Doing business in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda Counties

Call 408-559-5649

Call 408-559-5649

Posts Tagged ‘US Real Estate Investment’

Palo Alto’s Trifecta – Leland Manor, Garland, and Embarcadero Oaks

Written by David Roberson, Esq. on . Posted in For Tenants, Landlords, Palo Alto, Property Management, Silicon Valley Real Estate Investing

AA Leland Manor 2If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful Palo Alto neighborhood look no further than Leland Manor, Garland, and Embarcadero Oaks.  Located in the middle of Palo Alto, there exists these three small neighborhoods, all connected and which extend north from Oregon Expressway, to Middlefield Road, Embarcadero Road, and Louis Road.

These three neighborhoods were annexed into Palo Alto proper in the 1930s.  Each quaint neighborhood has its own unique and pleasureful personality.  Most of the homes in these neighborhoods were built in the 1930s to 1960s and many have been upgraded and improved with time.  Many of the homes in these three mini-neighborhoods were built as three and four bedroom ranch-style homes, sprinkled with the occasional custom Eichler. The central location for Leland Manor, Garland, and Embarcadero Oaks allows for ease of access to US 101, local shopping, great Palo Alto schools, Stanford University, and community amenities.

New Construction Isn’t Always What You Think It Is

Written by David Roberson, Esq. on . Posted in Property Management, Uncategorized

Hire the Wrong Contractor and You May End up Paying a Different Price for Your Project Because New or Newly Remodeled Construction is Not Always What You Think it isAA New Const 2nd Story

While I was practicing law we encountered many situations where clients were in disputes with their contractors during construction of new homes or even during a major remodel or major addition.  We even had many clients who came to us during construction of their homes and wanted to have assurances or safeguards in place to protect their interests.  In each case we accommodated the client and found ways to provide an extra set of eyes on the construction project.  This is a great practice which “high-end” clients seemingly always looked for and did.  Unfortunately, there were many instances where we were only called in after a disaster or major damage had already occurred.  More importantly, the 2nd or 3rd contractor in is going to cost you more because they end up re-constructing the previous contractor’s defective work.

Midtown Palo Alto Is Far From Middle-of-the-Road

Written by David Roberson, Esq. on . Posted in Palo Alto, Property Management, Silicon Valley Real Estate Investing

Midtown_cowper_st_3457Developed after World War II “Midtown” Palo Alto contains all of the essential elements necessary to be a classic desirable family neighborhood.  Midtown is unambiguously located right smack in the middle of Palo Alto.  At inception Midtown was supposed to be a prototypical track neighborhood designed to accommodate California’s state-wide post-War development boom that defined the start of suburban sprawl.  Originally considered South Palo Alto, Midtown grew so big, so fast that the two separate neighborhoods – Midtown and South Palo Alto – were destined to be separated out of necessity.   Today Midtown is a distinct, charming stand-alone neighborhood which epitomizes Palo Alto neighborhood living.

Community Center Palo Alto – The Neighborhood Name Fit For Its Function

Written by David Roberson, Esq. on . Posted in Palo Alto, Property Management

CCPA Lucie SternIf one were to encounter a neighborhood crafted around the community gathering place a name like “Community Center” would be appropriate.  Community Center Palo Alto is precisely that place.  The Community Center neighborhood almost symmetrically surrounds the Palo Alto Children’s Library, the City of Palo Alto Main Library, the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre, the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo, the Palo Alto Art Center, Rinconada Park (for swimming and tennis), and the Lucie Stern Community Center. 

Crescent Park Palo Alto Displays Classic Elegance, Prestige and Charm

Written by David Roberson, Esq. on . Posted in Palo Alto

CP PA 1One of Palo Alto’s most sought-after neighborhoods is Crescent Park – in fact it is the Crown Jewel of Palo Alto.  This neighborhood is home to many amazingly beautiful mansions which define classic beauty, elegance, prestige and old wealth along the San Francisco Peninsula.  Pre-World War II homes divide up three distinct sections of Crescent Park’s Magnolia-lined streets; East of Middlefield Road, Prime Crescent Park, and Crescent Park Addition.  This neighborhood has many different architectural styles all of which are on display in each section of Crescent Park.  Just east of downtown are bungalows which began sprouting up in the early 1900s through the 1920s.  Many of these bungalows show architectural details and other craftsmen laid surprises not found in modern residential construction.  Tudors, Spanish Colonials, Spanish Revivals, and Monterey Colonials can be found throughout all sections of Crescent Park.  To appreciate all of the architecture one must just venture street-by-street, block-by-block.

Old Palo Alto Defines Old World Charm, Elegance, and Wealth

Written by David Roberson, Esq. on . Posted in Palo Alto

OPA 6

Wealthy individuals, famous high-tech entrepreneurs, worldly investors and knowledgeable property collectors all know that Old Palo Alto is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in all of the United States, not just California and not just the SF Bay Area.

Mature, blossoming magnolia trees provide a hovering canopy throughout the perimeter of Embarcadero Road, Oregon Expressway, Alma Street and Middlefield Roads – which is commonly known as Old Palo Alto.   Old Palo Alto is by far the wealthiest and most expensive neighborhood in Palo Alto – Crescent Park a close second.   No two homes are alike amongst the rich collection of Tudors, Moorish and Spanish Colonials, English traditional, Eichlers, Craftsman, and the recent Post-Modern designs which provides a unique experience for the first time visitor as they travel the streets and marvel at the large lots and expansive beautiful homes.   The first time one visits Old Palo Alto you recognize that it is a different neighborhood than most.

What Does Property Management Cost?

Written by David Roberson, Esq. on . Posted in Property Management

PM 1Once you have made the decision to give up control of your rentals or investment property you need to hire a professional to manage it for you.  The costs or fees of property management are sometimes believed to be excessive or exorbitant until one understands all the tasks and time associated with properly managing a property.  Property management fees from a qualified, competent, diligent company are worth their weight in gold.  Comparing the scope of services, the quality of those services, and the quality of the personnel delivering the services is a very good idea before hiring a property management firm.  The company or individual you end up hiring will be marshalling one of your biggest assets in your personal portfolio and you would like to have a competent person doing that – at least that is the conventional wisdom.

Historic Professorville Palo Alto is the Definition of an American Neighborhood

Written by David Roberson, Esq. on . Posted in Palo Alto, Property Management

Professor 1Wouldn’t you expect a name like Professorville to be something out of a Hollywood movie?  Well Professorville Palo Alto could very well be in a movie.  Professorville is one of the smaller Palo Alto neighborhoods which is found between Addison, Kingsley, Ramona and Cowper streets in downtown Palo Alto.  The first homes were built in Professorville in the late 1880’s.  During this period Leland Stanford was building out other portions of Palo Alto and Stanford University campus and some of the adventurous professors sought to build their own homes – on land they could actually buy which wasn’t owned by Stanford.

Chinese investors and builders are looking to build in United States

Written by David Roberson, Esq. on . Posted in Palo Alto, Silicon Valley Real Estate Investing

Are you surprised both small and large Chinese investors and builders are looking to build in the United States?  You shouldn’t be.

Chinese constr workers

It is well known that for quite some time that the Chinese real estate market has slowed dramatically which has created a void that the United States market is filling, including the Bay Area and Palo Alto in particular.  We are not talking about just the large Chinese builders, but the small ones as well as they have followed suit and began to look across the globe to seek opportunities.  In many parts of China developers are sitting on many empty finished units, undeveloped lots, and no improved economic conditions in site.  Moreover because the market has slowed profits have been narrowed and companies are finding it difficult to stay in business – sound familiar?  In fact, homes prices dipped approximately 1% in August 2014 according to the China Real Estate Index System.

Chinese Buyers Love Palo Alto Real Estate for Silicon Valley Investment Property Strategies

Written by David Roberson, Esq. on . Posted in Palo Alto, Silicon Valley Real Estate Investing

China Stanford

The last several years has shown the tremendous effect Chinese investors are having on the Silicon Valley real estate market.  The influx of Chinese investment in Palo Alto real estate in particular has many factors which together create the basis for this real trend.   The abundance of educated people and universities, the already diverse culture and population, the ease of immigration possibilities, the fundamentally sound federal and state government, and the mecca of the greatest high-tech companies in the world form the confluence of primary elements for Chinese investment in Palo Alto.

Silicon Valley Property
Management Group

1900 Camden Avenue
San Jose, CA 95124
408-559-5649

We manage residential and commercial rental properties in San Jose, Campbell, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Los Altos Hills and every point in between.

They get things done right and right away

★★★★★
5
Great services organization. They get things done right and right away, highly professional and no nonsense. I would highly recommend this firm for leasing or renting/selling a property.
- Eric Frazier
Overall rating: ★★★★★ 5 based on 1 reviews

CA RE Broker #01942886