Willow Glen real estate market in San Jose

Willow Glen real estate market is a strong seller's market. This Willow Glen sign is from the downtown business district.The Willow Glen real estate market for single family homes was much the same in September as it ws in August: a strong seller’s market. The condo and townhome market continues to be a slight seller’s market.

Willow Glen Real Estate Market Trends: Single Family Homes

Willow Glen single family home market saw higher sale prices month over month, but the annual sale price shrunk by 2.1% while the median sale price grew by the same amount year over year. Homes are selling quickly and over list price, on average.

Trends At a GlanceSep 2026Previous MonthYear-over-Year
Median Price$2,115,000 (+9.9%)$1,925,000$2,072,500 (+2.1%)
Average Price$2,345,910 (+3.8%)$2,260,410$2,396,930 (-2.1%)
No. of Sales45 (+9.8%)4132 (+40.6%)
Pending38 (-7.3%)4137 (+2.7%)
Active61 (+15.1%)5350 (+22.0%)
Sale vs. List Price101.9% (+1.0%)100.9%101.7% (+0.1%)
Days on Market23 (-3.6%)2436 (-35.4%)
Days of Inventory39 (+1.4%)3945 (-13.2%)

 

Below please find a market profile and then a couple of charts for the Willow Glen real estate market for houses and duet homes (attached single family homes – not duplexes), care of Altos Research, to which I have a subscription. Altos uses list prices, not sold prices. The data is automatically updated each week, so please bookmark this post and come back often!


Data from Altos Research for Willow Glen Real Estate Market Trends – San Jose 95125

In the latest update, Altos says single family homes are in a strong seller’s market. The number of homes with a price reduction is now at 40%, (up from 35% a month ago) which is higher than the typical 30% we see as “normal”. We may be seeing some cooling ahead.

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Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Conditions

Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Conditions San Jose 95120 - photo with Mt Umunhum in backgroundThe Almaden Valley real estate market for single family homes in September cooled noticeably from September 2025 with lower prices, fewer sales, and a lower sale to list price ratio.

Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Conditions: Trends at a Glance

We’ll start with the residential real estate market statistics for Almaden, or San Jose 95120 from the Real Estate Report (a subscription that uses closed / sold data). The RE Report uses listings entered into MLS Listings directly, but excludes any properties listed via a shared data feed from Bay East, Metrolist, or other MLSs. It may be missing about  15 -20% of all sales for that reason, but the trends are the same or very similar.

The median sale and active sale prices fell annually and monthly. Most of the data points show cooling, but the days on market was faster.  (It’s almost always a little mixed.)

Trends At a GlanceSep 2026Previous MonthYear-over-Year
Median Price$2,034,250 (-3.4%)$2,105,000$2,232,500 (-8.9%)
Average Price$2,151,860 (-1.3%)$2,179,180$2,237,620 (-3.8%)
No. of Sales21 (0.0%)2124 (-12.5%)
Pending21 (+16.7%)1822 (-4.5%)
Active29 (-3.3%)3014 (+107.1%)
Sale vs. List Price99.2% (-1.9%)101.1%101.5% (-2.2%)
Days on Market17 (-29.8%)2524 (-27.7%)
Days of Inventory40 (-6.6%)4317 (+136.7%)

 

 

When I’ve pulled the stats myself, it appears that the higher priced homes in 95120 are not selling as well as homes in more affordable price points. We don’t know if it’s due to tech layoffs, the price of gas, or something else. But for home buyers in the upper price points, it’s an opportunity.

 

Altos Research charts for Almaden Valley real estate market, single family homes segment (more…)

The Cambrian Park Real Estate Market Update

Cambrian Park Real Estate Market graphicThe Cambrian Park real estate market for houses and duet homes (not a duplex) remains a warm to hot seller’s market, depending on the location, condition, etc. It peaked quite early in 2026, and we’ve been seeing fairly consistent month over month cooling ever since. The condo market

The condo market is softer than the single family home market, which is often the case.

Uncertainty with tech layoffs, visa challenges, inflation, the threat of even higher interest rates, and the war in Iran are all part of the reason for the cooling that we are seeing here and elsewhere.

For those new to the area, Cambrian is most of the 95124 zip code (south of Foxworthy) and most of 95118 (west of Almaden Expressway). It borders Los Gatos, Campbell, Willow Glen, and Blossom Valley. Part of  95124 has Union School District schools, part has Cambrian School District Schools with the Campbell Unified High School District   . Part of 95118 has Union schools (and CUHSD), but most is under San Jose Unified School District.

Currently, we have 2 fantastic Cambrian listings. Please scroll to the bottom of this article for the details and links to more info. 

Cambrian Park Real Estate Market Trends at a Glance

The chart below is from our subscription to the RE Report. For a couple years we’ve mentioned that the data from the RE Report was a little different than the data pulled directly from the MLS by us. The reason is that these numbers from the RE Report only reflect listings that were directly entered to MLS Listings, not those showing up as part of a data sharing program from Bay East or other MLS companies.

In the data below, you can see a slight softening in several of the data points with a falling sale to list price ratio and lower number of sales. Other points seem to be OK across Cambrian as a whole.

Please notice the difference beween the number of active listings and the number of sales.

  • In Sept 2025 there were  43 active and  39 sold homes. That’s close! It correlates with the high sale to list price ratio seen then, 106.6%.
  • In Aug 2026 it was 54 active and 47 closed sales. That wasn’t nearly as good as Sept 2025, but not terribly far apart, either.
  • In Sept 2026, however, we see a much more pronounced gap between these figures with 67 listings for sale and just 30 closed sales. With this situation, more homes are sitting on the market than selling. When the number of sales fall, we know that buyers are being pickier.

 

Trends At a GlanceSep 2026Previous MonthYear-over-Year
Median Price$1,800,000 (+2.3%)$1,760,000$1,850,000 (-2.7%)
Average Price$1,897,890 (+0.9%)$1,880,610$1,892,830 (+0.3%)
No. of Sales30 (-36.2%)4739 (-23.1%)
Pending31 (+14.8%)2728 (+10.7%)
Active67 (+24.1%)5443 (+55.8%)
Sale vs. List Price100.7% (-2.0%)102.7%106.6% (-5.6%)
Days on Market25 (-8.9%)2822 (+15.5%)
Days of Inventory65 (+87.9%)3432 (+102.6%)

 

Cambrian Park Altos Research Charts – SFH Info

Next, a different kind of chart for the Cambrian Park real estate market courtesy of Altos Research (which uses LIST prices for its charts). The next few data sheets show the housing market trends, live and updated weekly.  This first item reflects the weekly Altos Research report right now for San Jose 95124 and will provide an approximation of how much home your money can buy in this district of San Jose.

A quick note: most of 95118 has San Jose Unified Schools, while most of 95124 has Cambrian and Union schools, which are normally preferred.  95118 is less expensive, though, and sometimes that is the most important factor.

The Cambrian Park Real Estate Market Update for San Jose 95124

These charts have great info, including the monthly average for Cambrian park homes for rent. Please note the number of homes with decreased prices (or price reductions). A normal or typical amount is 30%, but this is 46%, showing some cooling. Find the full report HERE.

Altos is calling this a strong seller’s market.  Homes are being listed for less (note the Median list price), so not every seller would agree that the market is super hot.  The percentage of homes with price reductions hs remained low, far less than the 30% which is the national average.

 

San Jose, CA 95124 Real-Time Market Profile by Altos

 

 

The Cambrian Park Real Estate Market Update for San Jose 95118

Next let’s look at the listing data from Altos Research for 95118, single family homes (east side of Cambrian Park).

Prices are more affordable in 95118, so it’s easier for home buyers to be able to get into a home. Check out the Median List Price and that it’s lower than 95124, but rising strongly.  (Perhaps counter balancing it, the Price per SF is dropping.)

And below, market data from Altos for this part of the district. See the full report here.  One of the things that I like to watch here is the percent of listings with prices decreased.  The national average is about 30%, so seeing it higher for 95118 indicates that the market is slowing and / or prices are slipping.

 

Cambrian 95118 Altos Real-Time Market

 

Inventory in 95118 is severely lacking, prices are up, and overall it is strong seller’s market.

Cambrian Condominium and Townhouse Real Estate Market

Please see the Condominium & Townhouse Real Estate Report for more data and analysis of this area and the rest of Santa Clara County!

The Cambrian condo and townhouse continues to cool with very few sales compared to the available inventory, a lower sale to list price ratio, and longer days of inventory.

Buyers – this is an opportunity! If the unit and HOA (and the HOA finances) all check out, this may be a great time to purchase a condo or townhouse in Cambrian.

 

Trends At a GlanceSep 2026Previous MonthYear-over-Year
Median Price$670,000 (+1.8%)$658,000$697,500 (-3.9%)
Average Price$696,250 (-13.7%)$806,472$777,167 (-10.4%)
No. of Sales4 (0.0%)46 (-33.3%)
Pending9 (+50.0%)62 (+350.0%)
Active23 (+27.8%)1819 (+21.1%)
Sale vs. List Price98.0% (-1.4%)99.4%99.8% (-1.8%)
Days on Market38 (+13.4%)3477 (-50.9%)
Days of Inventory167 (+23.5%)13592 (+81.6%)

 

Now let’s work with Altos Research’s graphs and get a feel for the realty market in “real time.” These use list prices, whereas our RE Report uses sold data.

Altos Research for the Condo and Townhome Market

Quick profile of 95124 and 95118 from Altos – this is dynamic and should update automatically each week.  It’s a slight seller’s market for both zip code areas per Altos, but the RE Report (which uses closed sales data) tells another story.

Please see the 95124 report on Altos HERE.

 

 

And here you can see 95118 and find the full report HERE

(Note the VERY HIGH percentage of price decreased – the national average is around 30%).

Check out our two great Cambrian listings! 

4996 Agape Ct., San Jose 95124    

3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1644 SF of living space, 2346 SF lot.
Younger home, built in 1996. Dual pane windows, high ceilings, drenched in natural liight!
The home includes, living, dining, family rooms plus eat in kitchen.
Good sized low maintenance backyard with room to entertain.
Single family home in small HOA, Soterion, and the HOA takes care of the front yard!
Please get all of the details at 4996Agape.com
Offered at $1,475,000

 4996 Agape Court, San Jose CA 95124 - 3 panel collage

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1296 Dentwood Dr., San Jose 95118    Open Saturday, Oct 10, 2 – 4 p.m. – please stop by!

4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2031 SF of living space, 10,430 SF pie-shaped lot with a gorgeous pool!!
Remodeled kitchen and bathrooms, dual pane windows, lots of natural light.
Two bedrooms enjoy views of the coastal range!
Vaulted living room, spacious dining, eat-in kitchen, plus family room.  Room to add on or build an ADU.
It’s not easy to find a home with this much remodeling on a big lot for under $2 million!
Please get all of the details at 1296DentwoodDr.com
Offered at $1,999,000

1296 Dentwood Dr., San Jose CA 95118 - 3 photo collage of the front of the home, the kitchen, and an aerial view

 

What is happening with the Cambrian Park real estate market?

A lot of it seems to depend on the price point, school district, and condition of the property and also the number of bedrooms.

Turnkey houses, townhomes, and condominiums in Cambrian Park which have a contemporary look and are priced aggressively are selling fast and high. They need to look like 2019 or newer and not like 2010 or older, though. Home buyers can be fussy about finishes, and with more homeowners and families stuck at home for work or school they don’t want to spend the extra time or the energy to remodel. (Most buyers are especially picky about floor coverings and cabinetry!)

Cambrian home buyers often move to 95124 or 95118 for a combination of strong schools and relative affordability. Having a worry free home that does not look like it will cost a fortune to be made ready is a big plus and will help tremendously with the sale-ability of that residential property.

The part with Union schools continues to have the strongest demand (mostly 95124 but also part of 95118), followed by the area with Cambrian schools, and then those with San Jose Unified. All of them are doing well, but some areas are stronger than others. When Cambrian Park Plaza is redeveloped, it will be a giant draw to anyone within a mile for the dining and shopping.

Looking Deeper

How's The Silicon Valley Real Estate Market? If you live in Cambrian Park now, or are thinking you’d like to buy a home there, you’ll want to get a better understanding of the current Cambrian Park real estate market conditions for your part of the market.

The information above is naturally a little generic, applying to either all of Cambrian or to either 95124 or 95118. However, all real estate is local. It may be different by pricing tier, exact location, home style, or amenities (such as pool versus no pool, large garage vs no garage, walking distance to elementary school or really having to drive there). All of these things can be factored in and may apply to your particular home – or dream house – market.

For the most specific to you data, please reach out to me by email to request a phone conversation. If it seems like a good fit at that point, we can arrange to meet in person and formulate a plan.

Related:

Cambrian Park 95124 homes for sale

Cambrian Park 95118 homes for sale

 

Mary Pope-Handy and Clair Handy, Realtors selling homes in The Valley of Heart's Dellight
Looking to sell or buy a home? Mary Pope-Handy and Clair Handy sell throughout Santa Clara County,  including and especially Cambrian, and sometimes into nearby counties also. Please reach out to us by email if you’d like to set up a time to talk by phone for an initial appointment. The best email to use is mary@popehandy.com – thank you!

Santa Clara County Real Estate Market

The Santa Clara County real estate market for single family homes was mixed in September, with some data points strengthening and others weakening. This is similar to what we saw in August.

For condo buyers, almost every statistic points to a cooler market.

 

The Santa Clara County real estate market brief points for single family homes

Here’s a quick summary based on the numbers that I pulled from the MLS directly today. These are a little different from the RE Report numbers.

  • Home sales are up, but inventory is up MORE, with the result being slightly longer days on market and a longer months of inventory.
  • Home prices, both average and median, were DOWN year over year, but up month over month. (Usually we care more about the annual figure because seasonal patterns can cause the monthly changes.)

Santa Clara County real estate statistics for September 2026 from the RE Report

Here’s the Trends at a Glance table for the Santa Clara County real estate market by home type from our RE Report subscription.

Please keep in mind that these numbers ONLY reflect listings that were entered into the MLS Listings system, and they do not include Bay East, CRMLS, SFAR, or other MLS companies around the state. If it’s not listed in an MLS with a data sharing program, it will not be represented here. The data is off, so some of the stats don’t align with those that I pull from the MLS, but the trends are on target, generally.

 

Santa Clara County Market Trends at a Glance - from popehandy.rereport.com

 

Please note: for all of the multi year images below, you can see a larger version by clicking on them and a popup with the largest version will be displayed.

Santa Clara County real estate market statistics for SFH

Below please find multi year data charts for Santa Clara County real estate market (single family homes) were pulled by me directly from the MLS. These numbers are a little more accurate than the RE Report ones as they include all listings on the MLS, even if they were entered from a different MLS organization.

Inventory

The Santa Clara County real estate market’s inventory rose in September and is far higher than what we normally see then, hence the red star.

 

Santa Clara County real estate market - active listings of single family homes per month

 

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The real estate market in San Jose’s Blossom Valley area

Pan of Santa Teresa and Blossom Valley

Pan of Santa Teresa and Blossom Valley

Blossom Valley has been in a strong seller’s market for years, though it cooled significantly through 2025 and the first half of 2026 showed us that this year has been generally a touch cooler than 2025. Still, homes in good shape which are priced appropriately continue to sell quickly and over list price, and low single family home inventory isn’t helping to alleviate demand. While trends can vary based on price point, schools, zip codes, etc., the entire area is leaning slightly in the seller’s favor.

Here are some of the main points from the latest statistics:

  • Available inventory remained stable from the month before, but was up year-over-year for single family homes (SFH), while inventory for condos and townhomes rose above both timeframes.
  • Closed sales of SFH rose month-over-month and slipped year-over-year, but pending sales shrank below both. For condos and townhomes, closed and pending sales both fell below last month and last year.
  • The average sale to list price ratio for SFH slipped -0.1% month-over-month and -0.9% year-over-year, hovering just above asking price on average at 100.7%. For the condo and townhome market that ratio has had some up and down in recent months, and just rose above list price to 100.3%.
  • Days on market slowed to 31 days, while market absorption (days of inventory) sped to 36 days for SFH. For the condo and townhome market, the average DOM sped a hair to 37 days while DOI slowed to 75 days.

What are the usual seasonal trends? Typically February closings are when we start to see the first signs of the spring market accelleration, then March and April are often the peak months for pricing. From there, there is often some leveling out in summer, possibly with an autumn resurgence between the start of the school year and the holiday season when we tend to see more significant cooling through winter until the new year. That said, these are just general patterns, and we’ve had some wild years lately!

Looking back on 2025, it looks like the market peaked early in the year, in February, though it remained a hot market through spring with overall cooling through summer and some up and down in autumn before cooling into winter again. So far in 2026, data suggests that early spring acceleration began around January with increasing heating in the housing market in Blossom Valley through March, which appears to have been the season peak. Although the market has been cooling through summer, it’s been a mostly gradual decline with no sharp dips – there’s still fair activity and demand for good Blossom Valley homes that are priced and marketed well, though it’s milder than it was a year ago.

About Blossom Valley

The Blossom Valley area of San Jose is on the south end of the city and covers the 95123 and 95136 zip codes. For our MLS, it’s “area 12.” A more affordable section of Silicon Valley, it has much to offer in addition to more reasonable housing prices. Many areas enjoy views of the Santa Teresa Foothills or the Communications Hill knolls or even the coastal foothills in the distance and Mt Umunhum. One corner of it sits alongside beautiful Almaden Lake, too. Another corner is located at the crossroads of Highways 85 and 87, making it an easy commute destination for those working in downtown San Jose. And there’s an abundance of shopping and dining opportunities, including Oakridge Mall and various shopping centers.

And now for some market data.

Live Altos Reports

We’ll start with the Altos Reports, which gague the market based on active listings, not sales, and is updated about once per week.

95123 real estate market trends, automatically updated weekly:

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What are Referral Fees in Real Estate Transactions?

Real estate referral fees are often mysterious to folks who are buying and selling homes (whether in Silicon Valley or anywhere else), and there are a lot of misconceptions about them. So I’m going to explain what they are, who can get them,  how it works, and what to “beware of” with them.

What is a referral fee in real estate?

What they are: referral fees are a broker-to-broker (agent to agent) payment of money for business that one agent refers to another.

In short:

  • Real estate licensees who generate new business for another agent may charge and earn a referral fee for the new business.
  • The amount is not fixed by law and is negotiable (25% is common, however).
  • The referral and fee may be generated by an agent, a brokerage or a relocation company (with a license) as well, and sometimes the paid referral fees help to generate the benefits package for the person or family being relocated.

For instance, I have a friend who is a retired Realtor, but she keeps her real estate license active. A past client of hers reaches out to see if that retired agent can list a home to sell or help a buyer to buy. The retiree explains that she is now retired, but can recommend a good agent to do that. These are high value connections because it’s personal and the agents involved know each other and the referring agent knows what kind of professional service will be given to their past client.

Whatever fee is agreed upon between the two real estate sales people is disclosed to the consumer. For buyers it is in the Buyer Representation and Broker Compensation contract, and for sellers it is in the Residential Listing Agreement. The amount of the fee is not fixed, but negotiable. A commonly seen amount is 25%, but it does vary.

Brief explanation of referral fees in real estate sales

 

Sometimes there are people who would like help finding a Realtor in another area but their trusted agent friend  doesn’t know anyone there. Then what?

For me, I will reach out to real estate people whom I know who may have a connection in that area, because a personal endorsement means a lot.  But if such a connection doesn’t exist, I will roll up my sleeves and do some research. When I find someone who looks good (solid, very experienced, successful, but approachable and able to take time as needed, etc.) I will pick up the phone or jot that person an email and ask for a conversation. Sometimes this can be a short amount of time, but others it can take an hour, two hours, or more.

Referral fees and relocation companies

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Soterion neighborhood in Cambrian

Looking for a younger Cambrian home with not too much yard work to do? The Soterion neighborhood may be just the ticket! This is one of my favorite little pockets in San Jose, 95124. The homes are light and bright inside, it’s close to shopping, commute routes, and great schools, and since the parcels are on the smaller side, many consider them lower in maintenance.

 

Mediterranean styling at Soterion in Cambrian Park, San Jose CA 95124 2026-05-13

Featured listing: 4996 Agape Court, San Jose, CA 95124

Just listed (6/1/2026), young, bright, convenient home in Soterion! Homes in this small community are rarely available. Learn more and view photos, floorplan, and 3D tour and more on the virtual tour at 4996Agape.com/ or drop by one of our open houses.

3 bed  |  2.5 bath  |  1,644 SqFt  |  2,346 SqFt Lot  |  Built 1996  |  Offered at $1,550,000  |  4996Agape.com/

4996 Agape Ct San Jose, CA 95124 - New Listing in Soterion Collage

Where is Soterion located?

The Soterion community sits close to the intersection of Camden Avenue and Highway 85, with a Park and Ride just around the corner, making this an easy commute location for many. The streets are Soterion Drive, Agape Court, Chara Court, and Phileo Court. (They are all private roads.) There is a large Safeway as well as some restaurants and other shops about a half mile away or so at Branham and Ross. If you take a tech bus to work, the nearby Park & Ride may be super convenient for you.

 

Map of the Soterion community in Cambrian area of San Jose

Map of the Soterion community in Cambrian area of San Jose. Map data: Google, boundaries and overlay by Mary Pope-Handy.

 

What are the homes like in Soterion?

These 20 houses were built in 1996 and feature a nicely open living space downstairs and good sized bedrooms upstairs. Because they are on the young side, these houses were designed with a lot of windows and upstairs there are vaulted ceilings (and they are also after the cutoff of 1978 for lead based paint and asbestos). There’s no front yard to speak of, but the back is larger than you’d find in most townhouses, but smaller than on a more standard San Jose 6,000 SF lot.

4996 Agape Way San Jose CA 95124 - Soterion subdivision - 2026-05-13

 

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The Santa Teresa area within the City of San Jose

Silver Leaf Park in the Santa Teresa area of San Jose

Silver Leaf Park in the Santa Teresa area of San Jose

A scenic, more affordable part of San Jose with excellent freeway access is the Santa Teresa region, which is perhaps the southernmost part of the populated city. (The Anderson Lake area is partly in San Jose, and Coyote Valley is mostly in San Jose, but it’s not too populated.)

The east foothills and the Santa Teresa foothills create pleasant views and some areas are still rural. Price ranges have a wide gap between lowest and highest, with some luxury properties in some of the hilly eastern side. Most of the homes for sale, though, are less than the median or average for San Jose as a whole.

Where is the Santa Teresa area?

Per the MLS, the Santa Teresa district of San Jose spans a few zip codes 95119, 95138, 95139 and a little bit of 95123 north of 85 and the 95119 zip code. (The city of San Jose has a different map that includes far more of 95123.)

An easier description might be the area close to where Highway 101 and Highway 85 intersect in South San Jose, or the area through which Santa Teresa Boulevard runs. It is mostly north of the Coyote Valley, it  borders on Blossom Valley and the southern part of Evergreen, and is just over the hills from the Almaden Valley. It truly is South San Jose, and part of it even has Morgan Hill Schools, though most of the area is served by the Oak Grove School District.

The most confusion seems to stem from where Blossom Valley ends and Santa Teresa begins. The answer is Cottle Road.

The Santa Teresa foothills include gorgeous, large open space, the Santa Teresa County Park. It’s a wonderful place to walk or hike, and for suburban dwellers, easy access to rural or natural space, even within the city.

Some of the better known neighborhoods in Santa Teresa are these:

  • Avenida Espana (95119 zip, has Morgan Hill Schools – Bernal Road is the cutoff)
  • Chantilly (95119 zip, has Morgan Hill Schools)
  • Edenvale (kind of a sub-district)
  • Sunspring
  • Silver Leaf (near Silver Leaf Park, between Monterey Highway & Hwy 101 – 95138 zip code)
  • Basking Ridge (newer homes on a small hill just over 101 – one of the last subdivisions you see before hitting the open countryside, north of Metcalf Road – 95138 zip code)
  • Los Paseos (95119 zip, has Morgan Hill Schools)
  • California Maison
  • Burning Tree
  • Martinvale Vineyard
  • Rancho Santa Teresa
  • Oak Ridge
  • Makati
  • Anderson
  • Miner
  • Oak Grove
  • Deer Run
  • Great Oaks

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A summary of tips for multiple offer situations in Silicon Valley real estate contracts

Dream homes, priced low often spur multiple offer situations

Photo: © pink_cotton_candy from Getty Images Signature via canva.com

Multiple offer situations have returned to many segments of the Silicon Valley real estate market, particularly for houses.  We are hearing about them all over due to the incredibly low inventory. (Check out the San Jose real estate market analysis for the latest, custom stats.)

What Silicon Valley home sellers need to know and do to attract multiple offer situations

If you’re a Silicon Valley home seller, what do you need to know to try to get multiple bids on your home?  What should you beware of?  In short, here’s what needs to happen if you want to attract throngs of home buyers on your home for sale:

  1. The home must be turnkey, either fully remodeled or close to it – it must look like there’s nothing or very little for a buyer to do.  In addition to being turnkey, it must be squeaky clean and well staged! It needs to be comfortable – not too hot, not too cold. You want buyers and their agent to linger longer.
  2. The price must be at or even under market value.  That is, you must be willing to price it aggressively.  Think it’s worth $1,050,000?  You might list it at $999,999 to get in under a major price threshold and to be the very best, most attractive property for the money. Yes, it might be under priced.  Over priced listings get either one offer at best or, more likely, none at all.
  3. The property must be highly accessible. If it is hard to see, you probably won’t get multiple offers (and may get none at all).  (Please see articles on accessibility and on open houses.)
  4. Finally, the property must be well marketed.  This includes a wide range of factors ranging from photographs, text, fliers, signs, and even the commission rate offered to the buyer’s side.

What Silicon Valley home buyers need to know and do to compete in multiple offer situations

If you’re a Silicon Valley home buyer, how do you win out in multiples without giving away all of your rights or overpaying for your house/home? (more…)

Patio Homes or Zero Lot Line Houses in Silicon Valley

Not everyone is familiar with the term “patio home” or “zero lot line” house when searching for Silicon Valley real estate.  Awhile back, a listing agent of such a property called me for feedback and when I told her that my clients did not want a zero lot line home, she didn’t know what I was talking about. She had no idea that this term applied to her listing!

So I thought maybe this topic deserved a little more attention.

 

Patio home or zero lot line diagram

 

What does zero lot line mean?

With most houses, the structure is set into the lot or land such that the property boundaries are at least a few feet away on all sides – often 5 or 8 feet.  One common exception is garages in older parts of Willow Glen, Los Gatos, downtown San Jose, etc., where often these buildings were set directly against the property line on one or two sides.

When a house is right up against the property line, directly on the line, that’s referred to as a zero lot line and is usually referred to as a patio home.  To view that wall, you’d literally have to go onto your neighbor’s lot to have a look.  Although this is not terribly uncommon in dense, urban areas, it’s fairly infrequent in Silicon Valley.

Why are homes designed on zero lot line properties?  The main reason is to increase the density while providing more yard to the home owner.  Rather than having two 8′ side yards, perhaps you’ll have one much larger 16′ yard.

Interestingly, these houses do not always sell for less with the zero lot line – at least not that I have been able to discern. (That’s counter-intuitive….)

How can you tell if it’s a zero lot line house?

It should be disclosed in the MLS as such, but often isn’t (sometimes the listing agent doesn’t even know), so you’ll have to look carefully at the neighborhood and the property to see.  Here are some clues: (more…)

Valley of Heart's Delight blog
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