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Low Inventory Turns San Bruno Home Sales Into 'Bidding Wars'

With 20 to 50 offers on a number of homes in San Bruno, it's making everybody crazy.

This week, we are back down to 16 houses for sale in San Bruno, with the least expensive being $510,000. That is because last week's homes for sale had offer dates and they all sold with 20-plus offers on them.

My co-worker, Lee Ginsburg, had over 20 offers on his recent listing on Fleetwood Drive, an average three-bedroom, two-bath home in Rollingwood. 

This has become a phenomenon throughout the Bay Area. Every time a median-priced house hits the market—whether it's a short sale, bank-owned home or a regular sale—it has an offer date and gets multiple bids. The homes are not underpriced either.

Realtors who work in San Bruno know that the "underpricing" strategy is misleading, and it makes for a lot of extra work for the agent and seller. We check the most recent, comparable sales and base our list price on an average sale price. 

Hopefully, in the near future, there will be more homes on the market to choose from so that there won't be so many offers and buyers will have a better chance.

Karin Cunningham, "Your San Bruno Neighborhood Specialist," is a Realtor with Prudential California Realty. She can be reached at 650-438-3504 or karinc@prucal.com. Visit her on the Web at www.KarinCunningham.com or check out her blog, San Bruno Life, on Facebook.

Steve Stelter August 31, 2012 at 01:09 am
@ Joe, so where does all your anger come from? Someone is giving you a complimentary perspective of the local market from a professional perspective that could perhaps help a perspective buyer, and you respond with lots of hate and slander? What is up with that? Grow up. If you are frustrated with something that affects you maybe if you ask nice you could get some help. Ask some substantive questions and this could be mutually beneficial. If your just a hater with too much free time on your hands , go bother someone else, jeez....
Angelique August 31, 2012 at 01:09 am
Um Wow?!?! Joe you're rude! If you don't like Karin then don't read her Blog! Have you personally used her as a Realtor?? Do u even know their is a difference between Realtors & Real Estate agents?? Probably not! Get off your high horse, and don't speak as if you're speaking for the people because you don't speak for me! And I'm sure there are plenty of people who agree your post above is uncalled for!
Steve Stelter August 31, 2012 at 01:28 am
If home prices are set very low, that's an evil thing in his eyes? Joe, you need to learn about economics and free markets. If I put my iPad on eBay with a starting price of $50, of course there will be a bidding war. But we are all free and adults, welcome to bid, not bid or whatever. The market bears what the market wants. Supply and demand. Wise up...
John Kevranian August 31, 2012 at 01:40 am
It's called the willing buyer and the willing seller! Thank you very much!
Sasha August 31, 2012 at 02:19 am
People like Joe are just angery little ignorant humans who have no idea what the hell they are talking about. Karin is one of the most caring sweetest person I know and she is my competition. We both use to work at one of the best real estate companies in the bay area. I have moved on and there is nothing that I could ever say bad about Karin or the wonderful company she works for!!!!
Phyllis McArthur August 31, 2012 at 06:57 pm
getting back to this great article, I too agree that under-pricing is not a great strategy either. Yes, Karin it is miss leading, Further south it's a heart breaker for 1st time homebuyers
Scarlett B August 31, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Karin was our agent when we bought our home. My husband at the time was very nervous and difficult to work with due to his lack of knowledge of the market at the time. Karin was extreme patient and gave us sooo much time and alternatives to work with. Her time was priceless. Anyone who doesn't know or appreciate her unique skills as a RE agent, is really missing out on a great experience. Thanks for enlighting us Karin and you will always be my agent.

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Drew Himmelstein (Editor) June 19, 2013 at 11:53 am
Hey Heidi-- I'm still here, I'm just working on a different group of sites in Santa Cruz and SantaRead More Clara counties. We've been through a transition in our shift to the new Patch site, but we think we have a lot of new opportunities for great local news and participation. Send me an email at drew@patch.com if I can answer any questions. -Drew
Karin Cunningham June 17, 2013 at 11:08 am
Yep! Yep! You can get one at the San Bruno Chamber of Commerce!
Heidi Beck June 13, 2013 at 07:29 pm
I drove by on the way home from work -- if they're really opening tomorrow, they are going to haveRead More to work all night!
Mamarocko June 18, 2013 at 12:52 pm
I heard that Safeway was going to open at the end of the month.
Heidi Beck June 18, 2013 at 02:36 pm
They took down the sign that said they were opening on June 14 and I haven't seen a new one with theRead More new date go up. The website still says "Store Grand Opening is on target for June 14, 2013," so that clearly needs updating too.
Karin Cunningham May 30, 2013 at 05:34 pm
Yay! Back to San Mateo Ave.? That's awesome! Let's support! I might even walk down with my lawnRead More chairs and just hang out in the Citibank parking lot!