Brookvale / Chantel, San Jose, CA

Brookvale / Chantel is a compact, triangular enclave of 1970s and early-1980s condominium and town-home complexes tucked between Lawrence Expressway and Prospect Road. The communities of Sharon Villas, Brookvale Drive, and adjacent courts share leafy internal lanes, mature redwoods, and small pocket lawns that give residents a low-maintenance, apartment-alternative lifestyle. Most floor plans run 850 – 1,200 square feet, so young professionals and downsizers make up a large share of the owners. Daily convenience is excellent. Calabazas Park’s sports fields and paved creek trail sit a block to the east, while Safeway, Mitsuwa Marketplace, and a spread of casual eats on Saratoga Avenue keep grocery runs to five minutes. Commuters appreciate the instant access to Interstate 280, Highway 85, and Lawrence Expressway, though units that back the freeway get steady white-noise hum. Schools land in the Cupertino Union district feeder pattern, a big selling point at this price tier. The feel is quiet and neighborly but not luxurious. Stucco facades and shingle roofs show their age in spots, HOA budgets focus on essentials over flair, and guest parking can be tight on weekends. Still, residents say they value the lock-and-leave freedom, the dog-friendly park loop, and the ability to buy into a top school area for under a million.