San Mateo Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in San Mateo County, California


	San Mateo Houses for Sale

San Mateo

San Mateo is located on the San Francisco peninsula about 20 miles south of the city of San Francisco. The San Mateo Bridge connects the peninsula with the east bay, while the San Francisco International Airport is just five miles north of the city.

The Ohlone Indians originally inhabited San Mateo, but after 1776 it became the home of Spanish explorers. The modern city of San Mateo reflects this rich Native American and Spanish history.

Among the historic buildings lining the downtown streets is the first Roman Catholic Church built in San Mateo. This building was first put to use in 1864. Two years later the first stone church in California was built by the Episcopalians. Both churches still remain fully intact.

In addition to the downtown shopping area -- including the main library and lovely Central Park -- San Mateo is a shopper's paradise. It has one of the Bay Area's premier regional shopping centers featuring Nordstrom, Macys, Mervyns, Sears, Gap, Williams Sonoma, Borders, Good Guys and more.

Education is a high priority in San Mateo. There are more than 30 elementary schools covering public and private education, four high schools and the county’s largest community college, College of San Mateo. More than half of San Mateo residents have attended college. Prestigious Stanford University, located in Palo Alto, is less than 30 minutes away.

Seven large parks cover areas throughout the city. The Ice Chalet ice rink offers both skating lessons and hockey leagues. AYSO, Little League, swimming and gymnastics are among the numerous club sports offered to children and young adults.

San Mateo is blessed with lots of striking natural features. Situated on the San Francisco Bay, it has wonderful bay front trails and its own yacht harbor. The city also borders natural wild land area to the west, and there are some great areas for hiking only minutes from home.

The San Mateo Senior Center offers computer training for the elderly as well as a meeting place for the older community to gather for trips, friendship and fun. Poplar Creek Golf Course and Bay Meadows Race Track make up a portion of the recreational activities available to those living in and visiting the San Mateo area. The city is also home to the county’s Expo center, where there’s almost always something going on.

Summer heat is not an issue in this offshore community. The average temperature is 77 degrees even in the hottest of months. Winter temperatures reach an average low of 43 degrees.

For big-city living without the hustle and bustle, in proximity to a major airport and the culture and history of San Francisco, an excellent school system, numerous recreational activities, a growing community and reasonably priced homes, San Mateo is an exceptional choice for young and old alike.