How’s the Saratoga California real estate market?

Annual Saratoga CA Real Estate Update:

Saratoga’s prices slipped a bit in 2011 over 2010.  Here are the basic numbers with the stats for the annual review, including median sales price and average sales price of houses sold (see the Saratoga Real Estate Report for even more data):

Median Sale Price 2011 = $1,480,000   2010 = $1,510,000 (-2.0%)

Average Sale Price 2011 = $1,636,300   2010 = $1,657,140 (-1.3%)

For condominiums and townhouses it was stronger (finally, they’ve taken a beating!):

Median Sale Price 2011 =  $660,000     2010 =  $612,500 (+7.8%)

Average Sale Price  2011 = $684,500    2010 =  $640,895 (+6.8%)

To see much more information please visit the full annual Real Estate Report for Saratoga condos and townhomes

Monthly Real Estate Update for Saratoga:

Sales of single family homes were up but prices were down month over month – but way, way up over December 2010! It’s taking much longer to sell houses compared to a year ago too – but look at the prices from a year ago – the low price went with a very brisk sale time (average 17 days on the market).  That was nuts both for low pricing and for speed!

What about Saratoga condos for sale and sold? There are very, very few of these which sell in any given month, so the numbers can very easily jump around like crazy – and therefore aren’t terribly helpful.  (more…)

Our daughter is taking some classes at West Valley College this summer and I’ve had the chance to revisit* the campus a number of times recently.  I took this photo of the Santa Cruz Mountains or the Coastal Range over Saratoga while on the WVC campus the other day – and thought it was pretty enough to share.  Hope you enjoy it!

*When I was a senior at Saratoga High School (a very long time ago – I graduated in 1977), I took a class at West Valley College in psychology. What I remember most was the segment on early childhood education and one particular line about the importance of paying enough attention to kids: “a child would rather be kicked than ignored”.  It had a profound influence on the way we raised our two kids – for the better!

Bargain hunting home buyers have a lot to be grateful for: interest rates are low and house prices are low in Silicon Valley generally and Campbell too.  Oftentimes these are distressed properties which are either short sale listings or bank owned homes. So there will be issues with purchasing these houses, but even so, they are usually sold at a significant discount for the trouble. It’s a great time to buy Campbell real estate!

Least costly houses, townhouses and condominiums in Campbell, CA

Below please find the most affordable homes in all categories of housing & residential real estate!  These are properties currently listed as available on our local MLS.

Lower Cost Campbell Houses for Sale

Specifically looking to buy a house in Campbell? Here are homes which are most affordably priced:

Showing properties 1 - 2 of 2. See more city of Campbell real estate.
(all data current as of 2/9/2012)

1. $425,000 : 2575 S Winchester Bl, Campbell
   
   3 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 936 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,000 sq ft
   
2. $449,000 : 571 Maple Av, Campbell
   
   2 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 996 sq ft

   Lot size: 6,200 sq ft
   

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Yesterday I was on the real estate agent & broker’s tour, viewing homes for sale in Saratoga and Los Gatos, when I noticed a pedestrian path that fed into the cul-de-sac at Carnelian Glen Court in Saratoga.  Although I lived in Saratoga for many years (graduating from Saratoga High School), I didn’t remember this trail so went online to see if I could find a map.  Google maps was no help, but thankfully, the well organized city of Saratoga was very helpful. I discovered several new hiking or walking trails that I hadn’t been aware of previously.

The city’s website includes a page with links to ALL available Saratoga trail maps which are all pdf files (so be prepared for loading). It offers both a map with all of the trails (shown above), a map of Saratoga Village displaying public restrooms & parking as well as streets, and maps to specific trails.  The big map of all the trails takes a little while to load but is really fantastic.

The Campbell real estate market appears to be “past the bottom”, as is the case with much of the Silicon Valley housing market. In some parts of San Jose, “the bottom” was in February or March of this year.  Campbell may have hit that point sooner – but in any event it is now heading back toward a balanced market (30 is the balance point for this formula). (Images and charts from Altos Research, to which I have a subscription and permission to use these, as well as the RE Report, another subscription service of mine. Altos uses list prices, the RE Report uses sold data as well as list prices.)

Let’s look at the data for October in Campbell – actives, pendings, and closeds (care of the RE Report).

While in many parts of the greater San Jose area the Days on Market (DOM) are lengthening, they are shortening in Campbell! Sales are up, but prices are still declining a bit (in several areas of Santa Clara County, prices are again inching up – this tends to happen in less expensive areas).  Pending sales are up and inventory is down.  So there are some mixed indicators but Campbell appears to be at or near “the bottom”.
(more…)

My alma mater, Saratoga High School in Saratoga, CA, just launched a student-made video about the school.  In interviews of students, faculty, and staff, many of the plusses of being a part of that community are brought out.  Film footage shows the cinderblock construction that was equally ugly in 1977 (when this local blogger graduated), but made clear that the school is about the people, not the architecture and paint color.  That part has not changed in the last thirty years, while the campus has become more sophisticated and now sports a great-looking theater for its star class performances.

This is a nicely done video and is worthwhile viewing for anyone thinking of enrolling at Saratoga High, or of having their kids enroll there.

Saratoga High School:
Why students, teachers, and staff love working here

Go Falcons!

Campbell, California is a city in the “West Valley” of Santa Clara County. It was once a farming and orcharding area but is now a suburb of San Jose and the greater Silicon Valley community.  It enjoys a classic and vibrant old “downtown” area with restaurants, shops, plenty of coffee houses, pubs and places to hang out.  The city buildings are there too, and so is the beautiful and historic Ainsley House.

Browse listings of homes for sale in Campbell, California

Whether you are looking to purchase a small condo, a townhouse, a starter home or a large house or luxury home in Campbell, you can find it in this beloved city!  Below please find a list of properties currently listed as available on our MLS. This list will include all types of housings and sale types (regular sales, short sales and REOs or bank owned properties).

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 47. See more city of Campbell real estate.
(all data current as of 2/9/2012)

1. $397,900 : 721 W Hacienda Av, Campbell
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,572 sq ft

   Lot size: 4,400 sq ft
   
2. $325,000 : 67 Dot Av, Campbell
   
   2 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,060 sq ft

   Lot size: 900 sq ft
   
3. $799,900 : 1300 Patio Dr, Campbell
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,842 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,194 sq ft
   
4. $835,000 : 1276 W San Tomas Aquino Rd, Campbell
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 2,011 sq ft

   Lot size: 10,519 sq ft
   
5. $865,900 : 1232 Theresa Av, Campbell
   
   3 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 1,970 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,980 sq ft
   

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.