silicon valley: Silicon Valley Housing Market Update - July 2007
- 07/25/07 10:40 PM
It's all about proximity. This month, I took a look at the semi-annual statistics aggregated for the first-half of the year so that my clients can get a good look at the overall trends, as opposed to the bumps in the road. The story isn't about the median prices, which are charted further down in this article; what's interesting is the consolidation of pricing power around the center of Silicon Valley. I alluded to this increase last month, but the half-year figures distinctly highlight this strength, with the epicenter squarely in Mountain View. In the first-half of 2006, an average single-family home sale … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Silicon Valley Housing Market Update - July 2007
- 07/23/07 04:53 PM
It's all about proximity. This month, I took a look at the semi-annual statistics aggregated for the first-half of the year so that my clients can get a good look at the overall trends, as opposed to the bumps in the road. The story isn't about the median prices, which are charted further down in this article; what's interesting is the consolidation of pricing power around the center of Silicon Valley. I alluded to this increase last month, but the half-year figures distinctly highlight this strength, with the epicenter squarely in Mountain View. Continue Reading: Silicon Valley Housing Market Update - July … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Making an Offer: Behind the Scenes
- 07/18/07 09:20 PM
"I believe we'll want to work with your clients," she said as I stood up from the conference table and extended her a firm handshake. Those were the code words I was looking for and I knew my Silicon Valley client would be a very happy woman in a few hours, especially since she paid less than her reservation price! There were two other offer packets in her hand, one had been faxed in, its sheets arranged haphazardly in a manila envelope. The other was presented earlier in the day, stapled into a standard company folder by that buyers agent. The … (0 comments)
silicon valley: The Thought Process Behind Making an Offer on a Home
- 06/28/07 08:43 PM
The words will sound like they make perfect sense: "If we make an offer, we should make it to win." Even though his eyes were scanning the path from the patio, through the living room into the kitchen, his expression was motionless as he finished his sentence. It was coming towards the day when offers --- we anticipated several --- would be presented to the seller. We'd already walked the home both during the work hours and at night, on a weekday and on a weekend, to see what the neighbors were like and experience what the character of this house was … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Unearthing School Gems in the Bay Area
- 06/15/07 09:37 PM
Palo Alto, Saratoga, Los Altos, Cupertino, Pleasanton. The names alone read like a Who's Who list of elite school districts, not only in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, but across California and even nationwide. Some of the best Bay Area school districts like Palo Alto are even opting out of the ranking game, choosing to focus on students and what's best for them, rather than on making sure students hit all the checkboxes needed for those districts to get high rankings. And voters in cities like Cupertino protect their schools by restricting growth, and the additional load on … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Treating a Home Sale Like a Job Interview
- 06/09/07 05:52 PM
It's a job interview, for a position that lasts for anywhere from the next few years to decades into the future. And there are hundreds, if not thousands, of candidates eager to be the chosen one. Some candidates don't make the cut because they're too far from work or they don't have the right school system. Others get first interviews, with the traffic that new resumes tend to attract on the MLS, but they get few callbacks and what offers drop in are filed where they belong. The proud parents: they tap their feet anxiously as they shift uncomfortably on … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Getting an Edge When Selling a Home Using Small Details
- 06/02/07 12:11 PM
Empathy. We stepped outside for the moment to envision how our interview candidate would look to prospective buyers. Over the years, she'd gotten used to the loose handle on the front door and always liked to tell the story about an obscure dark stain on the well-used living room carpet. Her fondness for her home reflected in her eyes as she recalled the story about how her two-year old had managed to knock the lid off a safety mug. She looked at me quizzically as I removed my shoes before opening the door lock, but she followed suit quickly realizing that … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Cupertino Wireless Services Survey
- 05/30/07 11:54 AM
The City of Cupertino would like community assistance in determining their priorities with respect to wireless internet and cell phone service. The Technology, Information and Communications Commission (TICC) has setup a confidential survey for residents at this URL: http://www.cupertino.org/wireless/ This survey is available to anyone who lives or works in Cupertino and the commission is looking for as broad a response as possible. … (1 comments)
silicon valley: The Inside of a Property Only Tells Half the Story
- 05/29/07 09:31 PM
The model was open on this semi-clear Sunday and several families with their babies in tow were touring what was an exciting new opening in the area. There was a lot of buzz in the air and the rep definitely had his hands full that day. If you picked up the townhomes with a giant crane and put them on a blank sheet of paper, next to other similar properties in the area, you could probably justify the extra money — maybe not the whole $100K, but somewhere in that ballpark. After all, the fixtures were high-quality and there were upgrades … (1 comments)
silicon valley: Making Your Transition to a New Home Easier Using Contracts
- 05/24/07 07:01 PM
It really depends on the market. Sometimes they come in droves, other times you have to offer freshly-baked cookies. Sometimes you can't drive a block without seeing what you want, other times you have to fish for pocket listings. You may not be able to plan precisely when you'll sell your home or when you'll find the perfect place for you, but with preparation and knowledge of the tools at your disposal, you will be in a better position to negotiate: after all, one of the goals when managing a transaction for moving up to a larger home is to have … (1 comments)
silicon valley: Preparation for Moving Up
- 05/24/07 06:58 PM
"I love it," she said. Everything about their current home was serviceable, but from the granite island with inset burners in the kitchen to the Juliet balcony overlooking the main entryway, just walking through this Silicon Valley house made them feel more alive. We'd already done the calculations, gotten pre-qualified, and knew where the down payment was going to come from so the only thing left to consider was the offer itself. We headed back to the car and they glanced at each other, then glanced back at me and said, "Shouldn't this be harder?" It certainly could be, but we'd … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Sunnyvale Town Center Demolition Under Way
- 05/15/07 07:59 AM
The long-awaited tear down of Sunnyvale Town Center's main building, in favor of a more open and walkable layout, has begun. Target and Macy's are open during this deconstruction effort but the parking lot in front of the west side Macy's entrance is currently closed. You can find more information about Sunnyvale's revitalization plans in the Sunnyvale neighborhood section. Pictures available. … (1 comments)
silicon valley: Finding a Fit
- 05/11/07 06:23 AM
How do you define what a great place to live is? I walked up and down the streets of this neighborhood carefully observing how they reacted to it. It's those details that are important. After all, there's a double-edged sword here early on in an agent-client relationship: most clients recognize the effort I put into a property tour, which I appreciate, but sometimes they'll pad what they think of an area because they don't want to say "bad things" about an effort. Searching for a great home is about refinement: here are a few things people look for. There are no … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Reasons People Stop Renting
- 05/02/07 11:21 PM
Jet black and brand new. You could see this car from all the way on the other end of the garage. It was never well-lighted in this Silicon Valley complex but you could still see the Cadillac's moonlit reflection, like a soft white halo. There was talk about added security, getting the lock on the gate fixed, getting those broken fluorescents fixed, maybe even putting in a camera system. But talk was talk and the management company of this apartment complex knew how to walk the line between meaningless gestures and expensive corrective measures.That is, until the morning. The neighbors … (0 comments)
silicon valley: AMC Cupertino Square 16 Now Open
- 04/30/07 09:13 PM
The AMC movie theater at Cupertino Square opened Friday with a noon ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Cupertino Mayor Kris Wang. Automated movie ticket pods are available in the lobby next to the escalator and you can also purchase tickets at the traditional AMC ticket booth or online. The new Cupertino Square branding has been deployed throughout the mall. … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Emotions in Real Estate: From Fear to Elation
- 04/25/07 09:12 PM
"It's yours!" About ten seconds after hanging up with the selling agent, I couldn't wait to deliver the news. This had been something he'd been waiting years for and today was the day. And after those two words, the only thing on the line was stunned silence! A combination of elation, shock and achievement. You could feel the excitement echoing through the airwaves but the quiet could have put out a candle. For all the number-crunching, research, and analysis I do to ensure my clients are making good financial and investment decisions, the one thing I never lose sight of for them … (2 comments)
silicon valley: Sequoia Union High School District Distinguished School Winners
- 04/23/07 07:14 PM
Sequoia Union covers a wide stretch of Silicon Valley and the Peninsula, serving the San Mateo County cities of Atherton, Belmont, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, and Woodside. Three of Sequoia Union's four comprehensive education high schools (Sequoia Union has one vocational high school) won this year. And of the award winners, both Sequoia High School and Menlo-Atherton High School have won the award twice, while Carlmont High School has won the award three times. The Sequoia Union High School District web site has a handy tool that lets you check what school any given address in … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Fremont Union High School Distinguished School Winners
- 04/23/07 07:12 PM
Fremont Union primarily covers the Silicon Valley staples, Cupertino and Sunnyvale, but also includes areas of other Santa Clara County cities including Los Altos, Saratoga, and San Jose. Three of Fremont Union's five high schools received the California Distinguished School award this year. Monta Vista High School and Lynbrook High have both amassed five of the awards, while fellow 2007 winner, Cupertino High, has been named a California Distinguished School three times.
The Fremont Union High School District web site has a PDF map that shows the areas each school in the district covers. … (0 comments)
silicon valley: Silicon Valley Distinguished Schools
- 04/23/07 07:10 PM
The California Department of Education (CDE) just released the recipients of its California Distinguished Schools award, which honors the "exemplary and inspiring" schools across the state. Typically only 5% of schools are awarded with the California Distinguished School title, which schools are allowed to use for four years --- and in 2007, there were 21 Silicon Valley schools (11 from San Mateo County and 10 from Santa Clara County) that received the honor. Elementary and secondary schools are evaluated in alternating years and, this year, it was time for the middle and high schools to go under the microscope. As frequent … (0 comments)
silicon valley: AMC Cupertino Square Ribbon Cutting
- 04/21/07 07:15 AM
Progress has been steady and the day's been set. I confirmed that, beginning Monday of next week, Cupertino Square will be holding several charity events (though they aren't open to the public) leading up to the ribbon cutting at the AMC Cupertino Square 16 movie theater on Friday, April 27. More information about Cupertino Square... … (0 comments)
It's all about proximity. This month, I took a look at the semi-annual statistics aggregated for the first-half of the year so that my clients can get a good look at the overall trends, as opposed to the bumps in the road.;)
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