DeLeon Insight- September 2025 Cover Page

The DeLeon Insight – September 2025



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…

Will the New SALT Tax Deduction Cap Benefit Home Buyers?

By Alexander Lewicki, Esq. When the Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law in July of last year, one of the more impactful tax breaks included was the increase of the state and local tax deduction (SALT) cap from $10k to $40k. In theory, the SALT deduction…

Tax Tips: 1031 Exchanges, Installment Sales and Deferred Sales Trusts

By Ken DeLeon and Michael Repka As the sagacious Benjamin Franklin noted, “nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.” While very true, death can sometimes help lessen taxes, as your heirs receive a stepped-up basis on inherited…

Judge Makes Ruling on Zillow/Compass Injunction

By Francis Lopez In late 2024, Compass gained publicity with their three-phase marketing plan for sellers. Under the plan, sellers are first encouraged to place their listings on Compass’ exclusive platform, before entering a “coming soon” phase,…

How New MLS Rules Are Impacting Pricing and Appraisals in Silicon Valley

By Lisa Lombardi, Certified Appraiser Recent changes to Multiple Listing Service (MLS) rules, driven by industry-wide commission reforms, have not-so-quietly changed how transaction details are reported. Most notably, broker compensation and seller…

Legal Updates: New Photoshopping Rules, Stacked Development Near Transit, and Limits on Institutional Investors

By Colette R. Thomason, Esq. We have recently seen several noteworthy updates in the legal real estate arena.  The first new law discussed below has been implemented, the second will be in the summer, and the third is still evolving. 1) Effective…

Referral Fee Transparency Gets a Kickback

By Alexander Lewicki, Esq., Director of Listings “Referral fees,” “incentives” or “kickbacks” (i.e., payment to another individual for the referral of a client) have long been present in the real estate industry. These fees, which often…

What’s Really Happening with Real Estate Commissions?