by Mary Pope-Handy | Mar 22, 2022 | Los Gatos Real Estate
Come see this stunning Vista del Monte home for sale during our open house events (details below), or check out the photos, floorplan, and details at the virtual tour anytime!
Update on 4/25/2022: this home sold in 7 days with two offers for $4,320,000, closing April 25, 2022
253 Vista del Monte features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, an open layout, and extensive remodeling inside & out. The rooms are all generously sized and the backyard has been remodeled with entertaining in mind. Set at the end of the road, this is a quiet and serene location that you will treasure!
Vista del Monte home for sale – quick facts:
4 spacious bedrooms
3.5 bathrooms
3045 SF
9888 SF lot
Los Gatos schools: Van Meter, Fisher, and Los Gatos High
built in 1960 and remodeled in recent years with many upgrades
Offered at $3,850,000
MLS # ML81883301
Open house schedule
Wednesday March 23, 2022 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday March26 & 27, 2022 2 – 4 pm.
The sellers remodeled the main floor to open things up and to add more views to the outside. It worked beautifully! The new kitchen provides a large island and skylights above, stainless steel appliances, including a built in microwave, gas oven / stove, hood, fridge, and a wine fridge. There’s loads of storage, too. The laundry was moved from a nearby closet to the bedroom wing, and the closet is now a fabulous pantry.
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by Mary Pope-Handy | Mar 18, 2022 | Los Gatos Real Estate, Los Gatos Events, Los Gatos Government
Have you heard of the Housing Element in Los Gatos? That phrase refers to our “strategic plan for housing the Town’s present and future residents,” per the town’s website. (LOTS of info on that page also.)
The state requires us to prepare for both the current and future housing needs and the plan must be updated every 8 years.
This morning I was emailed about the community meeting which will take place at the end of the month, and asked to help spread the word. Most of us would like a say in what happens in our neighborhoods, so I’m very happy to communicate the meeting’s info to you. Here’s what was shared with me:
The Town of Los Gatos is updating the Housing Element and we are reaching out to interested members of the public to spread the word regarding an upcoming Housing Element Update Community Meeting. This meeting will focus on the Site Selection process and assisting the Town in choosing where to focus future housing opportunities. The Town’s Housing Element is a strategic plan for housing the Town’s present and future residents. This meeting will take place via teleconference (Zoom) on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Via Zoom:
Webinar ID: 893 4924 4451
Passcode: 623258
We ask that you share this upcoming community meeting with your colleagues, neighbors, friends, and family. If individuals are unable to attend the community meeting, a recording will be available at https://EngageLosGatosHousing.com/. We look forward to your participation and input.
For more information and engagement opportunities visit the Town’s Housing Element Update website at https://EngageLosGatosHousing.com/.
Los Gatos has some unique challenges since much of our town’s land is in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and except for the addition of ADUs, construction appears to be discouraged by CalFire in those areas. Even parts of town not in that precise zone are still in higher fire risk areas. It will be interesting to see how this is factored in to the long range real estate planning for our area.
by Mary Pope-Handy | Oct 11, 2021 | Downtown Los Gatos, Los Gatos Real Estate
Sold with 6 offers!
Listed at $1,850,000
Closed 10/27 at $1,950,000
Looking to purchase a Los Gatos fixer property with upside potential? Please check out 39 Reservoir Road, a stone’s throw from downtown. It’s new to the market this week!
Situated in a scenic hillside area full of multi-million dollar homes, this historic property includes the original house plus two accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. One is attached (a “junior” ADU or JADU) and the other is detached.
Each of these enjoys 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and laundry. Each one has about 1000 – 1100 square feet of living space.
Unit A is the house, closest to the street, built sometime between 1876 and 1888. It is historic, and it is listed as such with the town. Unit B appears to be historic as well, but we don’t know the age. (These two are classic Los Gatos fixers and do need a substantial amount of work.)
Unit C is far younger, built in the late 80s. This home provides a large, sunny deck off of the main floor – it tremendously expands the livable area. Inside, there’s a valley view visible from the living room. Downstairs are the bedrooms, bathroom, garage, and laundry.
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by Mary Pope-Handy | Mar 31, 2021 | Los Gatos Real Estate
SOLD – 15839 Edmund Dr. Los Gatos 95032
Closed on 4/30/2021 at $2,465,000
A spacious 4 bed 3 bath open floorplan home on a deep lot
in a beautiful, convenient East Los Gatos cul de sac!
Spacious home featuring hardwood floors throughout. Large kitchen with abundant counter space and breakfast bar. Open living space overlooks the back yard. Four bedrooms, two with en suite baths. Deep back yard provided newer, heated lap pool with safety cover, large deck, and storage shed.
Highly regarded schools: Alta Vista Elementary (convenient access via pedestrian bridge), Union Middle, and Leigh High.
4 bed / 3 bath (2 bedrooms with en suite baths)
Lot Size 10,000 SqFt
Building Size 2,252 SqFt
Built 1953
Offered at $1,800,000
MLS # ML81835578
For more images and information visit LosGatosHomeSale.com
Features:
- Deep lot
- Hardwood flooring – oak in original bedroom wing and engineered hardwood in most of the rest of the home (all but kitchen and bathrooms)
- Fireplace in living room
- Open floorplan
- Large kitchen with 10′ breakfast bar and gas cooking
- Heated lap pool with safety cover
- Large, 750 SF deck with hot tub near primary bedroom
- Storage shed
by Mary Pope-Handy | Mar 12, 2021 | Homes & Housing Market, Los Gatos Neighborhoods, Los Gatos Real Estate
One of the more confusing areas in Los Gatos may the Alberto Way. There are a number of HOA communities and for those new to the area, they may all blur together.
Los Gatos Commons
The largest complex along Alberto Way in Los Gatos is the The Los Gatos Commons, a senior community with 110 units. (To read more about senior housing in the area, please see my post on it here.)
As with most senior housing, the units at The Commons are more affordable than the majority of Los Gatos condos. The Commons was built in 1978 and requires that at least one resident be 55 years of age or more. As of 2020, you may be able to purchase a a unit there between $500,000 and $700,000.
Pueblo de Los Gatos
A smaller condo community just a little closer to Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, and on the opposite side of Alberto Way, is Pueblo de Los Gatos. These homes are a little further away from Highway 17, are a little quieter, and are not senior housing. They tend to sell for a little more than the homes across the way. There seems to be about a 5% to 10% difference in price, most of which may be attributable to freeway noise, but part of it to the “senior community” status. This property was developed in 1970, so is actually a little older than the Commons.
Pueblo de Los Gatos consists of 53 units. Of these 53 condo units, 1 of them is a 3 bedroom (unit # 1, which also has a large 2 car garage), 44 are 2 bedroom units, and 8 are 1 bedroom units. Except for unit # 1, the rest of the homes in this community have carports. For many home buyers, these properties offer a more affordable way to get into the Los Gatos Union School District than might otherwise be possible.
Bella Vista Village
Next to and behind Pueblo de Los Gatos is the much newer and more expensive Bella Vista Village, which was built in 1997 and 1998 and includes 47 townhomes. Click on the link to see some photos and learn about it!
Las Casitas
Additionally, there is a small townhouse complex built in 1979 with 18 units on the same side of the street as the Los Gatos Commons, Las Casitas, located at 435 Alberto Way. Something unusual is that all of them appear to have the same floor plan – all have 1448 square feet. It is a tidy complex built around a central grassy courtyard area. Each home has a small back patio & storage closet outside, a laundry closet in the kitchen, 3 skylights for the 2nd floor, good sized bedrooms and baths, and pleasant grounds. There are carports and uncovered parking at the back of the property, up against the freeway. Click on the link above to see a half dozen photos of this attractive complex and learn more about it.
What is the fastest way to tell them apart? The easiest way, without even clicking on a link, is to spot the address. If there’s a letter as part of the unit number (as in A100 or B202), it’s part of The Commons. Also, if the price looks low for the area – it’s probably the Commons. If there’s no letter, as in #7, it’s part of one of the other communities. Or just check the map – The Commons is tucked back at the far left side of the cul de sac (beyond it are office buildings with a private driveway).
All of these are in close-to-downtown Los Gatos locations. If you’re in the market for Los Gatos real estate and would like to live close in, this is a great street to check out.
All Alberto Way area homes for sale, pending, or sold over the last year – including The Commons
This includes properties on Alberto Way as well as Maggi Court and the other Bella Vista Village homes.
- List View
- Map View
- Grid View
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Sold
$575,000
-
Lot Size
2,880 sqft
-
Home Size
768 sqft
-
Beds
2 Beds
-
Baths
1 Bath
-
Year Built
1978
-
-
$579,000
-
Lot Size
-
Home Size
768 sqft
-
Beds
1 Bed
-
Baths
1 Bath
-
Year Built
1978
-
-
Sold
$615,000
-
Lot Size
-
Home Size
768 sqft
-
Beds
1 Bed
-
Baths
1 Bath
-
Year Built
1978
-
-
Sold
$623,100
-
Lot Size
-
Home Size
1,136 sqft
-
Beds
2 Beds
-
Baths
2 Baths
-
Year Built
1978
-
-
Sold
$665,000
-
Lot Size
2,997 sqft
-
Home Size
888 sqft
-
Beds
2 Beds
-
Baths
2 Baths
-
Year Built
1978
-
See all Alberto Way.
(all data current as of
3/28/2023)
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
by Mary Pope-Handy | Nov 8, 2020 | Homes & Housing Market, Los Gatos Real Estate
Los Gatos condo sales are good to watch as it provides info on the most affordable segment of the local real estate market. The condo / townhome market in Los Gatos includes a broad spectrum of housing and affordability across the 95030 and 95032 zip codes and its various school districts.
Included are senior condominiums (mostly but not exclusively at the Los Gatos Commons), which are usually the lowest priced homes and which are residences with age restrictions (mostly 55+). This can skew the data a little, so remember that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is (for all the non-seniors who would love the prices at the Commons in a non seniors complex).
Also incorporated in the chart below are townhouses. A townhouse is an architectural style, not a type of ownership. A townhouse really refers to properties with no other units above or below them. They are either in condo style ownership (essentially a condominium in the shape of a townhouse) or they are planned unit developments (PUDs), which are not condos and in which the ownership includes the land under the unit. (See also: Is that Los Gatos house or townhouse actually a condo? on this blog.)
Chart of Los Gatos condo sales in 2020
Below please find data on the Los Gatos 95030 and 95032 condominium and townhome sales.
How do these condo and townhome prices compare to other nearby areas? Here’s the most recent data from my RE Report (link is to the main site, the PDF with this chart is listed in left column).
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