South San Jose
Desirable housing around Communications Hill
Atop the slopes of South San Jose sits Communications Hill, one of the city’s most in-demand communities. A mix of contemporary Craftsman and Mediterranean-style townhouses, condo units and single-family homes line the streets of Communications Hill; at its base and throughout the rest of the neighborhood, homebuyers can find additional townhome complexes, mobile home parks and single-family homes in private communities. In subdivisions like Canoa Park and the Willows, a mix of midcentury and more modern single-family properties reflect a range of traditional, Craftsman and Mediterranean-inspired touches. The homes in these subdivisions typically have attached garages, paved driveways and ample, landscaped front lawns dotted with small trees and decorative gardens. “In the big picture, South San Jose is considered a newer community,” Mistry says. “In the flatlands, you’ll see some older, wider homes, but because of the limited land space to build, developers started building properties that went up, not out – those properties are the newer ones.” Condo units across the neighborhood typically range from $700,000 to $1.4 million, while townhouses can cost between $710,000 and $2 million. Pricier condo units and townhouses tend to be newer builds clustered in and around the Communications Hill community. Manufactured homes range from $100,000 to approximately $500,000, and single-family properties typically sell between $1 million and $2 million.Popular overlooks and walking trails
Not only is Communications Hill popular for its housing options, but it also has plenty of room for outdoor recreation. “There’s a grand staircase that goes from the crop of Communications Hill to the bottom of the hill, and on the top, there’s a small park, Vieira Park, with a popular overlook,” Mistry says. “If you’re living on Communications Hill, you have to come down the hill to really go anywhere. You can walk down, absolutely, but it can be really difficult to get back up.” Another park on top of Communications Hill is the William Lewis Manly Park, which has playgrounds, picnic areas, ping pong tables and a community terrace that serves as a popular gathering place for homeowners living on the hill. Encompassing the whole area is the Communications Hill Trail, which people use to walk their dogs or go for runs. At the base of the hill and in the surrounding flatter parts of South San Jose are several other small neighborhood parks with playgrounds, athletic facilities and open green space.Students served by the San Jose Unified and Franklin-McKinley school districts
School attendance within this area is divided between the San Jose Unified and Franklin-McKinley school districts, with Highway 87 acting as the zoning barrier. Students who live east of the highway in the Communications Hills area can attend George Shirakawa Sr. Elementary, which earns a B-minus rating from Niche and serves kindergarten through eighth grade. For the remaining four years, students might head to the B-rated Andrew P. Hill High School, which offers an International Baccalaureate program. On the eastern side of Highway 87, students are zoned for Canoas Elementary, a B-minus-rated school, and the B-rated John Muir Middle School. Grades nine through 12 can attend Henry T. Gunderson High School, another B-rated institution where students can take Advanced Placement courses and arts-related electives in photography, media arts and drama.Dining options at Waterford Shopping Center
There are a handful of shopping centers in South San Jose where residents can grab groceries and basic home necessities. “At the base of Communications Hill is a Lucky’s grocery store, a Home Depot [and] there are some average, everyday strip malls there,” Mistry says. The Waterford Shopping Center, which has the Lucky’s supermarket, also has several dining options, including Bona Pizza, Cha Cha Sushi and 85°C Bakery Café, a Taiwanese café chain selling international food. There’s also Aqui, an innovative dinner restaurant specializing in Mexican-Californian fusion with several locations across the greater San Jose metropolitan area. At the nearby San Jose Capitol Flea Market, local vendors gather to sell specialty products and produce in an open outdoor space with food trucks and live music for weekend pop-ups. “People also go to shop at the Westfield Oakridge Mall, which is about two miles away. The mall is also very close to Blossom Hill Road, which has a lot of shopping and a large selection of restaurants,” Mistry says.Highway 87 leads directly into downtown San Jose
Major thoroughfares are easily accessible in this neighborhood: “South San Jose residents are close to Highway 87, which will take you to downtown San Jose,” Mistry says. “You can also catch the light rail into downtown, but I would say that overall the public transit is a bit restrictive.” There are two light rail stops in South San Jose: the Capitol station and the Curtner station, both situated along Highway 87. The Valley Transportation Authority operates this area's light rail and public bus services, however, people here mostly drive to get around. “Traffic can be a challenge if you live in South San Jose,” Mistry says. “If you’re driving to work at one the big tech companies in Silicon Valley like Apple or Google, then you’re typically looking at a 45-minute commute one way.” The San Jose Mineta International Airport is a 10-mile drive north and offers dozens of direct domestic flights. The Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center is 6 miles south of the neighborhood and has a 24-hour emergency services department and urgent care center.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Bonafede Team
Compass
(669) 266-0177
249 Total Sales
1 in South San Jose
$870,000 Price
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Bill Robertson
Coldwell Banker Realty
(562) 280-2922
75 Total Sales
2 in South San Jose
$985K - $1.3M Price Range
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Gloria Ashdown
Coldwell Banker Realty
(669) 202-8564
33 Total Sales
1 in South San Jose
$1,225,000 Price
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Amol Heda
KW Bay Area Estates
(669) 221-8510
53 Total Sales
1 in South San Jose
$890,000 Price
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Jena Bebleh
Epique Realty
(669) 333-7644
18 Total Sales
1 in South San Jose
$950,000 Price
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Doug Hendey
Responds QuicklyReferral Realty-BV
(669) 213-1103
16 Total Sales
1 in South San Jose
$1,410,000 Price
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | South San Jose | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 4 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
Robbery | 4 | 4 |
Burglary | 4 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
Larceny | 4 | 4 |
Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
South San Jose Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in South San Jose, San Jose sell after 50 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in South San Jose, San Jose over the last 12 months is $345,000, down 7% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Saturday, Aug 21:30 - 4pm
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Saturday, Aug 212 - 5pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has Equal Renters and Owners
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
Some Transit
Transit Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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