ERATE provides home loans for properties located in San Jose and all cities surrounding San Jose such as Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Fremont and others.

Places to Live: San Jose

San Jose has the highest disposable income, as well as the highest median household income, in the country. That may be one explanation for the fact that San Jose also has some of the most expensive real estate in California and the U.S.

Due to the high housing costs, the cost of living in the city is also among the highest in the country. Median house prices vary depending on the real estate source between $427,000 to over $740,000. One real estate statistics organization lists the average San Jose house at $828,000, balanced between multi-millionaires’ homes and less wealthy residents.

The town has supported these high costs and elevated standard of living because of its population boom. During the 1980s and 1990s, San Jose and other towns in the Bay Area experienced massive and rapid job growth and in-migration, nearly doubling the population and increasing housing costs nearly 1000 percent. This growth was due in a major part to the massive success of Silicon Valley, of which San Jose is the unofficial capital. While the economy and particularly the dot.com industries have cooled since the turn of the millennium, the area is still expanding and enticing new residents.

San Jose is also known as one of the safest large cities in the country. So the people keep coming. San Jose is Northern California’s largest city at approximately 945,000 people. It’s also the 10th largest city in the country.

The city was founded in a culturally and ethnically rich area, and maintains this tradition today. The San Jose population is approximately 30 percent Latino and 27 percent Asian. Japantown is one of the last three remaining historical Japantowns in the U.S., an authentic home to many Japanese-Americans and immigrants, and the site of major places of worship and museums. San Jose is also home to the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam. The city is constructing the nation’s first Vietnamese Heritage Garden and Historical Museum to support and honor this group.

A high disposable income for residents and visitors alike means a city full of rich cultural opportunities. Performing arts centers downtown include the Opera, Symphony Silicon Valley, and Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley. The theatre scene is growing quickly and gaining an innovative reputation, and the annual Cinequest Film Festival has become an important festival for independent film creators and viewers. Multiple renowned art institutions reflect West Coast artists and more. Finally, San Jose was one of the first cities to adopt a public art ordinance, resulting in unique and contemporary public art attractions throughout the metropolis.

San Jose has the best of the Northern California climate. Protected from the Bay Area’s cooling and fog-inducing ocean breezes, the city has moderate temperatures ranging from 50-70 degrees yearly. In addition, the area boasts 300 sunny days per year. This means many outdoor attractions and activities for residents and tourists.

In the 5.5 acre Municipal Rose Garden, beauty is available for free.  Other parks include Kelley Park, the Japanese Friendship Garden, and the Chinese Cultural Gardens. Bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, sailing, boating and more are available with ease. In addition, San Jose has over 15 local and championship golf courses.

San Jose is ideally located in its proximity to other Bay Area communities (San Francisco, Santa Clara), and also its inclusion in Wine Country. The Santa Clara Valley is the oldest continuing producing wine region in the state, and over 20 award-winning wineries are within easy access.

Like many larger cities, San Jose is divided into distinctive and numerous neighborhoods. Besides downtown and Japantown, popular neighborhoods include Rose Garden, Willow Glen, Cambrian Park, North Valley, Alum Rock, and more. San Jose city officials recommend some of the lesser-known neighborhoods as the best way to break into city residency and not shell out millions. Willow Glen, Blossom Valley, Cambrian and Evergreen are particularly recommended for their community pride and well-managed natural beauty.

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To learn more about San Jose visiting or residence, visit:
SanJose.org
SanJose.com