There are some good deals to be had on condos near downtown Campbell, which has become one of the valley’s not-so-secret treasures.
There are some good deals to be had on condos near downtown Campbell, which has become one of the valley’s not-so-secret treasures.
Back in 1912, the city was blanketed by fruit orchards and fields of sweet corn—long- since replaced by homes and high-tech campuses. Yahoo, Juniper, Palm, and Nokia call Sunnyvale home, as do Lockheed Martin and Honeywell. If there are jobs to be had in California, they’re to be had right here in Sunnyvale. There are beautiful homes to be had here too, which reflect the suburban nature of the community.
There’s something inviting about the north valley community of Berryessa. This quiet residential San Jose neighborhood, bordering Milpitas, is well-stocked with single-family homes and is solidly middle class with a very diverse population. There are a number of Berryessa homes for sale right now, in a variety of price ranges, that cater to families with kids.
The neighborhood commonly known as Carlton, located around Carlton Avenue not far from Blossom Hill Road, is in San Jose but feels a bit like nearby Los Gatos. The neighborhood is made up of ‘60s-era homes situated on big lots located on quiet side streets, and offers close-up views of the hills.
The neighborhood stretching diagonally from the center of downtown San Jose to Backesto Park—a section of the 95112 Zip—features some choice old apartment houses scattered among single-family units. Most of these are two- and three-stories, and some have received recent renovations. Among these older landmarks are a number of newer complexes—some of which bring a nice contemporary style to the neighborhood.
Under normal conditions, the Almaden Valley is out of reach for people looking for an affordable home. It’s an exclusive neighborhood with top schools, great parks and a stunning view of majestic Mount Umunhum from just about anywhere. That’s why it’s so popular with executives, engineers and even athletes (several Sharks are reported to make their homes here). But today’s market has made the Almaden Valley more accessible.
While much of real estate news focus has been on foreclosures and upside-down mortgages, a big-picture look at the market in San Jose is a bit less gloomy, and kind of interesting. As of this week, there were 1,680 single-family homes for sale in San Jose. Of these, 33 were new listings, so even though we’re moving toward winter there is still new inventory coming online.
There are a number of new home developments in San Jose, thanks largely to land being redeveloped from industrial and commercial uses: Hampton Park, located off Oakland Road and Montague Expressway; the Villas at Lundy, also in north in north San Jose; Modern Ice Townhomes, at the corner of Berryessa and Oakland roads; and Autumnvale, located off Trade Zone Boulevard.
It’s no secret the real estate market is still depressed, especially when compared to Silicon Valley’s boom years. Those looking to capitalize on the down market will find many foreclosures available—there are more than 300 foreclosed properties listed in San Jose alone, and hundreds more throughout the valley.
Over the decades, an art enclave has evolved on the outskirts of downtown San Jose. Dubbed Martha Gardens, the little neighborhood is loosely bounded by Highway 280 and Third, Fifth and Keyes streets. Adjacent to the Spartan Keyes neighborhood, which includes Kelley Park and Spartan Stadium, Martha Gardens is a mix of residential and light-industrial development, with a few old cannery buildings and aging warehouses mixed in. It began attracting artists back in 1975, when San Jose Sate University established its Art Foundry on South Fifth Street.