Have you ever noticed the Verizon Building on Los Gatos Boulevard? It has an architectural style that screams "1960's" with apparently no windows facing the front but a strange sort of grille decorating the facade instead.  It backs into one edge of Blossom Manor (a neighborhood in Los Gatos - well, mostly in the county but with a Los Gatos mailing address - that was once apricot orchards).  Verizon, with its huge network (I'm assuming you've seen the ads), needed more space and wanted to do an expansion on the current site. The neighbors didn't agree that this was a good plan. The result: the Town of Los Gatos is going to buy the property from Verizon, for $3.2 million,  and it may well become the new police headquarters. I'll keep you posted!

Affordable Housing in Los Gatos

Los Gatos is a pricey town. The average single family home sells for about $1,200,000 (starters upwards of $800,000 and it seems there is no upper limit on pricing for large homes on large parcels). So folks struggling to pay the rent, whether employed or retired, might not consider looking in Los Gatos for a below-market rate place to live. But the town has got some affordable housing, and the details are on the town website.  Visit it and learn about both rentals and purchase programs. 

Also, thinking of purchases, there are some great loan programs out there that can help too: Bank of America has an "Acorn program" with great terms (underwritten by a charity), and also there's a CAL-FHA loan with even more generous guidelines, and then there are also programs for folks buying into zip codes where prices are depressed.  Interest rates have gone down in the last week or two (which is not atypical for December: remember, it's supply and demand) and this is a great time to buy at a reduced cost.  I can put you in touch with a lender if you want to investigate any of these options.

Renting or buying, Los Gatos is a wonderful place to live.