San Mateo-Foster City Real Estate News

Since I like to write about happenings between Millbrae and San Carlos, summer means free concerts and each of our towns has some for you to pick from.  Make a picnic and grab your blankets to sit on and/or to possibly bundle up.  Bring the family and enjoy the music.  Free is good. When you're leaving the concert be sure to thank the local Park & Recreation people for providing the music.  Belmont kicks off the summer season tomorrow afternoon.

Belmont

Let's start with Belmont. Their concerts are always on Sunday afternoons from 1-4PM at Twin Pines Park on Cottage Lane. They begin in June and run through July.

June 15 - Stompy Jones - Jumpin' Jazz and Swing

June 22 - Refugees - Tom Petty tribute

June 29 - Tom Rigney and Flambeau - Cajun Fiddling

July 6  - McCarty and Company - Pure Country Western

July 13 - Groovy Judy - Flower Power Funk Rock

July 20 - Blue-Rock and Roll Rhythm and Blues

July 27 - D-5 - Rockin' the Par

San Mateo

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BELMONT

In 1864, William Chapman Ralston, one of the Silver kings and a founder of the Bank of California, purchased a large ranch in Belmont and from the first ranch house he built, he went on to build a huge mansion, still standing today.  This mansion is now part of Notre Dame du Muir University, and has been completely restored.

The town grew slowly until after WWII.  Chrysanthemums were grown in the hills at that time.  By 1950, the town had about 5000 residents.  By 1960 the population had grown to over 16,000 and kept growing until available land for building was used up.

 Belmont, whose name means Beautiful Mountain, today has a population around 25,000 people.  With schools ranking high, and residents willing to pass bond measures to sustain good schools, it's a family friendly place to live.

Home prices until recently were a little less than surrounding communities, but that changed last year.  Prices have jumped and are staying high.  Many homes command beautiful views of the San Francisco bay, north up to San Francisco or south down to San Jose. 

Belmont rises from the flats near US 101 to the steep hills just below 280, where you see sage and chaparral growing and deer wandering around.  Homes with views command much higher prices than those without. 

The downtown is small with some shops and there is a shopping center up Ralston Road at the Alameda de las Pulgas called Carlmont Center.  There are sixteen parks and playgrounds, including one surrounding a lake in the city.  During the summer, free concerts are held on Sunday afternoons at Twin Pines Park.

Belmont is an easy commute to either San Francisco or Silicon Valley.  The weather is moderate.  There is a canyon in the city originally known as "La Canada del Diable" or Devil's Canyon. Spanish missionaries decided the name was inappropriate, so they rechristened it, "Canada de San Augustine" in the 1780's. 

Could Belmont Have Hit Bottom and Now Be Rising?

Tuesday is our Broker Tour Day.  We get a list of all new listings available for us to see on Tuesday by late afternoon on Monday.  Belmont, generally one of the hidden gems in our Fantasy Island had 10 homes over $1 Million Dollars today. Belmont had a total of 14 new properties on tour.  Thats saying something.

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You know it's Spring when Art Festivals begin and this weekend Belmont kicks off the Art Festival Season in San Mateo County.  The Belmont Sidewalk Festival starts today and runs through Sunday at the Carlmont Village Shopping Center on the Alameda and Ralston. 

This is always a great way to spend a few hours during the weekend and it looks like the weather should hold up just fine, too.  It's always a free event and this festival features 25 professional arts working in all mediums.

Easter is just around the corner and with that comes Easter Egg Hunts!  The first San Mateo County easter egg hunt takes place this coming weekend on Saturday, March 15th.  Head over to Orange memorial Park's Picnic Shelter on Orange Avenue in South San Francisco to take part.  It's the 61st Annual Easter Egg Hunt and children from pre-school to 3rd grade (8 years old) can take part.  It will take place rain or shine.  If your child is under 3, the Easter Bunny will hand out treats and easter eggs to them.  There will be

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