Enjoy Mountain View's A La Carte & Art Festival!

The vibrant San Francisco Bay Area festival season kicks off with the 15th annual A La Carte & Art in Mountain View!

This popular Silicon Valley event runs May 21-22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free!


One of the great things about living in Silicon Valley are festivals like this featuring a diverse range of attractions and entertainment. A La Carte & Art offers more than you might expect! When we say "A La Carte", we mean mouth-watering gourmet fare including Thai delicacies to Greek specialties to German and French favorites. Variety is the order of the day with Cajun, Southwestern, and American foods that are sure to tempt every palate.

Ready for art? Stroll through 200 booths of the finest artisic creations, hand-made from nearly every material you can imagine. You'll find jewelery, wall decor, glasswork, sculptures, fountains, handbags, clocks, paintings, and more. Find a perfect gift, or indulge yourself by purchasing a one-of-a-kind work of art.

Not every art festival can boast a car show, but this one can! You can admire the classic beauties of the muscle car era along with head-turning custom street machines. Looking for more to do? Check out the Kid's Tons of Fun Zone, or the Green Products Showcase. Don't forget the farmer's market! When you're ready to dance, or just relax, find a favorite band from the eclectic live music lineup!

Events such as this are a fine example of the Silicon Valley lifestyle. There's never a lack of culture, events, or fine dining in the cities of Mountain View, San Jose or Palo Alto! It's one of the reasons that there are always buyers for homes in Silicon Valley! When you have questions about buying or selling a home in Silicon Valley, contact me for the best in professional, client-first service!

Shannon Rose
Silicon Valley Real Estate Expert
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Ready to Buy in Silicon Valley? 5 Emotional Signs

If you’re a Silicon Valley home buyer, you’ve probably done your homework on mortgage financing and have a pretty good idea of what you want. You may be approaching the real estate market armed with information. You’re ready to make the best possible decision based upon all available data.

In fact, you may have so much information that you’re unable to decide on a home. This kind of paralysis by analysis is common in the information age.

However, home buying is also a very emotional decision. Recognizing how you feel about a particular home can help you decide what to buy.

Here are 5 emotional signs that you may have found your Silicon Valley home:

- You mentally picture your furniture in the home. If you find yourself sizing up the place for your home theatre and your dining room table, you’re already thinking of moving in.

- You want to tell your friends and family about the home. You’re excited and perhaps a little nervous. The home is personal “news” and you want to share your enthusiasm.

- You want to take another walk-through of the home. At this point you’re verifying your first impressions and thinking through the details. The decision to buy may have already occurred in your mind.

- “There’s just something about it.” Some of the reasons you like the home may not be tangible. The home feels right and seems to fit you.

- You follow up with your Silicon Valley Realtor to write an offer to purchase.

As your Silicon Valley real estate professional, I will be glad to help you throughout the home buying process. Whether you’re looking for a home in Mountain View, Palo Alto, or the Cambrian and Willow Glen areas of San Jose, I have all the latest real estate data. I also have the professional experience you can trust in today's Bay Area real estate market.

Are you ready to buy in Silicon Valley? Contact me for the best in client-first service!

Shannon Rose
Silicon Valley Real Estate Expert
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Visit a Historic Home in Mountain View!

Long before television shows such as "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" existed, the City of Mountain View tackled the daunting renovation of a ruined, but historically significant house. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the public dedication of the Rengstorff House, Mountain View's oldest home.

Looking at the beautiful, Italianate architecture today, it's hard to imagine this home as being abandoned and in such severe disrepair that demolition seemed inevitable. It narrowly avoided destruction and now stands restored, appearing much as it did in 1867. The Rengstorff House has 12 rooms, 3,955 square feet of living space, and 144 years of history.

The story starts with Henry Rengstorff, who in 1850 at age 21, immigrated to California during the gold rush. He arrived too late to find  gold, but he found success through hard work, thrift, and the purchase of real estate. Once a farm worker in Santa Clara Valley, Rengstorff saved his money and eventually purchased the rights to 290 acres in San Jose.

The astute Rengstorff doubled his land holdings three years later. A true pioneer in what would become known as the Silicon Valley area, Rengstorff was an agricultural entrepreneur, operating in San Mateo and Los Altos. His later forays into the shipping industry contributed to the development of Mountain View.

Rengstorff  built his impressive Mountain View home in 1867. It remained in the family until it was sold in 1959. This began the steep decline of the Rengstorff House. After being abandoned, it was purchased by the City of Mountain View in 1979. The restoration project would take many more years and over one million dollars to complete.

Experience this restored Mountain View home by visiting the Extreme Home Renovation Exhibition, open to the public from now until May 30th. If you love history, or simply appreciate Victorian-era homes, you'll enjoy exploring the Rengstorff House.

Every home has a story. Why not begin a legacy of your own? As your Silicon Valley real estate professional, I can help you explore Bay Area real estate, and together we'll find the home you've been looking for. Contact me today for the best in client-first service!

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