Get Your Mortgage Phil: Lottie Kendall REALTOR® DRE#01215160 650-465-4547. Serving the SF Peninsula (& Silicon Valley. Today | Sotheby's International Realty)

Everyone likes free, right? And we're in luck. This Thursday, November 11, 2010, entrance fees are being waived at our country's national parks. That's right, you can visit your favorite national park at no charge on Veterans' Day.

Some of the parks here in California include Yosemite National Park, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park and Joshua Tree National Park.

Closer to San Mateo County and the Silicon Valley are Muir Woods National Monument and Pinnacles National Monument.

This is a great opportunity to enjoy a day exploring some of nature's grandeur, and save on entrance fees to boot.

For more information, go to the National Park Service's web site.

Home Maintenance Reminders for Homeowners

Whether you've just bought that first house, or have been a homeowner for many years, there are some  household tasks that shouldn't be overlooked just because they aren't urgent.

We've seen squirrels actively preparing for winter, and now that we've had our first chilly days here in San Mateo County and the Silicon Valley, it's time for us to do to same.

Here's a list of some important tasks that shouldn't be overlooked:

• change batteries in all smoke detectors
  
• put fresh batteries in your flashlights
• change/wash all filters -- aerators on faucets, kitchen fan filters,
  furnace filters (check furnace filters monthly during heating season)
• inspect your household emergency kit (you do have one, right?) and refresh the supplies -- don't forget pet and baby supplies, too, as well as medicine)
  
• inspect your garage door -- tighten nuts that might have worked loose, make certain the automatic sensors are positioned and work properly
  
• clear leaves and debris from gutters
• check downspouts to be certain they aren't clogged, and water can flow freely away from the house
• inspect your fireplace and have your chimney cleaned if you use a wood-burning stove
• check for needed touch ups to caulking on exterior siding and around bathtubs inside
• have your furnace checked and serviced
• walk around your home, checking for and removing overgrown shrubs, tree limbs touching the roof, etc.

After attending to tasks like these,  you can sit back and enjoy the chilly evenings and our occasional rain storm, knowing your home is, indeed, a haven.

What's going on in the real estate market today in San Carlos, CA 94070?

While gathering information today for a potential seller, I included what's going on in the real estate market in San Carlos, California.

Today, in the single-family home market, there are:

• 62 Active listings
• 28 Pending sales
• 11 Transactions that have closed in the last 6 weeks

Looking at the condo/townhouse market, we see:

• 34 Active listings
• 10 Pending sales
•   1 Transaction that has closed in the last 6 weeks

These are simply the bare statistics. You might like to know the trends we're seeing, what types of properties are selling, which are receiving multiple offers, and which are examples of what not to do when listing a home today.

If you'd like information about your particular neighborhood or type of property, I'm happy to provide it -- just shoot me an email or give me a call.

Finding unclaimed money in California has been made much easier than in years past.

And who wouldn't like to learn they have a forgotten stash, large or small, waiting for them?

California's Unclaimed Property Law requires corporations, businesses, associations, financial institutions and insurance companies to report and deliver property to the California State Controller's Office. This must be done annually after there has been no activity on the account of contact with the owner for a period of time specified in the law, generally three years or more.

To start your search, simply go to the web site of the California State Controller's Office and follow the simple directions outlined there.

Best of luck!

San Carlos, California, 97070, is a real down-home kind of place, located on the Peninsula in San Mateo County, mid-way between San Francisco and San Jose. The motto of our town is "The City of Good Living."

Well, this story I came across today shows that is more than empty words--San Carlos really is the City of Good Living!

Last month a Good Samaritan found several $100 bills dancing along a downtown sidewalk, in the heart of our shopping area; looking further, he saw a whole stack of bills, totaling $2,000. He immediately took the money to the Police Department, where it was held for safekeeping.

Meanwhile, the woman who had withdrawn the cash from the local Wells Fargo Bank discovered a hole in her jacket pocket and the cash gone. After properly identifying herself, and with the assistance of the bank teller, the police were able to turn the money over to her. The thankful woman not only gave the finder some award, but made a donation to the police department's Juvenile Diversion Program. The police also acknowledged the Samaritan with their Citizen Appreciation Coin.

If you want to learn more about living on the Peninsula, log onto the Facebook page, Peninsula Living. San Carlos might just be the place you want to call home. Our real estate market is strong and active, and it's the people who help make it so great, not to mention the hiking, biking, trail running, schools, youth sports, rec center classes, concerts, farmers' markets, shops, libraries, etc.!

2448 Coronet Blvd., Belmont, CA 94002
Open House - Sunday, May 16, 1:00 - 4:00 PM

If you haven't had a chance to visit this 4-bedroom, 3-bath Belmont beauty -- or if you'd like to see it a second time - join us at the Open House this coming Sunday.

Today in Belmont, California, there are 20 4-bedroom homes currently listed on the multiple listing service. Of those, only 7 are listed at a lower price. Most of those are short-sales or in the flat lands, close to Highway 101. There is tremendous value at 2448 Coronet -- a view house with a relatively level back yard for barbecues, play and relaxation. Come by and see for yourself.