San Jose Advances Plans for 272 Affordable Homes Along West San Carlos Street

Site development permits filed recently have propelled forward an addition of 272 fully affordable apartments at 860 West San Carlos Street. Swenson partnered with Republic Urban Properties to create this seven-story building that will stand 79 feet tall across a 2.2-acre site between Sunol Street and Swenson Drive, completing the final phase alongside the established Silver at Ohlone and Patina@Midtown communities.

A thoughtful mix of residences will cater to diverse needs with 107 one-bedroom units, 96 two-bedroom homes, and 69 three-bedroom options. Shared amenities centered on third-floor podium courtyards will include a fitness center, computer room, multipurpose space, and storage for 76 bicycles. The 242-space garage will support practical living while encouraging use of nearby transit.

Those who settle here will appreciate the short stroll or bike ride to Diridon Station, providing easy access to Caltrain, Light Rail, BRT and eventually BART and California High Speed Rail (maybe). While it's not a high-rise, it is dense for the area.

Source: SF YIMBY

There are Still Some Affordable Homes in San Jose

The median price of Silicon Valley homes just hit the eye-watering $2 million mark, meaning half of all homes in the San Jose metro sold for $2 million or more in 2025. Fortunately, there are still some rare affordable options out there under $1 million in San Jose. Below is one option in particular that is personal to me since a family member is selling it.

The home is a two-unit duplex near Little Portugal that is listed at $979,888. The 1948-built property combines two separate 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom units in a 1,462 square foot building across a 5,250-square-foot lot. The rear unit has a private backyard and detached two-car garage.

You could live in one unit and rent out the other, making it even more affordable, or rent out both as an investment property. I've seen both options for this home in my lifetime.

It has easy access to Highways 101, 680, and 280 and is walking distance to the BRT station on Alum Rock & King. It's also an easy walk to Plata Arroyo Park with soccer fields, basketball courts, a skatepark, playgrounds, and an outdoor gym.

If you or anyone you know is interested, please contact the listing agent at kalina.vu.santos@gmail.com or (408) 888-1178.

Veev Homes Deliver Smart Sustainable Living in Prime San Jose Locations

Veev is one of the most unique and innovative homebuilders I have ever come across. For decades I have felt that homebuilding was ripe for disruption, and I'm honestly surprised it has taken this long to see someone try and shake up the market. I have recently enjoyed both an in-depth tour of a Veev home in my neighborhood as well as a visit to the factory where the homes are built (yes, I said factory).

This builder, which was purchased by Lennar in 2023, relies on advanced panelized construction that assembles homes with remarkable efficiency using durable frames and high-performance materials. The walls are the real product as they house plumbing and electrical wiring straight from the factory and then are assembled like Legos at the homesite. These elements reduce waste significantly during building and at high volumes have the potential to greatly reduce both costs and construction timelines.

Looking at the exterior and interior, a Veev home looks completely normal. You would never guess that this was mostly built inside of a 500,000 SQFT Tesla-like factory and assembled in about 60 days. Most new builds require anywhere from 1-2 years of permits and construction at the homesite.

Veev currently has two different models of homes and both are generously-sized around 3,000 SQFT. Their first mass-production solution is called the Model E. It's ultra-modern, especially the interior with LED edge-lighting everywhere and slick finishes which you can see above.

You can find a Veev Model E in San Jose at 5973 Tandera Avenue in the Blossom Hill area by Oakridge. The price is $847/SQFT, which is lower than most new construction homes in the area. Other locations include 2820 Cardinal Lane (Willow Glen), 2652 Orinda Drive (Evergreen), and 304 Curie Drive (Blossom Hill).

I personally love this interior style, but they have decided to go a bit more traditional with the sequel, called the Model X. The exact interiors for the Model X are still being worked on, but I had a chance to see the model in the factory and would honestly move into either the Model E or X tomorrow. The Model X also features a grand entrance with a soaring ceiling height and an attached ADU, perfect multi-generational living or generating rental income on the side.

In addition to Veev selling homes directly, if you already own the land you can also have them build on your site. Including the teardown of the existing home, it's possible to get a brand new ~3,000 SQFT home for under $1 million. The hard part is finding low-cost land in San Jose that is large enough to accommodate the footprint. Long term, Veev also plans to offer smaller homes which will help cut costs further and open up more possibilities for potential homesites. 

The way single-family homes are built today is crazy. It's essentially like building a custom home every single time. By moving most of the construction to a factory, economies of scale and improved efficiency will help open up more affordable and higher quality housing options. Veev is an early mover and obviously at the higher-end of the market, but I truly hope other homebuilders will adopt this model and disrupt housing at all price points. 

As Veev comes out with new products, I will definitely be featuring them here. For more details and to schedule a viewing to check out one of their homes for yourself, visit https://www.veevsanjose.com.

San Jose Unified's Housing Vision: 288 Apartments for Dedicated Educators

San Jose Unified School District advances plans for a 288-unit apartment complex at 760 Hillsdale Avenue, designed specifically for its employees. This initiative addresses the challenge of providing stable homes for teachers and staff amid rising living expenses. The development occupies a vacant parcel next to Highway 87, creating convenient access for those working in the area's education sector.

The project targets the missing middle group of workers who earn above limits for many subsidized options yet struggle with market rents. District leaders recognize that even top earners face barriers to comfortable living in the city. By converting unused land into residential space, the effort turns underutilized property into a community asset, aligning with San Jose's push to increase housing production.

Funding comes from a $1.15 billion bond approved by voters in November 2024, with $282.5 million allocated here. The site sits adjacent to the district's Silicon Valley Education Campus and near light rail lines, promoting easy commutes and sustainable growth. This setup ensures high-quality builds comparable to private developments, fostering retention of skilled professionals.

As San Jose works toward state-required annual housing targets of over 7,700 units, projects like this help close the gap. The apartments promise to draw and keep talented individuals committed to student success, enhancing San Jose's educational landscape and overall appeal.

For more details on the project, visit https://www.sjusd.org/

Source: The Mercury News

Agrihood Evolves: Townhomes Set to Enhance Sustainable Living Near San Jose

steinberghart.com

Santa Clara Agrihood - Steinberg Hart

The Agrihood development in Santa Clara continues to adapt with plans for 44 for-sale townhomes at 1816 Worthington Circle, replacing an earlier concept for a 160-unit apartment building. This change reflects responses to economic shifts like higher interest rates and construction costs that emerged after the pandemic. The Core Companies aims to keep the project moving forward by focusing on ownership opportunities that align with the community's needs. Located near Westfield Valley Fair Mall, this site sits on the edge of San Jose, offering a fresh way for people to experience integrated urban farming and modern housing in Silicon Valley.

The first phase of Agrihood opened in 2023 with 165 affordable apartments for seniors, complete with a 1.7-acre urban farm open to residents and neighbors. This setup promotes healthy living through access to fresh produce and communal spaces that encourage interaction. The new townhome proposal builds on that foundation, featuring five three-story buildings designed to maintain the walkable layout and farm integration. Such features make the area appealing for those seeking a balance between city convenience and natural elements, drawing more families and professionals to the region.

As of late September 2025, the project remains under review by the City of Santa Clara, with permits submitted starting in June. Pending approval, construction could begin later this year, filling a vacant parcel and adding to the housing options available.

steinberghart.com

Santa Clara Agrihood - Steinberg Hart

New Townhomes Set to Enhance Cambrian Neighborhood in San Jose

San Jose is advancing its housing initiatives with the completion of the environmental report for a townhome project at 5670 Camden Avenue in the Cambrian area. Developer Mana Camden Fund LLC proposes 108 units spread across 32 structures, transforming baseball fields and green space behind Beacon School into residential spaces. This development leverages the Builder’s Remedy under the Housing Accountability Act for efficient approvals, including 22 deed-restricted low-income affordable units to support diverse community needs.

The irregularly shaped site will feature an internal street network connecting to Camden Avenue and Singletree Way, with ample parking for 243 vehicles and 40 bicycles. Residents can anticipate modern living options that integrate seamlessly into the neighborhood, fostering stronger local connections.

With the Draft Environmental Impact Report now available, the City of San Jose welcomes public input through September 30 to shape the final version. Construction timelines point to about 34 months of work, marking another step in expanding housing opportunities across the city.

Source: SF YIMBY

San Jose Leads with Major Progress on Unsheltered Homelessness

San Jose demonstrated effective strategies in addressing homelessness as the 2025 Point-in-Time Count reveals a nearly 23 percent drop in unsheltered residents since 2019, bringing the number down from over 5,100 to about 4,000. This achievement reflects the city's commitment to expanding shelter options, with the sheltered population growing by 160 percent over the same period, from 980 to 2,544 individuals. Such advancements position San Jose ahead of regional and state averages, where the sheltered rate now stands at nearly 40 percent, surpassing Santa Clara County's 30 percent and California's 34 percent.

City initiatives focus on immediate solutions like Emergency Interim Housing and hotel leases, with plans to add over 1,000 beds by the end of 2025. These efforts contrast with broader trends in Santa Clara County outside San Jose, which saw an increase of more than 700 unsheltered people since 2019 and a decline in its sheltered rate to 16.5 percent. San Jose's approach emphasizes bringing people indoors quickly and connecting them to services, setting an example for other communities to follow in tackling encampments.

Mayor Matt Mahan highlighted the impact, stating, “San José has proven that investing in shelter and interim housing works — now it’s time for every city and county to step up and do their fair share.” City Manager Jennifer Maguire added, “The city has made significant progress in reducing unsheltered homelessness. This year, we expect to open additional sites that include Emergency Interim Housing and hotel leases. Providing a diverse set of sites ensures we have dignified options for our unhoused community to come off the streets and into a safe location.” Ongoing counts by the Housing Department will provide further insights early next year, reinforcing San Jose's proactive stance.

Source: San Jose Inside

Top 5 Smart Garage Door Features San Jose Homeowners Are Installing in 2025

Below is a guest post courtesy of YBM Garage Doors.

Introduction

You may have noticed it lately. In neighborhoods all over San Jose, from Willow Glen to

Evergreen, there are more and more homes with modern garage doors. It is not just about the

look. In 2025, smart garage doors are a huge trend in the Bay Area. Families want more

security, more convenience, and a way to keep up with the busy Bay Area lifestyle. Here at YBM

Garage Doors, we have seen this firsthand. We have helped families all over San Jose makes the

upgrade. In this post, I will break down the five most popular smart features homeowners are

choosing right now.

1. Smartphone Garage Door Control

Bay Area traffic is tough. A lot of people spend hours in the car every week. That is why

smartphone control is the number one feature people want. You can open or close your garage

with your phone, no matter where you are. If you forget to close the garage when you leave for

work or school, just tap the app. You will get alerts if the door is left open, and you can even let

in a family member or neighbor while you are still stuck on 280.

Tip from the field: We have installed these systems for busy parents in Almaden and Cambrian.

One family uses the MyQ app to let their teenagers in after sports practice. No more lost

remotes or keys.

2. Camera and Video Monitoring

With all the package deliveries and visitors in San Jose, having a camera on your garage door is

a big plus. Brands like LiftMaster and Chamberlain now offer smart openers with built-in

cameras. You can see a live video of your garage from your phone, anytime. Some homeowners

in Evergreen and North San Jose have told us they love checking the camera when a package

arrives, or if they hear a strange noise outside at night.

Why it matters: Package theft is a real problem in San Jose. A video camera gives you peace of

mind and evidence if something goes wrong.

3. Amazon Key and Package Delivery Features

More homeowners in San Jose are signing up for Amazon Key. With a compatible smart garage

door opener, delivery drivers can drop packages safely inside your garage instead of leaving

them on the porch. You get a notification as soon as the delivery is made, and you can watch it

live or check the video later.

Local story: We set this up for a homeowner in Willow Glen who was tired of missing packages

or having boxes stolen. Now all deliveries are safe inside, rain or shine.

Learn more about our smart garage door installation service

4. Smart Alerts and Automatic Scheduling

San Jose weather can change fast. Some days are sunny and dry, but winter can get rainy and

windy. Smart garage doors can send alerts to your phone if you accidentally leave the door

open, or if there is unusual activity at night. You can also set a schedule, so the door closes

every night at 9 PM — perfect for families with kids or anyone who forgets sometimes.

Pro tip: At YBM Garage Doors, we always help new users set up these alerts and schedules

during installation, so you stay safe and worry free.

5. Battery Backup and Home Automation

The Bay Area sometimes has power outages, especially during fire season or storms. California

law says all new garage door openers must have battery backup. This way, you will never get

locked out of your garage if the power goes out. Many homeowners also want their garage

door to connect with the rest of their smart home — things like Alexa, Google Assistant, or

Apple HomeKit. You can use voice commands or connect your garage with the lights and

security system.

Real life: In Downtown San Jose, one customer has their garage set to turn on the lights and

play music when they get home from work. That is real comfort.

Smart Brands San Jose Homeowners Trust

In 2025, most families here ask for LiftMaster, Chamberlain, or Genie. These are brands we

trust at YBM Garage Doors because they work with the best apps, offer good support, and

stand up to local weather.

If you want to see what a smart garage door can do, we are happy to show you real setups we

have installed in San Jose homes. Every installation is a little different, and we always give

honest advice about what fits your house and your family.

‏

Summary

Smart garage doors are changing daily life for San Jose families. You get more safety, more

control, and a little freer time. If you are curious, just ask your neighbors or stop by one of our

installations in the area.

For more tips or to see real examples, visit ybmgaragedoors.com. If you have questions about

upgrading your garage door, or you want to see smart features in action, let us know. At YBM

Garage Doors, we are proud to be part of the San Jose community.

Santana Row’s Levare Apartments Sold to Global Firm Hines

Santana Row, one of San Jose’s most iconic mixed-use developments, has just witnessed a major transaction. The Levare apartment building, a 108-unit complex within Santana Row, was recently sold to an affiliate of Hines, a global real estate firm. 

The deal, valued at approximately $74 million, marks a strategic move by Federal Realty Trust, the developer and primary owner of Santana Row. By selling Levare, Federal Realty Trust aims to reallocate capital toward higher-return opportunities while continuing to enhance the vibrancy of Santana Row. 

Levare, developed in 2011, has been a standout property within Santana Row, boasting a 95% lease rate at the time of the sale. As one of three apartment buildings in the development—alongside Misora and Santana Heights—Levare has played a key role in shaping Santana Row into a thriving community. The sale to Hines, a firm with a global footprint, signals confidence in San Jose’s real estate market and its potential for long-term growth.

Source: SVBJ

Single family homes proposed for Piedmont area of San Jose

Robson Homes has submitted a proposal for a 25 unit project at the Olivera Egg Ranch (3315 Sierra Road). Each single family home will range from 1,976 SQFT to 2,771 SQFT and several of the homes will include attached ADUs up to 444 SQFT.

I'm a huge fan of Robson Homes. Their build quality is exceptional and they feature smart and efficient floorplans with great integration of ADUs for multi-family living (or renting out a portion of your home).

Before the urbanists get up in arms over a new single family development in San Jose, this location is pretty deep in suburbia with no hope of mass transit in the future. The Berryessa BART station is an 8 minute drive away.

If approved, construction would take around 16 months.

Source: SF YIMBY

New single family housing suburb proposed for San Jose's Almaden district

If you thought single family construction was over in San Jose, guess again. Latala Homes plans to build 177 new detached homes, averaging just under 2,500 SQFT per home at 20202 Harry Road. 36 of those homes will be designated as affordable for low-income households. The site is currently an empty field so no demo work would be necessary.

Before the urbanists get up in arms, this is already as deep into the suburbs as you can possibly get. There is nothing walkable anywhere near here and there probably never will be. If you're wondering where Harry Road is, it's where Almaden Expressway literally dead-ends. That is how deep this project is into Almaden. The silver lining is you can go horseback riding or visit one of San Jose's most romantic and isolated restaurants, La Foret, with a short drive.

Based on the area, I think most of these homes will likely go for around $1,000/SQFT, so you're probably looking at a range of $2M-$3M depending on how wide the range of home sizes will be.

Source: SF YIMBY

San Jose becomes the first city in California to allow homeowners to sell ADUs

In order to solve for housing shortages, skyrocketing rents, and dizzying mortgages we have to think outside the box. San Jose just took a significant step to increase the housing supply and provide more low cost options.

San Jose already is one of the most accommodating cities when it comes to building an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) on your property. On a typical single-family lot, a homeowner can build a detached ADU up to 1,000 SQFT or an attached ADU up to 800 SQFT. Now, instead of just renting out the ADU, you can actually sell it as a condominium.

This will encourage more people to built them in their backyards and open up low-cost homeownership for more people, especially those early on in their careers. Some ADUs are quite nice, like the 500 SQFT one mentioned in the source link below.

San Jose is already receiving four times as many requests to build ADUs as San Francisco. In fact, even homebuilders like Robson Homes are including them as options for new housing projects in San Jose. 

Source: ABC7 News

Affordable homes proposed for Monterery Road in Central San Jose

240 homes will be built built on an empty lot on Monterey Road near Senter Road, 237 of which would be designated as "affordable" one-bedroom units. Amenities would include a clubhouse, laundry rooms on each level, bicycle storage, a basketball court, dog park, picnic area, and a BBQ area. The color scheme looks a lot more interesting than many affordable projects, which tend to just be beige or gray boxes.

$70.9 million of construction financing has been closed, funding a good chunk of the $119 million proposal.

Construction is expected to begin this year at 4300 Monterery Road and it will take about two years to complete the project. 

Source: The Mercury News

Unique open house in South San Jose this Saturday - 6810 Canine Court

Everyone complains about affordability in San Jose, but there are still some really interesting opportunities if you know where to look. There is a very unique townhome-style condo for sale in South San Jose in a brand new neighborhood near the intersection of 101 and 85. 

It's a massive 2,506 SQFT home with 4 oversized bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms. That makes it larger than most single family homes in San Jose, yet the listing price is only $555 a square foot.

Costco is literally across the street and several great restaurants are minutes away (I highly recommend Blossom and Bourbon). It also has great parks within the community with bocce ball, basketball, multiple playgrounds for the kids, an outdoor gym, and gated dog park. The Santa Teresa Light Rail station is a 15min walk or 4min bike ride away.

My wife is the realtor and is hosting an open house this weekend from 1-4pm on Saturday with free bubbly and an assortment of appetizers highlighting a highly-rated local San Jose eatery. Last week was Pasteleria Adega and this week it will be something new but equally as awesome. Even if you're not looking for a new home, swing on by to check out the neighborhood and talk San Jose. The address is 6810 Canine Court in San Jose.

Be one of the first 8 groups to mention The San Jose Blog and take home a bottle of either Prosecco or Rosé.

100 affordable homes proposed for Willow Glen

A project split across 520 and 544 West Alma in San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood could bring over 100 affordable homes to San Jose. 

91 of these homes would be near the Highway 87 and Alma Avenue interchange. The first floor of the five-story building would be amenity space and parking while the apartments would span the upper four floors.

At 544 West Alma, there is an abandoned restaurant and large surface parking lot. Here developers would like to build 99 affordable apartments near the banks of the Guadalupe River. Part of the project would even include restoring areas adjacent to the Guadalupe River so that it can be integrated into the project.

Source: The Mercury News

372 apartments move forward at a former San Jose DMV site

A former DMV in central San Jose near History Park and the intersection of Senter and Tully is going to be transformed into a 372-unit apartment complex called "The Place." The apartments would be split across three seven-story buildings with a more interesting design then you would expect from your typical midrise.

The apartments themselves would range from studios to two-bedroom units with two bathrooms. 112 of the apartments will be studios, 200 are one-bedroom, and 60 are two-bedroom units.

The one-story office building that housed the DMV would be demolished to make way from this project. The neighborhood is mostly office and industrial with a Costco across the street. The best escape-games in San Jose are a couple blocks away at OMESCAPE and you also have Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, History Park, the Japanese Friendship Gardens, Kelly Park, Sharks Ice, and the San Jose Giants less than a mile away. It's actually a pretty decent area to start building dense housing.

The next step is a series of city reviews this month.

Source: The Mercury News

San Jose will get $12.7 million to build 200 tiny homes

San Jose is acquiring state funding to purchase 200 tiny homes to house a portion of our homeless population. San Jose qualified for the funding due to its record of actually building interim housing instead of just talking about it. So far San Jose has built 499 small homes and plans for 784 more beds.

San Jose already has a site selected for the new homes in North San Jose near VTA operations. The project will be named the Cerone Interim Housing Community and it is expected to open next year.

Source: Patch

How much income you need to comfortably afford a San Jose home

Imagine you have just moved your family to San Jose and want to comfortably afford the average mortgage. We're not talking about a luxury home, but your average detached tract home in a San Jose suburb. How much income would you have to make?

Are you ready? $454,296. Almost half a million dollars.

San Francisco requires less, but a still astronomical $339,864 of annual income.

This number is expected to come down in the future with interest rates, which would also increase the supply of homes for sale. In the mean time, we should be doing everything possible to increase the amount of housing available.

Source: NBC Bay Area

Former Senter Road DMV could be replaced with 372 new homes

Earlier this year the DMV at Senter Road across from Costco permanently closed its doors (it was always designed to be a temporary office). Now developer HC Investment Associates wants to construct three new buildings on that site with a total of 372 residences.

Details are scarce since this is early on in the process. It's not clear if these will be condos or apartments or if there will be an affordable housing component.

HC already has another San Jose property in development at 70-80 N. 27 St. in Little Portugal. They are replacing a two-story commercial building (Portuguese events hall) with a five-story residential building containing 198 homes.

Source: SVBJ

New San Jose mixed-use project moves forward with 1,100 homes and a Whole Foods

A massive project could be headed for a shopping center at the corner of Saratoga and Lawrence Expressway across the street from Westgate. The area would be developed into a mini-Santana Row anchored by Whole Foods. In total, it would have 1,100 residential units across several multi-story buildings sitting on top of 165,000 SQFT of retail. 

The Whole Foods would be the only single-story building on the property (to simplify financing and construction). However, that is just 43,000 SQFT of the overall project. The layout would include a retail "main street" and a new neighborhood park. 

Unlike most new projects of this scale in San Jose, there won't be an affordable housing component. Everything will be market rate. However, increasing the overall housing supply has a negative effect on prices across the board and 1,100 homes is a significant number.

Source: The Mercury News