“Nancy is hands-down the best agent I’ve ever worked with —and I’ve worked with over a dozen!”
- Bonnie Gemmell, Woodside, CA.
Real Estate Trend: Multigenerational Living Multigenerational living is one trend in real estate that I personally have seen grow over the past decade along the SF Peninsula. As a real estate agent, I have worked with families with young children as well as retired families moving closer to grown children. I’ve learned a few things along the way of what multi-generational families are looking for in a house. Just what is is a multi-generational family? Typically three or more generations living together (the family with young children along with one set of in-laws). There are many reasons to chose this living arrangement ranging from family closeness to economizing expenses to freedom to pick up and travel.  What makes a home ideal for multi generations? 1.  Two Master Suites, or multiple in-suite bedrooms without shared walls. 2.  Separate locked entrances. 3.  Above-garage apartments. 4.  Accessibility, which could mean ground floor master suites, wide doors/halls, and attached garage. 5.  Kitchenette easily accessible to one of the bedroom suites, or a morning bar located in a master suite (sink, coffee station, small refrigerator and microwave). 6. Private spaces for each generation to escape to, such as a sitting room or a private patio off the bedroom. If you are looking for some space to share with the generations in your family, I would be happy to show you some properties. I can even give you a quick analysis of the features of your home that might appeal to a multi-generation buyer! More Info:Multi-generational Housing is the Hot Niche in a Cool Market Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Real Estate Trend: Multigenerational Living

Multigenerational living is one trend in real estate that I personally have seen grow over the past decade along the SF Peninsula. As a real estate agent, I have worked with families with young children as well as retired families moving closer to grown children. I’ve learned a few things along the way of what multi-generational families are looking for in a house.

Just what is is a multi-generational family? Typically three or more generations living together (the family with young children along with one set of in-laws). There are many reasons to chose this living arrangement ranging from family closeness to economizing expenses to freedom to pick up and travel. 

What makes a home ideal for multi generations?

1.  Two Master Suites, or multiple in-suite bedrooms without shared walls.

2.  Separate locked entrances.

3.  Above-garage apartments.

4.  Accessibility, which could mean ground floor master suites, wide doors/halls, and attached garage.

5.  Kitchenette easily accessible to one of the bedroom suites, or a morning bar located in a master suite (sink, coffee station, small refrigerator and microwave).

6. Private spaces for each generation to escape to, such as a sitting room or a private patio off the bedroom.

If you are looking for some space to share with the generations in your family, I would be happy to show you some properties. I can even give you a quick analysis of the features of your home that might appeal to a multi-generation buyer!

More Info:Multi-generational Housing is the Hot Niche in a Cool Market

Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Spotlight on… Woodside, CA The Town of Woodside is a picturesque area bringing together horses, history, large-scale residences, and fantastic hiking trails. It offers easy access to freeways and all that the Bay Area has to offer, yet offers a secluded and peaceful lifestyle.  History lovers will enjoy two historic locations in Woodside: The Woodside Store and the Woodside History Museum. The Woodside Store was first built in 1854 and is maintained by the San Mateo County Museum as it was in the 1880s. It is open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday - check www.historysmc.org for hours. The Woodside History Museum is open Saturdays and is currently featuring “Days Of Grandeur: The Jacklings and their Woodside Estate,” an exhibit exploring the former Woodside mansion which was built in the 1920’s. Home sales in Woodside reflect the size of a typical property; January saw 5 homes sold at 103% to list price after an average of 101 days on the market (DOM). January Stats Some of the other cities where I specialize: *  Atherton - 3 sales, 98% to list price, 83 average DOM *  Belmont - 4 sales, 101% to list price, 85 average DOM *  Burlingame - 11 sales, 97% to list price, 42 average DOM *  Menlo Park - 18 sales, 100% to list price, 44 average DOM *  Palo Alto - 21 sales, 106% to list price, 38 average DOM *  Redwood City - 37 sales, 98% to list price, 69 average DOM *  San Mateo - 43 sales, 97% to list price, 83 average DOM *  San Carlos - 18 sales, 100% to list price, 56 average DOM If you want to discuss real estate on the market in Woodside, or more specifics on sales in your town, please give me a call. I would be happy to show you what the SF Peninsula has to offer and view some of the terrific homes that are currently on the market. Images: www.woodsidetown.org

Spotlight on… Woodside, CA

The Town of Woodside is a picturesque area bringing together horses, history, large-scale residences, and fantastic hiking trails. It offers easy access to freeways and all that the Bay Area has to offer, yet offers a secluded and peaceful lifestyle. 

History lovers will enjoy two historic locations in Woodside: The Woodside Store and the Woodside History Museum. The Woodside Store was first built in 1854 and is maintained by the San Mateo County Museum as it was in the 1880s. It is open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday - check www.historysmc.org for hours. The Woodside History Museum is open Saturdays and is currently featuring “Days Of Grandeur: The Jacklings and their Woodside Estate,” an exhibit exploring the former Woodside mansion which was built in the 1920’s.

Home sales in Woodside reflect the size of a typical property; January saw 5 homes sold at 103% to list price after an average of 101 days on the market (DOM).

January Stats

Some of the other cities where I specialize:

*  Atherton - 3 sales, 98% to list price, 83 average DOM

*  Belmont - 4 sales, 101% to list price, 85 average DOM

*  Burlingame - 11 sales, 97% to list price, 42 average DOM

*  Menlo Park - 18 sales, 100% to list price, 44 average DOM

*  Palo Alto - 21 sales, 106% to list price, 38 average DOM

*  Redwood City - 37 sales, 98% to list price, 69 average DOM

*  San Mateo - 43 sales, 97% to list price, 83 average DOM

*  San Carlos - 18 sales, 100% to list price, 56 average DOM

If you want to discuss real estate on the market in Woodside, or more specifics on sales in your town, please give me a call. I would be happy to show you what the SF Peninsula has to offer and view some of the terrific homes that are currently on the market.

Images: www.woodsidetown.org

A Real Sweet Treat In honor of Valentine’s Day next week, I have a tried and true recipe to share. This dessert is easy to make, does not require any baking, and looks stunning in a trifle dish. Prepare it a day before and impress family and friends when you pull it out. Berrymisu makes 8 servings * 1 12-ounce package frozen, unsweetened raspberries, thawed * 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature * 1 1/2 cups sugar * 2 cups chilled whipping cream * 1 cup water * 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice * 40 Champagne buscuits (crisp ladyfinger-style cookies) * fresh raspberries * fresh mint sprigs (optional) Puree thawed raspberries in processor until smooth. Strain into medium bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard seeds in strainer. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl until smooth. Beat chilled whipping cream in another large bowl until peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Add pureed raspberries and fold just until combined. Bring remaining 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and lemon juice to boil in small saucepan, stirring frequently. Cool slightly. Dip 1 biscuit briefly into lemon syrup, turning to coat. Place flat side up in bottom of 12-cup trifle dish. Repeat with enough biscuits to cover bottom of trifle dish, trimming biscuits to fit if necessary. Spread 1/3 of raspberry-cream cheese mixture over biscuits in trifle dish. Dip more biscuits into lemon syrup and arrange atop raspberry-cream cheese mixture in dish, covering completely and trimming to fit if necessary. Repeat layering with more raspberry-cream cheese mixture, then biscuits; top with remaining raspberry-cream cheese mixture.  Cover and refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day. Garnish with fresh raspberries and with fresh mint sprigs, if desired. Photo and Recipe: Epicurious

A Real Sweet Treat

In honor of Valentine’s Day next week, I have a tried and true recipe to share. This dessert is easy to make, does not require any baking, and looks stunning in a trifle dish. Prepare it a day before and impress family and friends when you pull it out.

Berrymisu

makes 8 servings

* 1 12-ounce package frozen, unsweetened raspberries, thawed

* 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

* 1 1/2 cups sugar

* 2 cups chilled whipping cream

* 1 cup water

* 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

* 40 Champagne buscuits (crisp ladyfinger-style cookies)

* fresh raspberries

* fresh mint sprigs (optional)

Puree thawed raspberries in processor until smooth. Strain into medium bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard seeds in strainer. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl until smooth. Beat chilled whipping cream in another large bowl until peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Add pureed raspberries and fold just until combined.

Bring remaining 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and lemon juice to boil in small saucepan, stirring frequently. Cool slightly. Dip 1 biscuit briefly into lemon syrup, turning to coat. Place flat side up in bottom of 12-cup trifle dish. Repeat with enough biscuits to cover bottom of trifle dish, trimming biscuits to fit if necessary. Spread 1/3 of raspberry-cream cheese mixture over biscuits in trifle dish. Dip more biscuits into lemon syrup and arrange atop raspberry-cream cheese mixture in dish, covering completely and trimming to fit if necessary. Repeat layering with more raspberry-cream cheese mixture, then biscuits; top with remaining raspberry-cream cheese mixture. 

Cover and refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day. Garnish with fresh raspberries and with fresh mint sprigs, if desired.

Photo and Recipe: Epicurious

What I Love This Week - Chocolate Peanut Butter Malt Balls!

As I was strolling down beautiful Ocean Avenue in Carmel this weekend, my friend said she sure would like some licorice (spelling?? I don’t like it at all and don’t even care that I don’t know how to spell it).  I remembered the very charming candy store towards the bottom of the shopping area on Ocean Avenue so we headed that direction. You probably could not find a more picturesque little candy shop unless you were actually in a quaint little British village.

Cottage of Sweets specializes in all kinds of candy and chocolates, many of them imported from England. With over 50 years of selling candy in Carmel, they boast of carrying over 50 types of licorice from around the world. My friend found some licorice that she loved while I explored other temptations.

Now, licorice may not appeal to me, but peanut butter has been hitting my taste buds just right lately. I tried a Chocolate Peanut Butter Malt Ball and instantly knew - that’s what I love this week.

Cottage of Sweets

www.cottageofsweets.com

Phone (831) 624-5170

Ocean Ave. between Monte Verde & Lincoln

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Belmont Loves Trees! I recently learned of an updated tree ordinance in Belmont and wanted to pass along the information. It’s a good reminder to always check with your own city hall before undertaking tree removal or large-scale pruning. The new ordinance in Belmont requires homeowners to get a permit before removing any tree with a stem or trunk diameter which is larger than 10 inches a few feet off the ground, or any multi-stem or multi-trunks totaling more than 10 inches in diameter a few feet off the ground. In addition, there are certain requirements for tree replacement which the city can advise homeowners on. Want to get involved? The city also has a new Tree Board which will meet quarterly to discuss appeals of denied tree-removeal permits as well as promoting tree care and awareness within Belmont. More information can be found online at www.belmont.gov. In Fact, The Peninsula Loves Trees! As I posted in my blog last year, most cities in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties do have specific ordinances that regulate what a homeowner can and cannot do to certain trees on their property.  These ordinances protect trees of a certain age or type, and they generally also allow for tree removal with a permit when there is a safety, health, or building issue.  Here are a few examples: • Menlo Park - Heritage Tree Ordinance protects trees fitting the definition of heritage tree.  More info at www.menlopark.org. • Palo Alto - City regulations protect city-owned trees, as well as heritage and specific protected trees on private property (such as certain oak and redwood trees).  More info at www.cityofpaloalto.org. • San Carlos - Heritage Trees may only be removed with approval and permit, including certain native trees and trees of a certain size.  More info at www.cityofsancarlos.org. Image: arztsamui / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Belmont Loves Trees!

I recently learned of an updated tree ordinance in Belmont and wanted to pass along the information. It’s a good reminder to always check with your own city hall before undertaking tree removal or large-scale pruning.

The new ordinance in Belmont requires homeowners to get a permit before removing any tree with a stem or trunk diameter which is larger than 10 inches a few feet off the ground, or any multi-stem or multi-trunks totaling more than 10 inches in diameter a few feet off the ground. In addition, there are certain requirements for tree replacement which the city can advise homeowners on.

Want to get involved? The city also has a new Tree Board which will meet quarterly to discuss appeals of denied tree-removeal permits as well as promoting tree care and awareness within Belmont. More information can be found online at www.belmont.gov.

In Fact, The Peninsula Loves Trees!

As I posted in my blog last year, most cities in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties do have specific ordinances that regulate what a homeowner can and cannot do to certain trees on their property.  These ordinances protect trees of a certain age or type, and they generally also allow for tree removal with a permit when there is a safety, health, or building issue.  Here are a few examples:

• Menlo Park - Heritage Tree Ordinance protects trees fitting the definition of heritage tree.  More info at www.menlopark.org.

• Palo Alto - City regulations protect city-owned trees, as well as heritage and specific protected trees on private property (such as certain oak and redwood trees).  More info at www.cityofpaloalto.org.

• San Carlos - Heritage Trees may only be removed with approval and permit, including certain native trees and trees of a certain size.  More info at www.cityofsancarlos.org.

Image: arztsamui / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Design Inspiration on Your Phone

Beware: What I am about to share with you is highly addictive.

I have been browsing some pretty amazing smart phone apps this week and I have to say they are pretty cool. If you are tinkering with some room design, or contemplating a large remodel, here are two apps that are sure to inspire.

Houzz: Stunningly beautiful images that inspire the daydreamer and designer in any of us. The website and free iPhone app offer thousands of images you can browse, as well as the ability to save them in an “Ideabook” for future reference. The app also provides info on some of the pieces found in each image. I’m not kidding when I say you can get lost for hours browsing through all the beautiful pictures.

Dwell: The free dwell app for iPhone and Android offers images and ideas for modern design that are so artfully depicted in dwell magazine and at www.dwell.com. Get ideas and information about design and specific products.

The New York Times recently published an article called Before Tearing Out a Wall, Check Your Phone, which reviewed these and a few other design and DIY-type smart phone apps. And if the two above apps leave you wanting more, visit www.pinterest.com (or download the free app) and you’ll find yourself lost in a visual world of ideas, recipes, fashion, crafts, design, and so much more (like the cutest baby hedgehog. ever.).

What I Love This Week…. My New Mousepad!

My thoughtful daughter gave me a small gift last week that quickly became my favorite new efficiency tool. It is a paper mousepad with tear-off pages. Very clever and oh so functional.

Armed with my iPhone and iPad, I do try to use today’s technology as best as I can to keep myself organized and on time. But let’s face it, sometimes you just need to make an old-fashioned “to do” list or jot down some thoughts before they escape you. I think that is why a simple tool like a paper mousepad was just what I needed.

I have the “Information Central” version and there is also a days-of-the-week one. You should see the curled edges of my much-used pad!

And where can you find this gem? Try www.knockknockstuff.com for this and other fun stuff you didn’t even know you needed!

Staging to Sell: Using a Stager

Let’s face it, we live in a fast-paced and demanding world and simply don’t always have the time to do everything ourselves. When it comes to marketing your home for a fast sale, a professional stager just might give you the advantage you need.

I have worked with many terrific stagers over the years, and the services they provide range from optimizing a seller’s own furniture for a faster sale to furnishing a vacant house.

When to Call a Pro

My personal top three reasons to bring in the pros:

1. Staging helps camouflage parts of our homes that just don’t look as good as they could, like old countertops.

2. Stagers magically to know how to make rooms look bigger to appeal to buyers.

3. Stagers will use your own furniture and place it differently to optimize the look of your home (something that often escapes me no matter how many times I move the sofa!).

Donna Reynolds, a Certified Redesigner and Certified Staging Specialist, provides terrific services along the SF Peninsula. In one quick day, she is able to magically transform existing furnishings and decorations into their ideal arrangement.

Give me a call for more information, or visit HomeRearrangements.com yourself.

Images: Maggie Smith / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sneak Peek at My Newist Listing: A Perfectly Situated Duplex

A commuter’s dream! This delightful westside duplex on a corner lot is within short walking distance of the Belmont Caltrain station, shopping and dining.

•  Two 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom units, each with approximately 700 sq. ft. of comfortable living.

•  Amenities include fireplace and hardwood floors.

•  Private yard provides a tranquil escape.

•  Shared carport provides 1 off-street parking spot per unit.

•  Separate washer and dryer area for each unit.

•  Strolling distance to Peet’s Coffee, Safeway, Caprino’s Italian Restaurant, and Twin Pines Park.

I’d be more than happy to schedule a showing,  so please give me a call.

820 Hill Street, Belmont,CA 94002

Offered at $631,516

Staging to Sell: Curb Appeal Something I have learned during my 25 plus years as a real estate agent along the SF Peninsula is that if you can’t see it, you can’t sell it. I’m talking about curb appeal, and the quick fixes you can do outside and inside your house to market it in the best possible light. * Landscaping - Prune bushes, clear plants away from walkways and walls, cover bare ground with mulch, and invest in a regular “mow and blow” service while your house is on the market. * Exterior Paint - Evaluate the possible need for new paint for a fresh appearance. Even a quick layer of paint on the trim can make the exterior pop again. * Interior Paint - You may love your bright orange wall, but potential buyers are looking for neutral colors they don’t have to paint over before moving in. Freshen up interior walls with neutral colors that are compatible with the exterior color pallet. * Lighting - Most rooms I walk through when viewing a home are not properly lit. You can quickly improve lighting with some higher wattage bulbs or a few well-placed lamps. Leave lighting on if a showing is scheduled so that the potential buyers don’t have to fumble for the light switch. And for goodness sake, make sure your windows are sparkling clean! I am happy to share my two-cents if you are currently evaluating the curb appeal of your own home. Let me help market it in the best possible light! Image: porbital / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Staging to Sell: Curb Appeal

Something I have learned during my 25 plus years as a real estate agent along the SF Peninsula is that if you can’t see it, you can’t sell it. I’m talking about curb appeal, and the quick fixes you can do outside and inside your house to market it in the best possible light.

* Landscaping - Prune bushes, clear plants away from walkways and walls, cover bare ground with mulch, and invest in a regular “mow and blow” service while your house is on the market.

* Exterior Paint - Evaluate the possible need for new paint for a fresh appearance. Even a quick layer of paint on the trim can make the exterior pop again.

* Interior Paint - You may love your bright orange wall, but potential buyers are looking for neutral colors they don’t have to paint over before moving in. Freshen up interior walls with neutral colors that are compatible with the exterior color pallet.

* Lighting - Most rooms I walk through when viewing a home are not properly lit. You can quickly improve lighting with some higher wattage bulbs or a few well-placed lamps. Leave lighting on if a showing is scheduled so that the potential buyers don’t have to fumble for the light switch.

And for goodness sake, make sure your windows are sparkling clean!

I am happy to share my two-cents if you are currently evaluating the curb appeal of your own home. Let me help market it in the best possible light!

Image: porbital / FreeDigitalPhotos.net