DeLeon Insight- September 2025 Cover Page

The DeLeon Insight – September 2025



Why DeLeon’s In-House Marketing Team Makes a Real Difference

By David Tobener At DeLeon Realty, we’ve always believed that marketing is one of the most important parts of selling a home. It’s not an afterthought or a box to check; rather, it shapes how a property is perceived, how widely it’s seen, and…

How the DeLeon Design Team Made Our Seller Over $800,000 with Less Than $35,000 Worth of Improvements

By Ken DeLeon It is rare to create a win for everyone in business, and DeLeon Realty is the rare brokerage with a client-focused approach that seeks to achieve this optimal outcome for both sellers and buyers. Silicon Valley buyers are extraordinarily…

The AI IPO Boom Is Coming. Here’s How Silicon Valley Sellers Can Benefit

By Ken DeLeon Silicon Valley real estate has always moved in cycles, but the next cycle may be unusually powerful. As an attorney at Wilson Sonsini during the dot-com boom, I had a front-row seat to new millionaires minted with each IPO. Yet the…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Why Your Neighbor’s Home Sold for More Than Expected

By Audrey Sun Many homeowners assume a record sale was luck. In Silicon Valley, it rarely is; rather, it’s preparation, strategy, and careful execution. And when done correctly, it can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in difference. It Wasn’t…

Enhancing Home Value by Updating the Garage

By the DeLeon Design Team Before and After the Garage Update In California, a garage is a highly valued feature, yet for many homeowners, it hasn’t felt the warmth of a car tire in years. Many Californians take great pride in the appearance of…

Silicon Valley Housing Market 2025 Highlights and 2026 Predictions

By Ken DeLeon, Managing Broker & Attorney The 2025 Silicon Valley housing market was exciting and volatile, shaped by countervailing forces and seasonal patterns that differed from the norm. Traditionally, spring is the busiest and most favorable…