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Real Estate Monsoon Hits the Peninsula

The last few months we've heard everything from "phantom inventory" to Face Book's stock holders cornering the market, not so, just low inventory

In January to early March this year, Real Estate sales were at a snails pace.

Suddenly in late March to early April  Real Estate sales were like a tropical monsoon, destroying homebuyers' dream for purchasing their first home.

From a condo priced in the low 400k to a single family home in the upper 900k range, late March to early April was truly the start of a nightmare roller-coaster ride for many people trying to purchase their first home.

Lets focus on a property request for something as simple as a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo. 

Late March on Sea Spray Lane in Foster City a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo was listed for 413,900k and sold April 1st, with multiple offers for 435k

At Plaza West on W 20th in San Mateo, three condos sold for under 400k the first couple of months this year. One was sold for as low as 375k. One languished on the market for months.

Fast forward to April. Once again a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo came onto the market for slightly over 400k at Plaza West. What happened next is this: According to the listing agent there were 8 offers presented in just a few days. All of offers were well above asking price, and it sold for 435k. HUH? 

 The fact is this: Buyers usually come out to look at homes early spring. With excruciatingly low inventory the Real Estate market turned into a three ring circus.

My own Clients that wanted to purchase in that very complex and wrote an offer over asking. (They didn't get it) The problem is now is there are very few homes/condos on the market now and we now have this feeding frenzy.

South San Francisco and most of the north peninsula are seeing multiple offers too.

PS: Face Book has nothing to do with this market

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Bren May 19, 2013 at 06:49 pm
I see that I meant to type "...that connect us to the past," but I accidentally typedRead More "...and connect us to the past." I think my meaning came through, though. Yes, the world does not need another national chain retail store or restaurant, which is surely what they're planning to put in there.
CP May 19, 2013 at 02:22 pm
Yes Bren, agree with you....good point.....really what it seems to come down to is money vs. theRead More good of the community and richness of traditions. And all despite the Master Plan for that site in San Mateo that seems to require an ice skating rink or similar recreational facility AT THAT SITE, and all despite the fact the Ice Chalet would like to continue operations there. The Developer has made it difficult to impossible for any ice rink to operate there (tricky it seems)....so they can get a cookie cutter retail outlet in ? .....very, very sad for the youth of the community.
Bren May 17, 2013 at 10:09 am
I think the issue is much larger than whether children will experience stress. That ice rink is aRead More local institution, dating back at least to when Fashion Island was there. It's terrible for communities to lose so many landmarks and connect us to the past.
Anita Reimann April 29, 2013 at 11:43 am
Dear Ari, Thank you for your service to our community. It's wonderful that you are already making aRead More difference.