Housing vs Stocks: Why Silicon Valley Housing has been a More Profitable Investment

Having traveled the world as a real estate nerd, I always study the real estate market and tax structure of any country I visit. I have found that no government subsidizes homeownership as much as the United States. Two of the great benefits enjoyed by…

In San Francisco’s Bidding Wars, Home Prices Go Ballistic

WSJ: In San Francisco’s Bidding Wars, Home Prices Go Ballistic -  August 27, 2015 In San Francisco’s Bidding Wars, Home Prices Go Ballistic In the San Francisco Bay Area’s hot real-estate market, the question for many sellers isn’t whether…

Los Gatos, Saratoga: Luxury summit peeks into lifestyles of ultra-high end buyers

The summit on luxury homes and high-end buyers brought over 100 real estate professionals to the Rosewood Hotel in Menlo Park last month, where they listened to top producers explain how they market to the ultra-affluent across the globe. The panel of…

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…

DeLeon Realty Expands the China Initiative

While still only a small part of the DeLeon team’s marketing approach, we have enjoyed tremendous success in tapping into the burgeoning Chinese buyer pool. In fact, we have become well-known to the Chinese community throughout the Bay Area through…

Agents’ Heightened Duties to Clients under Saffie v. Schmeling

Last year, the California Court of Appeals handed down a decision that may have serious repercussions for the real estate broker community (Saffie v. Schmeling, Fourth Appellate District, Case No. E055716, dated March 7, 2014). In Saffie, a Buyer’s…

Neighborhood Spotlight — Old Palo Alto

Unquestionably one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Silicon Valley, Old Palo Alto has a unique blend of spectacular architecture, large parcels, great public schools, and a central location that has made the neighborhood highly desirable to multiple…

The Downside to Live Offer Presentations

In this hot Sellers’ market, multiple offers and above-asking bids are common. In fact, it is not unusual for a home to receive ten or more offers. Naturally, agents who are representing Buyers like the opportunity to present their clients’ offers…