Over the past year, I logged plenty of miles traveling from Hillsborough to Saratoga in search of the right home for clients. They had a clear vision for how they wanted to live, but we kept running into the same challenge: the features and amenities they wanted simply weren’t standard, even at their generous budget & beyond!

After months of searching, I suggested we stop looking at finished homes and instead look for homes being built. By reaching out directly to developers, the goal was to find a project already underway that my clients could purchase before completion, saving some of the permitting time and allowing them to fully customize the property.

After a lot of cold calls and conversations with developers and agents, we found exactly that. A property that we intercepted in time for them to be able to step into the design process and create a home that will meet their expectations.

I’ll proudly say this strategy beat the lack of inventory! Thank you to the developers and agents who were generous with their time and willing to think creatively.

– Lisa

On The Move is a curated mix of what’s inspiring me lately, what’s shifting in the market, and what might just shift your perspective or inspire you too.

This sculpture was discovered while on a walk through Stanford’s outdoor sculpture collection, a collection I didn’t even know existed until a fellow Rotarian (and Stanford insider) organized a tour. (Thank you, Hal!)

As we made our way from piece to piece, I found myself staring at this one, trying to figure out exactly what I was looking at. Truthfully, it reminded me a bit of today’s housing market. Not bad. Not booming. Not entirely clear what comes next or what to say on it!

So rather than force a market narrative this month, I thought I’d take a different approach and highlight a handful of people and businesses that impress me. Some are in real estate. Some have nothing to do with real estate. All are exceptionally good at what they do.

And unlike this sculpture, I can actually explain what they are!

Sorted Estates

Founders Felicia and Amy help families navigate estate liquidations with equal parts organization, compassion, and practicality. What I particularly appreciate is their commitment to finding a second life for as many items as possible.

Blue Heron Farms, Watsonville, CA

Blue Heron recently returned to the Palo Alto Farmers’ Market and I couldn’t be happier. Their carrots are legendary, their flowers are stunning, and their basil bundles make a statement!

Full Belly Farm, Guinda, CA

What began as a quest to grow California’s best corn has evolved into one of Northern California’s most beloved farms. The scale of what they produce is hard to comprehend. One day I’ll make the pilgrimage for their pizza night; until then, I’ll happily support them at the Palo Alto Farmers’ market.

AL Homes

I’m currently working with AL Homes on a client project. New construction can come with plenty of surprises; they’ve been candid about challenges, clear about expectations, and consistent in their execution. While many have understandably waved the warning flag around new construction, this project is on track to deliver exactly what my client was hoping for… a home without compromise.

David G. Finkelstein

David specializes in real estate law and brings a level of clarity that is increasingly rare. As a fellow former New Yorker, I appreciate his direct approach: thoughtful advice, clear reasoning, and no unnecessary drama.

– Lisa

This month’s inspiration came from a vase of tulips.

Terún is a neighborhood spot that reminds you why locally owned businesses matter. This year, the staff surprised me with a vase of tulips at the bar (last year it was balloons) and a signed birthday card from the team. The photo above was snapped by another regular who I learned loves photographing flowers, so let the photo shoot begin! And, within minutes we were talking about AI (who isn’t these days), a recent trip to Healdsburg, and the NBA playoffs.

What struck me afterward is how accidental community can be.

When I moved to Palo Alto from NYC in 2021, Covid restrictions were still lingering and there was more disconnection then connection. Terún happened to be the first restaurant we went to. They let us sit at the bar, something we hadn’t done in nearly two years, and it was simply joyful. Two days later, I woke up and thought, “Let’s go back for that pizza.”

We walked in, and they remembered us.

That was it. A tiny moment. But also the beginning of becoming regulars.

Four years later, the same familiar faces are still there. The two brothers who own the restaurant, along with a team that somehow makes a packed Friday night feel personal. The regulars you start recognizing before you know their names. In an area obsessed with scale, speed, disruption, and optimization, there’s something refreshing about a place built on consistency.

And honestly? In today’s Bay Area real estate market, a dependable seat at the bar is much easier to secure than a move-in ready home.

Housing inventory across the Peninsula remains incredibly tight.

Buyers are circling the same limited listings, waiting for something great to hit the market, and when it does, battling through multiple offers while many sellers are staying put for a myriad of reasons.

Real estate is often framed around transactions, pricing, inventory, and timing which are all important, of course. But people are also searching for something less measurable: connection. Familiar faces. A sense that you’re part of the rhythm of a place.

Sometimes that begins with a new address.

And sometimes it looks like a Friday night pizza, a vase of tulips, and a saved seat at the bar.

– Lisa

You can literally smell spring in Palo Alto!

Not just fresh-cut grass, but those unexpected corners where the air turns floral and almost sweet. It still catches me off guard. After years in NYC, where you learned which blocks doubled as wind tunnels, I’ll just say, I prefer Palo Alto’s sensory experience!

And yet, while spring feels expansive, the housing market right now feels anything but.
The image above hangs inside Y Combinator (YC), the well-known “startup curve” mapping the emotional phases of building something new. While my real estate clients aren’t startups, March felt eerily similar: a sharp “Tech Crunch of Initiation,” followed quickly by the “Trough of Sorrow,” with plenty of “Wiggles of False Hope” in between.

That’s been the reality for buyers across Santa Clara County and San Mateo County.

Inventory is tighter than it was a year ago, particularly for the homes buyers actually want—move-in ready, well-located, and thoughtfully updated. By the numbers:

• New listings are down ~10–15% year-over-year across the Peninsula
• Months of inventory remains below 1.5 months in many submarkets (anything under 2 = highly competitive)
• Well-priced homes are still seeing multiple offers, often pushing 5–10% over ask

In other words: demand didn’t disappear—supply did.

And that imbalance creates its own psychology. Buyers stretch, recalibrate, and re-enter. Sellers test pricing boundaries, sometimes rejecting strong offers in pursuit of something higher. The result? A market that doesn’t move in a straight line but in fi ts, starts, and emotional swings that look a lot like that YC curve.

The good news: just like in startups, those who stay disciplined through the Trough tend to be the ones who win on the other side.

– Lisa

On The Move is a curated mix of what’s inspiring me lately, what’s shifting in the market, and what might just shift your perspective or inspire you too.

What is luck? Roman philosopher Seneca gave us a possible answer: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

I’ve been thinking about luck—specifically as it relates to attracting real estate clients. Is it the connection at an open house? A referral? This newsletter ? An ad in the local paper? Or is it simply “luck”?

It’s a version of a question that kept me fascinated during my years in marketing: what makes someone buy something? Even with all the tracking technology available today, marketers still can’t consistently pinpoint the exact “why” behind a purchase.

These days, I’ve transferred that same curiosity to real estate… wondering why a client chooses to work with one particular agent. Yes, I’ll shall continue to ponder…

Why the horseshoe? It’s a classic symbol of luck. I came across this photo while scrolling through my “Photos” (and trying to free up storage space!). I remember thinking it looked cool—but also reminding myself to look up whether a horseshoe is supposed to hang up or down. Here is what Google gave me:

Hanging it “Up”

Hanging a horseshoe in a “U” shape is the most common practice.

• The Goal: To collect and store luck.

• The Belief: The horseshoe acts like a cup or bowl, catching any good fortune that floats by and preventing it from “running out”.

• Context: This is often the preferred way for home interiors to ensure the household retains its good vibes.

Hanging it “Down”

Hanging a horseshoe in an “n” shape is a choice often made for specific protective reasons.

• The Goal: To shower luck or provide protection.

• The Belief: It allows good fortune to “spill out” and pour directly onto everyone who passes underneath it.

• Protection: In some traditions, this orientation is believed to prevent evil spirits or “the devil” from entering, as there is no “seat” for them to rest on.

• Context: You will often see this on the outside of entryways or above barn doors.

What I love about the positioning of this horseshoe? It was placed along the entry path to a home. As you walked in, the house was protected; as you walked out, maybe you carried a little of that collected luck with you.

Whether you’ve just moved into a new home, want to bring a bit of luck or protection to the one you have, are starting a business, or growing a business, which way will you hang your horseshoe?

– Lisa

On The Move is a curated mix of what’s inspiring me lately, what’s shifting in the market, and what might just shift your perspective or inspire you too.

Now, picking up a point from the last
On The Move
, if you got a slow start or fumbled on your January 1st New Year’s resolution, mark your calendars for February 17th which brings us the Lunar New Year and another New Year to kick-off resolutions. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse which is said to
symbolize energy, passion, and rapid progress. And, if that doesn’t work for you, take liberties and create you own New Year start date!
Back to real estate! Can someone tell me how to fi nd the “perfect family home” in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Los Altos, or Mountain View that doesn’t have buyers entering a scrum (rugby not tech) for the property?!?!?!? It’s quite competitive out there for the young family buyer!

– Lisa

On The Move is a curated mix of what’s inspiring me lately, what’s shifting in the market, and what might just shift your perspective or inspire you too.

I’ve hinted at this before but don’t know if I’ve said it… I grew up in the Midwest, predominately Michigan, then on to Virginia, NYC, London, and back to NYC. What do these all have in common… Winter! Until I moved to California, I had know idea one could live without winter. That probably sounds dumb, but LIFE CHANGING when you discover this as fact! Yes, I am a bit envious when I hear a big snow storm is rolling in… as it brought snow days from school (no internet existed yet, woot!) and in NYC, you could literally stomp through Times Square as there wasn’t a taxi or car in sight. But, when I saw this picture I just thought “blessings” I am in California now!
Now, picking up a point from the last
On The Move
, if you got a slow start or fumbled on your January 1st New Year’s resolution, mark your calendars for February 17th which brings us the Lunar New Year and another New Year to kick-off resolutions. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse which is said to
symbolize energy, passion, and rapid progress. And, if that doesn’t work for you, take liberties and create you own New Year start date!
Back to real estate! Can someone tell me how to fi nd the “perfect family home” in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Los Altos, or Mountain View that doesn’t have buyers entering a scrum (rugby not tech) for the property?!?!?!? It’s quite competitive out there for the young family buyer!

– Lisa

On The Move is a curated mix of what’s inspiring me lately, what’s shifting in the market, and what might just shift your perspective or inspire you too.