Beresford Park

With the country club on the northwest side of the Beresford neighborhood, this is one of those places on the Peninsula where property prices spike up not so much because these are mansions but more because they are well-located for commuters and their families—good schools, easy access to transportation, quiet neighborhoods close to suburban conveniences.

Definitely one of the draws of this neighborhood is the CalTrain station right on the south eastern end of the neighborhood.
Most of San Mateo, in fact, has well-positioned CalTrain stations, which makes the corridor from SF to SJ much easier to negotiate.

As to buying a home here?

About 2 out of every three homes on the market here were put there by foreclosure proceedings. For homes not in foreclosure, the median price is around $900 K. For those that are on the market due to foreclosure, the median is $700 K (quite a drop from $900). Again, these are not mansions, but they are nice homes mostly in the 1500 ft to 2500 ft range. You definitely get million dollar homes here that in other, more middle class areas would go for half the price.

The Beresford neighborhood is also good for families since the schools are so strong here. From elementary to high schools the schools here are consistently above average.

There is also a pretty thriving rental market here, all located near the main arteries at the edges of the neighborhood: El Camino, Highway 92, and Hillsdale Blvd. Most 2-bedrooms here go for between $2000 and $2500, except at the swankier newer complexes near the corner of El Camino and Hillsdale, where they go for between $3000 and $5000. (Wow, $5000 to rent a condo? I’ve seen lower mortgage payments.)

There is some crime in the area, but it is mostly contained near El Camino Real. In the past 6 months there have been about 8 assaults and about a dozen break-ins and robberies. Overall, it is a pretty nice area—but way overpriced.

Beresford is a large, open-spaced, middle-of-the-road community within the suburbs of San Mateo. In fact, its total population is approaching 1,200, which pits it as one of the largest communities in all the city. For the perspective resident, there are a wide range of house types from size to style. The district is also well-connected to its surrounding parts. This includes the Hillsdale Shopping Center, which anchors the southeastern corner of the neighborhood (along with the Hillsdale Caltrain station). Demographically speaking, the district is largely white, with a small asian and hispanic minority.

Beresford Park’s residential living is most of what you’d expect out of a middle-class community. Homes are somewhat old, mostly built between the 1940’s and 1960’s. If you’re looking for its best living accommodations, they’re situated furthest northwest and southwest. According to the 2010 US Census, median estimated value of homes are just over $1 million, while the median household income circles around $90,000. With that said, the community also is host to a plethora of renters (approximately 25%), most of which pay around $1,500/month. For the average commuter, the neighborhood is nestled between US Route 101, Interstate 280 and the highway that connects them--US Route 92.

While almost exclusively residential, Beresford Park also boasts a handful of chain shops (including Barnes & Noble, Old Navy and Nordstrom), well-known restaurants (California Pizza Kitchen, T.G.I. Friday’s, Subway, etc.) and a grocery store (Trader Joe’s) towards the southeast region. Beresford Park also encompasses the Peninsula Golf and Country Club. The challenging 18-hole golf course is a full-service country club and nestled in the open hills of San Mateo. Elsewhere, the College of San Mateo is wedged along the district’s western corner. Many locals attend the 2-year community college out of its proximity.