Author: Neil Collins (Neil Collins)

Over the last few years there have been many discussions about duplexes. This includes legislation around zoning changes driven by the state to encourage more duplex production, and more recently, a proposed local ordinance that would give corporate nonprofits a special priority in the purchasing of them and other multi-family properties. What I want to...

According to the California Association of Realtors, home sales in the state edged up in January for a second straight month. Existing home sales are up 0.04% from December, but down 45.7% from January 2022. “Thanks to slightly waning interest rates and tempering home prices, California’s housing market kicked off the new year with another...

The Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, or COPA, is once again up for consideration. This was first proposed nearly three years ago as part of an anti-displacement proposal from San Jose’s housing department. Last year, COPA was stalled from moving forward because it did not have the votes to pass. It’s back again with the new...

This is the time of year where we all like to pull out our crystal ball and make some speculations about what the local housing market will look like in 2023. This year, the Federal Reserve has been aggressive in raising interest rates at 0.75 basis points for four consecutive periods since June, in an...

As the Federal Reserve raises interest rates in an attempt to reduce inflation, there is growing uncertainty in the economy. Some are worried about the increasing interest rate’s impact on “kitchen table issues” such as credit card bills and utilities.  However, this anticipated economic downturn looks different from the last major economic decline of 2008....

What is the purpose of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)? The database, which is a makeup of several regional databases, is typically misunderstood and is actually an integral component of the entire selling process. It is the platform where real estate agents place their listings to provide the seller with the most visibility. Through a...

Lately, the media has reported extensively on a slowdown in housing sales, but what is really happening here in Santa Clara County? This month, I dig deeper into the market data and what it means for homebuyers. If we are experiencing a slowdown in housing sales, then a slowing market should lead to an increase...

Last December, I surveyed all San Jose mayoral candidates and asked, “As the future mayor of San Jose, what would be your plan to reduce homelessness on our streets?” With the primaries behind us and the November election just a few months away, I revisited the responses of frontrunners Cindy Chavez and Matt Mahan and...

The headlines these days are quite ominous as they pertain to our current housing market. Residential sales are down substantially on a year-over-year basis, inventory is on the rise, and price reductions are becoming more common. What does this all mean for our local housing market here in Santa Clara County? There are a couple...

Several months ago, I heard a presentation about mobile homes from Franco Perez, a Santa Clara County Association of Realtors member. His presentation really opened my eyes and changed my perception of the amenities a mobile home could provide. I have had family members reside in mobile homes, mostly around the Brentwood area, that were basic in...