Silicon Valley Living

Data Centers, Investor Pullback, and 90+ Day Listings: Santa Clara County Housing Update

The host reacts to a story about a data center being built across the street from homes and questions the claim that it will raise property values, noting many buyers would avoid facing a data center due to noise and resale concerns. He offers help for families managing older or inherited homes using a network of vendors. Using Santa Clara County data, he highlights a divide in affordability and demand around Highway 17, with overpriced homes lingering 90+ days, and points to a bank-owned “distressed house of the week” listing on Aisling Court for $1.2M. He notes rising 40+ day inventory and expects overall inventory to shrink soon.

Investor Home Purchases Fall to Lowest Level Since 2020

Reddit Question of the week! 

A data center is being built across the street, the developer said, and property values will go up.

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

REO of the Week

Apple Home of the Week 

Mountain View Home of the Week 

Santa Clara County Market Update: High Rates, Home Maintenance Tips, and Los Gatos Home of the Week

Vito reviews a home maintenance and inspection checklist for homeowners planning to sell in the next couple of years, emphasizing completing basic upkeep (gutters, caulking, repairs, pressure washing) and using his blog link and downloadable checklist to check every area of the home. He discusses slowing housing demand as borrowing costs rise, noting new U.S. home sales fell 6.2% and that higher-end homes are holding up better while affordability pressures ordinary buyers, with added uncertainty from global events and AI. He shares views on AI’s impact on office work and the importance of social connection. 

New US home sales fall short as borrowing costs climb

AI uncertainty clouds office construction outlook

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

How your Home will be Marketed

Los Gatos Home of the Week

Santa Clara County Price Reductions 

Private Listings vs. MLS Exposure, Cash Buyers Dip, and Bay Area Market Snapshot (Cupertino, Willow Glen, Luxury)

The episode argues that most sellers are better served by public MLS exposure than “coming soon,” pocket, or private listings, which the speaker says mainly benefit large companies rather than consumers by limiting true market pricing. It notes MLS resistance and lawsuits around platforms like Zillow, which the speaker describes as lead aggregators that compete for early access to listings. The video highlights that 29% of March homebuyers paid cash—the lowest March share since 2020—linking the decline to high rates around 6.7% and broader economic uncertainty, with affluent buyers keeping money in stocks, crypto, or businesses. 

29% of U.S. Homebuyers Paid Cash in March—the Lowest Share For That Month Since 2020

I Am Selling! Why Would I Put Money into a House I am Leaving?

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Cupertino Home of the Week

Willow Glen Home of the Week

Luxury Home of the Week

How your Home will be Marketed

Prices Adjusting, Foreclosures Rising (But Not 2008): What’s Happening in Santa Clara County

Vito discusses current housing market conditions, noting that some areas (like the east side of 87) are seeing temporary price drops because listings aren’t “clicking,” while the west side is still seeing strong highs. He reviews reports showing foreclosure filings are up year over year (ATTOM cites 118,000 properties in Q1, up 26%) but remain at historically low levels compared to 2008, suggesting foreclosures alone won’t trigger a housing crash. He mentions regional soft spots like St. Petersburg/Tampa and Austin as normal market ebbs and flows, and notes down payments have hit a four-year low as prices come down slightly despite high rates. 

Reddit Question of the week!  Are Foreclosures On The Rise?

Beijing Road Nightlife, Rising Delinquencies, and a Slowing Los Gatos Housing Market

The host shares footage from Beijing Road in China at 9:00 PM, noting the busy shopping and restaurants, lottery buying, and a humorous “fake Trump” performer. He then discusses rising 90+ day loan delinquencies, highlighting growing concerns in student loans and credit cards while auto and mortgage delinquencies remain relatively low, and notes upcoming Fed testimony in two weeks. He briefly addresses uncertainty around office construction, pointing out large amounts of vacant commercial space, especially in the Bay Area, despite continued building. The episode features a Los Gatos “home of the week” on Lou Ray Drive ($3.6M, 4 bed/3 bath, 2,500 sq ft, built 1960), and concludes that housing supply is trending down, more than 25% of active single-family listings have price reductions, and the market is slowing—particularly east of Highway 87—with buyers becoming pickier amid high rates and recession/job-loss fears.

Loan Delinquencies up for all except...

AI uncertainty clouds office construction outlook.

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

How your Home will be Marketed

Los Gatos Home of the Week 

Santa Clara County Price Reductions 

Pocket Listings Exposed + Bay Area Affordability, Price Trends, and Homes of the Week (Memorial Day Update)

The speaker criticizes pocket/off-market listings as a tactic brokerages use to gain market share, recruit agents, generate buyer leads, and sell mortgage, title, and insurance products, arguing it generally hurts sellers by limiting exposure except in true privacy situations. They comment on industry consolidation (Real buying Remax) and recommend a consumer-advocate source while noting disagreements with her style. The episode includes a Memorial Day message and gratitude for those who served and sacrificed. The speaker reviews a KTVU piece on affordable places to buy, highlights Las Vegas/Henderson as relatively affordable and clean, notes Freddie Mac data showing a February house price index dip with specific metro drops, and discusses Bay Area pockets with contractions but overall health. 

Too Many Agents, Market Cooling in Santa Clara County, and California’s Gas Water Heater Ban

The host argues that real estate’s low barrier to entry creates too many desperate, poorly trained agents and suggests raising standards by requiring agents to own a home and earn at least a bachelor’s or even a master’s degree. He shares a Santa Clara County single-family chart (adapted from appraiser Ryan Lundquist) showing the median/average price turning negative, with May about 6% down year over year, and expects a slowdown/correction rather than a crash while noting sellers and agents have been spoiled by years of extreme overbids. 

Bay Area air regulators split on whether to move forward with a ban on gas water heaters that will cost homeowners $3,500

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Open Houses this weekend Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week 

What you get for $2MM in Santa Clara County

AIDA: Attract, Interest, Desire, Action

What you get for $1MM in SILICON VALLEY

Inventory And Supply Charts

Are We Headed for a Real Estate Crash? Santa Clara County Market Update + Home Picks

The host discusses whether the housing market is entering a crash, arguing that while no one can predict it, today’s issue looks more like a needed correction after years of propping up the economy and artificially low COVID-era rates that inflated prices. With affordability strained, the market is slowing, homes are selling only when priced lower, and luxury is less affected than typical tract homes. 

Foreclosure Rates (April 2026), Zillow vs MRED, and Santa Clara County Market Check

The host discusses the realities and costs of working in real estate, then reviews April 2026 foreclosure rates by state, noting Delaware as the highest per capita and California ranked 15th with a decline. He comments on national headlines about a shifting buyer/seller balance while emphasizing that housing is driven by micro-markets, mentioning San Francisco as a seller market and recent price comparisons to Santa Clara County. He covers Zillow suing MRED over “coming soon” and off-market listings, arguing pocket listings reduce exposure and mainly benefit brokerages seeking to control both sides of a deal. 

America's Housing Market Favors Buyers—But Their Advantage Is Finally Starting to Shrink

Zillow Sues MRED and Compass Over Private Listing Battle

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

How your Home will be Marketed

Los Gatos Home of the Week 

Santa Clara County Price Reductions 

Should Realtors Own a Home to Get Licensed? Bay Area Affordability, Foreclosure Fears & Houses of the Week

The host discusses Trump’s view that real estate agents shouldn’t be licensed unless they own a home, agreeing and arguing agents should also need a master’s degree because licensing is too easy and attracts low performers. He criticizes a report claiming more Californians can afford homes, saying the numbers are skewed and don’t reflect Bay Area realities amid high rates and large post-2021 price gains, noting Santa Clara County’s median near $2M and Solano as the most affordable, with Napa and Solano/Contra Costa seeing big year-over-year jumps. He references an analyst predicting rising foreclosures and a possible 2008-like drop but doubts housing is the cause. 

Too Many Real Estate Agents, Ant Control Tips, and a Santa Clara County Market Update

Vito argues that real estate has an unusually low barrier to entry, bringing in too many poorly prepared agents who may act like aggressive “hustlers” and prioritize commissions over fiduciary duty; he believes agent requirements should be much higher, even at a master’s degree level. He then shares spring ant-control advice, emphasizing keeping the house clean, storing food properly, moving garbage outside, and using DIY options like Borax bait, vinegar spray, peppermint oils, and cinnamon, while noting pest-control services charge recurring fees for similar treatments and that mud tunnels could indicate termites. 

How to Solve an Ant Problem

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Open Houses this weekend Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week 

8 Gross Clues Your Home Isn’t Maintained + Market Crash Talk, Distressed Deal & Mountain View Home of the Week

Vito lists eight signs a home isn’t being maintained—hard water rings, unexplained odors, bathroom fans not venting outside and dusty fans, black/cracked/peeling caulk, old furnace filters, peeling paint around windows/trim indicating moisture, grimy high-touch areas, and lint-packed dryer vents that can cause fires—urging sellers to clean before a listing presentation. He then discusses a “real estate crash” clip from India as a reminder that global factors can affect housing, noting issues like fewer loans being funded, overpriced square footage, possible appraisal/loan fraud, and higher costs, while saying it won’t be like 2008 and referencing foreclosure concerns. 

Distressed Sales in 2026? Foreclosures, Short Sales & Santa Clara County Market Updates

Vito discusses growing talk about distressed sales in the 2026 housing market, referencing appraiser Ryan Lundquist and a Wall Street Journal story noting foreclosures at a six-year high, but still below pre-pandemic levels. He argues a 2008-style foreclosure wave is unlikely due to widespread home equity, tighter lending practices, and banks working with struggling borrowers through options like loan modifications, postponements, and short sales. Using Sacramento-region charts and heat maps, he says distress is rising modestly but remains nominal for owner-occupied homes, while larger multi-unit properties are a different situation.

More distressed sales coming to the 2026 housing market - Sacramento Appraisal Blog

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Los Gatos Home of the Week

Santa Clara County Price Reductions

Why Off-Market Listings Hurt Sellers + Solar Panel Pitfalls, Rate Buydowns, and Bay Area Houses of the Week

The episode argues that “private exclusive” off-market listings are a brokerage-driven money grab designed to control inventory and double-end commissions, leaving sellers guessing on price and appearing weak to sophisticated buyers who track a home’s exposure; the speaker advises against “coming soon” and says long days on market usually indicate pricing issues. It then covers solar panels, warning they add value only when owned outright and that financed/leased systems can be liabilities with transfer, payoff, lien, warranty, and maintenance complications, plus PG&E true-up costs. 

Solar Panels & Real Estate

Mortgage Rates Average 6.37%

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Cupertino Home of the Week

Willow Glen Home of the Week

Luxury Home of the Week

How your Home will be Marketed

Bay Area Housing Update: Inflation, Rates & April Inventory (Santa Clara, Marin, Napa + San Martin)

The host jokes briefly, then explains that recent home price gains have faded as inflation may reheat and mortgage rates remain above 6%, arguing that if a home isn’t selling it’s likely overpriced and the market is resetting. He notes inflation has outpaced national home price growth and points to a small uptick in activity when rates dipped below 6% (around 5.9%), but says the current selling season has largely been shaped by rates over 6%. Reviewing April inventory and sales across the region, he says nothing looks extreme, though Napa and Marin appear slower, and Santa Clara inventory is rising but still below what’s needed. He advises sellers to be patient and consider incentives, while suggesting it’s a good time for buyers due to less competition, especially by negotiating on homes that have been listed longer, and he highlights San Martin’s seasonal spike in months of inventory.

Home price gains fade with inflation set to reheat

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Open Houses this weekend Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week 

Off-Market ‘Private Exclusives’ Are a Money Grab + Property Tax Shock, Agent Value, and Market Update

The episode argues that “private exclusive” off-market listings are largely a brokerage control play designed to double-end commissions, shift pricing risk to sellers, and potentially weaken offers because sophisticated buyers notice homes being “tested” before public exposure; viewers are urged to ask who the listing is being hidden from and reminded it’s always been possible to sell off-MLS or limit syndication to sites like Zillow/Redfin. 

Property tax shock: 64% of U.S. homeowners surprised by their house’s tax bills

Reddit Question of the week! Are Real Estate Agents actually "useless"? 

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES 

REO of the Week 

Apple Home of the Week 

Mountain View Home of the Week

April Listings Hold Strong: Why Homes Still Sell, Micro-Markets Matter & Bay Area Price Highlights

Vito from Abitano discusses how new home listings remained resilient in April despite economic volatility, noting about 4% annual growth and increased inventory that is still being absorbed. He encourages sellers and agents not to assume the market is dead, emphasizing that well-presented, correctly priced homes can sell quickly and that contracting markets can pressure prices. He explains why understanding local “micro markets” by ZIP code matters when evaluating buyer’s vs. seller’s market conditions, and shares a marketing heat-map example showing listing impressions, clicks, leads, and traffic from across the U.S. and Canada. 

New home listings resilient in April despite economic volatility

Why Real Estate Market Conditions Matter

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

How your Home will be Marketed

Los Gatos Home of the Week 

Santa Clara County Price Reductions 

Mortgage Rates Rise for 5th Week: Iran War Fears, Housing Market Slowdown & Bay Area Homes of the Week

Mortgage rates have climbed for a fifth straight week, with bond market turmoil tied to the war in Iran contributing to “mortgage shock,” leaving rates around 6.3%–6.6% and keeping many buyers sidelined. The episode also points to broader economic strain—tech layoffs, a struggling auto sector, Spirit Airlines issues, inflation and higher energy prices, a weakening Dow, and Bitcoin above $100,000—and argues the housing market may improve if rates fall, inflation cools, jobs rise, and geopolitical and tariff pressures ease. 

Rates climb for fifth-straight week, pushed up by Iran war worries

Fitch says a pair of Fed rate cuts is still on the table for 2026

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Cupertino Home of the Week

Willow Glen Home of the Week

Luxury Home of the Week

How your Home will be Marketed

AI Layoffs, Market Uncertainty & Silicon Valley Real Estate: What to Watch Now

The episode discusses widespread tech layoffs driven by AI and broader economic shifts, citing over 100,000 tech workers laid off since January and considering how this could impact Silicon Valley households and local micro-economies. It compares potential effects to past disruptions like 2008 mortgages, 1980s manufacturing changes, robotics, and job offshoring, arguing many people will need to retrain as AI may replace roles beyond tech, including legal, bookkeeping, finance, and parts of supply chain work. 

More Than 50,000 Home-Purchase Contracts Fell Through in March

Real estate investor optimism fades amid geopolitical tensions and inflation resurgence

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Open Houses this weekend Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week

Is a Real Estate Drop Coming? The Housing Shortage, Rates, and What Could Trigger a Crash

Vito discusses whether real estate prices will drop soon, noting that buyers would welcome a cooldown but that affordability is driven mainly by a long-term housing shortage as population growth has outpaced construction for decades, leaving an estimated 3 million-home deficit. He explains how 2021’s roughly 2.5% mortgage rates sparked a major rush to buy, pushing prices above the typical 8–10% growth and creating an artificially inflated market that may take a long time to normalize unless a major disruption occurs. While a crash is possible due to factors like rising unemployment and tech-sector layoffs, he doubts a housing depression because significant equity remains and about 60% of homeowners have no mortgage. He also cites pending home sales rising 1.5% in March, showing continued demand despite mortgage conditions.

00:00 Will Prices Drop

00:51 Supply Shortage Reality

01:47 Crash Triggers and Jobs

02:32 Mortgage Equity Breakdown

03:02 Refi Boom Aftermath

03:53 Why No Big Crash

04:04 Latest Pending Home Data

04:22 Wrap Up and Goodbye

Land Prices Surge Since the Pandemic, Silicon Valley Market Plateaus + Los Gatos House of the Week

AI Layoffs, Market Uncertainty, and Silicon Valley Real Estate: What to Watch Now

The episode discusses widespread tech layoffs driven by AI and broader tech shifts, noting over 100,000 tech workers laid off since January and considering how concentrated impacts could affect tech hubs like Silicon Valley. It compares potential household-level disruption to past economic shocks and argues AI could also displace roles in fields like law, bookkeeping, finance, supply chain, and M&A, urging affected workers to adapt and retrain. 

How many laid off in Silicon Valley in 2026? Tech Layoffs Tracker

How much income do you need to buy a house in 2026

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Cupertino Home of the Week

Willow Glen Home of the Week

Luxury Home of the Week

How your Home will be Marketed

Home Safety Month Tips + Santa Clara County Market Update (Rates, Jumbo Loans & Inventory)

The episode highlights April as Home Safety Month and shares practical ways to identify and avoid hazards at home, including preventing falls, securing blind cords for kids, cleaning up broken or sharp items, and regularly testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. It emphasizes that dryer vents are a leading cause of fires in America and recommends cleaning and inspecting them every 6 months to 1 year, including hiring professionals for full dryer and vent safety checks.

How To Identify And Avoid Dangerous Hazards In Your Home

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Open Houses this weekend, Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week 

Oil Prices vs Mortgage Rates, Seller Disclosure Pitfalls, and a Bank-Owned Deal of the Week

The episode discusses whether crude oil prices correlate with interest rates, noting that COVID-era mortgage rates were unnaturally low, contributing to broad inflation, and that oil and mortgage rates are indirectly connected through inflation pressures and consumer confidence rather than a strict correlation. The host reviews crude oil charts and recent moves (down from around 110 to the high 80s) alongside mortgage rates around 6.5%, explaining how small rate dips can quickly boost homebuyer activity. 

Oil and Interest Rates? Is there a Correlation?

Reddit Question of the week! 

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES 

REO of the Week 

Apple Home of the Week 

Mountain View Home of the Week 

Bay Area Real Estate Update: Inventory Rising, Demand Slowing & What to Do When Your Home Isn’t Selling

A realtor discusses a slowing housing market as inventory grows and buyer demand remains unseasonably slow, with rates around 6% causing concern alongside job insecurity and broader economic uncertainty. He shares personal examples of listings receiving few showings despite widespread online advertising, and explains that homes may sit due to lack of staging, overpricing, or condition issues. 

This Spring’s Housing Market Is Unseasonably Slow As Iran War, High Costs Curb Demand

What To Do When Your Home Isn't Selling

Santa Clara County HI/LO of the Week

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

How your Home will be Marketed

Los Gatos Home of the Week 

Santa Clara County Price Reductions

Job Security Fears, Saving Tips, Bathroom Remodel Budget Hacks & Bay Area Houses of the Week

A new survey reports 36% of American workers are delaying or canceling major purchases like homes or cars due to job security concerns, driven mainly by company performance and AI, with nearly one in three more concerned than six months ago. The episode discusses the importance of emergency funds, especially in commission-based work, and points viewers to a “Financial Intelligence” podcast for saving and investing topics.

Over One-Third of American Workers Are Delaying or Canceling Major Purchases Due to Job Security Concerns

The Best Ways to Save Money on a Bathroom Remodel

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Cupertino Home of the Week

Willow Glen Home of the Week

Luxury Home of the Week

How your Home will be Marketed

Hidden Water Leaks, HOA Responsibilities, and What $1M–$2M Buys in San Jose Real Estate

The episode stresses the importance of water conservation and quickly finding leaks, noting that a leaky toilet or hidden main-line leak can cause extremely high water bills. The speaker shares a personal story of an $800 water bill traced to a PVC elbow near the foundation, where a builder forgot glue, a cheap fix that required rental tools, and explains that HOAs and cities may still make homeowners responsible for water and sewer lines from the house to the street main. They recommend checking with the water district about insurance programs and water-saving measures, and watching for pool leaks. 

Leaky Pipes Are Costing You at Home and on Your Tax Bill

Mortgage industry prepares for wave of FHA-delinquent short sales

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Open Houses this weekend Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week 

Tax Day Tips + Is Real Estate Still Worth Buying? (Write-Offs, REITs, HSAs & Market Reality)

On Tax Day (April 15), the speaker shares general ideas for saving on taxes while emphasizing the need for a long-term plan from a CPA or tax advisor, including starting a business for deductions, reviewing gift and estate plans, charitable giving and charitable trusts, offsetting gains with losses, maximizing retirement contributions, considering IRA-to-Roth conversion, and using tax-aware investing strategies (including REITs and assets that generate write-offs). They discuss covering healthcare costs with HSAs and stress having a coordinated team (tax advisor, financial advisor, banker). 

TAX DAY 10 Tax Tips That Could Save You Money on Your Taxes

Reddit Question of the week

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES 

REO of the Week

Apple Home of the Week

Mountain View Home of the Week

Recession Talk, Saving Advice, and Silicon Valley Housing: Los Gatos House of the Week + April 13 Market Highs/Lows

The host discusses divisive recession narratives, arguing a downturn has been expected for years and emphasizing that affordability remains strained. Citing that about 60% of Americans can’t cover an unexpected $1,000 expense without borrowing, he urges living beneath your means, saving for a rainy day, and prioritizing loyalty to self and family over companies, noting worker displacement is common as industries automate or shift (robots, offshoring, computers, TV vs. radio). 

Are we already in a recession?

What To Do When Your Home Isn't Selling

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

How your Home will be Marketed

Los Gatos Home of the Week 

Santa Clara County Price Reductions 

Please like and share! 

Bay Area Real Estate Update: Rising Rates, Buyer Hesitation, HOA Regulation & Price Cuts

The episode discusses a Monday market update as oil prices swing and mortgage rates rise back to about 6.6%, causing homebuyers to pause and slowing loan applications, with the host noting cooler activity in many U.S. markets while top areas like Palo Alto remain insulated. He highlights hot March CPI/inflation impacts, argues prices won’t return to early-2000s levels, and reviews a proposed Georgia bill requiring HOA registration and reporting, questioning how it protects homeowners from predatory associations. 

Oil Prices Spike, Prompting Homebuyers to Hit Pause as Mortgage Rates Edge Higher

Limit HOA power.

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Cupertino Home of the Week

Willow Glen Home of the Week

Luxury Home of the Week

How your Home will be Marketed

Biweekly Mortgage Payments: How Much You Can Save + Bay Area Market Updates

Vito discusses the dangers of kids doing reckless stunts and urges parents to intervene, then breaks down how biweekly mortgage payments (26 half-payments per year, effectively one extra monthly payment) can reduce loan balance faster and cut total interest, using examples like a $250,000 30-year loan at 4% and larger $1M–$2M scenarios while noting today’s higher rates and the option to buy down rates or make a 13th payment annually. He shares a personal note about his uncle’s passing and the option of keeping and renting a home when parents move into a retirement community. 

The Mortgage Secret That Could Save You Thousands

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Open Houses this weekend, Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week 

Selling Your Home While Living In It: Staging, Decluttering, and a Quick Market Check

From a gas station stop, the host answers a Reddit question about what to expect when listing a home while still living there with kids, emphasizing that in a slower market sellers must keep the home clean, odor-free, and clutter-free, and adopt a mindset of packing up, giving away, or throwing out belongings. He reviews a “coming soon” listing (4 bed/3 bath, ~2,000 sq ft) and critiques its freeway location, dated finishes, and pricing, then notes inventory is slightly up but buyer demand is muted due to high rates and broader uncertainty, describing the market as plateauing.

Reddit Question of the week! Listing my home, when I live here with kids?

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES 

REO of the Week 

Apple Home of the Week

Mountain View Home of the Week

Bay Area Market Update: Record Seller-Buyer Gap, Rates, and Homes of the Week (Plus My Own Listing)

The host reviews current Bay Area real estate conditions, noting a record gap of about 630 more home sellers than buyers but arguing it’s a manageable regional slowdown driven by higher rates and stubbornly high prices rather than a 2008-style crisis, since sellers don’t have to move and there’s no rush of bank-owned inventory. He says listings are up and buyer activity is softer (also affected by Easter), but expects conditions to normalize as rates fluctuate. 

There Are 630,000 More Home Sellers Than Buyers—the Biggest Gap on Record

Tensions Cloud a Spring Market That Was Just Finding Its Footing

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Cupertino Home of the Week

Willow Glen Home of the Week

Luxury Home of the Week

How your Home will be Marketed

Selling a Home With Pets, Rising Rates & Bay Area Pricing: What Sellers Need to Know

Vito discusses what home sellers should know about pets during showings, noting some buyers dislike animals and that pet odors, hair, and litter boxes can hurt buyer interest, requiring deep cleaning, removing pets during showings, or even relocating temporarily; if sellers can’t do this, he says they should adjust the price significantly because buyers decide based on price, location, condition, and smell. He then highlights rising FHA student-loan delinquencies as a potential economic stressor and notes mortgage rates jumping from about 6% to 6.62%, suggesting sellers may need to cut price or pay points to make deals work. 

What Sellers Should Know About Pets and Showings

Mortgage industry prepares for wave of FHA-delinquent short sales

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Open Houses this weekend Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week 

San Jose Eminent Domain Lawsuit, Foundation Disclosure Risks & Bay Area Listings Sitting on Market

30% of Listings Are “Invisible”: Coming Soon Controversy, Pricing Strategy & Santa Clara County Market Highlights

Bay Area Housing Update: More Sellers Than Buyers, County Winners/Losers + Houses of the Week

The host discusses a market with 630,000 more sellers than buyers, emphasizing that sellers must create demand through staging, correct pricing, and broad online/MLS promotion, and arguing that homes sitting 15–20+ days are overpriced or lack expected upgrades. He notes buyers are retreating and being picky, shares an example of an open house with only two groups, and says the strongest buyer markets are in the South, while the strongest seller markets are in the North, including New Jersey. 

There Are 630,000 More Home Sellers Than Buyers—the Biggest Gap on Record

Cupertino Home of the Week

Willow Glen Home of the Week

Luxury Home of the Week

How your Home will be Marketed

Home Flipping Profits Are Crashing: Why Wholesaling Hurts Sellers + Santa Clara $2M vs $1M Tour

The script argues that home flipping is currently unprofitable and that wholesaling typically means selling a property for about 60 cents on the dollar, which the speaker says is often avoidable by listing on the open market. Citing ATTOM data, it notes that after 2008 flip margins often exceeded 50% (peaking at 61.1% in 2012) but have now fallen, with typical flips around a 25% gross return, and suggests flippers may return when another REO wave grows. The speaker says private lending/hard money is still active but more for bridge loans and larger purchases than short-term flips. Mortgage rates are described as rising (from 6.11% to 6.62%), with options to buy down rates via points. The episode also compares two nearby Santa Clara County listings: a ~$2M detached 1960 3/2 and a ~$1M attached townhouse 1982 3/2.5 with HOA.

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

U.S. home flipping profits plunge to the lowest level since 2008

Open Houses this weekend, Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week

San Jose Housing Vouchers Debate + Bay Area Listings, REOs, and Market Update

The episode argues against San Jose using housing vouchers to place homeless residents in mostly vacant luxury high-rise apartments like the 23-story “The Fay,” saying it would pull money from the city’s general fund and create long-term dependency, and urges viewers to contact their local council member to share support or opposition. The host then pivots to real estate services, highlighting listing analytics and paid ad exposure across major platforms, and offering help with packing, decluttering, and moving for probate/elder transitions.

San Jose looks to housing vouchers to fill mostly vacant high-rise

Reddit Question of the week! Am I being Undreasonable?  

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

REO of the Week

Apple Home of the Week

Mountain View Home of the Week

California Home Insurance Crisis + Santa Clara County Market Highs/Lows (and a Santa Cruz Bungalow Tour)

The host argues national politicians don’t care about ordinary people and urges viewers to focus on city, county, and state-level influence, highlighting California’s soaring cost of living and a home insurance crisis. He says insurance rates are rising faster than inflation and income, insurers are leaving California, and homeowners are pushed into the California FAIR Plan, blaming a weak state insurance commissioner and powerful insurance lobbying. 

Home Insurance Rates Rising 2X Faster Than Inflation [LendingTree Report]

3 in 5 Americans Fear AI Could Replace Jobs, Making it Harder to Afford Homes

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

How your Home will be Marketed

Los Gatos Home of the Week

Santa Clara County Price Reductions

Mortgage Rates Back Above 6%, “Coming Soon” Lawsuits, and Santa Clara County Property Tax Appeal Fees

The host reviews mortgage rates rising back above 6% (around 6.11%) and connects higher borrowing costs and inflation pressures to global events and oil prices, while noting pending home sales are improving despite buyers remaining picky. He argues adding air conditioning can be a strong ROI upgrade, claiming homes with A/C often sell $60,000–$120,000 more than comparable homes without it. He highlights three featured listings: a $3M Cupertino home in the hills near Deep Cliff, a $2.3M Willow Glen home affected by San Jose’s higher transfer tax, and a $22.5M luxury property in Diablo Canyon. 

Mortgage Rates Jump Back Above 6% As Pending Home Sales, New Listings Post Small Improvements

South Bay property owners to pay fee for assessment appeals

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Cupertino Home of the Week

Willow Glen Home of the Week

Luxury Home of the Week

How your Home will be Marketed

From “867-5309” to Cancer Support + March Housing Market Update (San Jose/Santa Clara)

The host reflects on aging, modern healthcare, and healthier living, noting that the famous “867-5309” from Tommy Tutone’s 1981 song now connects to a cancer support line and encourages sharing it with anyone facing cancer. The episode then shifts to a March real estate update, saying more sellers are testing the market as expected for the spring selling season, but the season has been disappointing so far; the host hopes for slightly lower rates and sees pricing moving from artificial inflation toward normalization. 

867-5309: Famous ’80s song phone number now directs to cancer support line

More Sellers Test the Market, Hoping For a Spring Surge in Homebuyers

Housing wealth continues to concentrate among older demographics

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Open Houses this weekend, Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week

Housing Affordability, Investor Myths, Staging Tips & Santa Clara County Market Update

Vito discusses why housing affordability feels out of reach, arguing that institutional investors are shrinking their footprint because high rates and a plateaued market reduce returns, and noting they make up less than 1% of the investor pool with activity concentrated in a few metros. He attributes soaring prices largely to widespread human greed amplified by ultra-low interest rates that intensified competition, making everyone in the system—buyers, sellers, agents, investors, lenders, appraisers, and government—culpable. 

The institutional investor footprint is shrinking

Reddit Question of the week! 

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES 

REO of the Week 

Apple Home of the Week

Mountain View Home of the Week

St. Patrick’s Day Market Update: Why Mortgage Rates Are Stuck Near 6% + Santa Clara County Weekly Sales

The host shares a St. Patrick’s Day-themed market update explaining why mortgage rates are hovering around 6% and likely won’t drop further unless there’s a major economic meltdown, arguing that lower rates would fuel buyer competition and push prices artificially higher when the market needs normalization after recent years of rapid appreciation. They note typical rates around 6% for a 30-year and 5.5% for a 15-year, suggest buying points down for long-term ownership, and advise buyers and sellers not to wait for rate drops to change conditions. 

Mortgage Rates Inch Higher as Housing Activity Picks Up

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

How your Home will be Marketed

Los Gatos Home of the Week 

Santa Clara County Price Reductions 

How Iran Tensions, Fear, and Pricing Strategy Are Shaping the Silicon Valley Housing Market

The speaker discusses how conflict in Iran and broader economic fears can stall major purchases like homes and cars for about one in four Americans, even though most remain undeterred, and argues that market slowdowns can create opportunities. They note California’s high cost of living—taxes, gas, and insurance, including reliance on the California FAIR Plan—yet continued demand, and share personal experience moving parents from Tennessee to Nevada and placing them in a 55+ community.

Iran Conflict Stalls Big Purchases Like Homes and Cars For 25% of Americans, 

California has 15 of 25 priciest places to live in US

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Cupertino Home of the Week

Willow Glen Home of the Week

Luxury Home of the Week

56 Regency Now available for your consideration

How your Home will be Marketed

5 Outdoor Projects to Enjoy Your Home + What to Do When You Inherit a House (Probate Tips)

The episode shares five outdoor home projects—patios/pergolas, pools, courts, decks, and front porches—highlighting how they improve everyday enjoyment and encouraging viewers to build for personal use rather than ROI, especially if moving soon. The host describes building a pergola with lights, fans, and a TV, discusses the high cost of installing pools versus buying a home with an existing pool and resurfacing it, and explains why some buyers avoid pools. 

5 Outdoor Projects for a Beautiful and Fun Homecation Space

What Should You Know If You Inherit a House?

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

Open Houses this weekend Silicon Valley Curated

Mortgage Rates this week 

What Happens When an Appraisal Comes In Low? Real Estate Contingencies Explained

This episode answers a Reddit real estate question about what to do when an appraisal comes in low, explaining four main contingency categories (loan, appraisal, property condition, and need to sell) and how the loan approval often hinges on appraisal and condition requirements (including VA/FHA issues). Using an example of a $315,000 purchase with a $290,000 appraisal, it outlines three outcomes: the seller refuses, lowers the price, or meets halfway, and stresses that without appraisal/loan contingencies buyers may have to cover the difference or risk being stuck in a binding contract. 

REDDIT REAL ESTATE Question of the week: What to Do When an Appraisal Comes in Low

PROBATE AND ESTATE SALES

REO of the Week

Apple Home of the Week

Mountain View Home of the Week