Foodie Days

These days there seems to be a National Day for Everything, especially when it comes to one of our favorite things: food. This week, we’re taking advantage to indulge in a couple of our favorite treats!

CHIC (Pearl)

Studies show that 98% of people love pizza – and the other 2% have questionable taste. This Thursday is National Pizza Day, and you can bet I will be digging into one of my local favorites. There are so many, it will be hard to choose!

GEEK (Kevin)

I got a head start on the festivities last Saturday by celebrating National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. The only thing I can imagine better than cold pizza in the morning is a banana split with all the toppings and a cup of warm joe!

Down Time

The holidays and first few weeks of the new year tend to be a little slow for real estate, so it’s a good time to catch up on projects you’ve been thinking about… or avoiding!

CHIC (Pearl)

My biggest procrastination is taking down holiday decorations. There’s nothing wrong with spreading happy vibes all year round, but candy canes and Christmas trees don’t really vibe with Valentine’s Day! So I use this time to get our house back to normal.

GEEK (Kevin)

You know where to find me whenever there’s a little down time: getting in some DIY action around the house. I just installed new bathroom cabinets, and I’m still riding high on perspiration and power tools. On to the next project… when I have the time!

Winter Vacation Home

This time of year, we’re dreaming of a snowy ski resort and a warm cup of cocoa by the window. Where would you invest in a winter home away from home?

CHIC (Pearl)

The beauty of living in Silicon Valley is you don’t need to go very far to find every climate and environment you could possibly imagine. So I’d keep it close to home and find something within a short 3-4 hour drive of the Bay Area. And there’s no shortage of quality ski and snowboard resorts to choose from, particularly around Lake Tahoe!

GEEK (Kevin)

I love adventure, and I don’t really feel like I’m on vacation until I’m out of California. That’s why my vote is for Yellowstone or the Grand Tetons in the Big Sky Country of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. This breathtaking landscape gives you more than enough to explore beyond winter sports. And the tax benefits are a plus!

Dreaming of Home

We frequently work with buyers who need to compromise between the dream home they want to buy and the home they can afford within their budget, especially with their first purchase. Let's be realistic. That first home doesn't need to be perfect. It’s just a step on your path.

Kevin and I don’t live in our dream home – yet. We don’t know where or when it will become a reality, but we’ve talked enough to know that the dream home we share will be a compromise between our respective dreams and desires…

CHIC (Pearl)

I dream of a brightly lit home with high ceilings and high-performance windows in an open layout, allowing natural light to cascade throughout every room. Most of all, I dream of a beautifully landscaped backyard you can step into from your bedroom, kitchen, or living room.

GEEK (Kevin)

My dream home will be built of 90% steel and concrete. Designed to last 1,000 years, no earthquake, hurricane, flood, or other disaster could destroy it. My goal is to reach the highest level of efficiency and resiliency, with the even more attractive bonus of low maintenance!

Seascape or Ski-scape?

We both wanted to get away for New Year’s to take a break and recharge our batteries. But as usual, we had a hard time deciding which way to go – ocean or mountains? In the end, we decided to do both!

CHIC (Pearl)

The warmth of the sun was calling my name, so Oahu, Hawai’i was my choice for our New Year's vacation. We enjoyed epic sunrises and sunsets, tropical plants, soothing ocean waters, Mai Tais, chocolate, pineapple, shaved ice, seafood — yes, lots of fresh seafood — and of course, turtles! That’s not to mention some of the friendliest people on the planet. Everyone you meet smiles back at you. It’s like a daily mood boost without meditation!

Geek (Kevin)

I prefer a winter wonderland escape, so after our island getaway, it was off to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for snowboarding, snowmobiling, and mingling with wildlife (elk, bighorn sheep, bison, eagle, and swans were just a few that we spotted). And of course, we had to take a dip in the famous hot springs. With breathtaking nature like the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park surrounding you, it’s a colorful cultural experience like no other!