Cinnabar winery sign (Big Basin Way, Saratoga)

In many communities such as Saratoga, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Willow Glen, Campbell and Palo Alto, there is a high premium placed on homes which are close to the downtown area.  Many real estate agents advertise these as “walk to town” but the idea is simple: it’s nearby, you can stroll, skate, ride or bike, wheel yourself and forget the car.

Downtown Saratoga, also called Saratoga Village, welcomes residents and visitors to a charming, scenic area with fabulous shops, spas, wine tasting venues, restaurants and more.  This part of the city boasts top scoring schools as well as lovely older and historic buildings and a gorgeous park alongside Saratoga Creek. Whether you spend an afternoon or a lifetime in Saratoga, this part of town will call you back again and again!

What do you need to know about buying a house, townhouse or condo in downtown Saratoga?

There are a few points which you are well served to know when purchasing residential real estate in this upscale community. We’ll touch on a few of them here: historic homes, traffic & noise, natural hazards, parking, and special issues with condos, townhouses and PUDs (planned unit developments).

First, this downtown Saratoga Village zone is historic; while not every property is deemed historic, many are and that means that there will be restrictions on remodeling and expansion of single family homes or houses. For instance, original glass in windows may need to remain if you’ve got a Victorian house dating from the 1890s, and expansions may need to be off the back of the home so that the facade keeps its initial look and feel (just examples).  This can be frustrating if you buy a luxury home that “needs work” and you are surprised later. If the house was built before 1950 or so, double check the rules!

Second, traffic and noise can be an issue and vary from day to day as well as from one time of day to another; there are a variety of traffic related concerns.  Big Basin Way is an alternate route to Highway 17 for access to Skyline Boulevard and the coast.  Cars and motorcycles may be thick on Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Saratoga-Los Gatos Road when the weather is good.  Motorcycles can be especially loud when large groups go on a road trip together!  Of course there will be extra cars when a concert is featured at The Mountain Winery (off Big Basin Way) or Montalvo (off Saratoga-Los Gatos Road).  If you have a serene view property it might surprise you how much motorcycle noise can carry – so be sure to visit the property on a warm weekend afternoon or two to check it out.

Additionally, because Big Basin is an alternate route to Highway 17, it can also get a lot of traffic if there’s a problem on 17 in winter due to weather such as with downed trees, mudslides, car accidents with severe backups, etc. So when weather is good and when weather is bad, Big Basin and nearby roads can get very congested and move slowly.

Commuters who live in the mountains as well as others choke Saratoga Avenue at rush hour.  This is slowed further by having to pass two schools (Sacred Heart and St. Andrews) before getting to Highway 85.  Saratoga Avenue has just one lane in each direction through the historic zone, but after the freeway it’s much better.  (Saratoga-Sunnyvale isn’t bad as there are 2 lanes but remember to slow down at Saratoga High – the road is wide so the temptation is to go too fast.)

Natural hazards:  Depending on the location of the home in relation to the village, you could be in a wildland fire zone, in an unstable soils zone, a seismic zone or other “natural hazard” areas.  Also, if you are closer in to the hills or near a creek (and there are 2 in downtown Saratoga), there will of course be an increased contact with wild life, such as deer – but potentially also mountain lions, bobcats, racoons, possum, skunks, etc.  Most people love seeing the deer but others find it upsetting that their beloved garden is viewed as a buffet!

Finally, as with many downtown areas, parking can be a little tricky at times.  Valet parking can be a big help but no matter what, do pay attention to how long you’re in a spot and what the limit is – it can be expensive if you forget!

Are there special issues with Condos, Townhomes or PUDs in downtown Saratoga, CA?

In some cases, yes, PUDs, condominiums and townhouse communities may have special issues due to any of the items listed above.  In 2010 I had a great listing at Saratoga Oaks, a lovely and luxurious townhouse resort community.  Because of their proximity to the hills, the home owner’s association had earthquake insurance and that was quite costly.  The HOA dues covered not just the multiple pools, tennis courts, pool house, roads etc. but also fairly expensive blanket and earthquake  insurance as well. (That listing of mine on Placida Court is sold and closed but you can check the photos out here to get an idea of the area.)

A problem throughout Silicon Valley is condo, PUD and townhouse home owners defaulting on their monthly dues (and any special assessments).  Whenever you purchase one of these types of homes it is very important to know how financially sound the community is.  If there are many defaults, it is possible that the reserve account will run too low, resulting in either deferred maintenance, raised dues or special assessments  for those who are paying.  (With a short sale, some of the owed monies may be forgiven, and with a foreclosure there may be no recouping of debts owed at all.)

There are very few distressed sales in Saratoga, relative to the rest of Silicon Valley, so this risk should be lower in downtown Saratoga or anywhere in that city, but do check the situation out so that yo aren’t later handed a big bill to pay!  Here are a couple of related articles that you might find helpful:

Why are those Silicon Valley HOA dues so high?

Does your HOA have enough in reserves?

Want to learn more about living in this piece of paradise?  Browse listings below – no need to register, just have a look!  And if you want to buy or sell real estate in Saratoga, please contact me.  I grew up there (graduate of Saratoga HS), I sell there, and I’m happy to assist you in making it your home!

Find a home for sale in Saratoga, CA (all of Saratoga, not just downtown):

Saratoga California condominiums or condos for sale

Showing properties 1 - 3 of 3. See more city of Saratoga real estate.
(all data current as of 2/10/2012)

1. $625,000 : 14660 Big Basin Wy #C, Saratoga
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,408 sq ft

   Lot size: 1,496 sq ft
   
2. $585,000 : 14654 Big Basin Wy #A, Saratoga
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,276 sq ft

   Lot size: 1,276 sq ft
   
3. $439,999 : 20800 4th St #10, Saratoga
   
   2 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 876 sq ft

   Lot size: 871 sq ft
   

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

Saratoga California townhouses or townhomes for sale

Showing properties 1 - 4 of 4. See more city of Saratoga real estate.
(all data current as of 2/10/2012)

1. $574,950 : 19714 Vineyard Ln, Saratoga
   
   2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,511 sq ft

   Lot size: 2,000 sq ft
   
2. $525,000 : 19415 Vineyard Ln, Saratoga
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,612 sq ft

   Lot size: 968 sq ft
   
3. $775,000 : 12630 Biarritz Ln, Saratoga
   
   3 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 1,991 sq ft

   Lot size: 3,192 sq ft
   
4. $948,000 : 14679 Springer Av, Saratoga
   
   2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 2,163 sq ft

   Lot size: 1,377 sq ft
   

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

Saratoga CA houses for sale – single family homes for sale in Saratoga California

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 61. See more city of Saratoga real estate.
(all data current as of 2/10/2012)

1. $798,000 : 14403 Oka Ln, Saratoga
   
   3 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 1,273 sq ft

   Lot size: 11,000 sq ft
   
2. $825,000 : 18253 Swarthmore Dr, Saratoga
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,400 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,260 sq ft
   
3. $850,000 : 14656 6th St, Saratoga
   
   1 bed, 1 full bath

   Home size: 592 sq ft

   Lot size: 4,500 sq ft
   
4. $869,950 : 19061 Dagmar Dr, Saratoga
   
   3 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 918 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,424 sq ft
   
5. $890,000 : 14451 Oak Pl, Saratoga
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 913 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,925 sq ft
   

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

The St Martin of Tours School’s annual tour of beautiful homes in San Jose’s Rose Garden district is happening this weekend.  It’s a fabulous opportunity to see gracious homes, attractively decorated and remodeled, and to support the school.

If you’re new to Silicon Valley and are unfamiliar with the area, the school (and Church) are close to O’Connor Hospital (which is close to Valley Fair Mall).  The Rose Garden District is close by, surrounding the San Jose municipal park bearing the name of Municipal Rose Garden. It’s considered part of “central San Jose” and has the zip code 95126. This area, along with nearby Shasta-Hanchett, has some gorgeous older homes. Many of the streets are wide and tree lined. This neighborhood is convenient to both major nearby freeways (280 and 880) so is a great commute location. It’s an area with enduring popularity.

View Larger Map

For all the details, please see their Rose Garden Homes Tour website.

Recently our neice, Christine, began her college career at Santa Clara University.  We have told her about and shown her a few landmarks in the San Jose & Silicon Valley areas.  She knows about Greenlee’s amazing cinnamon bread, fun & upscale Santana Row, the great little Italian restaurant near campus called Mio Vicino, and much more.

Equally accessible on her new bicycle is a great little place that makes hand made chocolates: Schurra’s in San Jose – right on the Alameda, perhaps 2 miles from SCU (address: 840 The Alameda, close to Race Street, in San Jose). I have promised to put together a map with local highlights and that will definitely make the grade!

Schurra’s has been a part of central San Jose for nearly 100 years – it was founded in 1912 and managed to survive the Great Depression and now appears to be thriving through our Great Recession.

Step into Schurra’s and breathe deeply.  The smell of the rich chocolates is almost intoxicating!  There’s a huge variety so there should be no trouble finding something for everyone in your party!  There are chews, truffles, creams and nuts. Dark chocolate and milk chocolate.  Dried fruits. Gift boxes galore.  Holiday specials.  You name it, they seem to have it.

There’s even a little cooler full of ice cream, too.

So hop on your bike, walk or drive your car and visit this very cool old icon of San Jose.  It’s goodness that harkens to a bygone era when this valley was known for it’s produce and not its high tech, when it was called The Valley of Heart’s Delight.  Take a nibble…or two….  Enjoy a taste of living history! (While you’re in the neighborhood you ought to go to Greenlee’s too and get some of that cinnamon bread for later! It’s practically across the street and is another historic business in Santa Clara County.)

Schurra’s
840 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
(408) 289-1562

Other yummy businesses nearby: Greenlee’s Bakery (you gotta try their cinnamon bread!)

The Almaden Winery neighborhood, just off Blossom Hill Road in San Jose, has a rich and interesting past, dating back to the mid 1850s when the site was first planted with grape vines.  It was the first winery in Almaden Valley and one of the oldest in the state of California.  (It survived the prohibition period by getting licensed to make sacramental wine and by bottling grape juice.)

In this post I’ll share some photos of the neighborhood with you, explain about the three different builders/developers and show you where to find each one.

With a bit more than 300 houses, the Almaden Winery area is quite popular, with its homes selling quickly.   The community centers around a lovely park, and additionally there’s a newer library adjacent to it – the Vineland Branch of the San Jose public library system.

There are three developments within the Almaden Winery neighborhood:

What are homes like in the Almaden Winery?

The design is primarily Mediterranean, lots of windows and natural light, smaller lots generally, mostly two story homes with two car garages.

View Almaden Winery Neighborhood in a larger map

Tresor:  home sizes vary from about 1570 square feet to 2300 square feet (on lots of less than 4000 SF).  The front yard landscaping is handled by the HOA, there are private roads and a small HOA fee of about $85 per month as of this writing.  These are on zero lot lines (so are “patio homes”) and of the three neighborhoods, these tend to be the most affordable.

Vineland: homes are a bit larger and so are the lots.  Also zero lot lines in most cases.  Properties here may enjoy 2300 to 2800 square feet on lots of 4000 to 6000 square feet.

Vintage: houses range from 1500 to 2600 square feet, and the lots range from about 5000 SF to 7000 SF. A few even have pools. These are not patio homes or zero lot line properties. Many homes, perhaps half, have 3 car garages. Some streets are particularly “tight knit”. I heard from a colleague that the residents on Chaumont have a block party each year, for instance.

Where is the Almaden Winery neighborhood?

Located off of Blossom Hill Road and close to Dartmouth Middle School, the neighborhood is at the mouth of the Almaden Valley but is now technically considered a part of Cambrian Park and has a Cambrian zip code, 95118.  The Guadalupe Creek and some percolation ponds are the back boundary (homes on just the other side of the water are considered officially part of Almaden Valley).  A number of homes enjoy a beautiful waterfront view and unobstructed vista of the mountains.  Some of them are on larger lots, too, and sell for a premium.

Interested in seeing one of these great homes? I just listed one at 5641 Le Fevre Drive, San Jose 95118 (MLS # 81045200). Want to see what else is currently available? Below I have an IDX feed that should show every listed home in the Vineland, Tresor and Vintage subdivisions within the Almaden Winery neighborhood.

Almaden Winery Neighborhood Homes Listed for Sale

Want to buy a house in the Almaden Winery area? Here’s what is currently available. Please contact me for information on these homes, or to hear about others coming on the market soon! (As of Sept 28, 2010, I’m aware of two other homes in the area of these 3 subdivisions which are coming on the market within the next seven days. One will be a short sale, the other a “regular sale”. Call me if interested in knowing more!)

The Streets in the Old Almaden Winery Neighborhood

Bellagio Dr
Bergamo Ct
Bergerac Dr
Bordelais Dr
Bouchard Dr
Brionne Dr
Chambertin Av
Chambertin Dr
Chaumont Dr
Domaine Dr
Le Franc Dr
Le Fevre Dr
Mireille Dr
Ravenna Ct
Touraine Dr
Treviso Av
Treviso Dr

Want to buy or sell a home in this beautiful part of San Jose along the Almaden – Cambrian border? Please contact me and we can talk about the area, local real estate, its variables and how to work on getting your next house bought or sold!
Mary Pope-Handy
mary (at) popehandy.com 408 204-7673

Los Gatos is a charming town snuggled into the base of the coastal range between San Jose/Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz, which is on the other side of ˜the hill as locals call it. Its an upscale community with great schools, shopping, restaurants, and community involvement. Diversity abounds in things to do, from sailing, rollerblading and picnicking at Vasona Lake County Park to wine tasting at the Testarossa Vineyards to strolling down the main streets in search of dining or shopping. Every season offers something in this smallish community of 30,000 or so.

The hills help to define Los Gatos. Facing the coastal range and the pass that leads to Santa Cruz, you see El Sombroso rising on the left and El Sereno on the right. Other well known peaks are Loma Prieta (the epicenter of the 1989 earthquake) and Mt.Umunhum, which rises over Almaden Valley (Ununhum was the Ohlone word for Hummingbird). Closer in, Blossom Hill is a small hill in front of El Sombroso over which you drive on Blossom Hill Road. Behind it is the Kennedy-Shannon Road area, which is delightfully remote feeling while really being close in. Near downtown, St. Josephs Hill overlooks Main Street and is the home to the old Jesuit Novitiate, Sacred Heart, as well as Testarossa Vineyards tasting room (formerly the Novitiate Winery).

A sub-tropical climate makes it easy to enjoy events year-round. While palm trees are not native to northern California, they do thrive here! Our annual rainfall is only about 20 a year. If we get cold temperatures, its because the wind happens to be blowing south from Alaska. On those rare cold snaps, it might even snow – to everyones delight since it only happens about once in every decade, and at most will stick to the ground for an hour or two! Los Gatos does have its micro-climates. The pass through which highway 17 runs to Santa Cruz is a low spot that allows the cooler coastal weather to come through can make downtown a little colder, windier and wetter than parts of town to the south of Blossom Hill or toward the Saratoga limit. In summer this can make downtown more comfortable and in winter it can make the outlying areas more so.

The town got its name because the two gentlemen who originally got their land grant here from Mexico heard big cats fighting – so knew that water must be near. So they dubbed it ˜La Rinconada De Los Gatos, ˜The Corner of the Cats.

You will find two large cat statues gracing the entrance to Poets Canyon, just outside of town. The image of those cats can be found on all kinds of Los Gatos items, including the town seal.

My family and I live here, in Los Gatos. Our neighborhood is Belwood of Los Gatos, located about 3.5 miles from downtown Los Gatos on the eastern side, close to Cambrian Park on one side and Almaden Valley on the other. I invite you to learn more about Los Gatos and all its neighborhoods by visiting my blog, Live In Los Gatos. There youll find current events, snippets of history, information on specific neighborhoods, photo tours of the town, and much more!

Things To Do In Los Gatos

Theres tons to do here! Please see the blog:

Mary Pope-Handy’s Los Gatos Blog, Live in Los Gatos! .

Great Places to Dine – Mary’s Favorites

Breakfast

Hands down, its The Los Gatos Cafe at 340 N. Santa Cruz Avenue, tel 408 354-4647. No reservations. If you go on a weekend morning, prepare to wait unless you go early. But its worth it. Fabulous food.

Brunch

The Toll House Hotel, Lounge & Restaurant 140 S. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos (408) 395-7070

Coffee

Los Gatos Cafe, 340 N. Santa Cruz Avenue Tel (408) 354-4647
Great Bear Coffee & Los Osos Cafe, 19 N. Santa Cruz Avenue Tel (408) 395-8607
Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, 101 W. Main Street Tel (408) 354-3263

Links to town government, schools, chamber of commerce, and general interest

What makes Almaden so highly desireable a place in which to live? Real estate prices are among the highest in San Jose (and Silicon Valley). For much of Santa Clara County, its a little remote; the commute might be a little too far for some, or so its thought. But that may be a misconception.

Where is Almaden Valley?

Almaden sits nestled between the Santa Teresa foothills and the Santa Cruz Mountains in a southwest corner of Santa Clara County. It touches the Los Gatos and Cambrian Park borders on one side, Blossom Valley on another and stretches toward Morgan Hill at the base of the valley. The major roads winding through Almaden are Camden Avenue, Almaden Expressway, and Coleman Avenue. The local landmark, viewable from much of Almaden Valley, is the famous Mount Umunhum, perched at a high point of the coastal foothills. (Someday, it is hoped that will be a park accessible to all – like Mount Tam to the north.)

Why Choose Almaden Valley?

Great living: Almaden boasts low crime, great schools, and strong community involvement. With nice public facilities such as a rec center and library, and some neighborhood communities with cabanas and busy swim teams, its family oriented and kid friendly.

Scenic open spaces: Almaden has lots of open spaces with golf courses, parks, and trails. The southernmost part of Almaden and some of the hilly areas are still beautiful horse country too.

Nice neighborhoods: Homes in Almaden range from senior apartments to rent near Lake Almaden to luxury estates with incredible views and everything in between. Consistently, though, the neighborhoods are well kept, whether the homes are modest or enormous. There does not seem to be a ˜bad part of Almaden!

Lots to do: Being a district within San Jose, Almaden residents also enjoy life at the other end of Almaden Expressway in downtown San Jose, from cheering on the San Jose Sharks at the arena to taking in the arts downtown or spending time at the Tech Museum of Innovation or the Childrens Discovery Museum. The location makes it quick to be downtown from most parts of Almaden. All that downtown has to offer is a mere 15 to 30 minutes away.

A little more affordable than Los Gatos and Saratoga: Almaden is a somewhat more affordable alternative to Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratogas high real estate prices. But the schools are also excellent, crime also low, and the scenic beauty similar. So folks considering buying a home in these nearby areas should also look into Almaden!

History too: Additionally, Almaden enjoys a special historical place in Silicon Valley as the home of the mercury or quicksilver mines, which were so important during the gold rush. This old part of Almaden, called ˜New Almaden (after the original Almaden mine in Spain), is nicely preserved. Homes once owned and occupied by the mining community of Gold Rush days are still occupied and lovingly tended and restored today.

If you havent been to Almaden Valley, its worth the drive! To see the historic district, follow Almaden Expressway to Almaden Road. Its about 2 miles from the turnoff until you get to ˜New Almaden.

At this point, youre entering horse country and a much more rural part of San Jose than you may be used to seeing. Drive slowly or youll get a ticket!

When you get to New Almaden, park your car and visit the New Almaden Quicksilver Museum (21350 Almaden Road, San Jose, CA 95120). For more information on the historic aspect of this beautiful area, please visit the New Almaden page of the Santa Clara County Historic Societys website. Great pics and info!