It is nestled between the south end of the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley. Despite the city's size, it has frequently been lauded as one of the country's safest big cities. It is also home to the National Hockey League team, the Sharks. In the nearly 200 years since San Jose first experienced a real estate boom, the property values have skyrocketed, making it one of the most coveted cities for home buyers. The median home price in San Jose sits at $589,000.

Stunning historic architecture

Despite the modernization that has transformed this once sleepy city, San Jose continues to pride itself on its preserved historic architecture. The enigma that shrouds the Winchester Mystery House sometimes overshadows its architectural significance as a sprawling 160-room Victorian mansion. It was designed and commissioned by Sarah Winchester, the heiress of the Winchester rifle fortune. Majestic details of the home include inlaid parquet floors and Tiffany art glass windows, as well as bizarre features like stairs leading to the ceiling and doors that led to open floors on the lower level.

The picturesque family-oriented neighborhood of Willow Glen is a prime example of the city's stunning historic architecture. Built mostly in the 1920s and 1930s, stately homes inspired by the Spanish Renaissance populate most of this neighborhood. Willow Glen is conveniently located near the central business district, just three miles southwest of downtown. It is a very close-knit neighborhood with loyal traditions. At Christmas time, neighbors work together by providing a uniform display of miniature lighted Christmas trees in front of each house, dubbing them 'Charlie Brown' trees. This popular enclave comes at a cost, so expect to pay a median sales price of about $650,000.

Equally inviting is the Rose Garden neighborhood in Silicon Valley. With nearly 200 varieties totaling 3,500 rose bushes, this distinguished area is full of charm. Single family homes are the norm here, but bungalows and manors can also be found. Rose Garden offers both an enclosed community, as well as close proximity to the central business district. Expect to shell out an average $600,000 for a home in this area. Become a part of the city's charm and invest in San Jose real estate today!

'''Sources and more information:'''
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Jose%2C_California
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/about.html
http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/12/real_estate/re2005_100markets_0506/
http://www.homegain.com/local_real_estate/CA/san_jose.html
http://www.realtor.org/Research.nsf/files/REL06Q1T.pdf/$FILE/REL06Q1T.pdf
http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/
http://www.historysanjose.org/visiting_hsj/peralta_fallon/
http://www.willow-glen.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_glen
http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20041110_siliconvalley.htm
http://rgnpa.org/history.html
http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20041110_siliconvalley.htm