Stephanie Martin Group Reports Steady Rise in Silicon Valley Seniors Selling Long Held Family Homes in 2026

A South Bay mother-son team says forty percent of its business involves homes owned twenty-five years or longer, with Prop 19 portability driving new listings.

SAN JOSE, CA, UNITED STATES, October 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Stephanie Martin Group, a Compass-affiliated real estate team serving Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, is reporting a steady increase in senior homeowners listing long-held properties across Silicon Valley in 2026. The team, led by mother-son partners Stephanie and Zachary Martin, says roughly 40 percent of its current business now involves homes owned for 25 years or longer, a share that has grown each year since 2024.

The shift comes as Proposition 19 continues to reshape the financial picture for older California homeowners. The amendment allows residents age 55 and older to transfer their existing property tax base when they move within the state, removing one of the largest barriers that previously kept long-term owners from selling.

"Prop 19 has made moving financially possible for more seniors," said Stephanie Martin, founder of the Stephanie Martin Group. "What we are seeing is not a migration wave. It is a decision unlock. Homeowners who put off selling for years because they did not want to lose a low Prop 13 tax base are now able to seriously consider their options."

Even with that financial barrier eased, the team notes that the most common hesitation among senior sellers is emotional rather than economic. Many of the group's clients have lived in the same home for 30, 40, or even 50 years and are facing not only a real estate transaction but a major life transition.

"Most of the time, the house matters less than what the house represents," Martin said. "Identity, independence, and a lifetime of routine. Once you understand that, the real estate part becomes the easiest part of the process."

By neighborhood, the team is seeing the most consistent rise in senior-driven listings across San Jose and Cambrian Park, with emotionally weighted moves common in Willow Glen and lower-volume but higher-value transitions taking place in Saratoga and Los Gatos. Most sellers are staying local, downsizing into smaller single-story homes, townhomes, or condos within Santa Clara County. A smaller share are moving closer to adult children, including into accessory dwelling units on family property.

In one recent transaction, the group worked with a family selling a property that had been in their hands since it was built. The elderly relative who had lived there for most of his life was leaving the only home he had ever known. After an extended period focused on supporting the seller through the emotional side of the move, the team coordinated repairs, staging, and marketing. The home sold for more than 300,000 dollars above the original list price.

"Success is not just about the final sale price," Martin said. "It is about helping families navigate challenging moments with dignity and the right guidance."

The Stephanie Martin Group expects the trend to continue over the next two to three years as more long-held homes reach the point where aging in place is no longer practical and Prop 19 portability supports in-state moves. The team anticipates rising demand for single-story and low-maintenance housing and continued absorption of original-condition properties across established Silicon Valley neighborhoods.

About the Stephanie Martin Group

The Stephanie Martin Group is a Compass-affiliated real estate advisory team based in San Jose, California. Led by Stephanie Martin and Zachary Martin, the team specializes in luxury, senior, first-time buyer, and downsizing transactions across Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, including Willow Glen, Los Gatos, Cambrian Park, Campbell, Saratoga, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, and Los Altos. The group is recognized for guiding clients through complex life transitions, including downsizing, estate sales, and inheritance, with hands-on coordination and a trusted vendor network covering staging, packing, contracting, and estate services.

Contact
Stephanie Martin
Stephanie Martin Group
stephanie.martin@compass.com
(408) 828-6880
https://stephaniemartingroup.com/

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