A day of orientation
Ed starts every relocation with a tour of the Peninsula's towns and neighborhoods. By the end of the day you know where the schools, hospitals, trains, shops and trails are, and which towns feel like yours.
Towns and neighborhoods
Hillsborough, Burlingame, San Mateo and Woodside, and the neighborhoods inside them.
Schools
Public districts, private and parochial schools, and how enrollment works.
Medical care
Hospitals, medical groups and specialists on the Peninsula.
Commute and transit
Caltrain, 101 and 280, SFO, and real drive times to the city and Silicon Valley.
Shopping and dining
Burlingame Avenue, Broadway, downtown San Mateo and the markets locals use.
Recreation and clubs
Golf and country clubs, parks and trails, the bay and the coast.
Culture and worship
Theaters, museums, libraries and places of worship.
Points of interest
Filoli, the Carolands, Coyote Point and the places you will bring visitors.
The market
Comparable sales, trends and what homes cost in each town, in writing.
Temporary housing, and renting before you buy
Many families arrive before they are ready to buy. Ed knows the extended-stay hotels, the furnished condos and apartments, and the single-family rentals, and can line one up before you land.
For those who prefer to rent first, Ed puts the search on the same footing as a purchase: what the areas you care about cost, what has sold, and where the market is heading, in a written review.
If the move takes you beyond the Peninsula, Ed has a network of seasoned agents in other markets he can hand you to.
Where Ed works
The towns and neighborhoods Ed works in.
Northern California
Part of the case for living here: 24 places Ed sends clients for a trip from Burlingame, with the drive time to each. See them all
Client Reviews
What Clients Say
“Ed's strength as a broker is partially based on his love and knowledge of architecture. His significant understanding of both architecture, architectural history, design, local market dynamics and buyer interest enables him to see what is possible, and what is worth doing to maximize value. He has vision and a highly attuned sense of what works and doesn't work...”
Tom Saidy
Sold in Hillsborough
“While none of us had met you before, we chose to include you among the three agents that we initially interviewed because we associated your name with many years of real estate experience on the Peninsula. In that sense, your reputation preceded you; however, it was upon personally meeting you, and then working with you as the listing agent, that we really came to appreciate how all of those years of experience translated into a very smooth and successful real estate transaction.
You had an immediate understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the house itself, and could envision and articulate which improvements we might consider making in order to maximize the home's appeal to prospective buyers.
You had the vendors and resources available to get the improvements done in a timely and cost efficient manner. Those included minor repairs, wallpaper removal and painting, cleaning and staging. The staging in particular was especially impressive; it wasn't overdone and yet it transformed the house. All of those tasks were taken care of with virtually no involvement required on our part, and your time estimate of approximately one month to complete the tasks was accurate.
We are ever so grateful for your sage services, and would be happy to recommend you to anyone looking for an agent in the area.”
Jean Allan
Sold a home
“Thank you so much in helping us find our dream home. Your wisdom and kindness throughout the years has been an invaluable asset to our family throughout the years. We're so lucky to be able to work with you.”
Ambie Valdes and Toby Mao
Bought a home
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is the Peninsula from San Francisco and the airport?
Hillsborough and Burlingame are about twenty minutes from downtown San Francisco and ten from SFO by car. Caltrain runs from Burlingame and San Mateo north to the city and south to Palo Alto and San Jose.
Can we rent before we buy?
Yes. Ed handles the rental search himself, from furnished short stays to single-family homes, so you can take your time choosing a town.
How do schools work here?
Each town has its own public districts, and the Peninsula has many private and parochial schools. The tour covers which district a street belongs to and how enrollment works; the community guides list the schools by town.
Does Ed work outside the Peninsula?
His own practice is the Peninsula. For other markets he refers you to agents he has worked with and stays involved as much as you need.
Arriving on the Peninsula?
Tell Ed when you land and what matters most. He will plan the day, line up temporary housing if you need it, and send market reviews for the areas you are considering.
