By 1945 (just as other development in Millbrae was beginning), Niels Schultz, the developer of the neighborhood, completed his original plan for the Millbrae Highlands. The subdivision ended at what is now the Spur Trail (then a railroad spur and at one point the proposed path of a freeway before becoming protected open space in 1975), where Schultz built smaller homes of two and three bedrooms, which can now be had for approximately $1.4 to $2.0 million, less than the larger, older homes closer to downtown.

Schultz was finished – he went on to create Greenbrae, in Marin County – but Millbrae Highlands was not. Within a few years, construction began on homes further into Millbrae’s western hills.

This part of Millbrae Highlands is very different from the “old” neighborhood core. Once gridded and tree-lined, streets between Minorca and the 280 freeway wind uphill, sometimes ending in cul-de-sacs, with minimal trees to block San Francisco Bay Views. Homes here resemble those found in Mills Estates – sprawling one and two-story houses with mid-century influences, shallow pitched roofs and large windows designed to maximize views.

Millbrae Highlands homes for sale are not inexpensive, but they undercut comparable properties in established Burlingame, San Mateo and Menlo Park neighborhoods. Niels Schultz’ original Highlands homes range in price from around $1.6 to as high as $2.3 million, while newer homes located higher into the hill can fall into the $3 million to $3.5 million. These homes, built in the 1950s and 1960s, can be quite large, sometimes with more than four bedrooms, three or more bathrooms and more than 3,000 square feet of space.

San Mateo has it all: a diversity of neighborhoods, great parks, easy access, a plethora of shopping, and home to many businesses and an anchor for employment on the peninsula. With a rich heritage, dating back to the turn of the century with its most famous resident being A.P. Giannini, the founder of the Bank of Italy and later Bank of America, San Mateo offers a delightful spread of activity for all. The downtown area is studded with delicious restaurants and a variety of retail stores, and also boasts a 12 screen movie theatre and one of the largest wine cellars in the country, at Draeger’s Grocery Store. Shopping abounds at Hillsdale and Bridgepointe as well as the many neighborhood shopping centers.

Perhaps the most well known natural area is Coyote Point, a rock outcropped peninsula that juts into San Francisco Bay and home to a natural history museum, the Peninsula Humane Society, windsurfing, a private marina, and large picnic areas with uplifting vistas. Within walking distance of downtown, Central Park has something for everyone: ride the toy train, pick up a game of tennis, take a serene walk through the Japanese Garden, have a picnic while listening to Thursday evening’s Jazz in the Park, or enjoy the playgrounds.

San Mateo attracts a variety of homeowners, from those seeking their first home in the upcoming neighborhoods of the Village, Parkside, or Shoreview, to those looking for more a little more space in Hillsdale or the Meadows, to larger families seeking the spaciousness offered by San Mateo Park, Baywood, and Aragon.