Posts Tagged ‘Dawn Thomas’

12 Reasons Why It’s Great to be a Dog in Los Altos

By Dawn Thomas | November 15th, 2009 0 Comments

1.  It’s a Great Place for a Walk!

Los Altos is a “walker-friendly” town with miles of quiet residential streets to explore, as well as several great parks. Just remember to bring a flashlight – with the scarcity of street lights in Los Altos, it can be hard to see!

2. A Little Shopping is always Fun
A little exercise can make a dog hungry! Check out the 5 Paw Bakery (315 Main Street)– where they bake such canine culinary confections as birthday cakes, yogurt and carob-dipped cookies and savory biscuits.

3. Coffee and Canines
Catch up with dog and human friends alike at one of the coffee shops in Los Altos. You’ll almost always see at least one dog sharing the love outside Starbucks (296 Main Street & 643 Los Altos Rancho), Peets (367 State Street) and Main Street Café (134 Main Street).

4. Fine Doggie Dining
When it’s time for more than a cup of coffee – enjoy a great meal on a dog-friendly patio.  The staff will even bring a bowl of water for your canine friends!

5. Ouchies Fixed 24 x 7
The Adobe Animal Hospital is open 7 days a week, 24 hours per day, providing regular and emergency vet services for dogs and other pets. From regular preventative check-ups to fast attention during an unexpected emergency – it’s reassuring to be able to go to one place.  Ask someone in Los Altos which vet they use – and chances are – they’ll say Adobe.

6. Buff and Fluff
The staff at the Barking Lot (467 First Street) makes sure that Fido and Princess look sharp for their strolls through the Village. From nail clipping to baths, clips and coifs – this is the place for the latest Los Altos canine look!

7. Hanging out at Home
Some days – it’s great to just hang around home. The median lot size in Los Altos is just about a quarter acre – bigger than the average lot size in Palo Alto and Mountain View.  The kids and the dog need lots of room to romp!

8. Room to Run
Los Altos does not yet have its own dog park – but it is considering working with the City of Cupertino and Santa Clara county to build one. In the meantime- check out the nearby dog parks in Mountain View and Palo Alto  (Mountain
View Shoreline Dog Park) and Palo Alto (Mitchell Dog Park).

9. Need a SPaw Day?
When your pooch needs pampering – it’s time for a short drive to the Pooch Hotel in Sunnyvale. Here, your favorite companion can enjoy the swim facilities, personal trainers, aromatherapy baths, facials, massages, and pawdicures.

10. Certified Canine Design & Construction
John Hammerschmidt of Hammerschmidt Construction in Los Altos jokingly refers to himself as a “Certified Canine Designer”.  Having completed multiple Los Altos remodels with custom canine features,  John is well-versed in designing fido-friendly features including dog washes, dog runs and landscaping, custom breed-specific tiling, and scratch-resistant flooring.

11. Ms. Manners
Does your dog need a visit from Ms. Manners?  Maybe it’s time for obedience classes. Some the best local classes are taught by the Deep Peninsula Dog Training Club at nearby Rengstorff Park.

12. Strut Your Stuff!
Since 1947, the Los Altos Kiwanis Club sponsors the Annual Los Altos Pet Parade on the Saturday following Mother’s Day each year. It features thousands of kids, their pets, and some very creative costumes!

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What’s New in Los Altos?

By Dawn Thomas | October 9th, 2009 0 Comments

Silicon-Valley-And-Beyond-Presents-New-Homes-In-Los-Altos-CABuyers often contact us – looking for a new home.  With the limited land available in Silicon Valley – most folks start off with a home that could be 30, 40, or even 50 or more years old.  And even though – these older homes might be extensively remodeled and in wonderful condition – the dream of owning a brand new – never lived in – home remains.

In Los Altos – there are approximately 10,000 homes and the median age of Los Altos homes on the market is currently 47 years.  So what’s new in Los Altos?   What is available on the market that is brand new?

Currently – there are 11 new homes on the market.

Here’s the range of new single family homes in Los Altos -

High End: A brand new home with over 6700 sq feet of living space – 6 bedrooms, 4+ bathrooms, a wine cellar, and full basement on a 14,000+ sq ft lot.  List price:  $4,995,000.

Low End: A brand new home with 4000 square feet of living space – 4 bedrooms, 2 ½ bathrooms, and a basement on a 7000 sq foot lot.  This home is located on a smaller corner lot on the edge of a busy street.  On a larger lot on a quieter street – I think this home would sell for significantly more than its current list price of $1,599,000.

Just the Dirt - Note that there is one more brand new “single family” home listed for sale in Los Altos for the bargain price of only $998,888.   On closer inspection – though – it turns out that this home is actually just a nice piece of dirt.  It’s a 6750 square foot lot with approved plans and permits for a 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath home.   You supply the general contractor, materials, labor and construction budget to build your new dream home.

The median new home on the market in Los Altos is listed for $3.2 million and features 5 bedrooms and 4+ bathrooms.  It has 3557 sq feet of living space on a lot that is approximately a quarter acre.    The spec builders in Los Altos are making these new houses “big” with lots of amenities like

  • wine cellars, outdoor kitchens and dedicated theater rooms
  • basement “suites” for the extended family (a place for your teenagers)
  • decadent master suites with huge master baths and walk-in closets bigger than my first apartment
  • great rooms combining a gourmet kitchen, walk-in pantry and family room
  • dedicated offices with built in bookcases and enough high tech wiring to make your favorite geek grin

In Los Altos, I expect to see a trend in the coming years towards slightly smaller single-level homes with an ongoing emphasis on special amenities and high end finishes.   We need our toys.

If you’re not quite ready to buy or build your brand new dream home in Los Altos, here’s a market snapshot of the overall Los Altos real estate market for single family homes:

Market Snapshot:
All  Los Altos CA Single Family Homes
As of October 5, 2009
Median List Price $1,950,000
Average List Price $2,241,075
Least Expensive Listing $998,888
Most Expensive Listing $4,995,000
Asking Price per Sq. Foot $695
Average Days on Market 123
Total Single Family Homes on Market 78
Median Home Size (sq ft) 2915
Median Lot Size (acre) 0.25- 0.50
Median Number of Bedrooms 4.0
Median Number of Bathrooms 3.0
Median Age 47
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A Night Out with the Kids in Los Altos

By Dawn Thomas | August 14th, 2009 0 Comments

As summer starts to wind down – check out Friday Movie Nights in Los Altos.  Enjoy fun (and free!) movies under the stars in the Village!   The movie schedule is:

•    You already missed “Back to the Future” which showed last week!
•    August 14 – Kung Fu Panda
•    August 21 – Tale of Despereaux
•    August 28 – Wizard of Oz (Dorothy, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore!)

If you have ever attended a Los Altos event like this – you know that securing a primo viewing spot is a competitive event!   Come early & stake your claim.    The movies are shown on Main Street in downtown Los Altos at the intersection with 3rd Street.   Main Street is closed starting at 5:30 p.m. and you can start setting up your family’s movie home base at 6 p.m.  Think blankets, chairs, sleeping bags and picnics!

The movies start at 8:30 p.m. – and until then the kids will enjoy face painting, balloon artists and bouncy houses.   If you are looking for a great picnic ideas – consider

Enjoy your last weeks of summer in Los Altos!   Race you to the bouncy house – last one there is a rotten egg!

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Real Estate Trifecta

By Dawn Thomas | April 1st, 2009 0 Comments

Lifestyle is what comes to mind when thinking about living in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. As one of the most coveted areas in the Silicon Valley, real estate in Los Altos provides large lots, prestigious schools, and a way of life that most would consider extremely appealing. The Los Altos lifestyle does come with a price! The good news is that property prices are lower—even in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. Our market is experiencing what I call a Real Estate “Trifecta.” According to Wikipedia, “trifecta” is a term used to describe any successful or favorable phenomenon or characteristic that comes in threes. The trifecta we have right now in the Silicon Valley real estate market is:

  1. low interest rates
  2. lower property values
  3. sellers willing to negotiate

Oh, and if you are a first-time home buyer, don’t forget the tax credit that is part of the Stimulus Package