Palo Alto Online: Palo Alto's oldest black church celebrates rebirth

I'm thrilled to see that the A.M.E. Zion Church on Ramona has finally been restored as part of a mixed use project after decades of neglect! Here is a great story from Palo Alto Online about the building's rebirth - kudos to developer Menlo Equities and builder Webcor for their work on the A.M.E. Zion Church and French Laundry building nearby. This is one of my favorite up-and-coming neighborhoods in Palo Alto, and I'm so glad to see positive change.
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=14185

First Quarter 2009 house prices have stabilized, down 1% from 4th Quarter 2008. The peak of the current cycle was the First Quarter '08 - median prices have fallen 25% since then. Sales volume (the number of closed sales) is down 36% and the number of houses for sale has doubled. Let me know if you want back-up data - I would be happy to send it to you.

Needless to say, with historically low interest rates, there are some great deals out there. Other than my listings (which are fabulous values!), I like 313 Barton in Menlo, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1,600 square foot house in the Willows on a 6,300 square foot lot for $950k - it needs updating, but it's a good price for the size. I also like 31 Rittenhouse in the Loyden Park neighborhood of Atherton - it's been on the market since September and is now priced at $1.895m - 2,300 square feet on a 14,000 square foot lot, completely updated with high-end finishes, beautiful landscaping - I love this house and it pains me that it hasn't sold yet.

Wow! 2233 Byron in Old Palo Alto sold today - I thought this was a great deal: a 3,000sf fixer on a 10,000 square foot lot for $1.995mm. We haven't seen $195 per square foot for raw land in Old Palo Alto since 2004. There are other deals out there now, this is the kind of market that makes real estate exciting.

This is another fantastic listing - 2020 Webster in the heart of Old Palo Alto - a French country style home with 4 bedrooms, modern kitchen, lovely yard, tons of built-ins and architectural details. Take a look at the website: www.2020Webster.com for all the details.

New Listing!

I have an amazing new listing to share with you!

This is a really beautiful updated Eichler at 3645 Ramona Circle in the Fairmeadow neighborhood of Palo Alto. The owners put allot of love into the remodel, and it shows. Here are the features:

4 beds
2 baths
Fully updated throughout - new kitchen and baths
Loads of light
Approx 1,800 sq. ft. home
Approx 6,190 sq. ft. lot
Fearmeadow/JLS/Gunn Schools

There is so much to love about this house. The 4th bedroom has it's own kitchenette, bath, and entrance, and could function as a great in-law unit or junior one-bedroom rental. The home is also very close walking distance to Fairmeadow School - neighbors mentioned that their children walk to school and Mitchell Park easily without crossing a busy street.

If you're interested, check out www.3645ramona.com

Welcome to My New Blog

Welcome!

This blog is a new way to interact with clients and friends looking for guidance in today's turbulent market. It will be a place to learn about market trends in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Atherton. This blog will also be a place to find information on schools and neighborhoods, and to share tips and tricks for buying and selling a home.

I have amazing data and some fantastic listings to share with you. More Soon!