The Linfield Oaks neighborhood in Menlo Park dates back to the 1950s but it has aged remarkably well – similar to a fine bottle of wine. It was born of the post-war wave of suburban expansion that followed World War II. Those early planned suburban communities offered an idyllic lifestyle compared with the cramped, crowded living conditions typical of urban centers. The detached single family home, still the foundation of the Linfield Oaks real estate market, became the hallmark characteristic of classic suburban living, a welcome change from city apartments and row houses, from stoops and sidewalks to back yards and front lawns.  This classic neighborhood is centrally located within minutes of Stanford University, Silicon Valley, and everything the modern house hunter is seeking.

This private, upscale neighborhood is located in Menlo Park near the Stanford University Golf Course and the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club. Large lots help give the Sharon Heights section of the neighborhood a spacious feel, as do the golf courses and Sharon Park. Stanford Hills also features large lots and a more rural, roomy feel, despite being just minutes away from all of the conveniences of urban living, Silicon Valley, and Interstate 280. New homes for sale in Sharon Heights & Stanford Hills typically range between 2,000 and 4,000 square feet in size, attracting upscale, professional families.  These neighborhoods are strategically located in the center of activity that many people desire to call home.

Charming, secure and ranked high for walk-ability, life in the Allied Arts & Downtown Menlo Park neighborhood offers a friendly, secure feeling environment and excellent schools. The shopping district is within an easy walk of most homes, as are family-friendly local parks and green spaces. Allied Arts & Downtown real estate can be a smart investment for those looking for a home, as opposed to just a place to live, and for those seeking investment-worthy rental properties.  Proximity to Silicon Valley, Stanford University, and major freeways provides neighbors with an incredibly central location.

By Eric Holder – President/CEO Able Glass, Window & Door

Able Glass, Window & Door has been installing windows and doors in all types of residential and commercial (apartment) buildings since 1969.  Over the years we have seen many different types of windows, window systems, and installation methods come and go.  Window trends appear with the different types of construction, architecture, and consumer tastes as well as the ever changing rules of the industry standards to ensure that a building is energy efficient.  Window design and construction has gradually improved with technological advances in making a building use less energy, which helps reduce energy costs.  Today, in the San Francisco Bay Area housing market, we are experiencing some new trends in the types of windows being constructed and installed primarily for residential rental and investment properties by professional property management companies.  These trends continue to develop and evolve but here is an outline of what we are seeing in today’s environment.