Free music at Central Park The Central Park Music Series runs every Thursday evening from 6 to 8 through August 6, with a special Fourth of July concert held earlier in the month. Live music, food vendors, and plenty of room to spread out on the lawn, all free (City of San Mateo). Eat and stroll Downtown is made for walking. Grab dinner, then take a slow walk through the neighborhood or over to the park. It is the kind of evening that reminds you why this area is so easy to l

What San Mateo County's Two-Speed Market Means for Buyers and Sellers Right Now If you have been following the San Mateo County real estate market, you have probably seen numbers that look contradictory. Some data shows prices up. Some shows prices down. Both are right. The reason: this is a two-speed market. Single-family homes and condos are moving in completely opposite directions. Single-Family Homes In January 2026, single-family homes in San Mateo County posted a median

Everyone asks when to sell. That is the wrong question. Why Pricing Your Home Right Matters More Than Timing in 2026 Everyone asks: When should I sell? Better question: How should I price? The Reality In San Mateo County right now, the data makes this clear. Single-family homes are selling in 22 days on average at 107% of list price. That means well-priced homes are getting above asking consistently. But the homes that are not priced correctly are sitting. Even in this market

The numbers are in. Here is what is actually happening in San Mateo County right now. Single-Family Homes 538 new listings came to market. 375 sold. Median sale price: $2.2M Avg days on market: 22 days Sale vs list price: 107% Months of inventory: 1.5 Homes are still selling above asking. A 107% sale to list ratio means buyers are regularly paying more than the listed price to win. With only 1.5 months of inventory, there is not much to choose from and competition stays real.

--- Something unusual happened on the Peninsula this spring. Sales of homes priced at $5 million and above in San Mateo County jumped 27% year over year in March 2026. That is approaching levels last seen in March 2022 which is remarkable when you consider that interest rates today are roughly double what they were then. The luxury market did not just hold steady. It accelerated. What Is Driving It The answer is concentrated wealth from the tech and AI sector. OpenAI, Nvidia,

Memorial Day Just Passed. Here Is What That Means for the Peninsula Market. Every year, Memorial Day weekend is the same thing in real estate. Not just a holiday. A signal. It marks the unofficial end of the spring market and the beginning of the summer shift. Buyer activity historically softens after this weekend as families go on vacation, school schedules wind down, and the urgency that drives multiple offers in March and April starts to fade. That pattern is playing out a

--- Why Some Homes Still Get Multiple Offers (And Others Don't) in 2026 Most sellers still think: "If I list it, it will sell fast." Not anymore. Some homes still get multiple offers. Others sit for weeks. The difference? Strategy. What Actually Matters Pricing San Mateo County median prices are up 11.6% year over year. But that doesn't mean every home sells above asking. If your price is off, buyers don't negotiate. They move on. First 7 Days This is when buyers decide: rush

Two homes hit the market the same week. One sells in 10 days. The other sits. Same market. Different outcome. San Mateo County is still active but it’s no longer automatic. Buyers are selective. And they’re quick to move on when something feels off. Here’s what separates fast sales from listings that sit: 1. Pricing That Creates Momentum The right price doesn’t just attract buyers it creates competition. 2. First Week Execution The first 7–10 day's drive the entire trajectory

“Off market” sounds like an advantage. But it doesn’t always mean better. Most off-market homes are shared privately and never hit the MLS. That can mean less competition and earlier access. But it also means there’s no real pressure on the price. No bidding. No way to fully test market value. So, you’re not always getting a deal. Sometimes off market creates opportunity. Sometimes it just removes competition without lowering the price. It depends on the situation. If you’re

$1.5M sounds like a strong budget. In San Mateo County, it depends. At this price point, most buyers are looking at: • Entry-level single-family homes • Townhomes in strong locations • Condos with newer finishes In many areas, single-family homes are still trending closer to $2M and above. Location Burlingame and San Mateo tend to be more competitive. Outer areas usually offer more space for the price. Condition Move-in ready homes come at a premium. Fixers can create opportu

Most sellers still assume: “It’s a hot market I’ll get multiple offers.” That’s not how this market works anymore. What’s Actually Happening San Mateo County is still competitive but it’s no longer automatic. Some homes get multiple offers in days; others sit for weeks. The difference? Strategy. Recent data shows median prices around $1.6 million in early 2026, with prices down slightly year‑over‑year but inventory still tight and homes selling in about 30–40 days on average

Most people say: “Spring.” But the real answer is: when strategy + timing + preparation align. What’s Happening Right Now Low inventory Homes selling fast Many still getting multiple offers If positioned right, you can win in more than just one season. Spring vs. Fall Spring (Apr–Jun): More buyers More competition Higher chance of multiple offers Fall: Less competition Serious buyers Often underrated (but strong results) What Actually Matters More Pricing strategy Presentati

Golf Giveaway: Talk Pricing Strategy at Poplar Creek Win a round of golf with me at Poplar Creek Golf Course and chat about your pricing strategy. Click here to enter! Let’s Price Your San Mateo County Home to Create Competition Download my FREE “Ultimate Home Buyer's Guide” Get pricing checklists and tools to confidently set your strategy. Download Now Staging can increase a home’s value and reduce time on the market, especially in design-conscious, high-price areas like S

The right price is a strategy, not a guess. It’s based on recent local data, designed to attract the right buyers, and aligned with your goals and timing. Golf Giveaway: Talk Pricing Strategy at Poplar Creek Win a round of golf with me at Poplar Creek Golf Course and chat about your pricing strategy. Click here to enter! Let’s Price Your San Mateo County Home to Create Competition Download my FREE “Ultimate Home Buyer's Guide” Get pricing checklists and tools to confident

SPRING = MAXIMUM CHOICE, MAXIMUM COMPETITION May listings peak. More homes, more bidding wars. WINTER = FEWER HOMES, SERIOUS BUYERS December/January slowest. Less competition, motivated sellers. FALL = BALANCED MARKET WINDOW August-November steady. Negotiation room returns. TIMING BEATS SEASONALITY Your life timeline > calendar. Prepared buyers win year-round. FREE Ultimate Real Estate Success Kit Seasonal strategy worksheets included Download my FREE “Ultimate Real Estate Su

By Josh Lee | San Mateo Realtor | Real Estate Advisor Explore the benefits and risks of buying off-market listings in today’s fast-paced San Mateo real estate market. What Are Off-Market Homes? Off-market homes are for sale but are not listed on MLS or major sites like Zillow. These homes are often called "pocket listings" and are marketed quietly through agent networks. Why San Mateo Sellers Go Off-Market Privacy : High-profile individuals, such as celebrities or executiv

By Josh Lee | San Mateo Realtor | Real Estate Advisor Even in 2026, smart buyers in San Mateo County still fall into avoidable traps especially with prices high, inventory tight in some segments, and desirable homes moving quickly. Buying here requires more than browsing listings; it requires a clear plan, the right team, and discipline under pressure. Here are three big mistakes San Mateo County buyers still make and how to avoid them. Mistake #1: Shopping Before Getting Tru

By Josh Lee | San Mateo Realtor | Real Estate Advisor Helping buyers win the right home, not just any home, in competitive markets. As we step into 2026, the San Mateo County real estate market continues to showcase dynamic trends and emerging opportunities for homebuyers and investors alike. Let’s take a look at the key statistics and shifts in the market, and what it means for you. Key Market Insights for January 2026 Single-Family Homes: 372 single-family homes for sale, p

By Josh Lee | San Mateo Realtor | Real Estate Advisor Helping buyers win the right home, not just any home, in competitive markets List price is just a starting point. Here’s what local buyers need to know. In San Mateo County, homes still sell in a competitive environment, with many desirable properties closing at or above asking price while others sell closer to or below list depending on condition, pricing, and timing. That’s why knowing what to offer is less about guessin

By Josh Lee | San Mateo Realtor | Real Estate Advisor Helping buyers discover neighborhoods that balance lifestyle, value, and growth potential. If you’re exploring San Mateo County right now, you might be looking for areas where you can get more space, better community amenities, and still see your investment grow over time. In San Mateo County, up-and-coming doesn’t usually mean “cheap.” It means neighborhoods where prices are still below the top-tier areas but demand, inve