My Sereno Group real estate colleague and friend Lorraine Combs has some extremely gorgeous land listed for sale in Morgan Hill.  Many of us have the dream about building a home somewhere in Silicon Valley and getting more space – and this south county acreage is so scenic that I really wanted to showcase it here.  It’s a nice piece of the California heritage with views of the hills, trees and water all in one place. What a great place to enjoy horses or a vineyard!

So, take a few minutes, enjoy the photos and details, and see if these riverside lots might be just the thing for you or someone you know!

Two Riverfront Morgan Hill Lots For Sale: Some General Information

These two properties were recently subdivided, so share the same address, which is 12575 Watsonville Road, Morgan Hill.  The area is close to town and also near to the wine growing region.

One of these parcels is just shy of 3 acres and the other is 3.45 acres.  They are contiguous so two lots can be purchased together if you are looking for an even larger piece of land to call your own.

Both properties front the beautiful Uvas River, which runs year round.  And both are equestrian properties, zoned for horses.

Seller financing is possible for your real estate purchase – this is an enormous plus, especially given the current lending climate!

A well is shared between the two addresses. One lot has a P, G & E pole and the other has an electric easement.

One of the parcels has an existing structure and a new house can be built on that site, which includes views of the Uvas River.  The other does not currently have a building on it but does enjoy frontage on the river (and plenty of level land upon which to build).

Please note: do not go to these listings without an appointment!  It is imperative to call and make an appointment first to view this prime land (contact info will be listed at the end of this article).

Now let’s go over each parcel individually.

3.45 acres of beautiful riverfront land in Morgan Hill, offered at $685,000

APN # 756-43-022, MLS # 81107518

This large parcel includes site approval on a level area and river frontage (due to setback requirements, the home site itself does not have a river view). It is zoned for horses. Septic will of course be needed.  Lovely views and tremendous mature trees grace the land!  Please check out the listing below (and then continue on to learn about the second property).

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 81107518 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

Home site with view of Uvas River on 2.9 acres of land for sale in Morgan Hill, listed at $660,000

APN # 756-43-023, MLS # 81107536

What is truly unique and fantastic about this view property is that there’s an approved building site with views of the year round Uvas River.  With the current setbacks and codes, this would not be possible if there were not already a house situated in this location already. (The house there was never finaled and the highest and best use of the land would indicate that rebuilding is a good idea.)

Below please find more images and MLS information on this fine land:

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 81107536 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

Please do NOT go to the property without an appointment.

If you would like to walk the land and see the house, you will need an appointment.  Please contact Lorraine Combs at 408 335-1457 (or if you are working with a Realtor, have your agent set up the showing on your behalf).

If you call Lorraine after reading this article about her beautiful land listings in Morgan Hill, please tell her that you read about it on Mary’s blog!

Information in this post compiled from the MLS, from conversations with the listing agent and from her clients (the owners of the property), indirectly.  Every effort has been made to provide accurate information and it is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Silicon Valley features a number of upscale communities that enjoy beautiful estate properties. These luxury homes are not simply large houses, but rather they boast qualities generally not seen in regular residential real estate.

What makes a house a “luxury home”?

A luxury property in Santa Clara County often includes a number of elements that set it apart, such as:

• price tag: these homes usually sell for more than three or five million dollars (and may be $10 or $20 million or more)
• more than an acre or two of land
• house larger than 4000 or 5000 sf
• the inclusion of “out buildings” such as a guest cottage, gatehouse, etc.
• views (valley, hill, acreage) or special features of the land (waterfront, riverfront adjacent), a vineyard, or something else special and uniquely beautiful
• amenities such as a pool, tennis court, racquetball court, gym, sports court or facilities for enjoying other sports & exercise on site
• specialized hobby or relaxation rooms, as in a darkroom, library, workshop, conservatory
• entertainment centers not commonly found in private homes, like a ballroom, dedicated home theater room for movie viewing, pool or billiards and “game room”, and ice cream parlor
• safety tools such as a video survelliance system, electronic gates

The (main) house itself is qualitatively different too.

Kitchens tend to be the most important room for San Jose area home buyers of all price ranges, and this includes homes that cost upwards of ten million dollars. Usually, kitchens in these homes are designed with a very clear purpose in mind and are done beautifully, though recently in Los Gatos I saw a home listed for about ten million with a kitchen that needs to be completely remodeled. This is very unusual, though.

Most luxury homes features kitchens of one extreme or the other. On the one hand, it may be more industrial in nature if those cooking in it are primarily professional chefs, domestic employees or catering services rather than the homeowner. This is not the kitchen of glossy magazines, it’s not meant to impress anyone for all the maple cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. This sort of kitchen is functional, not gorgeous, and it may have stainless steel countertops, for instance, alongside the giant gas range. Such a kitchen is usually separate from the living areas and the guests are not expected to visit this part of the home.

Far more commonly found in Silicon Valley is the other end of the spectrum, the kitchen where residents spend most of their time, and it’s meant to impress. Here we see high end materials and appliances in a room viewed as much as art as the meals created in it are. This type of kitchen is often the focal point of today’s upscale or luxury home. The home’s floorplan is “open” to the kitchen – often the kitchen and family room blend together as part of a Great Room. This is a kitchen designed for owners who cook, not those who have servants.

Luxury kitchens in most luxury homes include:

• a large, professional grade oven and stove
• two regular ovens plus a built in microwave
• maple or cherry cabinets, some with glass doors to showcase artistic pieces
• slab granite (or other slab material) countertops (sometimes stainless or concrete)
• an island with vegetable sink and disposal
• two or more dishwashers
• a butler’s pantry, often with a dishwasher and sink area for dishes and cutlery, which are stored in the bulter’s pantry and not in the kitchen itself
• sometimes other appliances and tools such as a built-in espresso machine (trash compactors are not so much in favor today but may still be found)
• special lighting, often imported, plus spotlights and under the cabinet lighting

Very often there’s an elegant breakfast room, often with windows on three or more sides, or nook and a place for stools to sit up close to the counter, frequently at the island but not always.

A formal dining room is to be expected in the ultra expensive, multi-million dollar home. Recently, though, I toured a home in Saratoga listed over five million dollars that was newly constructed and missing a dining room! Apparently the builder thought a corner of the living room or family room could be dedicated to formal dining, but I thought that this was a terrible oversight. Many high end homes feature large dining rooms that can seat 10 or 14 at one table, or in some cases host two tables with a half dozen or more at each. Truly elegant dining rooms will also include a fireplace as well.

I won’t do a room by room analysis, but there are many more features commonly found in expensive, estate properties. If the home is traditional, you can expect lots of crown molding and baseboard, exquisite light fixtures, and built ins. Most styles of luxury homes will include beautiful stone floors, elaborate electronics systems, pools, large master baths with soaking tubs and two-person showers.  There are many more amenities can all be hallmarks of fine homes and estates.

Sometimes, people go a little too far in an effort to appear ultra elegant. Usually it’s something overdone, like too many Greek statues or other improvements that may be “over the top”, such as the use of too much black marble, too many chandaliers, or too much gold paint worked into a ceiling or fireplace mantle. These things are easy to fix and to personalize the home so it’s more appropriate, so don’t let the finishing work be a put-off. (Of note to me in the “over the top” category was seeing diamonds built into bathroom fixtures in one Monte Sereno home. What were they thinking?)

Even in homes with a high price tag, it’s always important to carefully examine not just the general condition of the home, but the specifics. Sometimes, despite the acreage or square footage and apparently expensive construction, homes are not always well built – all builders are not the same. It is important to use due dilligence and look at the craftsmanship, simple things like grading and drainage, to make sure that the home is built not just to look good today, but to last into the future. Always, always get a home you wish to purchase thoroughly inspected. And if you own a lovely estate property, get it inspected periodically to maintain your property and prevent expensive problems such as foundation cracking and dry rot.

Where are the high end homes of Santa Clara County found?  Luxury homes are primarily found near the foothills (but not exclusively so) in the communities of Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Almaden Valley, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Silver Creek and a few other areas. There are some luxurious pockets on the valley floor, too, in areas such as San Jose’s Rose Garden or Naglee Park. If you are relocating to Silicon Valley and are looking for a luxury property, you won’t be disappointed at the varied selection of options here!