The Answer to Saratoga Homes for Sale is 42 by Michelle Carr-Crowe It's finally happened: The Answer to Saratoga Homes for Sale is 42. If you've never read "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," that means nothing; if you have read the book, you know that 42 is the answer to the age-old question, "What is the meaning of life?" If the question is "Where is the place to live in Saratoga, Calif.?" there are 42 Open Houses today to help you answer that questions. These 42 homes for sale represent an increase of about 25 percent in more homes available as compared to last weekend. (From 31 Saratoga homes for sale to 42.) Saratoga, Calif. homes for sale fall within three different high school districts: Los Gatos-Saratoga, Campbell and Fremont Union (aka “Cupertino Schools”). The five possib... 04/14/2012

Cute Happy Easter House in Saratoga,Calif. By Michelle Carr-Crowe, San Jose Silicon Valley Top 5% real estate agent   Happy Easter! Check out this cute Happy Easter House in Saratoga,Calif.   Most people just don’t decorate their houses in Santa Clara County for the Easter holiday. Sure, I have a client with an adorable wreath of pastel-colored birds eggs on her door, but she's the only one I can think of with an Easter decorated home for sale in San Jose, Calif.     But there just aren’t a lot of big displays. I was previewing homes for sale earlier this week in Cupertino, San Jose and Saratoga, Calif. for a relation buyer coming from Europe. As I was driving down the road, I happened onto this adorable Easter bunny scene. It was so cute I actually made a u-turn and came back to take t... 04/08/2012

Saratoga, Calif. Homes for Sale Open Houses March 31 & April 1, 2012 By Michelle Carr-Crowe, ABR, CDPE, SRES Cupertino Saratoga San Jose Lynbrook Homes Expert This Saturday, March 31, 2012 & Sunday, April 1, 2012,a total of 34 residential homes for sale in Saratoga, Calif. will host open houses.   Saratoga homes for sale fall within three different high school districts: Los Gatos-Saratoga, Campbell and Fremont Union (aka “Cupertino Schools”). The five possible high schools include: Saratoga High, Prospect High, Westmont High, Monta Vista High and Lynbrook High.   MLS# Address Price Beds Baths SqFt Lot Size Date Time  81209982 14451 CHESTER AVENUE $2,795,000 5 3|1 4338 40,950 4/1/ 1 -4:00  81210706 13522 DEBBIE LANE $1,499,800 4 2|0 2406 12,420 3/31/ 1:30 -4:00  81210706 13522 DEBBIE LA... 03/30/2012

Wordless Wednesday; In the Saratoga CA Garden Mother Nature doesn't make many bright, shiny orange things, so these  Aloe Aculeata (aculeata means prickly) flowers look surreal; like tiny orange bananas, but shiny, and growing on a cob, instead of corn.  There are hundreds of Aloe varieties.  Many Aloes love Saratoga and Santa Clara County climate.  Like most succulents they need fast-draining soil so their roots can dry out completely.  They don't like wet feet.  These are in a raised planter filled with specially formulated fast-draining cactus/succulent soil  in my front yard.  Lloyd Binen Realtor/Broker/DRE 572654 Certified Realty Services 19200 Shubert Drive Saratoga, CA 95070 Certified Residential Specialist (CRS); Graduate, Realtors Institute (GRI) 408-373-4411 03/28/2012

Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Open Houses Open Saturday, March 24, 2012 and Sunday, March 25, 2012 By Michelle Carr-Crowe, ABR, CDPE, SRES Cupertino Saratoga San Jose Lynbrook Homes Expert This Saturday, March 24, 2012 and Sunday, March 25, 2012 a total of 47 residential homes for sale in Saratoga, Calif. will host open houses.  That’s a huge nearly 50% increase from 32 Saratoga, Calif. open houses the week of March 17 and 18, 2012. Saratoga homes for sale fall within three different high school districts: Los Gatos-Saratoga, Campbell and Fremont Union (aka “Cupertino Schools”). The five possible high schools include: Saratoga High, Prospect High, Westmont High, Monta Vista High and Lynbrook High. To see any of these homes or obtain market research and information, Text or Just Call 408.252.89... 03/23/2012

Market Report for Saratoga - February 2012Saratoga Real Estate  Single Family Homes Median Price: $1,454,000 = 13.6% increase from January 2012 ($1,280,000) Average Price: $1,658,120 = 7.6% decrease from January 2012 ($1,793,570) No. of Sales: 16 = 0% from January 2012 (16 sales) Pending Properties: 41 = 17.1% increase from January 2012 (35 Pending Properties) Active: 62 = 8.8% increase from January 2012 (57 Active) Sales vs. List Price: 97.6% 0% from January 2012 (97.6%) Days on Market: 78 = 17.5% increase from January 2012 (67 Days) The graph above shows the median price, the average price and the number of Saratoga Homes sold. Prices are represented by bars and sales are represented by the line. A 3-month moving average is used to smooth out month-to-month fluctuation. The 3-month mo... 03/22/2012

34 Saratoga, Calif. Open Houses Open Saturday, March 17, 2012 and Sunday, March 18, 2012 By Michelle Carr-Crowe, ABR, CDPE, SRES Cupertino Saratoga San Jose Lynbrook Homes Expert This Saturday, March 17, 2012 and Sunday, March 18, 2012, a total of 34 residential homes for sale in Saratoga, Calif. will host open houses. Saratoga homes for sale fall within three different high school districts: Los Gatos-Saratoga, Campbell and Fremont Union (aka “Cupertino Schools”). The five possible high schools include: Saratoga High, Prospect High, Westmont High, Monta Vista High and Lynbrook High.     To see any of these homes or obtain market research and information, Text or Just Call 408.252.8900 to speak with the San Jose Saratoga Lynbrook High Homes experts. Can’t attend during open house? Text ... 03/17/2012

Saratoga CA Home Sale and Listing Trends from February 2003 through February 2012. The graph shows the number of Listings and Sales of Saratoga CA Single Family Residences each February from 2003 through 2012 according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS; MLSListings, Inc.).  A "Listing" is a home put on the market (i.e., the MLS) For Sale in February. Fewer Saratoga homes were Listed For Sale in February 2012 than any February in the past 10 years.  And more Saratoga homes were Sold in February 2012 than any Febraury since 2004.   That combination of low Listings and high Sales results in a Seller's Market; which is what we have.  Six of the seven Saratoga homes sold in February '12 in either the Saratoga or Cupertino School Districts which were asking under $1,700,000, were so... 03/13/2012

Saratoga CA Home Sales in February 2012 The Map and Table show all 19 Saratoga CA home sales in February 2012 according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS;MLSListings, Inc.). Great Saratoga and Cupertino Schools plus excellent neighborhoods have combined with a robust Silicon Valley economy and extraordinarily low interest rates to create strong real estate market conditions.  The low inventory of homes For Sale in Saratoga CA and surrounding cities is not currently meeting the strong demand.  As the Table shows, six of the seven sales of Saratoga CA home priced under $1.7M with either Saratoga or Cupertino schools, sold for more than the Asking Price. The bottom row of the Table shows the averages.  The "average" Saratoga CA home sold in February 2012 was a 3.9 bedroom, 2.7 bat... 03/11/2012

Saratoga, Calif. Open Houses Open Sunday, March 11, 2012 By Michelle Carr-Crowe, ABR, CDPE, SRES Cupertino Saratoga San Jose Lynbrook Homes Expert This Sunday, March 11, 2012, a total of 24 residential homes for sale in Saratoga, Calif. will host open houses. Saratoga homes for sale fall within three different high school districts: Los Gatos-Saratoga, Campbell and Fremont Union (aka “Cupertino Schools”). The four possible high schools include: Saratoga High, Prospect High, Westmont High and Lynbrook High.   Address Price DOM Beds Baths   Lot Size Time   20644 CARNIEL AVENUE 1485000 5 3 2|0 2122 14,670 1:30 -4:30 20628 OAK CREEK LANE 878000 5 3 2|1 1900 1,512 1:30 -4:30 19896 BRAEMAR DRIVE 1798000 5 4 2|1 2771 10,005 1:30 -4:30 15401 BOHLMAN ROAD 2789000 170 5 3|1 3200 121,096 1:30 -4:3... 03/11/2012

If you smell Vick's Vapo Rub, or Tiger Balm while walking around Saratoga Woods and other Saratoga CA neighborhoods, a Camphor Tree is probably being trimmed.  Camphor, which gives Vicks Vapo Rub and Tiger Balm their distinctive odor, comes from Camphor trees like this one in Saratoga Woods Saratoga CA.   Lloyd Binen Broker/Realtor/DRE 572654 Certified Realty Services 19200 Shubert Drive Saratoga, CA 95070 Certified Residential Specialist (CRS); Graduate, Realtors Institute (GRI) 408-373-4411, or e-mail 03/07/2012

Not So Wordless Wednesday; Home Wreckers in Quito Village, Saratoga CA. Sometimes it's easier to tear it all down and start from scratch.  That's what this Quito Village homeowner decided to do. Perhaps the Quito Village home on Mc Farland Ave., a block away from this one, was the motivation.  That one sold recently for $1,880,000 after it was similarly demolished and built anew. These modest 1,100 - 1,300 sq. ft.  homes were built in the early 1950s and sold at that time for under $20,000.  Most have undergone some degree of remodeling and additions.  The lots are 10,000 - 12,000 sq. ft., twice the "standard" R-1 6,000 sq. ft. lot so prevalent in subdivisions from the 1960s- 1980s. In today's market, Quito Village homes that are in their original, completely un-remodeled,  early-1950s ... 02/29/2012

3 Fun Ways to Celebrate Leap Year Day by Michelle Carr Crowe Cupertino real estate agent selling San Jose homes Leap year only comes around every four years. But how to celebrate this curious event? Sure there are plenty of special Leap Year Day sales but is buying stuff really what you want to do on such a rare day? Whether you live in San Jose, Calif. or Saratoga, New York, anyone can participate in one of these three ways my family has celebrated leap year day. 1) Leap Around! That one was suggested by my youngest daughter back 1996. We (she, I and her friends) spent the day "leaping around" Campbell and Los Gatos, Calif. We spent it leaping over puddles, leaping over rocks and leaping over obstacle courses she and her friends created until we were exhausted. 2) Sadie Hawkins! For th... 02/29/2012

Only 5% of Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Homes for Sale are Distressed as of February 19, 2012 by Michelle Carr Crowe, Top 5% Santa Clara County real estate agent Are you looking for a bargain? Do you have ready all cash money and are just waiting for the right opportunity? Are you willing to wait a while for the bank or lender to accept your offer? Right now there are only 3 (Three) Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties for Sale on the market without contracts...yet. Some are Saratoga foreclosures, some are bank-owned homes in Saratoga, Calif. and others are short sales (or potential short sales) in Saratoga, 95070. Only three homes out of sixty-two Saratoga, Calif. homes for sale are bank-owned, pre-foreclosure or foreclosure homes. That means less than 5 percent of active Saratoga ho... 02/18/2012

Saratoga CA Home Sale and Listing Trends from January 2003 through January 2012. The graph shows the number of Listings and Sales of Saratoga CA Single Family Residences each January from 2003 through 2012 according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS; MLSListings, Inc.).  A "Listing" is a home put on the market (i.e., the MLS) For Sale. The number of Saratoga CA home sales in January 2012 was above the January average of 15.  Furthermore, sales have trended upward consistently since January 2009, the low point.  The Number of Saratoga CA home Listings has remained fairly steady since January 2007; and it's markedly fewer than it was from January '03 - '06.   Reduced equities from lower prices in Saratoga and throughout Silicon Valley are probably responsible for the fewer numbe... 02/17/2012

Saratoga CA Home Sales in January, 2012 The Map and Chart show all Saratoga CA home sales in January 2012 according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS;MLSListings, Inc.). There were 17 Saratoga Single Family Detached homes sold in January 2012.  That's more than the January average of 15 sales since 2003; and the most since January 2008.  With the strong Silicon Valley economy, and incredibly low interest rates, the local real market is off to a strong start. The bottom row of the Chart shows the averages.  The "average" Saratoga CA home sold in January 2012 was a 3.7 bedroom, 2.8 bathroom home with 3,005 square feet on a 38,558 sq. ft. lot (see note below).  It was 43 years old. The average Listing (Asking) Price was $1,827,817 and the average Sale Price was $1,763,656 or 96.5%... 02/17/2012

Wordless Wednesday Mother Nature Confused; Cherry Blossoms on Cox Ave in Saratoga CA in Mid-February. Lloyd Binen Realtor/Broker/DRE 572654 Certified Realty Services 19200 Shubert Drive Saratoga, CA 95070-4046 e-mail 408-373-4411     02/15/2012

by Michelle Carr Crowe, Cupertino real estate agents selling San Jose homes for sale Have you heard about "death-predicting" Oscar the Cat? Adopted in 2005 by staff at Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island, Oscar, in typical cat-like fashion, preferred hiding from, or ignoring, most patients and staff at the severe dementia care center. However, in 2007, they began to notice Oscar's unusual gift. When making his "rounds," Oscar typically entered a room, sniffed and left...but sometimes he jumped on the patient's bed, nestled in and began purring. But this only happened when the patient was within hours of dying. So far, Oscar has been 50 for 50 in predicting a patient's last good-bye. Although some find it more "grim reaper" than "angel of mercy" most family mem... 02/06/2012

Saratoga CA & Santa Clara County Home Cost per Square Foot; An Annual Market. The Graph shows the Cost-per -Square-Foot for Single Family Residences sold each year in Saratoga, Ca and Santa Clara County from 2003 through 2011, according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS;MLSlistings, Inc.). My disclaimer: Cost-per-square- foot is a crude measurement. It excludes all other features of a home that influence price such as lot size, age, schools, construction quality & other amenities, all of which vary widely.  Insofar as other features stay the same from year to year, cost-per-square foot provides a very rough "ballpark" estimate of trending, and is most accurate for that purpose--seeing trends. For both the City of Saratoga and County of Santa Clara, the per- square-foot cost of ... 01/30/2012

Only 4 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Homes for Sale January 21, 2012 Are you looking for a bargain? Do you have ready all cash money and are just waiting for the right opportunity? Are you willing to wait a while for the bank or lender to accept your offer? Right now there are only 4 (Four) Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties for Sale on the market without contracts...yet. Some are Saratoga foreclosures, some are bank-owned homes in Saratoga, Calif. and others are short sales (or potential short sales) in Saratoga, 95070. As an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and Certified Distressed Property Expert, I and my team can negotiate the best terms for you...a contract that actually results in you getting the home you want. Just Call 408-252-8900 to see any of these homes. ... 01/22/2012