Deniece W. Smith, Realtor

04/01/2026

If you own a condo or townhome, you’ll want to know this.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced several significant changes to their condominium underwriting guidelines, which lenders must follow when selling loans to them. The changes affect both project review standards and insurance requirements for condominium projects and individual units. The changes allow greater insurance flexibility which may reduce premium pressure on coverage for overall properties but shift costs to individual unit owners.

The new changes generally ease some requirements for smaller projects, while raising financial and insurance expectations for larger or more complex developments. Overall, the changes improve financing flexibility for small projects but increase documentation and compliance burdens for others as lenders will rely more heavily on HOA-provided documentation. Changes to insurance guidelines mean that roofs no longer need to be insured to cover full replacement cost, and overall property insurance policies may include per-unit deductibles of up to $50,000 as long as unit owners have insurance to cover the deductible.

For more information: on.car.org/4c6V33C

04/01/2026

03/09/2026

Silicon Valley homeowners — a new federal rule just took effect that may affect some real estate transactions.

Beginning March 1, 2026, the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) now requires additional reporting on certain all-cash residential purchases made through LLCs, corporations, or trusts.

The purpose is simple: to prevent anonymous real estate purchases used for money laundering.

Here’s what matters for Silicon Valley sellers:

• If your buyer is purchasing through an LLC or trust and paying cash, additional identity information about the true owners behind the entity may now need to be reported.
• The reporting is handled by escrow or the title company, not by the seller.
• The rule generally does NOT affect buyers purchasing in their personal name or buyers using a traditional mortgage.
• Most transactions will close normally, but escrow may request additional documentation from entity buyers.

Why this matters locally:

Silicon Valley has historically had a higher percentage of entity purchases and cash investors, so this transparency rule may come up more often here than in many other markets.

For sellers, the key takeaway is simply to expect a little more documentation if your buyer is purchasing through an entity.

The good news: the rule is designed to improve transparency while leaving normal home sales largely unchanged.

If you're considering selling and want to understand how changing regulations may affect your transaction, I’m always happy to help.

— Deniece Smith- "got agent?"

03/04/2026

The energy available for AI and concerns AI growth. Summary on how it might affect real estate locally.

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AI & Silicon Valley Real Estate: What Investors Should Know
• Employment durability: Continued investment in energy‑efficient AI hardware supports high‑income engineering roles that underpin long‑term housing demand across Silicon Valley.
• Infrastructure evolution: More efficient AI compute helps moderate the region’s power and cooling burden, supporting sustainable growth of data centers and innovation campuses.
• Cluster resilience: Even as AI becomes more distributed, chip design, photonics, and systems architecture talent remains concentrated in the Valley — reinforcing housing stability in core tech corridors.
• Capital confidence: Ongoing M&A and infrastructure spending in AI silicon signal sustained venture and corporate commitment to the region’s innovation economy.
• Neighborhood impact: As edge AI expands into devices and robotics, demand should remain strongest in well‑located communities near major semiconductor and AI employers.

If you’re thinking about making Silicon Valley home, I’m here and ready to help you do that. “got agent?”

03/03/2026

Interesting company

An affiliate led by the chief executive officer of tech company Anatomage has paid $27.8 million for a large office building at 3750 Zanker Road in San Jose, documents filed on Feb. 27 with the San…

02/28/2026

The market is moving with houses going around 10% over the asking price and interest rates are now just under 6%.
How can I help?

02/03/2026

Please take care not to hike the bay trails tomorrow, February 4th during mosquito spraying.

News Item: Nuisance Mosquito Control – Aerial Treatment to Control Mosquito Populations on Wed., 2/4 in non-residential Palo Alto Flood Basin

01/30/2026

Most people think selling a home is about timing the market.
It’s not.

It’s about making clear decisions when emotions are high, information is noisy, and the stakes feel personal.

In Los Altos, homes don’t just sell because of square footage or finishes.
They sell because pricing is thoughtful, preparation is strategic, and the seller feels steady through every step.

I’ve been guiding homeowners through this process since 2001.
My role isn’t to rush you or push a number—it’s to help you protect your equity, understand your options, and move forward with confidence.

If you’re quietly wondering what your home could be worth, or whether selling this year even makes sense, I’m always happy to talk.
No pressure. No scripts. Just clarity.

— Deniece

01/25/2026

Whether you’re new to Mountain View or have lived here for a while, this link is a great resource to all Mountain View has to offer.

Once an agricultural center covered in orchards and vineyards stretching over 12 square miles, Mountain View is now a high-tech hub and multicultural community that retains quiet neighborhoods and a historic downtown.

01/25/2026

01/25/2026

Interesting to see how people live. What are your thoughts on Siberia

Discover what a typical apartment in Yakutsk—the coldest major city in the world—really looks like.Join me inside real apartment Yakutsk homes to see how peo...