September 2020 Newsletter

Monthly Newsletter

Welcome to the first edition of my newsletter!

To me, being a realtor is about so much more than finding each client a home. I want to help them find a community and the opportunity to build a full life within it. The world may look a bit different right now—home buying and selling priorities have shifted—but my mission still rings true. We may be limited but it’s still possible to live fully, we just have to get a little creative.

Real Estate Trends: What we are seeing

From a real estate perspective, it’s business as usual—and then some. MarketWatch reported that sales in the U.S. rose 24.7% between June and July. We’re seeing that trend reflected here in the Bay Area. People are spending more time in their homes and that has a lot of people reflecting on what they want their home to be. City-dwelling, young professionals are looking at single-family homes in the East Bay. Families are finally purchasing that dream retreat in Lake Tahoe. Everyone wants a place to escape, whether it’s a remodeled home office, a new backyard, or a lakeside home.

Renters are also making moves. I’m one of the few realtors who helps tenants in the rental market and have helped 12 people relocate virtually in the past 4 months—more than usual. Many people are still moving into the Bay Area for work, and both locals and newcomers want a rental with a backyard or balcony so that’s creating competition.

Want to know more about real estate trends? Check out these up-to-date Bay Area Market Reports!

What’s happening locally

Even if you’re not changing homes, the Bay Area is a special place full of escapes. Museums and other indoor adventures may be off-limits but I’m finding sanctuary exploring unique outdoor gardens. Here are three of my favorites:

Filoli, Woodside

The Historic House is closed but the gardens are open. Explore the beautiful grounds along a one-way route and then picnic in a designated area. You must make a reservation and buy your ticket in advance. I bought a membership here so I can keep going back anytime I need a change of scenery. They also host some extravagant weddings on the property. Hopefully, we are all lucky enough to attend one when big events are back on.

Filoli Gardens / Photo by: Daderot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Japanese Garden, San Mateo

This is a surprising find in San Mateo’s Central Park. This traditional Japanese Garden was designed by a landscape architect, Nagao Sakurai of the Imperial Palace of Tokyo. Explore the granite pagoda, tea house, koi pond, and bamboo grove.

Gamble Garden, Palo Alto

The Gamble family moved here when Palo Alto was just a town of 3,000. The historic house is closed but the gardens remain open to the public with free admission. Follow this self-guided tour. The garden is currently closed Tuesday and Wednesday mornings so volunteers can safely work.

Things are changing on a daily basis so be sure to check the websites before you go.

Palo Alto: A neighborhood guide

Birthplace of Silicon Valley” is one of the Bay Area’s most well-known cities but its neighborhood nuances can be a mystery. I broke down the differences between historic Professorville, the Eichlers of South Palo Alto, and the homes in the hills. Learn about each neighborhood here.

University Avenue is one of the best downtowns in Silicon Valley. It’s packed with restaurants, coffee shops, mom-and-pop stores, and well-known chains. It’s far from a small-town feel but it still has that charm you can’t find in urban downtowns. The area is always evolving with constant construction. That’s apparent when you look at the varied types of real estate. Zoning changes block to block with a lot of multi-family homes and mixed-use development. One minute you’re on a street of newly built condos and the next is full of older single-family homes from the early 1920s. This is typical of downtown areas and what you get when you choose to live at the center of the action.

Where to eat

So many of my favorite restaurants are in Palo Alto, and fortunately many have found a way to remain open. Evvia is still serving my favorite lamb dish on their garden terrace or via takeout. Bird Dog totally adapted with gourmet Weekend Family Bundles—think Wagyu Burger with Truffle Sauce or Wild Salmon Crudo. Get the complete list of my top 10 peninsula restaurants.

Restaurant Spotlight: Terùn, Palo Alto

I crave this pizza all the time. Terùn was featured in the New York Times in 2014 and is known for its wood-fired Neapolitan oven. It defines business casual but is just as good for date night as it is for a lunch meeting. I love their pear and gorgonzola pizza and the homemade beet gnocchi.

Photo by Kayleigh Harrington on Unsplash

Other Palo Alto happenings

For meals at home, the Downtown Palo Alto Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday morning and the California Avenue Farmers’ Market every Sunday morning. And check out what’s been happening at Foothills Park. Access has historically been limited to Palo Alto residents and their guests but now there may be a pilot program that grants day permits to non-residents.

Until next time, if you need a recommendation on the best cup of coffee in the Peninsula to where real estate is going, please do not hesitate to reach out! Building lasting relationships is a passion of mine! Looking forward to connecting with you!

Best, Lana

Cover photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash