DIY (Do Internet Yourself)

Ever get tired of slow loading speeds? Some residents in Los Altos Hills did, so they built their own fiber network that they say is 125 times faster than the median download speed in Santa Clara County. The Merc has the story.

What's your social network?

We’re not on Twitter. But the recent kerfuffle got us thinking about our social media presence. With so many options out there, what’s your platform of choice?

CHIC (Pearl)

My favorite social network is Instagram. You can share photos, videos, stories, comments, and emojis all at once! And there are so many image filters to choose from that it’s sometimes really hard to choose. Okay, a lot of the time. Anyway, because Insta is such a visual medium, it’s even more important for your content to stand out if you’re trying to get noticed — or sell a home!

GEEK (Kevin)

I can’t say I spend a lot of time worrying about my social media presence. I tend to let Pearl manage our business accounts. Sometimes I take a look at Facebook, just to remind myself why I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about my social media presence. I have to say, it’s useful for keeping up with friends and family who you wouldn’t see otherwise, but that’s about my limit.

Peninsula Pie Picks

One of our favorite parts of the holiday is the food – specifically dessert, and even more specifically, pie! That’s why we’re excited to try these spots that readers of TheSixFifty.com recommended for the holidays.

Number Talk: Time is Money.

As we move into late autumn, we’re still seeing steep increases in home and condo inventory and the number of days properties are spending on the market across all price ranges in Santa Clara County. The numbers remain well below industry averages during normal times, but these are not normal times!

Chic vs. Geek: Buying Brand New

When you purchase a newly constructed single family home, there are a few important details that you need to navigate, including these contract specifications…

CHIC (Pearl)

Everything from the fit and finish of cabinets and mirrors to flooring, interior and exterior walls, countertops, paint finishes and trim can fall under a seller warranty against defective materials and/or workmanship, provided the seller receives notice within one year of the date of occupancy. The buyer can always waive this coverage for anything they’ve already had inspected.

GEEK (Kevin)

To make sure the seller follows through, there’s also a seller completion obligation, under which the seller agrees to provide all labor and materials to make necessary improvements and file all the applicable paperwork with local authorities. But supply shortages, labor disputes, buyer inaction, and other unforeseeable circumstances can cause delays.