5.5 out of 10

Explorers

37.552669649113 -122.270912988908
Great for
  • Clean & Green
  • Neighborly Spirit
  • Peace & Quiet
  • Safe & Sound
  • Parking
Not great for
  • Cost of Living
  • Public Transport
  • Childcare
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Lack of Traffic
Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  •  

Reviews

3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Pest Free 3/5
  • Peace & Quiet 3/5
  • Eating Out 3/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 3/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Gym & Fitness 3/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 3/5
  • Parking 4/5
  • Cost of Living 2/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 4/5
  • Public Transport 2/5
  • Medical Facilities 3/5
  • Schools 5/5
  • Childcare 3/5
2yrs+

"Okay, But Not Worth Exploring"

Okay, so maybe this is a bit much just for a neighborhood, but I am just saying that if you are going to theme your neighborhood on explorers, maybe you should have something worth exploring rather than just a series of fairly bland sort of contemporary style houses, all pretty much in the same sort of dull style that while nice and clean is less likely to excite then to put you to sleep.

The two exceptions to this are the condos that are located out on the islands at the northern end of the Explorers. These are both fairly attractive and somewhat reminiscent of Florida in that they sit out on waterways in a manner that has a certain appeal.

You can find some rentals here. Right now for example there is a 2-bedroom going for $2500 and a 4-bedroom going for $3800. That is not completely out of keeping with what you expect on the Peninsula.

As to the price for buying, you need to separate houses out from condos. Up on those northern islands, a condo with 1500 ft. of space will run you $400K to $500K. So that is around $300/sq. ft.

Prices go up significantly as you get into the homes of at the southern end of Explorers, with a 2000 ft. home going for a million dollars on the high end. (Although you can find foreclosures for half that amount on the low end.

The schools here are also excellent, with consistently high scores across the board.

Overall, this is pretty nice area, though it is not so amazing as to blow your socks off.
Pros
  • Nice Condos
  • Clean Neighborhood
  • Good Schools
Cons
  • Bland
  • Not Enough Diversity in Home Styles
  • Expensive
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • LGBT+
3/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 4/5
  • Safe & Sound 4/5
  • Clean & Green 4/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 2/5
  • Nightlife 1/5
  • Shopping Options 2/5
  • Parking 3/5
2yrs+

"Quiet apartment living bliss"

Explorers is a middle-class Foster City community perfect for the renter. It is bounded by Shell Boulevard to the east, Beach Park Boulevard to the south, Edewater Boulevard to the west and Central Lake to the north and within the winding sloughs (canals) of the city. One of its biggest perks is that the community is nestled at the base of Central Lake, which is the aesthetic centerpiece of the city. The lakeside terrain provides locals a beautiful park, tennis courts, a grassy recreation field and hosts a myriad of events at the community amphitheater.

Explorers is almost exclusively residential and great for the average renter. The area is saturated with shared townhouses and mildly attractive, two-story apartment complexes. In a way, these shared residences make up little private communities with communal common spaces (ex. pool, gym room, common room) and afford charming landscaping that surrounds the area. Its perfect for the retiree or the small family who wants to live economically. For the home owner, there are only a small number of residences that scatter the neighborhood. Homes are usually small, but backyards remind one of a suburbanized Venice, Italy (except without the fancy boats), mostly because of the little watery canals winding around the community’s quarters.

For your commercial needs, a small shopping hub in Metro Central Shopping Center is located along East Hillsdale Boulevard. The area is outfitted with a Safeway, a smaller food mart, a CVS pharmacy and a few restaurants. There is also one by the southeastern corner, but offers much of the same. Elsewhere, Foster City Elementary serves the area well and offers young families a convenient educational option for young families. On nice days, Central Lake yields the best amenities and sits adjacent to Explorers. But Catamaran Park, located within the district’s limits, is lakeside and offers a large grassy park with a soccer field and a volley ball pit.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Retirees

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