10/8    Thinking of going back to Silicon Valley. How's the job market
        right now in the middle of the housing crisis? Are companies
        hiring or laying off in general? Are rent + home prices stable?
        \_ 1 hiring freezes at many large companies
           2 layoffs of bottom 5-10% common
             \_ my company NEVER does big layoffs. Always letting people
                go every few weeks or so
                \_ YHOO, MRVL, EBAY, HPQ
           3 home prices downward slope
           \_ how much downward? 5%? or 10-15% like nationwide?
              \_ all right, seasonally we may be okay.  my impression is that
                 we've entered the "stare-off" part of the cycle.  also,
                 cheaper houses are selling in volume, which is driving down
                 the median home price.
              \_ Home prices are down in less desirable areas and have been
                 flat for about three years in more desirable areas.
                 \_ What is less desirable? San Jose? Milpitas? Sunnyvale?
                    Places like Saratoga and San Mateo keep going up up up.
                    \_ Desirable:  Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Altos, Los Gatos
                    \_ No, San Mateo has come down in price:
                       http://www.redfin.com/city/17490/CA/San-Mateo
                       Looks like about 12% down from Oct 06 to today.
                       San Jose (most of it), Santa Clara and Milpitas all
                       qualify as less desirable. How about "less expensive"
                       and "more expensive" then, is that clear enough to you?
                       \_ Cool chart. Why is there a big gap starting Jan 08
                          between house and condo?