Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Campbell/Moreland Homes in Good School Districts yet priced below $585k

Many buyers in the South Bay want single-family homes with a good combination of convenient location, good schools, and reasonably low price. With those 3 elements in mind, I've put together a list of Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Campbell/Moreland Homes with good schools priced below $585,000.

Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Campbell are 3 cities that are conveniently located approximately the center of Silicon Valley. These centrally-located cities have easy access to a large variety of high-tech jobs in the valley. Sunnyvale and Santa Clara are the most convenient. If you buy a house in Sunnyvale, you and your spouse will both be able to commute easily whether you work at a software company in Mountain View, a semiconductor company in Sunnyvale/Santa Clara, or a networking company in Milpitas.

As of Sunday January 29th, here are the listings available in Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Campbell/Moreland with API over 800 and price below $585,000:

Santa Clara (2 listings)
1746 Oswald Place 95051 <-- Northwest of San Tomas Expwy & El Camino Real
3 bed, 2 bath
1283sf house, 5670sf lot
$533,000
Bowers Elem (API 830)
Juan Cabrillo Middle (API 756)
Adrian Wilcox High (API 777)
Pros: Larger house
Cons: Lower API at a higher price

2344 Augusta Place 95051 <-- Northwest of Monroe St & Bowers Ave
3bed, 2bath
1034sf house, 5500sf lot
$475,000
Bracher Elem (API 894)
Juan Cabrillo Middle (API 756)
Adrian Wilcox High (API 777)
Pros: Higher API at a lower price
Cons: Smaller house


Sunnyvale (2 listings)
836 Dwight Ave 94086 <-- Northeast of N. Fair Oaks Ave & E. Kifer Ave
3bed, 2bath
1176sf house, 5000sf lot
$549,950
Ellis Elementary (API 811)
Sunnyvale Middle (API 843)
Fremont High (API 767)
Pros: 102sf larger than Fair Oaks; 2bath instead of 1bath
Cons: Closer to Home Depot and other commercial/industrial. Farther from El Camino Rea.

433 S. Fair Oaks Ave 94086 <-- South of E. Evelyn Ave. North of Old San Francisco Rd
3bed, 1bath
1078sf house, 5661sf lot
$549,000
Ellis Elementary (API 811)
Sunnyvale Middle (API 843)
Fremont High (API 767)
Pros: In a more residential neighborhood than Dwight. Closer to El Camino Real. Farther from Home Depot and other commercial/industrial.
Cons: Busy street. 102sf smaller than Dwight; 1bath instead of 2bath

Campbell (4 listings)
4874 Bannock Circle 95130 <-- Northeast of Westmont Ave & Quito Rd
3bed, 1bath
1045sf house, 6262sf lot
$585,000
Forest Hill Elementary (API 931)
Rolling Hills Middle (API 909)
Westmont High (API 788)
Pros: Excellent schools for this price range
Cons: Only 1bath. Only 1045sf.

600 West Parr Ave, Los Gatos 95032 <-- North of Hwy85 & S. Winchester Blvd
3bed, 1bath
1277sf house, 9000sf lot
$574,999
Capri Elementary (API 867)
Rolling Hills Middle (API 909)
Westmont High (API 788)
Pros: 232sf larger than Bannock Circle. Big 9000sf lot.
Cons: Only 1bath.

180 Friar Way, Campbell 95008 <-- North of San Tomas Expy & S. Winchester Blvd
3bed, 1bath
1376sf house, 8100sf lot
$535,000
Capri Elementary (API 867)
Campbell Middle (API 737)
Westmont High (API 788)
Pros: 331sf larger than Bannock Circle. Big 8100sf lot.
Cons: Campbell Middle is not as good as Rolling Hills Middle. Only 1bath.

1641 Fruitdale Ave, San Jose 95128 <-- North of Fruitdale College. Between S. Bascom Ave & Meridian Ave
3bed, 2bath
1651sf house, 7744sf lot
$499,000
Sherman Oaks Elementary (API 845)
Monroe Middle (API 778)
Del Mar High (API 720)
Pros: Large house. Large lot. Low price
Cons: Sherman Oaks API 845 not as high as Forest Hill API 931.

Moreland (1 listing)
135 North San Tomas Aquino Rd <-- Between W. Campbell Ave * Hamilton Ave
3bed, 2bath
1247sf house, 6000sf lot
$499,000
Gussie M. Baker Elementary (API 903)
Moreland Middle (API 851)
Prospect High (API 772)
Pros: All 3 schools (Elem, Middle, High) scored higher API than Fruitdale Ave.
Cons: Busy road.

Good deal in great school district if you don't mind nonviolent death in the property

I just got word of a good deal in great school district if you don't mind nonviolent death in the property.

The seller got many great offers on this property, but apparently the buyers who submitted their offers did not read the disclosures carefully and changed their minds when it was pointed out to them that there was a death inside the property. The owner died peacefully December of last year.

Bottom line is if you don't mind that someone recently passed away inside the house, you can get a good deal on a property in a good school district.

For people who are superstitious, perhaps you could do some blessings to remove the death issues.

Out of respect for those involved, I did not post the address in this public blog. However, if you are a serious buyer, I can give you more details privately.

Robert (408) 893-2410

Cupertino, Santa Clara, Good schools, Convenient location for under $750,000

Now that the high-balance conforming loan limit has dropped from $729,750 down to $625,000, many homebuyers have now reduced their search criteria to $750,000 homes.

$625,000 <-- max loan without going into Jumbo loan territory
+ $125,000 <-- 20% = minimum down payment to get conventional loan without MI
-----------
= $750,000

What is the best real estate you can buy in the South Bay for $750,000? That depends on your priorities.

If your priorities are:
-- Single Family Home (no monthly HOA fee)
-- Good Schools (good API for elementary, middle, and high school)
-- Convenient to employment in the South Bay

then here are some choices:
-- Cupertino Sedgwick Elementary (API 936), Hyde Middle (API 858), Cupertino High Eichler house. This is a good option if you don't mind Eichler homes and just want the best schools you can afford for a single family home. As of this writing, homes are available on 10160 Calvert Dr, 10601 Johnson Ave, 10335 Moretti Dr, and 10550 Sterling Bl for under $750,000.

-- Santa Clara Sutter Elementary (API 902), Buchser Middle (API 799), Santa Clara High (API 772). This is a good option if you don't like Eichlers and care more about elementary than middle school.

-- Santa Clara Braly Elementary (API 854), Peterson Middle (API 863), Wilcox High (API 777). This is a good option if you plan to live at the house longer term for both elementary and middle school. 533 Sequoia Dr just came on the market and 826 Lusterleaf Dr is still available under $750,000.

Good schools, Convenient location for under $750,000