Los Prados

The final piece of the “east of 101” puzzle is Los Prados, a small neighborhood located south of Lakeshore on San Mateo’s southeasternmost border whose character comes from its waterfront location and the large city park at its center. Los Prados was the last of the eastern neighborhoods to be subdivided and developed. It’s rare to find, among Los Prados’ collection of single-family homes, condominiums and apartments, anything dating back further than 1960.

Traditionally, homes for sale on these streets are of the modest, California ranch variety, selling for $1.3 to $1.7 million. in recent years a few small developers have targeted Los Prados real estate, adding a few high-end waterfront homes to the mix. These residences have commanded prices ranging above $2 million.

On Kimberly Way, the last of Los Prados’ waterfront streets, is a subdivision built in the late 1970s. Two- and three-bedroom townhouses, many with canal frontage, sell here for anywhere from $1 to $1.4 million, depending on location.

Los Prados is separated from the rest of San Mateo by East Hillsdale Boulevard and the Bayshore Freeway. Its proximity to both makes it a good choice for commuters. The neighborhood is mostly residential, except for the Los Prados Shopping Center at the corner of Hillsdale and South Norfolk Street, which counts among its businesses the Best Western San Mateo/Los Prados Inn. The small neighborhood's inland streets include the City South Apartments, at 3055 La Selva, a large, multi-unit complex where rent for one-, two- and three-bedroom units starts at approximately $2,900 per month.

At Los Prados’ heart is Los Prados Park. Accessible on Bahia Street and Casa de Campo, the park offers tennis and basketball courts, a baseball field, picnic tables and acres of open green space.

Considering its convenient location, its waterfront and its sizeable central park, Los Prados real estate is an entry-level bargain. One-bedroom condominiums here can be had for less than $200,000 and sturdy, three-bedroom, 1,500 square-foot single-family homes can sell for under $600,000. Perhaps it’s time to take a longer glance at this often overlooked east San Mateo neighborhood.

To view a detailed google map of the Los Prados neighborhood, click here. The MLS area is 422.