by Mary Pope-Handy, Clair Handy | Oct 3, 2026 | Selling tips
The cost to sell a home varies tremendously depending on location, home condition and selling goals, occupancy status, budget, and more. There are some expenses that cannot be changed, such as the county transfer tax, but who pays that is negotiable – though in...
by Mary Pope-Handy | Aug 17, 2026 | homes for sale, How's The Market?, Market Reports, Mountain View, Neighborhoods
Mountain View, next to Palo Alto at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, is visible from a distance because of the giant “Hangar One” at Moffett Field that used to house a blimp. The airport at Moffett is fairly quiet these days, but occasionally...
by Mary Pope-Handy | Aug 5, 2026 | Santa Cruz, Neighborhoods, Santa Cruz & The Coast
The seat of the Santa Cruz County, this waterfront city is known for its beaches, majestic redwoods, vibrant downtown, milder coastal weather, and the University of Santa Cruz (mascot: the Banana Slugs). It’s also a tourist destination, especially in summer, as...
by Mary Pope-Handy, Clair Handy | Jul 30, 2026 | Book on home selling in Silicon Valley, Selling tips
This article is 99% a chapter from my book, with slight edits: “Get the Best Deal When Selling Your Home in Silicon Valley”, co-authored with Ken Deshaies, pub Dec 2004. It’s out of publication now, but you may find used copies (here is the link to...
by Mary Pope-Handy | Jul 29, 2026 | homes for sale, How's The Market?, Los Altos, Market Reports, Neighborhoods
Los Altos is one of Santa Clara County’s most prestigious towns (read “among the most expensive Silicon Valley real estate”). Prices for houses currently begin at in about the low $3 million range for a home that’s livable as is. The average price of a just sold home...
by Mary Pope-Handy, Clair Handy | May 1, 2026 | homes for sale, How's The Market?, Market Reports, Neighborhoods, San Jose (all areas)
South San Jose is one of the more affordable areas in Silicon Valley. It enjoys convenient freeway and transit access, running alongside Highway 101 and Highway 87 at points, and coming quite close to Highway 85, also. The Tamien light rail station is close to South...
by Mary Pope-Handy | Mar 15, 2026 | Menlo Park
Menlo Commons, a senior community of active and independent residents, is located at 2140 Santa Cruz Ave in the lovely city of Menlo Park! Menlo Commons is a 55+ community, meaning that at least one resident must be age 55 or older, but other residents can be any age....
by Mary Pope-Handy, Clair Handy | Jan 26, 2026 | homes for sale, How's The Market?, Market Reports, Neighborhoods, Saratoga
Once a logging town known as Bank Mills, and later known for its orchards and vineyards, Saratoga, CA, is now an upscale suburb of Silicon Valley and San Jose with a very high quality of life. The schools are top performing, the downtown is charming, the scenic beauty...
by Mary Pope-Handy, Clair Handy | Dec 9, 2025 | Uncategorized, East San Jose (SJ), homes for sale, How's The Market?, Market Reports, Neighborhoods, San Jose (all areas)
Often known simply as East San Jose or the Eastside, the East Valley was once a city of its own, annexed by San Jose, its name sake, in 1911. (Today, the East Valley encompasses more than just the former city bearing the same name.) A celebrated historic East Valley...
by Mary Pope-Handy, Clair Handy | Nov 24, 2025 | homes for sale, How's The Market?, Market Reports, Neighborhoods
Belmont is a tranquil community with a high quality of life built primarily on the hills overlooking San Francisco Bay and the coastal range. The small, but busy, downtown has easy access to freeway and rail transportation and is a mix of locally owned stores, shops...
