DeLeon Insight- September 2025 Cover Page

Enforceability of the “As-Is” Provision in Residential Real Estate Purchase Contracts

Given the hot housing market in Silicon Valley, buyers, in the face of multiple all-cash offers, feel pressured to make their offers as appealing as possible. Not only do these buyers make offers with no contingencies, they also take the property “As-Is.”…

Atherton 2014: The Evolving Expectation of Privacy

By Ken DeLeon  In October 2014, Forbes named Atherton, California (94027) the most expensive zip code in the country for the second year in a row. The local market has been experiencing incredible appreciation, which is directly attributable to both…

Ideas for Outdoor Living

With summer upon us, getting your outdoor spaces looking beautiful doesn’t have to be stressful and demanding. No matter how big or small your outdoor space is, here are some helpful and simple ideas that can get you ready for some low maintenance entertaining…

Some Like It Hot

While summer temperatures are going up, what is rising more rapidly are local home prices. Even after 4 years of appreciation, this year’s market shows no signs of weakening with multiple offers for many homes resulting in double-digit appreciation…

Savvy Use of the 1031 Exchange

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin, 1789 Could Mr. Franklin have been half wrong? The answer is yes for individuals willing to make systematic and disciplined use of tax deferred exchanges…

All is Fair in Love and Community Property

Marriage and love generally form a simple equation – two people meet, they fall in love, and then they wed. However, for married couples residing in California, before reaching “happily ever after,” each spouse should consider California’s law…

More Reason to Love Thy Neighbor

Shared Fence & Boundary Responsibility Neighbors, whether you love them or hate them, you have to get along with them. This statement is especially true for those of us who share fences with our neighbors. According to California Civil Code §841,…

Indian Buyers Impact Silicon Valley Housing Market

  Ken DeLeon & Michael Repka travel to India to research tips for Silicon Valley home sellers and experience the Indian real estate market Since the high-tech boom in Silicon Valley, an ethnic mélange of skilled and educated workers from India…

Buy Now! Not just because interest rates are increasing

The Federal Reserve announced on December 18, 2013 they plan to decrease stimulus spending starting January 2014 by $10 million a month. This typically translates to increasing mortgage interest rates. Thus far, the 30 year fixed and 7 year adjustable…

The Mandatory Arbitration Clause – More Important than You Think

  In today’s frenzied real estate market characterized by bidding wars and tight offer deadlines, many buyers are signing on the dotted line without understanding all of the terms of a typical real estate contract. Some clauses are deemed to…