Silicon Valley real estate, explained by the Property Nerds®

Knowing who built a house tells you a lot: the original floor plans, the materials, what the neighbors’ remodels looked like, even how buyers will search for it. In Silicon Valley, a few public records usually answer the question. Here’s where the Property Nerds look, in order. 1. The tract number i

Palo Alto lets a neighborhood ask for a single-story overlay: R-1(S) zoning that limits new building to one story and about 17 feet. Several Palo Alto Eichler tracts have one. Most don’t. Here’s the tract-by-tract list from the City’s records, what an overlay does and doesn’t do, and how to check a

The strongest Willow Glen listings don't try to appeal to just one type of buyer. They speak to several at the same time. Some buyers fall in love with Willow Glen because of Lincoln Avenue, historic architecture, tree-lined streets, and neighborhood charm. Others begin their search because of tree-