Tag Archive for: Almaden Valley Neighborhoods

Map of Almaden Valley Neighborhoods

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2021 Almaden Holiday Lights Contest Winners

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The 2021 Almaden holiday lights contest winners in Shadow Brook have been announced! Every year the popular Almaden Shadow Brook neighborhood holds this contest, and this year there are two winners. If you’re looking for some holiday fun, drive through the neighborhood and enjoy the show! And while you’re there, take note of the dozens of red bows hung by the Red Bow Brigade, a neighborhood group of volunteers committed to making the Shadow Brook neighborhood an extra special community for the holidays.

Here are the winners of this year’s holiday lights contest:

2021 Almaden Holiday Lights

6774 Bret Harte Drive

2021 Almaden Holiday Lights

965 Summerleaf Drive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The People’s Choice award went to:

2021 Almaden Holiday Lights

6744 Heathfield Drive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honorable mentions went to:

2021 Almaden Holiday Lights

1089 Hedgecroft Place

2021 Almaden Holiday Lights

6704 Bret Harte Drive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, Best Decorated Street this year goes to the southern end of Heathfield Drive.

May your holidays this year be as bright as Shadow Brook!

Halloween in Almaden 2021

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Halloween Almaden 2021Happy Halloween, Almaden!

It is the most spooktacular time of the year! Ghosts, witches, jack-o-lanterns, and of course, mountains of candies. Halloween is here, and Almaden is a funtastic place to soak in some real scares.

This year some of our more ghoulish neighbors are hosting haunted houses that are definitely worth a visit. At David Vengerov’s home in the Montevideo neighborhood, this year’s theme is “Toy Factory”. Don’t forget to peek into the attached trailer at the property. Says David on his Nextdoor post, “the distinctive features of the house will be the “dynamic” scares.” Address: 1487 Montalban Drive.

Daniel Paulazzo of the Almaden Meadows also invites neighbors and Halloween fans to his haunted maze at “Deadmond Ave.” Address: 1394 Redmond Ave.

For Jamie Lee Miller’s family, Halloween is by far their favorite celebration. Miller promises tricks and treats and invites friends and neighbors to their ghostly display having spent “countless weeks on our family home making it a sight to see and experience to have with your friends/ family and kids”. Address: 1104 Allston Way

Beth Swartz of Glenview Serenity promises a fantastic display with some pop-up scares, skeletons and more! “This year we will have candy in individual bags and pop-up scares that kids can activate themselves. Please drop by our place on Halloween – 6pm – 9pm (or until the candy runs out!)” she says. Located on Corvallis Drive between Elwood and Glenview in Almaden.

For more locations of haunted houses and a quick look at streets to hit for candies and scares, visit: https://nextdoor.com/treat_map/?is=nav_bar

Almaden Valley History: Pierce Ranch Neighborhood

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Pierce Ranch The Pierce Ranch neighborhood in Almaden Valley is flanked by Camden Avenue to its north, McAbee Road to its east, and the verdant green expanse of the Almaden Quicksilver County Park to its south. It developed into a beautiful residential neighborhood in the mid 1970s.

Like much of Almaden, the Pierce Ranch neighborhood has an interesting history dating back to the 1930s. Back then, the land – about 250 acres of it – belonged to Dr. Mark Hopkins, a San Jose based physician. Hopkins, a hunting and riding enthusiast, used his country estate as a base for his hunting trips and a home for his horses.

Tony Pierce, the person after whom the neighborhood came to be named, was a young farmer and a patient of Dr. Hopkins. Pierce and his wife, Mary, saw in the land a potential for dairy farming. They acquired the land, and in 1947, began a dairy farm. They developed a commercial herd, which grew to about 600 cattle heads at the peak of the operations, added barns, homes for themselves and their dairy workers on the land.

The Pierce Ranch dairy operations flourished till 1974. By then, the demand for residential land grew in San Jose and the Pierce Ranch’s land was subdivided and sold for housing development.

For more information, listen to Joe and Teresa Pierce talk about the history of Pierce Ridge and visit http://onlineexhibits.historysanjose.org/neighborhoods/pierce/index.html

Finding the Perfect Neighborhood for You

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Finding the Perfect Neighborhood for You…

Finding the perfect neighborhoodThe New Year is often a time for changes and new beginnings. For many, that means a new home in a new neighborhood. As exciting as this may be, choosing the right neighborhood requires a lot of thought. Here are some things to think about when finding the perfect neighborhood for you.

Evaluate your requirements

If you have kids, a friendly suburban neighborhood close to schools may be right for you. Or, if you spend long hours at work and would like to cut the commute or socialize after hours, staying closer to the city might be just the thing. Whatever your situation, start with a needs assessment that includes a checklist of must-haves and must-avoids.

Think about your lifestyle

If you are tired of living in the city, moving to the suburbs may be appealing, or vice versa. But think carefully about your needs. Do you need to hit the stores regularly, dine out, be close to the freeways, or perhaps be near medical facilities? Give it serious thought ahead of time to save yourself a lot of inconvenience later.

Consider your finances

You’ve just found the perfect neighborhood, but can you really afford it? Budget-wise there is a lot to consider besides just the mortgage. Look at taxes, upkeep costs, commute expenses, and any other recurring costs which may add on. The perfect place may not be so perfect if it causes a strain on your resources.

Crime and safety

While considering neighborhoods, safety is of utmost importance. Spend some time researching the crime rate of an area. For a crime map, go to www.crimemapping.com. Find out if the area has a Neighborhood Watch group, and talk to friends or colleagues that live nearby.

Research schools

If you have kids, considering schools is critical. Even if you don’t have school age kids, a good school district increases the potential value of your home and any rental prospects. To research schools, go to www.greatschools.org. If you’re considering a new home within Santa Clara County or the Almaden Valley in particular, almadenvalleyrealestate.com offers a full list of Almaden Valley schools as well as a comprehensive overview of Almaden Valley neighborhoods and their associated schools.

Visit the neighborhood at different times

Visit the desired neighborhood at different times of the day and week to get a better perspective. For example, drive through during rush hour to check out traffic, and late at night to see how well the street is lit up. You can also learn a lot about a neighborhood through social networks like Nextdoor.com.

Talk to neighbors

Talk to prospective neighbors to find out more about the area. They are the best resource. At the same time, you can also assess if you would be comfortable with them. Nothing can mar the charm of a new home as undesirable neighbors. If they are unfriendly and unapproachable or leave their home and yard unkempt, these may be some tell-tale signs to watch out for. Messy neighbors could adversely affect your lifestyle as well as the future value of your property.

Think of the future

Try to picture yourself and your family a few years down the line. A change of residence is a long-term thing. If the prospective neighborhood will not meet your needs a few years ahead, think again. Finally, close your eyes and picture yourself actually living there. Does the thought make you smile? Do you like the neighborhood overall? Your instinct will give you the answer.

You can find more on choosing a new neighborhood in this guide found on RISMedia. And when you’re ready to buy, give me a call!

Fleetwood Almaden Estates, a Hudson Homes Neighborhood, Coming to Almaden Valley Fall 2012

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Fleetwood Almaden Estates Fairwood

Fleetwood Almaden Estates – Fairwood

South San Jose’s beautiful Almaden Valley community will soon be home to Fleetwood Almaden Estates. These beautiful single family detached homes represent the newest and finest quality residential properties built in San Jose over the past 5 years.

The entire subdivision will consist of 16 homes with variations based on two floor plans, the Hazelwood and the Fairwood. Nine homes will be available in Phase I of the development, and seven more coming in Phase II. Read more

Therese Swan Launches Tool for Searching Almaden Valley Real Estate by School – UPDATED 2022

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graphic: Search by School and API ScoreTherese Swan, Almaden Valley’s #1 Realtor, has just released a new tool to help Almaden home buyers find the home of their dreams. Buyers can now search Almaden Valley Real Estate by School and/or 2011 API School Scores!

UPDATE: Therese has since enhanced her website with the following pages that provide even more comprehensive tools to achieve your goals:

  • Almaden Valley Schools: The updated Almaden Valley Real Estate schools page contains links to all Almaden Valley public and private schools as well as links to their GreatSchools ratings. The Almaden Valley Schools page also has school locator links to all districts associated with Almaden Valley.
  • Almaden Valley Neighborhoods: The new Almaden Valley Neighborhoods page contains a list of all neighborhoods complete with demographics, unique features, and all real estate activity within the last six months.
  • Custom Email Alerts: Sign up for free, no-obligation email alerts that include MLS Listings in the Santa Clara Valley with your special criteria: property features, location, school assignments, etc.
  • Contact Therese directly for any additional help with your search.

Read more

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