DeLeon Insight- September 2025 Cover Page

The DeLeon Insight – September 2025



Why DeLeon’s In-House Marketing Team Makes a Real Difference

By David Tobener At DeLeon Realty, we’ve always believed that marketing is one of the most important parts of selling a home. It’s not an afterthought or a box to check; rather, it shapes how a property is perceived, how widely it’s seen, and…

California Insurance Update: FAIR Plan Gets More Expensive, But Traditional Insurers Re-Enter the Market

By Alex Lewicki, Esq. Home insurance has, not-so-secretly, developed into an industry-wide crisis over the last decade. For many in hillside and rural communities, the California FAIR Plan has been the only respite from prohibitively expensive insurance…

Redwood City: Climate Best and Much More

By Francis Lopez "Climate Best by Government Test." As you travel through Redwood City, you may see one of the signs on Broadway bearing this slogan. Situated between the heat of San Jose and the fog of San Francisco, Redwood City seemingly enjoys…

How the DeLeon Design Team Made Our Seller Over $800,000 with Less Than $35,000 Worth of Improvements

By Ken DeLeon It is rare to create a win for everyone in business, and DeLeon Realty is the rare brokerage with a client-focused approach that seeks to achieve this optimal outcome for both sellers and buyers. Silicon Valley buyers are extraordinarily…

The AI IPO Boom Is Coming. Here’s How Silicon Valley Sellers Can Benefit

By Ken DeLeon Silicon Valley real estate has always moved in cycles, but the next cycle may be unusually powerful. As an attorney at Wilson Sonsini during the dot-com boom, I had a front-row seat to new millionaires minted with each IPO. Yet the…

Why Do Agents Love Off-Market Sales?

By The DeLeon Team The Hidden Cost to “Pocket” or “Office Exclusive” Listings Off-market listings have always appealed to real estate agents for one simple reason: control. Double-sided commissions, minimal prep, lower marketing costs, and…

Preserving Your Prop 13 Basis When Moving on the Peninsula

By Ken DeLeon For many long-term California homeowners, Proposition 13 is one of the most valuable financial benefits of homeownership. Passed in 1978, Proposition 13 generally limits annual increases in a property’s assessed value to no more…

Top Full-Service Brokerages in Silicon Valley in 2026

By Ken DeLeon When Silicon Valley homeowners choose a real estate brokerage, they should look beyond the agent’s name, marketing claims, or commission structure. The better question is whether the brokerage provides the full range of services…

Antitrust Concerns as Compass Seeks to Control the American Dream

By Ken DeLeon As market concentration grows, off-market strategies and listing control deserve more scrutiny from buyers, sellers, and regulators alike. Housing is not just another industry. It is deeply tied to the American Dream, household…

OpenAI’s Legal Victory Could Send Silicon Valley Real Estate Higher Than a SpaceX Rocket

By Ken DeLeon Real estate in Silicon Valley has always been driven by more than square footage, school districts, and interest rates. At its highest levels, the market is powered by wealth creation. When technology companies are formed, funded,…