Garlic Festival – much missed!

Table of Contents

Toggle

Gilroy is a scenic area well known for wineries, farmland and fruit stands.  More than anything,  it’s most iconic produce is garlic, which used to be celebrated late each July with the annual Garlic Festival, which, sadly, has been discontinued.

In summer days, the scent of garlic fills the early morning air and blows north along the coastal foothills so that those of us in Silicon Valley get a healthy nose full when grabbing our morning paper off the driveway. This has been my experience since I was a small child and I’m happy that all the progress of the last 40 or 50 years hasn’t changed the smell of garlic heralding mid-summer.

If you’re exploring this city, be sure to also check out Morgan Hill and San Martin, the other South County communities, too!

Gilroy: shopping, dining, wine tasting, parks, golf, and more

A nice easy, and fairly fast trip by car will bring you to South County and to this city nestled at the base of the coastal range.  It’s a wonderful day trip to explore the backyard of Silicon Valley, or better, take a whole weekend to get to know the area.  There’s a nice downtown area where you can do some shopping and dining.  Go out a bit and there are a number of fabulous wineries to check out.  And lest we forget, Gilroy is a local epicenter of bargain shopping.

At the intersection of highways 101 and 152, the Gilroy Premium Outlet Mall is found.  Go with the intention of spending money, because resistance is futile once you park your car.  We have shopped there many times and often found some especially good pricing on clothes.

Many will attest that cars are found for a better price there, too.

This area is also home to a charming family amusement park (aimed at younger kids), Gilroy Gardens.  Adults and children alike will appreciate the astounding topiary and twisted special trees which are unlike those you’d find anywhere else.  Even if you don’t have small kids, it’s worthwhile to visit this park just to see the amazing trees at least once.

Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Coyote Valley and nearby areas make up the “south county,” which has a little slower pace of living and quite a bit more affordability in housing. The commute is long.  The summers are hotter. So there are some trade-offs.

Love golf? There are several courses here: Eagle Ridge, Gilroy Golf Course, and Gavilan Golf Course are all in town.

Gilroy neighborhoods

This city has microclimates, just like the rest of the Bay Area. Most of it is in a “rain shadow” due to the Santa Cruz Mountains holding back most of the wind and moisture. However, locations near Hecker Pass (just like Highway 17 in Los Gatos) will get more wind and weather as the fog and clouds from the coast push through at the low points. Areas tucked between hills may have less wind and more heat – nice in winter but less nice in summer heat waves!

Because this is a farm community, it’s important to be aware that there are pesticides and odors in places. Sometimes it’s a matter of which way the wind blows. Mushroom farms can be particularly noticeable, so pay attention to that. Crop dusting may happen in places, too.

Much of this city’s residential areas consist of older houses and neighborhoods. If you love historic homes, you’ll appreciate the beautiful Victorian and other styles present, especially in the tree lined, older, downtown areas or “old Gilroy”. The older homes often include good sized yards.

More rural areas may enjoy views, a personal vineyard, or ranch land. The houses there vary from modest to opulent.

Younger homes can be found, too, particularly near the west side of Highway 152 and the Eagle Ridge area, generally. A few years ago I helped some past clients to purchase a new house there for their retirement years. Needless to say, when they “rightsized” to Gilroy from Silicon Valley, they got a lot more home for their money!

There are other types of housing besides single family homes, of course. Townhomes, condos, apartments, and more can be found scattered throughout the urban areas of the city.

How’s the Gilroy real estate market?

The residential real estate market in Gilroy is a hot seller’s market as of this writing, with homes selling fast and on average, over list price.

Altos Research chart

Please note, Altos uses LIST prices. Sale prices may be higher or lower.

To see the most current housing market statistics and trends for this south county city, please use the following links:

The single family home real estate market in Gilroy  (for most current month available)

The condo and townhouse real estate market in Gilroy

As of October 2023, the basic stats for single family homes are as follows (use links above to get this info):

Single family homes stats:

Condos and townhomes:

Homes for sale in Gilroy

Below please find a list of homes for sale in Gilroy – first single family homes, then townhouses, then condos.

(1) Houses (and duet homes) for sale in Gilroy:

See all Real estate matching your search.
(all data current as of 12/6/2023)

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

(2) Townhouses for sale in Gilroy:

Sorry, but we couldn't find any results in the MLS that match the specified search criteria.

(3) Condominiums for sale in Gilroy:

Sorry, but we couldn't find any results in the MLS that match the specified search criteria.

Related Reading:

Morgan Hill real estate market

San Martin

Andy’s Orchard, fruit tasting in Morgan Hill

Terra Mia at Mission Ranch in Morgan Hill

Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill