Poor Landscaping Vs Real Estate Values

 What is the effect of landscaping on the value of your real estate?

A study by Trees.com surveyed real estate agents throughout the country to find out the impact of landscaping and hardscaping.

According to 43% of real estate agents, poor landscaping has a “very” negative impact on a home’s value. Another 35% say it will “somewhat” impact how much a home is worth.

Real estate agents have differing opinions on exactly how much a home’s value decreases with poor landscaping. Twenty-four percent say a home’s value decreases by 10%, while 22% estimate the value decreases by 20%. Eighteen percent predict that a home’s value drops by 30% or more if the property lacks an appealing landscape.

Also, it is interesting to note the findings on value-added elements of landscaping on this infographic:

Click to view larger

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

For sale now:   Impeccable 3B. 2Ba in Sharon Heights, Menlo Park

                               Remodeled - 2 balconies - inside utilities

                                         $1.288 million    -     3-D Model

                        

Family Trusts and the Title Process

 Family Trusts and the Title Process

It stands to reason, when it comes to estate planning, that a growing number of homeowners establish a living trust instead of relying on a will. That’s because, when properly prepared, a revocable living trust can save the family the time and cost of probate when the homeowner dies.

 
It can also save on estate taxes and protect inheritances for children and grandchildren while allowing the trustees, typically the owners of the trust, to retain control of their assets during their lifetime.

To understand more about revocable and irrevocable Living Trusts, read on, with this article from Barbara Pronin, provided here by our own Kelly Vincelette from Cornerstone Title.

Note:  Barbara Pronin is an award-winning writer based in Orange County, Calif. A former news editor with more than 30 years of experience in journalism and corporate communications, she has specialized in real estate topics for over a decade.

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

For sale now:   Impeccable 3B. 2Ba in Sharon Heights, Menlo Park

                               Remodeled - 2 balconies - inside utilities

                                         $1.288 million    -     3-D Model

                        

Real Estate Forecast Anyone? The Real Estate Markets Expected to Grow The Most in the Next Year

Home prices were up by "a lot" this past year, and according to forecasters, and the Real Estate Project Porch.com website, next year is going to be even more so an up year.  

According to the Redfin website, more than 60% of buyers were putting offers on houses sight unseen and the number of homes being bought without an inspection nearly doubled compared to the previous year.  [NOT a good idea, according to me].  The message was clear: buyers knew the real estate market was hot, and they did everything they could to get homes under contract and close the sale.

This article by Adriana Lopez lists the projected increase in prices in several smaller and larger metropolitan areas.  Prices are slated to continue their way up!

As an example, Santa Cruz is projected to go up in price by 28.9% next year, and San Jose by 24.5%

Sacramento is supposed to go up about 18%, and Las Vegas about 23%.

Article by Adriana Lopez, dated Aug.19,2021.

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Price Seasonality - Los Altos vs Santa Clara County

 Seasonality of median prices for single family homes shows well in those two graphs, one for the County as a whole, the other for the specific city of Los Altos.

A value for a month usually corresponds statistically to the sales price of the previous month's transactions.  For instance a value for January would typically correspond to the aggregate sales started in December.

Click on any graph to see it larger.

Of course, as all statistics, one has to take them with a grain of salt.  Some large single sales can skew the figures quite a bit, and the smaller the sample is, the less they are meaningful.

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Closed sale:  766 University Ave, Palo Alto - 2 B. 2 Ba     -   $1.375 million.

Check out the 3-D model!

California: Consumer Sentiment - August 2021

Good time to buy is at 18%, up 1 percentage point from last month and down 15 percentage points from last year, while good time to sell is at 72%, up 2 percentage points from last month and up 18 percentage points from last year. 

Source:  CAR.org

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Closed sale:  766 University Ave, Palo Alto - 2 B. 2 Ba     -   $1.375 million.

Check out the 3-D model!

Palo Alto moving forward with short-term housing project for homeless near Baylands

 Palo Alto moving forward with short-term housing project for homeless near Baylands

The site is modeled on a similar transitional housing project in Mountain View.

PALO ALTO — A new project to quickly house the city’s homeless residents is edging closer to reality after the city council agreed to explore a non-profit developer’s plan to build a temporary housing complex near the Baylands.

Mountain View-based non-profit temporary housing developer LifeMoves wants to use over an acre of the 14.4-acre site to build up to a 180-room complex with on-site nurses, community classrooms, and communal dining and restroom areas to get people off the city’s streets.

to read the whole article, go to this link.

article by Aldo toledo, of the Mercury News.

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Pending - soon closing:  766 University Ave, Palo Alto - 2 B. 2 Ba     -   $1.449 million.

Check out the 3-D model!

Impressive Figures - Bay Area Real Estate

Whoa, these are impressive figures for what has happened to the real estate market in the San Francisco Bay Area in the past 2-3 years.

First graph: Single Family Residences, from 1/1/2019 to today:

 
Second graph:  Common Interest Developement, same period:

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Currently on the market:  766 University Ave, Palo Alto - 2 B. 2 Ba     -   $1.449 million.

Check out the 3-D model!

Are Bay Area Rents Bouncing Back?

Article by the Mercury News, written by Louis Hansen.

Rental prices went down quite a bit in the past two years.  What is the status right now?  Louis Hansen from the SJ Merc gives his perspective:

The steep discounts in Bay Area rents triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic may be dwindling with the health crisis.

As California made reopening plans over the last three months, average prices for one-bedroom apartments climbed throughout the region, up 2.9% in San Jose, 3.6% in Oakland and 5.3% in San Francisco, according to listing site Zumper.

But rents are still below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a slow return of renters back to cities and offices. Record high home prices may also have kept more families in apartments — or out of town — rather than buying single-family homes.

The creep up in rent signals a turn toward pre-pandemic conditions, but the Bay Area has been slower to rebound than other major cities, including New York, Boston and Washington, D.C.

Full article here.

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Currently on the market:  766 University Ave, Palo Alto - 2 B. 2 Ba     -   $1.449 million.

Check out the 3-D model!

Current Housing Sentiment in California

 Here is the current Housing Sentiment in California:

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Currently on the market:  766 University Ave, Palo Alto - 2 B. 2 Ba     -   $1.449 million.

Check out the 3-D model!

There Is Garage and There Is Garage...

Some great ideas from Meghan Belnap of RISMedia:

4 Modern Upgrades to Make Your Garage More Desirable

Posted on May 26 2021 - 3:53pm by Housecall

Garages have evolved in recent years to do more than just serve as storage for your vehicles. Many homeowners are converting garages into workshops and even office spaces where they can work from home or on DIY projects.

Related: How Garage Storage Solutions Can Increase the Value of Your Home

Garages today serve various purposes, so it's best to install a few upgrades to increase your garage's functionality, as well as beauty. Here are some upgrades you can install in your garage to make it more desirable:

Install an Automatic Overhead Door

When discussing upgrades, it's best to focus on both functionality and beauty. If you have plans other than storing your car or yard equipment, a garage door upgrade is a wise investment. With an automatic door, you can easily access your garage when moving your car or bringing in supplies. While most automatic doors are fitted with remote control switches, some come with customized sensors. Before choosing a garage door, consult with your contractor on the best option for your garage.

Update the Lighting System

Traditionally, garages are designed for minimalistic purposes. This being the case, most homeowners rarely dwell on its lighting system. Garages are usually fitted with an overhead garage door light and other bulbs. However, to increase a garage’s functionality and beauty, you should invest in a modern lighting system. LED strips along the sides of your garage will provide better ambient lighting and can be beautiful highlights for your car. Better lighting can also help brighten the mood of the garage space, especially if you are looking to use it as an art studio or workout space.

Upgrade the Garage Flooring

There are many upgrades and ideas that can be used for your garage floors. Instead of concrete, you can add a little beauty by using ceramic flooring, vinyl sheets or epoxy flooring. Some of these flooring options also serve as good ways to insulate your garage. One thing you should always keep in mind when choosing a flooring upgrade is the functionality of the garage. For instance, it wouldn’t make sense to fit a carpet covering the entire floor when you use the garage to store your car. Add beauty while keeping in mind the use.

Make the Garage More Comfortable

The garage space has morphed to perform several functions, including being a gym, an art studio or even a gaming room. If you want to use your garage for one of these purposes, you need to install an upgrade that will make it more comfortable regardless of outside temperatures. To make your garage usable for these activities, you'll have to spend a little extra on insulation with appropriate heating and AC systems.

Making your garage desirable is a project worth your time, especially if you’re considering selling in the near future. Take time to go over the various options at your disposal; look at comfort, functionality and aesthetics. Consult with a contractor on the most viable upgrades you can install without violating building codes in your area. By doing this, you’ll soon have a garage you can truly enjoy rather than just using as a go-to storage space!

To see the full article, go to this page.

If you like my updates, subscribe to my Blog! Thank you for reading,

Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Currently on the market:  766 University Ave, Palo Alto - 2 B. 2 Ba     -   $1.449 million.

Check out the 3-D model!

The May 2021 California Housing Sentiment Index

 The May 2021 California Housing Sentiment Index:

Please click on image to see larger.

Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

New on the market:  Wonderful updated charmer near downtown Palo Alto: www.766University.com

2B. 2 Ba - 1,300 sq.ft. - $1,449 million.

 

  

How Was 2020 In Real Estate?

 How was 2020 in Real Estate?

Well, one graph says it all.  A lack of inventory shaped the landscape last year, pretty much everywhere.  And the current trends continue upwards as of March 2021.

Click on the graph to see larger.
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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

New on the market:  Stunning Loft near downtown San Jose - 350 E. Mission St. #111

Young Adults Living at Home Are Saving for Down Payment

Young Adults Living at Home Are Saving for Down Payment.

One of the biggest barriers to homeownership for first-time home buyers has been saving for a down payment. But young adults who moved back home during the pandemic—and kept a job—are finding that homeownership may be within reach, according to a new report from realtor.com®.

Realtor.com® analysis shows home ownership may be within reach for young people able to channel would-be rent into savings
-- Based on U.S. median one-bedroom rent, it would take 11 months to save for a 5% down payment for the median priced home in the U.S.
-- Eleven months of rent savings is enough to accumulate a 5% down payment for a $327,000 home in Chicago
-- It takes the longest -- nearly 22 months of rent savings -- to save for a 5% down payment for a median priced home in Los Angeles.

Check out the article on this link.

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Pending: fabulous 1 Bedroom for sale in Mt View - Los Altos Schools - www.49ShowersA238.com 

The Most Commonly Delayed Home Repairs

 The most commonly delayed home repairs

Source: Sears Home Services
Seventy percent of homeowners of about 1,000 recently surveyed say they have delayed home repairs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from Sears Home Services. Some consider those home repairs “critical,” too. Furthermore, nearly 60 percent of homeowners surveyed say they felt it’s acceptable to put off critical home repairs in the pandemic.

Many homeowners may be delaying home repairs due to their finances, the survey finds. Homeowners under financial stress are the most likely to report postponing repairs to broken appliances (34%), water damage (31%), electrical issues (30%), and roof repairs (29%), according to the survey. These postponed repairs, however, could result in pricier fixes later on or even dangers.

 

To see the whole report click here.

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Fabulous 1 Bedroom for sale in Mt View - Los Altos Schools - www.49ShowersA238.com 

Fierce Competition Continues in California Housing Market

 Fierce Competition Continues in CA Housing Market 

The California housing market is red hot as the year comes to an end. The state has already recovered all the sales it lost in the first half of the year as insatiable housing demand in recent months has propelled sales to levels not seen in the past 15 years. Sales of existing single-family homes surpassed the 500,000 benchmark for the first time since January 2009, while year-to-date sales through November exceeded last year’s level for the first time since March and recorded an increase of 1.3 percent from 2019.    

On the supply side, levels of for-sale properties remained extremely low, with active listings declining 18 percent in November 2020 from the prior month and 46.6 percent from a year ago. The unsold inventory index, in fact, reached the lowest level in over 16 years. The surge in Coronavirus cases since late October likely played a role in the biggerthan-normal drop in active listings this year as many homeowners have been reluctant to put their house up on the market because of public health concerns.  

Click to see the full Jan.1 report.

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Francis

Silicon Valley real estate
Trends: Local prices and graphs.
How much is your home worth?

Fabulous 1 Bedroom for sale in Mt View - Los Altos Schools - www.49ShowersA238.com