(Almost) Wordless Wednesday in the Saratoga CA Garden, Aeonium Urbicum - 12/28/11 07:35 PM
Wordless Wednesday in the Saratoga CA Garden, Aeonium Urbicum

Most Aeonia grow great in Saratoga CA.   This Aeonium Urbicum thrives in my Saratoga garden slightly under a huge Cedar Deodora.  The reddish edging is caused by direct sunlight, but it doesn't like hot, midday sun in the summer.  This one gets direct sunlight after about 3:00 pm.  It likes fast-draining soil and is hardy to 28 degrees, perfect for the Saratoga CA garden.  The rosette grows on a trunk to 2.5' tall and then the head begins to slowly loose its impressive size.  This is more than 1' across. The … (11 comments)

126 Sunol Street; San Jose, CA 95126 - 12/22/11 06:25 PM
126 Sunol St., San Jose, CA 95126

 
Attractively Upgraded Three Bedroom, Three Bathroom  Georgetown townhouse with 1,463 Sq. Ft. built in 2004 per county records.  The Split-Level Design combined with Large Dual Pane Windows and French Doors and High Ceilings create an Open and Airy Ambiance.
SpecialFeatures include:
Fire-Sprinkler System for Safety; Custom Plantation Shutters  Central Air Conditioning; CAT 5 Wiring throughout;  Fully-finished Two-car Attached garage with InsulatedSectional Garage Door & Electric Opener; Useful Extra Storage Space under the living room floor Convenient indoor, Laundry space with full-size Washer & Dryer Six-panel doors with brass or chrome hardware … (6 comments)

Almost Wordless Wednesday-In The Saratoga CA Garden-Valley Oak - 12/21/11 07:28 PM
Almost Wordless Wednesday-In The Saratoga CA Garden-Valley Oak
People call these "Valley" Oak.  This one is across the street from my home.  Saratoga squirrels love them and build their nests in them.  I should support squirrel home ownership, I suppose, but I don't.  I like them homeless and far away from my Black Bamboo, Asian Pears and Apples. 

 
… (12 comments)

Campbell Ca, Homes Sales in November 2011 - 12/17/11 03:33 PM
Campbell Ca, Homes Sales in November 2011

The Map and Chart show all Campbell, CA homes sales in November 2011 according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS;MLSlistings, Inc.).  The source of the square foot information on the Chart is designated by A (assessor's office), V (paid vendor such as an appraiser), or S (Seller or Seller's Agent).  The School District is shown in the column on the right. DOM is Days on Market. The Real Estate Owned (REO) is shown in red, and the Short Sales are in blue.  REO is a home owned by the lender who acquired … (3 comments)

Saratoga CA Home Sales in November 2011 - 12/15/11 07:31 PM
Saratoga CA Home Sales in November 2011.
The Chart and Map show all Single Family Residences sold in Saratoga, CA in November 2011 according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS;MLS Listings, Inc.).  The source of the square foot information is designated by A (assessor's office), V (paid vendor such as an appraiser), or S (Seller or Seller's Agent).  The School District is shown in the column on the right. DOM is Days on Market. A rare Saratoga CA forclosure (REO) is shown in red.
The bottom row shows the averages.  The "average" home sold in Saratoga CA in November 2011 … (1 comments)

Wordless Wednesday--In the Saratoga CA Garden--Crassula Falcata for Holiday Color - 12/14/11 07:32 PM
Wordless Wednesday--In the Saratoga CA Garden--Crassula Falcata for Holiday Color
Crassula Falcata grows great in drought tolerant Saratoga gardens.  It blooms beautifully in December, when bright colors "pop". 
… (2 comments)

Weird Stuff in Real Estate: Patch the Cracks and Then Disclose The Cracks. - 12/13/11 12:55 PM
Weird Stuff in Real Estate: Patch the Cracks and Then Disclose the Cracks.

Cracks in sheetrock are very common in Silicon Valley homes.  We have earthquakes and we have expansive clay soils in some in parts of the Valley.  As a result many homes shift enough to crack the sheetrock.  Usually they're hairline cracks starting at the corners of the doorways.
I recommend to my sellers that they patch the cracks and paint at least that the room.  A freshly painted interior gives a clean, new feeling that pays dividends well beyond the cost and inconvenience of painting.
But … (9 comments)

Trends in Distress Sales in Santa Clara County; A Market Report - 12/12/11 11:47 PM
Trends in Distress Sales in Santa Clara County; A Market Report.
The graph shows the percentage of MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Single Family Residence sales that were reported to be either Foreclosures (REO) or Short Sales, according to the local MLS (MLSListings, Inc.).  Foreclosures refer to homes taken back by the lender after the borrower defaults; also called REO for Real Estate Owned by the lender.  Short Sales occur when the seller's lender(s) accept(s) less than full pay-off of their loan(s).  Lenders may do this to avoid foreclosure and the additional expenses they may incur.
Since January 2009, the percentage of … (4 comments)

Saratoga CA Residents are Tops in Education - 12/12/11 02:52 PM
Saratoga CA Residents are Tops in Education.

That's the conclusion from the Demographic Research Unit of California's Department of Finance.  They analyze U.S. Census Bureau data. 
Seventy-six percent of Saratoga residents have a bachelor's degree, or higher.  That ranks third highest among ALL California cities with more than 20,000 people. 
What's more,  the top four cities were all located in Santa Clara County:
Palo Alto (79.7%), Los Altos (76.2%), Saratoga (76%), and Cupertino (75%).  All four cities are considered part of Silicon Valley where Ph.Ds. are so commonplace they're not even mentioned.  Except several Realtors have them and do advertise … (2 comments)

What the News Media Keep Secret-How Much Buyers Can Negotiate off the Asking Price of a Home in Santa Clara County, CA - 12/11/11 08:22 PM
What the News Media Keep Secret--How Much Buyers Can Negotiate off the Asking Price of a Home in Santa Clara County, CA.
The Graph shows the Percentage of the List Price received in the final Sale Price for Single Family Residences sold in each city in Santa Clara County, according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS; MLSlistings, Inc.).  Also shown are the average Number of Days needed to sell a home.  Both sets of data are Year-to-Date through November 30, 2011.
A percentage of 100 means the Average Sale Price equaled the Average List Price.  A percentage greater than 100 … (5 comments)

Median Home Sale Price in Santa Clara County & Saratoga CA; Jan. 2002 - Nov. 2011 and Market Report and Recapitulation. - 12/10/11 03:35 PM
Median Home Sale Prices in Santa Clara County & Saratoga CA; Jan. 2002 - Nov. 2011 and Market Report and Recapitulation.
The graph shows the Median Sale price of Single Family Residences sold in Santa Clara County and the City of Saratoga, CA from January 2002 through November 2011, according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS; MLSlistings, Inc.).  The median is the price point that divides the top half from the bottom half.

The median sale price for the County of Santa Clara has increased 12% from $493,500 in January 2002, to $560,000 in November 2011.  That translates to … (1 comments)

When are my Santa Clara County Property Taxes Due? - 12/09/11 12:48 AM
When are my Santa Clara County Property Taxes Due? 
 
They were due November 1st, 2011.  But if your payment is postmarked by the delinquent date--December 10, 2011--no late penalty will be assessed.  If your payment is late, the penalty is a stiff 10% of the amount due.  This payment pays the property taxes for the first-half of the fiscal year.  That is, from July 1st through December 31st, 2011.  You pay toward the end of the period.
 

 
The payment for the second-half of the fiscal year is due February 1st, 2012 and delinquent April 10th.  That's right...there's a 70-day grace period for … (6 comments)

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday--In the Saratoga CA Garden--Agave Victoria Reginae - 12/07/11 08:12 PM
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday--In the Saratoga CA Garden--Agave Victoria Reginae
This hardy Agave Victoria Reginae is growing outside my home in Saratoga in a raised planter with fast draining soil.  She's happy.  Even a light freeze which we sometimes get, doesn't bother Victoria Reginae.  She's tough, and beautiful and--I'm told--edible, like an artichoke.  She's a slow grower; this one is 12-13 years old and about 15" across. 
 

 
… (11 comments)

 
Dark_shirt_open_collar_color_pic Rainmaker_large

Lloyd Binen Silicon Valley R since 1976;408-565-8177

Saratoga, CA

More about me…

Certified Realty Services

Address: CA DRE #572654, 19200 Shubert Drive, Saratoga, CA, 95070

Office Phone: (408) 565-8177

Cell Phone: (408) 373-4411

Email Me

What's Up in Silicon Valley Real Estate. Particularly Saratoga, Cupertino, Campbell, West Valley, Mountain View and Sunnyvale.


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog