I'd like to see housing price trends in Santa Clara Country (CA) for
the last twenty years. I'd like it broken down by community -say Palo
Alto, Los Altos, San Jose, etc. The baseline would be median home
price in each community each year. It would be nice to have (not
strictly required to answer the qustion) the lowest 10% as well as the
top 90%. I want to see data on what percentage of homes sold above vs.
below the list price each year.

---

Clarification of Question by era-ga on 13 Oct 2002 16:26 PDT

If this question is too difficult with the last part (homes sold above
vs. below list price) then you can answer it without that part.

---

Request for Question Clarification by silviares-ga on 14 Oct 2002 17:51 PDT

Hello era-ga

I might be able to find the median home price by community up to 1994
(it's 18 years instead of 20) would that be enough ?
I am following a lead but in order to obtain the data I was asked what
they are for, can you specify ?

silviares

---

Clarification of Question by era-ga on 15 Oct 2002 19:53 PDT

silviares-ga,

It would like information from 1982 until the present.

I will use the information/answer in purchasing a house ( to compare
neighborhoods and how they hold value, to understand the historical
precedent for drops in the market in case I need to sell in the short
term, etc.). Thanks. I hope you can answer it!

---

Request for Question Clarification by silviares-ga on 16 Oct 2002 12:48 PDT

Hello again

I am still trying to find the data for you it's hard because the data
you want goes so back in time.
I might have found a place that 
sells customized reports. I asked them how much your data would cost
and I
am waiting for an answer. Would you be willing to pay for that data ?

silviares

---

Clarification of Question by era-ga on 16 Oct 2002 20:23 PDT

I am willing to pay for the data within reason (maybe less than $100).
I take it the source is reliable?

---

Request for Question Clarification by silviares-ga on 16 Oct 2002 22:59 PDT

Hello era-ga

during my search for an answer I contacted several association of
realtors.
Whithin those that replied to me both the National Association of
realtors and the California association of Realtors didn't have the
numbers and suggested this service as a reliable source for the
information you are seeking.
The problem is that their prices seem to be higher than the amount you
are willing to pay. Anyway I am copying here their reply. I researched
an answer for you quite extensively and I am convinced that this is
the only way for you to find the data you are seeking. Let me know if
you want to pursue this path and I will give you the information about
the service as an answer to your question.

Here is the reply with their conditions
"
Thanks for your inquiry.
Our data for Santa Clara county goes back to 1988.
The minimum charge for a custom report is $185.  For that amount you
could get your report #1 - median price by community by year.
For an additional $50 you could get the lower 10% and upper 10% amount
for each year for each community.
Our data does not include list price, so we could not provide your
report #3.
This report would cover either ALL home sales, or all EXISTING home
sales or all NEW home sales.
 
If you would like graphs as well as charts there would be a $25 charge
for each graph.
Let me know if you have any other questions or would like to proceed. 
We generally email an Excel spreadsheet to you.  We'd need either a
credit card or business address to bill to proceed."

silviares

---

Request for Question Clarification by silviares-ga on 17 Oct 2002 23:26 PDT

Hello again era-ga

I just wanted to suggest that in case you decide not to get the
customized report we could still try to get the data since 1994 to
have a basic idea of the trend. That together with a couple of web
sites with information on real estate in Silicon Valley should give
you a good foundation to make a decision.
If then you are relocating from somewhere else and have specific
questions I could help you with what I know from experience. I have
been living in Santa Clara county for the past 10 years and I think I
have quite a good understanding of the best and worst areas where to
buy real estate.

Just a thought
silviares

---

Clarification of Question by era-ga on 20 Oct 2002 08:59 PDT

Thanks for working so hard on this.

I'll accept as an answer:

The data you found since 1994 along with the info from the web sites
you describe in your last post.

The name of the company that will sell the report for $185 along with
the name/description of the report (so I don't have to explain my
interests again).

---

Request for Question Clarification by silviares-ga on 21 Oct 2002 11:41 PDT

Hello era-ga

I had already prepared the answer for you and I was waiting for the
data since 1994. This morning I received the data, the bad news is
that even though the person I contacted thought he had data since 1994
he actually today found out that he has data only since 1997 and
that's what he sent me.
He sent me data for the communities of  
Campbell 
Cupertino 
Los Altos 
Los Altos Hills 
Los Gatos 
Milpitas 
Monte Sereno 
Mountain View 
Palo Alto 
San Jose 
Santa Clara 
Saratoga 
Sunnyvale 

and the data includes

Area 
Year 
No. Sales 
Median Price 
Average Price 
Avg Day On Market 
No. New Listings 

I have all the other requirements of your clarification (Oct 20th)
ready to be sent to you with my answer. I am convinced that the web
sites I found for you will give you a wealth of information that will
allow you to make an informed choice but I wanted to find out first if
you will accept the data if they are only since 1997.

I am sorry this is turning out to be quite complicated but I didn't
expect this new aggravation either ....

silviares

---

Request for Question Clarification by silviares-ga on 23 Oct 2002 15:03 PDT

Hello era-ga

since you haven't reply to my previous clarification request I assume
that maybe you are still thinking about how much data you really need
or maybe you are waiting for another researcher to anwer your question
in its original form.

On the other side since I have researched this question extensively
it's pointless for me to waste all the information I collected. So
what I plan to do is post the results of my research here. You can
take a look and see if you are satisfied with the data I am offering
you. If you are not I will not be offended since you have the right of
having your question answered the way you formulate it.

Here is what I have found and good luck with your relocation

Here is the data up to 1994 as provided to me by  a
http://www.sanjoseproperty.com/  representative.
 
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES 
Area Year No. Sales Median Price Average Price Avg DOM New Listings 
CA  1997 294 $319,500 $330,493 33 398 
CA  1998 287 $360,000 $389,711 39 543 
CA  1999 323 $405,000 $438,984 44 450 
CA  2000 273 $535,000 $566,353 31 400 
CA  2001 219 $529,000 $567,957 52 521 
CU  1997 423 $525,000 $546,955 36 563 
CU  1998 420 $608,500 $620,347 36 745 
CU  1999 502 $634,000 $670,342 41 642 
CU  2000 454 $871,400 $979,552 22 608 
CU  2001 294 $815,500 $982,844 53 806 
GY  1997 358 $235,000 $258,007 84 457 
GY  1998 374 $270,000 $292,286 48 579 
GY  1999 446 $305,500 $334,815 66 542 
GY  2000 511 $395,000 $434,568 40 641 
GY  2001 346 $430,000 $479,118 66 822 
LA  1997 363 $698,000 $743,358 32 432 
LA  1998 343 $780,000 $842,623 33 552 
LA  1999 462 $908,000 $1,023,786 35 524 
LA  2000 392 $1,402,000 $1,556,909 21 481 
LA  2001 289 $1,110,000 $1,252,362 56 573 
LAH  1997 104 $1,163,750 $1,393,400 91 140 
LAH  1998 111 $1,342,500 $1,543,509 70 210 
LAH  1999 149 $1,600,000 $1,969,513 68 188 
LAH  2000 120 $2,996,500 $3,570,489 32 171 
LAH  2001 46 $2,547,500 $2,925,456 94 145 
LG  1997 359 $550,000 $641,487 66 611 
LG  1998 376 $660,000 $735,738 55 687 
LG  1999 391 $730,000 $863,248 66 575 
LG  2000 337 $925,000 $1,157,133 40 538 
LG  2001 231 $925,000 $1,164,692 65 732 
MH  1997 445 $330,000 $348,918 73 564 
MH  1998 427 $366,500 $396,146 52 700 
MH  1999 565 $424,950 $453,637 69 683 
MH  2000 444 $519,000 $572,876 34 569 
MH  2001 297 $507,000 $571,309 62 910 
MI  1997 478 $266,200 $297,757 34 679 
MI  1998 538 $290,000 $322,949 34 802 
MI  1999 588 $335,000 $369,950 34 723 
MI  2000 531 $425,000 $483,774 22 656 
MI  2001 377 $440,000 $492,072 52 839 
MS  1997 46 $899,000 $1,061,457 87 75 
MS  1998 56 $880,000 $969,531 63 102 
MS  1999 73 $1,100,000 $1,274,928 63 112 
MS  2000 54 $1,682,500 $2,056,902 40 106 
MS  2001 27 $1,700,000 $1,711,595 95 105 
MV  1997 307 $419,500 $435,187 29 376 
MV  1998 322 $483,000 $490,181 26 434 
MV  1999 416 $530,000 $553,245 27 455 
MV  2000 303 $670,000 $729,146 19 386 
MV  2001 310 $670,000 $709,889 41 530 
PA  1997 566 $561,000 $637,523 28 657 
PA  1998 535 $628,000 $712,252 29 664 
PA  1999 549 $715,000 $852,118 27 644 
PA  2000 562 $977,000 $1,305,935 23 695 
PA  2001 392 $861,250 $1,146,280 47 724 
SA  1997 432 $739,000 $846,408 47 650 
SA  1998 382 $825,000 $906,472 48 658 
SA  1999 473 $951,000 $1,114,806 51 639 
SA  2000 429 $1,515,000 $1,875,961 28 690 
SA  2001 248 $1,212,500 $1,394,316 66 782 
SC  1997 520 $290,000 $300,392 35 680 
SC  1998 561 $330,000 $345,668 35 939 
SC  1999 634 $369,000 $378,516 39 748 
SC  2000 655 $485,000 $502,331 24 839 
SC  2001 437 $480,000 $496,209 51 1,011 
SJ  1997 6,611 $270,000 $299,609 43 9,226 
SJ  1998 6,585 $312,500 $342,137 39 10,840 
SJ  1999 7,854 $352,000 $389,701 41 9,771 
SJ  2000 7,218 $460,000 $519,443 27 9,784 
SJ  2001 5,224 $480,000 $536,429 52 12,801 
SU  1997 759 $382,000 $379,606 29 952 
SU  1998 726 $425,000 $427,248 31 1,079 
SU  1999 871 $469,000 $469,307 29 994 
SU  2000 800 $615,178 $621,854 19 972 
SU  2001 589 $596,600 $600,867 49 1,260 
SCC 1997 12,619 $313,650 $389,169 43 17,442 
SCC 1998 12,726 $355,000 $436,662 39 20,807 
SCC 1999 15,207 $399,000 $508,222 43 18,975 
SCC 2000 14,002 $525,000 $710,713 28 18,905 
SCC 2001 9,892 $525,000 $662,340 54 24,146 

 
 
Here are some of the web sites that I think are very informative and
could help you decide
 
Silicon Valley Report http://www.sanjoseproperty.com/  
 
Bay Area Market Update http://www.creeksiderealty.com/
within other things they a "bay area real estate market newsletter"
http://www.creeksiderealty.com/market_update_new/market_index.htm
if you look at the various issues for Santa Clara County you can find
statistics like this
http://www.creeksiderealty.com/bay_area_real_estate_market_newsletter/2002/santa_clara_county/cto.htm
or this
http://www.creeksiderealty.com/market_update_new/santa_clara/2001/santa_clara_july_2001.htm
They also have "relocation information"
http://www.creeksiderealty.com/relocation_info/r_info.htm with links
to various the web sites of the various cities and summary information
about the neighborhoods
http://www.creeksiderealty.com/neighborhoods.htm
 
Silicon Valley Market Conditions 
http://realtytimes.com/rtmktc/location.htm?open&link=http://realtytimes.com/mktc/loclookupjs/California~Silicon_Valley
 
And finally the web site the realtors pointed me to  is
http://www.dqnews.com/
They also have statistics at http://www.dqnews.com/ZIPSJMN.shtm and
they are the ones that sell customized reports.
 
Here is the mail I sent them 
 
Dear Sir
Please can you give me the price of a custom report for each of these
three points
1) First report
I'd like to see housing price trends in Santa Clara Country (CA) for 
the last twenty years. I'd like it broken down by community.
The baseline would be median home price in each community each year. 
Campbell Cupertino Los Altos Los Altos Hills Los Gatos Milpitas Monte
Sereno Mountain View Palo Alto San Jose Santa Clara Saratoga Sunnyvale

2) Second report will include 1) plus
The lowest 10% as well as the top 90%.

3) Third report will include 1) and 2) plus
What percentage of homes sold above vs. below the list price each year

Thank you

And their reply was 

Thanks for your inquiry.
Our data for Santa Clara county goes back to 1988.
The minimum charge for a custom report is $185.  
For that amount you could get your report #1 - median price by
community by year.  For an additional $50 you could get the lower 10%
and upper 10% amount for each year for each community.  Our data does
not include list price, so we could not provide your report #3.  This
report would cover either ALL home sales, or all EXISTING home sales
or all NEW home sales.  If you would like graphs as well as charts
there would be a $25 charge for each graph.Let me know if you have any
other questions or would like to proceed.  We generally email an Excel
spreadsheet to you.  We'd need either a credit card or business
address to bill to proceed.

Becky Beavers
DataQuick Custom Reports
bbeavers@dqnews.com(909) 338-2115 

The Google search I use was 
"real estate silicon valley"
"real estate market silicon valley"
"silicon valley realtor"

---

Clarification of Question by era-ga on 26 Oct 2002 11:03 PDT

Hi Silviares

Yes, your answer is acceptable. Thanks for all your hard work!

Hello again era-ga 

thank you for the feedback.

silviares

I will repost here the answer since this is the proper place for it. 

Here is the data up to 1994 as provided to me by  a
http://www.sanjoseproperty.com/  representative.
  
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES  
Area Year No. Sales Median Price Average Price Avg DOM New Listings  
CA  1997 294 $319,500 $330,493 33 398  
CA  1998 287 $360,000 $389,711 39 543  
CA  1999 323 $405,000 $438,984 44 450  
CA  2000 273 $535,000 $566,353 31 400  
CA  2001 219 $529,000 $567,957 52 521  
CU  1997 423 $525,000 $546,955 36 563  
CU  1998 420 $608,500 $620,347 36 745  
CU  1999 502 $634,000 $670,342 41 642  
CU  2000 454 $871,400 $979,552 22 608  
CU  2001 294 $815,500 $982,844 53 806  
GY  1997 358 $235,000 $258,007 84 457  
GY  1998 374 $270,000 $292,286 48 579  
GY  1999 446 $305,500 $334,815 66 542  
GY  2000 511 $395,000 $434,568 40 641  
GY  2001 346 $430,000 $479,118 66 822  
LA  1997 363 $698,000 $743,358 32 432  
LA  1998 343 $780,000 $842,623 33 552  
LA  1999 462 $908,000 $1,023,786 35 524  
LA  2000 392 $1,402,000 $1,556,909 21 481  
LA  2001 289 $1,110,000 $1,252,362 56 573  
LAH  1997 104 $1,163,750 $1,393,400 91 140  
LAH  1998 111 $1,342,500 $1,543,509 70 210  
LAH  1999 149 $1,600,000 $1,969,513 68 188  
LAH  2000 120 $2,996,500 $3,570,489 32 171  
LAH  2001 46 $2,547,500 $2,925,456 94 145  
LG  1997 359 $550,000 $641,487 66 611  
LG  1998 376 $660,000 $735,738 55 687  
LG  1999 391 $730,000 $863,248 66 575  
LG  2000 337 $925,000 $1,157,133 40 538  
LG  2001 231 $925,000 $1,164,692 65 732  
MH  1997 445 $330,000 $348,918 73 564  
MH  1998 427 $366,500 $396,146 52 700  
MH  1999 565 $424,950 $453,637 69 683  
MH  2000 444 $519,000 $572,876 34 569  
MH  2001 297 $507,000 $571,309 62 910  
MI  1997 478 $266,200 $297,757 34 679  
MI  1998 538 $290,000 $322,949 34 802  
MI  1999 588 $335,000 $369,950 34 723  
MI  2000 531 $425,000 $483,774 22 656  
MI  2001 377 $440,000 $492,072 52 839  
MS  1997 46 $899,000 $1,061,457 87 75  
MS  1998 56 $880,000 $969,531 63 102  
MS  1999 73 $1,100,000 $1,274,928 63 112  
MS  2000 54 $1,682,500 $2,056,902 40 106  
MS  2001 27 $1,700,000 $1,711,595 95 105  
MV  1997 307 $419,500 $435,187 29 376  
MV  1998 322 $483,000 $490,181 26 434  
MV  1999 416 $530,000 $553,245 27 455  
MV  2000 303 $670,000 $729,146 19 386  
MV  2001 310 $670,000 $709,889 41 530  
PA  1997 566 $561,000 $637,523 28 657  
PA  1998 535 $628,000 $712,252 29 664  
PA  1999 549 $715,000 $852,118 27 644  
PA  2000 562 $977,000 $1,305,935 23 695  
PA  2001 392 $861,250 $1,146,280 47 724  
SA  1997 432 $739,000 $846,408 47 650  
SA  1998 382 $825,000 $906,472 48 658  
SA  1999 473 $951,000 $1,114,806 51 639  
SA  2000 429 $1,515,000 $1,875,961 28 690  
SA  2001 248 $1,212,500 $1,394,316 66 782  
SC  1997 520 $290,000 $300,392 35 680  
SC  1998 561 $330,000 $345,668 35 939  
SC  1999 634 $369,000 $378,516 39 748  
SC  2000 655 $485,000 $502,331 24 839  
SC  2001 437 $480,000 $496,209 51 1,011  
SJ  1997 6,611 $270,000 $299,609 43 9,226  
SJ  1998 6,585 $312,500 $342,137 39 10,840  
SJ  1999 7,854 $352,000 $389,701 41 9,771  
SJ  2000 7,218 $460,000 $519,443 27 9,784  
SJ  2001 5,224 $480,000 $536,429 52 12,801  
SU  1997 759 $382,000 $379,606 29 952  
SU  1998 726 $425,000 $427,248 31 1,079  
SU  1999 871 $469,000 $469,307 29 994  
SU  2000 800 $615,178 $621,854 19 972  
SU  2001 589 $596,600 $600,867 49 1,260  
SCC 1997 12,619 $313,650 $389,169 43 17,442  
SCC 1998 12,726 $355,000 $436,662 39 20,807  
SCC 1999 15,207 $399,000 $508,222 43 18,975  
SCC 2000 14,002 $525,000 $710,713 28 18,905  
SCC 2001 9,892 $525,000 $662,340 54 24,146  
 
  
  
Here are some of the web sites that I think are very informative and
could help you decide
  
Silicon Valley Report http://www.sanjoseproperty.com/   
  
Bay Area Market Update http://www.creeksiderealty.com/ 
within other things they a "bay area real estate market newsletter"
http://www.creeksiderealty.com/market_update_new/market_index.htm
if you look at the various issues for Santa Clara County you can find
statistics like this
http://www.creeksiderealty.com/bay_area_real_estate_market_newsletter/2002/santa_clara_county/cto.htm
or this
http://www.creeksiderealty.com/market_update_new/santa_clara/2001/santa_clara_july_2001.htm
They also have "relocation information"
http://www.creeksiderealty.com/relocation_info/r_info.htm with links
to various the web sites of the various cities and summary information
about the neighborhoods
http://www.creeksiderealty.com/neighborhoods.htm
  
Silicon Valley Market Conditions 
http://realtytimes.com/rtmktc/location.htm?open&link=http://realtytimes.com/mktc/loclookupjs/California~Silicon_Valley
  
And finally the web site the realtors pointed me to  is
http://www.dqnews.com/
They also have statistics at http://www.dqnews.com/ZIPSJMN.shtm and
they are the ones that sell customized reports.
  
Here is the mail I sent them  
  
Dear Sir 
Please can you give me the price of a custom report for each of these
three points
1) First report 
I'd like to see housing price trends in Santa Clara Country (CA) for
the last twenty years. I'd like it broken down by community. 
The baseline would be median home price in each community each year.
Campbell Cupertino Los Altos Los Altos Hills Los Gatos Milpitas Monte
Sereno Mountain View Palo Alto San Jose Santa Clara Saratoga Sunnyvale
 
2) Second report will include 1) plus 
The lowest 10% as well as the top 90%. 
 
3) Third report will include 1) and 2) plus 
What percentage of homes sold above vs. below the list price each year
 
Thank you 
 
And their reply was  
 
Thanks for your inquiry. 
Our data for Santa Clara county goes back to 1988. 
The minimum charge for a custom report is $185.   
For that amount you could get your report #1 - median price by
community by year.  For an additional $50 you could get the lower 10%
and upper 10% amount for each year for each community.  Our data does
not include list price, so we could not provide your report #3.  This
report would cover either ALL home sales, or all EXISTING home sales
or all NEW home sales.  If you would like graphs as well as charts
there would be a $25 charge for each graph.Let me know if you have any
other questions or would like to proceed.  We generally email an Excel
spreadsheet to you.  We'd need either a credit card or business
address to bill to proceed.
 
Becky Beavers 
DataQuick Custom Reports 
bbeavers@dqnews.com(909) 338-2115  
 
The Google search I use was  
"real estate silicon valley" 
"real estate market silicon valley" 
"silicon valley realtor"

Silviares worked hard to answer a tough question and didn't give up.

The last criteria -- homes sold above vs. below list price --
guarantees that this will be a highly-custom analysis.

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA