by Clair Handy, Mary Pope-Handy | Aug 17, 2026 | Homes & Housing Market, Los Gatos Real Estate, Monte Sereno Real Estate
The City of Monte Sereno is a popular community bordering Los Gatos, Saratoga, and the Santa Cruz mountains. It’s also quite small, with just about 3,500 residents, so tracking the real estate market trends for the area can be tricky.
Info at a glance (details further below):
- With so few sales and listings, Monte Sereno real estate data can swing quite wildly, so take it with a grain of salt.
- This city appears to be in a seller’s market with low inventory – just 2 available homes at the end of July.
- There were 6 closed and 1 pending sales by the end of last month.
- The average sale to list price ratio for July (based on those 6 sales) was 95.5% of asking, plummetting far below the previous month’s sky-scraping 111.9%, and down significantly from this time last year at 102.5%.
- The lack of sales makes it difficult to track trends using averages and medians. It’s still useful data, especially if we piece it apart a bit. The MLS also showed 6 closed sales in July, and from those:
- Homes sold between $2,812,000 – $5,150,000. That low sale is one of the lowest we’ve seen in a long while.
- These took between 29 to 75 days on market to sell. Far slower than what we’ve been seeing in recent months!
- All 6 sold under asking price, ranging from 93.4% – 97.3%. Additionally, 3 of these properties dropped their list price before selling and still accepted an offer below their reduced asking price.
- As of today, August 17, 2026, the MLS shows that there are 5 available Monte Sereno homes for sale (1 is Member’s Only: Do Not Show and 1 is Member’s Only: Show), 0 contingent sales, 1 pending sale, and 1 closed sales so far this month. Activity has been high in recent months for this small city, though lately it seems to be coming in waves!
The number of houses sold in any given month will always be extremely small making the data tend to jump around. Checking the Los Gatos market will also help, but the best pulse on the market will come from identifying particular sales in particular neighborhoods to track relevant micro markets.
Houses make up most of Monte Sereno – there are no commercial buildings, just city hall, some churches or religious grounds, and an elementary school. There are also extremely few residential properties that are not detached single family homes. We don’t track the condo or townhomes in this area as we do in other communities because there just wouldn’t be enough (and more often not any) data for it!
First up for the market analysis is the Altos Research weekly profile for Monte Sereno (uses list prices, not sales). This is updated automatically, so feel free to check this article weekly to see what’s happening now with listed homes.
Trends at a Glance from the RE Report:
The number of home sales is very small in Monte Sereno. Even when there are sales, one or two outstanding properties could cause major waves in the data, so take this summary with a grain of salt.
July: 6 Sales
| Trends At a Glance |
Jul 2026 |
Previous Month |
Year-over-Year |
| Median Price |
$4,100,000 (-13.0%) |
$4,710,000 |
$2,810,000 (+45.9%) |
| Average Price |
$4,018,670 (-17.8%) |
$4,886,670 |
$3,227,330 (+24.5%) |
| No. of Sales |
6 (+100.0%) |
3 |
3 (+100.0%) |
| Pending |
1 (-83.3%) |
6 |
1 (0.0%) |
| Active |
2 (-50.0%) |
4 |
9 (-77.8%) |
| Sale vs. List Price |
95.5% (-14.7%) |
111.9% |
102.5% (-6.9%) |
| Days on Market |
43 (+763.3%) |
5 |
24 (+82.4%) |
| Days of Inventory |
10 (-74.1%) |
39 |
90 (-88.9%) |
While the lack of sales and listings can make the data in these charts swing wildly, the overall trend in recent months has shown an active market in this high-end community, though it seemed to be having some up and down in recent months following an earlier spring peak. For the right homes, however, it’s still blazing hot! With so few sales it’s crucial to track the neighboring Los Gatos market as well, to gain additional insight.
What does it cost to live in Monte Sereno? With an average sale price of roughly $4 – $5 million, you may wonder if anything sells that’s not in the stratosphere – can you buy an entry-level Silicon Valley home in Monte Sereno? The short answer is this: it’s extremely unlikely you will find anything for under $3 million in Monte Sereno. Even a “fixer” often goes well above that. It can happen, although it’s rare, and the home will certainly be priced that way for a reason.
We also keep track of this market over at the Valley of Heart’s Delight blog, in addition to many other communities around Silicon Valley.
Other pricing consideration: what about schools?
Something else to be aware of is that most Monte Sereno houses are in the Los Gatos Union School District, but a small pocket of properties lies within the Campbell School District. Those with Campbell schools usually sell for a little less. Additionally, most of this city is within the 95030 zip code, but again, there’s a small pocket which is in the 95032 area.
Next, what kind of home is available to purchase in Monte Sereno now?
- List View
- Map View
- Grid View
-
Sold
$2,812,000
-
Lot Size
2,582.00 ac
-
Home Size
2,111 sqft
-
Beds
4 Beds
-
Baths
4 Baths
-
Year Built
2021
-
-
$3,650,000
-
Lot Size
10,918.00 ac
-
Home Size
2,869 sqft
-
Beds
4 Beds
-
Baths
3 Baths
-
Year Built
1977
-
-
Sold
$3,650,000
-
Lot Size
8,277 sqft
-
Home Size
2,801 sqft
-
Beds
4 Beds
-
Baths
3 Baths
-
Year Built
1993
-
-
$3,790,000
-
Lot Size
10,585.00 ac
-
Home Size
2,930 sqft
-
Beds
6 Beds
-
Baths
3 Baths
-
Year Built
1967
-
-
Sold
$4,000,000
-
Lot Size
13,708.00 ac
-
Home Size
2,720 sqft
-
Beds
3 Beds
-
Baths
3 Baths
-
Year Built
1949
-
See all Monte Sereno, CA Homes for Sale & Recently Sold.
(all data current as of
8/20/2026)
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
by Mary Pope-Handy, Clair Handy | Aug 10, 2026 | Homes & Housing Market, Los Gatos Real Estate
The Los Gatos real estate market in July was strong for houses (especially in 95032 with the Union School District / Campbell Union HSD), cool for condos and townhouses, and a cold market in the mountains.
1 – Los Gatos real estate market statistics for the “in town” areas: multi year data
Here is some Los Gatos real estate market data that I pulled directly from the MLS. This is for the in town areas of 95032 and 95030.
Inventory of available homes for sale in Los Gatos 95030 and Los Gatos 95032
Click on any of the images below and a larger version will pop up in a new tab and be easier to read.
Inventory fell in July, creating a more competitive environment for home buyers.
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by Mary Pope-Handy | Aug 8, 2026 | Events, Kids, Los Gatos Events
Each August, the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad and W.E. “Bill” Mason Carousel host their End of Summer Night Ride, a pasta dinner fundraiser!
End of Summer Night Ride details
Typically this event is held near the end of the month, however this year it will be held Sunday, Aug 9, 2026 from 6 PM – 8:45 PM.
At the very end of the summer season, the railroad and carousel hold their second major fundraiser of the year – the End of Summer Night Ride and Pasta Dinner. Evening activities begin at 6 PM, and the last train departs at 8:30 PM. You can purchase by the ride ($7 for train, $5 for carousel), one combo train and carousel ticket, for one ride on each, at $10, or get the unlimited pass (sold per person) and ride as many times as you want all evening for $20 per person.
Remember that children 2 and under ride free with paying adult.
Dinner is served from 6 – 8 PM, and a donation of $15 per adult and $11 per child will get you a plate piled high with spaghetti and meat sauce, a garden salad or caprese, and garlic bread. Vegetarian options are available, and beverages are an extra fee (beer and wine will be available for purchase). Additional donations are always welcome.
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by Mary Pope-Handy | Jul 28, 2026 | Los Gatos Government, LG Lifestyle
Los Gatos has a noise ordinance and also has “quiet hours” from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. 7 days per week. As a general rule of thumb, Sundays and legal holidays are quiet days. But there are many nuances between types of noise, days / times, and even where in town a property is located.
The quiet hours are also referred to as a curfew by the town.
What is included in the noise ordinance? The noise ordinance covers all kinds of nuisance sounds related to construction, music, landscaping machinery, pickleball, barking dogs, loud air conditioners or other machinery, pool parties, entertainment at home, or any other source of irritation for nearby residents.
Construction noise, days and times permitted
Construction noise may be among the worst nuisances, particularly because it can extend for long periods of time when remodeling or additions are extensive, so let’s start here. If you’re hiring contractors to work on your home or yard, you’ll want to check out the Los Gatos Construction Ordinance.
It’s important to know when work is or isn’t permitted on your Los Gatos property:
Construction work hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday it’s 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. No Construction on Sundays or legal holidays.
There’s a caveat, though. Some homeowners or tenants are working on their own home, and it may not be possible for them to advance their project during normal business hours or Saturdays from 9 – 4. The town has made an accomodation for them:
A homeowner or tenant may personally perform construction, alteration or repair activities on their own property between 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through
Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.
This exemption should be fairly rare, and it would be great to let nearby neighbors know if you’re planning to be sanding your own floors, using a ceramic tile saw, or jackhammering in your yard on these unusual days or hours.
Some contractors mistakenly believe that if they work on a vacant house or store, it “won’t bother anyone” if they are extra loud, start early, run late, or come on a forbidden day. In many parts of the town, homes are close together, or close to shops, and excessive sounds, or those which are early or late, or on a quiet day, can be grating on the neighbors.
Quick summary for nearly all circumstances is in the table below.
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by Clair Handy, Mary Pope-Handy | Jul 25, 2026 | Events, Irrelevant Fun, Kids, LG Lifestyle, Los Gatos Art & Entertainment, Los Gatos Events, Los Gatos History, Parks, Visiting Los Gatos
This weekend enjoy some family-friendly fun and local history at Oak Meadow Park with back-to-back celebrations for National Carousel Day and Billy Jones Day!
National Carousel Day: July 25th
Today, Saturday July 25th 2026, is National Carousel Day! To celebrate, take a ride on the historic (and beautifully restored) W.E. “Bill” Mason Carousel. Come learn about the history of this centenarian ride from carousel volunteers, or just enjoy the music of the band organ, the lights, the art, and festivities. Did you know that each horse has a name? Not only that, you can learn a little about each horse (or even adopt one) by visiting the Carousel Horses page on the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad website.
Hear a little more about what to expect from Will Whitney here: https://fb.watch/IAOlcNzb5Z/ And adults and older kids may enjoy reading about the preservation project, covered in this Los Gatan article by Amanda Senior earlier this year: In the workshop with carousel restorer Cheryl Stuermer.
Billy Jones Day: Last Sunday in July
The last Sunday of July is Billy Jones Day, also this weekend on July 26th! This annual celebration “honor[s] the man who started it all by doing things the way he did on his ranch.” (BJWWR) That means all rides (on both the train and carousel) are an open donation instead of their usual fee – donate as much or as little as you like to support the nonprofit, Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Inc., that is keeping these rides running and open to the public, and preserving them and their history for the next generation.
This year they’re going full-steam ahead and firing up all the locomotives plus one guest steam enegine for the event!
Both days, the train and carousel will be on their usual summer weekend hours, running from 10:30am – 4:30pm. The Snack Shack will be open both days from 11:00am – 3:30pm. There may be a fee of $6 to park at the Oak Meadow Parking lot if there is an attendant at the booth, however the lot can fill up early on summer weekends, so plan accordingly!
by Mary Pope-Handy | Jul 22, 2026 | Events, Los Gatos Events
The annual Los Gatos Fiesta de Artes is back. Now called the Los Gatos Art & Wine Festival, in 2026 it’s celebrating 54 years of art and entertainment in downtown Los Gatos. (It returned in 2021 after being canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.)
Fiesta de Artes, Los Gatos Art & Wine Festival dates & quick info
Mark your calendars Sept 26 – 27, 2025 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. on the Civic Center Lawn.
Yes, you can bring your dog!
If you’ve never been, it’s a fabulous opportunity to mill around the Civic Center lawn and enjoy art of various types. It’s free! If you’d like to partake of food and wine, the proceeds all go to a very good cause. And of course, there are plenty of beautiful art pieces for purchase, too.
What happens at the Fiesta de Artes or the Los Gatos Art & Wine Festival?
Think food & drink, art & shopping, dancing & socializing! Once again, there will be more than 150 vendors with a huge variety of artists and vendors displaying and selling their artwork, plus booths with food and wine and of course loads of music throughout both days. Please check out the musical lineup and food offerings info here: Fiesta music and food
Fiesta de Artes will be at the Civic Center lawn across the street from Los Gatos High School – 110 E Main Street, Los Gatos CA 95030
Patrons are encouraged to bike, walk, carpool, use public transportation or get friends and loved ones to drop you off. Apparently there’s even a bike valet to facilitate arriving on two wheels. (Per the FAQ page, which is loaded with great information.)
Many thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Los Gatos and all of the other sponsors for making this wonderful event possible yet again.
Please check out all of the details at the event’s website:
https://losgatosfiesta.com/
Related reading:
Los Gatos Spring Wine Walk (there’s usually a Fall Wine Walk in October, too)
Los Gatos Free Music Concert Series
Los Gatos Youth Theatre Summer Musicals
by Clair Handy, Mary Pope-Handy | Jul 15, 2026 | Downtown Los Gatos, Events, LG Lifestyle, Los Gatos Art & Entertainment, Los Gatos Events
Summer 2026 is flying by, and Los Gatos is having a season of music to remember! The last couple of years have transformed Los Gatos’ free music scene, with some favorites returning and new events to look forward to, while others have taken their last bow.
The staples of Los Gatos’ summer music scene, Jazz on the Plazz and Music in the Park, are back with performances from long-time favorites. Knowing that you are as excited about these as I am, I have compiled a calendar of free outdoor music events for us all! (Not all artists and schedules have been announced, so please check the official event websites for the latest news).
Below please find a compilation of the 2 different Los Gatos free musical concert series, 2 festivals with live performances, and a few one-day events featuring local bands. As always, the information below is believed to be reliable, but as with any concert or outdoors event it may be subject to change, so double check the website (and the weather) prior to going and always read the rules, especially if you plan to picnic. Hope to see you there!
Note: This post is often updated twice in the season, once before all bands are announced, and again with the complete lineups for all of the events mid-season. Some events have now passed, but there’s still plenty more coming. We’ll see you there!
2026 Summer Concert Series: Free Music and Fun in Los Gatos
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