What do you need to know before buying a house in Los Gatos? Particularly for people relocatingto Los Gatos (or generally to Silicon Valley) from other areas, or from parts of Santa Clara County not close to the hills, there are a few home buying tips you'll want to know before purchasing a home in our fair town. (For locals, these may seem obvious!)
1. Los Gatos & Schools
Whether you have school aged kids or not, you'll want to know that there are several school districts covering the Los Gatos area. School district lines do not follow the town's boundaries. (Not too long ago I met someone with a home to sell in the Belgatos area and he had no idea that his home did not belong to the Los Gatos Union School District. This caused him to misunderstand the likely market value of his property.)
Areas closest to "downtown Los Gatos", especially the historic neighborhoods (including Almond Grove, Edelen, Broadway, Fairview Plaza) tend to be much more expensive than those further out. The "walk to town" or "close to town" proximity makes them highly desireable, but also these regions of town are very scenic and have some fabulous Victorian and other beautiful architectural styles. Many are tree-lined, too.
Related to both #1 and #2, the public schools are not all that close to downtown Los Gatos. (St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School is in the downtown area, as is the adjacent Los Gatos Parent Nursery School.)
3. Hillside locales
If you buy a house close to a hill, among some hills or on a hill, you will need to pay close attention to issues which are less common in flatter areas further from slopes. Among them are foundation, water and drainage concerns. Some flat areas near the hills may have a high water table, may springs that come seasonally or in very wet years as well as runoff problems.
Water is often far more damaging than termites but it is not really uncommon to find water in a crawl space during the rainy season. Learn about it and pay heed to property inspectors' suggestions regarding remediation if it's a condition in a house you want to purchase.
I wrote about this on my Valley of Hearts Delight blog (covering all of Santa Clara County, but mostly the west valley) and suggest these two articles:
Some homes with a "Los Gatos address" may not actually be in the town of Los Gatos. Many are in a county pocket or area (and may not have all the services of the town). A very few are actually part of either Campbell or San Jose but were assigned the Los Gatos mailing address for ease of the US Post Office.
How can you tell if a residence is part of the town of Los Gatos, is unincorporated or part of another city? The website for the county of Santa Clara has a lookup service. First you must accept the terms of service (see link above), then you will be allowed to input an address. If you type in a location's address and it says "not found", either you've got a typo in the building number or a mistake in the actual city, so perhaps it's unincorporated or belonging to another adjacent municipality.
What difference does it make? The actual address (not mailing address) will impact a variety of things such as services (sherriff vs Los Gatos Monte Sereno police, free access to Oak Meadow Park), planning (any additions, remodels etc. will need to be approved by your actual city), voting in Los Gatos elections, etc.
5. Los Gatos is a town, not a city
Los Gatos is a town. (Monte Sereno, with whom we share some services, is much smaller but is a city, not a town.) This means our government is run a litte differently. For instance, we don't vote for mayor. Instead, we vote for town council members. They, in turn, vote for mayor. (Usually it's a rotation.)
According to Wikipedia: "There are 481 incorporated municipalities in California, of which 459 are called cities and 22 are called towns." I was surprised that there are so many towns - had thought it was only a handful!
Los Gatos is an interesting, fun, welcoming town. If you're moving to the area, it's a vibrant place you should check out. Please call or email me if you'd like more assistance.
For people relocating to Los Gatos, it may be a little complicated to figure out where to find the best news about the town. Today I'll share with you my favorite sources today:
1. News and alerts from the Town of Los Gatos
The town government has a great website where you can find loads of information generally (everything from "how things work" to "how to volunteer" and everything in between): http://www.town.los-gatos.ca.us/
II. Los Gatos Patch - a newcomer with great information
Patch is a national news chain owned by AOL which provides local news, information, and exchanges in various areas around the country. Patch came to Los Gatos in December and has made great strides into the community with a broad range of news and events. If you haven't visited the site yet, drop by and have a read. http://losgatos.patch.com/
III. Best source for events information - the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce
The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce has a spectacular list of events in town (and events are news!), both a general overview and a month-by-month calendar of things happening in and very near to Los Gatos. From the home page, see the choices in the left sidebar and have a look at the "hot happenings" (current events) and the "community events" calendar. http://losgatoschamber.com (home page)
IV. San Jose Mercury News (Los Gatos Weekly Times)
As with many news organizations, the Los Gatos Weekly Times, which was once an independent news source affiliated with other similar news vehicles in Silicon Valley, is now owned by the Merc and most articles are online in the Mercury News website. The news is not bad - but there's not a lot of it. (And the paper version is mostly ads, unfortunately.) Prior to the takeover, the Silicon Valley Community Newspapers kept their online pieces up for years, and that was really nice. Now they are only up a short period of time before you are charged to view the archives.
I prefer the paper version, which is delivered to our home each week, since it seems that not 100% of what's there is online.
One other bias to note is that the LGWT does school coverage but it's limited 99% of the time to the the Los Gatos school district - whereas about 1/3 of the town attends other nearby public school districts. http://www.mercurynews.com/los-gatos
V. Live in Los Gatos
(Yes, this blog - a shameless plug)
I try to capture images, info and events to share with my readers to provide another vantage point or something that may not come up in the more traditional media. And since I am a Realtor (who lives and works in town), I provide housing market stats and info, much of it data I have crunched myself that you will not find elsewhere (for example, info on the subsets of the market such as by sale type, school district, or price point)..
I hope you will bookmark this site and visit often!
What about Los Gatos info on Social Media?
I have to mention this because so many people hang on the online communities. I have not found great news about Los Gatos on social media sites yet - but we may have to circle back down the road, it may get better.
Facebook: if you're hunting for info on Facebook for Los Gatos, you'll find that the majority of "results" will be real estate people sharing their blog posts there. (Here's mine, which right now is the #1 search result: http://www.facebook.com/LosGatosRealEstate)
Los Gatos news sources have changed a lot in four years
A lot has changed since then. The Los Gatos Daily News is defunct (it is now a parked website). The Los Gatos Observer was sold (and is very inactive, mostly covering sports at Los Gatos High - they do a very good job with that topic, though). The Mercury News took over the Los Gatos Times Weekly, so two sources became just one.
If you are soon relocating to Los Gatos or new to town, you may hear people drop the names of places and feel a little lost. In some cases, it may be trouble spelling an unfamiliar name, in others that the same place is known by more than one name or that one name has several potential meanings. Here are some place names and local terminology you'll want to know:
Vasona - also Vasona Lake or Vasona Lake County Park: this one gets a lot of typos when people are trying to find it (I see them via the search terms people use to find this blog), sometimes typing in Verona or Vesona. This park is the largest in Los Gatos, consisting of over 100 acres, directly attached to Oak Meadow (which belongs to the town, while Vasona belongs to the county). The entrance to the park is on Blossom Hill Road close to University Avenue (don't try to enter off of Lark - that's a locked gate). More info on both parks. Seeslideshow of Vasona & Oak Meadow Parks here.
The Manor - also Blossom Manor or Blossom Hill Manor: this is a residential neighborhood bordered by Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos Almaden and Longwood. Homes in this area are in the Los Gatos School District. (See post and photos of this neighborhood.)
The Boulevard - Los Gatos Boulevard, which is the road that Main Street turns into as it heads towards San Jose. This is the area where normal shopping happens for many of the town's residents. It's where you find grocery stores, drug stores, fast food and other inexpensive restaurants, etc.
East Los Gatos - definitions vary, sometimes referencing everything from approximately Harwood Road to Highway 17, other times Harwood Road to Los Gatos Blvd. (Post on this topic.)
Downtown - usually references Main Street, Santa Cruz Avenue (north or south), University Avenue and areas closest to all of these. (Usually does not include areas as far as Highway 9, aka Los Gatos Saratoga Road.) Most of downtown is business related but there are some neighborhoods that are right in downtown too.
The Hill - Los Gatos has tons of hills, but "the hill" actually means the Santa Cruz Mountains and the pass through them.
Blossom Hill - can mean Blossom Hill School, Blossom Hill Park, Blossom Hill Road, or perhaps even the hill which is called "Blossom Hill". (If you traverse Blossom Hill Road, you'll drive up a little bit at one stretch between Camino del Cerro and Blossom Dale Drive - at this point you're up on the base of the hill which is Blossom Hill.) Yes, it is confusing.
Old Town - shopping center on University Avenue in downtown, once the site of the town's elementary school. (It's where you'll find the Border's bookstore and a number of nice shops and restaurants.)
In town - a contrast to "in the mountains" or perhaps "in a county pocket" but in the general area of the town of Los Gatos. There are areas with a Los Gatos mailing address but are not actually part of the town of Los Gatos. This is true for all of the 95033 zip code (which is in the mountains and reached via Hwy 17 - some of that is actually in Santa Cruz County and not Santa Clara County) as well as some of the county pockets in 95030 and 95032 (which are mostly "in town").
The Chart House - people still refer to the old Coggeshall Mansion on North Santa Cruz Avenue by that name, but the Chart House closed several years ago and had other restaurants at that site afterwards. It's a lovely old Victorian, one of many which initially lined that street but now the only one remaining. Initially it was a private home, then a mortuary, then a series of restaurants. It has a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in town. At this writing, it's available for lease.
The Museum - need to clarify which one because the town has two: an art museum (in the old firehouse on West Main) and a history museum (at Forbes Mill). They do share a website, luckily.
In the Schools - a phrase meaning that homes in a particular area are within the Los Gatos School District. Los Gatos has several school districts, including Union Schools (shared with the Cambrian Park area of San Jose) and Moreland Schools (shared with Campbell).
Almond Grove, Edelen, Glenridge, Fairview Plaza - older residential neighborhoods either in or very near to downtown Los Gatos. Many of these areas have homes dating back to the late 1800s. (To read about these and other neighborhoods (such as Surrey Farms, Strathmore, Belwood, Heritage Grove and many more), please click on this link for all the neighborhood posts on Live in Los Gatos.)
What's it like to live in Los Gatos? The answer to that depends on who you are, where you live, and what you love to do. Generally speaking, people who live in Los Gatos have a sense of belonging both to this great town and also to nearby areas such as San Jose & the greater Silicon Valley or "South Bay" communities or the mountain communities if they are in the hills over town in places like Redwood Estate, Chemeketa Park, etc. The town is very much self-contained, but not insular.
At the core, Los Gatos is a scenic, historic, vibrant community with great affection for culture, entertainment, parks and schools. In many ways, it feels a bit European. Los Gatos has an artistic flare. It is not "sleepy". The town gets 300 sunny days a year and the townsfolk love to be outdoors. There's a lot of community involvement and volunteerism. If you want to help out, there are loads of ways you can do that and get to know your neighbors.
The town enjoys two main commercial areas: the historic downtown area of Los Gatos (Main Street, University Avenue, North Santa Cruz and Los Gatos-Saratoga Road area) and The Boulevard (Los Gatos Blvd, which is what Main Street turns into as it heads north past Blossom Hill Road and Los Gatos Almaden Road). If you live here, the odds are that you'll have occassion to visit both fairly often. We're a place which values history but also embraces high tech. Netflix calls Los Gatos home, and so does Cryptic Studios (video game company). There are plenty of grocery stores, including Safeway, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Nob Hill and Lunardi's, plus several small corner markets too. The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce provides a fabulous community calendar and runs several excellent events during the year, including horse drawn carriage rides during the holidays.
We know how to have fun as a community and enjoy events year round. In summer, Los Gatos comes together to appreciate 3 free musical concert series, the Los Gatos Shakespeare Festival (at Oak Meadow Park), Fiesta de Artes, and so much more. September brings us Screen on the Green. In winter there are holiday happenings with the light festival at Vasona Park, a tree-lighting ceremony the first Friday in December and a huge holiday parade the next day. Year-round, visiting the Farmer's Market is as much fun as it is serious shopping (every Sunday morning in front of the post office).
Need some down time? Los Gatos can help you there, as well, as we are brimming with salons and places for pampering and massage. Or shop yourself happy at our many many stores. Love expensive cars?We've got that too. We have restaurants ranging world class dining to 50s style hot dog and hambuger joints and everything in between. We have wine bars and tasting rooms - right in town but also in the Santa Cruz Mountains and neighboring San Jose and Saratoga. Los Gatos is a wonderful place to spend a quiet weekend for R & R.
Just want to be somewhere that looks unique? We understand. So often, you go to Anytown USA and it looks just like everywhere else (especially when you shop). First, our town, once called the Gem City, is snuggled into the Santa Cruz Mountains - so there's a gorgeous backdrop. Second, we care about preserving our historic features, so you will find classic architecture of several kinds in homes and commercial buildings both. Our scenery is both natural and architectural!
No shortage of cultural things to do in town either. In addition to the music and Shakespeare, we also have two museums - one for art, one for history. And maybe the brightest star in the sky for culture right now is our newest project: a great new library for which we've just recently broken ground. (The library and history museum have a fantastic project on Los Gatos history, too.) If you cross the pedestrian bridge between Forbes Mill and Old Town, you'll find that kids have been encouraged to get artistic (they have painted the walls along that bridge). Beautiful, professional murals can be found throughout the town.
The public schools are a very big priority for many people in Los Gatos. The town and the Los Gatos Mountain areas have a few different school districts, with scores ranging from good to great. There are no bad schools in Los Gatos. Parents are very involved and care about their kids' success. Not every child is in public schools, though: interestingly, about 1/3 of the children in Los Gatos attend private schools either here in town or in a neighboring community.
Los Gatos is a very "fit" place overall - if you like to hike, bike, jog, walk, swim you'll have ample opportunities, alone or in groups. Parks & Rec is also vibrant in Los Gatos. There aren't many communities where you can have your kids attend a camp and learn to sail, but you can do that here! There are all kinds of community classes and camps. Additionally, the town includes many private businesses for fitness (swimming, tennis, weights, yoga, pilates, classes, and more) and the gorgeous Los Gatos Creek Trail beckons. Horseback riding can be found too - all within Los Gatos. Whether you want to find a personal trainer, work out at the fabulous new JCC complex, sail at Vasona or walk in Belgatos Park or along the creek trail, there are almost infinite options for exercize here, many of those options in scenic places.
Spirituality and religion are also a part of life in Los Gatos for many residents. The town is home to many faith communities (about a half dozen of which do interfaith activities each Thanksgiving and sometimes more often than that). Many of them have outreach to the community with assistance for the homeless, bereaved, jobless, and many other needs.
Los Gatos is very kid friendly, very seniors friendly, and very dog friendly. The first two might not surprise you as we have so many events and in many places it's a "walkable" town which has amazingly good weather.
Kids and Los Gatos
The parks, schools, and myriad of free and low-cost events make Los Gatos a fabulous place for young people. The big town in Silicon Valley, San Jose, was recently named as one of the top 100 cities (ranking # 39 - Fremont, btw, was # 5) in the country to raise kids.
Dogs in the Town of Cats
The dog thing surprises many since the town is Los Gatos, meaning The Cats, and you will see cat logos everywhere. But visit downtown and you'll find an awful lot of shops and restaurants have places for dogs to be tethered or watered. At Halloween there's always a pet parade which benefits the Los Gatos - Monte Sereno Police K9 unit. And Los Gatos shares a dog park with our neighboring city of Campbell.
Seniors in Los Gatos
Housing: There are a couple of condo complexes in town which are specifically for seniors. They are more affordable than "regular" housing. One is on West Parr Avenue and the other off Alberto Way (The Commons of Los Gatos).
Additionally, there are other types of senior housing too, including independent living (rental), assisted living and nursing. (I wrote a lenghy post on downsizing and retiring in Los Gatos which you might find helpful.)
Entertainment: Los Gatos has a very active Seniors Center and our Parks & Rec Center features many offerings at low cost too. Many restaurants in town offer special pricing for early bird or senior suppers, so there are plenty of excuses to get out! If you visit Oak Meadow Park on a Saturday morning, you may be able to watch some older gentleman playing a little Bocce Ball. They are regular fixtures there!
What are the people like in Los Gatos?
Old and young, area (Silicon Valley) natives, replanted Americans and immigrants all make this place home. (Many of the newcomers are in high tech, just like the rest of the valley.) Demographics sites like Zip Skinny can give you the breakdown by zip code on income, education, etc., but because this is a pricey area, it does tend to attract those who are very well educated and who have professional jobs.
Some of the well-to-do in town can be identified as such by their cars, clothes and jewelry, but just as often, it's more like "the milionaire next door". Some of the best paid (or best at saving) don't drive the newest luxury vehicle or wear the biggest diamonds. So don't be fooled - the guy in the Honda minivan or the woman in the old Toyota may just be anti-status symbol. (And it can run the other way too: some of those with expensive vehicles, clothes or jewelry may put all their eggs into the appearances basket.)
Several famous people have chosen to make Los Gatos their home. They blend in just like everyone else. You may bump into them at Whole Foods, FedEx Office, the car wash, a community event, the Chocolate Dream Box or anywhere in town. I'm not going to list them here - most probably prefer to be left alone unless contacted through their websites, and I'm happy to not contribute to their being hounded by star crazy people. (Los Gatos has been home to many other famous people, and had famous visitors too, in the past.)
Los Gatos is not just for the wealthy - there are many middle class and some economically disadvantaged people here too.
There is not one "Los Gatos Lifestyle". Some residents may focus their activities on sports, others on wine or coffee bars, still others on a school, church, synagogue or even the town government. We see a lot of different hobbies and interests, whether it's volunteerism, art, history, government, business, or sports (to name just a few!). The beach is only a half an hour away too, so that is also part of the fabric of the community.
To learn more about life in Los Gatos, please read other posts on this blog, view the photos and if you want personalized information, please contact me!
Relocation is an upheaval, but often one full of excitement and promise. People moving to Silicon Valley find themselves coming to a place unlike any other - it's is an entrepenuer's haven, a high tech magnet. With a highly educated population, low crime, fantastic weather, scenic beauty, and opportunities in every aspect of life, the move to Silicon Valley or the San Jose area is abundant with opportunity for success and happiness.
How do you choose where to live once you decide that Santa Clara County, or Silicon Valley, will be home? There are a lot of things to consider, from the type of home you want and the commute distance you can tolerate to the availabilty of parks and trails, excellent schools, and an ambiance where you'll feel at home. And cost, too, of course.
For many, many people relocating to Silicon Valley from within the U.S. or from abroad, Los Gatos is that place that "feels like home". People from Europe have often told me that Los Gatos has a "European feel", and from my year living in Florence, Italy, I can appreciate that correlation! With the many unique shops and great restaurants and the heavy foot traffic, Los Gatos comes across as a place for living and spending time. It's a true community.
The community aspect is extremely important in Los Gatos. Many things bring people together. Big public events are common in Los Gatos - and many of them are free! In summers, there are not one but three free musical concert series (Vasona Vibrations, Jazz on the Plazz and Music in the Park). There's Shakespeare at Oak Meadow Park too. In September, a free movie is shown at Oak Meadow Park and the event is called "Screen on the Green". In December, there will be a well-attended tree lighting ceremony on the first Friday night of the month and a huge holiday parade the next morning. Every Sunday there's a Farmer's Market in the Los Gatos town Park Plaza (across from the post office). There are so many events, all year round, that bring people together. Some are sponsored by local churches (like the St. Mary's Country Fair in early October) or the Chamber of Commerce (Claws for a Cause in September). In November there's an inter-faith Thanksgiving service. Each year it is hosted at a different house of worship. And this is only a passing glance at the fun events that happen each year in the town of Los Gatos.
There are a thousand small things too. Volunteers make this town go! Los Gatos has two museums, and volunteers are the heart and soul of those operations. Volunteers in Policing, the many town commissions are all hosted by volunteers. (My husband is a volunteer on the Los Gatos Parks Commission.)
Schools are a big deal in Los Gatos too. The town is served by three elementary and middle school districts and they range from good to great in terms of the scoring.
Another key element that makes Los Gatos special is scenic beauty. The town of Los Gatos is nestled into the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, so there are gentle, rolling hills and some steeper hills that provide dramatic and impressive views. The terrain is lovely with oak trees and redwood trees alike, but many grassy meadows where you might find deer or wild turkey. Some of Los Gatos is "horse country" too.
Vineyards are popular in lots with more space and the Santa Cruz Mountains are filled with wineries. You won't have to go far to taste locally grown and bottled wine, though - we have spots right in town where that can be done!
The Old Los Gatos or downtown area is historic and architecturally beautiful too. The Almond Grove District, the Edelen District, and the Broadway area are all turn-of-the-last century vintage and lovely old Victorian homes line the streets. Talk about charm! In December there are horse-drawn carriage rides that meander through the downtown and historic parts of Los Gatos.
Our weather is conducive to year-round fun outdoors - the Santa Clara Valley enjoys 300 sunny days a year! Los Gatos is the gateway to the coast, too, so it's only about a thirty minute drive from downtown Los Gatos to the beach at Santa Cruz.
Los Gatos also enjoys a bountiful supply of great parks. Vasona Lake County Park doesn't belong to the town (it's a county park) but it's over 100 acres, with a lake, right in the middle of the town of Los Gatos. Many other parks grace the town from one end to the other. Some have a fascinating history too.
Low crime, great schools, community spirit, fabulous dining and shops, ambiance, and parks are all a part of the Los Gatos experience.
Chicago Title has a relocation guide online, at no cost. Visit http://www.chicagotitle.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=352 and input California for the state and Santa Clara for the county and you'll get a very helpful guide to Silicon Valley.
What if you love Los Gatos but it's beyond your budget?
I can help you to find a home either in or near Los Gatos if the town is not quite in reach right now. There are many great areas adjacent to Los Gatos, such as Cambrian Park, Saratoga, Almaden Valley, Campbell, and Willow Glen - many of which are more affordable (or may offer a shorter commute). Call or email me and we'll evaluate your wants and needs together to get you as much as possible within your budget!
People who relocate to Silicon Valley from out of the area often are attracted to Los Gatos from what they've read about the town: low crime, great schools, scenic beauty, abundant parks, fabulous old downtown area, great community involvement and lots to do in town and nearby. There's some interesting history and architecture too. And on top of all of that, Los Gatos is only 30 minutes from the beach at Santa Cruz, twenty from San Jose and about an hour from San Francisco too. So (besides the cost of housing), what's not to like?
There are a ton of reasons to choose to live in Los Gatos. There are, however, a few things you should know as you decide to set down roots here.
First, the town's boundaries and the school disctrict boundaries are screwy. Just because the address is Los Gatos does not mean that it's really part of the town of Los Gatos (it might be in an unincorporated area, or perhaps the post office has fooled with the map to make mail delivery easier). The mountain areas, for instance (zip code 95033) are not properly part of the town - so the residents there cannot vote in town elections. But truth be told, the mountain communities are both independent, and a part of, the life of the town of Los Gatos.
Along these lines, being in Los Gatos (either having the address or really being a part of the town) does not mean you automatically get "Los Gatos Schools". The school district boundaries were set before the town's (final) boundaries were set. Much of the area was simply county when those lines were drawn. So you can drive from an area that has Los Gatos Schools (Los Gatos School District), through an area that doesn't (Union School District) to reach a remote area of town that - yes - has the school district again. Being in Los Gatos does not mean Los Gatos High necessarily. About 20% of the homes in the Town of Los Gatos have Union or Moreland Schools, not Los Gatos Schools. That said, Union and Moreland are excellent districts!
Second, there are 3 zip codes that go with Los Gatos properties, plus the zip code for PO boxes: 95030 is closest to the center of town, 95032 is on the northern end of town (used to be east Los Gatos but the post office redrew the lines a few years ago, so it's now both east AND west Los Gatos, but on the northern side of town) 95033 is the mountain areas (not part of the town per se), and 95031 is the zip code for all PO boxes. But don't let the zip codes rule your home search: some of the homes in 95032 are fairly close to downtown AND do have Los Gatos schools, for instance. And not all of the mountain properties are remote. It's just something to be aware of.
Third, yes it really is all that expensive. You will probably not find a single family home in Los Gatos for $800,000 or less. Single family homes (even on the edge of town) seem to start at about $900,000 unless there's an issue (high voltage lines, busy street etc.). Homes that are comfortable but not fancy of about 2000 square feet start at over a million dollars in the town. If you want that much home "with the schools" it will cost considerably more - perhaps $1.5 million or so. You can often buy more for your money in the mountains, though. There are nice townhomes in all school districts that are more affordable.
Finally, yes, we do have earthquakes - but they don't happen often and we don't obscess about them. The last big earthquake was in October of 1989. We try to be prepared (making sure foundations are bolted, securing tall furniture to walls, etc.) but since major earthquakes seldom happen, we don't lose a lot of sleep about it. Our homes are not brick because brick doesn't move and houses here need to have a degree of flexibility to literally roll with the punches. Maybe that's why we're relaxed: even our homes are! Be prepared - and then let it go. Weird, but true.
Resources:
(1) I have a website devoted to relocating to Silicon Valley with lots of information free for the clicking: www.Move2SiliconValley.com.
(2) A nice resource for folks moving here (even those currently living in the area) is a Barclay's Locaide. This is a map book that outlines all kinds of boundaries (town, school district, zip code) but also notes items of interest like earthquake fault zones, flood plains and liquification zones. Realtors use these religiously! (NB that this does not take the place of getting a Natural Hazards Report, but it is a great asset.) The Barclay's Locaide is not available in all places but you can order the Santa Clara County edition online, and that includes Los Gatos. Also Barclays offers smaller wall maps of subsets of the county map, such as Saratoga and Los Gatos.
(3) There's a lot of information on the web (and in books), but often the best route to getting the information you need is to simply ask someone knowledgeable. Please call or email me if you'd like information about moving to Los Gatos particularly (or Silicon Valley generally). I'm here to assist you!
A blog about Los Gatos real estate, homes, houses, condos, townhomes, housing market, neightborhoods, history, events, businesses, parks, schools, photos, issues, and lifestyle by Mary Pope-Handy, town resident, enthusiast and Realtor.
Mary Pope-Handy
Realtor, CRS, ABR, E-Pro
Sereno Group Real Estate
214 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road Los Gatos, CA 95030
DRE # 01153805
408 204-7673
For people relocating to Los Gatos, it may be a little complicated to figure out where to find the best news about the town. Today I'll share with you my favorite sources today:
At the core, Los Gatos is a scenic, historic, vibrant community with great affection for culture, entertainment, parks and schools. In many ways, it feels a bit European. Los Gatos has an artistic flare. It is not "sleepy". The town gets 300 sunny days a year and the townsfolk love to be outdoors. There's a lot of community involvement and volunteerism. If you want to help out, there are loads of ways you can do that and get to know your neighbors.
Need some down time? Los Gatos can help you there, as well, as we are brimming with salons and places for pampering and massage. Or shop yourself happy at our many many stores. Love expensive cars?We've got that too. We have restaurants ranging world class dining to 50s style hot dog and hambuger joints and everything in between. We have wine bars and tasting rooms - right in town but also in the Santa Cruz Mountains and neighboring San Jose and Saratoga. Los Gatos is a wonderful place to spend a quiet weekend for R & R.
The public schools are a very big priority for many people in Los Gatos. The town and the Los Gatos Mountain areas have a few different school districts, with scores ranging from good to great. There are no bad schools in Los Gatos. Parents are very involved and care about their kids' success. Not every child is in public schools, though: interestingly, about 1/3 of the children in Los Gatos attend private schools either here in town or in a neighboring community. 
Los Gatos is very kid friendly, very seniors friendly, and very dog friendly. The first two might not surprise you as we have so many events and in many places it's a "walkable" town which has amazingly good weather. 
Relocation is an upheaval, but often one full of excitement and promise. People moving to Silicon Valley find themselves coming to a place unlike any other - it's is an entrepenuer's haven, a high tech magnet. With a highly educated population, low crime, fantastic weather, scenic beauty, and opportunities in every aspect of life, the move to Silicon Valley or the San Jose area is abundant with opportunity for success and happiness..jpg)
For many, many people relocating to Silicon Valley from within the U.S. or from abroad, Los Gatos is that place that "feels like home". People from Europe have often told me that Los Gatos has a "European feel", and from my year living in Florence, Italy, I can appreciate that correlation! With the many unique shops and great restaurants and the heavy foot traffic, Los Gatos comes across as a place for living and spending time. It's a true community.
The Old Los Gatos or downtown area is historic and architecturally beautiful too. The Almond Grove District, the Edelen District, and the Broadway area are all turn-of-the-last century vintage and lovely old Victorian homes line the streets. Talk about charm! In December there are horse-drawn carriage rides that meander through the downtown and historic parts of Los Gatos.
People who relocate to Silicon Valley from out of the area often are .jpg)
There are a ton of reasons to choose to live in Los Gatos. There are, however, a few things you should know as you decide to set down roots here. 
Along these lines, being in Los Gatos (either having the address or really being a part of the town) does not mean you automatically get "Los Gatos Schools". The school district boundaries were set before the town's (final) boundaries were set. Much of the area was simply county when those lines were drawn. So you can drive from an area that has Los Gatos Schools (Los Gatos School District), through an area that doesn't (Union School District) to reach a remote area of town that - yes - has the school district again. Being in Los Gatos does not mean Los Gatos High necessarily. About 20% of the homes in the Town of Los Gatos have Union or Moreland Schools, not Los Gatos Schools. That said, Union and Moreland are excellent districts!
