The Ultimate Guide on Choosing a Santa Clara Home That’s Best for You
The Ultimate Guide on Choosing a Santa Clara Home That’s Best for You
Almost 40 million people live in California. From the beautiful coastline and dramatic landscapes to the proximity of some of the biggest cities in the country and everything in between, buying a home in California is a decision that you won't regret.
If you've been thinking about moving to California, you may want to start looking into getting a Santa Clara home. There are so many reasons to move to Santa Clara.
But where do you start? How do you go about buying a home in California? How will you know if it is the perfect home for you?
In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you should know before buying real estate in California. We'll also discuss why Santa Clara is one of your best options for buying a home! Let's dive in.
Why Move to Santa Clara?
There are so many reasons to move to Santa Clara, California! It's a beautiful city that is constantly growing and expanding, so you know opportunities will also continue to grow. There are many reasons to move to Santa Clara, though.
Let's go through some of them!
Proximity to the Big City
Located only 45 miles south of San Francisco, Santa Clara has it all. You can spend all the time you want in the city itself, or you can always head to San Francisco in a little less than an hour!
This will give you endless things to do in and around Santa Clara, especially if guests visit you at any point during the year!
Perfect Weather
Santa Clara not only has its location going for it, but it also has the perfect weather.
You can expect to have hot and dry summers as well as mild and cool winters. You'll see temperatures fluctuate from about 60 degrees to 80 degrees in the summer and 40 degrees to 60 degrees in the winter.
While it does rain during the winter months, it never snows, so you don't have to worry about that!
Santa Clara truly has weather that shoots straight down the middle - nothing too extreme on either side!
Great Opportunities
Because Santa Clara is in the heart of Silicon Valley, there are so many opportunities that will always be at your fingertips. If you ever experience losing your job or are moving here to find one, you won't be looking for too long.
Your opportunities range from having some of the best start-up companies as well as world-class tech companies. Some you've probably heard of are:
- Intel
- Oracle
- Infoblox
- Texas Instruments
These are just a few of the many well-known companies in Santa Clara!
And if you are willing to travel a bit in Silicon Valley, you have Apple, Netflix, Google, and Facebook at your fingertips as well.
Sports Galore
The Santa Clara area is known for its sports.
The 49ers actually play in Santa Clara at Levi's Stadium - and trust us, it gets quite busy down there during football season. You'll never want to miss a game if you move here - it just becomes part of the culture.
If football isn't your favorite thing, the San Jose Sharks hockey team plays at the SAP Center, which isn't too far from Santa Clara either!
Things to Do
As if this were not enough reasons to move to Santa Clara, there is so much to do here! You'll never be bored and always have something to do - whether it's a weeknight or a weekend day!
Be sure to check out:
- Ulistac Natural Area
- Central Park in Santa Clara
- Museum of Art
- Intel Corp and Museum
- Santa Clara Square
Not to mention, you're also right next to wine country. You may think we're talking about Napa Valley or Sonoma County and think that the geography isn't matching up. And you'd be right.
However, Santa Clara has its own wine country that deserves a visit (or two or two hundred!). Be sure to check out these favorites:
- Coterie Winery
- Picchetti Winery
There's something here for everyone - adults and kids alike!
The Best Neighborhoods in Santa Clara
Now that you know Santa Clara is worth the move, where do you go when you get here? Which neighborhoods are the best? These are our top picks.
Central Santa Clara
Central Santa Clara has its name for a reason - it is in the heart of Santa Clara, which means it is within walking distance of many of Santa Clara's top attractions.
So what stands out about this neighborhood?
- Central Santa Clara is family-friendly and well-maintained
- Safe area
- Growing population in the neighborhood
- Many school-aged children with popular schools in the area
If you choose to move to this area, you can expect to spend anywhere from $600,000 to $1.6 million for your perfect home.
A few things to do and see around the area are:
- Santa Clara Central Park
- Santa Clara City Library
- Saratoga Creek Trail
- Santa Clara University
Oakmead
If you don't want to be in the heart of the city, Oakmead may be where you want to check out. This neighborhood is about four miles outside of downtown, so you get a mix of urban and suburban feel in this area.
The average age of this neighborhood tends to be on the more professional side, over 45 years old. The neighborhood is mostly established by professionals and families.
While it tends to cater toward professionals, there are many family-friendly things to do in the area, such as:
- Visiting some of the local coffee shops
- Shopping around at some of the retail shops and boutiques
- Take a stroll or go on a bike ride on one of the many trails in the area
- Bring your fluffy friend to one of the dog parks in the neighborhood
- Check out the Santa Clara Square Marketplace for some of the best restaurants in the area
Rivermark
Rivermark is popular due to its location and accessibility to most places around the city. It tends to be more popular among young professionals and new families.
For housing, you typically would find single-family homes, apartments, condos, and townhouses.
If you move here, you may find yourself heading to Stan's Donut Shop to grab a donut on the weekends or Armadillo Willy's BBQ for some of the best brisket around!
If you move with a kiddo, be sure to check out Thiamin Park for some green space.
What to Know Before Purchasing a Home in California
Now that you are probably really excited to start looking at properties in Santa Clara, there are a few things you need to know before you jump right in.
There are some rules that California has regarding real estate that many other states don't have. Here are the top laws and factors to be aware of when moving to California.
Mello-Roos Taxes
Mello-Roos Taxes only affect homeowners with a property in the district. However, these taxes are important to be made aware of so you know that you will be paying a bit more in terms of taxes if you live in these areas. These taxes fund parks, infrastructure, facilities, and public services that raising local taxes couldn't do when forbidden in the 1970s.
Be sure to ask your real estate agent if your house is in the area affected by these taxes.
Real Estate Lawyers
California does not require that a lawyer be present during the closing. However, it is a good idea to make sure that you have a real estate lawyer so that they can ask the right questions and help you understand the process if this is your first time buying a home.
Dual Agent
Most states do not allow real estate agents to represent the buyer and the seller in a transaction. However, California does allow this.
As a buyer (and a seller), both parties have to approve this before the agent can become a dual agent in the process.
Now that you know everything there is to know about investing in real estate in California, what are the steps to get started? Let's take a look!
1. Have Enough Cash for a Down Payment
The first thing you will need to do to secure your home's purchase is to pay the down payment at closing.
Typically, a down payment is 20% of the cost of the home. If your home is $500,000, you will be required to pay $100,000 at the closing time. The rest will be paid by your mortgage lender in the moment.
If this is not possible for you, there are other options. You can sometimes pay a much smaller down payment if you have a specific loan type. If you do go that route, you will have a higher monthly payment, though, so there are pros and cons to weigh.
However, if you do need help with a down payment for the home, California does have down payment assistance programs that you can look into.
2. Get a Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent will help find and show you properties that you may come to love. They know what you want and help you find it.
Before you choose an agent, be sure to do a bit of research and determine the type of agent you want to work with. The most important thing is that you get along with them and feel comfortable!
3. Get Pre-approval for the Mortgage
Before you go to buy a home, you have to know that a bank is backing you with loaning you money for the mortgage. This is who you will be paying monthly.
Getting pre-approved for a home means that the bank is financially backing you because you are qualified to make an offer on a home.
If you are serious about buying a house, it is best to get pre-approved before starting the looking process since many sellers won't waste their time if you don't have the pre-approval yet.
4. Choose Your Location
Now for the fun part! Once you get your ducks all in a row, you can start to decide where you want to move in Santa Clara! You can choose one of our top picks for neighborhoods in the area in this guide or look elsewhere!
5. Go House Hunting
Once you have a real estate agent and know the area you want to go, you can start looking! Be sure to tell your real estate agent what you are looking for in terms of the following, so they can guide you to the best of their ability:
- Bedrooms
- Bathrooms
- Square footage
- Price range
- Amenities
- Anything else you feel is important for your home
6. Make an Offer on the Perfect Home
If you like a home, it's best to make an offer since they go so quickly in California! You can work with your real estate agent to decide what offer to make based on the market.
Once your offer is accepted, the fun of home inspections and appraisals begins! But after that, you can move in, and the home is officially yours! Congrats!!
Finding the Perfect Santa Clara Home
If you've been thinking about moving to California, there is no better place to move to than Santa Clara. With perfect weather, so many things to do, and an amazing location, you'll love your new home!
Now that you know what to expect when moving to California, as well as some of the best neighborhoods to move to in the area, you can start your search!
By following these steps, you will have the perfect Santa Clara home to move into in no time!
If you want help with your search, be sure to contact us at The Brasil Group! We will answer all of your questions and make sure you find your perfect home.
Vinicius Brasil - The Brasil Group
Post a Comment