Burlingame, CA

"The human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself to tohers that we truly live"

Ethel Percy Andrus

Coyote Point, Burlingame

I recently pulled data for a neighbor who is evaluating selling his Burlingame home. It's a bit of a mixed bag with trends but overall there is an improvement from October 2008.

Days on market is down slightly:

Median price is up:

Inventory is down:

Units sold has been on a consistent upward trend with the exception of August & October 2009.

There has been a steady up tic in buyer demand as of April of 2009 with properties going into contract at a 33% increase.

Then we hit the expireds. Wow!! A 129% increase in expireds. Expireds include withdrawn and canceled listings as well. I did a little more digging & pulled these properties in the MLS. Pricing was a good cross section of Burlingame properties ranging from ~$2,000,000 to the low of $779K for a bungalow on the east side.

Apparently there was a rather large group of sellers for the month of October who didn't have realistic pricing in place, putting their overpriced property on market & letting it linger for up to 6 months before taking it off market.

Who whee!! We must have had a group of tired, frustrated agents who didn't get paid at the end of the day (or more accurately at the end of 3-6 months).

October had a sale high of $3,050,000 and a low of $525,000, which was a short sale in Lyon Hoag (east side)-a super cute 2br/1ba Craftsman Bungalow with no parking (it's pretty rare to come across homes without parking in Burlingame unlike S.F.) and a small lot (3125sf vs. the average 5000sf). It so reminded me of a San Francisco property.

To wrap it up, Burlingame properties that are well priced & show well are selling within 30 days & sometimes within the first week with multiple offers.

Posted by:

Cheryl Bower, Realtor , GRI, ABR
Cell 415.999.3450

cheryl@cbower.com
DRE #: 01505551

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As of the latest Burlingame e-newsletter, there are exciting environmental changes underway! It has taken time, but it seems like green/eco-friendly construction & living are finally gaining momentum.

Now if Burlingame would implement recycling pick-up on a weekly basis rather then the current bi-monthly schedule as well as start a home green garbage compost program (currently just yard waste is picked up). Thus far my complaints and suggestions to Allied Waste have fallen on deaf ears.

My understanding is that more frequent pick ups are expensive but I believe there would be an increase in recycling by Burlingame residents. If it's not "easy" it's not going to happen is my feeling. As it currently stands, we also have to sort paper from glass/cans/metals adding another layer of inconvenience.

In comparison, San Francisco has a great recycling program consisting of weekly pickup, one bin for paper and glass, and home composting pick up. Currently, I have to store 6 bulky bins due to Burlingame's recycling system. Ah well, I'll keep working on this.....

Two architects have been elected to lead the new Burlingame Citizens Environmental Council, an organization of citizens who plan to help their community become more environmentally sustainable by reducing carbon emissions, preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
The group elected Stan Vistica as Chair and Jerry Winges as Vice Chair. Vistica, an architect based in San Francisco, has served on the Planning Commission for 10 years. Winges owns an architectural firm in Burlingame.

The Burlingame Citizens Environmental Council (BCEC) began meeting this fall after the city's Green Ribbon Task Force disbanded. The Task Force, which was formed in 2007, completed its work when the city's Climate Action Plan was adopted by the Burlingame City Council last summer.

BCEC plans to promote the adoption of green building practices in Burlingame and to make certain the city meets deadlines outlined in its Climate Action Plan. Representatives will work closely with local schools. Among its local initiatives will be a Drive Less Challenge, bike tours, a tour of sustainable homes and a green business incentive program. The group plans to continue the successful green speaker series and Green Street Fair pioneered by the Green Ribbon Task Force.

"I am delighted to lead Burlingame citizens in our effort to clean up the planet while improving lifestyles. One of our goals is to attain measurable environmental improvements using the Climate Action Plan as a baseline. It's going to be exciting," said Vistica.

Vistica noted that BCEC is currently looking for individuals to help design a Web site for the group, write grants and assist with community outreach.
BCEC invites other interested Burlingame residents to join. The organization's next meeting will be held Thursday, December 3, at 7 p.m. at TRG Architects in Burlingame.

For more information about BCEC, contact Vistica at hapvist@gmail.com or Winges at jlw@wingesaia.com.
To learn more about what the City of Burlingame is doing to address climate change, see the Sustainable Burlingame section of the city's Web site. The city's progress on sustainable programs is outlined at http://www.burlingame.org/index.aspx?page=1374.

Posted by:

Cheryl Bower, Realtor , GRI, ABR
Cell 415.999.3450

cheryl@cbower.com
DRE #: 01505551

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I don't know if it is a generational thing or not, but it seems to me that people are getting more rude and displaying a lack of courtesy and a lack of kindness more and more each day. When I was raised (born in 1954), I was taught to address my elders by surnames (e.g. Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith), to open doors for women and elderly (and people with strollers or hands full of shopping). I was taught to show up to an interview (whether it was for a job as dishwasher or executive), dressed in suit and tie, with my shoes polished. Maybe it is my imagination (I want to believe that), but it seems like people just don't care about anyone but themselves.

I was driving on the freeway the other day and no one would let me change lanes to get around a slow truck, even though I waited with blinker on for some time. I remember another time I was waiting for a parking place and someone rushed right in and took it from me with no apology or remorse (like that scene from Fried Green Tomatoes with Kathy Bates). Sometimes the salesperson will be rude (like I am interupting them for help) with no "thank-you for shopping with us", or apology that they didnt have what you needed. Has America lost the human touch of kindness and courtesy?

I personally believe, that most people are kind and courteous. I believe there are a few that show up so loud and rude it takes our breath away......we remember these and forget about the others.

We forget about the person who let you go first at a stop sign, or the person that let you on to the freeway. Every so often, there is a person that just blows a hole in the view that its all going out the window.

I remember another day when I was crossing a bridge and when I went to pay the toll the toll person said the guy ahead of me paid for it....I couldnt believe it....they were total strangers, I couldnt thank them......so I "played it forward".....and said, please do this for the car behind me, and here is money for the one after that!

Moral of the story for me? I think the world needs more kindness and courtesy.....so......let it start with me........what can I do today that will show kindness and courtesy for someone else? Maybe let the person in line for the grocery store go ahead of me (even if they have a whole grocery cart of items), maybe open the door for someone at the store, or hold the door for someone......drop some money in the hand of a person asking for help on the sidewalk, or call a local charity to see if there is something special they need today and pick it up and drop it by.........

If you live on the Peninsula and want to stay in the loop on the High Speed Rail plans, there is an upcoming meeting in Burlingame.

The public is invited!
Fri., Nov. 20th, 8:45am to 10:15am
Burlingame City Hall, Council Chambers
501 Primrose Road
Burlingame, CA 94010

More details about the high speed rail can be found:

http://www.sfbungalow.com/2009/09/12/workshop-today-for-the-peninsula-high-speed-rail-project/