Palo Alto, CA Broker’s Tour + 1 Stop In Los Altos
Friday, Jan 9, 2026
The theme of today was townhomes! A lot of them! This also officially marked my first tour of 2026. It was quite slow in December with little inventory coming up so it was a welcomed surprise when I saw there were a few properties to see today – early this week, there was nothing new posted in Menlo Park or Atherton so I thought for sure today would be less than robust!
I also saw two Private Exclusive listings, that as soon as they are public I will be sure to share. One was an incredible estate in Monte Sereno, I mean! I swear the air was fresher on this property!
Los Altos 211 – North Los Altos
Listing Agent / Broker: Jean-Luc Laminette, Compass
Address: 4388 El Camino Real Unit 130
Bedrooms: 2 – Bathrooms: 2 Full
Sqft: 1200
Lot Sqft: N/A
Price: $1,348,000
HOA: $818 p/m
Listing Agent remarks: Beautiful ground floor unit. Los Altos schools!
My takeaways: I learned the sellers loved living here. It is in walking distance to restaurants and shops, the complex itself has a Google Group to stay connected and it offers a wonderful pool in the middle of the complex. The apartment itself is a generous 2 bedroom. It is a bit dated but I’d argue nothing immediate needs to be done. While it sits on El Camino Real, I was shocked how quiet the unit was.
Palo Alto 232 – Barron Park
Listing Agent / Broker: Annie Watson, Coldwell Banker Realty
Address: 575 Maybell Ave
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 6 Full, 1 Half
Sqft: 4161
Lot Sqft: 6000
Price: $4,488,888
Listing Agent remarks: Luxurious Contemporary Home in Palo Alto
My takeaways: Built in 2021, this offers a lot of house. I loved the positioning of the bedrooms on the top floor, the main family room looks onto a lush backyard space, and while the house is large, it doesn’t feel overwhelming. There is even a gym and theater down stairs. The one drawback is while it is a single family home, it is part of a development so the houses around it all have a similar feel and look which makes it feel a bit more like a townhouse community.
Listing Agent / Broker: Sue Cheng, Intero Real Estate Services
Address: 4014 Villa Vera (Townhome)
Bedrooms: 3 – Bathrooms: 2 Full, 1 Half
Sqft: 1764
Lot Sqft: 3139
Price: $1,998,000
HOA: $507 p/m
Listing Agent remarks: N/A
My takeaways: A lovely light filled unit with soaring ceilings and a wall of windows that looks out to a lovely landscaped outdoor space. This is a wonderful unit, a little dated, but with the right upgrades could be quite a sophisticated space.
Palo Alto 233 – South Palo Alto
Listing Agent / Broker: Wen Guo RE Group, KW Advisors
Address: 3502 Arbutus Ave
Bedrooms: 4 – Bathrooms: 2 Full, 1 Half
Sqft: 2726
Lot Sqft: 12240
Price: $4,800,000
Listing Agent remarks: Shows well, please stop by.
My takeaways: Unfortunately, I didn’t make this one. I wanted to hustle over to Los Altos and then had to make my way to Los Gatos to see a property for a client.
Listing Agent / Broker: Carol Li, Compass
Address: 4173 El Camino Real 11 (Townhome)
Bedrooms: 2 – Bathrooms: 2 Full, 1 Half
Sqft: 1375
Lot Sqft: 1160
Price: $1,480,000
HOA: $733 p/m
Listing Agent remarks: Freshly remodeled end unit townhouse, sunny rooms, private yard and balcony.
My takeaways: Pretty much as the listing agent described! The main sitting room was flooded with sunlight. The upstairs is a bit tight and while the property has been updated it still feels like there is a bit more to do. Strong legs required as the stairway to the second floor is quite steep.
Palo Alto 235 – Ventura
Listing Agent / Broker: MJ Frankel, Martin Frankel, Broker
Address: 101 Acacia Ln (Townhome)
Bedrooms: 3 – Bathrooms: 2 Full, 1 Half
Sqft: 1735
Lot Sqft: N/A
Price: $2,685,000
HOA: $810 p/m
Listing Agent remarks: N/A
My takeaways: This is a whole new development off of El Camino. The zoning around the development is interesting… commercial on some sides, parking structure on another so if you are looking for calming views, this isn’t the right location for you! I saw 2 units. They were fine, what you would expect. Excellent location though, right off of Page Mill Rd, almost equal distance from 280 and 101, and walking distance to Cal Ave.
Palo Alto 239 – Crescent Park
Listing Agent / Broker: Vivian Lee, Homeland Realty
Address: 90 Crescent Dr
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 5 Full, 2 Half
Sqft: 5213
Lot Sqft: 9100
Original Price: $9,418,000
NEW PRICE: $8,900,000
Listing Agent remarks: N/A
My takeaways: This house was on the market for a good 5 months last year. It was pulled and is now back on the market to resent the days, and at a lower price point. Details from my first walk-thru below.
This is a brand new build. Located on the lovely Crescent Dr. They did a great job with positioning the house on the lot so one doesn’t particularly notice University Ave which is a main thoroughfare here in Palo Alto. They put in 2 kitchens upstairs to accommodate different cultures, a nice touch. I think this house would be tough for a young family as the bedrooms are split between the upstairs and downstairs, there are also stairs in the middle of the property so not particularly child friendly. The house has an odd flow to it, it feels choppy. The downstairs feels cavernous, just a lot of space that I am not sure would fully be utilized. It almost feels like 2 houses, the upstairs and the downstairs, but for those who have long staying guests it could be perfect.
Listing Agent / Broker: Lucy Berman, Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty
Address: 478 Fulton St (Townhome)
Bedrooms: 3 – Bathrooms: 2 Full
Sqft: 1900
Lot Sqft: N/A
Price: $2,498,000
HOA: $825
Listing Agent remarks: A delightful Palo Alto home in a quiet neighborhood 1 block from downtown!
My takeaways: Now this one was a treat! I asked the listing agent if the seller is an artist the answer, no, but they collect art which when you see this place makes so much sense. The color palette in one of the bathrooms alone is enough for one to go ‘huh, they weren’t shopping the aisle of Home Depot for this look!’ An incredible yard space, like a larger yard than some single family homes. The downside, no Primary with an ensuite.
Palo Alto 242 – Downtown Palo Alto
Listing Agent / Broker: Dana McCue, Compass
Address: 716 Ramona St (Condo)
Bedrooms: 2 – Bathrooms: 1 Full
Sqft: 1042
Lot Sqft: N/A
Price: $1,500,000
HOA: $584
Listing Agent remarks: Spectacular Remodel Top To Bottom! Low HOA $584!
My takeaways: This is perfect for a couple. I wouldn’t call the second bedroom really a bedroom, it has pocket doors that close it off to the main sitting area. To me this is a couple that would use the second room as a flex space; part office, part guest room when needed. OR if a younger couple, they could turn that 2nd room into a nursery as they start their family. GREAT location, no outdoor space, but one is steps away from a park.