UNbelievably, the majority of homes on the Peninsula or northern Silicon Valley, such as in Palo Alto, Mountain View and Los Altos are now around 60 years of age and more.  A tremendous number of homes in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Redwood City are now 100 years of age or more.  The Palo Alto/Stanford Historical society awards homes that have reached their centennial with a plaque celebrating their 100th birthday.  I recently sold a two unit property in downtown Palo Alto with one of these nice plaques attached to the outside of the structure.  It did have an interesting history but the property itself was in need of significant rehabilitation.

These properties may have a look and feel that blends with the neighborhood and preserving the home might be a benefit to the neighborhood, but what does it mean to a home owner?   There are entire neighborhoods such as Professorville in Palo Alto which consists of shingled craftsman style homes and now an area of north Palo Alto which consists of Eichler homes.  Can you believe that now Mid-Century Modern homes are historic?

more in part 2…