San Carlos

The Top Five Reasons to Live in San Carlos

1. SMALL-TOWN FEEL

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area, San Carlos stands out as a city with a small-town feel. Affectionately known as ´Mayberry.com,¡ for the melting pot of dotcommers and natives, San Carlos is a place where everyone seems to know each other. It has a warm and friendly feel, especially thanks to the myriad of community activities and spaces, like the Farmerÿs Market that takes place downtown each Thursday during the summer.

2. THE SAN CARLOS AIRPORT

The San Carlos airport is an important business and transportation asset to the community. Home to approximately 500 aircraft and more than 25 aviation related

businesses, flying aficionados and businessmen alike take advantage of the San Carlos Airport. Economically, aviation is the top employer in San Mateo County, and the Airport provides an important source of education and training for the pilots, mechanics and airport employees that fill the jobs

in the industry.

3. DIVERSE GEOGRAPHY

Unlike other communities in the area, San Carlos offers a diverse geography that has something for everyone. Houses in the San Carlos Hills feature cooler weather and stunning ocean views. Others enjoy the warmer weather and accessibility of the flatlands below. No matter what oneÿs tastes, San Carlos has something to offer.

4. SENIOR FACILITIES

San Carlos is proud of its exceptional Senior Center that makes the city accessible and fun for seniors. The Center offers weekly classes, activities, counseling, a computer lab and other programs offering opportunities to mingle and

have a good time. There are also many public and private agencies that provide help and support services to seniors. For example, Redi-Wheels provides curb-to-curb transit services for seniors with mobility challenges.

5. CARING BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The business community in San Carlos is truly a community. Business owners in San Carlos want each

other to be successful and work together toward that end. The San Carlos Chamber of Commerce is one of the driving

forces behind this spirit of cooperation and offers events, seminars and forums for the discussion of important issues.

Find Home Sweet Home in San Carlos

San Carloÿs motto says a lot about its character: ´The city of good living¡ is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods on the Peninsula. Its close-knit community, green landscape and thriving businesses make it an ideal place to live, say long-time residents. ´San Carlos is a great place to live. We have clean streets, a clean neighborhood, very little crime, good shopping and great restaurants,¡ said San Carlos Realtor Geoffrey Craighead.

´And traffic isnÿt as bad here as in neighboring cities!¡ Craighead serves as a board director of the San Mateo County Association of Realtors (SAMCAR), which represents more than 3,200 real estate professionals in the county - 300 of whom are doing business in San Carlos (as of September). An online directory can be found at http://

www.samcar.org.

´People who move here end up staying for a long time. They really have an affinity for the city,¡ said San Carlos city manager Brian Moura. ´They love the pretty greenery, old fashioned downtown area and small-town feel.¡ Located midway between San Francisco and San Jose, San Carlos is centrally located on the Peninsula. Despite its large population of more than 28,000, the City has a small-town

feel. Kinship among neighbors combined with a thriving high-tech business community has earned it a reputation as being ´Mayberry.com¡.

´San Carlos truly has a hometown feel,¡ said San Carlos Realtor Denise Aquila. ´There is something for everyone and events like the summer Farmers Market provide a nice way for people to meet and get to know each other.¡

The downtown area further solidifies its ´Mayberry.com¡ feel. Lined with stores, cafes and restaurants, Laurel St. seems more like a quaint town center than a city center. ´It is a

place where many people can come and foster relationships with people they wouldnÿt ordinarily meet,¡ said Aquila, who, like Geoffrey Craighead, serves on the SAMCAR board of directors. San Carlos residents are very involved in their community, both Realtors point out.

´One tradition in San Carlos is its slogan progress

through participation,¡ confirms city manager Moura. This, he says, becomes especially evident in the number of volunteers who spend time each month meeting with committees on topics including traffic and culture

to help advise the City Council. San Carlosÿ neighborhood atmosphere particularly appeals to parents and makes it a safe place to raise a family. ´Our city is very safe. There is almost no crime and one can walk anywhere at night without feeling afraid,¡ said Moura.

San Carlos schools are counted among the best in the nation and are highly regarded. Most of the schools in San Carlos are honored with the label ´distinguished¡, meaning

that they rank among the top two percent in the U.S. ´People in town are proud of their schools,¡ said Moura.

Kids also have a myriad of opportunities to grow outside the classroom in San Carlos. The City boasts 14 parks and 8 playgrounds. During the summer, concerts in the park and other community activities provide a great outlet for kids to meet others. ´Burton Bark offers many community activities and is a large enough park to accommodate baseball diamonds and playgrounds,¡ said Aquila.

Because of its desirability and stellar schools, San Carlos has one major drawback: its housing prices are some of the highest in the area. ´Most people who live hear enjoy it

but one challenge is that we are victims of our own

success. We have very high home prices because of

the services, amenities and natural beauty of the area,¡

said Moura.

In March 2003, the median selling price for homes was

$675,000-today homes under $700,000 are usually fixer-uppers. ´People covet San Carlos as an address

and that makes homes more expensive¡ said Realtor Denise Aquila. Rental prices also run higher than others in the area.

Luckily, San Carlos residents also earn more money each year than the average San Mateo County resident. Its thriving business community is one reason for this success. The city is home to many high-tech, biotech and dotcom companies, in addition to local stores and other small businesses.

The San Carlos airport also provides a means for economic growth. The airport is home to more than 25 aviation-related

businesses, and provides a medium for the transportation of goods. Economically, aviation is the top employer in San Mateo County and the Airport provides an important

source of education and training for the pilots, mechanics and airport employees that fill the jobs in the industry.

As the City of Good Living, San Carlos stands out among other Peninsula communities. Denise Aquila summed it up this way: ´The only reason I can think of for people to dislike the City is if they hate the warm weather!¡