DeLeon Insight- September 2025 Cover Page

The DeLeon Insight – September 2025



Stay Fresh Locally: Silicon Valley Farmers Markets

By Ann Ho California is the best place for fresh fruits and vegetables. People have access to them all year round, unlike other states that experience extreme seasons. With California’s Central Valley only a short drive away from Silicon Valley,…

Eight Things That Make DeLeon Different

By Michael Repka, Esq. 1) We never take money from both sides of any transaction Most brokerages, and even many individual agents, take money from both sides of the same transaction when they have the opportunity. While some try to characterize…

Cross-Collateral Financing

By Steve Millender For clients who are considering purchasing a new home, either as a “trade up” from their existing residence, or to “down size” to be closer to family or to reduce expenses, there is financing available where no down payment…

Innovative Silicon Valley Attorneys Become the Top Ranked Real Estate Team in the Country Thanks to a Unique Business Model

REAL Trends, the national authority for Realtor rankings, just released their verified 2018 results in the Wall Street Journal. Once again, the DeLeon Team, based in Palo Alto, California, secured the top spot in the team category for the entire nation…

Countertops – Natural vs. Engineered Stone

By Ryan Saroca and David Burckhard If a home’s heart is its kitchen, then its soul may be its countertops. They’re the surfaces upon which domestic memories are made. There’s no doubt that the workspaces of the busiest place in the house…

Neighborhood Spotlight: Old Palo Alto

Locally regarded among the Bay Area’s most prestigious and esteemed areas, Old Palo Alto sits at the center of this famous and affluent city. Whether you’re out for a morning walk or hovering along on the latest piece of cutting-edge personal…

Conflicts of Interest with “Coming Soon” Marketing

By Michael Repka One of the fundamental problems with the real estate industry is that the interests of the sellers are often in conflict with the interests of their agents. The 100% commission-based compensation system employed by most brokerages,…

Caltrain Electrification Sparks Appreciation

By Michael Repka Over the past 15 years, we have seen a shift in buyers’ preferences away from remote estates located far up into the hills and towards fine properties closer to city centers. While no group is ever homogenous, many tech buyers…

Q&A Seminar 6/11: Your Real Estate Questions Answered

Resolving Real Estate Disputes

By Michael Repka, Esq. After obtaining my first law degree back in 1999, I took and passed the New York and New Jersey bar exams. In both states, real estate agents help clients buy and sell real estate, but they do not delve into all of the legal,…