The Strathmore Neighborhood of Los Gatos

Sitting close to the Los Gatos foothills and enjoying lovely views, Strathmore is a small community in east Los Gatos which enjoys beautiful tree-lined streets and a community pool.

Where is the Strathmore Neighborhood of Los Gatos?

Strathmore is an east Los Gatos neighborhood found within the boundaries of Union Avenue, Anne Way, Blossom Hill Road, and Meadowbrook Road, approximately. It belongs to the Union School District and the Campbell Union High School District.

It is not clear if all of these streets may have been in Strathmore originally, but now they are considered the same neighborhood.

There is still some open land in the neighborhood. At the end of Panorama Way, there's a large lot that appears roomy enough for perhaps three homes. New homes were build in recent years near the bend in Briarwood Way (and Cambrian View Way, which is not named on the map). They are spacious and very tastefully done and enhance the neighborhood.

What Are The Homes Like in Strathmore?

This is a very tidy area and the homes are well built and nicely maintained overall. You'll be hard-pressed to find a neglected home in Strathmore! Most were built between 1965 and 1975, though there are a few new or totally rebuilt homes there too.  Most homes are between 1500 and 2500 square feet.

There do appear to be a few different builders in the Strathmore subdivision. Several seem to have been built by Garcia, who is responsible for many of the neighborhoods in Los Gatos and Cambrian Park (the "King streets" off Carlton Ave., the "Blossom" streets such as Blossom Valley Drive and the neighborhood close to Alta Vista School). Some look similar to homes found on nearby Pinehurst, Danville, Taft, and the streets which are just on the other side of Union Avenue.

Many of the Strathmore homes, though, have  a characteristic layout in which the living room is adjacent to the garage and is a "step down" room with the fireplace facing the sidewalk and the kitchen faces the back yard. Another typical floorplan here is a two story model in which the second story does not cover all of the first. Again, the kitchen is in the back of the home. As with other homes of this vintage, bathrooms tend to be on the small side. Master bedrooms are usually facing the backyard.

Because of the neighborhood's popularity, many homeowners remain for long periods, and rather than leave, remodel or add on.  Many have added on or altered the original footprint of the home to make it more contemporary. Often we see homes for sale in this subdivision in which ceilings are raised, skylights are added, and all kinds of improvements are made to better the flow to make the property more modern.

What Do Strathmore Homes Generally Cost?

Depending on the size of the home, the amount of updating or remodeling done, and the proximity to either busier streets or the high voltage lines, prices vary considerably. A smaller home in all original condition up against a busy road or with high voltage lines or some other issue could go as low as in the $700,000 to $900,000 range. A larger home that's new or completely remodeled could go for more than $1,000,000.

Just listed and sold, summer of 2011: Fixer Upper at 176 Kensington Way

The house at 176 Kensington Way, Los Gatos, CA, 95032 sold off market in August 2011. It was being prepared for sale when a preemptive offer came in and the sellers decided to take it.  The house is 3 bed, 2 bath, 1564 SF on an 8000 SF lot and sold for $690.000.  This is far below the usual pricing for the neighborhood and reflects the work which was needed - it ws clean but just the same, a "fixer upper" or contractor's special.  (The kitchen, baths and plumbing are original and all need replacing or remodeling.  The fireplace chimney snapped off in the Loma Prieta earthquake and was not rebuilt.... The home did enjoy hardwood floors, dual pane windows and a nicely updated front and back yard.)
 

Are There Any Issues in the Strathmore Neighborhood of Los Gatos?

There are two or three issues to be aware of when looking at homes near Anne Way in Los Gatos.  First, there are high voltage power lines that run just behind Anne Way (between Anne and Howes in the map above). Whether or not it's a health hazard, it is a resale issue. On the plus side, though, homes backing to the high voltage lines often have extra large lots. The community pool is directly under the lines.

Another concern is water coming off the hills. This is a major challenge for many who live in Los Gatos. It is imperative that water not pool at or near the foundation. When water runs up against the house and seeps into the crawlspace, our clay soil expands, to the ruin of of concrete. Foundations may crack, floors go out of level, moisture may cause mold and encourage the growth of fungus, and so on. This is something to be aware of if you are buying a home anywhere along the foothills, whether Morgan Hill, Almaden Valley, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Cupertino. Los Altos, etc.

Finally, some of the Strathmore area homes are close to busier roads (Union and Blossom Hill), and that's another negative to avoid.

For more information on this area, or any area in or near Los Gatos, please contact me today!

Mary Pope-Handy
408 204-7673
Mary (at) PopeHandy.com

 This article originally published on Live in Los Gatos in 2008.

RE: The Strathmore Neighborhood of Los Gatos

Do you know how to contact the neighborhood association in strathmore?

RE: The Strathmore Neighborhood of Los Gatos

I think the homes in the Los Gatos communty are wonderful and would be worth every penny. For home buyers it would also be nice to be a witness of the homes for oneself. Is it possible for you to try before you buy? That would be great. In addition it will give the chance for first hand experience and to help a person find the perfect home for themselves

RE: The Strathmore Neighborhood of Los Gatos

Hi Ronnie,

In the luxury homes market, a few sellers are permitting potential buyers to spend a night or two prior to close of escrow to see if they like it. This is pretty infrequent even in that market, though.

Another possible way to "try before you buy" is a lease option. For a variety of reasons, although these are legal, they are not very popular.  I wrote about lease options on my Valley of Hearts Delight blog, and you can read a little more about them there.

Thanks for commenting!  Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Mary