San Mateo

The Top Five Reasons to Live in San Mateo

1. Size

As members of the second largest community in San Mateo
County, residents of San Mateo have access to a myriad of amenities available at the tip of their fingers. San Mateo is home to some of the Peninsulaÿs best shopping, dining, recreational activities and housing. The key to its success as a city: balance. The City of San Mateo expertly
balances its small-town feel with its need to grow, its economic with residential needs and more.

2. Restaurants
San Mateo has some of the best dining on the Peninsula.
Restaurants line the streets of its popular downtown and
business districts and offer something for the entire family.
For those with palettes for down-home American cooking
and for those who enjoy something more exotic- San Mateo
has it all.

3. Business Opportunities

Not only is San Mateo a great place to live, but itÿs also a great place to do business. For entrepreneurs planning to
start up their own companies in the near future, San Mateo
is the place to be. Because of its convenient location and
booming economy, business owners already have a head
start. They also benefit from the business-friendly atmosphere and seemingly endless clientele. Finally, the City also runs a number of programs to help startups, including awarding cash grants to new business owners.

4. College of San Mateo

With the College of San Mateo nearby, San Mateo residents
have the world at their fingertips. Students of all ages and learning levels have the opportunity to learn and grow
through the Collegeÿs myriad programs. Class schedules are flexible and often accommodate night students or those
with special needs.

5. Outstanding City Government

The City of San Mateo has an excellent, well-organized
government. Backed by a community of supportive
residents and elected officials, the government is responsive to its community and works to help its residents. It is responsible for the Cityÿs well-run infrastructure and amenities, including public safety. Most importantly, the City strives to stay within its budget?a strategy that benefits government officials and residents alike.

San Mateo, The City of Balance

San Mateo is one of those rare cities that manages to achieve a perfect balance between key elements: business,
residential growth, development, location, transportation and recreation.

As the second largest city in San Mateo County, it offers residents a myriad of opportunities to get involved and have
fun without turning into a metropolis. San Mateo expertly balances this fine line between big city and bedroom
community. ´When my parents moved here in 1953, they bought their first home in Baywood Knolls,¡ said longtime San Mateo resident, Realtor David Zigal. ´They chose San Mateo because of its convenient location, comfortable environment and availability of social activities. I stayed and raised my family here because I loved it so much.¡

With 95,000 residents, San Mateo is the second largest city
on the Peninsula. It is conveniently located midway between
San Jose and San Francisco, offering a doorway to worldclass music, art, sports and cultural events. Residents
enjoy their proximityto both cities via public transportation
and easy access to both the 101 and 280 highways.

Because of its size, San Mateo is a center for shopping, recreation and community involvement. However, despite this business and population growth, it enchants home buyers thanks to its ´bedroom community¡ feel. This balance makes it an ideal place to live. It attracts buyers who want to escape the chaos of a larger city but still
want to live in a fun environment with a myriad of activities.

´We are a city on the move!¡ said San Mateo Mayor John Lee. ´We are continuing to grow and pride ourselves
on our strong business environment, committed City government and great community.¡ Thereÿs always something new going on in San Mateo.

Business has been booming in San Mateo thanks to programs such as these and the business-friendly environment. ´San Mateo is a very convenient and
accessible City that attracts customers from across the peninsula,¡ lists Realtor John Brook as one reason businesses do so well in this area. ´They also have
some great programs for new retailers that help businesses get established and be successful.

The City government works hard to ensure businesses grow, its community is happy and residentsÿ voices are heard. They pride themselves on their excellent
amenities and accessibility. Most important, one of the Cityÿs major goals each year is to balance the budget.
´We have a unique philosophy in San Mateo: We donÿt spend more than we have,¡ said Mayor Lee.

San Mateo wasnÿt always this large, recall longtime residents. Realtor Marlin Gill has lived in San Mateo since
1952 and was even a student at the College of San Mateo. ´When I first moved here, it was a quiet, bedroom
community,¡ said Gill. ´I remember when I could have gone downtown at around 6pm and slept in the middle
of 4th Ave. without being run over by cars.¡ Despite its quiet nature,

San Mateo has always balanced business and residential
needs. ´Back then business was only allowed on the east side of El Camino Real,¡ said Gill. ´Today, business has expanded to other areas of San Mateo, but the city still maintains that ?bedroom communityÿ feel.¡

Gill is a member of the San Mateo County Association of Realtors (SAMCAR), a professional trade organization
that organizes Realtors on the Peninsula. The Association provides members with opportunities for community
involvement and access to a network of professional resources and business contacts. Realtors must abide
by a strict code of ethics and participate in additional training above and beyond state real estate license requirements.

San Mateo also stands out because of its outstanding school system from kindergarten to college. The College
of San Mateo is one of the Cityÿs biggest assets. Students can choose from a myriad of programs that are flexible
and meet the needs of people from all different background.

The College provides San Mateo with an atmosphere of learning and growth. Not only do San Mateo children learn in school, but after school activities and learning opportunities
abound for kids of all ages. The City sponsors classes,
camps and other fun activities year-round for the whole family.

When not in school or out shopping, San Mateo residents take advantage of the natural surrounding beauty. The City is home to Shoreline Park, where people go to walk their dogs, fly kites or just lounge in the sun. Residents also enjoy sailing, golfing, windsurfing and hiking in surrounding parks.

San Mateo offers residents the best of both worlds: a small-town feel with city-sized attractions. Homeowners
will never be bored in this ever-evolving city.