Case Study · San Mateo · 2025 to 2026
225 N El Dorado Street
A well loved 1952 home in San Mateo's Bowie Estates, bought off market for my investor clients, fully refreshed inside and out, and resold above list about six and a half months later.
The story
Eight months of heads up
In March 2025 I sat down with the trustees of 225 N El Dorado, more than five of them, to brainstorm how to sell their home for top dollar. The home had been immensely cared for over the years, but at that time there were too many moving parts to make a sound decision, and they decided to put the idea away until further notice.
Fortunately for my clients, the top producing agents on the Peninsula work together on homes they are preparing for market. That fall I got a second heads up about this house, through Instagram, from an agent I started with in 2018. When it was finally ready, it was offered as a private sale and available for only a couple of hours. My investor clients and I had an offer submitted less than an hour after getting the notice, and we wrapped it up at an incredible price.
We closed on December 15, 2025 at $1,075,000, all cash, and the plan from day one was a thoughtful refresh rather than a rebuild: keep the beloved footprint and the seamless floor plan, and replace everything that needed replacing.
My clients were a local family who are teaching their next generation the ropes of home renovation and development, and this house was a hands on project for all of them, from the first walkthrough to the final sale.
- March 2025Listing appointment and planning session with the trustees; they decided to wait
- Fall 2025A second heads up from a fellow agent; the home was offered privately for only a couple of hours
- December 15, 2025Closed at $1,075,000, all cash, for my investor clients
- Winter to spring 2026Permitted remodel: kitchen, both baths, roof, windows, systems, drainage and concrete
- May 20, 2026Listed at $1,588,000
- May 30 and 31, 2026First open house weekend
- June 4, 2026In contract after 15 days on market
- June 30, 2026Closed at $1,670,000, $82,000 over list
December 2025: it helps to have the heads up about a home coming to market eight months before it is available.
The property at purchase
- Built
- 1952
- Neighborhood
- Bowie Estates
- Lot
- Approx. 6,059 sq ft
- Size
- Approx. 1,340 sq ft
- Bedrooms
- 3
- Closed
- December 15, 2025
- Price
- $1,075,000, all cash
The front porch and entry after the refresh.
The starting point
What we bought
A 3 bedroom, approximately 1,340 square foot 1952 home on a 6,059 square foot lot, with good bones and a great location, but decades of deferred updates. The pre purchase inspection in late 2025 noted:
Exterior
Cracked stucco at the front, deteriorated exterior paint, dry rot in the eaves and fascia, and dry rot in the wood window sills and jambs.
Concrete and grounds
Cracks in the driveway and walkways, leaning and damaged fencing, and vegetation growing against the house.
Systems
An older roll roofing roof, an older standard efficiency furnace, a manual single panel garage door, and cloth covered knob and tube wiring found in the garage.
A surprise find in the house right after closing. It turned out to be a Red Ryder BB gun, not a real one. If it had been real, the process is to report it to the local police so they can dispose of it properly.
Watch on InstagramWhat we did
Same beloved footprint, brand new feel
The kitchen and both bathrooms were remodeled without moving a single wall, preserving the home's original footprint while delivering a completely refreshed living experience. Every major item was addressed, and the work was permitted.
Kitchen
Remodeled down to the studs. New cabinetry with a light wood island, new counters, pendant lighting, counter seating and stainless appliances including a gas range, open to the dining and living areas.
Bathrooms
Both baths fully remodeled. The hall bath and the existing second bathroom were both remodeled, with the second bath's work approved by the city. New vanities, fixtures, lighted mirrors and tile, with a tiled tub and shower in the hall bath and a glass walk in shower in the second bath.
Roof and windows
New roof, new windows. The old roll roofing was replaced with a new composition roof, and new windows went in throughout, bringing in much more natural light.
Systems
New behind the walls. Rewired electrical, a new furnace and central air conditioning, and a new water heater.
Drainage and concrete
Built to last. A new French drain, a repoured driveway and garage slab, and repaired concrete around the property.
Interior finishes
Bright and cohesive. Wide plank flooring, recessed lighting, a skylight in the hall, a wood paneled fireplace wall in the living room, and fresh interior paint throughout.
Exterior
Curb appeal restored. Freshly painted exterior, a covered front porch with railings and a modern front door, and low maintenance landscaping front and back.
Location
The part you cannot remodel. Quiet, tree lined Bowie Estates streets, walkable to downtown San Mateo and Caltrain, minutes to Highway 101, Coyote Point, King Park, San Mateo High School and Woodlake.
Bringing it to market
Launch, open houses and follow up
We listed on May 20, 2026 at $1,588,000 and positioned it as a true turnkey home in one of San Mateo's most conveniently located neighborhoods. Every interested agent got a personal follow up, and before reviewing offers we held the home open for one more weekend so every serious buyer had a chance to see it.
Print and social
A designed listing flyer, a Just Listed post and a launch reel on Instagram, all built around the turnkey story: new roof, new windows, new driveway and more.
Open houses
Open from 2 to 4 pm on launch weekend, May 30 and 31, and held open one more weekend before looking at offers.
Personal follow up
I tracked and personally called or texted more than two dozen buyer's agents who showed the home or requested disclosures.
Disclosures ready
A complete disclosure package was ready at launch, so buyers could write strong, clean offers quickly.
Just listed in San Mateo: the Bowie Estates home, fully transformed.
Officially live, with the first open house on May 30 and 31.
The result
Sold for $1,670,000
225 N El Dorado went into contract on June 4, 2026, just 15 days after it hit the market, and closed on June 30, 2026 at $1,670,000, which was $82,000 or about 5 percent over the list price.
I represented my investor clients on both ends: on the buyer side when we bought it off market in December 2025, and as the listing agent when we sold it in June 2026. From purchase to resale took about six and a half months.
The sale price came in $595,000 above the purchase price, before remodel and holding costs. The bigger story is how the deal started: a planning session with the trustees more than a year earlier, a relationship with a fellow agent, and being ready to act within an hour. Grateful to have helped write this home's next chapter.
The sale
- Listed
- May 20, 2026 at $1,588,000
- In contract
- June 4, 2026, after 15 days
- Closed
- June 30, 2026
- Sale price
- $1,670,000
- Over list
- $82,000, about 5 percent
- Purchase to resale
- About 6.5 months
Same beloved footprint, brand new feel.
The finished home
Photos
Professional listing photos from the May 2026 launch. Tap the photo or use the arrows to see the next one.
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I'm Selling I'm Buying What's My Home Worth?Joseph Suarez, Coldwell Banker Burlingame · DRE 02085594 · (650) 678-7056. Sale data from MLSListings, MLS numbers ML82029842 and ML82048003. Square footage and lot size figures are approximations taken from MLS and public records and may not be exact; buyers should verify independently.