DeLeon Insight- September 2025 Cover Page

The DeLeon Insight – September 2025



Hidden Dangers to Arbitration in Real Estate Contracts

By Michael Repka, Esq. When looking to buy or sell real estate, many clients ask their real estate agent whether they should initial the arbitration provision. If initialed by both sides, this provision binds the parties to arbitrate most disputes…

Expansion of Property Tax Transferability

By Michael Repka, Esq. (LL.M. (Taxation) — NYU School of Law) Since the passage of Prop 13 in 1978, California property tax on newly acquired property has been calculated based on the value of the property on the date of purchase. Although this value…

Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club: A Hidden Oasis

By Michael Repka, Member This article is the first of a series in which we will look at some of the area’s best country clubs and social meeting places. Approximately five years ago, my wife and I considered joining a local country club. We…

Air Traffic Impact on Real Estate

By Michael Repka, Pilot As a licensed pilot and Silicon Valley’s most active real estate listing agent, I have a unique perspective on how air traffic impacts local real estate. From this vantage point, I can see and understand the concerns of…

Wire Fraud in Real Estate Transactions

By Michael Repka, Esq. Imagine the horror of inadvertently transferring most of your life savings to the wrong account and never seeing it again. That is what has happened to many homebuyers in California and across the nation. The scams are…

Smart Home Tech Seminar – 10/23 in Palo Alto

The Comeback Kid: Joseph Eichler

By Michelle Lee, DeLeon Marketing Dept A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF EICHLER HOMES AND THEIR RESURFACING POPULARITY Grab a piece of paper or your smartphone and jot down some of the key elements that are must-haves for your dream home. Do you favor more…

How to Prep Your Kitchen On A Budget When Selling Your Home

By Margie Fontanilla |DeLeon Interior Designer Few would question the notion that the kitchen is one of the most important areas of a home. The kitchen sees the highest traffic, incorporates the most appliances, and provides the most function.…

Palo Alto Cultural History

By Michael Repka & Michelle Lee Palo Alto is often named among the best places in the country to live, and it’s easy to see why. The weather is near perfect, the city’s public schools rank among the top nationwide, and Palo Alto rests adjacent…

Redwood City Continues to Boom

For many decades as municipalities surrounding Redwood City grew in size and prestige, it languished behind the rest of the Peninsula. However, times have changed and the renaissance of Redwood City is in full force. The first step was the revitalization…