Saratoga, Calif. Open Houses Open This Weekend January 21 and January 22, 2012 By Michelle Carr-Crowe, ABR, CDPE, SRES Cupertino Saratoga San Jose Lynbrook Homes Expert This weekend, January 21 and January 22, 2012, a total of 24 residential homes for sale in Saratoga, Calif. will host open houses. Saratoga homes for sale fall within three different high school districts: Los Gatos-Saratoga, Campbell and Fremont Union (aka “Cupertino Schools”). The four possible high schools include: Saratoga High, Prospect High, Westmont High and Lynbrook High.    To see any of these homes or obtain market research and information, Text or Just Call 408.252.8900 to speak with the San Jose Saratoga Lynbrook High Homes experts. Can’t attend during open house? Text “Saratoga Open House” to 408-252-8900 or... 01/21/2012

Brrrr-r-r-r-r-r-rrrrr... That is what last night was like out here in sunny, warm, surfer haven California.  (Well, these pics are from Saratoga, in the hills of Silicon Valley).  The place that when it gets to the 60's, we are freezing.  (oh, and I have never surfed). I woke up this morning, and as I was getting a cup of coffee I looked out the window and something odd...  The reflection on the pool, seemed to be frozen.   I stared in disbelief and noticed that my pool had a sheet of ice over it!  I grabbed my camera and went down there in my socks.  Freezing my *#@%^ off in the process.  And yes, there was ice!  Crazy thing, it's a pretty big pool, so it would take pretty low temps to get ice on it! So what I did in this picture was grab a rock and rest it on the top of the ice and sn... 01/16/2012

Only 5 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Homes for Sale by Michelle Carr Crowe, Top 5% Santa Clara County real estate agent, ABR, CDPE and West Valley expert Are you looking for a bargain? Do you have all ready cash money and are just waiting for the right opportunity? Are you willing to wait a while for the bank or lender to accept your offer? Right now there are only 5 (Five) 6 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties for Sale on the market without contracts...yet. Some are Saratoga foreclosures, some are bank-owned homes in Saratoga, Calif. and others are short sales (or potential short sales) in Saratoga, 95070. As an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and Certified Distressed Property Expert, I and my team can negotiate the best terms for you...a contract that actually resul... 01/15/2012

Only 6 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties for Sale by Michelle Carr Crowe, Top 5% Santa Clara County real estate agent selling homes in Saratoga Are you looking for a bargain? Do you have all ready cash money and are just waiting for the right opportunity? Are you willing to wait a while for the bank or lender to accept your offer? Right now there are only * 6 * (six) 6 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties for Sale on the market without contracts...yet. Some are Saratoga foreclosures, some are bank-owned homes in Saratoga, Calif. and others are short sales (or potential short sales) in Saratoga, 95070. As an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and Certified Distressed Property Expert, I and my team can negotiate the best terms for you...a contract that actually resul... 01/08/2012

Saratoga CA Home Sales in December, 2011 The Map and Chart show all Saratoga CA Single Family Residence sales in December 2011, according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS;MLSlistings Inc.).  The bottom row on the Chart shows the averages.  The "average" Saratoga CA home sold in December 2011 was a 4.3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home with 2,892 square feet on a 22,600 sq. ft. lot (~.5 acre).  It was 37 years old and on the market for 107 days before an offer was accepted.  The average Listing (Asking) Price was $1,722,625 and the average Sale Price was $1,654,000 or 96% of the List Price. There were 22 Saratoga homes sold in December 2011.  That's about average for December since 2003, but twice as many as last year and 2008.  With the strong Silicon Valley economy, the recent and pla... 01/07/2012

Make Your New Year Happy By Michelle Carr-Crowe, Silicon Valley guide and San Jose real estate agent Happy New Year and best wishes for a healthy, joyful and prosperous 2012 to all ActiveRain bloggers and readers! As we welcome 2012 with good wishes for the New Year, keep this important thought in mind. Choosing to be happy is within your power. Only you can make this a Happy New Year!  No one can make you feel badly without your permission. Consider taking a page out of Pollyanna’s book and look for the bright side in life’s situations. The poor girl received one crutch as a gift in a Christmas barrel! Instead of being ungrateful, she turned it around. To paraphrase it, Pollyanna thanked God that she was healthy and had no need for even one crutch. Choose to make it a Happy New Year!   01/01/2012

Almost Wordless Wednesday-In The Saratoga CA Garden-Valley Oak People call these "Valley" Oak.  This one is across the street from my home.  Saratoga squirrels love them and build their nests in them.  I should support squirrel home ownership, I suppose, but I don't.  I like them homeless and far away from my Black Bamboo, Asian Pears and Apples.    12/21/2011

 Cupertino, San Jose & Saratoga Open Houses for Sale December 18, 2011 Schools are: Cupertino High, Lynbrook High, Monta Vista High or Saratoga High To See, Just Call 408-252-8900, Michelle Carr-Crowe This list Includes Distressed Properties, such as Bank-Owned Saratoga Homes, Saratoga Foreclosures, Pre-Foreclosure Homes in Saratoga, Calif., Saratoga, Calif. Short Sale Homes and Potential Short Sale Homes for sale in Saratoga, Calif.   Tags, blogs, Judy Carr, Michelle Carr, Michelle Carr-Crowe, Just Call, Saratoga, Calif. homes for sale, Saratoga, Calif. real estate agents, Saratoga distressed homes for sale, Saratoga foreclosures, Saratoga, bank-owned homes, Saratoga short sales, Saratoga pre-foreclosures, Saratoga distressed homes for sale   © 2011 All Universal Rights Reserved. All i... 12/17/2011

Saratoga CA Home Sales in November 2011. The Chart and Map show all Single Family Residences sold in Saratoga, CA in November 2011 according to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS;MLS Listings, Inc.).  The source of the square foot information is designated by A (assessor's office), V (paid vendor such as an appraiser), or S (Seller or Seller's Agent).  The School District is shown in the column on the right. DOM is Days on Market. A rare Saratoga CA forclosure (REO) is shown in red. The bottom row shows the averages.  The "average" home sold in Saratoga CA in November 2011 was a 4.4 bedroom, 3.1 bathroom home with 2,997 square feet on a 30,406 sq. ft. lot (2/3 of an acre).  It was 49 years old and on the market for 70 days (DOM; days on market) before an offer was accepted.  The av... 12/15/2011

Saratoga CA Residents are Tops in Education. That's the conclusion from the Demographic Research Unit of California's Department of Finance.  They analyze U.S. Census Bureau data.  Seventy-six percent of Saratoga residents have a bachelor's degree, or higher.  That ranks third highest among ALL California cities with more than 20,000 people.  What's more,  the top four cities were all located in Santa Clara County: Palo Alto (79.7%), Los Altos (76.2%), Saratoga (76%), and Cupertino (75%).  All four cities are considered part of Silicon Valley where Ph.Ds. are so commonplace they're not even mentioned.  Except several Realtors have them and do advertise them; but computer engineers and scientists don't.  We've got lots of very educated people.  In addition to being educated, our resident... 12/12/2011

Only 4 Distressed Properties for Sale in Saratoga, Calif. zip 95070 As of December 12, 2011, there are only a total of 4 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties for Sale by Michelle Carr Crowe, Top 5% Santa Clara County real estate agent, ABR, CDPE and West Valley expert Right now there are only a total of 4 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties for Sale on the market without contracts...yet. Some are Saratoga foreclosures, some are bank-owned homes in Saratoga, Calif. o and others are short sales (or potential short sales) in Saratoga, 95070. Prices range from $535K for a small condo in Saratoga to $2,750,000 for a 4,900-sf Saratoga hills property. As an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and Certified Distressed Property Expert, I and my team can negotiate the best term... 12/11/2011

  TOTAL DISTRESSED SARATOGA, CALIF. HOMES FOR SALE OVER $2,000,000: 1   Only 1 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties is currently for sale and available in the 2,000,000 and over price point by Michelle Carr Crowe, Top 5% Santa Clara County real estate agent, ABR, CDPE and Saratoga, Calif. homes expert Right now there is only 1 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Property for Sale on the market in the $2,000,000 and over price range without a contract...yet. Out of all of the only 4 distressed properties in all price points in Saratoga, some are foreclosures, some are bank-owned homes in Saratoga, Calif. and others are short sales (or potential short sales) in Saratoga, 95070. Prices range in all categories from $535K for a small condo in Saratoga with Saratoga schools to over $2M ... 12/11/2011

Only 1 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Home for sale in the $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 Price Range   TOTAL SARATOGA HOMES FOR SALE UNDER $1,000,000: 1   Only 1 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties is currently for sale and available in the $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 price point by Michelle Carr Crowe, Top 5% Santa Clara County real estate agent, ABR, CDPE and Saratoga, Calif. homes expert Right now there is only 1 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Property for Sale on the market in the $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 without a contract...yet. Out of all of the only 4 distressed properties in all price points in Saratoga, some are foreclosures, some are bank-owned homes in Saratoga, Calif. and others are short sales (or potential short sales) in Saratoga, 95070. Prices range in all catego... 12/11/2011

Only 2 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties are currently for sale and available for under $1,000,000 by Michelle Carr Crowe, Top 5% Santa Clara County real estate agent, ABR, CDPE and Saratoga, Calif. homes expert Right now there are only 2 (two) 6 Saratoga, Calif. 95070 Distressed Properties for Sale on the market for under $1,000,000 that are without contracts...yet. Out of all of the only 4 distressed properties in all price points in Saratoga, some are foreclosures, some are bank-owned homes in Saratoga, Calif. and others are short sales (or potential short sales) in Saratoga, 95070. Prices range from $535K for a small condo in Saratoga with Saratoga schools to $575K for a single-family home in Saratoga with Campbell schools. Address City Bd Ba DOM SqFt $/SqFt Lot (SF) List... 12/11/2011

Five Top Tricks to Sell Your Home During the 2011 Holidays By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe and the Get RE$ult$ Team, Your San Jose Saratoga Lynbrook & Cupertino Schools Experts There are five top tricks top real estate agents use to sell homes in slow markets, including the generally sluggish six-week holiday season from Thanksgiving through Hanukkah and Christmas until just after New Year’s Day. Disneyland Appearance Vigilantly cleaning a home’s exterior during the holidays can make it shine twice as bright. Gardeners come once a week, a home for sale should look like the gardeners come daily. From power washing the driveway, walkways and sidewalks to keeping leaves, branches and trash swept up daily, the look should say “Disneyland.” Yes, everyone knows Disneyland is an illusion-but ticket ... 12/11/2011

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday--In the Saratoga CA Garden--Agave Victoria Reginae This hardy Agave Victoria Reginae is growing outside my home in Saratoga in a raised planter with fast draining soil.  She's happy.  Even a light freeze which we sometimes get, doesn't bother Victoria Reginae.  She's tough, and beautiful and--I'm told--edible, like an artichoke.  She's a slow grower; this one is 12-13 years old and about 15" across.      12/07/2011

Wordless Wednesday in the Saratoga California Garden Japanese Maple. Acer Palmatum 'Fireglow' in November in Saratoga California. 11/23/2011

Saratoga Homes Market ReportWeek ending October 29, 2011 compared to October 30, 2010There were 116 Saratoga homes, including short sales and bank owned homes in the week ending October 29, 2011.There were 121 Saratoga homes, including short sales and bank owned homes in week ending October 30, 2010. Of the 116 Saratoga homes there were 5 short sales, 1 bank owned homes and 110 traditional Saratoga homes for sale. The above graph shows the median price, the average price and the number of properties sold. Prices are represented by the bars. Sales are represented by the line. A 3-month moving average is used to smooth out month-to-month fluctuation. The 3-month moving average will show seasonal variations.Saratoga Homes Market Snapshot October 2011 Median Price: $1,376,250 = 11.1% decrea... 11/06/2011

Saratoga 1 of 5 Bay Area Cities Named Best Places to Live Saratoga California was recently named one of the top ten “Best Places to Live” according to AreasVibe.com. The site listed the top 100 cities in California as the “Best Places to Live in California,” according to a variety of factors including education, employment, cost of living, weather and more. Saratoga, California, is a wealthy, tree-filled town located in Santa Clara County, California and considered part of Silicon Valley. Saratoga homes are routinely in the $1,000,000 and higher price range. Students in Saratoga attend one of five high schools in three different school districts, including Los Gatos-Saratoga, Campbell Unified and Fremont Union (aka “Cupertino”) High School Districts. AreasVibe.com used nine criteria to ... 11/06/2011

Saratoga California Ranked 9th Best Place to Live in California     AreasVibe.com used nine criteria to rank the best and worst Cities in California, and the U.S.  The criteria were: Cost of Living,  Crime Index, Education, Employment, Health & Safety, Housing Statistics, Transportation, Weather, and Local Businesses. Saratoga, California was ranked the 9th Best Place to Live in California from more than 100 cities.  The composite score for Saratoga was 83.30, just 2.22 points below top-ranked Palos Verdes in Southern CA. Of the top 10 California Cities, fully one-half are in Santa Clara County.  In addition to Saratoga these include: Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto and tiny Monte Sereno.   Lloyd Binen Realtor/Broker/DRE 572654 Certified Realty Services 19200 Shubert Drive Saratog... 10/18/2011