Home Selling

<img class="size-full wp-image-2791" src="https://michelleelliottrealtor.com/files/2026/02/San-Jose-home-selling-tips-for-selling-your-san-jose-home-.jpeg" alt="" width="940" height="788" /> <p data-path-to-node="8"></p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Selling a Silicon Valley home requires more than just luck, it requires tactical advantage in this category of my San Jose real estate blog I am going to provide homeowners with actionable San Jose home, selling tips and deep dive strategies that go beyond the standard checklist.</span> <p data-path-to-node="8"></p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Come back to read our do’s and don't for home selling and find that these are not generic suggestions. They are hard-won insights from 20 years in the business. We will explore the high impact do’s such as professional cinematic video tours and the psychology of staging, alongside the critical don’ts that may stall a transaction or leave money on the table!</span> <p data-path-to-node="8"></p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">By focusing on education over a simple tactic, I will empower you to understand the selling process and the ins and outs to tailored South Bay climate to navigating complex California disclosures. These San Jose home selling tips are designed to give you a competitive edge to supercharge your learning. Follow our podcast where we will give you real world, examples of real estate sales, best practices, and successes!</span> <p data-path-to-node="8"></p> <span style="font-weight: 400;">So follow along, this will be the best resource for selling San Jose real estate with less stress, more profit and ask about my San Jose Home selling Guide for secrets that I normally only reserve for my credit clients. In all my educational resources I teach you through storytelling and real-world examples about how I achieve record-breaking sales in San Jose! </span>

Home Buying, Home Design, Home Selling, San Jose Real Estate

Building an ADU in San Jose: What Homeowners and Buyers Should Know in 2026

If you’re considering buying a home in San Jose—or already own one—an Accessory Dwelling Unit may open up possibilities you hadn’t considered. Maybe you’d like additional living space. Maybe you’re thinking about long-term rental income. Or perhaps you simply want a property that gives you more flexibility as your needs change over time. Whatever the […]
Home Buying, Home Selling, San Jose Real Estate, Say What You Want About Real Estate Podcast

What is an Appraisal Gap?

What is an appraisal gap? What actually is an appraisal gap? An appraisal gap occurs when the agreed-upon purchase price of a home exceeds the lender’s appraised value, which means the bank won’t finance the difference. In competitive markets like Willow Glen, where single-family homes in Santa Clara County sold at a 105% sale-to-list ratio […]
Home Design, Home Selling

What to Fix Before Selling Your San Jose Home

When you’re getting ready to sell your home, advice comes from everywhere. One person says, “Don’t spend a dime—the buyer will change everything anyway.” Someone else tells you to remodel the kitchen, replace the floors, renovate the bathrooms, and make the house look brand new before it ever hits the market. In most cases, I […]
Home Selling, San Jose Real Estate

5 Mistakes San Jose Home Sellers Are Making Right Now

5 Mistakes San Jose Home Sellers Are Making Right Now Quick Summary Overpricing is the #1 mistake – leaving “room to negotiate” often costs sellers thousands instead of saving them money Skipping pre-inspections invites lowball offers, since buyers assume sellers have already handled them Neglecting curb appeal costs you buyers before they ever step […]

Home Buying Building an ADU in San Jose: What Homeowners and Buyers Should Know in 2026 If you’re considering buying a home in San Jose—or already own one—an Accessory Dwelling Unit may open up possibilities you hadn’t considered. Maybe you’d like additional living space. Maybe you’re thinking about long-term rental income. Or perhaps you simply want a property that gives you more flexibility as your needs change over time. Whatever the […]

Home Buying What is an Appraisal Gap? What is an appraisal gap? What actually is an appraisal gap? An appraisal gap occurs when the agreed-upon purchase price of a home exceeds the lender’s appraised value, which means the bank won’t finance the difference. In competitive markets like Willow Glen, where single-family homes in Santa Clara County sold at a 105% sale-to-list ratio […]

Home Design What to Fix Before Selling Your San Jose Home When you’re getting ready to sell your home, advice comes from everywhere. One person says, “Don’t spend a dime—the buyer will change everything anyway.” Someone else tells you to remodel the kitchen, replace the floors, renovate the bathrooms, and make the house look brand new before it ever hits the market. In most cases, I […]

Home Selling 5 Mistakes San Jose Home Sellers Are Making Right Now 5 Mistakes San Jose Home Sellers Are Making Right Now Quick Summary Overpricing is the #1 mistake – leaving “room to negotiate” often costs sellers thousands instead of saving them money Skipping pre-inspections invites lowball offers, since buyers assume sellers have already handled them Neglecting curb appeal costs you buyers before they ever step […]

Home Buying Escrow, Title, and Closing in California: Who Does What—and What Are You Paying For? Once your offer is accepted, you start hearing three words constantly: Escrow. Title. Closing. They can sound like different names for the same thing. They’re not. Each one plays a different role in getting you from an accepted offer to actually owning the home, and understanding who does what can make the whole transaction feel […]

Home Buying Why Does My Neighbor Pay Less Property Tax? Prop 13 Explained One of the biggest surprises for many homebuyers in California isn’t the mortgage—it’s the property taxes. You might move into your dream home only to discover that your neighbor, who lives in the exact same model, pays thousands of dollars less in property taxes every year. It doesn’t seem fair at first, but there’s a […]

Home Selling Bridge Loans: How to Buy Your Next Home Before Selling Your Current One If you’re planning to buy another home, you may be wondering: “Do I have to sell my current home first?” Not necessarily. For many homeowners, a large portion of their down payment is tied up in the equity they’ve built in their current home. A bridge loan can provide temporary financing that allows you to […]

Home Buying What Are Off-Market (Pocket) Listings—and How Can You Find Them? If you’ve ever heard someone say, “We bought our house before it even hit the market,” you may have wondered how that’s possible. Those homes are often called off-market listings, pocket listings, or office exclusives. While they’re not as common as traditional MLS listings, they do exist—and in a competitive market like San Jose, they […]

Home Selling Home Staging Tips That Can Help Your San Jose Home Sell Faster When you’re getting ready to sell your home, first impressions matter—more than ever. Today’s buyers often decide how they feel about a home within minutes of walking through the front door. In many cases, they’ve already formed an opinion from the online photos before they even schedule a showing. That’s where staging comes in. Staging […]

Downtown San Jose Understanding the Loan Contingency in California’s CAR Real Estate Contract Understanding the Loan Contingency in California’s CAR Real Estate Contract If you’re buying a home in California, you’ll likely encounter the California Association of Realtors (CAR) Residential Purchase Agreement—the standardized contract used in over 95% of residential property sales in the state. One of its most important protections for buyers is the loan contingency, also […]

Home Buying Buying Your Next Home Before Selling Your Current One? Here’s How Silicon Valley Homeowners Make It Work One of the questions I get asked most often is: “Do I need to sell my current home before I can buy my next one?” The honest answer is…it depends. If you’re moving up, downsizing, or simply relocating within Silicon Valley, you’re probably counting on the equity in your current home to help buy the […]

Home Selling Prop 13 vs. Prop 19: What San Jose Homeowners Should Know Before Selling If you’ve owned your home for 20, 30, or even 40 years, you’ve probably noticed something interesting: your property taxes are likely much lower than those of your neighbors who bought more recently. That’s because of Proposition 13. For many longtime California homeowners, those lower taxes have become one of the biggest reasons they’re hesitant […]

Home Selling Inside the Deal: How We Sold a Willow Glen Home in 5 Days People often ask me what actually separates a listing that sits on the market from one that sells in days with multiple offers. It’s rarely luck. It’s preparation, pricing strategy, and knowing exactly how to present a home to the buyers who are out there right now. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how one recent […]

Home Selling What determines the cost of a local move? Moving across town? Moving across a state? Which move is considered a “local move?” This is a common topic of confusion. For most states, local moves are considered moves within the same state. However, there are some states, such as California, where only moves that are less than 100 miles are considered local moves. I […]

Home Selling What Is My Home Worth in Today’s San Jose Market? What Is My Home Worth in Today’s San Jose Market? Determining your home’s value is the most critical step in selling successfully in San Jose. Price it too high, and your home sits on the market getting stale. Price it too low, and you leave money on the table. Understanding how to accurately assess your […]

Home Buying Landscaping Upgrades That Make the Biggest Impact Explore landscaping upgrades that elevate curb appeal, reduce maintenance and enhance how your home is experienced and perceived. The first impression of your home is often set by the health and style of your yard. With the right landscaping upgrades, you can improve everyday life while boosting long-term appeal. Thoughtful design, better flow and intentional […]

Home Buying What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage in San Jose? If you’re planning to buy a home in San Jose, one of the first questions you’ll need to answer is: “What credit score do I need?” Your credit score plays a crucial role in determining whether you’ll qualify for a mortgage and what interest rate you’ll receive. The Minimum Credit Score Requirements Most mortgage programs […]

Home Selling Just Sold – 380 5th Avenue, Santa Cruz ✨ Just Sold in Santa Cruz! This beautifully remodeled 3 bed, 2 bath home with ocean views and a private oasis backyard officially has new owners. From the hot tub to the perfect entertaining space, this beach retreat is ready for so many amazing memories! So excited for my clients to enjoy everything Santa Cruz […]

Home Buying What Are Mortgage Rates Currently in San Jose? Mortgage rates are one of the most important factors affecting your home buying power in San Jose’s expensive real estate market. Even a small difference in interest rates can mean thousands of dollars per year and hundreds of thousands over the life of your loan. What Are Mortgage Rates Currently in San Jose? Your Willow […]

Home Buying San Jose Real Estate Newsletter by Michelle Elliott Realtor San Jose Real Estate Newsletter The unfiltered truth about the San Jose market, delivered weekly. About the Author With over 20 years of experience navigating the fast-paced Silicon Valley market, I provide a strategic, results-driven approach to residential real estate. My career is built on a foundation of deep local expertise and a relentless commitment […]