends. There are beautiful plants, and most importantly for kids, large fish in the pond that they like to watch.

Check out my slide show of what you can expect to see at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Mateo’s Central Park.

Tennis Courts

Public tennis courts are located on the 5th Ave side of the Park.

Baseball/Softball Field

A full baseball/softball field is located on the 5th Ave side of the park. Adult night softball leagues and kids’ little league teams play in this park, which has grandstands for people to watch.

Getting Hungry?

If you get hungry while you’re at the park, you can head over to the snack bar, which is right outside the baseball field. You can also go right across the street to Downtown San Mateo where you’ll find restaurants, coffee and sandwich shops.

Take a Tour of San Mateo’s Central Park

Check out my slide show of San Mateo’s Central Park. You can also check out our Central Park Photo Gallery on Facebook. Have a picture you’d like to add? Upload it on our Living Well in San Mateo Facebook page.

Have Something You’d Like to Add About Central Park?

Leave us a comment here, or head over to our Living Well in San Mateo Facebook page and add it there! We’d love to hear what you think of Central Park.

Search Downtown San Mateo Homes

Enjoyed this Post? Why Not Subscribe?

If you have enjoyed Living Well in San Mateo – san mateo real estate, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.

Check out our San Mateo Neighborhood Guide

We’ve been working hard over here at LivingWellinSanMateo.com to come up with a neighborhood guide for the City of San Mateo. Each San Mateo neighborhood has its own unique flavor and history. We’ve compiled all of the information in one easy to access place.

San Mateo is Home to Some of San Mateo County’s Most and Least Expensive Housing

If you’ve been doing any home searching, you’ve found that San Mateo is home to some of San Mateo County’s most and least expensive homes. You can use our San Mateo Neighborhood Guide to narrow down your search based on price range, school information, recreational activities and walkability.

What Are You Looking for in a San Mateo Neighborhood?

Whether you prefer a walkable neighborhood close to restaurants, shops, libraries and parks, or you’d prefer a more neighborhoody feel, you can learn which San Mateo neighborhood meets your needs.

Head over to our San Mateo Neighborhood Guide and check it out!

Enjoyed this Post? Why Not Subscribe?

If you have enjoyed Living Well in San Mateo – san mateo real estate, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.

Low Interest Financing Environmental Improvements Solar Panels San Mateo Homes

San Mateo County joins 14 other counties in approving a pilot program to allow San Mateo County home owners to get low interest funding for environmental improvement projects on their homes.

Costs of Environmental Improvements Stopped You from Improving your Home?

Many San Mateo home owners want to make environmental improvements to their home but are stopped by the upfront cost involved. Cash out refinances were once the only way to get financing to make environmental improvements on your home, which are expensive and you incur all of the costs of the improvements you make while future owners will only reap the benefits.

Enter the California FIRST Program

Under the California FIRST Program, San Mateo home owners can take advantage of the municipal bond market to fund the installation of environmental improvements. These bonds come with low interest rates and repayment is scheduled over 20 years in a special assessment paid with your property taxes. With a special assessment, if you sell your home, the assessment stays with the home and is acquired by the future homeowner.

Environmental Improvements Included in Program

The following environmental improvements qualify for low interest municipal bond financing

• Solar panels
  
• Low energy lights
  
• Water saving systems
  

Consider this Before You Use the California FIRST Program

Remember, when it comes time to sell your home, you will be in competition with all of the other homes on the market. Buyers will consider the extra special assessment and evaluate the improvements you’ve made versus the cost of the special assessment. If the potential buyer does not feel the environmental improvements are worth the extra special assessment , they will find another home. I’m not saying don’t take advantage of this program….I’m just saying consider all sides of the decision before you go forward.

Want More Information About the Program?

For more information about the California FIRST Program, you can contact Sandra Council at 650-522-7223 or via email at scouncil@cityofsanmateo.org.

Search San Mateo Homes for Sale

Enjoyed this Post? Why Not Subscribe?

If you have enjoyed Living Well in San Mateo – san mateo real estate, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.

The City of San Mateo has a great new program to assist single family homeowners in San Mateo Village in repairing deteriorated sewer laterals.

Why San Mateo Village?

The City of San Mateo was recently fined $750,000 from Regional Water Quality Control for sewage run off problems. Regional Water Quality Control gave San Mateo a choice…pay the fine, or apply the money towards fixing the sewer problems so they don’t continue to happen. San Mateo chose to apply it towards fixing the sewer problems.

Why Only San Mateo Village Homes?

According to David Lim, San Mateo City Council Member who came to speak to us, he said this program was being tested first in San Mateo Village to gauge response and then will be rolled out into other neighborhoods if successful. For now, San Mateo Village was the neighborhood with the most problems, so the City of San Mateo decided to start there.

What’s the Program?

The City of San Mateo is willing to pay up to $250 for a “no obligation” sewer lateral TV inspection for San Mateo Village home owners to get their sewer laterals inspected. Then, if you make $82,000 or less, you are eligible for a 50% reimbursement of the cost to fix the sewer lateral.

What if I Make More than $82,000?

You may qualify for the City of San Mateo’s very low interest loan program to fix the sewer lateral problem. (Remember, the inspection cost is essentially free.)

Live in San Mateo Village and Have a Sewer Problem?

If you live in San Mateo Village and want more information about the City of San Mateo’s Healthy Homes Program, visit their website here where you’ll find more information, applications for all the information about free sewer inspections and programs to help home owners fix their sewer problems.

Search San Mateo Village Homes for Sale

Enjoyed this Post? Why Not Subscribe?

If you have enjoyed Living Well in San Mateo – san mateo real estate, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.

San Mateo home buyers who purchased in 2009 are starting to think about their taxes so they can (hopefully) get some money back from the IRS with the home buyer tax credit. Several clients have asked how to claim the home buyer tax credit…here are some tips.

e-File Not Allowed

The IRS is not allowing tax payers claiming the home buyer tax credit to e-file and are requiring additional documentation to prevent more fraudulent claims from those who are not eligible to receive the home buyer tax credit.

Additional Documentation Required for All Buyers

All home buyers (first time and trade up) must attach Form 5405 with a copy of the HUD-1 Settlement Statement with all of your usual required IRS tax forms. (You received the HUD-1 from the Title Company when you signed the loan documents at closing.)

More Documentation Required for Trade Up Buyers

Remember, to claim the $6,500 trade up home buyer tax credit, San Mateo home owners must have lived in their primary residences for at least 5 consecutive of the past 8 years and be purchasing a new primary residence.

Once again, the IRS is going to want proof you meet the requirements of the trade up home buyer tax credit. To prove you’ve been in your home for 5 consecutive years, you will need to provide one of the following covering 5 consecutive years:

• Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement or substitute
  
• Property tax records
  
• Homeowner’s insurance records
  

More Information About Filing the Tax Credit?

Remember, I am a San Mateo Mortgage Advisor helping San Mateo home buyers with their mortgage needs, NOT an income tax specialist. If you have more specific questions, contact your Tax Advisor or visit the IRS webpage.

If you need a recommendation for a tax advisor, send me an email at info@SanMateoMortgageBlog.com and I can recommend someone to you.

Enjoyed this Post? Why Not Subscribe?

If you have enjoyed Living Well in San Mateo – san mateo real estate, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.

Chris Williamson is Mortgage Advisor with Mortgage California specializing in San Mateo Mortgages.

San Mateo – Kaiser Permanente’s New Home

Last night, the San Mateo City Council unanimously approved a plan for a 64,700 sq ft Kaiser Medical Facility to be build on the 4.22 undeveloped parcel of land on Franklin Parkway between Hillsdale Blvd and Saratoga Drive. This site is near across from the new state of the art Police Station and Bay Meadows Townhomes.

Kaiser Concludes Bay Meadows Phase I Development Plan

Although this project is not quite what the city had hoped for (back in 2002 the W Hotel project was approved and financing fell through), the new Kaiser medical offices “will act well as a gateway to the city” according to Deputy Mayor Jack Matthews. In 1997, when the Bay Meadows plan was originally drafted, it required the land to be developed for visitor oriented uses, such as hotels, restaurants and conference facilities. When the City of San Mateo was not successful in luring a major hotel to the site, it amended its plan to allow a medical office building so it could conclude the Bay Meadows Phase I development plan.

Weekday Facility with Non-Emergency Services

The 3-story, 64,700 sq ft medical offices building will include pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, optometry, radiology, pharmacy and optical services. Kaiser plans to open this facility from 8am-5pm during the week and on weekends, has proposed to have a farmers market in the parking lot. Currently, the closest farmer’s market for San Mateo residents is at the College of San Mateo, so Fiesta Gardens, Bay Meadows and San Mateo Village residents would have a closer option.

Still Will Be a Visitor Oriented Site

To help keep with the original vision of the Bay Meadows Project, Kaiser plans to include a conference center and health education library that will be open to its members and the general public. There will also be an arcade and three parks built.

Safety Concerns for Pedestrian Traffic Raised

Because of the presence of children and seniors, concerns were raised about safety. It was suggested a traffic calming device be added. Pedestrian traffic will be funneled through the entrance at Saratoga Dr and Franklin Pkwy and there will be 300 parking spaces and 79 bike spaces available on the property.

Traffic Impact on San Mateo Residents

Though time will tell what kind of impact the new medical offices will have on Bay Meadows, Fiesta Gardens and San Mateo Village residents, it seems like the facility is well located near the entrance and exit of Highway 101 and traffic should be minimally impacted. And, the facility will only be open from 8am to 5pm through the week, which is when most are at work.

Not the W Hotel, but Probably More Practical

Of the 40,000 San Mateo County residents who have Kaiser health insurance, this facility will prove to be a much more valued addition to the City of San Mateo than the W Hotel would have (though our out of town guests would probably disagree!). Because there are no emergency services at this site and the facility is located near 101′s entrance and exit, impact on the community should be minimal. I, for one, will be happy not to have to drive to Redwood City to see the doctor or pick up a prescription, even if it is only a few times a year!

Enjoyed this Post? Why Not Subscribe?

If you have enjoyed Living Well in San Mateo – san mateo real estate, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.

Attention Renters, Landlords and Real Estate Agents

This Consumer Alert for all San Mateo renters, landlords and real estate agents.  The Internet is the most efficient and cost-effective medium for advertising products and services ever devised.  But, it has its dark side; it’s also a tool for rent scammers and criminals.

As unemployment climbs and more people lose their homes in foreclosure the demand for rental housing climbs as well.  Rent scams have been around for a long time.  Hard times seem to make it easier for the wicked to prey on the needy and financially challenged.

Watch for San Mateo Rent Scammers on the Internet

Craigslist has made it easy and cheap for landlords to solicit tenants for their vacant units.  The internet has become a great information resource making it the tool of choice for knowledge seekers on virtually any subject or issue.  Granted, some of the information found on the web is of dubious value, but much of it is valuable.  Landlords can quickly search and find standard leases and rental agreements on the Internet that they can use without going through a lawyer or real estate agent.  And, therein lays the opportunity for the rent scammers to explode.  Here’s how it works.

How the San Mateo Rent Scam Game Works

Anyone with a computer can access the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).  Realtors enter pictures and descriptions about homes for sale for everyone to see.  It’s very easy for scammers to copy and paste the pictures and descriptions of homes for sale and use that information to create a Craigslist post offering the property for rent.

Watch for Ads for Great Homes at Ridiculously Low Prices

Their ad displays a great home for rent at a ridiculously low price.  The alleged landlord claims to be an out of area owner who cannot personally show you the property.  They don’t want to work with a Realtor or an attorney so they are renting the property at a very low price to get it rented quickly. They don’t have the time and money to travel to the property, so to speed things up they want the prospective renter to fill out a basic rental application and send a check covering security deposit and first month’s rent.  Once they approve the application and the check is cashed, they’ll arrange to have someone meet the “new tenant” at the property to give them the keys.  When the renters show up at the property to get the keys, they see a “for sale” sign on the lawn so they call the telephone number on the sign.

That brings us back to the Realtor who listed the property for sale and put it into the MLS.   The caller must be mistaken – the property is for sale and not for rent – and now the scam begins to unravel.  Of course, the prospective tenant has lost their money.

Are You a Prospective San Mateo Renter? Here’s What to Do

What does this mean for prospective renters?  Stop, Look, Listen and Look Again.  Take some common sense precautions to protect yourself. Here’s what I’d do…

• Do a Google search to find out what you can about the property and alleged owner
  
• Search the Multiple Listing Service via our home search for information
  
• See the property first – at least from the outside
  
• Personally meet with the owner or agent hired to find a tenant
  
• Never mail money without seeing the inside of the property
  
• Don’t provide confidential details before your comfortable that the rental offer is legitimate
  
• If your gut tells you it’s too good to be true, it probably is
  

Exercise Good Judgment when Looking for a San Mateo Rental Property

Neither the internet nor Craigslist is to blame for this kind of fraud.  There have always been people who try to explode others and there always will be.  Exercise good judgment and watch where you step.

Search San Mateo Rentals

Click on the map below to search the MLS for San Mateo condos and houses for rent.

Enjoyed this Post? Why Not Subscribe?

If you have enjoyed Living Well in San Mateo – san mateo real estate, please subscribe to our RSS feed.

Raymond Stoklosa, Chela Stoklosa and Rebecca Williamson are Realtors with The RayChel Realty Group specializing in Santa Clara and San Mateo Real Estate.