This wonderful two bedroom, 1 bath, home is perfectly located within the Old Los Altos neighborhood. This is a wonderful home, on a great street, with easy access to Downtown, Shopping, Parks and Schools. More importantly, it’s located in a fantastic neighborhood.

The home has a well-designed floor plan and a great backyard. With the splendid weather Los Altos realizes, this backyard is perfect for outdoor enjoyment.  Additionally, you have vehicle access from both the front and the back of the property.

North Los Altos has always been a highly desirable place to live. Just blocks away from this home, you could stroll or bike to Redwood Grove, visit the Main Library, or even walk to dinner at a downtown restaurant. Whether you want fantastic schools, a great location, or a quiet tree lined street, this home offers it all.

If you would like to see this home before the weekend, contact us today for a private tour (650-823-1434).

During the last couple of years, the City has been striving towards a common goal of incentivizing investments in Downtown. Yes, there were some constraints inhibiting progress. However, the City has been working towards identifying opportunities, and is ready to invest in a number of projects itself.

Below are highlights from a recent article, which covered the changes …

Downtown zoning underwent significant changes following a Feb. 9 Los Altos City Council action. The changes will pave the way for taller buildings with mixed uses along the downtown perimeter.

The bulk of the rezoning changes, unanimously approved after a lengthy public hearing, apply to First Street. Although the Safeway and Draeger’s Market properties and the city-owned plot at First and Main streets will retain a Commercial Retail Sales (CRS) zoning, most of the street is rezoned to permit office and residential uses. CRS zoning, with its two-story, 30-foot maximum, remains prevalent throughout the retail core of Main and State streets.

Coupled with last week’s approval of streetscape plans for First Street and San Antonio Road, the changes have the clear intent to attract more development – and people – to downtown.

The streetscape project, which addresses improvements to sidewalks and landscaping, also includes undergrounding utilities through a partnership with PG&E. The utility is scheduled to work on First between Edith and Main this summer.

The changes, a combination of recommendations from the Downtown Development Committee and the city’s planning commission, become effective 30 days after the second reading of the zoning amendment.

The committee’s recommendations for First included extending the commercial/retail zone along First between Safeway and Draeger’s, allowing residential units on first floors from Main to San Antonio and raising the building height limit to 45 feet.

Approximately 30 people, including downtown property and business owners, members of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, members of the Los Altos Village Association and residents, attended the hearing, primarily offering their support for the zoning changes.

There have been many write-ups on the various aspects of a well run City. Included in these criteria are: consistently balance the budget, without raising taxes; and maintain excellent services, while reinvesting in the basic infrastructure. Yep, that’s Los Altos.

Below are highlights from a recent article, which included the official rating of Los Altos roads …

The condition of the region’s roads improved slightly with a recent infusion of federal stimulus dollars, but the streets still suffer from wear and tear and risk sliding into distress, a regional transportation commission reported Tuesday.

In a conclusion all too familiar to many motorists, the annual state of the pavement report tells drivers they are in for a bumpy ride dodging potholes in many areas that put them at risk of having to pay for front-end alignments.

Some cities bucked the trend.

Using a 100-point scale, the MTC concluded the three-year average grade for 42,000 miles of Bay Area city and county roads was 66. That’s a “fair” grade overall, the MTC said, and up a single point from last year’s three-year average grade.

Brentwood’s score of 85 was the best in the Bay Area, earning a “very good” grade, but still short of the 90 score needed to be “excellent.”

In Santa Clara County, Los Altos had the best roads, and also scored the second best rating in the Bay Area, overall, with a score of 83.

The worst roads in Santa Clara County were in San Jose, which received a “fair” score of 63. Participating for the first time this year, Palo Alto earned a “good grade with a score of 72.

Unincorporated roads in Sonoma County ranked worst in the region with a score of 44.

#1 … 187 Garland Way

4 Bedrooms in 3,979 sq ft

Listed at $4,150,000

Sold for $3,600,000

When: July 29

Time on Market: 6 months

#2 … 685 Jay Street

4 Bedrooms in 5,441 sq ft

Listed at $3,949,000

Sold for $3,400,000

When: August 28

Time on Market: 3 months

#3 … 1476 Fairway Drive

5 Bedrooms in 4,244 sq ft

Listed at $3,798,000

Sold for $3,300,000

When: December 29

Time on Market: 11 months

#4 … 881 Laverne Way

5 Bedrooms in 4,900 sq ft

Listed at $3,995,000

Sold for $3,250,000

When: May 27

Time on Market: 10 months

#5 … 1520 Montebello Oaks Ct

5 Bedrooms in 5,400 sq ft

Listed at $3,495,000

Sold for $3,195,000

When: July 7

Time on Market: 5 months

#6 … 38 North Avalon Drive

5 Bedrooms in 3,950 sq ft

Listed at $3,498,000

Sold for $3,000,000

When: March 3

Time on Market: 5 months

#7 … 966 Manor Way

6 Bedrooms in 3,770 sq ft

Listed at $3,595,000

Sold for $2,960,000

When: July 29

Time on Market: 2 months

#8 … 316 Sunkist Lane

4 Bedrooms in 3,600 sq ft

Listed at $2,980,000

Sold for $2,895,000

When: January 30

Time on Market: 3 months

#9 … 790 Arroyo Road

5 Bedrooms in 4,000 sq ft

Listed at $3,390,000

Sold for $2,850,000

When: October 2

Time on Market: 4 months

#10 … 710 Loyola Drive

5 Bedrooms in 4,700 sq ft

Listed at $3,250,000

Sold for $2,850,000

When: September 9

Time on Market: 8 months

Welcome to our new listing in North Los Altos.  This is a wonderful home, on a great street, with easy access to both Santa Rita Elementary and Egan Jr High.  More importantly, it’s located in a wonderful neighborhood.  The home has a well designed floor plan, which includes four bedrooms and three + baths.  Additionally, there is a great wooden deck, just off the main living area.  With the splendid weather Los Altos realizes, this backyard is perfect for outdoor entertainment.

North Los Altos has always been a highly desirable place to live.  Just blocks away from this home, you could stroll or bike along the Hetch-Hetchy pathway, grab a cup of coffee at the Sweet Shop, or even walk to dinner at a local restaurant.  Whether you want fantastic schools, a great location, or a quiet tree lined street, this home offers it all.  Contact us today for a private tour (650-823-1434).

We just posted additional information on Thursday, including a full property website and open house information.

27450 EDGERTON ROAD, LOS ALTOS HILLS, CA 94022
Listed at $2,849,000 / Sold at $2,598,000
5 Beds /4 Baths / 3970 sqft
Single Family Detached
Represented: Buyer

942 VALENCIA, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94040

Listed at $1,099,000 / Sold at $1,099,000
4 Beds /2.5 Baths / 2173 sqft
Single Family Detached
Represented: Buyer

281 MARGARITA COURT, LOS ALTOS, CA 94022 (MLS #80932087)
Listed at $1,695,000 / Sold at $1,810,000
4 Beds /3 Baths / 2578 sqft
Single Family Detached
Represented As: Buyer

483 PACO DRIVE, LOS ALTOS, CA 94024 (MLS #80915177)
Listed at $1,578,000 / Sold at $1,330,000
4 Beds /2 Baths / 2250 sqft
Single Family Detached
Represented As: Buyer

2172 ELIZABETH STREET, SAN CARLOS, CA 94070 (MLS #80920186)
Listed at $1,279,000 / Sold at $1,265,000
3 Beds /2 Baths / 2135 sqft
Single Family Detached
Represented As: Buyer

2080 MARICH AVE, Mountain View, CA 94040 (MLS #80842206)
Listed at $830,000 / Sold at $748,000
3 Beds /2 Baths / 1667 sqft
Townhouse
Represented As: Buyer

190 HILLVIEW AVE, Los Altos, CA 94024 (MLS #80904699)
Listed at $1,529,000 / Sold at $1,425,000
3 Beds /2 Baths / 1784 sqft
Single Family Detached
Represented As: Seller

2025 GREENWOOD AVE, San Carlos, CA 94070 (MLS #80926253)
Listed at $839,000 / Sold at $840,000
3 Beds /2 Baths / 1420 sqft
Single Family Detached
Represented As: Buyer

190 S SPRINGER RD, Los Altos, CA 94024 (MLS #80820333)
Listed at $1,649,000 / Sold at $1,625,000
3 Beds /3 Baths / 2195 sqft
Single Family Detached
Represented As: Buyer

620 WILLOWGATE ST #00005, Mountain View, CA 94043
Listed at $769,000 / Sold at $745,000
3 Beds /3 Baths / 1690 sqft
Townhouse
Represented As: Buyer

223 HORIZON AV, Mountain View, CA 94043 (MLS #80782529)
Listed at $649,950 / Sold at $645,000
3 Beds /2 Baths / 1336 sqft
Townhouse
Represented As: Seller

116 MAGNOLIA LN, Mountain View, CA 94043 (MLS #80771130)
Listed at $965,000 / Sold at $965,000
4 Beds /3 Baths / 1925 sqft
Single Family Detached
Represented As: Buyer

285 BRYANT ST, PALO ALTO, CA 94301
Listed at $890,000 / Sold at $890,000
2 Beds /1.5 Baths / sqft
Condo
Represented As: Buyer

390 HACIENDA CT, LOS ALTOS, CA 94022
Listed at $1,749,000 / Sold at $2,225,000
4 Beds /2 Baths / 2080 sqft
Single Family  Detached
Represented As: Seller

383 MUNDELL WAY, LOS ALTOS, CA 94022
Listed at $2,195,000 / Sold at $2,230,000
4 Beds /3.5 Baths / 2682 sqft
Single Family  Detached
Represented As: Seller

2 MIDDLEBURY LN, LOS ALTOS, CA 94022
Listed at $1,749,000 / Sold at $1,835,000
4 Beds /2.5 Baths / 2486 sqft
Single Family  Detached
Represented As: Seller

The great thing about the conversations I have had is hearing about the depth and breadth of volunteering these individuals have done themselves. As residents, they’re collectively, and individually thankful to live in such a great community and volunteering was their way of giving back. This is a common theme in town.

Los Altos represents many things: strong schools; a great place to raise a family; a close-knit community; wonderful residents. Additionally, Los Altos has many venues, organizations and activities which provide multiple opportunities to get involved. Clearly, there is something for everyone to channel their energies on giving back to the community.

Some residents jump right in when they move into town, while others may defer to a later date when they have time to volunteer. The great thing about Los Altos residents is that they have so much to offer, and the organizations they engage with are always grateful to have their help.

While there are many unsung heroes, who are a part of the tapestry we call Los Altos, there are various recognition events that highlight individuals who stepped forth to volunteer.

One such event is this coming Friday, where Los Altos and Los Altos Hills will honor a select group of residents who selflessly give of themselves to make the world a better place. I go each year to this event, and walk away with a sense of awe at the level of contribution these individuals have made.

If you are looking to volunteer in town, send us an email. We would be happy to help you find the right organizations to match your personal interests. The Holidays are a great time to volunteer. You never know where it will lead you.

Finally, if you are looking to move into Los Altos, or simply move across town, we are confident that we can help you with that too. Call us today at 650-823-1434. We would love the opportunity to earn your business.

For sellers, with housing inventory so low, and limited properties coming on the market, your home has the chance to stand out. If you are looking to sell in the next few months, there are three factors that favor quick action: 1) Inventory is at its lowest point of the year; 2) Buyers actively looking, during this time of the year, are seriously interested in purchasing a well-priced home; and 3) Rates are at historic lows, which allows buyers to buy a higher priced home (when rates go up, affordability goes down).

As a seller, if you are looking to potentially sell your home in early spring, feel free to contact us for a list of items you can begin working on, to ready your home for market.  Having time to prepare your home, if necessary, allows you to manage the process over months, rather than weeks. We will walk you through our recommendations, and even manage the entire process for you, if you prefer.

For buyers who are actively investigating housing options during this time of the year, you are in a great position to secure a great home for a good price. As we mentioned above, rates are at historic lows. Interest rates began dropping last November, when the Federal Reserve began spending $1.25 trillion to buy up mortgage-backed securities in an effort to lower rates, loosen credit availability and bolster the long-suffering housing market.

This week, average rates for 30-year fixed mortgages had fallen to 4.78, matching a record low set last spring. However, per the conversations we are having with lending institutions, rates will likely increase, probably within the next 12 months to 6.0 or 6.5 percent.

Now is the time to act. Delaying may cost you the opportunity to buy the home of your dreams. There are still ~ 80 homes on the market in Los Altos. Some of those homes have been for sale for a while, and have seen their list price adjusted downward. Others homes have lasted only a few days, or weeks, on the market as they were snapped up quickly as a result of being priced and positioned for today’s market.

As spring rolls around, there will be additional inventory coming on the market. However, you will be competing with a larger pool of buyers for those homes. Over the past few months, we have seen a continued trend of multiple offers for well-priced homes. We fully anticipate that this will be the case next year.

With a strong real estate team in place, a seller or buyer could have a tactical advantage, if they utilize the right tools for today’s market. Carol & I would be happy to sit down with you and share our strategy which is designed to position you for success. If you are looking to move into Los Altos, or simply across town, we are confident that we can help you. Simply contact us today at 650-823-1434 for an appointment.

Of course, one could postulate that the economic uncertainty created a slow market in the fall of 2008. However, it is important to note that there was a decrease of only 14%, year-over-year, in total homes sold in Los Altos, from October 2007 to October 2008. Basically, the local market remained viable, albeit somewhat unsettled.

Today, there are still roughly 85 homes available to buy in all of Los Altos. But remember, there are over 10,700 total homes in the city. So, available inventory remains tight.

Separately, an interesting dynamic is occurring in this tight market: the length of time a home is staying on the market unsold. The average days of all homes currently on market for sale in Los Altos is just over 150 days. That’s 5+ months.

What’s creating this disparity? The key drivers really come down to four factors: 1) realistic pricing of the property; 2) positioning/visibility of the home in today’s market; 3) seller motivation; and 4) effective utilization of available marketing tools to reach today’s buyer.

As a case in point, our current listing at 269 Langton Avenue sold in just 14 days. That’s in stark contrast to the average days on market for those other homes in Los Altos. We put together an effective plan, executed on that plan in partnership with the homeowner, and developed an outreach campaign to attract the maximum number of agents and interested buyers.

For Langton, we had over 300 Real Estate Agents stop by the home on Broker Tour, just two Friday’s ago. This was one of the highest turnouts achieved for the tour that day. Buyer traffic through the property was consistent from the time we hit the market. Just over 200 potential buyers visited the property through open house. Additionally, an average of 2 private showings occurred each day once the home was available.

So, the market is strong, but inventory is low. There are a number of buyers looking to move into Los Altos, but they are strategically examining the available options. With a strong real estate team in place, a seller or buyer could have a tactical advantage, if they utilize the right tools for today’s market.

If you are looking to move into Los Altos, or simply move across town, we are confident that we can help you. Call us today at 650-823-1434. We would love the opportunity to earn your business.

So how do you improve upon a treasured asset?  By being careful, inclusive, and strategic.

There were a variety of community outreach meetings, between July and September, which resulted in a diversity of participants providing consistent comments about the need to allow the Downtown to become more vibrant and active with a mix of uses. There was an expressed desire for higher buildings of three or four stories, and more density of use. Below is a summary of the points made, which provides a pulse of the community’s desired improvements:

• Include more residential development in Downtown
• Keep the strength of the retail and restaurant mix
• Provide other amenities, especially open space and plazas
• Address activities for adults and families in the evenings
• Allow increased building height in downtown
• Generally increase Downtown vitality
• Expect that the Downtown Los Altos customer would be family-oriented, and
• Create a vision for the entire Downtown to guide the future decisions

The idea of creating and confirming a Downtown vision in the context of current economic, environmental and development realities is a useful foundation for planning processes, specific feasibility studies, and future proposals. The repeated comments favoring growth and increased height and density in Downtown were a marked departure from public comments in meetings over the last two decades, where residents have specifically asked that the Downtown remain unchanged and that building height not be increased.

This change in attitude and direction which was consistent throughout the outreach meetings indicates that the interests of Los Altos residents may have shifted, and growth and increased vitality are valued where they may not have been in the past. In an effort to confirm whether this shift in thinking is widely held and this livelier Downtown experience is broadly supported, the City will conduct Downtown visioning workshops beginning in January.

The visioning workshops will focus particularly on the experience people want to have Downtown and whether that includes increased density, and increased building height that would support vitality and an economically healthy Downtown. Clearly, the workshops are not being set up to develop specific detailed plans, but to determine the community’s interest in Downtown’s growth and evolution based on the vitality and the experience our community wants for the future.

I will post the dates for the upcoming community forums, just in case you are interested in hearing the voice of the community directly. If you are not able to attend in person, I will follow-up this blog posting with a summary of the community’s Vision for Downtown.

If you are looking to move into Los Altos, feel free to contact us for a private tour of some of the best real estate in the Bay Area. Whether you are thinking about moving into Downtown Los Altos, or simply across town, we are confident that we can help you find that perfect home just for you.