Author Archive for: Brandon
Entries by Brandon Rabanal
Why Do Agents Love Off-Market Sales?
By The DeLeon Team The Hidden Cost to “Pocket” or “Office Exclusive” Listings Off-market listings have always appealed to real estate agents for one simple reason: control. Double-sided commissions, minimal prep, lower marketing costs, and less risk make these deals highly profitable for the listing agent. Now, in the wake of the industry’s major antitrust […]
Preserving Your Prop 13 Basis When Moving on the Peninsula
By Ken DeLeon For many long-term California homeowners, Proposition 13 is one of the most valuable financial benefits of homeownership. Passed in 1978, Proposition 13 generally limits annual increases in a property’s assessed value to no more than 2 percent per year, unless there is a reassessment event such as a sale or major new […]
Top Full-Service Brokerages in Silicon Valley in 2026
By Ken DeLeon When Silicon Valley homeowners choose a real estate brokerage, they should look beyond the agent’s name, marketing claims, or commission structure. The better question is whether the brokerage provides the full range of services needed to help a seller achieve the highest possible price while making the process as smooth and stress-free […]
Antitrust Concerns as Compass Seeks to Control the American Dream
By Ken DeLeon As market concentration grows, off-market strategies and listing control deserve more scrutiny from buyers, sellers, and regulators alike. Housing is not just another industry. It is deeply tied to the American Dream, household wealth, and to the way families live their lives. So when one company appears to be engaging in conduct […]
OpenAI’s Legal Victory Could Send Silicon Valley Real Estate Higher Than a SpaceX Rocket
By Ken DeLeon Real estate in Silicon Valley has always been driven by more than square footage, school districts, and interest rates. At its highest levels, the market is powered by wealth creation. When technology companies are formed, funded, scaled, and eventually monetized, that wealth often finds its way into homes in Atherton, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Los […]
Silicon Valley’s Growing Interest in Napa Valley Properties
By Francis Lopez, Director of Listings Six years after the onset of the pandemic, lifestyle changes persist. Many companies have adopted more flexible work schedules in a variety of ways that make remote work a possibility. At DeLeon Realty, we have seen a consistent flow of people moving outside of the Bay Area, with many […]
Will the New SALT Tax Deduction Cap Benefit Home Buyers?
By Alexander Lewicki, Esq. When the Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law in July of last year, one of the more impactful tax breaks included was the increase of the state and local tax deduction (SALT) cap from $10k to $40k. In theory, the SALT deduction helps ease the burden of local taxes in […]
Tax Tips: 1031 Exchanges, Installment Sales and Deferred Sales Trusts
By Ken DeLeon and Michael Repka As the sagacious Benjamin Franklin noted, “nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” While very true, death can sometimes help lessen taxes, as your heirs receive a stepped-up basis on inherited real estate after you pass. With tax day approaching, this article highlights three strategies […]
