Neighborhood Spotlight: Barron Park of Palo Alto

What do two famous donkeys, Ulysses S. Grant, and David Packard all have in common? They all spent a fair amount of time in the Barron Park neighborhood of Palo Alto! For a neighborhood with no sidewalks that prides itself on being a rural oasis, Barron…

Tax Tips: Installment Sales and Deferred Sales Trusts

Taxes stink! No one likes paying them, especially sellers of highly appreciated Silicon Valley property. This is particularly true now that the combined federal and California tax rate on longterm capital gains can reach as high as 37.1 percent thanks…

Do You and Your Agent Know About FIRPTA?

One of the fortuitous things about running the listing side of the DeLeon Team is the exposure to the international real estate market. It is widely acknowledged that the DeLeon Team leads all Silicon Valley agents and teams in marketing to the international…

Real Estate Agent Rankings: How Can So Many People Be “Number One”?

The real estate industry is full of people claiming to be “Number One.” These claims often vary, but the variation is often nuanced. For example, the claims can range from Number One Team in America, Number One Individual Agent in Menlo Park, Number…

Surprisingly Simple Suggestions for Sellers

It is no secret that home improvements can add value to a home. While preparing dozens of home listings, we have witnessed well-prepared homes sell sooner and for more money than nearly identical homes listed concurrently. But the value is not entirely…

How to Successfully Organize Your Home

Believe it or not, organization can boost your home’s value significantly. Properly and attractively sorting your interiors will serve both to impress prospective buyers and to demonstrate the functionality of your home. Have you ever envied the…

Insider Tips to Selecting the Right Agent to Sell Your House

Choosing the right real estate agent to list your home is a big decision. Clients are often asked to enter into a long-term contract for the sale of their single largest asset with few specifics and no guarantees. That said, there are some key questions…

DeLeon Realty’s Summer Splash

Buyers often say they would like to purchase a home over the summer and settle in before the new school year starts. Nevertheless, the majority of listings are brought onto the market during the two seasonal windows of spring and fall. In effect,…

Neighborhood Spotlight: The Circus Club Area of Atherton

Three words describe the posh Circus Club neighborhood of Atherton: exclusive, impressive, and luxurious. Historically, this neighborhood was a 600-acre private ranch of moneyed Massachusetts businessman, Faxon Dean Atherton. It has since grown…

Negotiating Multiple Offers to Achieve the Highest Price

In Silicon Valley, multiple offers and above-asking bids are common. In fact, it is not unusual for a home to receive 10 or more offers. Naturally, agents who are representing buyers like the opportunity to present their clients’ offers directly to…