This weekend’s featured open home is 505 San Mateo Drive in Menlo Park. Hosted by Mara McCain of the Alain Pinel Realtors Menlo Park office, this beautiful home has all the bells and whistles. Features a gourmet kitchen with island, great room, hardwood floors, crown molding, coffered ceilings, recessed lighting, bay windows and sound system. Open this Sunday from 2:30-4:30 pm.

This weekend’s featured open home is 812 Holly Hill Drive in Walnut Creek. Hosted by Margaret Garber-Teeter of the Alain Pinel Realtors Walnut Creek office, this Walnut Heights expanded rancher is situated on great grounds. Updated with open spacious rooms. Hardwood floors, skylights, Pella windows and sliders. Cook's kitchen with granite counters, corian cooking station and adjoining breakfast room. Open this Sunday from 1:00-4:00 pm.

This weekend's featured open home is 19810 Merribrook Drive in Saratoga. Hosted by Kevin Cole of Alain Pinel Realtor's Saratoga office, this 2-level charming home with a 3,665+/-sf floor plan features a bonus room upstairs, upgraded kitchen, large living room and separate family room. Many upgrades. Park-like backyard. Set on a 20,000+/-sf 2-parcel lot. Close to Saratoga schools. Open this Saturday from 1:30-4:30 pm.

This weekend's featured open home is 51 Frances Avenue in Larkspur. Hosted by Lei Ann Werner of Alain Pinel Realtor's Central Marin office, this fabulous remodeled home features a master bedroom retreat and second master for guests. 2 fireplaces, family room, veggie garden and a huge garage. Stunning setting in this "get to everything" location of Murray Park. Kentfield schools. Open this Sunday from 2:00-4:00 pm.

Following up on our post a few weeks ago about the "Real Estate Tax" rumors that are currently circulating, recent explanation from the National Association of Realtors gives an in depth explanation of the tax that is included in the new health care bill. Proclamations that the new health care bill will make all real estate transactions subject to a 3.8% sales tax or real estate tax are untrue. While the health care legislation does contain a variety of new taxes, and one of them (Section 1402) can be influenced, in certain c ...

This weekend's featured open home is 546 Ravenscourt Road in Hillsborough. Hosted by Anne Riley of Alain Pinel Realtor's Burlingame office, this lovely home, surrounded by distinguished, mature trees, beautiful roses and azaleas, is situated in a close-in, coveted location in Hillsborough. The interior space is approximately 2900+/-sf and consists of 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a large, sunny kitchen. The pool in the back garden offers a great place to relax and entertain. This is a home of unusually high quality with a motivated seller. ...

This weekend's featured open home is 23500 Mount Eden Road in Saratoga. Hosted by Tiger Teerlink of Alain Pinel Realtor's Saratoga office, this 3+/- acre property at the top of Mount Eden features views to Los Gatos and a south facing vineyard site. Open this Sunday from 1:30-4:30 pm.

The Commerce Department has released new home sales data for September 2010 showing sales of new, single-family homes rose more than expected in September. Sales increased 6.6%, exceeding expectations of a 4.2% increase. Through September, sales have increased 8.9% from the historic low posted in May.

This weekend's featured open home is 5279 Blackhawk Drive in Blackhawk. Hosted by Sharon Barr Day of Alain Pinel Realtor's Danville/Blackhawk office, this custom estate features a dramatic foyer that leads to formal living areas. Main level suite with veranda overlooks the water feature on golf course. Designed and crafted with dramatic ceilings, mill work and architectural features. Open this Sunday from 1:00-4:00 pm.

There are currently many chain emails circulating proclaiming that the new health care bill will make all real estate transactions subject to a 3.8% sales tax or real estate tax. It is important to know that it isn't true. While the health care legislation does contain a variety of new taxes, and one of them (Section 1402) can be influenced, in certain circumstances, by a sale of real estate, it is not a sales tax. The new tax in question is often called a Medicare tax, because that is where the money will go. The tax only applies to ...

This weekend's featured open home is 5630 Margarido Drive in Oakland. Hosted by Helen Nicholas of Alain Pinel Realtor's Montclair office, this elegant Claremont Pines home features a grand-scale living room and dining room, cozy library and breakfast room. Huge game room with wet bar. Vistas of golf course, bay, Mt Tam and the city. Veranda and garden entry. Ironwork fixtures, terracotta tiles, refined details throughout. Near BART and College Ave shopping. Open this Sunday from 2:00-4:30 pm.

Check out Forbes list of Most Expensive ZIP Codes in America. We have three listings featured as properties - #2 Atherton, #15 Los Altos Hills and #20 Hillsborough!

This week's Featured Open House is 356 Coleridge Avenue, located in Palo Alto CA. This gorgeous light-filled traditional home in prestigious Old Palo Alto includes 3386 square feet of living area on a 16,500 square foot lot. Built in 1912, this property also includes a Guest Cottage. This weekend don't miss the opportunity to preview a truly unique property, hosted by Carol Carnevale and Nicole Aron with APR Palo Alto.

Open this Sunday from 2-4PM. Join APR's Lori Legler at this charming, totally renovated home with an incomparable creekside setting - complete with waterfall & level yard areas. Gourmet kitchen - granite counters, high-end stainless appliances & furniture grade cabinets. Beautiful maple flooring, natural stone bathrooms, beamed ceilings & so much more!

House prices in the US edged higher in July, with a 0.8% average rise between June and July, and a 4.1% rise year-on-year in July, according to new figures from the S&P/Case-Shiller 10-city index.West Coast cities appear to be supporting the market, with San Fransico recording the biggest rise, at 11.2%, followed by San Diego, up 9.3%, and Los Angeles, up 7.5%.

This weekend's featured open home is 209 Golden Gate Ave in Belvedere. Hosted by Valerie Castellana, of Alain Pinel Realtor's Central Marin office, this 4bd/4ba, 4603+/-sf home is set on 0.36+/-ac. Open this Sunday from 2:00-4:00 pm.

Despite recent bad news coming out of the housing industry, home prices are showing signs of stabilizing. National home prices jumped a substantial 4.4% in the second quarter, for a total of 3.6% in the past year, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index released on Tuesday. 20 metro areas tracked showed that prices gained in all markets but one. Fifteen of the 20 cities recorded 12-month price rises, with San Francisco leading the way. Its 14.3% increase was one of three cities posting double-digit gains.

This weekend's featured open home is 377 Stockbridge Ave in Atherton. Hosted by Ali Faghiri of Alain Pinel Realtor's Menlo Park Office, this 6bd/6.5ba home features 8897+/-sf of living space. New construction in the Old Spanish Colonial style. Open this Sunday from 1:30-4:30 pm.

By now you have probably heard the news that existing home sales sank 27.2% nationally in July, attributed in large part to the end of the homebuyer tax credit. While the U.S. forecast isn't great, California and the Bay Area are doing better than the national averages, especially at APR where we are up over 2008, which was generally considered a stronger year for real estate. Currently, we have year-to-date closed dollars 5.5% above 2008, and are 28% above 2009. So remember that all real estate is local, and the national forecast doesn't ...

This weekend's featured open home is 15305 Suview Drive in Los Gatos. Hosted by Joe Piazza of Alain Pinel Realtor's Los Gatos office, this 4.31+/-ac lot offers spectacular valley and city light views. Private gated community. Approved plans for 5600+/-sf, 4bd/4.5ba Tuscan villa plus separate guest suite and 3-car garage. Room for pool, stables, sports court and vineyards. Los Gatos schools. Open this Saturday and Sunday from 1:00-4:00 pm.