Putting Sellers’ Interests First

There are a number of very good and ethical real estate agents in Silicon Valley. Unfortunately, as someone well-versed in the field of real estate law, I am all too aware of the games that some other agents and brokerages play for self-serving reasons.…

The Magic of the DeLeon Business Model—the Listing Side

DeLeon Realty’s new business model is the talk of the real estate community. We hear regular reports of our competitors’ office managers and other agents bringing us up at their sales meetings. That is very flattering, especially given that many of…

Ignore Your Own Taste When Prepping a Home for Sale

Everybody loves their own tastes, which certainly makes sense when you think about it. However, prepping and staging a home to achieve the highest possible sales price is both an art and a science. Problems arise when Sellers allow their own style preferences…

The Trap of Long-Term Listing Agreements

Long-term listing agreements are great for Realtors® and bad for Sellers. Period. As a real estate attorney and real estate broker, I have encountered countless clients who felt their agent wasn’t living up to their expectations, yet the agent would…

Unlocking Value Before You Sell

In the March edition of the DeLeon Insight, we examined “fixer-uppers” as an opportunity for buyers to get a relative value in this red-hot sellers’ market. In this article, we will look at ways in which prospective sellers can make sure they aren’t…

Real Estate Matters—Conflicts of Interest

Although the practice is completely legal and widely accepted in California, it seems impossible for one real estate agent to zealously represent both the buyer and the seller in the same transaction, even when the situation is properly disclosed. Simply…

What Makes A Home Sustainable?

Sustainability is a term that is broadly used to describe materials and products that meet our current needs without negatively affecting the environment for future generations. If you are looking to add sustainable value to your home, we have a few helpful…

Finding a Real Estate Bargain—Fixer-Uppers

W ith home prices surging in the thriving Silicon Valley real estate market, buyers are constantly on the hunt for—and turning to us for advice on—the ever-elusive bargain. At DeLeon Realty, our team of in-house designers, contractors, handymen, and…

Contingent Real Estate Offers—The Efficient Assignment of Risk

There are a lot of theories out there regarding the use of contingencies in real estate offers. Unfortunately many agents and buyers shift towards absolutes, such as “all offers have to be non-contingent in this hot seller’s market” or “the buyers…

Birdland Appreciation

Sunnyvale home values have soared since 2011. This phenomenon is especially noticeable in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Sunnyvale, Birdland. The median sales price in Birdland also jumped from $1,126,500 in 2013 to $1,394,000 in 2014 as…