Explore the latest developments in Silicon Valley real estate with the Boyenga Team Blog. As trusted luxury real estate experts and "Property Nerds" at Compass, we provide valuable insights, market trends, and strategic advice for both buyers and sellers. Our blog is designed to keep you updated on a wide range of topics, from exclusive off-market opportunities available through Compass Private Exclusives to practical tips for enhancing your property's value with Compass Concierge. Whether you are buying, selling, or simply looking to stay informed, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Discover why the Mountain View–Los Altos (MVLA) School District is a premier Silicon Valley asset. This data-driven guide benchmarks Los Altos High and Mountain View High, explains MVLA’s Basic Aid funding and Foundation support, outlines feeder pathways (LASD, MVWSD) and signature programs (Freestyle Academy, Foothill Middle College), and shows how boundaries, test performance, and amenities drive real estate value from Monta Loma Eichlers to Los Altos estates.
Read MoreTech executives are choosing Palo Alto for its schools, lifestyle, and proximity to innovation hubs. With the Boyenga Team at Compass, buyers and sellers gain Next-Gen expertise, exclusive partnerships, and proven results in luxury real estate. From Crescent Park to Atherton, their curated strategies maximize value in Silicon Valley’s most competitive markets.
Read MoreThe Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) isn’t just one of California’s most prestigious public school systems—it’s a major driver of real estate value and buyer demand in Silicon Valley. From historic neighborhoods like Old Palo Alto and Professorville to family-friendly enclaves like Midtown and Barron Park, PAUSD shapes the lifestyle, culture, and investment potential of the entire Palo Alto area.
With 13 top-rated elementary schools, award-winning middle schools, and two nationally ranked high schools—Palo Alto High School and Gunn High School—PAUSD is synonymous with academic excellence, innovation, and college readiness. Students here benefit from advanced STEM programs, arts and music enrichment, language immersion, and robust mental health support—all backed by one of the most active parent communities in the state.
For homebuyers, living in a PAUSD school zone can add a 15–30% premium to property values. For sellers, it means intense buyer competition and faster market movement—especially in high-demand attendance zones like Addison, Duveneck, and Palo Verde. But navigating this elite district isn’t always simple. School boundaries can shift. Enrollment caps and lotteries exist. And the difference between one block and the next could mean access to a different school.
That’s where the Boyenga Team at Compass steps in. As Silicon Valley’s leading real estate professionals and trusted advisors in education-driven home searches, Eric and Janelle Boyenga bring decades of experience helping families find the right home and the right school. Whether you need school-verified home searches, private school comparisons, or strategies for buying into top districts, the Boyenga Team delivers expert guidance with next-gen tools and a client-first approach.
Read MoreA home zoned for PAUSD is a defensive asset with a history of strong, long-term appreciation. The persistent and high-stakes demand for elite education creates a floor for property values that is remarkably resilient to broader market volatility. Research confirms that properties in top-rated school districts tend to retain their value better and depreciate less during economic downturns.
The Palo Alto market reflects this stability. The effective annual appreciation in median price per square foot has been 5.0% over the last five years and 3.4% over the last ten. The market remains highly competitive, with homes selling in an average of just 11 days, often for significantly more than the list price—the average sale-to-list ratio was recently 106.1%. This inelastic demand makes a PAUSD-zoned home a "flight to quality" asset, protecting capital and ensuring its value as a long-term investment.
Read MoreIn Silicon Valley, the true value of a home is often measured by its alignment with educational excellence. Nowhere is this more evident than within the coveted boundaries of the Cupertino Union and Fremont Union High School Districts. These elite school zones form the educational backbone of one of America’s most competitive real estate markets—and navigating this landscape requires expertise at the highest level.
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