Often, a question comes along that really gets to the heart of what we do. Recently, someone asked why so many sellers in Portola Valley trust us with such an important decision. Rather than just sending the usual market stats this month, it felt right to share what sets our service apart.

What truly matters isn’t just data – though we certainly track every listing and sale. It’s our perspective that comes from decades of experience here. Beyond the numbers, we know the hidden stories: the off-market transactions, the history of individual homes, the subtle differences from one neighborhood to the next. That kind of insight comes only from living and working here for years, and from guiding more Portola Valley buyers and sellers than anyone else.

Of course, the monthly numbers still tell part of the story. The update below reflects only publicly listed sales, but we’re always glad to provide additional context on activity that doesn’t appear in the official record. August was slower than usual for closed sales, largely due to vacations and families focused on summer schedules. That’s not unusual for this time of year. 

Thinking about selling? We’re here to guide the process. If buying is on the horizon, let’s talk about how to achieve the best results in today’s competitive market. Call us any time. 

Portola Valley

The contrast with last August is noticeable – 16 closings then compared with just 3 this year. Year over year, though, the median price is up 7% and the median days on market remains just 11. Demand is strong for Portola Valley, yet there are only 25 homes available – just 4 of which have been on the market for less than 30 days.

Woodside

There were 4 closed sales compared to 6 in August of last year. Year over year, sales are down 12% and the median price is down a slight 3%. The average price, however, is up from last year to $5,226,268. There are 25 homes available for sale – 11 of which have been on the market for less than 30 days.

Atherton

There were 6 closed sales compared to 4 in August of last year. Year over year, sales are down 16% but the median price is up a significant 22%. The average price today is $11,800,598. There are just 16 homes available for sale – half of which have been on the market for less than 3 weeks.

Menlo Park

There were 25 closed single-family home sales compared to 24 in August of last year. Year over year, sales are down 4% but the median price is up 3%. The average price today is $3,765,056. There are 37 single-family homes available for sale – 22 of which have been on the market for less than 3 weeks.

Palo Alto

There were 39 closed single-family home sales compared to 27 in August of last year. Year over year, sales are up 6% and the median price is also up 6%. The average price today is $4,636,013. There are 61 single-family homes available for sale – 29 of which have been on the market for less than 3 weeks.

Los Altos 

There were 24 closed single-family home sales compared to 26 in August of last year. The median price is up a significant 12%. The average price today is $5,118,670. There are just 26 single-family homes available for sale – 14 of which have been on the market for less than 3 weeks.

Los Altos Hills

In Los Altos Hills, closed sales were the same as they were last August, with 7 sales. Year over year, sales are up 18% but the median price is down 8%. The average price today is $6,644,874. There are just 26 homes available for sale – 9 of which have been on the market for less than 3 weeks.