DeLeon Insight- September 2025 Cover Page

The DeLeon Insight – September 2025



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 AI Boom and the Stock Market Rally: Catalysts for Silicon Valley’s Luxury Real Estate Surge

By Ken DeLeon Silicon Valley has always been synonymous with innovation, wealth creation, and disruptive technologies. But in 2025, the latest wave of innovation is shaping our luxury real estate market: the AI revolution. Fueled by surging stock market…

Why We Need an Indexed Capital Gains Tax Exemption

By Ken DeLeon, Berkeley Law Graduate, Stanford Graduate School of Business Graduate The following article that I wrote was sent to journalists and inspired articles in Fortune Magazine and The Epoch Times. These articles, which quoted me extensively,…

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…

Experience the DeLeon Tahoe Express: A Pilatus PC-12 NGX

By Michael Repka It’s no secret that many affluent Silicon Valley homeowners have been severing their California tax nexus and relocating to states with lower or no taxes, such as Nevada, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and Arizona. While taxes are…

July is a Great Time to Sell Real Estate

By Michael Repka Buyers often express a desire to buy and move into a new home after their children finish one school year, but before the next one begins.  Similarly, many sellers prefer to wait until after their children finish school before selling…

Why do Lender Rates Vary So Much in Pricing?

By Ken DeLeon Home buyers generally care more about the amount of their monthly mortgage payment than they do about the exact price of their home. The reality is, how much house you can afford is directly related to your monthly mortgage payment. While…

Surge in Demand from Hong Kong Buyers

By Michael Repka Michael Repka, DeLeon Realty CEO, on a recent business trip to Hong Kong Prior to Great Britain’s transfer of Hong Kong back to China in 1997, there was a significant increase in demand for US (and Canadian) real estate from…

Seminar: Make Your Home Stand Out in a Down Market