Blog Archives: January 2017 — December 2017

Just about every week of the year we focus on home... but this week we think it's time to dig a little deeper and shine the spotlight on the people within it! While we have been blessed to see many of the faces that light up your lives, here is a little glimpse into the ones that brighten ours. We cannot thank you enough for the trust, loyalty and confidence that you have placed in Homes of SIlicon Valley in 2017. Our wish for you is to spend as much time possible in the comforts of home, surrounded by love, filled with pride and ...

What a year! Time flies when you are having fun – and yes, we just called the real estate market FUN! If you were a buyer this year, you might have called it ‘challenging’ (OMG there aren’t enough homes!). If you were a seller, you probably felt it was ‘demanding’ (YES, 300 people wanted to view your home). While we all know that the housing arena of 2017 was plagued by inventory issues and climbing prices, there were some other underlying & overlooked trends that defined the market. Since we know you are way too busy to dig through the news ...

Ugh… we know. So many people put off moving because of that long list of ‘all’ that needs to be done before your home can go on the market. If you read our blog last week on “THE #1 MISCONCEPTION ABOUT SELLING YOUR LONG-TERM HOME”, then you are probably feeling a whole lot better knowing that you don’t need to do nearly as much as you thought (or spend as much as you anticipated!). But alas you are not entirely off the hook, and there are three small but simple suggestions we have for all sellers. This list is short and sweet, because let’s ...

You’ve lived in your home for awhile (maybe 10,15 or 20 years). There are things you loved and hated when you bought it, and over the years as the opportunity presented itself – you’ve made some changes as you were able. You finally updated that master bathroom - but the kitchen is still from 1989. You replaced the roof and windows - but the downstairs flooring upgrade is still on your wish list. Does this sound familiar at all?! Unless you’ve won the lottery, chances are your home is much like the classic ‘Christmas Carol’ and haunted by ...

If you have ever worked with us, you know that we are committed to not only helping you buy and/or sell your home, but making sure that the results pave the path for a lifestyle you love. That typically happens by ensuring that you land in an ideal location, and also in a place that has the potential to truly become your own. Depending on the size and scope of your to-do list (either prior to moving in or at some point down the road), you will likely find yourself wondering if you really need a general contractor. We often see our ...

  We are amidst one of the best times of the year here in Silicon Valley ~ the season where corporations and communities collaborate to create amazing experiences for individuals and families. We all know that the unparalleled job growth and economic opportunity here in the Bay Area comes with its share of challenges – the amount and affordability of housing, the increase in traffic and commute times and the pace of life that moves at warp speed. The good news is that a growing number of Silicon Valley businesses, big and small, are ...

We know you read the news. We know you lived through 2008. We know you are seeing home prices and wondering if history is going to repeat itself. While we don’t read crystal balls, we do believe that all information is power. This week we wanted to briefly review when bubble fears are founded, and what distinguishes a crash vs. correction. Home prices will change at some point – and it’s better to know what thresholds are cause for concern and which standard market conditions to expect. The housing bubble concerns emerge when home prices ...

One size fits all is barely ever a solution – especially when it comes to staging! If you follow our Facebook page, than you likely saw our latest pending listing is on track for serious success – and one of the strategies we used in this home is not often talked about. Did you know that you CAN use your existing furniture to stage your home? Did you know that de-cluttering and deep cleaning are aspects of staging? Did you know staging doesn’t have to cost a fortune to get you a big return on your investment? In this week’s blog wanted to ...

We hope that everyone is enjoying a great start to fall whether you are buying, selling, investing or just enjoying right where you are at today! Given the recent, daunting number of natural disasters, evacuations, wildfires and the anniversary of the Loma Prieta Quake – we can think of no better time than the present to provide peace of mind for your future. The following home safety checklist is an ideal resource for review anytime you move, yet also relevant to any homeowner, at any time. We all get busy and distracted, so our hope is that ...

We know we aren’t supposed to have favorites… but we admit that the West San Jose neighborhood known as Cambrian has a special place in our hearts. With familial roots for multiple generations & tons of childhood memories made (Jason grew up there!), it's a place we frequent with our own kids with great pride and enjoyment. While the market has driven the affordability aspect a little farther from the ballpark than we have seen in the past, it’s better known for top schools, tons of family friendly offerings (that Camden Community Center!), ...

We know you read the headlines. We know that you know it is STILL a seller’s market. We all know that inventory is a continued obstacle driving a concern for present and future affordability in Silicon Valley. And we all admit that the return on investment is pretty tempting right now whether you are moving up, moving out of area or just ready to cash in on your real estate returns. But did you know that there is a difference between listing your home and selling it?! A recent read on Inman News reminded us that over-confidence with ...

When we launched our blog nearly 18 months ago… even WE were surprised how much there is to write about when it comes to Silicon Valley real estate! While we definitely believe that knowledge is power… we also know that there is such a thing as information overload! Over the last year and a half, we have tried (and hopefully succeeded!) at giving you access to the very best real estate guidance and news with the very least amount of confusion. Quite often, that meant we picked our top three pieces of advice to give you strategically simple ...

Whether you are a first-time buyer or a move-up buyer… nothing compares to the excitement of getting those keys and finally making the place your own! Maybe you have dreamed for years of owning a place, maybe you have tried for months and months to finally be that winning offer… maybe you got lucky and it was a quick acceptance but those 28 days of escrow seemed like the longest moments of your life! No matter what your situation, chances are you have a really BIG list of stuff you can’t wait to do when you move in, but a budget that’s not ...

Generally speaking, selling your Bay Area home is not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘how’. Homes continue to be in high demand and the fall is often considered the 2nd best time of year to sell. If you have ever interviewed a real estate agent, you know that both experience and integrity are equally important. While much of this can be assessed through a review of the agent’s recent sales and career history… sometimes knowing if you are a match is more about the ‘what if’ than the what has been… Here are 4 questions to help you determine if the ...

Maybe you’ve been waiting… and waiting… and waiting for Bay Area home price pacing to slow down. But for better (for sellers!) or worse (for buyers…), home prices are moving  in ONE direction: UP. The tech blog of The Mercury News, The Silicon Beat, reports “fat appreciation” based on just-released data from Core Logic’s Home Price Index. Year-over-year home prices grew 10.1% in our surrounding 9-county region, with Santa Clara County year-over-year prices up 11% for a single-family home. Similarly, Mortgage News Daily reports that the ...

You might not know exactly what your Labor Day weekend is about to bring – but one thing is certain: heat will be involved! In a blog that is as short and sweet as those summer days we are about to put in our back pocket – here are three hot topics of note this weekend… #1: The Hottest App To Keep Cool In honor of Labor Day weekend and the heat wave that’s about to hit, we wanted to make sure you knew about this app to share with the outdoor workers in your life. This free ‘Heat Safety Tool’ (redesigned by CDC’s National Institute for ...

No matter how much you love your job, there are no doubt days when you can’t wait to escape the office and head home. But what if home IS your office…? It’s not so easy to escape is it! Here in the heart of Silicon Valley, the trends of telecommuting have followed what the thought leaders think about promoting work/life balance versus encouraging camaraderie and collaboration among colleagues. While the tide of the telecommute will ebb and flow… it is a strong moving current that will never disappear entirely. With home now serving as the ...

Did you know that JUST because the kids are back in school doesn’t mean that it’s homework time – at least not for you! Here at Homes of Silicon Valley we actually LIKE digging into all the data, which means that you don’t have to. While you’ve heard that home prices are rising and inventory is low, we’ve compiled the most recent and relevant analytics that give you some perspective on where the market is really at… and what it might mean for you.   IN GENERAL | Price per square foot is highest since the end of 2007 | Sales improving ...

  One of the very best parts about what we do isn’t just making sure every individual and family gets exactly where they need to be – but finding out who they truly are along the way! Thank you sincerely to our buyers, sellers and investors for inviting us into their homes and hearts on their home ownership journeys, this summer and always! With our utmost gratitude for welcoming us into your lives… here is a little glimpse into ours. We have every confidence you’ll agree that making memories with those you love unites us all. No matter ...

August is here and while it may be a tad too early to chat back to school… it’s never too early to get back to your real estate goals! Hopefully these summer days created time for those you love the most, and offered perspective on the goals you have for yourself, your family & your future! If selling and/or moving-up is on your ‘want’ list…consider these three reasons why THIS might be the perfect time and place. #1: The Profit Margin. We all know that affordability is growing concern in the Bay Area, and that low inventory coupled with ...