Blog Archives: January 2018 — December 2018

If you follow our blog, then you know that we have a whole lot to say about Silicon Valley real estate! But you also know that we update our blog weekly because staying on top of market changes is our job and not yours. As we always do at year-end, we took some time to reflect on what happened in 2018 and what that means for you in 2019. To that end, we have compiled our ‘Best Of 2018’ blogs; while we hope that every article that we created has helped someone in some way – we believe these are the topics that will align most with what ...

What a year! As we reflect with much gratitude on another amazing year of Silicon Valley real estate – we got a little sentimental as we started reviewing some photos (shhh – don’t tell anyone!). More than just homes sold or property purchased… do you see what we see?! We see homes of happy memory making – past, present and future.Kitchens where great holiday meals were prepared & enjoyed. Backyards where summer barbeques were hosted with a dress code of flip-flops required. Bedrooms where kids giggled joyfully when they were supposed ...

2018 was a bit of a game-changer for the housing market. It kicked off with a continuation of historic low rates and rapid home price appreciation and ended with rising rates and signals of softening. As we all prepare for what we can expect (but certainly not control) in 2019… here is what Forbes is predicting and what we think it means for you. Rates Approach 6%. Forbes anticipates that 30-year fixed rate mortgages could reach 5.8% - a number we have not seen in 10 years . Millennials Will Account For 45% Of Mortgages. As the largest ...

If you think most homebuyers have given up – it might be time to think again! According to a recent study as reported by Mortgage News Daily, 72% of millennials stated that owning a home is their #1 priority (above traveling the world, getting married & having children). With 70% of respondents believing that their rents will increase every year or two and 30% paying more than 1/3 of their income for rent – the value of homeownership as a wise financial investment is a driving force. We all know it is not easy to buy in today’s market… but ...

If you know us – you know that we love living & playing in Silicon Valley just as much as we love working here! With so much to do in so many parts of the South Bay… there is one place that always calls us home: Campbell! In the spirit of the season, here are thee things NOT to miss in Campbell this season! #1: The 33rd Annual Carol of Lights Celebration This family friendly, evening event takes place this Saturday – December 1st from 5-8pm! Don’t miss the snow play area, Santa visits, petting zoo, arts & crafts and all the ways that the ...

No cookie cutters here. If your holiday list is all about one-of-a-kind wishes – we have the place for you! Our new listing in Downtown San Jose has everything you need to enjoy life in Silicon Valley (like close proximity to the proposed Google expansion!) plus the craftsman charm of a home filled with heritage and history. Not only is 444 N. 14th Street a classic bungalow filled with warmth… it’s packed with potential! In addition to the 2BR/1BA main house, there is a 1BR/1BA unit and detached studio on-site. The income opportunity and ...

A Campbell zip code is always hard not to love: desirable schools, a delightful downtown district, the sharply renovated Pruneyard, scenic strolls down the Los Gatos Creek Trail, you know the drill. But our current listing in Campbell not only gives you the charm of this Silicon Valley small town – but the coveted, park-like setting of one of it’s most sought-after condominium communities. 171 Redding Road is an end-unit townhome with 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and app. 1,267 square feet of updated, spacious living space. The interior, corner ...

We’d love to tell you that everything about homeownership really is as glamorous as color palettes, custom lighting and dream kitchen renovations. But anyone who has ever paid a PG&E bill in winter, made use of that dusty plunger sitting in the garage or had to deal with termite damage knows that houses are all about the good, the bad and the pesky! This week we are talking about the latter as we share 6 things you may not know about termites, pulling data from our friends at Proven Termite Solutions and the State Structural Pest Control ...

Let’s keep it real… we love HGTV as much as the next guy! While real estate is so much more than just design eye candy, making a house a home is all about making it yours. Get inspired with these three trends that anyone can implement in their space today… whether buying, selling, staging or just window shopping! Images Below Courtesy of HGTV Splash That Wine Everywhere. And by wine we mean wine-colored! The rich magenta undertones of a deep red wine are destined for far more than a pour or two. Wine colored décor is all the rage this ...

The market is changing in Silicon Valley, the holidays are inching closer and the year is not far from ending. Put it all together and this makes it a great time to reflect on where you are and where you want to be! We know you are busy juggling and trying not to eat that Halloween candy before the trick or treaters get here in a couple weeks, so we’ll make this short & sweet: here are 3 questions to ask yourself now. 1) What do I love about where I am at today? As work, kids in school and holiday happenings are likely about to make your ...

If you’ve been following our blog or just awake in Silicon Valley (easier said than done… what a year!), then you know all about the development of Google’s proposed transit-oriented community that could bring 15,000-20,000 workers to San Jose. If you missed our latest update, you can read about Google’s property investment and land use intentions HERE. You may be wondering if rising rates and the changing market are halting the so-called 'Google effect' in the surrounding areas. Given the solid state of economic fundamentals (steady job ...

Silicon Valley often feels a lot like Las Vegas – it’s a city that never sleeps, especially when it comes to adding innovation and modernization into the areas in which we live, work and play. You’ve likely been following the latest with regards to Google San Jose and heard about the recent and controversial approval of the Vallco mixed-used transformation, but here are a few now-completed updates that may have slid under your radar… #1: The Great Mall Milpitas This venue was feeling more good than great, but thanks to an extensive, ...

The real estate news is fresh - as is the immediate response. Rates have risen for the 3rd time this year: OUCH. With media headlines touting that this is the end of the ‘easy money era’ and home sales struggling last month, fears are abound and we are here to say we get it. The market is changing – but change is not always a bad thing. Market moderation is a tale as old as time… and just as in any life transition there are pros and cons to a time when things are not how they used to be. Will it cost more to borrow money? Yes. Will some ...

Silicon Valley has so  much to offer ~ and this week’s blog shares a way to enjoy 5 memory making events in 5 distinct parts of the South Bay. When we say location, location, location… this is what we are talking about. In the spirit of ‘don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life’, here are some ways to stop and stomp in the leaves this season. A free program that temporarily closes miles of San Jose streets to bring communities together to walk, bike, skate, and explore the city like never before is taking ...

  We don’t know about you… but since the start of the new month and end of summer, the days are flying by! Time to stop and read the news, yeah right – there’s barely time to drink your coffee! That is what we are here for. This week we are summarizing some Silicon Valley stats in a data drop designed to give you some insight into our market, our community and our place that we all call home. | Did you know that the 10 wealthiest zip codes in Silicon Valley DO NOT necessarily sell the region’s most expensive homes?! The most ...

We promise that even though this week’s blog features the unfortunate ‘R” word… it’s not the house hunter’s edition of ‘He’s Just Not That Into You.’ Rejection is a part of virtually every real estate transaction at one point or another. Whether your offer gets rejected, whether your loan program is a no-go or you have trouble agreeing on a rent back amount, not every question gets a rave response. The good news is that rejection is NOT the end of every great love story... especially when it comes to the housing market in Silicon Valley....

Nearly every homeowner agrees that the very best part of home is making it yours! We love nothing more than seeing our homeowners transform a house into their personal sanctuary. Whether that means a few perfect paint colors or the bathroom of your dreams… chances are that the challenges grow as your dreams do. While for some projects it is crystal clear that permits are required… there are always those gray areas that make you say… “Do I really have to get a permit…?”. While most buyers and sellers are aware that non-permitted ...

If you live in Silicon Valley you were bound to be at least a little curious about which tech company was going to reach the four-comma club first! After a bit if debate about when they reached it… it’s confirmed that Apple hit the $1 trillion milestone in market capitalization first, based on the most recent share count (July 20th) as shares briefly traded for $207.05 last week. So yes, it’s exciting but what does it really mean for you ~ a tech company went from rich to richer, and others are about to follow suit? That’s not really ...

  If you have worked with us here at Homes of Silicon Valley, then you know that we take great pride in ALL of our listings and the one about to hit the market (like any minute!) is NO exception.   While it’s not officially listed YET, this charming 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath home is officially what every buyer wants. A fantastic location in an amazing neighborhood with top schools, flexible, usable spaces both inside & out, updated kitchen & bath… the list goes on! Be sure to stay tuned to our Facebook page for tour info & more (and the ...

In real estate there is this funny thing we call ‘fence-sitting’. It’s okay… we have all done it. It started in middle school when you procrastinated on your math homework, and well it just sort of followed you into the big decisions of adulthood like when to buy and sell. If you are a Silicon Valley homeowner who has been wanting/needing/planning to sell but just could not decide when – your window of opportunity is still here! Decades ago you’d be lectured on waiting until spring to list your home, but in the modern market the age-old ...