2011 was a good year for Sunnyvale CA Real Estate; total home sales were up 7.27% compared to 2010. In 2011, 841 homes sold (565 single family and 276 condo / townhouses) compared to 575 SFHs and 209 Sunnyvale condos / townhouses sold in 2010. The Median Home Price for Sunnyvale Single Family Homes decreased slightly from $795,000 to $785,000.

The Median Home Price for Sunnyvale condos / townhouses was also down to $455,000 from $472,000. This continues a trend where Sunnyvale CA home sales have increased year-over-year for the last three years while the medium home prices drop slightly.

The Complete Sunnyvale CA Real Estate Story

Unfortunately, the above numbers do not tell the complete Sunnyvale CA Real Estate story. What we’re really seeing is a shift in Sunnyvale CA home sales where more lower price homes in Northern and Central Sunnyvale are selling compared the Southern Sunnyvale (94087) where a majority of higher cost homes are located.

We’re also seeing a shift in Sunnyvale CA home sales to smaller single family homes and condo / townhouses. Sunnyvale Buyers are electing to purchase smaller homes as financing has been harder to obtain. Higher priced homes also require larger down payment and tend to entail Jumbo Loans (loans in excess of $625,000) which are more difficult for first-time buyers.

Which Sunnyvale CA Homes are Selling?

Consequently, it has become more challenging to sell larger, more expensive Sunnyvale CA homes unless the home is located in the Cupertino School District and/ or the home is in excellent condition. Excellent condition means: open floor plan, newer kitchen and baths, dual pane windows, newer roof, and more than likely no pool. In addition, the homes which are selling have recently been painted and staged.

Sunnyvale CA Real Estate Sales Volume Looks Positive for 2012

Regardless of all the above, most Sunnyvale home Sellers should be pleased as they were able to receive very close to their asking price. We don’t see any reason for this trend to change in 2012. In fact, we envision 550 single family homes and 280 condo / townhoues should sell in 2012. Unfortunately, we also believe Medium Home Prices will continue to drop slightly to $780,000 for Sunnyvale Single Family Homes and $470,000 for Sunnyvale condos / townhouses.

The 2012 Sunnyvale CA Real Estate Market is a Standout in the Silicon Valley

In summation, the Sunnyvale CA Real Estate market is very strong compared to most communities even in the Bay Area. This has to be great news for Sunnyvale CA homeowners. Why not, Sunnyvale CA has all of the characteristics of the perfect California city. Sunnyvale is a well run, safe city with wonderful weather, and easy access to all major job markets. Home prices are mid-range for area. Sunnyvale has all the charm of a small city, but easy access to the large Bay Area cities: San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose.

Sunnyvale CA Single Family Homes Market Statistics

• New listings in December – 27
• Active – 80
• Closed sales – 35 versus 38 in November
• Current Average Days on Market – 64 days
• Median Sale Price – $773,000

0

Sunnyvale CA Condos / Townhouses Market Statistics

• New listings in December – 11
• Active – 58
• Closed sales – 11 versus in 24 November
• Current Average Days on Market – 45 days
• Median Sale Price – $450,000

Tom Stynes – Sunnyvale CA Real Estate Broker®

I’m a proud to be a member of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors and MLSListings the regional Multiple Listing Service. These relationships guarantee my Silicon Valley buyers immediate access to hundreds of the newest Silicon Valley listings added to the market each day while also providing my Silicon Valley sellers exposure to a vast network of buyers across the state, country and globe.

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in Santa Clara County California, my goal is to provide expert advice and exceptional customer service utilizing the latest, cutting-edge Internet marketing technology available.

As my customer’s attest, I am a committed and passionate Silicon Valley REALTOR® who prides myself on putting my customer’s priorities above all else. My determination and attention to detail allows my customers to receive first class service with utmost integrity.

I service Silicon Valley Real Estate sales in the following cities:

• Campbell Real Estate
• Cupertino Real Estate
• Los Altos Real Estate
• Los Altos Hills Real Estate
• Los Gatos Real Estate
• Mountain View Real Estate
• Palo Alto Real Estate
• San Jose Real Estate
• Santa Clara Real Estate
• Saratoga Real Estate
• Sunnyvale Real Estate

 

 

It's a new year and you're looking at your goals for 2012 . The kids are gone; you no longer need the big four-bedroom house, the ongoing cost of landscaping fees or possibly a pool service. You say, “Who needs it. I want to enjoy my life”. Is it time to downsize. Well if you or your spouse is 55 and live in the Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County, or San Mateo County) you may not be aware of Propositions 60 and 90. You may ask what is Prop 60 and 90. Prop 60 allows for the replacement of the primary residence with a new home of equal or lesser value within the same county and transfer of the Prop 13(*) assessed valuation from the old home to the new property. This transfer is once in a lifetime benefit and may have tax implications so we encourage you to consult your tax or financial advisor for your specific impact. Prop 90 allows counties to elect to transfer Prop 13 values for moves from other California counties when the primary residence is replaced with a less expensive property. Being over 55 and you move into one of these California counties (Alameda, El Dorado, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Ventura) you may take your old, lower Prop 13 value, regardless of which county you moved from. For instance, using Prop 90, you can sell your $700,000 San Francisco home, assessed value $100,000 and move to a new $500,000 condo in Mountain View, Sunnyvale or San Jose; the new home assessed value of $100,000! Is now the right time to make that move? Today might be a better time than your realize. While you may believe your existing home's value is down, chances are the property you want to buy will also cost you less. Likewise, pulling out funds from your existing home may allow you to buy the new home for cash. If you do you need a new loan rates have never been lower. Currently 15 year fixed loans are running 3.5% with no points. So don’t wait, it time to create the life you want! To discuss specifics about selling your present Mountain View, Sunnyvale or San Jose home, give Tom Stynes a call. (*) Prop 13 was passed by the California legislature in 1978. This law limits property taxes to 1% of sales price, plus nominal local fees, per year. Property taxes can go up no more than 2% of assessed value per year.

About the Author: Tom Stynes – Silicon Valley, CA – Real Estate Broker®

I’m a proud to be a member of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors and MLSListings the regional Multiple Listing Service. These relationships guarantee my Silicon Valley buyers immediate access to hundreds of the newest Silicon Valley listings added to the market each day while also providing my Silicon Valley sellers exposure to a vast network of buyers across the state, country and globe. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in Santa Clara County California, my goal is to provide expert advice and exceptional customer service utilizing the latest, cutting-edge Internet marketing technology available. As my customer’s attest, I am a committed and passionate Silicon Valley REALTOR® who prides myself on putting my customer’s priorities above all else. My determination and attention to detail allows my customers to receive first class service with utmost integrity. I have been listing and selling homes in and around Sunnyvale California for the last 10+ years. Call or send me an email so we can discuss how I can best serve your Silicon Valley Real Estate needs! I service Real Estate sales in the following Silicon Valley, CA cities: Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, and Sunnyvale CA. Please call or send me an email today so we can discuss how I can best serve your Silicon Valley real estate needs! Tom Stynes, Broker, CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) | CA DRE Lic. #: 01329098 Intero Real Estate Services |12900 Saratoga Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Telephone: 408.863.3052 |Fax: 866.222.2140 Email: Tom@StynesGroup.com | Websites: www.StynesGroup.com | www.GreatSVHomes.com Linked-in Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/tomstynes | Facebook: www.Facebook.com/StynesGroup | Twitter: www.Twitter.com/TomStynes  

Often we don’t think about what we throw away? For example, how do you dispose of old, burnt out florescent lamps? Did you know florescent lamps can contain small amounts of mercury, a toxic pollutant? When mercury-containing lights are improperly disposed or break, the toxic pollutant can be transported by air and runoff from rain can get in to our creeks and the San Francisco Bay. The good news we have options, many of the local Silicon Valley Communities have set up disposal options. For example, Sunnyvale Homeowners can bring these toxic lights as well as batteries, thermometers, and thermostats to the Sunnyvale SMaRT station at 301 Carl Road, Sunnyvale, CA. Sunnyvale Homeowners here are a few additional topics which might be of interest to you:

• Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Events are held every third Saturday monthly
• Electronic E-Waste Programs
• Pharmaceuticals and Sharps Disposal
• Compost Workshops are held Every second Saturday February through November

For other Silicon Valley residents take the next step, check with your local city officials to see how you can properly dispose the mercury contained fluorescent lights and other toxic waste. Be a friend to the environment! Should have specific questions about Silicon Valley hazardous waste options in your community; feel free to contact Tom Stynes, your Silicon Valley Real Estate Expert.

Sunnyvale, California Eichler Homes

Eichler homes became popular in the early to mid 20th century, establishing a casual living style using simple, clean designs.  Eichler homes are a branch of Modernist architecture that has become know as “California Modern”. In 1947, pioneering San Francisco developer Joseph Eichler began building high quality and affordable middle-class residences throughout California.

Eichler homes are typically only found as single story homes. Sunnyvale, California along with Mountain View, Palo Alto and San Jose is full of Eichler homes waiting to be bought and loved.

Sunnyvale, California is a beautiful, flourishing community that strives to provide convenience to it's residents, with local shopping, dining, health care and a school district that is constantly within the top rated schools in all of California. Regardless of who you are, this community is a gorgeous place to live in Eichler homes, with it's inviting and elegant grandeur as a whole.

There are a lot of different activities and groups provided to keep residents entertained and busy when they're looking for some fun close to their Eichler homes.

This community offers current and future residents a large number of parks, public tennis courts, theater groups, golf courses and a sports complex. Sunnyvale, California calls itself “Tree City USA” with over 36,000 trees. Residents here enjoy Baylands Park, located at the end of Lawrence Expressway off Hwy 237. This 70-acre park is a bird watcher’s paradise. Heritage Park, 550 Remington Avenue, includes the Community Center, Senior Center and a pond-side plaza as well as a working apricot farm as a tie back to the area’s historical fruit orchards - all near many Eichler homes.

Eichler homes in offer an active community with opportunity, but also the piece and comfort of the cozy atmosphere that Eichler homes have to offer.

If you give me the chance, my team and I are ready and waiting to surpass your real estate expectations with dedication and commitment in searching for ideal Eichler homes to reflect you.

 

Hello, my name is Tom Stynes and I am the Managing Broker and Founder of the StynesGroup.  I am a broker, meaning I representbuyers and sellers, as well as hire outstanding agents to sell listed properties. 

I have proven that with time and effort, one can accomplish extraordinary things.  My personal philosophy in regards to clients is to go above and beyond, assuring that clients needs are not only fully met but rather surpassed. 

As a business owner, I expect commitment, respect, and motivation out of my employees.  I believe that same idea should be turned around and received by clients. 

There are alot of emotions that can be exhibited from the world of real estate, from excitement to stress.  Dealing with real estate can be overwhelming to any individual; that's why as trained and experienced specialists, we as a group are here to relieve potential stresses by doing our jobs. 

In my attempts to be the best broker I can be as well as to run my company effectively and efficiently, I have achieved the following:

• B.S. in Business Management from St. Mary's College in CA
• Member of Silicon Valley Association of Realtor's
• California Association of Realtors
• National Association of Realtors
• Certified Residential Specialist Designation
• Member of RE-infolink Multiple Listing Service
• Member of Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce

I love working with clients, being able to help them and then to receive feedback to better critique myself and my team.  I am proud to say I received my CRS recently, allowing me to join a group of the top 4% of Realtors in the country. 

With 20 years of experience in the world of real estate, I feel i have been repeatedly lucky in my success, but couldn't do it without my amazing team and the support of my beautiful family. 

If you have any real estate questions or needs, feel free to contact the StynesGroup at any time for the best in real estate service!

 

 

 

 

Here again is the answer to the question most asked by our clients "How good are the schools in this area?  Don't spin your wheels looking to find the best place to buy in Silicon Valley. The number one factor which influences property values is School District Performance.
 
School Academic Performance Index (API) scores are published each year. Here are a few more useful links to school related information!

It is my pleasure to give you information that will better assist you in locating the best fit home and neighborhood for you and your family. If you like what you read here, please visit our website at www.StynesGroup.com for more information like this!

Open House Sunday, August 15th at 1376 Plymouth Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112

ooking for a new home in one of San Francisco’s best neighborhoods? Stop by 1376 Plymouth Ave, San Francisco, CA on Sunday between 2:00 - 4:00 pm  and view this fabulous home.

Step into an era when turn of the century San Franciscans were enjoying life; a time when the American dream of home ownership was alive. Now you too can enjoy the pleasures of living in a single-family home where entertaining friends and family comes easy in a classic Westwood Park bungalow. Built in 1922 the same year Lombard Street was transformed to its now world famous eight sharp turn switchback design. 1376 Plymouth Ave is one of 669 homes designed by Charles Strothoff built by Nelson Brothers.

From the street one knows this is a special home. The brick entry stairs depicts classic architecture of the time. Crossing the front threshold to foyer, one experiences the space to casually hang up an overcoat. It’s a simple opportunity to take a break between the pressures of the outside world versus the pleasure of this warm, personal residence.

The interior provides open areas for entertaining: a formal living room with ample light from its bay window and a wood burning fireplace for casual comfort on those chilly San Francisco evenings. For dining options the new owner can gather in the formal dining room or in the kitchen for casual dining.

This house is waiting for its new owners to make themselves at home.

Improvements made by current owner:

• Bath update with granite counter
• Dual pane windows
• Hardwood floors throughout which have been recently refinished
• Freshly painted
• Plumbing recently upgraded with copper piping.
• Enclosed, level backyard with new sod and sprinklers
• Full, functional basement, parking for two cars plus, with space for future enhancements

 

This article, Open House Sunday, August 15th at 1376 Plymouth Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112, was written by Tom Stynes, Broker Associate serving the buyers and sellers of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County and San Mateo County.

 

 

Centennial Plaza in Mountain View

 

Mountain View CA, a Community Worth Looking at For Your Next Home

StynesGroup Real Estate Solutions is pleased to announce our updated and expanded coverage of Mt. View California. We have completely rewritten our website to fully address the diversity of Mountain View as well as to further demonstrate our local area expertise in this community. Over the ensuing months we will be expanding our coverage of the surrounding cites of Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Atherton, Menlo Park, Santa Clara, and Cupertino.

We now provide in one spot the major information buyers, sellers and investors need as they assess this community to Buy your home or Sell your home.  People looking to relocate to Mountain View can now View Properties for Sale, see recent Home Sale Activity, find a listings of Mountain View parks, significant community services, and public and private schools. We tried to address anything one would need to know about the community of Mountain View. We took the content to a deeper level by not only writing about the city of Mountain View; we now cover the major neighborhoods of Mountain View.

• Central Neighborhood (Castro Street)
• Grant Road / Sylvan Park
• Miramonte / Springer Road
• Moffet Field /Whisman Road
• San Antonio/Rengstorff Road
• Monta Loma / Farley /Rock Street
• North Bayshore Area

We hope you find value in our publication. You should also know we plan to add and refresh this information on a regular basis by providing detail housing statistics: New listings, median home prices, active inventory, short sale activity, REO sales. It is our intent to provide all the information REALTORS have access to via the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and other professional portals.

2009 has been quite a year for Silicon Valley real estate. Santa Clara County finally saw the tsunami which hit the rest of the U.S. in 2007/2008. Yet, even with the valley’s broad drop in home values, some select cities, such as Cupertino, CA; Los Altos, and Mountain View, escaped the wave of foreclosures and short sales.

At the start of 2009, mortgages, particularly jumbo mortgages (over $729,750) were virtually impossible to qualify for, but as time passed the banks slowly opened their purse strings. As home prices dropped we saw the re-introduction of FHA and VA loans (government guaranteed loans where buyers only have to put 3.5% down). In years past, the latter loan types didn’t make sense in the valley as our home prices exceeded the loan thresholds for these products.

As “Bank” Real Estate Owned (REO) properties started to show up in Santa Clara, most sellers and even many agents didn’t know how to accommodate this new competition. At first sellers tried to ignore REOs as they thought their home was immune to the effect that bank sales would have on home values. San Jose, North Santa Clara, Gilroy and Morgan Hill saw values drop as much as 30%.

At the start of 2009, buyers were reluctant to move forward with a purchase - they were concerned about the economy at large and more specifically if they would have a job in 2009. Buyers also were much more knowledgeable of market trends. They did their homework by consulting the major web portals: MLSlistings.com; Realtor.com; Zillow; and even Redfin. Lastly, buyers also became more pragmatic about the amount of money they wanted to spend. As a sign of the times, all the buyers I worked with this year all put down at least 30%, and two clients purchased properties with cash.

In August, the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) was introduced to the real community. In a “knee jerk” effort to reduce abuse by appraisers, Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac rolled out HVCC. The net effect of this new policy is that lenders could no longer talk directly to appraisers. A new middle man – an appraisal aggregator – took the order from the bank and assigned it to an appraiser. Unfortunately we were not dealing with appraisers with local knowledge. Appraisal aggregators hired appraisers who would bill at half local fees to keep costs down. It was not unusual to see appraisers as far away as Bakersfield respond to appraisal order in the valley. As such, the appraisers didn’t have the local understanding that is such an important part of home valuation.

While no one questions the good intentions to stop abuses in the appraisal process, the unintended consequences have made appraisals completely unpredictable. Twice this year I had homes that sold with multiple offers, yet did not appraise for the sale price because the appraiser did not understand the value of being in Cupertino School District or give any value for a finished basement and attic.

This year buyers and sellers, more than ever, asked for referrals to experienced agents. We also saw the impact of social network sites – Facebook, Yelp, and to some degree Twitter are being used as a way to find quality real estate agents. The clients who found me on the internet felt they had a clear idea of my experience and qualifications so once we started working together the home buying process went very quickly. I had three clients in contract within two weeks of working together. In fact, one client closed escrow 19 days after our first meeting.

With all the turmoil, several of my Seller clients did very well in a supposedly down market. Three of my clients who sold homes in Cupertino, saw very brisk sales with multiple offers all at or above the asking price. To some degree this was an anomaly to the majority of home sales in Santa Clara County. What made the difference?

• Location, location, location – These homes were all mapped to Cupertino’s best schools.
• These homes were dressed to sell – updated kitchens and baths, freshly painted and staged.
• Leveraging the internet with multiple photos, virtual tours and property specific websites. www.1149Hunterston.com, www.21295Rumford.com, and www.10551Madera.com to advertise these properties.
• Pricing these homes at 98% of recent sales to assure the home would receive a positive appraisal.

With all the changes in 2009, I found this year to be both challenging and very rewarding. The days of the easy real estate transaction are behind us. Buyers and sellers are both finding the current real estate environment challenging to the point of frustration. The buyers that want to buy often can’t because they’re losing out in a multiple offer situation. Sellers have to think twice about accepting the highest offer because the home may not appraise due to HVCC guidelines. More than years past, clients see value of working with a competent REALTOR®.

The days of putting a stick in the ground with a “For Sale” sign are behind us. I say “Yippee!” Now it’s time for the “REAL” professionals to step up and show their stuff. Will the future be easy? No. In fact, I believe many of today’s successful agents will not make the cut going forward. It’s clear the internet and social networking platforms will become the new measurement of who makes the cut. Who gets the call saying “I want to work with you?”

The old techniques of mailing out postcards, door knocking, and cold calling will be as antique as the MLS book. We are quickly moving to a permission based society where “I’ll call you, don’t call me”. What will work hasn’t changed. You have to show value. Real estate agents more than ever need to be excellent communicators, with the ability to multi-task constantly. They have to know how to market themselves. Lastly, REALTORS need to become master negotiators.

In closing, I want to say a big “thank you” to the clients, customers, agents, lenders, inspectors and escrow officers I worked with this year. I learned a little more from each transaction this year. You pushed me beyond what I thought my team and I could accomplish. I know I’m a better agent from this year’s experience, and look forward to even more in 2010.