Belwood of Los Gatos Featured Content

Annual Halloween Part at the Belwood of Los Gatos Cabana Club

Mary Pope-Handy mary@popehandy.com — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:37:00 PST

Sunday October 26th from 3:30 - 6pm (free admission but donations appreciated) - games, prizes, candy, costumes and "the magic mirror". Spooky haunted house tours begin at 5pm.

Pizza and Drinks served at 4pm (Pizza $2, Drinks $1).

Volunteers are needed to help with this incredibly fun event. Please contact Charleen Renati at 358-7905 or crenati@comcast.net.

Photo Slideshow of Belwood of Los Gatos

Mary Pope-Handy mary@popehandy.com — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:06:06 PST

How Is The Real Estate Market in Belwood of Los Gatos, Belgatos, and Surmont (in east Los Gatos)?

Mary Pope-Handy mary@popehandy.com — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:05:10 PST

The Los Gatos real estate market has fared better than many other parts of Silicon Valley in recent months, but prices are declining, days on the market area increasing and inventory is climing.

The median sales (sold) price of homes is down about 26% year over year in Los Gatos (95030 and 95032). List prices appear to be flat (see graph below, which is from Altos Research, a subscription I have) but in many price points, homes are being reduced multiple times prior to selling.

The higher priced homes seem to be hurting more than the entry level homes. This is interesting because most of the "correction" we have been seeing is due to the mortgage mess, and a large portion of the very high end homes (more than 3 mil) are not terribly dependant on loans. Many of them are bought "all cash".

What about our east Los Gatos enclave of Surmont, Belgatos and Belwood? We, too, have rising inventories. At the moment, there are six homes for sale in these three Los Gatos neighborhoods. I can comment a little on these and perhaps it will seem less gloomy when I do.

Two of the six are tenant occupied and difficult to see. They are not being actively marketed except on the MLS (no signs, no ads, no open houses - only the MLS and related web advertising). When homes are hard to see, they are hard to sell. One of them desperately needs a coat of paint and for someone to water the front yard, which has dead grass in it.

Another of the six homes is really large and at the high end of the scale for neighborhood pricing.

That leaves us with three other homes on the market. Every home has some kind of issue, and these three do too, but they are nice enough that they should procure an offer, even if not close to list price.

Having homes on the MLS that don't sell tends to really hurt the ones that DO want to sell. Bad makes worse.

What next?

It's hard to say. This morning at the Los Gatos - Saratoga Realtors board meeting, one lender said that it hasn't been this bad since 1981. So it's a challenging time for sure!

It's a good time to buy, but buyers need to carefully handle their loan papers to avoid glitches. Selling is doable, but sellers must realize that it's a price war and a beauty contest. Homes that aren't in top condition and priced aggressively are going to have a tough time selling.

Please call me or email me if you would like a confidential meeting to discuss your real estate wants and needs. I'm happy to help!

Mary

PS Please see also my Live in Los Gatos blog - I do market updates about once a week there.

Mary Pope-Handy
877 397-5391
Mary@PopeHandy.com

What's Happening in Belwood of Los Gatos?

Mary Pope-Handy mary@popehandy.com — Mon, 19 May 2008 21:33:55 PST

Things have been hopping in east Los Gatos.

Over the weekend, the Belwood of Los Gatos community participated in the "Community Yard Sale" that was happening throughout the town of Los Gatos. The cabana was a busy place with folks selling their wares at what seemed like a good clip. Additionally, neighbors held yard sales in their own driveways and front yards too, as was the case all over this part of Silicon Valley.

The pool is open and swimmers are happy as the heat has been bearing down on us. To see about scheduling a party there (if you are a cabana member), see the Belwood Community's website.

The real estate market is busy in Belwood, Belgatos, and Surmont too. There are now seven active listings and two pending sales in these three areas. As with other parts of town, not all homes are selling - only the ones perceived as being "the best value" for the money are getting offers and going to closing.
(For more information on the housing market, please click on the Homes Info button above.)

If you'd like information related to your particular home, please email or phone me! I'd be happy to meet with you, view your home and discuss your wants and needs as relating to buying or selling a home.

Mary Pope-Handy, Realtor, CRS, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, ASP, RECS, CNHS, ACRE
Helping Nice Folks to Buy & Sell Homes Since 1993
Co-Author: "Get The Best Deal When Selling Your Home In Silicon Valley"
Keller Williams, Cupertino, CA (Silicon Valley)
877 397-5391 (Direct/Toll-Free/Fax); 408 204-7673 (Cell)
www.PopeHandy.com www.ValleyOfHeartsDelight.com
emailto: Mary@PopeHandy.com
Blog: www.LiveInLosGatos.com

Belwood Garage and Bake Sale

Mary Pope-Handy mary@popehandy.com — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:33:24 PST

The Belwood Garage and Bake Sale will take place on Saturday, May 17th. For details, please see the online Belwood Belringer newsletter, page 4.