Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose shows a clear disparity in home prices based on income levels, particularly due to the high concentration of tech industry workers. Many Korean families are considering both education for their children and commuting to work, so let's compare a few representative areas.

Berryessa is a neighborhood close to the VTA light rail station, making commuting convenient, with single-family home prices ranging from $1.2 million to $1.4 million. Recently, there has been a gradual upward trend in prices, coinciding with discussions about new rail extensions.

The Evergreen area has a good reputation for its school district, with prices forming around $1.3 million to $1.5 million, while Willow Glen is considered one of the top residential areas in San Jose, maintaining a high price range of $1.6 million to $1.9 million. In contrast, condos in North San Jose are relatively more accessible, priced between $800,000 and $950,000.

In terms of price trends, Willow Glen has seen a noticeable slowdown in its rate of increase recently, while Berryessa and Evergreen continue to show a steady upward trend.

From an investment perspective, I lean more towards Berryessa. Once the VTA Silver Line extension is completed, accessibility is expected to improve further, and there is a perception that it is still relatively undervalued compared to Willow Glen.

Rental yields are relatively high for North San Jose condos, around 4%, while areas with high home prices like Willow Glen tend to see yields drop to the upper 2% to low 3% range. As long as employment in the tech industry remains stable, rental demand is generally steady.

Risks include the sensitivity of the San Jose market to employment conditions in the tech industry, and the tendency for buyer interest to wane in higher-priced areas during periods of rising interest rates.

Korean families prioritizing school districts may prefer Evergreen or Willow Glen, while those considering relatively affordable entry prices and investment potential often look towards Berryessa.