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Have you seen this new statue in downtown Burlingame? I was walking down to the convenience store to get a Diet Coke (I'm addicted), and I saw this statue in front of the former Coldwell Banker office. This office is currently vacant, so it was strange to see this statue implanted right in front of this building.

As I was taking a picture of this statue, one of the downtown Burlingame businessmen yelled at me from the building behind "Hey, what are you taking a picture of that for?"

I said, "I think it looks pretty strange in front of this building, what do you think?" 

He said, "Well I do to, and so do a lot of the other business owners. If you don't mind, send your picture to City Hall with some thoughts on what you think of it."

Downtown Burlingame stirs the passions of the city's citizens. It has taken roughly ten years from beginning to an affirmative vote to get a new Safeway built. It took so long for several reasons, but mainly because of the differences of a couple of groups who feel very passionate about the appearance of downtown Burlingame.

I have a feeling that the future of this statue is going to debated in a public forum. It's never boring in downtown Burlingame!

 Burlingame AYSO has its opening weekend this Saturday and Sunday, September 12th and 13th. Festivities start off with the annual parade at Burlingame High School. If you haven't been to the parade, you are in for a treat!

Burlingame AYSO brings in local dignitaries, such as the mayor, council members, and local religious leaders to kick off the parade with speeches. The Burlingame High School cheerleaders are present to cheer on the young soccer players. There's a lot of action happening on and around the football field. However, the real action is behind the football field, where our young athletes line up for the parade!

Kids chasing their buddies, dogs chasing kids, and coffee drinking parents trying to keep 6 year olds lined up in a straight line while they wait there turn to enter the stadium are just some of the sights you will see on the softball field. I consider the Burlingame AYSO soccer parade a right of passage into Burlingameparenthood!

Once you and your kids enter the stadium, you will see a flood of players and banners marching around the field. Burlingame AYSO has given the kids the chance to choose their team name. Blue Hobos, Fashion Police, Swimming Salmons, and Pink Booomerangs are the names of some of the teams my kids have played on.

Once the parade is over, if you want to smile and chuckle, stick around and watch the 6 year olds and under play on the softball field. Burlingame AYSO has a league for kids of all ages!

Fields all over the town are used by Burlingame AYSO. If memory serves me correctly, the 8 year olds and under play at Washington Park. BIS Osberg field, Franklin Field, Cuernavaca Park, Bayside Park, and Jim Murray field (named after the former AYSO President) are also used.

The Burlingame AYSO opening weekend usually consists of a game on Saturday and a game on Sunday. Make sure you bring your lawn chairs and sunscreen - it's supposed to be pretty hot!

One of the staples of the Burlingame AYSO soccer season is every parent's favorite, the snack schedule. The kids love to have oranges and water at halftime, and a drink and snack after the game. Don't forget to mark your snack day on your calendar. God help you if you forget, with 12 sad faces looking right at you!

As the season winds down, the competition ends with the Burlingame Cup. I have seen some of the most exciting soccer games in Burlingame AYSO during the Cup playoffs.

If a Cup game ends tied, overtime is played. If no one scores during the overtime, players are taken off of each side. I have seen some playoff games end up in two on two! Imagine running all the way up and down the field after four overtimes! Burlingame AYSO really makes it exciting with this format to determine a winner!

Burlingame AYSO does a great job teaching the kids about teamwork, competition, and athleticism. Most of all, it's just a lot of fun! See you on the field.

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Are you looking at homes for sale in Burlingame? Burlingame is a very desirable area to live. Here are some tips for you if you are planning on financing with a loan the purchase of one of the Burlingame homes for sale.

Although many of the homes for sale in Burlingame are valued for more than one million dollars, there are plenty of homes that sell for less than this amount. A 10% down payment is required for conventional financing with a purchase price up to $810,833. This sale price will allow an agency jumbo loan of up to $729,750. An agency jumbo loan is a loan that can be purchased from the lender by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae.  

If you need to borrow more than $729,750, then you will need to obtain a jumbo loan. Here in August, 2009, the jumbo loan market has become more accessible than it has been in the last two years. This accessibility is great news for homebuyers that are looking at homes for sale in Burlingame.

Here are the maximum loan amounts for a fully documented loan to purchase one of the homes for sale in Burlingame with a jumbo loan:

• 80% with a maximum loan amount of $1,100,000
• 75% with a maximum loan amount of $5,000,000

These maximum loan amounts require certain credit scores. If you do not have the minimum credit score required, then you will have to make a larger down payment.

On the subject of credit scores, some lenders will reduce the points charged based on certain credit scores of the borrower. If you have submitted an application to purchase one of the homes for sale in Burlingame, ask your loan agent if you qualify to have the points charged reduced.

Suppose you need to stretch your budget because the homes for sale in Burlingame are expensive. Here is a strategy that can help you maximize the loan amount and sale price that you are comfortable with - it's called the "buydown strategy".

Here is the buydown strategy in a nutshell: instead of insulting the seller of one of the homes for sale in Burlingame with a lowball offer, try this: make an attractive offer to the seller on the sale price, and ask the seller to credit you at closing up to 6% of the loan amount toward non-recurring closing costs. With this credit toward closing costs, you can use these funds to buy down your interest rate. This strategy will increase your purchasing power by roughly 14%.

For example, if you thought your monthly budget would allow you to purchase one of the homes for sale in Burlingame for $1,000,000, the monthly equivalent budget would be up to $1,140,000 with the buydown strategy, more or less.

One of the most important tips I can give you if you are going to make an offer on one of the homes for sale in Burlingame is to get pre-approved for your loan. Homes for sale in Burlingame that are in a good location and priced attractively often receive multiple offers. If you are not paying cash, you will lose in a multiple offer situation without a pre-approval letter.

In order to obtain a letter of pre-approval, you will need to provide your loan agent an application, along with your income and asset documentation. Your agent will obtain a credit report, and ask you what the maximum sale price, down payment, and monthly payments you are comfortable with for your offer or offers on homes for sale in Burlingame. With this information, they will submit your file and get it pre-approved prior to making your offer(s).

If you have a difficult time proving that you can afford the monthly budget to afford one of the Burlingame homes for sale, there are programs available that do not require you to provide income documentation. Here are the maximum loan amounts for this program:

• 75% of the sale price up to a loan amount of $1,000,000
• 70% of the sale price up to a loan amount of $1,500,000
• 65% of the sale price up to a loan amount of $3,000,000
• 60% of the sale price up to a loan amount of $4,000,000

My last tip is that if you want to purchase one of the great homes for sale in Burlingame, work with a competent loan agent. Getting a low rate is important, but getting your loan approved quickly with the least amount of hassle is just as important!

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