Blog Archives: January 2018 — December 2018

With summer camp memories abound as the season of chillaxin’ continues… you might think ‘how low can you go’ is all about the old-fashioned game of limbo! But alas we are still living and breathing the world of Silicon Valley real estate in full force – and we are talking about what every buyer wants to know: how ‘low’ of an offer can I make and still win? Is an offer of $200K over-asking enough?! I know… it’s likely most of us never thought we’d get outbid by a cash buyer by several hundred thousand dollars, but stranger things are ...

One aspect of home ownership that weighs heavily among buyers is the decision to purchase in a HOA (Homeowner’s Association). Sometimes buying a condo, townhome or residence in an HOA is a choice; many people like the idea of having certain features & amenities covered under one fee – such as landscaping, pool use, roofs, exterior maintenance and more. But HOA’s also receive a 'bad rap' so to speak for setting rules, appropriation of funds, limiting choices and of course… the monthly cost itself. With affordability being a challenge in ...

Well, we certainly hate to rain on the post-parade celebrations of Independence Day… but as dozens of local news sources reported two days ago, there is a scam going around that every homeowner in Santa Clara County needs to know about. Beware of mail with the sender listed as ‘Local Property Office’ which offers homeowners their property deed – for $89! Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone states “It's simply outrageous. No homeowner should pay $89 for assessment information…”. Property deeds cost only $6 online – and many other ...

The topic of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) is a hot one… and one we could also describe in terms of the good, the bad and the ugly. With Bay Area housing affordability at an all-time low and the need for housing at a continued high… many people have hoped that ADU’s could be the answer to the Bay Area housing crisis. While California has passed several reforms in 2016 and 2017 to ideally make the addition of an ADU more attainable and accessible for homeowners, applications have drastically increased – but challenges in completion have ...

In a perfect world, swimming pool parties and backyard splash-fests would be all fun and no risk. But we all know that this is not a perfect world, and chances are we all know someone who has experienced a near-drowning incident. As the weather gets hot and we find ways to keep cool, we wanted to take this time to share some pool safety tips & resources. Three Barriers, Minimum A pool gate may seem like the ideal safety solution, but one barrier is not likely to be enough. The American Red Cross recommends completely surrounding your home ...

If you have ever worked with us here at Homes of Silicon Valley, you know we don’t just help people buy & sell homes. We help them take an important step in achieving a lifestyle that works for them. In a recent study released by AARP, there is one generation with one particular set of needs that is being overlooked, so we thought we’d give some rise to this topic and let you know how we can help! Millennial caregivers account for 1 in 4 of the estimated 40 million unpaid caregivers in the United States, according to the AARP Public Policy ...

It’s June and you know what that means… school is out, beach traffic is in and the kids are home. Now that phrase either makes you smile, cringe with fear or if you are like us – a little of both! We wanted to share a few ideas for summer fun here in Silicon Valley – a few are classics, a few are new. Cheers to making this your best summer yet! #1: Make It A Memorable Morning. Wait… you mean your kids are NOT morning people?! They want to sleep in! A trip to Cinnaholic will make them jump out of bed before they can even ask where the ...

It has been the talk of the town for over a year – and it even turned into a protest last Wednesday: Google San Jose. Just one week ago, representatives from Google laid out their most recent proposal for the transit-oriented village at a public San Jose City Hall Meeting. Despite a 45-minute disruption from protestors, Google’s urban design lead Michael Flynn insists that “Community participation, involvement and approval has become a fundamental component…”, in regard to urban design trends as a whole. While it may seem like we have been ...

If you live in Silicon Valley and own a home, you might feel like real estate keeps singing the same old song. Inventory is low and prices are high – but HOW low and HOW high just might surprise you! Recently the Stewart blog provided a simple explanation of the housing shortage: “Housing is typically in equilibrium when there are from 1.25 to 1.5 net new jobs per new dwelling unit.” Yet in the last 12-months, the United States added 2.281 million NEW jobs but just 1.160 million new residential building units. In Silicon Valley, the latest ...

We live, work and play in San Jose ~ and we know that you do too! We also know that you have some favorite neighborhoods, and we’d like to see if this one is on your list: Communications Hill. Most people have heard of this community, and either think of it as ‘those homes on the hill’ or ‘that place with the stairs’. With 2,500 units already constructed and another 2,200 planned as part of the City of San Jose’s 2040 General Plan, we’d like to take this opportunity to share 3 things you probably didn’t know about Communications Hill! It ...

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! We cannot express the amount and depth of gratitude we have for the educators in our community – the ones who are our neighbors, our children’s’ role models and our friends. Thank you for ALL that you do to inspire, support and champion the littlest of souls with the biggest of dreams! In the real estate industry, education is topic that comes up frequently. Given that the adage of ‘location, location, location’ often encompasses a highly desirable school district ~ it’s no wonder that high school scores and ...

You know that here at Homes of Silicon Valley we LOVE real estate – but we are also the first to admit that the sacred comforts of home are only as cherished as those lives within them. While it’s easy to look into the windows that display the highlights of our lives... it’s much harder to share the struggles that go on behind the doors for millions of Americans and their families who are living with mental illness. In that spirit, we hope you will join us this month both in heart and in action to spread awareness and eradicate the stigma ...

A house is so much more than just a home – it has someone’s life (or many lives!) attached to it. That’s what makes moving such a big deal… and we all know that the moving date is directly tied to the closing timeline. After all, you can’t move on with your life until you actually move – and you can’t actually move until the deal is done. But, if you have completed a home lending transition in the last 7-10 years, you know it’s not as ‘easy’ as it used to be. Delays on all sides are more common than ever due to the loan standards in place ...

Every South Bay resident knows that Campbell has SO much to offer – and we are adding one more thing to the list: 920 Monica Lane. In addition to featuring high-ranking schools, a vibrant downtown community and family friendly neighborhoods – you can also find the home of your dreams OPEN this weekend! Homes of Silicon Valley is pleased to present 920 Monica Lane… an over 1,800 sq. ft. home on an over 9,000 sq. ft. lot. With 3BR/2.5BA and a truly livable floor plan.. . this home also delivers stunning upgrades, a sparkling pool and pride of ...

If you are a reader of the Homes of Silicon Valley blog… we have no doubt that you are a fellow Bay Area real estate enthusiast. Since we are pretty sure you are as excited and inspired as we are by the possibilities that the spring market holds – we wanted to give you a sneak peek into what we have coming next week! It’s our way of saying thank you for your time, interest and perseverance in this this crazy thing called Silicon Valley real estate. We are pleased to bring to the market TWO distinguished San Jose listings in TWO distinct ...

Are spring and summer your two favorite seasons?! Are you thinking of selling… but not sure which season will maximize your ROI and minimize your stress? We get it. Who knew that a little sunshine and a lot of strategy could play into this thing called real estate, right? Since you might have spring break on the brain… here is a quick and simple refresh on seasonal stats and timing considerations. The good news is that if you live in Silicon Valley – it is nearly always a good time to sell! Serious buyers are ready year-round, but many ...

It’s the word that strikes fear in the hearts of buyers… eye rolls in the heads of agents and angst in the mouths of the media: INVENTORY. While it’s nothing new here in the Bay Area, it sure is getting old! Buyers are exhausted, renters feel hopeless and employers have the draw of jobs but no confidence that the employees can find roofs over their heads. If you’ve been following our blog and general news coverage, then you know that new construction isn’t likely to solve the problem, and local job creation is only going to worsen it. Is ...

Lighting is one of the most commonly overlooked details, often considered a small touch when in fact it makes a HUGE difference in three major areas of your home and life. This week , Homes of Silicon Valley is taking a glimpse into a topic that impacts virtually all homeowners young and old, new and experienced and everyone in between. MOOD/EFFICIENCY Did you know that bright light – and the lack thereof – can affect your internal biological clock, sleeping patterns, energy and mood? In fact, many recent studies have focused on how the ...

If there are not times in your life when it feels a little hectic… we aren’t sure you are really living in Silicon Valley! But the good news is… hard work pays off! As always, we have been watching the news and while homeownership in the Bay Area is not easy – it really IS worth it. Check out these recent and defining trends that are shaping our local market today. Getting Richer.* We said it – the ‘R’ word: rich. Let’s keep it real, nobody works their butt off to be poor right? The Wall Street Journal reported last week on the record ...

As a residential real estate team, Homes of Silicon Valley is not just committed to helping people buy and sell homes, but to truly  understanding how the dynamic nature of Silicon Valley impacts that investment. We all know that to the nation, we are known as that ‘really expensive place where the jobs are’ – but how do you know what is really happening on a local level? What sources can help you stay in touch with local development with a local lens? What IS that big crane doing across the street? What is on the San Jose horizon (in ...