In the past, Silicon Valley workers insisted on condos near downtown to reduce their commute, but the situation has changed a bit now. With remote work becoming established, more families are turning their attention to townhomes and single-family homes in areas like North San Jose and East San Jose, which are a bit farther away.

According to Redfin, as of June 2026, the median sale price for all housing types in San Jose is $1,469,200, which is down 0.76% from a year ago, and the market is still moving quickly, with contracts being made in an average of 15 days. North San Jose has seen a rise to $1,179,603, up 15.1% from last year, while downtown has slightly decreased to $1,092,133.

Looking specifically at condos, the median price is around $717,500, which is nearly half of the overall median price in the city. Townhomes currently make up about 10% of the listings, and the HOA fees for newly built townhome communities range from $370 to $546 per month. Townhomes were once rare, but they have now become a consistent presence in new listings.

There are three main factors to consider in order. The first is commute times and office locations, as the priority between downtown condos and outer single-family homes changes depending on how much remote work is involved. The second is management fees; condos have the highest monthly costs since the management takes care of the entire building and facilities, while townhomes have lower fees since the HOA only manages the exterior. The third is school districts; areas with a high concentration of Korean families tend to favor single-family homes, which can limit options for townhomes or condos.

Single-family homes allow full ownership of the land, with the owner responsible for the yard and roof, and typically have no or lower HOA fees, which can be a significant difference for families sensitive to management costs like those in Silicon Valley.

For investors looking for rental income, there is one more factor to check. While rental demand in San Jose remains steady, condos have high HOA fees that lower net yields, and townhomes may have limited inventory, making the purchase price itself burdensome. It's safer to consider both vacancy risks and management fee fluctuations rather than jumping in solely based on price appreciation.

If you are a family just immigrating from Korea and preparing to settle down, there is another factor to consider. Due to the nature of Silicon Valley, rental prices can be high, so the total cost difference between renting and buying may not be as significant as in other areas. It's best to first clarify your job location and the extent of remote work before proceeding.

Nationally, there is a trend of increasing townhome inventory in new housing supply, and the same trend is appearing in San Jose, where developable land is scarce. Both condos and townhomes have lower entry barriers compared to single-family homes, but since HOA fees are separate, it's more realistic to compare the total monthly costs.

If you are a family moving from another state, it's easy to overlook that California property taxes are based on the purchase price, so it's important to assess this based on where you previously lived. School district boundaries also change frequently, so it's safer to check the assigned school for the address before purchasing.

You should also include mortgage interest rates as a factor to check. Condos, with relatively lower purchase prices, have smaller loan principal amounts, making them less sensitive to interest rate fluctuations, while single-family homes have larger loan amounts, so even a slight increase in rates can significantly affect monthly payments.

From my long observation of this market, San Jose has seen housing preferences shift with changes in commuting methods. Rather than making hasty decisions based on the current situation, I hope you will carefully check the three factors mentioned earlier. This article is not investment or legal advice, and I recommend consulting with a professional before making any actual contracts.