Months of Inventory or Absorption Rate for Cupertino Real Estate

Cupertino is a red hot sellers’ market, but primarily or the most in the lower price ranges.  The higher the price of the home goes, generally speaking, the cooler the market gets.  Part of this is because Cupertino is not considered a luxury market.  Luxury homes are far more likely to be found in Los Altos and Saratoga than in Cupertino. Even so, there are areas, primarily in the foothills and west of Foothill Blvd., where high end homes can be found.

Yesterday afternoon I ran the “months of inventory” by price point in the city of Cupertino.  The absorption rate, or MOI, will tell us how long it would take for the current inventory to be totally absorbed by the market of buyers if no other homes came on the market.  The shorter the MOI is, the hotter the market is.  (Houses and duet homes only, not condos or town houses.)Have a look:

Houses up to $500,000: n/a (there aren’t any)
$500,000 to $999,999:    .2 Month of Inventory or MOI (2/10 of a month)
$1 million to $1,499,999: . 61 MOI
$1,500,000 to $1,999,999:   2.75 MOI
$2 million to $2,499,999:  infinite (3 homes for sale, none closed in last 30 days)
$2.5 million to $2,999,999: 1 MOI
$3 million and up:  n/a

It’s a little bit of a fluke that the 2.5—3 million group was “1”. There was one sale and it was just barely over the line – it sold for $2,505,000.  Had it slipped just a little bit, the group prior would have had 3 months of inventory (1 closing for 3 listings currently active). The trend is pretty clear: the higher the price, the longer homes take to be absorbed into the market.  We can fairly think of this segment as 3 months of inventory, which isn’t bad at all but is not “red hot”.

Hottest of the hot are houses listed for sale at under $1,000,000 in the city of Cupertino – they are flying off the market at .2 months of inventory, or about 1 week!  It cools as prices rise.

Cupertino Median List Prices Compared to Neighboring Saratoga, Sunnyvale and Los Altos

We know that the median sales price in Cupertino has been climbing steadily since March 1st (reflecting sales beginning in early February). How does it compare to nearby areas?

Los Altos is selling for the most of these 4 areas, but list prices are now falling. Saratoga was dippping but now rising again. Sunnyvale has been somewhat flat recently but improving. But Cupertino’s prices are making the steepest improvement. Perhaps these low prices are the drivers for the crazy hot market activity.

Cupertino median list price of houses by price quartile

Focusing just on Cupertino, let’s see how the information looks if we break it down into the pricing tier. Often the entry level houses are a very different “market” than the luxury homes segment.

The last few months have had some ups and downs in pricing, but most segments of the Cupertino real estate market have seen an uptick since early Feb (when the market seemed to turn on a dime for the west valley communities with the best schools).  The luxury market in Cupertino has been a little slower to see improvement but it is registering there now, too.

What if we look back more than a year? Combining the quartiles, the trends look pretty volatile:

What’s happening with the most expensive homes for sale in Cupertino?  They have had a rough time of it – but currently there’s an uptick in the market at this price point. Here’s the same data just for the top quartile, the most expensive properties (luxury homes segment):

For the 2nd top tier (upper middle):

3rd level or lower middle:

And most affordable Cupertino houses or lowest quartile:

Cupertino Days on Market by Price Quartile: What’s Selling Fastest

Not surprisingly, the luxury market has had a harder time selling than entry level houses in Cupertino. This is true for most of the West Valley areas of Santa Clara County. Here’s a look at the days on market (DOM) for Cupertino by price point over the last year.

Remember, all real estate is local. For information on your exact area or price point, please contact me. I work with my clients to pinpoint the pricing.

What drives the Cupertino real estate market?

The residential real estate market in Cupertino, California, is driven in large part by the extremely high quality of its local public schools.  Many in Silicon Valley would state that for San Jose area home buyers, Cupertino offers the best “bang for the buck” when one lines up the cost of purchasing a home to the schools’ API scores. (Conversely, some residents are concerned that the very top schools – including but not limited to Cupertino – are so focused on academics that there may be too much pressure on kids and may lack balance for them.)

Other drivers are, of course, the local economy (such as the initial public offerings happening with some of the Silicon Valley tech giants), the availability of more affordable financing, and how the realty market in general is performing for any particular price point or particular school area. (Even within Cupertino, some schools are much more in demand than others.)  Comments in this article refer generally to this city of about 50,000 residents – real estate is local, though, so for precise information in any given area or tier of the market, please contact me!

Houses for sale in Cupertino California

Please browse houses for sale in Cupertino, listed from the lowest prices up to the highest.

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 31. See more city of Cupertino real estate.
(all data current as of 5/23/2012)

1. $759,000 : 10650 Minette Dr, Cupertino
   
   3 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 1,048 sq ft

   Lot size: 5,600 sqft
   
2. $899,000 : 10326 Byrne Av, Cupertino
   
   2 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 840 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,375 sqft
   
3. $939,888 : 20237 Bollinger Rd, Cupertino
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,688 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,500 sqft
   
4. $990,000 : 10042 Byrne Av, Cupertino
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,616 sq ft

   Lot size: 2,356 sqft
   
5. $998,000 : 20361 Via San Marino, Cupertino
   
   4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 2,356 sq ft

   Lot size: 4,791 sqft
   

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

San Jose’s Cambrian, or Cambrian Park, area is a very hot seller’s market.  Multiple offers are not uncommon, especially in the Union School District, where schools are trending upward.  My Cambrian Park Real Estate Report has just been published with the updated numbers from the closed sales in April. Please click on the link to see much more information there.

Prices are up nicely year over year! Inventory is crazy low – just 35 homes for sale in April compared to 57 in March and 84 in April 2011. Days on market is far lower too. All around, it is a deepening seller’s market.

Even stronger is the Cambrian condo market, which is skyrocketing!!!  Please see the Cambrian Condominium & Townhouse Real Estate Report for all of the numbers, but I’ll include a quick summary below.

Here again, notice the ratio of active to pending homes, the sale vs list price (over 100%), and most of all, the tremendous rise in both the average and median sales price.  Few homes closed escrow in February, so it is possible that these numbers are a little exaggerated.  We will know more in a month – if it’s a trend or if this is a fluke.

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

First, the statistics by quartile for houses in San Jose 95118:

Next, the stats and trends by price quartile for houses in San Jose 95124:

Median list price of homes for sale in 95124 and 95118 (all quartiles combined):

Very interesting that the 95124 pricing appears to be swinging upward while the 95118 pricing continues to go down.  I believe that this is mainly because the schools in 95124 have been trending upward strongly with the API scores.  Prices are also at a higher level, and those are less impacted by short sales and REOs countywide.  So it may be the result of multiple factors.  (95124 is about 2/3 of the Cambrian real estate market.)

Inventory in Cambrian area of San Jose 95124, 95118:

Surprising, isn’t it, to see how differently these two San Jose zip codes are behaving from each other?

Average days on Market in San Jose’s Cambrian area

And again, really different trends on these neighboring zips, both in Cambrian!

Another anecdotal story to share: Recently I closed the sale on my listing at 5114 Nerissa Way in Cambrian with Union Schools and Alta Vista in particular. We were listed at $579,000 and received 4 offers and sold at $585,000. Interestingly, we received 2 nearly identical “best” offers, both at $585,000. One was completely As Is and the other was almost As Is (they wanted a fumigation and pest clearance provided).  That is usually a pretty good affirmation of market value, and the property did appraise at the sales price.  The other two offers we got were below list price.  One was all cash and it was extremely low.  Buyers who are purchasing without financing sometimes misunderstand the type of discount that their all-cash status will get for them, so sometimes the worst offers are all cash and that was the case this time.

Want more info on your neighborhood, your house, or your target home to buy? Please call me!

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 37. See more 95124 zip code real estate.
(all data current as of 5/23/2012)

1. $1,299,999 : 14904 Leigh Av, San Jose
   
   4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 3,340 sq ft

   Lot size: 10,125 sqft
   
2. $682,950 : 3591 Gavota Av, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,600 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,500 sqft
   
3. $1,180,000 : 1777 Kirkmont Dr, San Jose
   
   4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 2,306 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,249 sqft
   
4. $515,000 : 2798 Custer Dr, San Jose
   
   4 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,320 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,493 sqft
   
5. $599,888 : 3539 Calvin Av, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,300 sq ft

   Lot size: 6,600 sqft
   

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

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 21. See more 95118 zip code real estate.
(all data current as of 5/23/2012)

1. $670,000 : 4241 Ranwick Ct, San Jose
   
   4 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 2,199 sq ft

   Lot size: 5,000 sqft
   
2. $785,000 : 3339 Beacon Ln, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,952 sq ft

   Lot size: 6,784 sqft
   
3. $998,000 : 5715 Mireille Dr, San Jose
   
   4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 2,000 sq ft

   Lot size: 6,566 sqft
   
4. $649,000 : 1373 Adobe Ct, San Jose
   
   4 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,966 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,800 sqft
   
5. $499,500 : 5576 Dwight Av, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,401 sq ft

   Lot size: 6,000 sqft
   

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

Browse lists of Cambrian & Cambrian Park homes for sale:
Houses for sale in the 95118 part of Cambrian
Cambrian Park Houses for Sale in 95124

Mary Pope-Handy, Realtor, CRS, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, ASP, CNHS, ACRE
Helping Nice Folks to Buy & Sell Homes Since 1993
Co-Author: “Get The Best Deal When Selling Your Home In Silicon Valley”
408 204-7673 (Cell)
emailto: Mary (at) PopeHandy.com
Blog: www.LiveInLosGatos.com & www.ValleyOfHeartsDelight.com

SOLD WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS IN 8 DAYS!

Fabulous opportunity in West San Jose – a beautifully remodeled 4 bedroom, 2 bath house with top Cupertino schools and exquisite English country garden is now for sale, offered at $1,099,000 at 1486 Larkin Avenue, San Jose CA 95129.  This is not just any ranch style home in Silicon Valley, but a lovingly and impeccably updated, remodeled and maintained home on a scenic, tree lined street.  A visit will convince you that this house has been cared for and upgraded with a tremendous level of detail and sophistication.

Top Cupertino schools, all with API scores well over 900!

Schools are a major driver of real estate desirability in Santa Clara County, and nowhere is that more true than in Cupertino and the parts of San Jose which enjoy its schools.  All three educational levels of school enjoy extremely high Academic Performance Index or API scores.

The grammar or elementary school for this property is John Muir Elementary School (API 944).  The middle or junior high school is Joaquin Miller Middle School (API 981) and the secondary or high school is Lynbrook High School (API 943).  All three of these schools are very highly regarded, and in fact prestigious.

Not just a school district – this is a marvelous West San Jose home and yard!

Lest we treat this as though buyers were only interested in schools, let’s talk about this wonderful house too.

The kitchen is an absolute showpiece with a professional grade Viking range, Vent-a-hood, granite counters, ultra hard maple cabinets (painted white), dramatic vaulted ceilings with 2 large, electronically operated skylights, and much more!  Throughout the home you’ll find high quality elements, including dual pane windows, hardwood floors (some under carpeting), remodeled baths, and on and on.  I invite you to have a look at the virtual tour, embedded below, and to read the description on each page.  There’s even more information immediately below that with the MLS information added too.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 81217609 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

How is the Monte Sereno real estate market? Because the city is small, with just about 4000 residents, there usually are few homes listed for sale or selling, and with small numbers we can get seeming volatility.  Here are the quick statistics for the closed sales in the last 4-7 weeks to give a sense of how things are going. Sales data for April comes from my Monte Sereno Real Estate Report  and data for the last 30 days comes from me via the MLS (I crunched them this morning).

Median sales price of houses sold in Monte Sereno in April was $1,415,000.  For the last 30 days, it was $2,169,857.

Average Days on Market of houses sold in April was 97.  But for the last 30 days, it’s 78.

The sales price to list price ratio in April was 95%.  The last 30 days it’s up to 97%.

The market is better all around for home sales in Monte Sereno than it was just a couple of months ago. Next, let’s look at the live charts from Altos to see how active listings reflect the market as seen from viewing the solds.

Live Altos Charts for the Monte Sereno Real Estate Market

The median list price of all homes listed on the MLS in Monte Sereno and in San Jose – an interesting comparison!  San Jose has far fewer dips and jumps than Monte Sereno….Good improvement showing recently, though.

Pricing in Monte Sereno, California, by price quartile – the high end took a nose dive on its list pricing for a few months, but now is in recovery too!

Average days on market in Monte Sereno, CA, by price point Interesting that the most expensive homes are not the hardest to sell:

Inventory for all Monte Sereno listings over the last few years (back to 2005) – quite a jump in homes on the market in 2010 compared to normal for this small city:

About Monte Sereno, CA

Monte Sereno is a lscenic, upscale residential community of about 4000 people. It’s located adjacent to the town of Los Gatos and the city of Saratoga, California. There are no businesses in Monte Sereno – just Daves Avenue School, homes, the post office, and the city office building along Highway 9.  It is semi-rural. Some folks mistakenly think that whatever is happening in Los Gatos with the housing market is also reflective of the Monte Sereno real estate market. They are sometimes quite different, particularly as prices are higher in Monte Sereno and about 1/3 of Los Gatos is served by the Campbell or Union School Districts (while only a tiny sliver of MS is in those districts). A couple of years ago, I listed and sold a lovely home on in this city.  You can check out the information on my popehandy.com website (link above).

More info on this city: Official Monte Sereno city website Wikipedia article on Monte Sereno

Monte Sereno Real Estate

With very few exceptions, Monte Sereno consists of houses and estates or luxury homes (there are a few townhouses). Most lots are larger, usually at least a quarter acre lot.  One neighborhood enjoys a shared stable and horseback riding trails (those homes are on about 1/2 acre lots). As of this writing, properties currently available (listed on our MLS) range from about $1,300,000 to more than $5,000,000.  This can vary tremendously.  A move-in ready house will not likely be found in Monte Sereno for less than one million dollars.  (Last year a fixer on a busy road did sell for $750,000, though.) It is not uncommon to spend upwards of $1.5 million in home buying there.

Find Homes for Sale in Monte Sereno, California

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 9. See more city of Monte Sereno real estate.
(all data current as of 5/23/2012)

1. $3,999,999 : 18090 Daves Av, Monte Sereno
   
   6 beds, 6 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 7,000 sq ft

   Lot size: 43,560 sqft
   
2. $2,295,000 : 15630 Michael Ln, Monte Sereno
   
   5 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 3,924 sq ft

   Lot size: 9,583 sqft
   
3. $1,599,950 : 16172 Rose Av, Monte Sereno
   
   4 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 2,212 sq ft

   Lot size: 17,327 sqft
   
4. $1,799,950 : 16215 Rose Av, Monte Sereno
   
   4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 3,508 sq ft

   Lot size: 9,147 sqft
   
5. $4,500,000 : 16036 Greenwood Rd, Monte Sereno
   
   7 beds, 7 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 7,336 sq ft

   Lot size: 1.17 ac
   

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

What’s the Silicon Valley real estate market doing? Silicon Valley is composed of many micro markets, and they may all behave independently of one another, but we are seeing some general trends.We’ll have a look at them today.  Things have really, really changed from six months ago. It’s very dramatic.

First, a city by city comparison of the numbers for the county and Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga, San Jose (as a whole), Sunnyvale, etc. This first chart is for houses in the cities and towns of Santa Clara County. On the first line, which is for the entire county, please notice the sales price to list price ration – it is over 100%.  This is perhaps the best indicator of the market heat we see here.  Also note how low inventory is for the county – from a year ago, it’s off 29.2% (and that year was low also).

Santa Clara County residential real estate statistics by city for single family homes March 2012

Perhaps not surprisingly, the sales price to list price ratio is highest in Palo Alto, where it was nearly 109%. Mountain View came in at 103%, Cupertino and Los Altos at 102%, Los Gatos, San Jose and Sunnyvale at a little over 100%.  Some areas, such as Monte Sereno, have so few sales that their numbers fluctuate wildly (in the case of Monte Sereno, best to look to similar areas of Los Gatos for the best sense of pricing, usually, as they share schools, parks, police etc.).

Next, the same type of data but for condominiums and townhouses rather than houses & duet homes:

Santa Clara County residential real estate statistics by city for condos & townhomes March 2012

The condo market has been taking a beating for years, but at long last, the sales price to list price ratio is now very close to 100% (99.9% for the county) and many areas are more than 100%: Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Milpitas, Mountain View, and Palo Alto. Most of the rest of the county is at 99% with just a couple of exceptions.  What’s happening? The inventory here tells the story: county wide, it’s down 74% from last year.  In Campbell and Los Altos it’s off 75%.

Inventory is at record lows, buyer demand is way up: we have a strong sellers’ market with multiple offers and overbids

First, there’s extremely low inventory. In February there were just 1389 single family homes for sale in Santa Clara County.  A balanced market is somewhere around 3000 homes – so this is quite severe!  In fact, it’s the lowest amount of inventory for any February going back 10 years.  Here’s what it has looked like in other Februarys, per my Santa Clara County Real Estate Report (you can see these numbers yourselves):

2012  1389
2011  1812
2010  1739
2009  5443
2008  5338
2007  2876
2006  2235
2005  1412
2004  1672
2003  3410
2002  1965
2001  1784

Prices are moving up

Second, prices have started to climb in much of San Jose and other areas, especially in cities or towns with really good public schools like Cupertino and Palo Alto.  Talk of triple or other “dips” is long gone. Looks like 2009 was our low point for pricing, and since then we’ve been bouncing along the bottom – until now.

How do we know that they are rising? For those of us who are in the market, we are seeing it each time we have a listing that gets multiple offers and sells so high that we know that we have an “appraisal problem” or when we put offers out for buyers that are over list price with great terms but we lose out to a bidder who’s all cash and $100,000 over the list price, where there are NO comps to support it.  And that is what is happening right now in many areas and price points.

Also, of course, we can do the math.  I’ve been crunching numbers on what’s happening in Cupertino (insanely fast rising prices), Saratoga, Los Gatos, Campbell, Almaden, Cambrian, Willow Glen, Santa Clara and more  – all with rising prices very noticeably but not 10% per month, which appears to be what’s happening in Cupertino.

Other things are at play, too – unemployment is better, Apple stock is trading at $600 per share, and of course, there are IPOs happening on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.

How is this different from the seller’s market we’ve been in for the last few years?

It is true that it’s been a seller’s market for awhile here, but it was a seller’s market with soft or even falling prices.  Buyers were willing to buy as long as the prices were so low that they hurt.

Now the shoe is on the other foot.  Almost overnight, it went from a seller’s market with soft pricing to a seller’s market with rising prices, and in some areas such as 95129 with Cupertino schools, it’s dramatically rising prices.  Really not the same thing, though the following chart might mislead you into a complacent sense that nothing has really changed.  That would be a mistake.

Every market is good for someone. Right now, it’s good for sellers, especially if they are selling and moving out of the area. But many sellers continue to wait, hoping that in a year they will sell for much more.  They may well be right.  Meanwhile, the dire shortage of inventory combined with buyers who’ve been sitting  on the sidelines for years waiting for prices to quit falling have all jumped in at once.  It’s been like this before – it was like this in the late 80s when Jim & I were trying to buy our first home, and a decade later when we did our move up.  We saw craziness in 2000 and again in 2006-2007.

The risk, of course, is that in this overheated market, what we really have is another bubble.  It’s certainly possible but one never knows when it’s happening if that’s the case or not.   To those sellers who want to wait, please understand that this can be a risky game. It’s very hard to time the exact top or bottom of the market.  If you are ready to move, analyze everything.  What you hope may be the sales price in a year may or may not be there.  It could be better than today, it could be worse.  My sense is that it is likely to be better but we don’t ever know what’s around the corner.  If you are thinking of selling now, the opportunity is fantastic.  Call or me if you’d like to discuss your plans and hopes.  I’ve been selling homes since February of 1993 and know the ups and downs of the market in Silicon Valley.

Mary Pope-Handy, Realtor

Working with home sellers and buyers in Santa Clara County
and focusing on the “West Valley” areas of Los Gatos, Almaden, Cambrian, Saratoga, Willow Glen, Campbell, Cupertino, Monte Sereno, Santa Clara, and other parts of San Jose and the rest of Silicon Valley

Sereno Group
408 204-7673
mary (at) popehandy (dot) com

The Oaktree Park neighborhood in San Jose is a scenic residential community with wide appeal to home buyers due to good Almaden schools, close proximity to large parks and is one of only a few areas in Almaden Valley which includes a cabaña and swim team.  Additionally, this area is very convenient as it’s  close to schools, shops and commute routes to downtown San Jose and much of Silicon Valley. It is a fairly intimate neighborhood with 156 homes.

Where is the Oaktree Park neighborhood?

The Oaktree Park subdivision is within the boundaries of Meridian Avenue, Redmond Avenue and Mcabbe Road on three sides and the Jeffrey Fontana Park on the north side.

The census bureau (and perhaps also the city of San Jose) has attributed names to some parts of Almaden and this neighborhood falls into the Crossgates section.  I do not believe that most residents refer to this area that way, though.  Perhaps more likely they’d call it part of the greater Fontana Park neighborhood.

Oaktree Park Neighborhood in San Jose (Almaden Valley area of SJ) - click on image above to go to live Google Map

What schools serve the Oaktree Park neighborhood in San Jose?

The public schools for Oaktree Park are within the San Jose Unified School District:

Los Alamitos Elementary School (API 916 in 2010)
Castillero Middle School (API 806 in 2010)
Pioneer High School (API 823 in 2010)

Los Alamitos Elementary and Holy Spirit Elementary (Catholic) are both just a couple of blocks from Oaktree Park.  Additonally there are 2 preschools really close too:  Precious Preschool and Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Preschool.

For more information and links for schools, school districts, API scores and maps of boundaries lines for schools in the Almaden area of San Jose, please also read:

Schools, API Scores & Maps of School Boundaries in San Jose’s Almaden Valley

What are homes like in Oaktree Park?

Homes in Oaktree Park are single family dwellings – all detached houses (no townhouses or condominiums).  These are primarily ranch style or two story ranch style houses, built in the early 1970s  on lots of about 8000 to 9000 square feet, though a few are more than that.  Interior size runs between about 1600 square feet to about 3000 square feet (if added on). Prices may be in the mid 600s for a smaller home, needing work and a less desirable location (such as on a busy road or immediately adjacent to the high voltage power lines that run through the park) to perhaps a little over a million dollars for a beautifully updated or rebuilt larger home in an ideal location within the neighborhood.

Oaktree Park Neighborhood Home for Sale: 6064 Ostenberg Drive

This week I put a fabulously remodeled and expanded Oaktree Park neighborhood home on the market!  This exquisite house has an awesomely open floorplan with an amazing kitchen – a gourmet’s delight!  Have a look at the details! Open Sat/Sun, April 21-22, 2012 1-4pm.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 81213394 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

More information on the Oaktree Park Neighborhood!

Oaktree Park Neighborhood fun: the cabaña, clubhouse, swim team and parks

The cabaña and community grounds are located on Crestoak Court (where a large oak tree did once stand).  The swim team, the Sharks, serve children up to age 18.

The HOA has a “welcome new neighbors” page with some great information on nearby amenities.

There’s a huge amount of open space and parkland adjacent to Oaktree Park, with both trails for walking, biking or rollerblading as well as expanses of lawn and natural open spaces which invite deer and other indigenous wildlife.  Nearby parks include the Jeffrey Fontana Park, the Guadalupe Oak Grove Park  just beyond that and the TJ Martin Park a little to the west of these two.  These three parks are connected and provide a fabulous network of trails.

Turnover is pretty low in this neighborhood as residents appreciate the access to the community pool, the parks, schools, shops and commute venues.  In many ways, this tidy little neighborhood offers the very best of Almaden: community, multiple reasons to be outdoors and a pretty location with lovely views.

Please stop by a Sereno Group office in Los Gatos, Los Altos or Santa Cruz to take part in a FREE e-waste, e-recycling
collection event on   Sunday April 22    9:30AM- 3:30- PM.

Metech Recycling has an incredible 95% success rate with getting these items securely recycled for manufacture!

Items accepted:
Monitors/TVs
Computers/Laptops
Cell phones/Telecom Equipment
Wire/Cable/PC Boards/Scrap Metal
Video tapes
Mice/Keyboards
Printers/Fax/Copy Machines
Stereo Equipment, Speakers
DVD/CD/MP3 Players
Microwave Ovens

Please, No Household Appliances:
Vacuum Cleaners, Toasters, Ovens, Etc.
Also no lights of any kind, no batteries

Where to go to drop off the approved items?

Los Gatos/Saratoga
214 Los Gatos-Saratoga Rd.
Los Gatos 408-335-1400

Los Altos/Palo Alto
369 S. San Antonio Rd.
Los Altos 650-947-2900

Santa Cruz
2407 Porter St. #150
Soquel 831-460-1100

Service Provided by
GreenMouse, Inc. a CA State Approved Col lector , CEW ID# 103153
442 Reynolds Ci rcle, San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 464-9999
www.greenmouse.com

Historic Naglee Park Home Tour in San Jose April 21 2012

The historic Naglee Park Home Tour in San Jose will take place April 21,2012 from 10am to 4pm.  Sponsored by the San Jose Woman’s Club, this is the third annual tour.  Iit includes an elegant tea served in the garden of the Catholic Bishop of San Jose, Patrick J. McGrath, a Naglee Park resident.

For all of the details on this event, please see the SJWC website page:

http://www.sjwomansclub.org/tour.html

How’s the Saratoga California real estate market?

Today we’ll look at the monthly sales numbers for Saratoga, CA 95070 and also view live charts reflecting homes listed for sale on the MLS. Both houses and condos/townhomes will be considered as will varying price quartiles via the live charts.

Monthly Real Estate Update for Saratoga – prices of houses rising:

As with much of the “west valley”, the Saratoga, CA real estate market is a seller’s market, but it does not appear quite so overheated as neighboring – and far more affordable – Cupertino right now. Unlike many other areas, though, inventory is a little looser and is up month over month (which is seasonally expected) and year over year (not a seasonal issue, of course). 

Here are the real estate sales statistics for closed sales in March 2012 among houses in the 95070 zip code (click on link to read the full Saratoga Real Estate Report for houses):

And February

The median sales price, which is the number indicating that half of the homes sold for more and half less than this number, has risen almost 8% from a year ago.  This implies that more expensive homes are selling – and possibly that home values are rising too. The average is also up about the same amount year over year.

Next, please find the basic statistics for closed sales in February 2012 among townhouses & condominiums in the 95070 zip code (see the Saratoga Real Estate Report for condos & townhomes):

And February

To really understand the condo and townhouse market it’s better to see actual sales and compare them quarter by quarter, using similar units.  If you are interested in buying or selling a condo or townhouse in Saratoga, don’t go it alone or rely on online stats – give me a call and we will crunch the numbers specifically for your home and pinpoint the pricing.

Median List Prices of Saratoga Homes for Sale

First, a graph displaying the overview of the median list prices for condominiums and single family homes in Saratoga – all price quartiles combined:

In general, the seller’s market is showing itself for houses in the fact that list prices are rising.  Not so with condo and townhouse pricing. That’s a much cooler market.

Next, the median list prices for single family homes with a breakdown by price quartile. (Please note that the info would be even more precise if broken down by school district, but this particular program doesn’t yet filter by schools.)

In most price points, the list prices are now rising slightly, but most of all in entry level homes. In the last few months we’ve seen the high end home sales start to pick up in Saratoga, with a good run up in late 2010 before sliding earlier.  Starting to improve now, though.

And now, list price of condos by price quartiles.

Interestingly, the condo market is not enjoying at all the decent seller’s market seen among houses in this city.  Every price point appears to be suffering, but the high end most of all.

Inventory of both houses & condos in Saratoga

It’s seasonally typical to have more inventory in summer than other times of the year. Going back a few more years (see below), please note where the peaks are found – always sometime in summer. (Single family homes only.)

It’s less clear, but still visible, with condominiums and townhouses in Saratoga:

Average Days on Market for Saratoga Homes for Sale

Houses by quartile is not much different – DOM was rising across all price points and has been since August until spring, when the bottom and two quartiles (blue and green) reversed the trend. These are the “hotter”or improving segments of the market right now.

It is strangely disjointed in the Saratoga Condo market, though. I can’t explain why this had been so “all over the board” based on just this data. But since August, all four groups appear to be following the same general trend.

My suspicion is that the homes with the better schools are faring the best, but that’s just a hunch based on how well homes usually sell – it’s not provable with this info at hand.

If you’re interested in buying or selling a Saratoga home, please contact me. I’ll be happy to meet with you for a no obligation initial consultation.

Saratoga Real Estate Listings – Saratoga Homes for Sale – Condos, Townhouses & Houses for Sale in Saratoga

If you’d like to browse Saratoga homes for sale, I invite you to have a look here! Below please find all properties currently listed as available on our local MLS.  Please be advised that there are a number of different property types and school districts listed here.  For more precise information on houses, condos or town houses on the market, please contact me via email or complete a form at SiliconValleyHomeHunt.com or on my popehandy.com website.  Either way it will come to me and I will personally set up your search for a Saratoga property. (If you are moving to the South Bay area from far away, please also see my Silicon Valley relocation website for helpful tips.)

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 89. See more city of Saratoga real estate.
(all data current as of 5/23/2012)

1. $1,898,000 : 19171 Allendale Av, Saratoga
   
   5 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 3,306 sq ft

   Lot size: 23,220 sqft
   
2. $3,895,000 : 19905 Sunset Dr, Saratoga
   
   4 beds, 3 full, 2 part baths

   Home size: 4,800 sq ft

   Lot size: 1.17 ac
   
3. $1,988,000 : 20795 Russell Ct, Saratoga
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 2,238 sq ft

   Lot size: 22,200 sqft
   
4. $2,088,800 : 14000 Alta Vista Av, Saratoga
   
   5 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 2,862 sq ft

   Lot size: 11,946 sqft
   
5. $2,890,000 : 20125 Winn Rd, Saratoga
   
   5 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 3,684 sq ft

   Lot size: 16,500 sqft
   

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

Interested in buying or selling a home in Saratoga?  I grew up there (and in Santa Clara), graduated from Saratoga High before heading off to college, and have been selling homes in Saratoga and nearby parts of Santa Clara County & Silicon Valley since 1993.  I understand the impact of Saratoga’s school districts on home buying decisions, the importance of various locations to market value, and resale concerns that can improve or detract from your return on investment.

Read more about my background on the Valley of Hearts Delight website (sister site to this blog) and learn why my past clients and other readers of the San Jose Mercury News named me “best real estate agent in Silicon Valley” in 2011. There you’ll also see my accomplishments/honors/awards, info on sales experience, and more. 

Or just take a moment to phone me at 408 204-7673, or email me at mary (at) popehandy (dot) com.  If you prefer, you can simply fill out a form online instead.

How’s the real estate market in the Willow Glen area of San Jose?  Like the greater Silicon Valley region, Willow Glen is comprised of many smaller micro-markets.  It will be different in north Willow Glen, Palm Haven or in a walk-to-town area than it will be in the Dry Creek area or St. Francis Woods neighborhood – let alone differences for school districts, price point, sale type (regular versus short sale or bank owned), zip code and home type!  It’s a patchwork of all these smaller markets, in other words.  What’s happening in one segment might be very different than in another.

Today’s post will be the broad view of Willow Glen and comments may not apply to your specific property – for info on your neighborhood, call or email me!

Disclaimers aside, overall it is a seller’s market in Willow Glen right now, but it’s cooler than other areas with better schools such as Almaden, Cambrian and Cupertino and not everything is selling (and certainly not getting the prices that many sellers want).  The best homes (best condition, pricing, marketing and regular sale) are selling in 1-3 weeks.

Below are the basic numbers, stats and trends from the closed sales of houses in March

and in February:

And next, of Willow Glen condos, where it’s been a cold buyer’s market but recently heated up:

Next, February…

What about home prices in Willow Glen?

Below please find the Altos Charts (to which I have a subscription). NB Altos uses LIST prices, not solds (also they go by zips or cities, so don’t cover Willow Glen per se with it’s partial entry into the 95124 zip).

1 – Houses in the 95125 zip code – history, all prices combined.

2 – Houses in the San Jose, 95125 zip code, by price quartile over last 180 days

3 – Condominiums and townhouses in Willow Glen, San Jose 95125 – all quartiles combined over the last few years for median list price:

4 – Condo and townhomes, median list price, by quartile, last 180 days only:

It is interesting to see the rise in list prices here as opposed to the overall DROP in sales prices we saw on the RE Report. Of course this could be a function of all kinds of things, including the impact of distressed sales.

All kinds of things can impact the probable buyer’s market for a particular house or home, but especially distressed sales nearby. For information on what the market is doing in your exact neighborhood, please call or email me today.

Willow Glen homes for sale

Browse residential properties – houses, duet homes, condos and townhomes in Willow Glen which are listed for sale on the MLS by type below.

1. Listings of houses for sale in Willow Glen, San Jose 95125

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 61. See more 95125 zip code real estate.
(all data current as of 5/23/2012)

1. $849,000 : 1776 Leigh Av, Campbell
   
   4 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 2,160 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,700 sqft
   
2. $899,000 : 1712 Isabel Dr, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,944 sq ft

   Lot size: 8,925 sqft
   
3. $295,000 : 730 Drake St, San Jose
   
   2 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 1,048 sq ft

   Lot size: 5,450 sqft
   
4. $879,000 : 1055 Franquette Av, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,296 sq ft

   Lot size: 10,700 sqft
   
5. $849,000 : 730 Coe Av, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 2,050 sq ft

   Lot size: 7,280 sqft
   

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

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 5. See more 95125 zip code real estate.
(all data current as of 5/23/2012)

1. $519,900 : 676 Willow St, San Jose
   
   2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,376 sq ft

   Lot size: 1,306 sqft
   
2. $773,500 : 1624 Sparkling Wy, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,954 sq ft

   Lot size: 2,128 sqft
   
3. $595,000 : 1613 Sparkling Wy, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,954 sq ft

   Lot size: 2,128 sqft
   
4. $535,000 : 421 Willow Glen Wy, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,210 sq ft

   Lot size: 988 sqft
   
5. $598,000 : 423 Willow Glen Ct, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,578 sq ft

   Lot size: 1,108 sqft
   

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

3. Listings of condominiums (condos) for sale in Willow Glen, San Jose 95125

Showing properties 1 - 3 of 3. See more 95125 zip code real estate.
(all data current as of 5/23/2012)

1. $345,000 : 2132 Sunstruck Ct, San Jose
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,144 sq ft

   Lot size: 1,566 sqft
   
2. $299,000 : 509 Dix Wy, San Jose
   
   4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,426 sq ft

   Lot size: 2,116 sqft
   
3. $379,950 : 1336 Greenwich Ct, San Jose
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,071 sq ft

   Lot size: 1,500 sqft
   

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

Large Cupertino view home now available!   10387 Amistad Court, Cupertino California

Fabulous 5 bed + den, 4 bath home with lovely valley views from several rooms!  Room to accommodate two or more generations or live in help if so desired.  Lower level includes 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and bonus room or retreat.  Upstairs are the main living areas (living, dining, family, kitchen, nook), master bedroom suite, one more bedroom and a large den or office.  Living room, office, balcony and master all enjoy views.  Good sized, private yard.  Located on quiet cul de sac in lower foothills, a very easy drive.  Best schools, including Monta Vista High School!

Please enjoy a slideshow of this fine home, and click to see more photos as well as some panoramas.

This property is co-listed

10387 Amistad Court, Cupertino California is co-listed with Mary Tan and George Tan of Coldwell Banker in Cupertino, tel # 408 861-8832.

Please stop by our open house this weekend!

This fine home will be open Saturday, 3/31/2012 from 1:30 – 4:30 (hosted by Mary Tan) and Sunday, 4/1/2012 1:30 – 4:30 (hosted by me, Mary Pope-Handy)

More information on  10387 Amistad Court, Cupertino California – a beautiful view home in the prestigious Cupertino foothills!

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 81211438 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

More information on the City of Cupertino

Cupertino, California attracts Silicon Valley’s best & brightest, both to for work (most known workplace is Apple) and for home (extremely highly regarded schools).  Once an agricultural hub, the area used to be just as renown for apricots, prunes, cherries and grapes.  Those who remember Silicon Valley as “The Valley of Heart’s Delight” can attest to the orchards, farms and vineyards that once lined Sunnyvale – Saratoga Road and were part of the Blossom Tours.  Some of those agricultural spaces are still around today, but a little harder to find.

Cupertino views

In the high tech hustle and bustle, it is often forgotten not just that the area had a great agricultural past, but that even now, much of Cupertino includes scenic views of either the “blue hills”, the coastal range, or, if you’ve got some elevation, the San Francisco Bay, downtown San Jose, or all of Santa Clara County and The Peninsula.  Additionally, some homes enjoy views of Stevens Creek, Stevens Creek County Park or the beautiful 92 acre Stevens Creek Reservoir.   Wineries such as Ridge Vineyards are high enough on Montebello Road to enjoy spectacular panoramic vistas of both the bay, the whole south bay and in some cases as far as San Francisco on a clear day.   While some Cupertino neighborhoods are indeed terribly crowded with tract homes on small lots (a complaint often echoed against it now), that is not true for the city as a whole – there are many beautiful areas, some with stunning views.

These Cupertino view homes offer enduring appeal to the home buyer who wants top performing schools, a convenient commute location, and aesthetic surroundings.  View properties are always highly prized, but all the more when they come with great schools and convenience too.

Browse Cupertino View Homes for Sale

Find a Cupertino view home for sale, enjoy top schools, a great community and scenic vistas!  Browse list below, no registration!

Living Room & Balcony at 966 Kiely Blvd, # D

******** SOLD with 20 offers after 6 days on the market******

So cute, updated, staged – a turnkey Santa Clara condo in a great location near Central Park!

966 Kiely Blvd, # D (cross street Kaiser Drive), Santa Clara

Fabulous kitchen with dishwasher,  new refrigerator, new oven!

One bed, one bath, 670 square feet of easy living in an upstairs unit.

Great closet space – big walk in closet in master, hall closet for guests, oversized storage – linen closet PLUS another storage area in the carport.

Living room with wet bar and private balcony – wonderful for relaxing.

Seller has worked hard to make this home absolutely ready.  There are even a home & pest inspection. Regular sale too. Hurry, it’s ready to sell!

The Santa Clara Condo Market is red hot – but very few properties are similar to this in being updated, a regular sale (not a short sale, not a bank owned property) and ready to go with inspections & disclosures online. (Click the link to read up on the real estate market for condominiums and townhomes in Santa Clara. Real estate agents can get the link for the disclosures on the MLS.)

Offered at $158,888

HOA dues $340 per month

Woodborough community with pool, spa, playground & more  (see photos and all details below)

New, fresh, clean!!

• new carpet
• new paint
• new heater / air conditioner (in dining room, also there’s baseboard in bedroom)
• new sink in bathroom
• new oven
• new fridge
• new light fixture in dining area

Check out all the features below…and please stop by the open house Saturday, March 17 from 2-4pm. Offers due Monday by noon…hurry, don’t wait!  Serious? Have your agent pull up the MLS and get you all the disclosures and inspections upfront!

See the flier for this home  (pdf, will open in a new window)

We're sorry, but we couldn't find MLS # 81209515 in our database. This property may be a new listing or possibly taken off the market. Please check back again.

How’s the real estate market in San Jose’s Almaden Valley? Commentary and statistics…..

It’s actuallya lot hotter than the numbers for the Almaden closed sales in February might indicate; the last 2-3 weeks have seen a heat-up the likes of which I have not seen since 2000. Many properties are selling fast, sometimes with multiple offers.  We are experiencing this trend throughout the west valley areas: Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino, Palo Alto and on up the Peninsula.  These multiple offers are pushing prices higher. In many cases, it is much higher.  I’m seeing some overbids of more than $100,000 in some cases as well as offers with no contingencies for loan or home inspection. Listing agents sometimes write in their private MLS comments for other agents “no pre-emptive offers“.

What’s driving it?  There are years of pent up demand in which would-be home buyers sat on the fence, either because they expected further price drops or because, in the case of move-up buyers, they didn’t have enough equity to budge.  With record low interest rates and prices creeping up – combined with an infusion of cash from high tech employees with either great stock prices (Apple) or an IPO (LinkedIn, Facebook, Yelp, and more), there’s the classic case of more demand than supply. 

Almost every offer I’ve been involved with over the last month has been a multiple offer situation, whether in south San Jose, Blossom Valley, Cambrian, Los Gatos, or Saratoga.  Prices from $400,000 to $1,800,000 – all at least 5 offers, sometimes far more.  As Chris Trappani, the CEO and founder of Sereno Group says, “we’re seeing it now – the papers will report on it in a month”.

Stats for the Almaden real estate market for houses in February 2012 (click on link to see more info):

Note that the median sales price is up almost 15% from January and the average price rose 7% month over month. Year over year it’s not so good but from what we are seeing, it’s unlikely to look like this when the March 2012 numbers roll in.  Also note the jump in pending sales and the lower number of actives – less inventory, more absorption.

Today we’ll have a look at the most recent closed residential realty sales numbers and then also view “live charts” which are updated weekly for Los Gatos real estate.  This segment of Silicon Valley real estate can be viewed from many angles: zip code, school district, sale type, view or no view, acreage, luxury home or basic home type…. This post will serve as a brief overview only. For information on YOUR Los Gatos subdivision or neighborhood, please contact me!

February 2012 sales numbers for Los Gatos real estate are in via my Real Estate Report.  Have a look:

(1) Houses and Duet Homes

Prices are going way, way up!  And yet the market is cooler – more homes are on the market, the list price to sales price ratio shrank a little.  The rest of the west valley areas are seeing multiple offers, overbids and rising prices – and we are hearing of them here, also.  That may not be reflected in the stats for another 30 days or so.

(2) Condos and Townhouses

More skyrocketing prices!  The LG condo market has been very challenged – but now there seems to be a great turnaround. Have a look at the chart below!

Next we’ll have a quick look at the town by zip code and will use Altos Research charts and graphs (using list prices, not sold ones) to get a pulse on the market.  Disclaimers aside, here’s the broad overview by zip code – hope you find this helpful!  I will be using “live charts” here so they will always be current!

95030 stats:

90-day stats for Single Family properties in LOS GATOS, CA95030 as of May 18, 2012
Median List Price:	$1,963,038	Average List Price:	$2,754,730
Total Inventory:	45	Price per Square Foot:	$734
Average Home Size:	2,812	Median Lot Size:	33,335
Average # Beds:	3.74	Average # Baths:	3.29
Homes Absorbed:	3	Newly Listed:	3
Days on Market:	205	Average Age:	50

Continue via link for more information on Los Gatos real estate trends and statistics.

95032 residential real estate statistics:

90-day stats for Single Family properties in LOS GATOS, CA95032 as of May 18, 2012
Median List Price:	$1,335,885	Average List Price:	$1,892,544
Total Inventory:	66	Price per Square Foot:	$618
Average Home Size:	2,180	Median Lot Size:	10,517
Average # Beds:	3.83	Average # Baths:	3.12
Homes Absorbed:	7	Newly Listed:	7
Days on Market:	109	Average Age:	47

And a look at Los Gatos “in town” as a whole:

90-day stats for Single Family properties in LOS GATOS, CA as of May 18, 2012
Median List Price:	$1,301,496	Average List Price:	$1,828,065
Total Inventory:	184	Price per Square Foot:	$554
Average Home Size:	2,405	Median Lot Size:	26,674
Average # Beds:	3.67	Average # Baths:	3.01
Homes Absorbed:	13	Newly Listed:	15
Days on Market:	149	Average Age:	45

 

95033 (Los Gatos Mountains) real estate info:

90-day stats for Single Family properties in LOS GATOS, CA95033 as of May 18, 2012
Median List Price:	$803,585	Average List Price:	$1,207,157
Total Inventory:	73	Price per Square Foot:	$364
Average Home Size:	2,344	Median Lot Size:	110,877
Average # Beds:	3.49	Average # Baths:	2.75
Homes Absorbed:	4	Newly Listed:	5
Days on Market:	153	Average Age:	39

 

Monte Sereno shares many services with LG so I will share these stats also:

90-day stats for Single Family properties in MONTE SERENO, CA95030 as of May 18, 2012
Median List Price:	$2,447,077	Average List Price:	$2,648,285
Total Inventory:	18	Price per Square Foot:	$688
Average Home Size:	3,429	Median Lot Size:	37,139
Average # Beds:	4.16	Average # Baths:	3.64
Homes Absorbed:	2	Newly Listed:	2
Days on Market:	171	Average Age:	40

Los Gatos is a very complex real estate market because there are so many variables, including:

• proximity to downtown (“walk to town” always a huge plus)
• school district (“Los Gatos Schools” usually strongly preferred)
• historic nature of homes & neighborhoods
• slope and usability of the land
• views
• neighborhood amenities (cabana, nearby park, walkability)
• access to popular venues and locations (parks, shopping, schools)
• negative features such as busy roads, high voltage lines, being too close to freeways/trains, natural hazards such as earthquake faults etc.
• type of sale (distressed or regular sale)

Often homes in Los Gatos will have some positive and some negative features, and the same goes for the location.

Coming Soon! On MLS Thursday, Feb 23 and Open House Saturday Feb 25 and Sunday Feb 26, 2012 2 – 4pm

870 Brevins Loop: Beautiful, Elegant Willow Glen Home for Sale!

New Listing, Please Stop By!  Open Sat/Sun, Feb 25-26, 2012 from 2-4pm

In a couple of days I will put this new Willow Glen listing of mine on the MLS and I look forward to holding it open this weekend for the first time. If you are in the area, please swing by and have a look! I always enjoy meeting the readers of my blog & this is a home you will enjoy seeing!

The house & yard are full of amenities that Silicon Valley home buyers will appreciate:
hardwood floors, built-in bookcases and media niches, slab granite, gas cooking, stainless steel appliances, lots of windows & natural light, a luxurious master sweet with 2 walk-in closets and a spacious bathroom with big soaking tub, separate shower and two separate vanities. Central air conditioning.   The lush backyard boasts two trellises, sandstone hardscape & custom lighting. The front yard is easy-care: the HOA takes care of the maintenance!

More Details on 870 Brevins Loop, San Jose (Willow Glen)

As of today, there are ten houses on the market in “the Willows”.  What makes one home better or more desirable than another? It’s all about the details!

By the numbers:

3 bedrooms + loft (4 bedroom plan/option)
2 full baths, 1 half bath
2292 square feet of living space (approximately)
3920 square foot lot (appx)
2 car garage
Living-Dining Room
Family Room
Laundry Room
Master Suite includes 2 walk in closets, large bathroom with big tub, separate stall shower and two sinks with vanites.

Special amenities:
Air conditioning
Water softener (owned, not leased)
Reverse osmosis water purification system

Stunning Gourmet Kitchen at 870 Brevins Loop in The Willows of San Jose (Willow Glen)

The Gourmet Chef’s Kitchen

slab granite counters
maple cabinets
beautiful tile backsplash
newer stainless steel appliances
stainless sink & amazing faucet
tile floors
recessed & drop down lights
under the cabinet lighting
large island with breakfast bar
nook with access to rear yard &
open to family room

The kitchen is located at the rear of the home and is open to the nook, family room and elegant back yard.  It’s just steps away from the formal dining area, too, so is ideally located in the home.

The Use of Wood: Hardwood Floors, Wood Cabinets & Niches

Loft bookcase and media center

The kitchen, of course, displays a great deal of maple cabinetry.  But wood is found throughout this home.

Beautiful hardwood flooring is found in the family room, living and dining rooms as well as on the first few steps of the stair case and the landing by the half bath.  (The kitchen and baths all have tile floors.)

The family room enjoys a lovely wooden media niche near the fireplace, and the loft upstairs has a beautiful and useful wooden bookcase/media niche as well.

All interior doors are white, raised panel doors (except for the two walk in closet doors in the master bedroom suite).

The wood found throughout the house makes it feel traditional & contemporary at the same time – “warm & homey” as well as personalized.

The Exquisite Backyard – Showpiece of The Willows

Sandstone patios, walkways and walls meander through the yard, with trellises at one end and also in the middle

Step into the backyard at 870 Brevins Loop and you will find an uncommonly elegant yard, beautifully designed using sandstone patios, walkways, walls and seating areas.

Focal points include two trellises, one just opposite the sliding glass door and featuring a cascade of Morning Glories and the other at the far right side of the yard, with a bench for taking in the scenery.

Mature plants, bushes and trees ring the yard: birch, Japanese Maple, annuals, vines and more.  By day it can feel like a retreat.  By night, though, it is also beautiful, thanks to dramatic lighting. Some small, automatic lighting is built along the walls. There are also two posts with lamps at the far right and far left of the yard. And, of course, there are two more lights by the slider into the kitchen.

Links for More Information & More Photos of this Willow Glen Home

If you would like even more details on this fine home, please visit a page on one of my websites with even more details:  870 Brevins Loop, San Jose CA 95125

Or if you’d just like to see more photos, visit the virtual tour, which has about 65 photographs of this property.

To learn more about The Willows community, Rubino Park and the area generally, please read this post on my Valley of Hearts Delight blog:
Introducing a Beautiful Willow Glen Neighborhood, “The Willows”

Browse real estate listings and find homes for sale in San Jose & Willow Glen:
www.HousesForSaleInSanJose.com