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I feel like I should be watching reruns of Lost – Season 1 and listening to Boulevard of Broken Dreams on my playlist (except I didn’t have a playlist back then). It’s like 2005 all over again, with buyers bidding 10 and even 20 percent over asking, zero contingencies and multi-million dollar cash offers all […] Read more

With historically low loan rates starting to inch up borrowers should consider rate lock agreements in their home purchase and refinance activities. Locking in an interest rate freezes the terms of the loan while it’s being processed; particularly important if an increase in rates would impact your ability to qualify and/or pay for the loan. […] Read more

Wednesday Wow Factor on Thursday (the beach is a bit flaky for wi-fi as it turns out). No “pause for a minute” moments on tour yesterday so instead I’m showing you our recently completed garage remodel. When we bought our million dollar tear down (Silicon Valley at its finest!) the garage was a haven for […] Read more

I set out this morning to see how my home town of Los Gatos was faring in the property market compared to the rest of the Bay Area.  I started, as I often do, by running some basic calculations on median list price and median price per square foot to see where we are compared […] Read more

Wednesday is real estate broker tour day in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Campbell and Cambrian.  Every week we get to see newly listed homes big and small, new and old, quirky and elegant.   Inevitably I see something that makes  me stop, ponder and exclaim  “Now that’s a clever idea” or “Oh, this will sell the […] Read more

Real Estate prices are down, interest rates are at record lows, you’ve found your perfect Silicon Valley Dream Home but you still have 1 hurdle to cross;  Financing Don’t sit on the sidelines assuming you can’t buy because you can’t get a loan.   Here are 5 things the lenders are looking for in order […] Read more

Los Gatos continues to be a great place to buy a home if schools factor into your decision. The API scores awarded based on statewide tests administered in 2013 were exemplary across the board. Los Gatos buyers say the schools and the small town community are key factors in their decision to buy here. Los […] Read more

A statewide requirement to have carbon monoxide detectors installed in all California homes goes into effect July 1. The Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act (Senate Bill 183) is a two part law that states the detectors must be installed on or before July 1, 2011, in single-family dwelling units. The law goes on to state […] Read more

On broker tour yesterday I visited a beautiful home newly listed by a friend of mine on El Gato in Los Gatos.   Although a modest 2 bedroom home, the owner had spared no expense in remodeling (right down to the $4000 kitchen sink!).  This home and it’s 1 bedroom rental unit in back are […] Read more