DeLeon Insight- September 2025 Cover Page

The DeLeon Insight – September 2025



How New MLS Rules Are Impacting Pricing and Appraisals in Silicon Valley

By Lisa Lombardi, Certified Appraiser Recent changes to Multiple Listing Service (MLS) rules, driven by industry-wide commission reforms, have not-so-quietly changed how transaction details are reported. Most notably, broker compensation and seller…

Legal Updates: New Photoshopping Rules, Stacked Development Near Transit, and Limits on Institutional Investors

By Colette R. Thomason, Esq. We have recently seen several noteworthy updates in the legal real estate arena.  The first new law discussed below has been implemented, the second will be in the summer, and the third is still evolving. 1) Effective…

Tapping into Two of Silicon Valley’s Most Powerful Buyer Pools

By Audrey Sun, Director of Listings Silicon Valley remains the epicenter of the tech world, drawing elite talent from across computer science, engineering, law, and venture capital. The buyer pool remains dominated by the best and the brightest from…

Sell Before the ARMs Race

By Francis Lopez, Director of Listings The housing inventory on the peninsula has continued its momentous decline over the past several years. This can be attributed to interest rates in two intertwined ways: (1) with interest rates above 6%, homeowners…

Referral Fee Transparency Gets a Kickback

By Alexander Lewicki, Esq., Director of Listings “Referral fees,” “incentives” or “kickbacks” (i.e., payment to another individual for the referral of a client) have long been present in the real estate industry. These fees, which often…

What’s Really Happening with Real Estate Commissions?

The Latest Successes from the Integra Law Group, LLP

By Colette R. Thomason At DeLeon Realty, one of the ways we earn our commission is by providing sellers with free legal services through the Integra Law Group when they run into issues with a buyer while in escrow. These issues jeopardize closing and…

Marketing Across Cultures: Insights from Our Work with Chinese Buyers

By Pamela Tao, DeLeon Chinese Marketing Specialist The San Francisco Bay Area has long been a prime destination for international homebuyers—including an important and growing Chinese population. With world-class universities, a strong tech economy,…

Agents Push for “Pocket,” “Private,” or “Exclusive” a.k.a. Hidden Listings

Beyond Silicon Valley: A New Kind of Upgrade

By David J. Tobener People sell their homes for a variety of reasons – whether to diversify their portfolios, pursue new investment opportunities, or simply change their lifestyle. However, a growing segment of homeowners in Silicon Valley is choosing…