Santa Clara

Avil Soleiman is a licensed real estate broker (DRE #01968159) and the broker-owner of Avil Soleiman Brokerage, located at 1900 Camden Ave, Suite 101, San Jose, CA 95124. He helps people buy and sell homes in Santa Clara, CA, from the Old Quad near Santa Clara University to Rivermark and the neighborhoods around Bowers Avenue, and throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. You can reach Avil at 408-807-5657 or home@avilsoleiman.com, and his clients have given him 5.0 stars from 52 reviews on Zillow (as of September 2026).

How Avil works with Santa Clara buyers and sellers

Santa Clara sits in the center of Silicon Valley, bordering San Jose and Sunnyvale, with Cupertino just to the southwest. The details that shape daily life (school district, commute, HOA rules, the age and condition of the home) can change from one block to the next. For buyers, Avil provides practical guidance through showings, offer strategy, inspections and negotiation. For sellers, he helps prepare the home, price it using recent nearby sales, and market it on its real strengths, communicating consistently from preparation through closing.

Santa Clara neighborhoods Avil serves

Old Quad and the Santa Clara University area (95050)

The Old Quad is Santa Clara’s original town area, named for the quadrangle shape of the first town survey in 1866. The Old Quad Residents Association describes it as the area bounded by Scott Boulevard, Newhall Street and the railroad tracks, beside Santa Clara University and Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and many of the city’s historic properties are here. The Santa Clara Caltrain station on Railroad Avenue is close by. Buyers looking at Old Quad homes for sale should ask whether a home is on the city’s Historic Resources Inventory, because that can affect plans for remodels and additions.

Rivermark (95054)

Rivermark is a master-planned community in north Santa Clara, in ZIP code 95054, built in the early 2000s on the former west campus of the Agnews Developmental Center beside the Guadalupe River. It combines detached homes, townhomes, condominiums and apartments with parks, a school, a branch library and the Rivermark Village shopping center on Rivermark Plaza. Rivermark townhomes and condominiums come with homeowners associations, so review dues, rules and reserves early when comparing Rivermark homes for sale.

North Santa Clara: Levi’s Stadium, Great America and Santa Clara Square (95054)

North of US 101, ZIP code 95054 is home to Levi’s Stadium, where the San Francisco 49ers play, and California’s Great America theme park next door, as well as Mission College and many technology employers. Santa Clara Square, an Irvine Company development near US 101, pairs rental apartments with the Santa Clara Square Marketplace on Augustine Drive. VTA light rail runs along Tasman Drive, and the Santa Clara–Great America station serves ACE and Capitol Corridor trains. Buyers here should consider how stadium event days affect traffic and parking near the home.

Bowers area (95051)

West-central Santa Clara, largely in ZIP code 95051, includes many established single-family neighborhoods. Bowers Park on Cabrillo Avenue sits next to Bowers Elementary and Cabrillo Middle School, and nearby neighborhoods extend toward Monroe Street and Bowers Avenue. Many homes in this part of the city have been remodeled or expanded over the years, so when comparing Bowers-area homes for sale, check the permit history for additions and garage conversions.

Central Park and Homestead Road (95051)

Central Park, the city’s large park on Kiely Boulevard at Homestead Road, anchors the surrounding neighborhoods and is home to the Central Park Library. Santa Clara High School on Benton Street and Wilcox High School on Monroe Street are both in this part of the city. To the south, Westfield Valley Fair on Stevens Creek Boulevard straddles the Santa Clara–San Jose border, so homes near the city line can be in either city.

Santa Clara schools and lifestyle

Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) serves much of the city, along with neighborhoods in parts of Sunnyvale, San Jose and Cupertino. School assignment follows the exact address rather than the neighborhood name. As a general guide:

• Santa Clara Unified School District: high schools include Santa Clara High School and Adrian Wilcox High School, with middle schools such as Buchser and Cabrillo and the Don Callejon K–8 school.
• Cupertino Union and Fremont Union: some addresses in southern Santa Clara are in Cupertino Union School District for K–8 and Fremont Union High School District for high school.
• Colleges: Santa Clara University, a private Jesuit university founded in 1851, and Mission College, a public community college on Mission College Boulevard, are both in the city.

Always confirm school boundaries with the district before making an offer; SCUSD, Cupertino Union and Fremont Union each offer an address lookup. Beyond schools, Santa Clara has its own city-owned electric utility, Silicon Valley Power, along with Levi’s Stadium, California’s Great America, Central Park, Caltrain and VTA light rail.

Buying a home in Santa Clara

Santa Clara homes range from historic houses in the Old Quad to established single-family neighborhoods and newer townhomes and condominiums in the north. If you are looking at a townhome or condo, review the HOA’s budget, reserves, rules and any special assessments before you remove contingencies. After closing, the Santa Clara County Assessor reassesses the property and the county sends a supplemental property tax bill, which is generally not paid through a mortgage impound account, so plan for it.

Selling in Santa Clara: home value and Prop 19

Online estimates are a starting point, but Santa Clara values can shift from one street to the next based on school district, lot size, HOA, condition and ADU potential. Sellers who are 55 or older may also want to look at Proposition 19, which can let eligible homeowners transfer their property tax base to a replacement home anywhere in California. For a valuation based on recent nearby sales, request a home valuation or call Avil at 408-807-5657.

Santa Clara real estate FAQ

Is Santa Clara, CA a good place to live?

It depends on what you need. Santa Clara is a central Silicon Valley city with established single-family neighborhoods, newer townhome and condo communities, Santa Clara University, Levi’s Stadium and California’s Great America, plus Caltrain, ACE, Capitol Corridor and VTA light rail service. Buyers usually weigh commute, school district, home type and HOA costs, so it helps to tour several neighborhoods before deciding.

What are the best neighborhoods in Santa Clara?

There is no single best neighborhood, because buyers weigh schools, commute, home style and budget differently. Buyers often compare the historic Old Quad near Santa Clara University, the master-planned Rivermark community in 95054, and established single-family areas around Bowers Avenue and Central Park in 95051. Confirm the school district for each specific address before making an offer.

Which school district serves my Santa Clara address?

Santa Clara Unified School District serves much of the city, and its high schools include Santa Clara High School and Adrian Wilcox High School. Some addresses in southern Santa Clara are in Cupertino Union School District for K–8 and Fremont Union High School District for high school. Use each district’s address lookup and confirm with the district before making an offer.

What should I know before buying a Santa Clara townhome or condo?

Review the homeowners association’s budget, reserves, rules, insurance coverage and any special assessments, along with the monthly dues, before you remove contingencies. In master-planned areas such as Rivermark, ask whether more than one association applies to the home. Rental rules matter too if you might lease the home later.

How is buying in Santa Clara different from buying in San Jose?

Santa Clara is its own city, separate from San Jose, with its own city services and a city-owned electric utility, Silicon Valley Power. School assignment differs as well: much of Santa Clara is in Santa Clara Unified, while San Jose is split among many school districts. Near the city line, such as around Westfield Valley Fair, a home can be in either city, so check the specific address.

Can I keep my property tax base if I sell my Santa Clara home?

Possibly. Under California’s Proposition 19, homeowners who are 55 or older, severely disabled, or victims of a wildfire or natural disaster may be able to transfer their property tax base to a replacement primary residence anywhere in California, generally bought or built within two years before or after the sale. If the replacement costs more, the difference is added to the transferred value. Rules and filing deadlines apply, so check with the Santa Clara County Assessor and a tax advisor before you list.

How much is my Santa Clara home worth?

The most reliable estimate comes from a comparative market analysis of recent nearby sales, adjusted for your home’s size, condition, lot, school district, HOA and any ADU. Online estimates are a starting point but often miss those details. You can request a valuation on the What Is My Home Worth page at avilsoleiman.com or call Avil Soleiman at 408-807-5657.

How do I find a trusted Santa Clara realtor?

Start by checking the agent’s license on the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) website, then read reviews on more than one platform, such as Google and Zillow. Ask about recent transactions in the neighborhoods you are considering, how the agent communicates, and who handles each step of the process. Avil Soleiman is the broker-owner of Avil Soleiman Brokerage in San Jose (DRE #01968159), has 5.0 stars from 52 reviews on Zillow (as of September 2026), and can be reached at 408-807-5657.

Avil also helps buyers and sellers in nearby San Jose, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Campbell and Morgan Hill. Whether you are buying your first home, moving within the area or preparing to sell, call Avil Soleiman at 408-807-5657 or email home@avilsoleiman.com. DRE #01968159.