Blog Archives: January 2016 — December 2016

It’s hard to believe that not only ‘tis the season – but ‘tis almost THE day! With Christmas upon us and the New Year arriving faster than Santa on his sleigh, we have been reflecting on what an amazing year it has been in so many ways. In the spirit of celebration and all that we hope will be, we have created a list of things we wish for all of our clients, business partners, colleagues and friends. We promise that we are far better real estate agents than poets (and even our kids would agree), but we hope you enjoy these sincere musings ...

After much talk for a very long time but not a lot of action…the federal interest rate hike has finally arrived. On Wednesday (12/14), the Federal Reserve increased its key interest rate by 0.25%. This marks only the second time in a decade that the Fed has raised rates (the first being in December of 2015…we are starting to think it’s the governments way of saying Merry Christmas!). While the move can be viewed as a positive sign of confidence in the US economy, it understandably makes existing and potential homeowners pretty nervous, ...

It’s December ~ and you know what that means! Besides the hustle and bustle of the holidays that traditionally mark this time of year, a recurring theme hits the real estate industry as well, and we call it ‘the crystal ball syndrome’. As soon as the last quarter of the year arrives, nearly every major industry news source and media outlet will begin to predict what the next year of real estate will bring. Suddenly, 2017 housing forecasts roll in faster than those boxes of See’s candy that will soon beckon you from the break room, and the ...

Happy December! If you are wondering how in the world it came to be the last month of the year…you might be in the wrong place because we have NO idea where the time has gone! But if you have stopped by the Homes of Silicon Valley blog to gain some strategic seasonal celebration ideas…then you are in just the right place. Whether you have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area your entire life or just a year or two, you may be familiar with some of the classic holiday traditions: Christmas In The Park, Los Gatos Town Plaza Tree Lighting, Vasona ...

From our families, homes and hearts to yours - we would like to sincerely express our deepest gratitude. Thank you for entrusting us with your biggest hopes & greatest blessings. We live each day, week, month and year with a growing appreciation and recognition of this chance to do what we love with people whom we deeply respect. Thank you & Happy Thanksgiving! ~ Mark & Jason Homes of Silicon Valley  

Did you know that a ripe cranberry will bounce?! Did you know that Thanksgiving is the reason that TV dinners were invented?! Would your kids believe that there were NO forks or turkeys at the first Thanksgiving? Well if you haven’t guessed already – this week’s blog is dedicated to fun facts, food finds and ways to give thanks as we approach Turkey Day 2016! FUN FACTS Chances are your kids learned about the history of Thanksgiving at school…and might tune you out if you mention the word ‘pilgrim’ or ‘Mayflower’. But you still might be ...

For today’s blog, we have been planning to share with you a mantra that we have used both personally and professionally, and lived by, for a very long time. Ironically, as we find ourselves with a new President-Elect and a country whole-heartedly discouraged by the political processes of the year in general, this theme fits now more than ever. If you woke up today and asked yourself “Now what?”…or ever found yourself bewildered in the buying or selling process and wondered “What do I do next?” – we have an idea: the next right thing. We ...

Chances are that subject line got your attention! Let’s face it - anyone can carry a tool – but not everyone can use it to complete your home project without a major headache! Whether you are buying a home, selling a home or simply living your life and trying to maintain one, you have likely needed a contractor at some point. We have spent a great deal of time alongside many of you trying to find that perfect property, and we know that you spend even more time trying to take great care of it. Yet despite your best intentions and having ...

Have you ever compared your home search today to that of your parents or grandparents? Have you ever asked them what the role of a real estate agent was…and received the reply: ‘They found me a house’. Yet in today’s digital era of literally everything, 9 out of 10 home shoppers rely on the Internet as their primary search source for homes. In a comprehensive study conducted by the National Association of Realtors & Google, it’s called the ZMOT: Zero Moment of Truth – the notion that shopping is no longer about showing up in one store (or ...

Thank you so much for continuing to follow the HOSV Blog! Over the last 6 months, you have read A LOT about what real estate makes you think, so in today's blog we wanted to share a few fun quotes and photos about how it makes you feel! While it's true that we have a love of homes from the structure they provide to the lifestyle opportunities they afford...we enjoy the people we have the opportunity to assist even more. It's not always an easy job (but hey, what is?!)...but these faces say it all when it comes to why we do what we do every ...

One of the biggest obstacles homeowners face when considering a move is not only the cost of the purchase, but the associated cost of the property taxes with the new home. For senior citizens who may have lived in their homes for a long time and depend on a fixed income, downsizing can feel traumatic when you enter a smaller home and your property taxes triple or quadruple! Enter the benefits of Propositions 60 & 90, known as exclusions from re-appraisal by the California State Board of Equalization. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROP 60 & ...

One of the best parts about being real estate agents is knowing exactly the first question you are going to be asked at a dinner party: ‘So…what’s the market doing these days’?. Thank goodness that’s not only the most common question we get asked…but one of our most favorite questions to answer! Silicon Valley real estate is a machine all its own, and we continuously monitor the trends, track/analyze the outcomes and employ the data to drive decisive results for our clients. As we begin the final quarter of the year, we wanted to share some ...

Can you believe that the first day of fall is here?! Is it just us…or does it seem like we were just planning summer vacations and fishing our flip-flops out of the closet?! With crisp, perhaps cooler days upon us and the holidays fast approaching, you are likely wishing someone could craft your to-do list…and tackle it too! If those home plans include buying selling…you know that we are always here to help! No matter if the comforts of home are in a new or existing residence, we have compiled three helpful fall checklists for making sure ...

As we transition from the summer to the fall real estate market, you may feel like the most pressing home trend questions can only be answered by a crystal ball. Since real estate agents aren’t traditionally soothsayers…let’s review some data-based predictions instead. Homes.com reports that the most likely shifts are with regards to: Mortgage Rates - Volatility is already present and a slow but long-awaited climb appears to be looming. Generational Drivers - Millennials, Generation X and aging Baby Boomers are expected to drive the ...

With inventory remaining tight, many buyers find themselves continuing their home hunt into fall. While we firmly believe that the best buyer resource is the real estate agent that’s right by your side, we recognize that a little personal due diligence is an equally important part of the process. While the current market may have your patience wearing a little lighter…it’s all the more reason to do the heavy lifting when it comes to your housing homework. This isn’t a decision you make often or take lightly…so don’t let desperation dampen ...

If we all had the same perspective on everything…life might be a little simpler, but also a lot more boring! To make things even more interesting, there are often multiple ways that we individually view major decisions – and the home transaction process is no exception. To help clear up the clutter of a major transition such as buying or selling your home, we encourage you to consider these three perspectives as you make the best possible decision for you. FINANCIAL. Property is quite often the single, largest financial investment that ...

We ALL know the saying that 'hindsight is 20/20', and the old adage is true in matters big and small. But when it comes to selling your home…having as few regrets as possible is paramount to your personal and financial well-being. It’s easy to assume that in a seller’s market you can’t go wrong because your home is in demand…but obtaining the best return on your investment and selecting the appropriate buyer can have critical repercussions in any market. Based on our own decades of experience (we started at the age of 3 right?!), and a ...

Transitions from fall to summer can be a challenging time for us all, as we reframe our mindset from summer fun to fall efficiency. Getting the kids back to school, getting your year-end goals in gear, preparing for the holidays – suddenly the to-do lists are never ending. For buyers and sellers, fall may at first seem like a demanding time to consider a move. Yet, fall is the 2nd most popular time of year for real estate transactions, and the National Association of Realtors® recently reported that THIS fall is a significant time for real ...

What a summer! A little vacation, a few local concerts…and a LOT of successful sales & happy homeowners! We aren’t usually overly sentimental…but we do like to take time to reflect on who and what matters most, and keep things in perspective. Every market, every economic cycle, every transaction and every experience gives us something to learn from, in some way or another. Silicon Valley life is way too demanding to get wrapped-up in the small stuff, so we decided to review the 4 big themes that summarize the summer of 2016! The Best ...

If it’s true that ‘Age is the price of wisdom…’, rest assured that we have much to learn from the Baby Boomers when it comes to making the most of a modern retirement. According to Freddie Mac’s Insight Report, ‘Fun After Fifty’, Baby Boomers are echoing the theme of Peter Pan…and are NOT growing up and out anytime soon. If you expect Boomers (those born from the time World War II ended through 1964) to slow down, sell and downsize…you might be in for a surprise. While the population aged 55 and older makes up one-quarter of the general ...