Your Guide to Buying a Home in Mountain View, CA

Buying a Home in Mountain View, California

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Mountain View is located in Santa Clara County

Mountain View is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, 10 miles north of San Jose and 34 miles south of San Francisco. The city is bordered by Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Sunnyvale. The central location provides easy access to the entire San Francisco Bay Area and northern California cities.

Neighborhood parks, recreational facilities, quality education, and convenient shopping make Mountain View a most attractive residential community.

Housing Prices average approximately $660,000

Private projects in Mountain View represent nearly two million square feet of commercial development capturing the economic expansion of Silicon Valley. Equally important is the magnitude of public projects, including an investment of almost 50 million dollars in the downtown area alone.

Mountain View maintains a strong and diversified local economy. Numerous high technology electronics companies, including several in the Fortune 500, as well as bio-technology firms are located in Mountain View. With only 4% of Santa Clara County's population, Mountain View is home to 11% of the county's top firms. 

Business success stories are not limited to the electronics industry. Mountain View enjoys a lively mix of retail stores, executive offices, research and development firms, and professional services.

City Government: Mountain View's City Charter established a council/manager form of government. The seven Council Members are elected at large for four-year terms that are staggered so the three or four seats are filled at the general municipal election in November of every even-numbered year. 

Service on the Council is limited to two consecutive terms. Each  January, the Council elects one of its members as Mayor and another as Vice-Mayor. The Council is the legislative body of the City,  sets policy and directs the City's course.

Transportation: Mountain View's transportation network includes highways, rail systems, and air service. Interstate 280, US 101, and state highways 82, 85, and 237 cross Mountain View and offer a quick connection to all parts of the Bay Area. 

Mountain View is served by two major international airports. The San Francisco International Airport is less than 30 miles away. The Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, 10 miles from Mountain View, is a national hub for several airlines. The airport serves a steadily growing 6 million passengers annually.

Income/Family Size: Mountain View is the home of many professionals employed in Silicon Valley. The median household income was $42,431 in 2000, with the average household size of 2.25.

Climate: Mountain View maintains a consistently moderate Mediterranean climate year round. Rand McNally ranks Mountain View's climate the eighth most desirable of 329 metropolitan areas. 

In January 2000, the average high in Mountain View was 56 degrees Fahrenheit; the average low was 46 degrees Fahrenheit. In July 2000, the average high was 65 degrees Fahrenheit; the average low was 54 degrees Fahrenheit. On average, Mountain View had 15 inches of rain in 2000.

Recreation: Shoreline Park in Mountain View, a 660-acre regional recreational area, features a network of trails through the baylands, an 18 hole championship golf course, and a saltwater lake for sailing and windsurfing.

Entertainment: Shoreline Amphitheatre is the region's premiere outdoor entertainment center. The 20,000 seat venue draws hundreds of thousands each year for performances. Performers have included: Julio Iglesias, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Bette Middler and the San Francisco Symphony.

Cultural Arts: The Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts offers cultural activities of a wide variety: theatre, music, performance art, dance, and film. Three hundred performances are planned annually for the theatre's three stages. Local and professional, as well as national and international touring companies are booked for each of the Center's seasons.

Special Events: Mountain View is a city of celebrations with numerous cultural and recreational events happening each year. These events include: The Chamber of Commerce Mountain View's Annual Art & Wine Festival, Summer Concert Series, Spring Parade, Small Brewers' Festival, KKSF Listener Party, A La Carte & Art Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Education: Mountain View's educational institutions and programs are designed to meet the challenges facing young people today. Junior Achievement's Groundhog Job Shadow Day  gives students the opportunity to observe different careers. Mountain View High School is an award-winning school with a current enrollment of 1436. It addresses the needs of a diverse student body while maintaining a strong emphasis on academic excellence.

Local universities and community colleges offer excellent advanced educational opportunities. Stanford University, San Jose State University, and Santa Clara University are located within 20 miles from Mountain View. Foothill Community College less than 10 miles from downtown Mountain View, offers vocational training and general education, as well as preparatory work for transfer to major universities.

Housing: Mountain View offers a wide range of homes in style, size, and affordability. In addition to a number of established single family residential neighborhoods, Mountain View offers a large supply of multi-family homes, including modern apartments, condominiums, and townhomes.  

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