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.

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

Cambrian Park, or more broadly, Cambrian, is a west San Jose neighborhood or district and is one of the more affordable, high-value areas in Silicon Valley. The schools are good, the crime is low, and the commute is not too bad. For people relocating to Santa Clara County, this is a place to know about since quality education and affordability are often high priorities!

What’s the compromise for the more reasonable prices of homes for sale? Well, Cambrian doesn’t have an interesting, upscale downtown area like Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, or Willow Glen.

But it does have tons of shopping & restaurants and even a Farmer’s Market. It also enjoys a top notch hospital (Good Samaritan) and plenty of parks as well as a fantastic rec center with a large park adjacent to it, the Camden Community Center, which has tons of programs (including an after school program for youth), classes, and a fabulous pool.  (My family and I lived in Cambrian in the “Cambrian Gardens” neighborhood for 10 years and loved it – our kids made great use of the community center too.)

Altogether, there are about 75,000 to 80,000 residents in Cambrian, spread throughout the three zip codes of 95124, 95118 and a little tiny bit of 95008.

If there is a “central Cambrian Park”, it would have to be near the original Cambrian Park Shopping Center, which was the first actual mall in San Jose! That area is sometimes known as Cambrian Village.  People sometimes use the three names interchangeably: Cambrian, Cambrian Park, Cambrian Village.:

Where is Cambrian Park? Map of approximate Cambrian Boundaries:

View Cambrian Area of San Jose in a larger map

Cambrian Park is a west side suburban area, part of the city of San Jose for the most part (there are a few county pockets, a bit now covered by Campbell, though), which is located adjacent to Campbell, Los Gatos, Almaden Valley, Blossom Valley and Willow Glen.

The Cambrian Park boundaries are, approximately, Foxworthy Avenue, Bascom Avenue, Carlton Avenue, Blossom Hill Road (except for a jut up in the Vista Loop area), Camden Avenue, the Guadalupe Creek (between Coleman Ave and Blossom Hill Rd.) and Almaden Expressway. There are many many zigs and zags, especially with the Los Gatos border, but I sketched out the approximate boundaries so that readers could get a rough idea of the area we call Cambrian Park – see the map above.

What are the schools in Cambrian?

Cambrian is served by 3 elementary school districts: The Union School District (in the area closest to Los Gatos), the Cambrian School District (the part to the north, closer to Campbell) and San Jose Unified School District (covering most of the 95118 section).   High Schools are served by Campbell Union High School District if the homes are in the Union or Cambrian schools area, or San Jose Unified in the rest of Cambrian. (Some school districts are elementary and middle only, with a separate high school district.  Others are “unified”, covering K – 12.)

The newest API scores for Santa Clara County’s public schools have been released as of Nov 29, 2011.  If you are unfamiliar with how API scores work, it’s on a scale of 1 to 1000.  The target number for the county is 800, so anything higher is considered good.  Getting close to or over 900 is rare and is the mark of an exceptionally excellent school.

Cambrian came out even stronger than in years past, particularly in the Union School District, where 5 out of 6 elementary schools were in the 900s and the other 1 school was at 878.

The middle schools in the Union area of Cambrian Park also scored high in 2010, with Dartmouth at 900 and Union Middle at 881. For some reason there are NO scores for 2011.

In the Cambrian School District there are 4 grammar schools, 3 of which slipped from the previous year and 1 of which went up.  Bagby was at 905 this time and the rest were in the 8s. Price Charter Middle School held steady at 864.

The high schools in this region (the Campbell Union HSD) all went up from the previous year, but only one of them, Leigh, is over 800 (Leigh has a strong 822 API).

Maps for the school district boundaries and school of attendance in Cambrian:

Map of the Union School District (loads slowly, please allow more time than seems reasonable):
http://www3.unionsd.org/unionsd/lib/unionsd/union_boundarymap.pdf

Map of the Cambrian School District of its boundaries (zoom in for better view), showing school of attendance maps also (they include the Farnaham charter School):
http://www.cambrian.k12.ca.us/oldSite/district_site/images/Cambrian_School_District_Map.jpg

The Cambrian elementary schools covered by the San Jose Unified School District are:
Almaden Elementary (782 API), Hacienda Science/Environmental Magnet Elementary (872) , and Reed Elementary (844).  The middle schools in Cambrian or covering Cambrian for the SJUSD are Castillero (795, slipped a little from the previous year – this school is in Almaden Valley) and John Muir (782).  The map of this district is not very helpful – cannot seem to zoom in:
http://www.sjusd.org/school/district/map_district/

The History of Cambrian, via the Cambrian Community Council

A friend & past client of mine (who purchased a home with me in Cambrian) very kindly told me about a wonderful article on the history of the Cambrian area which can be found on the Cambrian Community Council website.

Cambrian Area: It was always about the schools!

As with many parts of California, interestingly, the name itself goes back to the naming of a school (Cambria being another name for Wales).  This happened in the mid to late 1800s. The details of the founding of the Union School District and the Cambrian School District are shared there, too. It’s funny to think that more than a century later, the high quality schools in this San Jose neighborhood are still of prime importance and a main driver in home values.

Where was Cambrian originally?

The article further explains that the Cambrian area was an enormous stretch of land, and that Cambrian Park is within that general area (as is “Cambrian Village”, found at the crossroads of Union and Camden Avenues in San Jose).  The boundaries got defined differently at various points in time, and at times has included part of Los Gatos. (I read elsewhere that Cambrian was said to extend as far as Dry Creek Road at one point.) Some areas that were originally Cambrian are now part of Willow Glen or part of Campbell. Our local Realtor MLS defines the area as going roughly from about Foxworthy to the north to Blossom Hill in the south, Almaden Expressway to the east and Bascom Avenue to the west. (It touches Los Gatos, Almaden Valley, Willow Glen, and Campbell.)

If you live in this wonderful part of Silicon Valley, I encourage you to visit the CCC website and enjoy their colorful article, History of the Cambrian Area.

Cambrian Park Neighborhoods

Because I sell a fair amount in Cambrian and lived there, I am very partial to this area and have begun doing posts which are Cambrian neighborhood spotlight pieces.  I hope you will enjoy them.  More posts are to come but here are a few to get you started:

The Alta Vista Neighborhood, Where San Jose’s Cambrian Park and Los Gatos Weave Together Along The Base of the Hills

The “King Street” Neighborhood of Cambrian Park on the Los Gatos Border

Cambrian Park Neighborhoods: How to Choose Where to Live?

How’s the Cambrian Park Real Estate Market?

You can read about the Cambrian real estate market (as well as other Silicon Valley real estate markets in Santa Clara County) on my REReport, which is updated in the first week or so of each month.

The current RE Report for Cambrian Park Houses
The current RE Report for Cambrian Condominiums & Townhouses

What is my Cambrian home worth?

If you live in Cambrian now and are wondering about the market value of your home today, there are two approaches you can take.  You can request from me an online valuation (which will be approximate only as it’s “sight unseen”) at either of two places:

Price Your Home request on popehandy.com or at SiliconValleyHomeValue.com

Both of these come to me and I run the numbers personally for home owners who request them (sorry, this offer is not for home buyers).  I can usually turn the info around within a day, but sometimes it takes a couple of days if I happen to be travelling or otherwise overly busy.  If you make a request and for some reason don’t hear back from me within a couple of hours to acknowledge your request, please email or phone me!  Once in awhile, technology doesn’t come through and I don’t get an email alert when I should.

Alternatively, if you do not wish to share your contact info with me at this time, you can also simply browse the sold real estate listings in Cambrian on my Property Analysis page of the RE Report.  Just input an address (it’s not saved, I won’t see it) anywhere in Santa Clara County, and you’ll be able to view nearby sold, pending and available homes for sale close to your property.

What do houses cost in Cambrian?

If you’d like to buy a Cambrian home, you can browse the MLS listings of Cambrian Homes for Sale on this blogsite.  I have them listed by zip code on separate posts for houses, and below this section are the currently available condo and townhome properties which are on our MLS.

Houses for Sale in Cambrian Park, San Jose, 95118

Cambrian Park Houses for Sale in 95124

What do townhouses and condos cost in Cambrian?

Below, please browse MLS listings of Cambrian condos for sale and Cambrian townhouses for sale in 95124 and 95118:

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 11. See more 95124 zip code real estate.
(all data current as of 5/23/2012)

1. $269,000 : 3485 Wine Barrel Wy, San Jose
   
   2 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 868 sq ft

   Lot size: 840 sqft
   
2. $825,000 : 2173 Vizcaya Cl Ci, San Jose
   
   3 beds, 3 full baths

   Home size: 2,421 sq ft

   Lot size: 3,952 sqft
   
3. $725,000 : 2816 Paseo Ln, San Jose
   
   4 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 2,438 sq ft

   Lot size: 871 sqft
   
4. $519,950 : 2881 Meridian Av #157, San Jose
   
   2 beds, 2 full baths

   Home size: 1,383 sq ft
   
5. $439,000 : 6091 Calle De Amor, San Jose
   
   2 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Home size: 1,490 sq ft

   Lot size: 2,300 sqft
   

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

Showing properties 1 - 3 of 3. See more 95118 zip code real estate.
(all data current as of 5/23/2012)

1. $199,950 : 1325 Joplin Dr #1, San Jose
   
   2 beds, 1 full bath

   Home size: 810 sq ft

   Lot size: 435 sqft
   
2. $199,000 : 4970 Cherry Av #201, San Jose
   
   1 bed, 1 full bath

   Home size: 675 sq ft

   Lot size: 1,879 sqft
   
3. $219,900 : 4568 Waterville Dr, San Jose
   
   1 bed, 1 full bath

   Home size: 771 sq ft

   Lot size: 435 sqft
   

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

A week or two ago I stopped by to see a luxury home on the real estate broker’s tour in Los Gatos – a fantastic estate on an enormous parcel with an expansive view over Lake Vasona County Park, the hills and so much greenery.

It was an overcast day with some intermittent drizzle and sprinkles, but clear enough to provide visibility for this infrequently enjoyed vantage. Take in this vista of the lake, the dam and Mount Sombroso in the background which is seldom seen except by a small group of fortunate residents perched on Wild Way.

Vasona Lake from Hillside above University Avenue from backyard of residence on Wild Way - view spot not open to the public

What’s Are The Fun Places for Kids In and Near San Jose?

There are oodles of fun things for kids and the young-at-heart to do in San Jose and the greater Silicon Valley area. Here are a few of the more dramatic highlights!

California’s Great America in Santa Clara. Suitable for all ages but teens will like this best! This park does offer some water play areas and some little kid areas (but it’s expensive for that). Shows in air conditioned theaters will be welcome on warm days. Check out the Wow Card (or VIP Pass if you want to park close) if you’ll be back again in the same season.
Information on season passes & free return trips to Great America

List of Attractions Throughout Santa Clara County and Beyond

Gilroy (south of San Jose)

Gilroy Gardens (formerly Bonfante Gardens) Want to make a bigger trip of it to The Garlic Capital of the World? Gilroy offers great shopping to dress up those kids (or yourself)! Outlet Mall – List of Shops. And maybe when that’s all done, do some wine tasting. If you can take a tour, the kids may not even get bored. List of wineries (and breweries) in and near Gilroy. And lastly, don’t forget the Garlic Festival! It happens in late July every year. Yes, it’s hot. Yes, they do really serve Garlic Ice Cream. You need to try it at least once! The Gilroy Garlic Festival – information, recipes, calendar, fun stuff for kids.

Over “The Hill” – Mountains, Santa Cruz & Monterey Areas

The Mystery Spot (in the Santa Cruz Mountains)

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Summertime: free concerts on Friday evenings!

A fun way to trek to the beach & boardwalk is to park and ride – on a narrow guage train ride through the beautiful redwood forest! Or just take a train ride through the trees. It’s a trip back in time to our logging days in the 1880′s and I highly recommend it. Roaring Camp & Big Trees

Well worth the 90 minute drive from San Jose to Pacific Grove: The Monterey Bay Aquarium

On The San Francisco Peninsula

Kids love airplanes, and they’ll love the Hiller Airplane Museum in San Carlos. The Hiller Aviation Museum

North Bay

Six Flaggs Discovery Kingdom Theme Park.

Santa Clara County Parks – Silicon Valley Area Parks

Here, please find links and a little info on the wonderful county parks in and near Silicon Valley.

Wildlife caution – A word to the wise: in the grassy, hilly areas especially, please hike or jog with friends and pay attention as you walk or run the trails. Rattlesnakes tend to sun themselves in the clearings – which means on the path! Mountain lions, also known as pumas, are not commonly seen but they are indigenous to the area, as are ferrel pigs, bobcats and coyotes. Any of these could ruin your day with a wrong encounter, so please go in groups and pay attention to your surroundings!

Almaden Quicksilver this was once the largest mercury mine in the world, named after a similar mine in Spain. The mine shafts extended all the way into what is now Los Gatos (off Hicks Road) This is a great spot for field trips. While in that area, don’t miss the split graveyard on Bertram Road- and look the grave for just Bert’s arm (nope, I’m not kidding).

Alviso Marina they stopped dredging this years ago but it is now a park. Eventually there will be a trail ringing the bay. Awesome place to bird watch and take photos.

Anderson Lake waterskiing destination in the east foothills over Morgan Hill

Calero south of Almaden toward Morgan Hill.

Chesbro Reservoir west of Morgan Hill – fishing & non-power-boating. No trails yet.

Chitactac Adams Heritage County Park now this is cool – it’s a 4 acre site just outside Gilroy and Morgan Hill which is all about the Ohlones who used to inhabit this beautiful valley of ours. Free park. Open from 8am til sunset. Self-guided tours available.

Coyote Creek Parkway 18 mile parkway along lovely Coyote Creek, south of San Jose and north of Morgan Hill.

Coyote Lake outside of Gilroy in the east foothills, “The 4595-acre park, which features a 635-acre lake, provides camping and boat launch facilities nestled in the Mount Hamilton Range.” Ranger station also has displays on native wildlife and Ohlone Ways.

Hellyer This park includes a public 9 hole course in a 205 acre “urban park”

Joseph D. Grant in the hills above Alum Rock, this is a 9,553 acre park – biggest in the county system.

Lexington Reservoir crew happens! Super place to take in other people doing hard work or to enjoy some fishing. No swimming allowed. Just off highway 17 a little outside of Los Gatos.

Los Gatos Creek eventually this will connect Lexington Reservoir to the Bay. Now it goes a fair distance from Lexington through Campbell down to about 280. Wonderful place to ride bikes, roller blade or jog – in a group (some lone women have been assaulted on this sometimes remote trail, so please be careful)

Mount Madonna off Hecker Pass Highway between Gilroy and Watsonville. Great views. There are some historical sites to see (ruins of an old mansion) and some beautiful “white deer” are kept there too.

Penitencia Creek in Berryessa district of San Jose, a scenic spot

Rancho San Antonio close to Cupertino and Los Altos – a great place to go running

Sanborn in the Santa Cruz Mountains over Saratoga – great place to hike

Stevens Creek & Upper Stevens Creek in the foothills above Cupertino

Uvas Canyon County Park – East Morgan Hill. Hiking (waterfalls to be enjoyed), camping and picnicing. Special spot for youth groups to camp.

Uvas Creek Preserve Run by the city of Gilroy, 1.9 mile paved trail (strollers, bikes, rollerblades?).

Vasona Lake in Los Gatos – also the town of Los Gatos offers Oak Meadow Park as a corner out of the county park. There’s lots to do: sailing (and lessons through the rec dept in summer), paddle boats, a hand painted wooden carosel (in Oak Meadow), a tiny railroad (The Billy Jones Wilcat Railroad), tons of swingsets etc. Great place to do photography – very scenic setting with the Santa Cruz Mountains in the background. In winter, see the Festival of Lights in December. In summer, catch Shakespeare in the Park. Always lots going on here.

Villa Montalvo in Saratoga – hiking & trails (NO picnics) – musical performances – art shows. If you like photography, this is a wonderful setting for it.

On Sunday afternoon I found myself showing property just beyond the Santa Clara County border near Skyline Boulevard (Hwy 35) and Congress Springs Road (aka Big Basin Way or Hwy 9) in the hills over Saratoga.  The valley floor was fogged in and damp, but up at the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the sun was warm and shining beautifully.

I waited for my clients at our meeting place, the large parking lot off Skyline.  They were running late so I meandered around, taking in the scenery, snapping some photos and enjoying the warmth of the sun.   One delay grew into another and with more time on my hands, I wandered over to the Mr. Mustard hot dog stand and bought myself some lunch: $2 for a hot dog, $1 for a can of Diet Coke. (Also offered were hot links.)  Good price, good food!

Scott Hagen is the proprietor of the roadside stand.  During the week he’s a college student, but on weekends he’s the only show in town as far as lunch goes in this redwood forest.  We chatted about his work, which he’s been doing in this same spot since he was age 15, and prior to that his father had been working this spot doing the same thing.  Scott gets a good stream of hikers most weekends but in December, a whole lot of people who are in the hills buying Christmas trees, too.

When I first drove into the parking lot, I noticed a very faded “no vending” sign at the entrance, so I asked him about that.   He explained that his father had been in this spot selling hot dogs for many years prior to that sign being installed, and that they are “grandfathered in”. Luckily for him, no one else is, so the Mr. Mustard stand enjoys exclusivity for this spot!

Whether you’re taking the scenic route over the hill, hiking in the hills or hunting for a Christmas tree in winter, this little roadside stand is a great place to get an inexpensive bite to eat from a friendly proprietor. Enjoy!

View Larger Map

Stop by downtown Saratoga’s Wildwood Park (20764 4th Street off Big Basin Way) on Sunday 8/8/2010 from noon to 6pm to enjoy an afternoon of free music plus activities & entertainment for kids, including an appearance by a magician!  A variety of bands will be onstage, and Saratoga’s own Mike Gurley will be performing too.

This is a benefit for the Susan G Komen breast cancer research fund, so will be a live auction and donations would be very much appreciated.

Willow Glen is one of the most charming areas of San Jose, consisting of many older homes which feature lovely, classic architecture.  Most Silicon Valley home buyers treasure the Willow Glen charm and ambiance, but many are seeking newer homes.  A fabulous option is “The Willows“.

KB Homes built “The Willows” in 1999 to 2000.  It is tucked away at the southernmost tip of Willow Glen, off of Foxworthy Avenue & close to Almaden Expressway, but only about 2.5 to 3 miles from all the action on Lincoln Avenue.

The tree-lined streets are built in something of a loop shape with Rubino Circle being the main access or loop road.  Situated on the inner part of the loop are homes with smaller lots that are a little more affordable.  The outer part of the circle is built with slightly larger homes on larger lots (but none of the lots are “big”). Sidewalks with soft curbs at the corners accompany the streets and make for a pedestrian-friendly, bike, wheelchair or stroller friendly area. Visit in the early evenings and you will see children and adults walking, strolling, taking dogs for a walk etc. – always a good sign! Because the neighborhood is a bit like an oversized cul-de-sac (no through traffic), it is very quiet in terms of traffic.  The area has large street lights, too, making for a safe feeling community.

Something not often found in other neighborhoods that’s a real plus here: the front yard landscaping is taken care of by the home owner’s association.  Living at the Willows is “easy care” since only the house itself and the back yard require maintenance!

Rubino Park is a frequent destination for residents at The Willows. It offers a playground, picnic areas, basketball hoops and a huge expanse of lawn.  Additionally, Canoas Garden Elementary School has access on Rubino Circle too, and it also has a large lawn area that the neighbors enjoy.

What are homes like in The Willows?

Houses here are all 2 story and all have attached 2 car garages. Homes range in size from about 1800 SF to about 2600 SF, generally, and are anywhere from 3 to 5 bedrooms.  One floorplan is either offered as a 4 bedroom or a 3 bedroom plus “loft”, which can be an office, den, TV area, exercize room or anything else (and can easily become a fourth bedroom).

Many of the homeowners at The Willows have enhanced and upgraded their homes and yards. When first built, most of these houses had white tile countertops, but a good many owners have added either Corian or granite countertops.  Kitchen appliances only last 10-15 years in most cases, so many have already been replaced, sometimes very nicely improved with large gas burner stoves, for instance.

What does it cost to live in The Willows?

Most of the homes for sale in the Willows are priced somewhere in the 600s to 700s depending upon a number of things, such as

• home size
• lot size
• upgrades, enhancements, improvements and remodeling
• exact location (regular street vs private court + other location issues)
• type of sale (short sale or bank owned will sell for less)

The homes in the inner part of the loop tend to be on lots of about 2,000 SF rather than between 3,000 and 4,000 SF.  Because they are on smaller, private drives, there’s not the same kind of parking as you get on a regular San Jose street.  For those reasons, the homes tend to sell for a little less.

Map of The Willows

View The Willows of Willow Glen (San Jose) in a larger map

I have just listed a wonderful home in The Willows at 870 Brevins Loop. To learn all about it, see a virtual tour, lots of photos and to check on the open house schedule, please visit the following page.

http://www.popehandy.com/870-brevins-loop-willow-glen-san-jose.html

Hope to see you there at the open house!

Along the Los Gatos Creek Trail in Los Gatos, Campbell and San Jose, there’s an 80 acre park called the Los Gatos Creek County Park.  This long park includes six percolation ponds, which look a bit like square or rectangular ponds with gravel along the edges.  I passed by one yesterday in Campbell along Budd Avenue near San Tomas Expressway.  It was a pretty sight with the Santa Cruz Mountains in the background.  (This view is looking south toward Los Gatos and toward Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay beyond the coastal foothills.)

Perhaps you have seen them and wondered what their purpose is?  The series of ponds and waterways enables the rainwater runoff to be filtered and placed back into the underground waterway system, which we refer to as aquifers.  (The Unites States has a number of very large aquifers throughout the country, and the biggest one in California is the Central Valley Aquifer.)

Groundwater levels in the Santa Clara Valley can rise and fall, if left to its own devices, based on the amount of rainfall in any given year.  Willow Glen, a charming part of San Jose, originally was a bit of a marsh when it was first settled by non-natives.  The water which was indiginous to the area continued to flow below the surface, though. 

As you know, if you live in Silicon Valley, we have drought years and El Nino (wet) years in addition to our “normal” amount of rainfall, which is 15″ to 25″ a year or so.

In dry years, the amount of groundwater can lessen.  The aquifers can collapse a bit – the ground inches downward.  In wet years, the aquifers can fill.  Our soil is mostly clay here too.  When wet, clay soil expands and is typically referred to as “expansive soils”.  When dry, it contracts.  So the ground was rising and falling due to the presence and quantity of water underneath.

For homes built over the aquifers, the rising and falling and expanding and contracting can wreack havoc on the foundation. 

The historic part of downtown Willow Glen is perhaps the best known area for foundation problems in Santa Clara County – the older homes in place prior to the percolation ponds suffered due to the flux of the soil.  The other day I showed a home that was classic in that regard: the floor rolled extensively, the outside of the home had a tremendous number of cracks and even the windows belied the apparent foundation problem. I took the following photo earlier this week of a window in that home.

The percolation ponds and the whole reclamation system recharges our groundwater, which in turn helps to keep the aquifers full so that the ground doesn’t rise & fall to such a serious degree depending on our rainfall that year.   The damage in Willow Glen and other places in San Jose can help to be prevented by this system.   So there’s a really important function behind these squarish looking ponds! (Of course there are many causes of soil instability and this solution does not address many of them. Speak with a licensed civil or soils engineer if you have questions about your property.)

The Santa Clara Valley Water District permits some recreational fishing at one of the ponds, by the way.  It’s stocked with Rainbow Trout and includes other fish too.  Water fowl are visible at all the ponds, but don’t feed the birds as that’s prohibited so that they will migrate as they should do.  (At the Budd Avenue pond there was a sign up stating that there are herding dogs hired to startle non-migrating birds to get them on their way as nature intended too!)

If you’ve never visited the Los Gatos Creek County Park, this makes for a good outing for adults and kids.  Field trips can be arranged and there are other educational opportunities available also.

Want more info on the history of water in the Santa Clara Valley? The Santa Clara Valley Water District has a timeline that includes key events. Check it out!

The other day I was previewing for clients all over east and south San Jose: Berryessa, Alum Rock, Evergreen, Santa Teresa and Blossom Valley. It was one of the hundred degree days and I was glad my car has a strong air conditioner. I stumbled upon Canyon Park near Silver Creek as I was obeying my car’s navigation system, and stopped long enough to take a few photos since the views were just perfect. Hope you enjoy seeing them.

Canyon Park is located across from the intersection of Larkspur Canyon Drive and Stoney Creek Place (off San Felipe) in San Jose’s 95109 zip code (near Silver Creek).

Like what you see? Read more about Canyon Park on Yelp & see reviewer’s comments.

Photos, by the way, are not retouched. They were taken with my new Blackberry Tour (as you can see, I have not yet figured out how to focus the pictures!) – these were my first attempt at using the camera function.

Wildwood Park is downtown Saratoga’s quiet getaway spot. Situated on Fourth Street, just off Big Basin Way in Saratoga Village, it’s a stone’s throw to great dining and shops, but borders a pleasant residential neighborhood too. For people fortunate enough to buy or rent a home in the downtown area, the park is a wonderful plus.

What makes Wildwood Park in Saratoga so special? In addition to a nice play structure and an open, grassy area (which you might expect in any city or town park), Wildwood offers a sandy volleyball court, restrooms (many smaller parks don’t) and perhaps best of all, Saratoga Creek. Tall Eucalyptus and Sycamore trees grace this downtown retreat too, so there’s no shortage of shade on warm days.

As a teenager, I attended Saratoga High School (class of 1977) and visited the park with friends or to work on my photographic skills. This is a great location for shooting pictures. What could be cuter than a child or pet by the creek? [Sometimes my girlfriends and I used to watch old movies in the quonset hut theater, The Vitaphone (it was at Big Basin Way and Third) that was then a part of downtown Saratoga's charm. I wish I had thought to take pictures of that theater when I was downtown - it's long since gone. Happy downtown Saratoga memories.]

Today I stopped in to try videotaping the park since I was in the neighborhood on the real estate broker’s tour and literally was on 4th Street already. About 2 weeks ago I got a Flip Video so am learning (critics be gentle!) and hope that these couple of clips give you a sense of the tranquility and beauty of the park if you have not had the pleasure to visit it in person yourself. If you live elsewhere in Silicon Valley, perhaps next time you dine in Saratoga, you can make a side trip to see the quaint little park nearby. It’s a worthwhile visit, especially if you have a camera in hand!