The DeLeon Insight – September 2019
Behind-The-Scenes for 1023 Forest Avenue
By David Tobener
When the stunning Queen Anne Victorian home at 1023 Forest Avenue in Palo Alto presented itself to us, we knew that a standard video shoot just wasn’t going to be enough to do it justice. Designated as a Landmark Property by Palo Alto Stanford Heritage (PAST) and a winner of the PAST Preservation Award in 2002, this circa 1896 home called for something special. Anthony Halawa, DeLeon Realty’s Creative Director, came up with an idea that would both honor the home’s amazing heritage while also showcasing its fabulous modern amenities.
LOSS, LOVE, LAUGHTER
By Ken DeLeon
In real estate, they speak of the three L’s – location, location, location – as the most important components of a home’s value. In my life, the three L’s are loss, love and laughter; looking back, it was my greatest loss that put me on the path to finding love and embracing laughter. This essay is about how losing my sister, the most painful experience in my life, paved the way for future triumphs. This is a story of turning darkness into light.
I generally do not speak about my sister, Jane. But given the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and resulting risk of suicide in our upcoming generations, I feel it is my duty to shine the spotlight on this topic to help address this borderline epidemic that is now the second leading cause of mortality amongst teenagers.
SURGE IN DEMAND FROM HONG KONG BUYERS
By Michael Repka
Prior to Great Britain’s transfer of Hong Kong back to China in 1997, there was a significant increase in demand for US (and Canadian) real estate from Hong Kong buyers. Wealthy people from Hong Kong were understandably concerned that there would be a dramatic change to their way of life. Irrespective of whether the motivating factor was merely diversification, or an immediate desire to relocate outside of Hong Kong, the real estate market in international world-class cities benefited. The Bay Area and Vancouver were amongst the areas that benefited the most.
MISALIGNED INCENTIVES AND SYSTEMIC FLAWS OF THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY
By Michael Repka
Many people take issue with the real estate industry and the way transactions have been handled traditionally. Many clients justifiably believe that there are far too many conflicts of interest, too little oversight, inadequate training, and a general herd mentality that is often not in the best interest of the clients.
Everything from the standard listing agreements, the purchase contracts, common commission structures, training, and access to information seemed biased in favor of the real estate agents. To make matters worse, few clients consult an attorney before signing “standard” listing agreements, which are written by the real estate industry and heavily biased towards the real estate agent’s interests. Nevertheless, many clients felt that engaging a real estate agent was a necessary evil if they wanted to buy or sell a property.
LPS SHANGHAI 2019: RETURNING THIS WINTER
By David Tobener
Another year is almost over, and 2020 is just around the corner. It’s time to start planning for the New Year, and for many people that means it’s time to start planning to sell your home. If you find yourself in this category, DeLeon Realty wants to inform you of an amazing opportunity – one that allows you to showcase your home to an international crowd of over 12,000 buyers!
WILL BARRON PARK GET ITS FIRST $10,000,000 HOME?
By Ken DeLeon
Generally, only the most elite neighborhoods such as Old Palo Alto or West Atherton can command eight figure prices. Yet as Silicon Valley continues to be the epicenter of the nation’s innovation and tech companies continue to thrive, high-end listings are cropping up in many different neighborhoods.
