Silicon Valley is a great place to call home. It was once known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight for the fertile soil, abundant orchards, vineyards & farms as well as the fantastic weather. People who live here now continue to enjoy all of these to one degree or another. It’s hard to find a backyard without at least a fruit tree or two – citrus being perhaps the most popular – and the subtropical weather is something San Jose and Bay Area residents prize. Instead of agricultural farms, Silicon Valley grows ideas. Innovation is a way of life here.
This site is geared for those planning to or thinking of moving to Silicon Valley. Maybe you’ve only heard the name and have no idea where it is (somewhere in sunny California, right?) or what’s here. There’s no big, iconic “Hollywood” sign or Golden Gate Bridge that says you’re here either. It’s a little more idea-oriented than precisely geographically oriented. But there are rough boundaries and we’ll show you where they are.
If you are relocating here from out of town, or think you might be in the future, I’d be happy to email you a free Relocation Package (just call or email me to request it). No strings.
There’s a lot to love about Silicon Valley, beyond, of course, the weather and spirit of innovation. We have a vibrant arts community, a very highly educated melting pot of a population, a love of being outdoors, and easy access to so much that’s great about northern or central California: San Francisco (an hour away), Santa Cruz, the coastal towns like Capitola and the beach (about a half hour to an hour away), the exquisite Monterey Peninsula (just 90 minutes to 2 hours away) and “wine country” in Napa and Sonoma just 2 hours north. (But it should be noted that it is not necessary to go to Napa or Sonoma to get great wine: Santa Clara County has 2 dozen wineries alone and it’s easy to taste wine in San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino and throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains especially.)
You may be wondering who’s providing this website and relo info. I’m a Realtor and I do assist a lot of folks who move to Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda or Santa Cruz Counties. I am a native to Silicon Valley, born in San Jose and graduated from Saratoga High School prior to heading off to college in Washington state (Gonzaga University in Spokane and Gonzaga-in-Florence, Italy, my junior year – yes, I speak some Italian but it’s rusty). In addition to living in eastern Washington and in Florence, Italy, I have lived in Los Angeles (teaching just out of college), Berkeley (graduate school), Fremont, and later in Santa Cruz as well as all over Santa Clara County (Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, west San Jose, Cambrian Park and Los Gatos since 1999). I have extended family and friends on The Peninsula, in San Francisco, the East Bay (and have sold homes in most of these areas too).
I know what it’s like to move, to re-acclimate, and what it’s like to live in various parts of Silicon Valley. I’m empathetic to those moving here who don’t know their way around, and even more so if English isn’t the first language. To me it’s wonderful to work with people from all over the world, and I have been very fortunate to work with clients from many countries, including England, Japan, China, Denmark, France, England, Israel, Russia, Finland, India, Iran, Australia, Mexico, Canada, Portugal, Brazil and Viet Nam – and this is just what is at the top of my mind, I’m sure I’m missing some!
If you are thinking of moving here, or perhaps planning on moving to the Palo Alto -Los Gatos- San Jose area, I believe you will find this site of great help in answering some of your questions and addressing your concerns. That’s the goal. And if not, do email or call me. I’ll be glad to chat with you.
Sincerely,
Mary Pope-Handy
Realtor, ABR, CIPS*, CRS, E-PRO, SRES, CNHS
*Certified International Property Specialist
Sereno Group Real Estate
214 Los Gatos – Saratoga Road
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408 204-7673 (cell)
Please visit my blogs & sites:
(1) Live in Los Gatos blog
(2) The Valley of Heart’s Delight blog – SanJoseRealEstateLosGatosHomes.com
(3) Move2SiliconValley – a relocation blog
(4) popehandy.com – my oldest site, with info for all of Silicon Valley
(5) ValleyOfHeartsDelight.com
