Palo Alto Real Estate - Palo Alto California
Palo Alto California: Located 35 miles south of San Francisco
and 14 miles north of San Jose, Palo Alto is a community of approximately
61,200 residents. The City encompasses an area of approximately 26 square
miles, of which one-third is open space.
Palo Alto is strategically located in the middle of the San Francisco
Peninsula and close to both Silicon Valley and Stanford University.
The Stanford Industrial Park that borders the university is one of the
earliest industrial parks in the United States, born of collaborate
efforts between the university and surrounding industries.
More than 100 years old, Palo Alto is named for a majestic 250 year
old coastal redwood tree, El Palo Alto, that used to stand along the
San Francisquito Creek where early Spanish explorers settled. Part of
the tree toppled in recent years, but part of it still remains.
The blend of business and residential areas anchored by a vibrant downtown
defines Palo Alto's unique character. A charming mixture of old and
new, Palo Alto’s tree-lined streets and historic buildings reflect
its California heritage. At the same time, Palo Alto is recognized worldwide
as a leader in cutting-edge technological development. This exciting
mix of tradition and innovation makes Palo Alto an extraordinary place
in which to operate a business.
Unique among California cities, Palo Alto is a full-service municipality
that owns and operates its gas, electric, water, sewer, refuse and storm
drainage services at very competitive rates for its customers. As befits
the City known as "Birthplace of the Silicon Valley," the
City has developed a 31-mile dark fiber ring for ultra-fast Internet
access.
Characteristic of Palo Alto is the care taken to protect open space
and parkland. Palo Alto has a remarkable number of City-owned parks
for its size (34 at last count) and nearly one-third of its 26 square
miles is open space.
Complementing its exciting and innovative business community, Palo
Alto's residents are highly educated, politically aware and culturally
sophisticated. An abundance of local pride and numerous neighborhood
organizations contribute to Palo Alto's charming historic and upscale
commercial and residential areas. Palo Alto schools are ranked among
the best in California, and this, along with the moderate climate and
the natural beauty adds to its appeal.
Housing in Palo Alto is among the most expensive in the country, with
small "starter" homes on small lots fetching prices above
$600,000. The city suffers from a chronic shortage of houses for sale,
which makes the real estate market very competitive. Still, people are
willing to sacrifice to live in this unique and exciting city.
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