Palo Alto Real Estate Agent​

About Palo Alto

The city of Palo Alto sometimes feels like a fantasy city, with its leafy trees, open spaces, adorable architecture and progressive values. If you visit Palo Alto with kids, you’ll find about 20 parks sprinkled throughout, with most neighborhoods within walking distance of a place to play, a library and an elementary school. Overhead, the streets are thick with trees, a neighborhood walk will be filled with charming nooks and crannies, community centers and other praiseworthy amenities.

Palo Alto’s population hovers around 60,000–mid-sized for the Midpeninsula— you’ll find it feels smaller.

The traditional columned and black-shuttered homes you’ll see in north Palo Alto remind many of their childhood East Coast homes, but there is plenty of room for modern architectural innovation. Stately colonial mansions in Crescent Park make way for Craftsman, Spanish, and ultra modern styles that come in many shapes and sizes. The sun-drenched southern part of town offers warmth and connection with neighbors gathering for block parties or holidays in parks or recreation facilities. The rural feel of Barron Park and Palo Alto Hills make you feel miles away from town.

Palo Alto historically has attracted intellectuals and inventors with their connections to Stanford University, but even if you went to Cal, or came from across the U.S. or from another country, families with other vocations and those who value community involvement and the ability to affect change in the lived environment also want to live in Palo Alto. The city owns its own electric utility, and residents were recycling in the 1970s, way before there were blue bins.

Palo Alto started with a roadhouse at what is now California Avenue and El Camino Real. The location was known as Mayfield, and in the mid-1850s, served the lumber industry workers nearby who came down to relax in the many saloons there. Eventually wealthy San Franciscans built estates here and Leland Stanford established his stock farm to raise racehorses.

 After his only son died, Stanford and his wife created Leland Stanford Junior University in his memory on the west side of El Camino Real. The Stanfords were interested in shutting down alcohol use and simultaneously developing a college town for their campus. One of Stanford’s cronies, Timothy Hopkins, bought and developed the town of   University Park as an alcohol-free zone. The city was renamed Palo Alto when it incorporated in 1894 and Mayfield was annexed to Palo Alto in 1925.

With Stanford on the cutting edge of engineering research after World War II, Stanford Research Park located off of Page Mill Road between El Camino and Foothill Expressway, grew into the precursor for Silicon Valley with the likes of Hewlett Packard and Varian Associates locating there.

Nationally you may have heard about Palo Alto as the capital of shiny Silicon Valley wealth and technology, but anyone you chat with on your walk or at the park, or waiting in line for boba tea will likely have a deep pride of place that goes well beyond high tech. Lifelong learners flourish here with exemplary public schools and access to amenities like a city junior museum and cultural center. Master gardeners staff demonstration gardens in residential neighborhoods and teach visitors about growing drought-tolerant plants and how to grow food. On a given weekend, you can visit two different  farmer’s markets. You can shop in three unique business districts  (downtown, California Avenue and Midtown) with a plethora of grocers, restaurants and small businesses with loyal clientele. The city’s diversity will be visible everywhere, allowing for honest dialogue and a refreshing meeting of the minds.

Photo of Rebecca Olson White, real estate agent in Palo Alto.

Find Your Palo Alto Home with Rebecca Olson White

When you’re in need of help when either buying or selling a home in Palo Alto, California, you’ll want to focus your efforts on discovering the best realtors in the area in order to find someone who is deeply familiar with the regional market. 

 

With that said, your search will inevitably lead you to Rebecca Olson White, Palo Alto’s top real estate agent. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Rebecca has watched the local real estate market evolve through the years, bestowing her with a familiarity regarding the trends that affect home prices and the needs of home buyers in the Silicon Valley region.

 

Furthermore, as an outgoing and sociable agent, Rebecca is also a skilled negotiator. She brings together her passion for the industry and her strong desire to help her clients in her talks for the best possible deals. No matter the property you have your eye on, Rebecca Olson White will help you get the most out of every real estate investment.

How will Rebecca help sell your home?

For those selling their homes, hiring Rebecca Olson White as your listing agent means receiving full access to the resources you need to sell your property faster. 

 

From listing your home on her property website to helping you stage the best photos for your listing and even networking with other Palo Alto real estate agents to help you get more attention for your open house events, Rebecca will do all she can to help you get the word out. She offers property consultations and helps in managing your property’s landscaping and repair needs, all to help you get the best value from your home sale.

Photo of a luxe modern living room in an ivory colorway.

Ready to take the first step?

Common Questions about Palo Alto Real Estate

When you work with Rebecca, your choosing to hire one of the best Palo Alto real estate agents available, which is especially advantageous in the competitive current market. Every home receives an average of two offers and sells in 12 days or less. 

The reason behind the significantly fierce environment is that home prices have dropped in the last 12 months. The average home price in the area is $3,021,666 — $1,664 per square foot — which represents a 12.82% drop in prices from October 2022, according to CBS News.

As mentioned, the overall average home cost in Palo Alto is $3,021,666, but that number fluctuates based on the type and location of the home in question. For example, a smaller starter home with 804 square feet of living space recently sold for $1.8 million, as reported by Bankrate. Although their prices are far higher than those in other markets throughout the country, the lot sizes of Palo Alto homes account for up to two-thirds of their total value.

Before you consult with Rebecca, fully understanding what you want from your new home — both inside and out — is essential, and that means learning a little something about the best neighborhoods in Palo Alto.

To the southeast is Barron Park, which is more of a rural area with properties that feature larger lot sizes and homes that are set back farther from the street. Homes here are also older, though some newer, Craftsman-style homes can be equally easy to find.

If you’re looking for something that’s in more of a central location, many Palo Alto realtors suggest Duveneck/St. Francis. The area features both classic and contemporary homes, but perhaps the most distinctive feature of either of these kinds of properties is their beautiful landscaping. Just a short drive from Palo Alto’s downtown area, the tree-lined streets of Duveneck/St. Francis provide a strong sense of community.

When you’re looking for sheer luxury, though, the best Palo Alto real estate agents will all direct you to Old Palo Alto, a neighborhood that — as the name implies — proudly features some of the oldest and largest homes in the area. The average size for Old Palo Alto homes is 9,000 square feet. 

Some more of the desirable Palo Alto neighborhoods include the following:

– Crescent Park

– Professorville

– Southgate

– Community Center

– University South

– University North

– College Terrace

– Evergreen Park

– Green Gables

– South Palo Alto

– Greenmeadow

If you’re interested in homes in any of these communities, Rebecca Olson White will certainly help you find the ideal home that fits your search.

Another common point of concern that buyers have for realtors in Palo Alto involves the quality of the area’s schools. According to U.S. News & World Report, the best Palo Alto elementary schools are as follows:

– Herbert Hoover Elementary

– Walter Hays Elementary

– Palo Verde Elementary

– Duveneck Elementary

– Henry M. Gunn High School

– Palo Alto High School

– Greendell High School

There are plenty of private schools in the area as well. Some top choices include Cathedral High School, St. Clement’s Parish School, and St. Patrick Cathedral School.

Client Testimonial

455 San Mateo Drive, Menlo Park - sold by Rebecca Olson White - rebeccaolsonwhite.com

“Working with Rebecca was the easiest thing I’ve done this year – she totally understood what we were looking for and found it fast! She also crushed the negotiation for our new home.”

 – Diana H.
 
 

End your search for a top Palo Alto real estate agent with Rebecca Olson White. Whether you’re buying or selling property, she’ll provide the comprehensive services you need to complete your real estate transaction with complete satisfaction. Contact Rebecca to schedule a consultation today.