Everyone online slams California, but here is the part they skip.
GoFundMe just named California the most generous state in the nation. LA ranked first. Marin, Santa Cruz, Ventura, and Santa Barbara also made the top ten.
47 million donations this year.
What is your take? #California #BayArea

25 Story Safeway Tower? SF might replace the Marina Safeway with a 25 story tower and the neighborhood is already on edge. The plan adds 790 homes and a bigger store, but the mayor says it jumps ahead of new zoning rules. Big move for SF housing and Bay Area ripple effects. #BayArea #HousingNews

Santa Cruz Sea Monster? 100 years ago, a ‘monster’ washed up on Moore’s Beach, Santa Cruz. Long neck, elephant legs, duck-like beak… locals were amazed. Science solved it: a Baird’s beaked whale. Truth turned out bigger, rarer, and stranger than fiction! 
#SantaCruz #SeaMonster #Bayarea

San Jose just approved 540 new homes in 8 months! Holland Partner Group’s mixed-use project at Stevens Creek & Saratoga Ave is the first fast-tracked under the city’s streamlined infill policy. Fast growth or cutting corners? 
#SanJoseHousing #BayAreaRealEstate #UrbanLiving #HousingUpdate

SF Icon Claude the Alligator Dies 🐊💔
San Francisco lost Claude, the albino alligator at Cal Academy, at 30. From Louisiana swamp to Golden Gate Park, he enchanted visitors for 17 years. Turtle friends, a feisty rival, and a huge birthday celebration. Share your Claude story. #calacademy

$320 Wagyu vs $14 Slider: Spot the Difference 
Tyler Florence is serving $320 Japanese A5 wagyu at Miller & Lux SF to fight “fake wagyu.” U.S. cross-bred wagyu is tasty—but not A5. Next time you order a slider, check the source! 
#SanJoseEats #BayAreaFood #JapaneseA5 #Wagyu #TylerFlorence

A 90 year old driver going nearly 100 mph crashed into Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company on Thanksgiving.
The cafe was closed, thankfully.
The driver survived, and police are still investigating. Should California retest elderly drivers or set an age limit? #LosGatos #BayAreaNews

EV Sticker Perk Ends 
California just ended the EV carpool privilege after 25 years. CHP starts $490 tickets Monday, sticker or not.
With so many EVs in the South Bay, commutes might get slower.
How do you feel about the change? 
#SanJose #BayArea #EVNews #TrafficUpdate #SiliconValley

Where Californians’ Money Really Goes 
The average Californian spent $65,000 in 2024 — that’s $8,600 more than the U.S. average. Most of that difference comes from lifestyle spending, not stuff. Here’s how our dollars stack up — and why living here still feels worth it.
#California

A Real Fix for San Jose Housing? San Jose Unified plans 288 workforce apartments for teachers on Hillsdale Ave. With educators priced out, this could be a real solution—or just a start. What do you think?
—Steve Mun, San Jose Realtor #SanJose #BayArea #RealEstate

California’s Housing Growth Problem 
CA homes up just 5% in five years. Texas + Florida? 15%. Prices jumped 23%. Nothing’s changing soon — so is it smarter to buy now before it climbs higher?
#HousingMarket #California #RealEstate

Thanksgiving Travel Data Happy Thanksgiving! Some travel tips and information. #SiliconValleyLiving #BayAreaLife

The $25K Alley Disaster in SF 🤦‍♂️ A Sunset District couple won a tax auction thinking they bought a $1M home… only to discover they bought Dirt Alley. A must-hear Bay Area real estate disaster. #bayarearealestate #

Public beach access fight The California Coastal Commission fined a homeowner $1.4 million after finding a private gate blocked public access to a beach and a lagoon. The gate has since been reopened, restoring access to one of the city’s most scenic coastal trails. Will we see more of these?

Check out my latest post on my Substack. It's free to read. siliconvalleylifestyle.substack.com #siliconvalley #bayarea #housingtrends

SFO just rolled out Clear’s new face-scan eGates — skip the TSA podium and go straight to security. Super fast… but also a little Big Brother?
Bay Area travelers, would you use it or avoid it? #SFO #BayArea #TechNews #Travel #SiliconValley

Concerts at PayPal Park? It’s Happening. San Jose is leveling up for 2026 – and PayPal Park just got approval for up to 15 concerts a year. Supporters say it means jobs and business. Neighbors worry about noise.
This could reshape the whole area.
 Where do you land? #SanJose #BayArea #LocalNews

Algorithm Blues. #siliconvalley #bayarea

$160M Gate Battle A 20-year fight in Almaden just turned into a $160M lawsuit.
A private community says rising crime led them to ask for gates three times — and San Jose denied all three. Now they’re suing for damages and the right to install them. Big South Bay precedent coming. #SanJose #Almaden

Zillow’s Facing Another Big Lawsuit
Zillow is back in court, this time over claims they violated federal law. As huge real estate companies merge and try to control every step of buying a home, consumers need to know what’s happening behind the scenes.
#RealEstate #Zillow #HousingNew

Everyone’s Teaming Up to Buy Homes in San Jose San Jose buyers are starting to “carpool for homes” – buying with friends or siblings to survive the insane Bay Area market.
15% of buyers nationwide have already done it, & almost 1/2 say they’d consider it.
 #SiliconValley #HousingCrisis #CoBuying

Radioactive shrimp and sneakers were flagged at US ports this year.
Investigators traced everything back to an industrial park in Indonesia where a smelter accidentally released Cesium-137 into the air, spreading contamination to multiple factories.
 #BayArea #CaliforniaNews

California might’ve just changed the whole internet. A new law tells browsers:
If a user doesn’t want their data sold, correct it automatically. One switch → no more clicking “don’t sell my info” on every site. It’s easier for tech companies to make one browser, so standard for everyone.

A new California law tells browsers:
If a user doesn’t want their data sold, send that signal automatically. One switch → no more clicking “don’t sell my info” on every site. It’s easier for tech companies to roll this out nationwide, so this could become the standard for everyone — not just Cali

Santa Clara built it… but can’t power it. Two huge data centers in Nvidia’s backyard have been sitting empty for years. Not because AI or cloud demand is low—but because there’s not enough electricity. #siliconvalley #AI

Insurers held CA hostage: Raise rates or we leave. Rates rose, but coverage fell anyway. Now, loopholes push high fire-risk Bay Area homeowners into the pricey, limited FAIR Plan, saving insurers, not families. This impacts your price, protection, & property value. #CAhousing #InsuranceCrisis

50-year mortgage headlines sound great... until you see the math.
$800K loan at 6%:
 15yr → $414K interest
 30yr → $927K interest 
50yr → $1.7M interest Lower payment ≠ cheaper.
Bay Area friends, real question: which one are you choosing? #BayArea #RealEstate #MortgageMath

Data centers could lower your PG&E bill.
 San Jose wants 4 huge data centers.They claim 1-2% lower power costs since the grid is underused. But look anywhere in the U.S. that built big data hubs - electricity rates go up. Every time. Jobs? Yes.
Cheaper bills? I’ll believe it when I see it.

Tom Brady just cloned his dog.
You read that right. 🧬
 The San Mateo legend’s new pup, Junie, is a clone of his old one, Lua - made possible by a biotech company he invested in.
Only in Silicon Valley would this sound completely normal. #TomBrady #BayArea #Tech #SiliconValley

Six people have died and 25 are hospitalized after a listeria outbreak tied to pre-cooked pasta meals, including ones sold in Bay Area Trader Joe’s stores.
 If you bought Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo or Meatballs and Marinara from Walmart, toss them.
 Listeria is deadly and can survive in fridge

Looks like the Bay took the crown for Billionaires.
 82 billionaires live here now - more than New York’s 66.
 Five of the world’s richest are all on the Peninsula. That’s over a trillion dollars in local wealth.
 So when people say “tech’s leaving California”? 🤣 #BayArea #SiliconValley #Wealth

1 in 7 home sales are falling through before closing - mostly due to home inspections.
 With high prices and rates, buyers aren’t willing to take on surprise repairs.
That’s why smart sellers are doing pre-listing inspections - a quick move that prevents deal-killing surprises later.
 
#BayArea

Your electric bill isn’t about your usage anymore. Part of it might be paying for Big Tech’s massive data centers -some use more power than entire cities. Utilities give them discounts, and the rest of us make up the difference. It’s a quiet wealth transfer we never agreed to. #Energy #BigTech

Inside One of Rivermark’s Rarest Homes: Why This Penthouse Could Be Your Equity Booster open.substack.com/pub/siliconv...

They shipped this Alameda home across the ocean in 1854. 
Before the Panama Canal even existed, this Gold Rush-era home made its way from the East Coast to Alameda - and it’s still here.
 Now listed for $1.4M, it’s a true California original.
Would you pay for its history?

Flippers are taking six figures from Bay Area families - here’s how to stop it. Inherited a home? Don’t sell it to a flipper.
They’ll profit off your family’s hard work.
 My program lets you handle the updates without paying upfront - you keep the equity.
 It’s about protecting your legacy.

Fed just cut .25% today. Certainly more to come.

Atherton just lost its title as America’s most expensive ZIP - Miami’s Fisher Island now holds the crown at $9.5M 🏝️ California may have lost #1, but the Bay still dominates with 32 ZIPs in the top 100. The luxury market is shifting - but the Golden State’s shine isn’t fading anytime soon.

Millbrae’s Police Chief reportedly living at the station — while living in Idaho. ABC7 says inspectors found makeshift bedrooms and liquor bottles inside the station. County officials are now calling for an investigation.
 www.youtube.com/shorts/E9_5F...

You don’t need a huge salary to buy your next home - just smart equity growth.
In the Bay Area, most people upgrade using appreciation from their current property.
That’s the quiet power of homeownership. 🏡💸

San Jose might finally be turning a corner on housing.
A new 708-home project just broke ground near Berryessa BART - part of a 270-acre plan that could add nearly 5,000 homes.
 After years of slow progress, this is a big win for Silicon Valley. 
#SanJose #BayArea #Housing

Did you know the first Chuck E. Cheese was born in San Jose? 🍕🎮 Atari’s founder Nolan Bushnell opened the first Chuck E. Cheese Pizza Time Theatre on Winchester Blvd in 1977 — right where Santana Row is now.
A little piece of Silicon Valley nostalgia that still lives on at the Tully Road location.

Housing Market Update: It’s Not Investors After All There’s a lot of talk about investors driving up home prices - but the data tells a different story.
 Less than 3% of homes last year were bought by large investors. 
The bigger issue is a housing shortage that’s been building for years.

San Jose might finally be turning a corner on housing.
A new 708-home project just broke ground near Berryessa BART — part of a 270-acre plan that could add nearly 5,000 homes.
 After years of slow progress, this is a big win for Silicon Valley. 
#SanJose #BayArea #Housing

Bay Area’s Only Military Commissary Could Close Moffett Field’s commissary might shut down by 2026 — the only one serving Santa Clara County.
Local leaders say this would create a food desert for military families already facing high costs.
Community and leadership support are crucial right now.

California Dream for All returns in 2026 🏡💰
Description:
This wildly popular down payment program is back - offering up to 20% or $150K to help Californians buy their first home. It’s a lottery system and runs out fast, so now’s the time to prepare.
 🔗 www.calhfa.ca.gov/dream/index....

Why Bay Area cities are being rebuilt from the ground up
 The Bay Area’s construction boom isn’t just about housing — it’s about a total redesign of how cities grow. Local governments are creating walkable, transit-connected neighborhoods that make car-free living possible. #bayarea

California just banned AI price fixing 🤖 
If companies are using algorithms to secretly coordinate prices, it’s now officially illegal in California.
Governor Newsom’s AB325 aims to keep tech-driven markets fair — especially as AI becomes part of everything we buy. 
#AI #California #bayarea

California insurers say climate change is too risky… then invest billions in oil and gas. Feels like a double standard.
Europe’s already cutting ties with fossil fuels - why not here? #climatechange #insurance #California

Los Gatos Lodge is officially changing hands - sold for $78.4M to SummerHill Homes.
It’ll soon be replaced with 155 new townhomes, 26 of which will be affordable.
Built in 1936, the Lodge’s days are numbered - but a new chapter for Los Gatos begins. #LosGatos #BayArea #DevelopmentNews