The 'Guide Me Home to San Jose' Blog

It is said that on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish. Well, during the Italian Family Festa in San Jose, everyone is more than just a bit Italian! Sponsored by the Italian American Heritage Foundation, last year’s event drew about 25,000 people to San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood. This year the Festa is moving to a more permanent location, at the Guadalupe Gardens Park (between Julian and Santa Clara Streets). This spacious site adjoins the historic River Street neighborhood, home to many of San Jose’s early Italian families.

A signature of this event is the Festa Carte, designed for San Jose’s bicentennial in 1977. The carte features pictures of San Jose history. Festival cartes such as this one are traditional in Italy. A carte in Sicily, for example, will have pictures of Sicilian history. Professor John DeVincenzi designed the carte for the Italian American Heritage Foundation. Here too, you can stop in at a booth and ‘pin’ the Italian community of your ancestors. Many Italians settled in San Jose for the climate –mild like much of Italy, and perfect for agriculture.

Whether your tastes run to food -– spaghetti, calamari, gelato, cannoli or other fabulous treats, wine, music — or just people-watching, you will find something to make your time memorable. For music lovers, come by to hear the acclaimed Bella Sorrella or Alfio. You will also find Italian-inspired crafts and a perennial favorite, bocce ball. Altera Real Estate, is a sponsor of this event and will be helping out at the bocce court; stop and spend some time playing this traditional version of lawn bowling. All ages can enjoy!

There is a saying “La dolce far niente” that in Italian means, more or less, “the sweetness of doing nothing.” If that’s your idea of a perfect summer-in-the-city pursuit, make your way to the Italian Family Festa at Guadalupe River Park this weekend, August 28 and 29. The Festa is Saturday, 11am to 9pm and Sunday, 11am to 6pm.

Ciao! And hope to see you there. The proceeds from this event benefit the IAHF Scholarship program and events at the IAHF Cultural Center.

Posted by:  Colleen Badagliacco

The Garlic Festival is going Green! We at Altera have a fondness for all things green- green being part of our logo and our commitment to our community, so we are pleased that the Garlic Festival, now in its 32nd year, is also ‘going green’ by showcasing local foods and re-usable or recyclable materials.

Of course, with local foods such as Gilroy and California grown garlic, Morgan Hill and Monterey mushrooms, San Francisco pasta, and the wonderful wines of the Santa Clara Valley, this was not a difficult decision. This year’s festival runs from July 23-25th at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy. Locals and visitors alike will consume 10 tons of beef, 4 tons of pasta, 4 tons of calamari, 2 tons of scampi, and 2 tons of Christopher Ranch garlic. The Garlic Showdown, hosted by celebrity chef Fabio Viviani, will be streamed live over the internet! Most importantly,$8.5 million dollars have been raised for local charities, so all ends well.

Some local producers who will be participating include Christopher Ranch Garlic), Monterey Mushrooms, Lucero Olive Oil, and the Wineries of Santa Clara Valley, among them Clos La Chance, Solis, Guglielmo, and Sarah’s Vineyard.

This not-to-be missed event keeps going with the help of about 4,000 volunteers.

For complete details please visit www.GilroyGarlicFestival.com and the website for the city of Gilroy, www.CityofGilroy.org.

For information about homes in Gilroy, please visit our website, www.AlteraSV.com.

Photos courtesy of the Gilroy Garlic Festival

Posted by:  Colleen Badagliacco

Now that the “dog days of Summer” are almost upon us, what’s a dog to do?

San Jose routinely places among the best places to raise children (Forbes 9/09). If you live in San Jose, and have a dog, you might also be asking: Where can I take my dog in San Jose?

If your dog is the outdoorsy type, San Jose has numerous dog parks where Fido or FiFi can romp, chase, and chew. You will find them, with directions and maps, at www.sjparks.org. In Almaden Valley, Fontana Park has a dedicated dog park area; other San Jose dog parks include Olinder, which has areas for both small and large dogs, and 11 dedicated parking places for their owners!

The County of Santa Clara has also “gone to the dogs.” It’s too late to go on their Wild Dogs Hike through Uvas Canyon County Park, but go to their website, www.parkhere.org, to learn about upcoming dog-friendly summer adventures. What caught my dog Sadie’s eye: Dog Days of Summer at Hellyer County Park on Saturday, July 3rd. A park ranger will lead dogs and their companions on an easy short hike and go over some tips for trail safety with your dog. If you or your dog are night owls, you might enjoy the Paws for Thought Dog Hike on July 10th. For reservations or more information go to the county website or call 408-842-2341.

Some additional web resources for Fido-friendly information:

• www.Wagntrain.com
• www.BringFido.com

(photos courtesy of www.BringFido.com)

Posted by:  Colleen Badagliacco

After a long slog through an unusually wet ( 100+% of normal rainfall) Spring, the daily temperature here in San Jose, CA is finally reaching the 80’s. With the kids out of school, and the Fourth of July just around the corner, it’s time again to check out things to do around town.

Looking for a sandy swim beach, but not looking forward to a trek over the Santa Cruz mountains?

Look no further than Almaden Lake Park! Almaden Lake Park is the only swimming hole in the South Bay with a sandy beach. This is not only a great place to swim, but also a favorite for picnics, birthdays and bar-b-ques, bocce and volleyball. If walking is your pleasure , the quiet, pristine beauty of the Los Alamitos Creek Trail connects to the park. While dogs on leash are allowed on the trail, they are only allowed on the east side of the lake park; the west is classified as a ‘wildlife refuge’.

Like so many cities struggling in the current economic climate, the City of San Jose came close to closing this popular source of summer fun. Quick work by Councilperson Nancy Pyle, whose district includes the park, have kept it open and lifeguards on duty. In May, Pyle asked residents and business leaders to raise half of the $70,000 needed to operate the swim program at Almaden Lake this summer. The community came through and Pyle’s office paid for the balance. Thank you one and all!

(photos courtesy of www.sjparks.org )

Posted by:  Colleen Badagliacco

One of San Jose’s most charming neighborhoods surrounds theSan Jose Municipal Rose Garden, and, fittingly, is known as the Rose Garden neighborhood, though nothing on a Google map will evidence that subtle, yet important, distinction.

Purists would say that the street boundaries of the area are between Bascom Ave. and The Alameda and between Naglee and Hedding. In real estate parlance, however, and in the minds of many who live in this area of unique homes, the neighborhood includes a larger area, noted for its bungalows and mansions many dating to back to the 1920’s when the former prune orchard was first sub-divided.

Always popular with San Jose’s ruling class because of its proximity to the downtown area, homes in the Rose Garden currently range in value from modest homes on smallish lots, priced usually somewhat over $700,000, to true estate properties with price tags near $2 million and sometimes more.

Always lovely, it is late spring when the crown jewel of area, the true Rose Garden, takes center stage. Volunteers, in partnership with the City of San Jose, maintain the roses year round so that in May they may dazzle young and old alike.

On January 9th, for example, over 900 volunteers worked to prune about 4,000 roses in just one hour! Even if you do not know a hybrid tea from a grandiflora, you can enjoy, right now, the fruit of their labors. Take time to smell the roses or bring a book or picnic and marvel at the range of colors all around you.

Our Rose Garden is vying to be named the Best Rose Garden in the U.S. Visit, then vote, at www.rose.org/voteform.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

Our first annual Go Green! Eco-fair was held on Saturday May 1st in the parking lot of our office at 1124 Meridian Avenue.

Visitors were able to recycle all manner of electronic waste courtesy of Earthcare Recycling. Many came with trucks and trunk loads to contribute. They won in two ways: recycling in a way that protects the environment and gaining extra space in closets and garages! Ace Hardware collected batteries as well as showcased many of their earth-friendly products. A very interesting item was an affordable, solar-powered attic fan. With summer close on, you may want to stop by and check it out. Additionally, many visitors left clothing and shoes for Innvision, a valuable, local non-profit that provides shelter and support for women and children. A link to their 2010 Wish List is on our website or email me and I will send you a copy.

Thinking of updating, greening, or remodeling your living space? Please consider connecting with Chris Donatelli Builders. They are ‘green certified’ and also have a division offering handyman services. Another popular resource was the booth of EcoProach. They are experts in advising you of ways to use solar and other resources to green your home. Conklin Brothers brought many ideas for natural flooring. Things in this area have certainly come a long way!

My personal favorite, being an avid gardener, was Monster Worms! Their slogan is “Let our worms do the dirty work!” We were all surprised at the ability of the worms to produce wonderful “soil” for enriching your garden. They work fast and for garbage! The Monster Worms website, with more information and ordering information, is found at www.MonsterWorms.com.

If you missed the event, please visit our Eco Fair partners online, and, if you would like two complimentary Altera Real Estate shopping totes, please stop by our office! Watch our website, look us up on Facebook, and check back with this blog for upcoming green events and resources.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

Hold the date and plan to come by our office parking lot at 1124 Meridian (X Willow) on Saturday May 1.

From 10am to 2pm we will be holding a community recycling and eco-fair.

Earthcare Recycling will be there with a truck to collect all those keyboards, CD drives, cables, old computers, printers and the like that have been taking up space. Small appliances, as well as old TVs are welcome! Ace Hardware/Willow Glen will be collecting household batteries; please note, however, there will be no facilities for hazardous waste collection. Information will be available however, should this be a need.

Are you interested in green building, renovations, remodeling? We will have a builder for you to talk to (www.dcbuild.com), as well as Solmentum, providing home solar energy solutions. Ecoproach.com can provide information on home energy audits.

Are you a gardener? Come by and check out nature’s most efficient composter, presented by Monster Worms.

Got Bugs?! Killroy Pest Control can discuss natural, non-toxic alternatives.

Our office supports the services of InnVision. Please bring new or gently used items only.

Free re-usable shopping bags will be given to all visitors. Make May Day Green Day and get your Spring cleaning off to a great start. Please come by!

For more information and lists of participants and allowable donations, please go to our website, AlteraSV.com and click on the Go Green icon.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

Spring is in the air and with it comes that urge to freshen up our homes after winter’s rain and dreary, short days. Whether you are planning to sell your home in the near future, or settle in for a lifetime, it pays to know which home renovations will bring the greatest return on your investment.

As the Wall Street Journal reported (April 3, 2010), the housing recession has had its impact on renovations, changing the nature of upgrades and updating. Bathrooms modeled after “Dynasty” or “Houses of the Rich and Famous,” featuring spa-like amenities are so “2005.”

The best projects in today’s economy are those that can save money on energy or maintenance expenses. Those that allow the owner to take advantage of tax credits for energy-saving, or for solar heating, for example, will help homeowners stretch their dollars and improve their homes for the long haul.

According to the National Assoc. of Homebuilders, the return on remodeling has been dropping lately. In 2009, for example, the return was 64% vs. 67% in 2008 and 76% in 2006. If you are planning to be in your home for a year or so, a major kitchen remodel is probably best deferred; if, on the other hand, you will be there for many years, return on investment may not be as important as the daily pleasure of an updated kitchen or bath.

There are many resources online, but a new and very comprehensive site, sponsored by the National Association of Realtors® is HouseLogic.com. Do check it out.

Here is a link to their resources on home remodeling projects.

So, what to do to if you are in the mood for even a modest home makeover? In my experience, fresh paint, in fresh colors, perhaps new flooring, or even improved lighting and/or a skylight can brighten most any home. And, after the rains stop, nothing beats the simple fix of cleaning windows and carpets, complemented by a pot of fresh flowers at the door.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

It is a sure sign of Spring: San Jose’s pair of Peregrine Falcons, Clara and Esteban Colbert, are now guarding their nest; four falcon eggs having been laid last week. As recently as 1970, Peregrine Falcons were on the Endangered Species list, with only two known nesting pairs. The University of California Predatory Bird Research group, immensely aided by the federal banning of DDT, has been working over the past decades to breed and nurture the species back from near-extinction.

In 1987, PG&E put a nest box on its building in the San Francisco Financial District, and, 16 years later, falcons nested there for the first time.

San Jose’s sparkling and distinctive city hall was completed in Oct. of 2005. It features an 18 story tower and dome-shaped rotunda. In all, the City Hall contains about 53,000 sq. ft. of office and public space. San Jose’s resident falcon Clara has been high up on San Jose’s City Hall for four seasons, the last two with Esteban Colbert. Needless to say, having a falcon family in residence has turned the attention of local residents at least in part away from the year’s budget troubles, and, through a webcam, given them a ‘bird’s eye view’ of the Peregrine Falcon family.

It is expected that the eggs will hatch shortly after Easter this year. The children of San Jose have been asked by Mayor Chuck Reed to enter a contest to name the chicks, though their gender is unknown.

Additionally, if you are interested in contributing to the Falcon Fund, please go to www.peregrinefund.org/book_peregrine.asp.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

“I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree.” Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

San Jose has long promoted the planting of trees; it even has a tree ordinance which makes it VERY difficult to take down a tree of any size.

Tree pulling up your sidewalk? Tree blocking all sun? Tree dropping sticky (ginko), prickly (liquid amber), or inky (privet) things all over your sidewalk? Might just take a visit from an arborist, a permit, and a lecture to be able to remove that tree! The rationale: trees contribute to clean air and, of course, provide shade in our summers; many even accommodate the chilly winter afternoon sun by dropping their leaves in late fall. The San Jose tree ordinance also requires homeowners to replace trees in the easements if problem trees are removed.

As Realtors we must give a copy of the tree ordinance as a disclosure to all buying homes in leafy San Jose.

However,
“The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way.” William Blake, 1799.

Now trees are pegged for removal in the Almaden Valley neighborhood of San Jose. Although no less a luminary than Ralph Waldo Emerson penned “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn,” PG&E later in March and through 2011, plans to remove 140 trees. Light green dots mark the trees, some pictured here, marked for removal. While some of these trees are the relatively fast-growing liquid ambers and Monterey pines, others take generations to mature, such as sycamores and oaks. One wonders why the trees could not just be pruned; a citizens group is trying to work with PG&E right now. More on this in an upcoming post!

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

The Federal Tax Credit is not just for first time buyers anymore! In case you missed the announcement, on Nov. 6 President Obama signed legislation which both expands and extends the Homebuyer Tax Credit. Welcome news - but do not procrastinate! Word from the innards of the federal forest is that there will be no more extensions after this!

Here are the facts, and just the facts:

• The $8,000 first time buyer tax credit is extended until April 30, 2010.

• There is a new $6500 credit for ‘repeat’ buyers (must have lived in their homes 5 of the last 8 years)

• In both cases, the credit applies to 10% of the purchase price; the value of the home cannot exceed $800,000.

• The full credit is available to single taxpayers with an annual adjusted gross income of up to $125,000 and married couples filing jointly with incomes up to $225,000.

• Purchasers who have binding contracts as of April 30, 2010 would qualify for the credit as long as they complete their transaction within 60 days (or by June 30, 2010).

• For more information, please check out the National Association of Home Builders website at: www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com or www.irs.gov.

With first time buyers and investors competing intensely for homes under $500,000 in San Jose and the greater Silicon Valley market, we continue to have a shortage of homes in most neighborhoods. Interest rates remain low; again, do not procrastinate. With the deficit growing and our international sources of credit beginning to show concern, it is widely commented that interest rates may well rise in mid-2010, and possibly earlier. Since a 1% increase in interest rates off-sets a 10% decrease in housing prices, procrastination could be costly. If you are thinking about buying your first home, or moving for other reasons, the combination of the federal tax credit and low interest rates should encourage you to “make your move” this Spring. Repeat buyers in particular, take note: it may well take 1-2 months to sell your existing home. In order to take advantage of the credit, you must have a binding contract on your new property by April 30 and close escrow by June 30th. The San Jose/Santa Clara County area is seeing more price stabilization as the inventory of homes remains low; smart shoppers will certainly not want to wait. You will find tools for your home search on our website, www.AlteraSV.com.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

This year San Jose’s Christmas in the Park celebrates its 30th year bringing holiday magic and joy to the young and young at heart. The city’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez becomes a two acre forest of Christmas trees, over 300 of which are wonderfully decorated by Scout troops, kindergartens and pre-schools, service groups, local businesses and global corporations. Santa arrived Dec. 6 with the season’s kick-off Christmas Parade. He is available for local children to share their holiday gift wishes and for photos as well.

As is so often the case, this very special Christmas setting began with the generosity of one dedicated citizen, Don Lima, a long-time community leader and businessman. In 1970, Lima donated to the City of San Jose the decorations that had made his business a seasonal landmark. Since that time countless volunteers have preserved and expanded his holiday vision, truly making a wonderland of our city center. Stop by on a winter evening to see the Lima Train in action, elves hard at work, and a Victorian Village decked for the holidays. Twinkling lights, whispers of man-made ‘snow,’ chorale groups and other entertainment fill out the picture. Donations and volunteers keep this super family event free to one and all.

Across the street you can even ice skate at San Jose’s own signature Skating Under the Palms.

This is but a snapshot of the holiday Season in San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley.

Images source: christmasinthepark.com

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

We all know that hunger takes no holidays. The needs of our area’s food banks have been growing relentlessly over the past few years. In the heady days of Silicon Valley’s exponential growth, area employers and employees struggled to meet the demand, but in most cases we were, as a community, able to keep up- if only barely. This year is different. More of us are out of work or underemployed, more companies are doing layoffs, and the needy are more so.

In August 2008, unemployment in Santa Clara County hovered around 6.5%; currently Santa Clara County’s unemployment is at a record 11.9% (source www.bls.gov) and in neighboring San Benito County, which is more agricultural, it is at 13.8%. Underemployment of skilled workers, part-time and temporary jobs, and layoffs bring hard-working individuals and families to the food banks. At no time of year does this strike home more poignantly than at Thanksgiving and Christmas. On the radio this morning, just as the rain started to fall during my drive to my office in Willow Glen, there was an announcement from Sacred Heart Community Services ( www.shcstheheart.org/donations), appealing for donations of food and money. Did you know just $18 will provide turkeys for two families? With less than a week to go before Thanksgiving, less than 200 turkeys were on hand. The projected need is for thousands. Follow the link to donate.

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara County (www.2ndharvest.net) also welcomes your generosity. To donate, visit our website, www.AlteraSV.com and click on the Second Harvest logo.

Food donation barrels are also in each of our offices: Willow Glen, Silver Creek, and Morgan Hill. Stop by or give us a call and we will pick up your canned foods donation.

In addition, The United Way of Santa Clara County has a “help central” at www.search.211.SCC.org. There you will find information on the needs and special requests of many of our valley’s non-profits.

As children, most of us (myself included!), focused on what we were going to get during the holidays; as adults, it never hurts to be reminded that it is in giving that we get.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

No sooner has the last warm breeze of summer ripened the valley’s grapevines, than shorter days and cooler nights put the focus on pumpkins, goblins, and all things “scary.”

Half Moon Bay, about an hour north of San Jose and on the coast, is perhaps the area’s best-known capitol of all things pumpkin. This year Half Moon Bay celebrated its 39th Annual Pumpkin Festival.

As in years past, pumpkin growers from all over the U.S. compete to see who will win the prize for the biggest pumpkin. This year’s winner also set a record at 1658 lbs. That’s a lot of pie and seeds! The area features numerous pumpkin patches, and a haunted barn as well. The town of Half Moon Bay is picturesque all year round, but really puts on a show in October.

Years ago, when my children were small, Santa Clara County had numerous open spaces and fields where pumpkins were grown. They are less evident now, but if you drive south to Morgan Hill and Gilroy you will find several with pumpkins aplenty. Countless children, parents in tow, visit Uesugi Farms annually. This local grower fills out his pumpkin patch with a train ride through the patch, a hayride, and places to picnic. This is Uesugi’s 19th year and this year’s prize- winning Great Pumpkin weighed in at 1462 lbs!

If you’re not worn out from a beautiful fall day of pumpkin-picking, you might try one of the 11,700,000 recipes found when I searched Google for ‘pumpkin recipes’. Wow! That might take some time; while I still enjoy roasting the pumpkin seeds, you might follow my lead and bring home a fresh-baked pie from your local bakery and enjoy without all that research.

The Downtown Willow Glen Business Association, in the neighborhood of our Willow Glen ALTERA Real Estate office, will have its Halloween Celebration in ‘Boo-ti-ful’ downtown Willow Glen. The signature event is the kids’ costume parade and Trick or Treat along the Avenue.

The local merchants pass out candy to pre-schoolers in the morning and to local grade-schoolers in the afternoon. Hundreds take part and this year’s parade on Friday Oct. 30th will feature ALTERA Real Estate passing out candy and eco-friendly Trick or Treat bags as well. Scary? Probably not. Fun? Definitely!

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

The word for grapes in Spanish is uvas, so it is appropriate that one of the country roads that winds through southern Santa Clara County’s wine district, is called Uvas Road. The other main corridor is Hecker Pass Highway, or Highway 152 (only a 2 lane in this area), where it travels west from Gilroy. The Hecker Pass road bisects fertile valleys that trace their agricultural history to the early days of the Spanish settlers. In the 1920s many Italian immigrants found this area to be perfect for growing French and Italian varieties of wine grapes. If you continue West on highway 152 you will drive through dense redwood forests, to a summit of about 1000 feet, and then on through Watsonville on the coast with its fields of strawberries and orchards of world-renowned apples. On and off throughout the year, fog makes its way from the Pacific Ocean and over the Santa Cruz mountains to cool the vineyards of this area. The wineries of this beautiful region have won many awards for their Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, and Zinfandel wines among others.

Some wineries of note: Solis (SolisWinery.com), Sarah’s Vineyard (SarahsVineyard.com), Clos La Chance (ClosLaChance.com), and Jason-Stephens (JStephens.com). In addition to lovely tasting rooms and shady patios, many of these wineries feature picnic areas and bocce courts. Summer evenings often feature local musicians. They offer a truly unique, personal, and special way to spend an afternoon or evening!

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

A Taste of Morgan Hill, sponsored by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 and 27th, in the heart of Morgan Hill’s historic downtown. In addition to providing the community with a fun, family-friendly festival, the Taste of Morgan Hill supports the local Chamber of Commerce and its programs that support the businesses and residents of this Silicon Valley small town.

Just 30 minutes from downtown San Jose, yet a world apart, Morgan Hill is “the countryside of Silicon Valley” and home to producers of everything from mushrooms to wine! This year’s festival will feature local food and wine, a Custom Classic car show, a Quilt Show, Arts and Crafts, live entertainment, a MicroBrew Beer Garden and much more!

Although you may not think of Morgan Hill and Gilroy as “wine country,” the area is home to numerous local vintners, many dating back to pre-prohibition days and early Italian immigrant families. Although 1510 acres of wine grapes were harvested in the area last year, mushrooms and garlic are probably still its better-known agricultural products.

In recent years a new generation of wine growers has brought new life to this valuable regional resource.

First among Morgan Hill’s wineries is Guglielmo (Goo-yell-mo) Winery. Founded in 1925, now run by a third generation of the same family, this winery has won gold medals for many of it cabernet, sangiovese, and zinfandel wines. Guglielmo, Sycamore Creek and other local vintners can be found at the Wine Tent during the festival. More about other wineries in the Morgan Hill and Gilroy area of southern Santa Clara County in future posts! In the meantime, you can check out the Santa Clara Valley appellation for yourself any lovely Fall weekend, or go to SantaClaraWines.com for more information.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

San Jose, California’s 3rd largest city (behind Los Angeles and San Diego), ranks at or near the top of a surprising number of diverse metrics - all positive- year after year. It has long been one of America’s safest big cities, is known for its highly educated (over 35% have graduated college and/or have advanced degrees), and well-paid (median income approximately $77,000 according to 2007 Census Bureau) workforce.

An attractive natural and job climate brings people to San Jose and Silicon Valley from all over the globe. Many stay, raise families, and retire here. Two national magazines, Forbes and U.S. News and World Report, ‘found the way to San Jose’ this summer. Forbes (July 09), found San Jose to be ‘the country’s most affordable major city.” High incomes and a wide range of housing options, from apartments to high rise downtown condos to suburban homes and estates, provide our area with something for nearly everyone. U.S. News and World Report (9/2/09) asked “ If you could create the ideal community to raise a child in, what ingredients would you include?” and named San Jose “one of the 10 Best Places to Grow Up”, ranking it third nationally behind Virginia Beach, VA and Madison, AL.

Our natural, educational, and recreational resources are abundant. With 9 square miles of green spaces, San Jose is home to hundreds of parks: dog parks, neighborhood parks, skate parks, and water parks! We have museums: Art , Tech, Children’s, and Egyptian, to name but a few, and of course, we have hockey, the San Jose Sharks of the NHL.

It is no wonder that San Jose continues to attract the best and brightest and keep them here!

Posted by:Colleen Badagliacco

It is said that on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish. Well, during the Italian Family Festa in San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood, everyone is more than just a bit Italian! Sponsored by the Willow Glen Business Association and the Italian American Heritage Foundation, last year’s event drew about 25,000 people to our neighborhood’s “Main Street” - Lincoln Avenue.

Lincoln Avenue, between Minnesota and Willow, is the heart of the Willow Glen business district and for the two days of the Festa it is transformed into a slice of Italy. Whether your tastes run to food-spaghetti, calamari, cannoli and many other fabulous treats, wine, music or just people-watching, you will find something to make your time memorable. What is usually a busy thoroughfare becomes an Italian village, complete with bocce games.

There is a saying “La dolce far niente” that in Italian means, more or less, “the sweetness of doing nothing.” If that’s your idea of a perfect summer in the city pursuit, make your way to the San Jose neighborhood of Willow Glen August 29th and 30th. The Festa is Saturday, 11am to 9pm and Sunday, 11am to 6pm. Altera Real Estate is a sponsor and you will find our agents throughout the event, dishing spaghetti, helping set up bocce games, and just helping everyone have a wonderful time.

Ciao! and hope to see you there. The proceeds from this event benefit the IAHF Scholarship program and events at the IAHF Cultural Center.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

Nearly every community in the lush Santa Clara Valley can trace its heritage - literally roots - back to the days when we were called “The Valley of Hearts Delight.” Sunnyvale was known for its cherries, and has a park with cherry trees in the middle of town to remind us of that; San Jose was home to prunes, apricots, and other fruit trees, and has acres of tract homes with legacy fruit trees in their yards! Gilroy, in the mostly flat, warmer, south end of the valley area (Gilroy is about 30 miles south of San Jose), while having its share of other crops, has become known worldwide as the self-described garlic capital of the world. No matter that more garlic now grows in China, Gilroy’s Garlic Festival (GilroyGarlicFestival.com) is the premier event for those loving all things garlic.

Garlic ice cream? Yes, even garlic ice cream. This year’s winning recipe was - believe it or not - for garlic cookies, Spicy Garlic Butter cookies to be exact. About 4,000 volunteers have over the years grown the dream of Rudy Melone and Don Christopher into a multi-day event which this year drew over 108,000 people to sample garlic’s many culinary uses. Many local charities and non-profits benefit from this foodie extravaganza including the American Red Cross, Hospice of Hollister, and Gilroy Gators Swim Club. In 2008 the Garlic Festival raised about $1.72 million for more than 150 local charities and non-profits.

Interested in Gilroy or the Garlic Festival? Go to the website for the city of Gilroy, CityofGilroy.org, and GilroyGarlicFestival.com for more facts, figures, and information. Go to our website, AlteraSV.com, for more property and local community information.

Photos of the Garlic Festival included in this post by Bill Strange, Official Festival Photographer.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

Schoolchildren staunchly sing “It’s a Grand Old Flag, a high-flying flag, and forever in peace may she wave!” all year round. Public buildings everywhere fly the stars and stripes; flags adorn countless homes, libraries, fire stations and capitols around the country, but somehow, around the 4th of July red, white, and blue are everywhere; for a few days at least, the country unites around its flag, its values, its hometowns.

Morgan Hill, one of Silicon Valley’s most charming small towns, does the 4th of July in a big way. Named after an early land-owner, who was actually named Hiram Morgan Hill, present-day Morgan Hill is a community of about 39,000 about 30 minutes south of downtown San Jose and a world apart with its suburban meets rural, neighborhood meets vineyard meets ranch lifestyle. The one reasonably high hill in town is not called “Morgan,” but “El Toro.”

This past Saturday more than 45,000 people turned out for Morgan Hill’s 115th Independence Day Parade, featuring marching bands, children’s groups, bands on floats, and horses as well as the usual complement of local officials. I am not sure which is more fun: marching in the parade and waving a flag, or standing along the parade route, waving, of course, a flag.

Nestled in a valley between the Santa Cruz and Diablo range, and only about 15 miles inland from the Pacific Coast, Morgan Hill is blessed with the perfect climate for a parade, tending a garden, raising a family, or just decompressing from a Silicon Valley life.

For more information about the community of Morgan Hill, please visit our website , www.AlteraSV.com, and explore the community links.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

“Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” Henry James

This Spring saw the population of the city of San Jose reach the one million mark, becoming the first West Coast city north of Los Angeles to do so. That said, Why do so many San Jose residents still refer to San Francisco as ‘the City”? ! The heart of Silicon Valley is now the 10th largest city in country, the wealthiest city with a median household income of $76,963, and among California cities, the second most educated ( San Diego is first), with 34.7% having a four year degree. Source: U.S. Census Bureau or www.factfinder.census.gov

San Jose has not forgotten its small town roots, however. In 1927 there were only about 60,000 people in the Santa Clara Valley, but thousands of apricot, cherry, prune, walnut trees . Some of us are fortunate to have descendents of those early area pioneers in our backyard orchards; if not, you will be able to enjoy the taste of tree-ripened fruit at one of the many Farmer’s Markets that are open from Spring to Fall. The downtown San Jose Farmer’s Market is Fridays, 10am to 2pm at San Pedro Square; Willow Glen, Saturdays 7:30am-12:30pm behind the Garden Theater; San Jose Santa Teresa, Saturdays 9am -1pm at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, and in Morgan Hill, Saturdays, 9am-1pm at the Southern Pacific Train Station.

Spending Summer in the City? Check back for more great ways to enjoy the season!

Posted by:Colleen Badagliacco

Every time this year the neighborhoods around Altera Real Estate come alive with the beauty that is Spring in California. No wonder so much poetry has been written about Spring and flowers; after months of clouds, cold and rain the bright colors seem to get us all moving again.

Home and garden tours are as much a part of Spring as fresh flowers and seasonal allergies. Our Willow Glen neighborhood, one of San Jose’s oldest, boasts countless tour-worthy homes and gardens. This weekend, May 2nd and 3rd, the San Jose Day Nursery will be holding its 27th annual Willow Glen Lifestyles Home Tour from 10am to 4pm. Countless children have benefited from the services of the San Jose Day Nursery since its founding in 1916. The proceeds from this tour help provide scholarships for children of low-income working parents.

This year the tour includes a classic, single-story Spanish-style home with an up to the minute kitchen, a newly-built 2-story home with all the charm of a period home, and a Craftsman-style home. Truly a sampling of the many styles that make our area so sought-after. These homes aren’t for sale! Just come to visit and enjoy. Among the local businesses selling tickets are Domus and Able Printing.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

On Saturday, April 25th, a team of Realtors from Altera Real Estate Silicon Valley will be tying the laces on their running and walking shoes to participate in the fourth annual run in the Almaden Valley honoring Pat Tillman, the local kid (my daughter Laura went to middle school with Pat at Bret Harte Middle School) who played football at Arizona State, and later, famously, for the Arizona Cardinals. If that was the end of the story, the local legend, however, might have left less of a legacy.

What most Americans remember about Pat has little or nothing to do with San Jose, nor with football. Pat Tillman walked into history after walking off the field of a successful NFL football career in 2002, the memory of 9/11 fresh in his mind and with a desire to give back to the country that had given him so much. He became an Army Ranger. Tragically, errant friendly-fire in a narrow Afghanistan mountain canyon ended Pat’s life way too soon. Stunned friends, teammates and colleagues came together to celebrate his life and fund a foundation, the Pat Tillman Foundation, to support Pat’s memory and the life he lived. The foundation’s motto is “Leadership through Action.”

The Altera Real Estate team will travel the 4.2 mile course (Pat’s number was 42), hoping in their small way to honor Pat, his example, and help create his living legacy. For more information or to support the Pat Tillman Foundation, please go to PatsRun.com.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

I recently ran across a blog from someone claiming to have superior knowledge and to be educated in the ways of real estate agents who has the opinion that 90% of today’s agents are out of touch and not in tune with what current consumers are demanding. He of course personally knows the cream of the crop but they are in the minority and the rest are bad apples bringing shoddy service to consumers who deserve better. Well, consumers do deserve the best that’s for sure. We, however, have to disagree with that writer in regard to the professionalism, integrity and skill sets that the majority of agents possess, at least within the scope of our experience, which is considerable.

Education and training. Realty agents don’t always publish their educational credentials but within our sphere of colleagues, most are college educated, many with advanced degrees. Most experienced agents have earned designations for a variety of specializations. Most are involved in continuing education programs and classes.

Professional commitment. All agents with whom we do business are members of the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® which, in turn, makes them members of both the California Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®. While there are many benefits to both the agent and the public we believe that the adherence to a Code of Ethics is the most fundamental. Every Realtor must agree to uphold this very strict and specific code and are subject to sanctions when they do not.

Should anyone really care? Well, in a state where it seems you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a real estate agent you should. If you are going to entrust the details of making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life to a real estate agent you have to be using a Realtor. He or she is going to have training, experience, support and accountability. As for all those agents who choose not to adhere to these standards, who are merely looking for a paycheck, whose primary interests are their own, we wish the best of luck but we also have a feeling that they will be counted in the statistics quoted by the blogger above.

Posted By: Charlene & David Todd

With all of the hardship due to storms and floods elsewhere in the country it must sound a bit smug to comment on how nice it is in Northern California just now, but I just can’t stand it. This past weekend we made a quick trip to our home in Lake County and traveled through the beautiful Napa Valley along the Silverado Trail. The weather was perfect and the wildflowers were blooming on all the hillsides. Wild mustard covered the fields like a golden carpet and lupine and California Poppies lined the roadway as we traveled. Of course, the vines were starting to sprout their greenery with the promise of the region’s great wines we enjoy so much. Spring driving in the Valley is always done with some caution as we encounter the sightseers and limousines full of wine tasters. We were on a mission and really didn’t stop for any samples on this particular trip since it is easy to get caught up in the wine culture and forget about the driving still ahead. Once in Lake County we were able to relax with a glass of Ceago Sauvignon Blanc from the Fetzer owned winery just down the road from our place. Ahhh, Spring!

Posted By: Charlene & David Todd

Originally called Camino del la Puerta de la Laura, this now bustling street once made its way through an early Spanish rancho. The thoroughfare was renamed in honor of Abraham Lincoln following his tragic assassination. Although most of San Jose sprang into being after the 1960s, at least one property, the Roberto Adobe, or Lauraville as it is now called, dates from the Spanish era.

Today’s Lincoln Avenue is a busy mix of locally-owned shops featuring everything from wine to wedding bands. Many terrific restaurants and coffee shops line the route between Minnesota and Coe avenues. The best “fresh Mex” is my favorite, Aqui; you will not find more wonderful Chinese fare than at Taiwan or a better spot for a casual breakfast or lunch than Bill’s Café. Silicon Valley is known for its world-wide reach through technology; its diversity is well-represented by Willow Glen’s restaurants.

Watch for more about Willow Glen in future blogs!

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

Almaden Valley is truly the “Valley of the Hearts Desire.” It is a combination of lovely farm lands, businesses, schools, parks and homes. There is a mixture of tract homes and many multi-million dollar homes. It offers a lake, a dam and hiking trails beside a gurgling creek. There are sightings of wild turkey, quail, bobcats and an occasional mountain lion. Many types of birds make Almaden their home. Almaden is family oriented with many activities for children as well as the entire family. I will be listing many of these activities in following articles.

Posted By: Charlene & David Todd

When my family moved to San Jose several decades ago, we sought an area where “the trees were taller than the houses.” At that time, San Jose, once known as the Valley of Hearts Delight for its vast orchards blanketing the Santa Clara Valley, was fast replacing trees with tracts, and ranch-style homes with barely- planted trees were the order of the day.

Willow Glen quickly became our neighborhood of choice. Custom homes from many generations form the heart of the ZIP code 95125. The Willows, as it was once called, was one of the earliest settled areas of San Jose. Many homes date from the early 1900s and before. For a short time in the 1920s Willow Glen even incorporated itself as a town. The City of San Jose now protects the vast majority of its trees through a Tree Ordinance, but until recently Willow Glen was one of the few neighborhoods where the trees were actually taller than the homes they shaded.

Posted By: Colleen Badagliacco

When buying a home in San Jose, it can be surprising how family-friendly this high-tech city can be. But with attractions such as the Childrens Discovery Museum of San Jose, the Monterey Bay Aquarium (located about an hour away) and Raging Waters Water Park, San Jose is fun for people of all ages. So whether you want an afternoon outing with the kids, or a sophisticated night on the town with your spouse, San Jose will never disappoint you!

Beautiful San Jose, CA, located just 50 miles south of San Francisco, is internationally recognized as the Capital of Silicon Valley. The city boasts the headquarters and major offices of more than 6,600 technology companies, such as Adobe Systems, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, and Lockheed Martin. It is home to three major universities—San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, and Stanford University—all of which make major contributions to the city’s economy. San Jose’s wealth of intellectual resources, and its focus on progress and achievement, has made the city a “global center for innovation.”

But San Jose is not all about business and microchips; the city of over 930,000 residents is also highly regarded as one of the most fun and exciting places to live in the U.S. Those who relocate to San Jose soon find that the pride and joy of the city is its vibrant downtown, a place where a community comes together to have fun and enjoy life, whether it be for the annual Cinco de Mayo Parade, Christmas in the Park, or just an ordinary Saturday. From shopping Santana Row to soaking up the culture in San Pedro Square, there are a million unique things to do in downtown San Jose. The area is bustling with delectable restaurants and a dizzying variety of lively pubs, laid-back lounges, and chic nightclubs. The energetic San Jose Downtown Theatre District—comprised of the California Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts, Civic Auditorium, and Montgomery Theater—promises a year-round calendar of performances that range from Shakespearean tragedies to romping Broadway musicals. And for an afternoon diversion, there are more than 30 art galleries and museums in San Jose, including the Tech Museum of Innovation, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum/Planetarium, and the San Jose Museum of Art.

Altera Real Estate was established in 1980 as single independent office, known as Valley Properties. From 1993 until October, 2008 we were affiliated with RE/MAX International and were known as RE/MAX Valley Properties. In October, 2008 we ended our franchise affiliation and returned to our roots as an independent, regional firm. Altera Real Estate is a statewide network of independently owned successful, professional real estate brokerages. We are honored by association with them. Additionally, we are an affiliate of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World www.LeadingRE.com, a global network of over 700 offices in 35 countries representing leading firms in every market. If your real estate needs are outside of Silicon Valley, we would be pleased to refer you to an affiliate in that area.

Over the years we have grown to over 80 agents in three offices, San Jose/Willow Glen, San Jose/Silver Creek, and Morgan Hill. We consistently rank in the top four real estate firms in our market area, and are home to the most productive, professional agents in Silicon Valley. We serve the communities of the greater Silicon Valley area, including San Jose, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Campbell and Sunnyvale in the mid-Santa Clara County ,Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Martin in the South County area, and such neighborhoods as Almaden Valley and Willow Glen.

Our firm is home to real estate associates fluent in many languages, and with expertise not only in single family homes and condos, but investment properties, leasing, and tenant representation through our local referral network.

Though of course our name has changed over time, our commitment to our clients has not; we have, in fact, continued to 'upgrade' ourselves to meet the expectations of those who choose us to handle some of life's most important transactions. Our goal is not to merely close transactions but to establish life-long business relationships one satisfied customer at a time.

We look forward to serving you.