Downtown San Jose Real Estate

Homebuyers Education Classes in San Jose

SVLOFTS — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:03:12 +0000

Buying a home for the first time can be a strange and frightening experience. Homebuyers can be discouraged from the lengthy process and foreign, technical words. Do not fear- this month the Department of Housing of the City of San Jose will be hosting courses to demystify the process of buying homes in the Bay Area. The Department of Housing and their cooperating partners will be hosting homebuyer workshops Tuesday May 15 & 22; Saturday, June 9; and Saturday, June 23.

The specific times and places are as follows:

Tuesday, May 15 and 22, 2012 - 5:00PM - 9:00PM (Berryessa Branch Library, 3355 Noble Avenue, San Jose)

Saturday, June 9, 2012 - 9:00AM - 5:00PM (Cambrian Branch Library, 1780 Hillsdale Avenue, San Jose) Spanish

Saturday, June 23, 2012 - 9:00AM - 5:00PM (Evergreen Branch Library, 2635 Aborn Road, San Jose)

The event requires a registration so sign up at their website here. For further details and information, contact Korey Richardson at 408-975-4468 or visit their website.

For those interested in making San Jose their new home, browse through our current listings of townhouses, lofts and condos in the area. Our real estate agents are available to answer any questions regarding the listings and clarify the process of purchasing a home.

Live Jazz Performance at Pagoda Restaurant

SVLOFTS — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:58:43 +0000

Along with tonight being South First Fridays, downtown San Jose’s Pagoda Restaurant will also debut as a permanent live music venue. This means, though Pagoda will no longer serve classic Chinese cuisine, Pagoda will become a regular part of the growing music scene in San Jose. Pagoda will shift from an upscale Chinese restaurant to a classic lounge where patrons can enjoy cocktails, relax in classic lounge-atmosphere, and listen to the newest trends in music. From international bands to local artists, Pagoda will be continuing their ‘Live at the Pagoda’ tradition and continually contribute to the thriving artistic culture of San Jose.

Tonight, San Jose Jazz will feature Dana Leong at Pagoda. Leong is a cellist, trombonist, and composer able to combine hip-hop beats and Jazz melodies into unique musical blends.

Pagoda is located on 170 South Market St. The entrance is through the Fairmont Hotel’s back entrance, the concert begins at 8:30pm, and admission is free. Be sure to check out South First Fridays Art Walk as well.

Additional information can be found on the Pagoda website and the San Jose Jazz website.

South First Fridays Art Walk

SVLOFTS — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:42:50 +0000

Today is the first Friday of May which marks the beginning of a night full artists and gallery exhibits in Downtown San Jose. First Fridays is a long-standing, monthly event where local artists are able to showcase their artwork, sell art pieces, and at times perform street art as well. From photography, hand drawings, paintings to a variety of crafts, South First Fridays aims at your inner artist and allows you to mingle with local creative minds at reception-styled exhibitions held throughout the night.

The event is self-guided, so come anytime between 7-11pm and walk yourself through a series of galleries, museums, and businesses that set up just for the special night. Live music and performances will also be present for your enjoyment. South First Fridays will be located all along South First Street. An amazing selection of featured artists’ will be featured throughout South Street, so be sure not to miss out.

First Fridays is a regular, monthly event in Downtown San Jose. For specific addresses and additional information, please visit their event page here.

San Jose Made Partners with SJ Eats in Downtown San Jose

Tony — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:02:28 +0000

The native foodies of the Bay Area are probably familiar with food trucks that wander up and down the streets in the Bay at deliciously, affordable prices. If you have not heard, then you’re in luck. This weekend, SJ Eats’ great meals on wheels are combining forces with SJMade for a pleasant meet to showcase local businesses, brands and labels in addition to providing numerous dining options.

From homemade jewelry to graphic tees, SJMade will be gathering many vendors surely to appeal to a variety of interests. For those keeping an eye on the food, SJ Eats are featuring the following gourmet food trucks this Saturday, April 21st, from 5-8pm:

Eat on Monday- Think creative dishes such as Beef Short Rib Tacos or Mini Chipotle Burgers
KoJa Kitchen- Korean and Japanese cuisine
Pollo Fritto- Chicken dishes
Project Cupcake
Soulnese
Tandoori Chicken USA

The admission to this event is free and open to the public. SJMade will be featured at 151 W. Santa Clara Street (formerly Spiedo Ristorante) and 87 N. San Pedro Street in San Pedro Square Market. Find SJ Eats along W. St. John Street also in San Pedro Square Market.
No matter what time of day, San Pedro Square is alive and bustling. Check out what there is to do in the Square before and after this event in our previous blog posts on the new farmers’ market and new arrivals in San Pedro Square.
For more information about this event visit www.mvblfeast.com, and http://www.sanjosemade.com/about.

San Pedro Square Market: New Restaurants and Vendors!

SVLOFTS — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:06:23 +0000

During November last year, our blog post “San Pedro Square Market Slowly Coming to Life” brought you updates on the new arrivals of restaurants and vendors that made their debut in the San Pedro Square Market. This year has brought more changes to the landscape of Downtown San Jose, which can only mean one good thing - more delicious food. Since our last post, new vendors and restaurants have opened and more are still on their way. Let’s take a look at what’s taking up real estate at the San Pedro Square Market.

On a Roll is one of the newly arrived ethnic cuisines in the area. A Vietnamese restaurant, they serve grilled pork sandwiches on a French baguette topped with fresh cilantro and Jalapenos, a variety of noodle and tofu plates, spring rolls, and many other items. On a Roll is located towards the front of the Market.

Crepe-Paris will be opening within 2-4 weeks and serving both sweet and savory crepes. Crepes-Paris will be open late (past 10pm) for your dining pleasure as well. It may not be Paris, but it’ll come close. In addition, Loteria Taco Bar will be opening later this year featuring an assortment of tacos in the El Dorado building of San Pedro Square Market.

The Lusardi building at the San Pedro Square Market will also be calling on those with a sweet-tooth, the health-conscious, and cheese-lovers alike. Here’s the inside scoop on some of the new vendors that have recently opened or that will be arriving soon:

Treatbot Karaoke Ice Cream Truck

Veggiebox - fresh, local veggies and prepared dishes

Blush - Sushi, oysters, and a hip, modern bar

Showroom - Boutique apparel

Ay Dios Mio - Unique Boutique

The Little Cheese Shop - Cheese, Charcuterie, and Gourmet Foods

San Pedro Square Seafood

One of the perks of living in Downtown San Jose, at great places like Axis, City Heights or Plant 51, is being within walking distance of the liveliness of the Market. San Pedro Square Market is a few short blocks from these high-rise buildings. And don’t forget about the new Saturday Farmer’s Market taking place in front of the San Pedro Square Market. Delicious foods, small business vendors are just a few steps away from home and all at affordable prices.

More information can be found on www.sanpedrosquaremarket.com.

Job Market Sees Recovery in 2012

SVLOFTS — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:52:19 +0000

The past few years have seen difficult times with unemployment rates dipping to their lowest since the Great Depression. Overall, opportunities were slim for the experienced and college graduates alike. Fortunately, a recent survey by Gallup showed job markets looking up and that this recovery will directly affect individuals looking for jobs in the San Jose Metropolitan Area. A recent article in the Economic Policy Journal, “Nine US Cities Where Jobs are Booming,” highlights a list of cities where job opportunities and hiring rates noticeably outweigh unemployment rates. Included within this list is the Silicon Valley metro area consisting of San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara, which scored a job creation index of 20 and an unemployment rate of 9.1% (since Jan. 2012). The job creation index indicates the percentage of employees who think their company is hiring versus the percentage of employees who think their company is making cuts. Altogether, unemployment rates have fallen 15.7% in the San Jose Metropolitan Area. This area showed the greatest improvement rate in the nation when asked if employers were hiring.

Improvement in the job markets may also explain the positive impact on home sales this year. Coupled with job opportunities, mortgage rates are at an all-time low and homes are at more affordable prices than ever. The real estate market has noticed an upswing in activity the past few months.

Looking for a job has been difficult the past few years, but the times are slowly improving. Be sure to look into the life and job opportunities that may await you in the Silicon Valley. Whether it may be finding a condo or home to build a life in the Bay Area as a writer, engineer, information technician- the possibilities are virtually endless.

Easter Egg Hunt in Downtown San Jose

SVLOFTS — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 06:45:35 +0000

Spring is slowly creeping in and events are blossoming outdoors in Downtown San Jose. On Sunday, April 8^th at noon, the quest for eggs will begin at the Children’s Play Area in St. James Park. Egg hunts, a popular holiday tradition enjoyed by children of all ages, will take place in big piece of real estate known as St. James’ Park lawn area so take some time to enjoy the spring breeze, fresh air and candy-filled eggs. Please RSVP with Ragan Henninger at district3@sanjoseca.gov if you plan on attending. If you live in one of the nearby communities, such as Park Townsend, The Plaza, 350 N. 2nd Street Lofts, or City Heights, plan on hopping on by for some good old fashioned Easter fun.

What: Easter Egg Hunt
When: April 8^th at noon
Where: Children’s Play Area in St. James Park (2nd St and St James St, Downtown San Jose)

Long Awaited San Pedro Square Farmers’ Market Grand Opening

SVLOFTS — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:00:10 +0000

With the start of spring, we’re looking for some fresh produce to toss into our salads and pasta primaveras. Fortunately, the Grand Opening of a Saturday Farmers’ Market is just around the corner. On April 7^th, there will be about 40-50 vendors featuring locally grown and organic produce of every shape and size. The new downtown farmers’ market will be opened year–round, rain or shine, from 10am-2pm in Downtown San Jose. You can find the market at West St. John Street between San Pedro Street and Almaden Avenue. After finishing groceries at the farmers’ market, you can eat lunch, grab drinks and enjoy live music at San Pedro Square Market. Call up your family and friends and you will be glad you made a memorable Saturday trip to San Pedro Square Market.

This Saturday Farmers’ Market is a separate event from the seasonal Downtown Farmers’ Market that will still occur on Fridays also on San Pedro Street. The new Saturday farmers’ market in Downtown San Jose will be a fantastic new addition for residents living in downtown as well as bringing in more visitors to the downtown area on the weekends.

What: San Pedro Square Saturday Farmers’ Market
When: April 7^th from 10am-2pm and every Saturday following
Where: West St. John St between San Pedro St and Almaden Ave in Downtown San Jose

More information can be found on www.sanpedrosquaremarket.com and www.urbanvillageonline.com.

Silicon Valley Residential Realty Makes the List of Top Ranked Real Estate Firms in Silicon Valley

Eric — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:39:59 +0000

We made the list! The Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal just published their list of the top 25 residential real estate firms in Silicon Valley, and Silicon Valley Residential Realty Inc., the corporate parent for Silicon Valley Lofts & Condos, ranked #22 for 2011! All of us here at the office are very excited and proud of our accomplishment. We’re looking forward to even bigger things to come in 2012.

Are You Smarter Than Your Downtown San Jose Real Estate Specialist?

Eric — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:26:22 +0000

Think you have what it takes to beat team Silicon Valley Lofts & Condos at pub trivia? Join us at the San Pedro Square Market Bar on Monday, March 19, and give it your best shot! Hosted by Brainstormer Pub Quiz®, the topics for the evening will include General Knowledge & Pop Culture, Mix and Match - Oscar Quotes, The Picture Round, 50/50 Chance, and Name the Artist - Music Round. Start your evening with dinner from Pizza Bocca Lupo, The Little Chef Counter, Robee’s Falafel, or On a Roll. The San Pedro Square Market Bar also offers happy hour drink specials from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. It’s sure to be a fun evening in downtown San Jose.

What: Brainstormer Pub Quiz®

Where: San Pedro Square Market
87 N. San Pedro Street in downtown San Jose

When: Monday, March 19 at 7:00 pm