Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Why REALTORS® Matter in Silicon Valley!

Buying or selling a home in Silicon Valley means entering into a large and complex financial transaction. There are a number of details that require careful handling throughout the process, including the negotiations, the sales contracts and the closing.

A good real estate agent will provide you the basic services to make your transaction successful. A REALTOR® goes well beyond the basics, staying ahead of the industry curve, and adhering to a strict Code of Ethics concerning the duty to our clients.

Why do REALTORS® matter? They matter because the practice of real estate is a skilled profession – not unlike the practices of medicine, law, and engineering.

A real estate professional who chooses to join the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) must abide by the 17 Articles and related Standards of Practice contained in the Code of Ethics. This code ensures that the best interests of the client are kept at the forefront of everything we do.

If a REALTOR® breaches an element of the Code of Ethics, he or she becomes subject to disciplinary action and sanctions. Being a REALTOR® means consistent dedication to the Code of Ethics for each client and every situation.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® first organizational body was created in 1908; the Code of Ethics was adopted in 1913. Today, over one million real estate professionals are members of NAR.

REALTORS® serve the interest of homeowners around the nation by staying informed and being proactive in regulatory issues that could impact home ownership. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® provides important statistical information on sales volumes and industry trends to the government and the media. NAR is trusted as an objective source for facts concerning the condition of the real estate market.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® also provides its members with the latest updates in technology and educational resources. REALTORS® are equipped with the tools and information needed to provide excellent service to our clients.

When you consider the strength of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, and the dedication to the Code of Ethics that each REALTOR® must provide, it’s clear that working with a REALTOR® matters.

Buying or selling a home is a big decision. Shouldn’t you work with the best? When you’re ready to buy or sell in Silicon Valley, contact me to have all the advantages of working with a REALTOR®.

Shannon Rose
Silicon Valley Real Estate Expert
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Things to do in Mountain View!

Silicon Valley is well known for its high-tech image and high-profile employers. It’s natural to think of Silicon Valley as the unquestioned center of evolving technology. But with all the attention paid to the corporate and financial prowess of the area, it’s easy to overlook another benefit it has. Namely, it's a great place to live!

The communities of Silicon Valley offer a quality of life that suits every type of household, from the urban professional, to the growing family, to the retiree. The diversity of social and cultural opportunity offers something for everyone.

To show you an example, let’s take a look at Mountain View. The smart growth of this progressive city has enabled it to retain the original charms of its vineyards and orchards, while lacking nothing in modern amenities. This is just a sampling of what Mountain View living has to offer:

·         Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts: a beautiful, state-of the-art facility featuring performances by the nationally acclaimed TheatreWorks organization and the Peninsula Youth Theatre.

·         Shoreline Golf Links Division: a scenic, 18-hole championship level golf course, open 364 days a year.

·         Bay Area Bicycle Trails: connection to the vast San Francisco network of bicycle trails, encompassing several counties and 240 miles.     

·         City-wide WiFi: free wireless internet services are provided throughout most of the city, courtesy of an agreement between Mountain View and Google. 

·         Mountain View Skate Park: a skateboarding and rollerblading haven featuring a trick ramp, quarter pipes, and fun for all ages. 

·         Mountain View Senior Center: an all purpose facility offering programs and services for adults 55 and over, providing recreational, social, and educational opportunities. 

Additionally, Mountain View residents enjoy the use of a 70,000 square foot library, and have access to 32 city parks! And for a great experience in shopping and dining, there’s no better place to start than Mountain View’s pedestrian-friendly downtown.  

There is more to do in Mountain View than what I can list here! As your Silicon Valley real estate agent, I can tell you all about the great communities and wonderful homes in Santa Clara County. When you’re looking to buy or sell real estate in Silicon Valley, contact me, and let my knowledge of the area work for you! 

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Opportunity is Knocking in Silicon Valley!

Sales of single-family residential homes are on the upswing. The resurgence of Santa Clara County real estate is being led by the areas of Mountain View, Santa Clara, Campbell, Gilroy, and Cupertino, per year-to-year comparisons reported by the California Association of Realtors.   


Of these areas, Mountain View leads the way with a mere 63 days on market and a respectable median sales price of $891,000.


Not to be outdone, single family homes in Los Gatos priced under $2,000,000 are selling at two months on market or less, according to current data from Taketa, Miller & Associates. Meanwhile, higher-end homes in Los Altos Hills priced at $4,000,000 or more are also seeing improved market activity.

Naturally, there is variety in the Santa Clara County sales data depending on the property locale and the price range. What we are seeing is a gradual improvement in residential sales prices coupled with a reduction of days spent on market. When you add the current statistical trends to the historic strength of the Silicon Valley real estate market, it shows a sunny forecast for Spring home sales!

It’s no surprise that the demand for housing in Silicon Valley remains strong and will continue to grow.  While no area of the country was immune to the effects of a national recession, Silicon Valley has unique advantages over other markets.  Here’s just a few of the reasons why:
  • Silicon Valley and the surrounding Bay Area ranks first in high-tech jobs nationwide, with 387,000 related positions.
  • Silicon Valley has the highest concentration of high-tech workers in any metropolitan area, amounting to approximately 30% of its workforce.
  • The average salary of a high-tech Silicon Valley employee was $144,800.00, according to a 2008 survey.
  • Silicon Valley benefits from the favorable employment laws of California, which attracts highly-educated, highly-skilled workers.   
  • The dynamic culture of Silicon Valley encourages start-up companies, who in turn have access to numerous venture capital providers.
All considered, it’s a good time to buy or sell a home in Silicon Valley!  As your Silicon Valley real estate agent, I understand the value of high-tech, but my business is built around personal service.  I invite you to review the testimonials from my prior clients.  Better yet, contact me today, and see for yourself how I can help you with real estate opportunities in Silicon Valley!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Two Fold Benefits of Going Green in Silicon Valley

"Going green" in Silicon Valley has been happening for so long that it's not quite news anymore. This is far from a bad thing; it just puts us a step ahead of the smaller towns and neighborhoods who are just starting to take eco-living seriously. Silicon Valley residents have long been at the forefront of the Green movement - the very popular GoingGreen Silicon Valley event is about to be in its 5th year, local companies are at the top of the environment-friendly lists (such as San Jose's solar manufacturer SunPower which was ranked as #10 for clean-tech employers), and according to Popular Science Magazine, San Francisco ranks as the "2rd Greenest City in America." 

Therefore, it is no surprise that Silicon Valley homeowners are very good at putting forth green initiatives when it comes to their Silicon Valley homes.

An Eco-Conscious Tax Season
Now that it's February, we all have tax season on our mind. As responsible Eco-conscious citizens, Silicon Valley homeowners can actually be rewarded for their efforts through tax incentives.

A handful of energy efficient organizations have gathered together to form The Tax Incentive Assistance Project (TIAP). Although you may have been hearing that a lot of the incentives have expired, there are still a lot of notable tax incentives for the green-minded Silicon Valley homeowner.

Here are some of the best parts about the updates to the federal tax incentives for 2010 and 2011.

Tax Incentives are now going straight to the manufacturers. That means that when you want to buy that Energy Star dishwasher for your new Mountain View home, you can get it at a great price!

You can get up to $200 for making your windows energy efficient, $50 for efficient furnace fans, and $300 for water heater and wood heating systems.

New Silicon Valley homes can get up to $2,000 if they meet the eligibility requirements. (Please note that this incentive is for the home builder, not the homeowner).

Incentives aside, if you are living eco friendly for the right reasons, then the reward is knowing that you are really making a positive impact on our Silicon Valley community. Of course everybody wants to save money, but the great thing about living in Silicon Valley is that people have the best intentions when it comes to making the world a better place.

If you are considering buying or selling a Cambrian or Willow Glen home, then I would love to help you find what you are looking for. As an experienced Silicon Valley real estate agent, I can help you in every area of your home search. Whether its providing you with valuable information, showing you around the neighborhood, or helping you find the exact home you've been looking for. I'm always here to help, and you can contact me any time.

Shannon Rose
Silicon Valley Real Estate Expert
Visit My Silicon Valley Real Estate Website
Find Silicon Valley Area Listings