Milpitas Sellers: What Matters More Than Days on Market 

The local market continues to show impressive strength, and many homeowners are taking advantage of rising values and strong buyer demand.

📊 Market Highlights

• A Milpitas home at 453 Taylor Drive sold at full asking price of $1,650,000 — with a motivated buyer submitting an offer the same afternoon as the open house, going into contract by 5 p.m. Sunday.
• A San Jose property at 2096 Warmwood Lane closed at $1,295,000, just slightly under asking — with sellers very pleased with the outcome.
• Foot traffic and number of showings are stronger indicators of market health than days on market — few showings typically signal a pricing issue, while multiple showings without offers point to condition or presentation.
• A new Milpitas listing at 1750 Tahoe Drive in the Parktown area is coming to market at $1,750,000, a four-bedroom with a remodel and excellent school proximity, signaling continued seller confidence in the upper price tier.
• Two additional Milpitas properties — 390 Monmouth Drive ($1.7M) and 1464 Edsel Drive (~$1.5M) — are actively in preparation for summer listing, with the pipeline staying strong heading into July.

Real Estate in Milpitas

Here’s a look at what’s happening this week in Milpitas and the surrounding Silicon Valley market.

• It is a busy Saturday morning here in Milpitas, and before I head out to hold an open house at 1865 Big Ben Drive this afternoon, I wanted to share something that I think every homeowner considering selling should hear. It is a shift in perspective — one that has everything to do with how you read the market once your home is listed.

  This week, I covered two topics that I find genuinely important for Milpitas homeowners and buyers alike: why days on market is not the metric you should be watching, and the growing complexity of appraising properties with accessory dwelling units. And then I will walk you through one of the most active weeks I have had in a while.

  ---

  What Showings Tell You That Days on Market Never Can

  When a home sits on the market, the first number most sellers fixate on is days on market. It is visible, easy to understand, and feels like a clear signal. But here is the problem — days on market measures time, not interest. And time alone cannot tell you why a home is sitting.

  The number that actually tells you what is happening is showing traffic.

  Think about it this way. A well-marketed home that draws fewer than one showing per week is usually sending a message about price. The property is being seen online, the listing looks fine, but buyers are not walking through the door. That gap — between online visibility and in-person visits — almost always points back to pricing.

  Now take a different scenario: a home getting five or six walkthroughs every week, but no offer materializing. That is a different conversation entirely. In that case, buyers are interested enough to visit. Something is stopping them at the door — the layout, the way the home photographs, the condition when they walk through in person. Days on market would show the same number in both situations. Foot traffic tells them apart.

  I would add one more layer that is easy to overlook: the quality of traffic through an open house. It is not just about how many people showed up — it is about who showed up, whether they came with a Realtor, and how long they stayed. Those are signals worth paying attention to each week your home is on the market. I am actually holding open at 1865 Big Ben Drive in Milpitas this weekend — a three-bedroom, two-bath at $1,598,888 in the Parktown area — and I plan to report back next week on exactly what that foot traffic looked like.

  ---

  Understanding ADU Appraisal Complexities

  Accessory dwelling units have moved from a niche topic to a central conversation in California real estate. Many homeowners see them as an opportunity — a way to house a family member, generate rental income, or add livable square footage. But the appraisal side of an ADU transaction is more nuanced than most people expect.

  To qualify as an ADU, a unit must include three things: a sleeping area, a bathing area, and a functional kitchen. It must also sit on a permanent foundation. And — this is the detail that surprises many homeowners — the unit must have direct access to the exterior of the property. You cannot walk through the main house to reach it. If you can, it is classified as in-law quarters, not an ADU, and that distinction significantly affects its valuation.

  When an appraiser values an ADU, they face a comparison challenge. They need to find a similar nearby property that also has an ADU to use as a comparable — and those comparables are not always easy to find. The most common approach involves finding a primary residence without an ADU and then isolating the value difference. There is also a cost approach, which estimates what the unit would cost to build, and an income approach, which considers the rental income it could generate.

  From my own experience, I want to add a note of caution. I listed a property in San Jose a few years ago that had a non-permitted ADU. It created real friction in the transaction — buyers were unwilling to close without the unit being properly permitted, and it complicated the process significantly. If you are planning any addition, garage conversion, or accessory dwelling unit on your property, please make sure it is permitted from the start. It will protect your investment and make your eventual sale far smoother.

  ---

  A Strong Week in Milpitas and San Jose

  This week was a rewarding one. We successfully closed 2096 Warmwood Lane in San Jose at $1,295,000 — a three-bedroom, two-bath home at 1,165 square feet. The sellers received just a touch under asking, a few thousand dollars, but they are genuinely happy with the outcome and we are in contract.

  Then on Monday, 453 Taylor Drive in Milpitas went into contract at full price — $1,650,000. What I loved about this one was the buyer’s decisiveness. I had the open house scheduled from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. The buyer submitted their offer at noon — before the open house even began. We were in contract by 5:00 that evening. That kind of motivated, strategic behavior from a buyer is something sellers should take notice of. When someone is ready to move, they move fast.

  ---

  What Is Coming to Market in Milpitas This Summer

  I am particularly excited about a new listing that came on the books this week: 1750 Tahoe Drive in Milpitas, in the Parktown area. This is a four-bedroom, two-bath home with a separate family room and 1,504 square feet of well-used space. It was fully remodeled in 2018. One of its best features is location — it sits one block from both Synod Elementary School and Rancho Junior High, in a neighborhood where parks are within walking distance of every street.

  The sellers are retiring and planning to move out of state in August, so we are not quite to the market-ready stage yet. The price point is $1,750,000. I will be meeting with painters next weekend for a full exterior repaint, and I will have the stager walk the property the following Saturday. We will be evaluating the carpeting, taking a close look at the oak kitchen cabinets — which I personally like, though some buyers prefer white paint — and identifying anything else the property needs to truly shine. I will document that preparation process here each week, so stay tuned.

  Also still in the pipeline: 390 Monmouth Drive in Milpitas, a five-bedroom, three-bath home priced at $1.7 million, and 1464 Edsel Drive, also in Milpitas, which is working through the city permit process and is expected to come in around $1.5 million.

  ---

  What This Means for Homeowners Thinking About Selling

  If you have been watching the Milpitas market and wondering whether now is a reasonable time to act, the activity this week is instructive. Buyers are present, motivated, and in some cases moving faster than the open house schedule. Properties that show well and are priced with current market conditions in mind are getting attention.

  For those in the 50-plus demographic who have been in your Milpitas home for many years and are starting to think about retirement, downsizing, or making a move closer to family — this is worth a conversation. Not a rushed one, but an informed one. Preparation matters, pricing matters, and presentation matters. The good news is that none of those things is beyond your control.

  If you would like to understand what this market means for your specific situation in Milpitas, I am always just a call or email away. After more than four decades in this market, I have seen a lot — and I am here to help you make sense of it.

  📞 (408) 945-8988 | ✉️ giordanodj@aol.com Debbie Indihar Giordano | Master Brokers | 1916 Grand Teton Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035 | CalDRE #00705857

Give me a call, 408-945-8988, or send me an email, Giordanodj@aol.com. And of course you can always visit my website, www.DebbieGerardino.com. There’s a connect, tab me and it’ll just zoom right into me and we’ll be able to get together. I’m ready to go to work for you.

🚨This matters more than Days On Market

What to watch

If you ever sell your home, here’s something worth knowing long before the sign goes in the yard:

Days on market is the wrong number to obsess over, and here’s why:

It measures time, not interest. And time on its own can’t tell you why a home is sitting.

The number that can is showings.

A well-marketed home that’s drawing fewer than a showing a week is usually telling you something about price.

One getting five or six walk-throughs and no offer is telling you something about the house itself – the layout, the photos, the way it shows in person.

Days on market can’t tell those two apart, but foot traffic can.

P.S. Even if you’re in the early stages of thinking about a move, we should talk. It might seem premature but my clients are always less stressed & better prepared the sooner we get the conversation started. 🙂

Take a look at my listings to see our track record: https://debbiegiordano.com/FeaturedListings

Thank you

Interest Rates – Up to the minute information on the Milpitas real estate market.

Current mortgage rates will be updated next week.

I’ll talk about some listings, exciting new inventory I have coming up.

We’re ready to get your property ready. Give me a call 408-945-8988 or giordanodj@aol.com. Let’s talk, let’s get together and let’s see what we can do about this 2026 upcoming market. Thank you for watching.

Coming Soon! in Milpitas by Debbie Giordano Realtor Milpitas, CA

🔜1464 Edsel Drive in Milpitas. That’s not quite ready, 4 bedroom, 4 bath. 1300 square feet. $1,498,888

🔜 390 Monmouth Dr. Milpitas 5 bedroom 3 bath 1775 sq. feet $1,700,000  

🔜 Coming soon 479 Heath Dr. Milpitas 4 bedroom 2 bath Manor area! 1,328 sq. ft. They’re looking to locate out of Milpitas and that’s a four bedroom. We don’t have a price point on that one.

🔜 Coming soon 385 Monmouth Drive coming up. 4-bedroom, 2 bath, about 1,436-sq. ft., 6,000-sq. ft. lot in a nice established neighborhood. We don’t have a price on that one yet.

🔜 Coming soon Scott Creek Highlands area 2350 sq. ft. one story, 3-car garage. Setting a price soon.

✔️ Schedule an appointment to discuss getting your home ready for the market. 1-408-858-5771

I’m anxious to work for you. Call me and we’ll get an individual appointment and I’ll come see your property and do the assessment and let you know what I think we need to do to get it ready.

Call me at 408-945-8988 or visit my website, DebbieGiordano.com. There’s a Connect Me tab and you can get me directly there. So thank you for watching. 

When is the Right Time to Sell?

I don’t think you can time the season per se. Whatever looks good for your family and your family’s timing. It’s really predicated on the general economy, and we’ve had a great stock market ride in the last three months. It’s gone back up, and I know that that’s really helped bring more buyers to the table. So please don’t be shy. If you’re ready to go, you’re thinking about moving, call me, get me in to see the property. We’ll talk about what you need to do to get it prepped and get it ready to go and be ready for this great, amazing market.

💲Condominium Buy Before Sell Program

Ask about the buy-before-sell program for condos.

I’d invite you also, as we close, to go to my website. https://Debbiegiordano.com, there’s a tab that says team video. If you want to see how I work, I’ve got my team on there, my transaction coordinator, inspectors, sign people, my stagers on there, and you can see what my team encompasses and what we do to put together a package to productively list your home and get top market value for your properties, I’m ready to serve you.

If you want to get your home ready, let me know. Call for #BestRealtorinMilpitas 1-408-945-8988.

And I do look forward to speaking with you next week again.

Please leave some Kind Words | Most important are your results and sharing how you love working with me. I would love you to share your testimonial with me! https://rvu.today/debbiegiordano

Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel like, comment, share Facebook, and Instagram channels. Thank you!

Your Team when you list your home with Debbie Giordano of Master Brokers!

Closing Thoughts

Every market cycle brings opportunity when you understand what’s happening locally. If you’re considering a move this year—or just want to stay informed—I’m always here as a resource.

Debbie Indihar Giordano
Master Brokers | Milpitas & Silicon Valley
📞 408-945-8988 | 🌐 DebbieGiordano.com
#BestRealEstateAgentinMilpitas

Testimonials

We would like to express our sincerest appreciation for Debbie Giordano for her quick action on selling our house. We sincerely believe she is the best real estate broker covering the southern San Francisco Bay Area.

We currently live in Arizona and was definitely not looking forward to spending several weeks in the bay area while we fixed up our Milpitas property to sell. We have had renters in our house for the past six years.

Debbie not only took the reins on this effort, she charged full force straight into the thick of things. She managed to arrange the repairs in one week. She also staged the property and put it on the market. The house never looked good in the 35 plus years in which we lived in the house. Due to her valiant efforts, the house sold in just one week, and we received what were hoping to get out of the house.

Thank you, Debbie for all you did for us. It is truly remarkable that you pulled a rabbit out of the hat. Your efforts surpassed our greatest expectations.

Thank you again.

Steven & Charleen Stoner

7-24-2025

Thank you Debbie.

Even though you have taken the reigns on our MiIpitas house, and are driving forward with this; I just want to make it official that Charleen and I would like you to be our realtor for our Milpitas house until it is sold. We appreciate everything you have done thus far. Charleen and I were really comfortable with talking to you when you came out to our house and we look forward to a prosperous conclusion for the both of us. We will work with Melissa to get the documents signed.

Steve

6-19-2025

My brother and I knew that selling our family home with Debbie was going to give us the best experience possible. But what neither of us realized was how incredibly cutting edge she is about the Milpitas market, how networked and how committed she is to her clients. She stood by us and was alongside us every step of the way. Her passion and compassion are stellar. It is safe to say that neither of us have enjoyed going through the home sale process, but Debbie made it seamless and we will always be grateful to her and her great team for their amazing professionalism and care.
Thank you Debbie for all that you do!

Gloria Sherman Gallegos and Matt Sherman

6-22-2025

Thank you for the kind words:

We were impressed with Debbie’s familiarity of Milpitas from our very first meeting. Her knowledge of the local housing market and our neighborhood including schools and businesses made us feel very comfortable. She is on top of an everchanging market.

Debbie toured our home and gave us an honest assessment; she advised us on updating a few things that will make our home stand out from the others. She has a very good team of subcontractors to help with any upgrades or repairs that are needed. These subs are very respectful, on time and do quality work.

During this process, communication with Debbie and her team was outstanding. They kept us informed every step of the way.

Debbie has a staging team that transformed our home to maximize its appeal to buyers. This process was flawless and really showcased the home.

Working with Debbie was truly a positive experience. She worked very hard at keeping everything organized and on schedule.

We highly recommend Debbie. Her expertise, dedication and professionalism made the sale of our home enjoyable and successful.

Thank You Debbie

Matt & Karen

August 14, 2025

What Our Clients Say

Debbie assisted us in selling our family home several years ago and we were so impressed with her dedication, expertise, and friendly approach, we contacted her again when we interested in purchasing a property.

This time around was no different, Debbie’s communication was prompt and effective, keeping us informed every step of the way. She was always available to answer our questions and provided regular updates throughout the process. When unexpected issues arose during the buying process, Debbie’s problem-solving expertise shone through. She quickly found solutions making the closing process easier and less stressful for us.

We highly recommend Debbie to help with all of your home buying and/or selling needs!

~ John & Kathy ~

Message us today!