17 Hillview Ct, San Francisco, CA 94124 | MLS# 355706
17 Hillview Ct San Francisco, CA 94124
Price: $420,800

Beds: 3
Baths: 2.5
Sq. Ft.: 2,004
$/Sq. Ft.: $210
Lot Size: -
Property Type: Modified, Single-Family Home
Style: Contemporary
View: Bay
Year Built: 1984
Community: Bayview
County: San Francisco
MLS#: 355706
Source: San Francisco MLS
Status: Active
On Redfin: 7 days
Bank Owned Property in Good Bayview Location. A newer property overlooking the Bay. 3 large bedrooms and 2 full baths (1 Master bedroom suite) on the upper level. On the main level there is a living room, family room and kitchen 1/2 bath. There is also a good sized yard- perfect for children or a family pet! On the ground level there is a 2 car side x side garage and plenty of additional storage. The home needs some work, Take a look anytime. Offers will be reviewed as received.

Heh. The price is 420. Heh.

But here’s what Burbed reader Jason had to say:

Check out this beautiful 3/2.5 house in Bayview.  It certainly has a beautiful bayview, as the neighborhood name suggests, of the gorgeous Bay Bridge, East Bay, SF’s Fidi, and an illustrious smokestack.  This can be had for a bargain price of $699,999.  What a steal.

Well, you have to admit that the immediate neighborhood doesn’t look to shabby:

Honestly, I really don’t know enough about this area to make a call on it.

Burbed readers – especially those with more San Francisco tastes – your input please!

1730 Halford Ave #254, Santa Clara, CA 95051 | MLS# 80916568
1730 Halford Ave #254 Santa Clara, CA 95051
Price: $206,700

Beds: 1
Baths: 1
Sq. Ft.: 678
$/Sq. Ft.: $305
Lot Size: 1,554 Sq. Ft.
Property Type: Condominium
Style: Contemporary
Stories: 1-3 (Low Rise)
View: Neighborhood
Year Built: 1970
Community: Santa Clara
County: Santa Clara
MLS#: 80916568
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active
On Redfin: 28 days
Spacious Condo located in a resort like community. HOA amenities inlude:Pool, Spa, Sauna, Tennis, Gym, Clubhouse, Garden Fountains, Security, and complete Privacy. Condo Features Tiled Kitchen Countertops, wall to wall carpet, and a private balcony.

An anonymous Burbed reader wrote:

I guess Santa Clara is now a “resort-like” community.  I guess if being pinched between Lawrence and El Camino is resort-like, then this is a home run…

Hey isn’t it? It’s right near KoreaLand and IndianTown. And the VW dealership. Just look at all those features – including Security and Privacy. It really is just like a resort. And at an incredibly low price no less.

Move in today, throw in some soothing music – boom, you’ve got your revenue stream already. “Welcome to Halford Resorts” – catchy name if you ask me!

92 MADERA Ave, San Carlos, CA 94070 | MLS# 80835403
92 MADERA Ave San Carlos, CA 94070
Price: $899,998

Beds: 4
Baths: 2.5
Sq. Ft.: 2,400
$/Sq. Ft.: $375
Lot Size: 6,604 Sq. Ft.
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Style: Contemporary
Stories: 2
View: Bay, Canyon, Neighborhood, City Lights
Year Built: 1934
Community: Beverly Terrace
County: San Mateo
MLS#: 80835403
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active
On Redfin: 221 days
Amazing price for this square footage. .. appraised at $1,234,000 in 2007. Gorgeous Bay Views. Spacious home approx 2400 sq ft. Upper level w/ adjoining family room, living room, 1/2 bath. Downstairs 4 bedrooms, office, 2.5 baths. Parquet and hardwood under upper level carpeting. Two decks. This is NOT a short sale.

Burbed reader Sam thought this was an interesting find. Here’s what he had to say:

Want to close your sale faster? Highlight a declining market!  (Ignore the 1991 $358,000 sale, roughly 600K in 2009 dollars, it’s irrelevant)

Well, actually the 1991 sales price is important. As we all know. real estate doubles every 10 years. So… by 2011 (2 years from now) it should be worth $1.432M. That makes sense. Highlighting the $1.234M (what a funny number) today indicates just how much instant equity there is available for you to unleash. And, that it is on track to reach that magically doubling number – if it weren’t for the pesky economic woes we have right now.

So get on the right track and buy this very green, very airy house today!

Thanks Sam!

Mountain View Voice Mountain View Voice: Housing report: City is ‘jobs rich’ (April 24, 2009)

Kicking off the housing discussion is a new report on the city’s housing needs from Bay Area Economics. Among numerous issues, it points out that the city is becoming increasingly “jobs rich,” while housing development has not kept pace. It says jobs increased by 19 percent since 2003, while housing units increased by only 3 percent since 2000. Mountain View’s population has increased 10 percent since 1990, to 72,932.

By comparison, the county has grown by 23 percent since 1990 and had three times less job growth on average.

To meet its “fair share” of the county’s unmet housing needs, the Association of Bay Area Governments has calculated that Mountain View needs to accommodate — perhaps through zoning — another 2,123 units by 2014, including 467 very low income units. That goal may be difficult to achieve in a slow housing market: Permits for only 99 units were approved last year, while 377 units were permitted in 2007.

The report also points out that high land costs and public opposition to dense housing development have hindered housing production.

[snip]

For many years Mountain View has been known as a city with a relatively high ratio of renters. The county shows the opposite trend, with about 40 percent renters and 60 percent homeowners, according to the report.

The report cites other concerns. About 19 percent of the city’s multi-family apartment buildings are not built to withstand a major earthquake, it says, noting that of the city’s 584 apartment buildings, 111 have a “soft story” design where an “open wall condition” on the first floor can lead to “seismic weakness” in an earthquake.

Reflecting county-wide trends, the report says 32 percent of Mountain View renters “overpaid” by spending more than a third of their income on rent, compared to 36 percent county-wide. Seniors overpaid the most: In 2000, the report says, 50 percent of seniors overpaid for housing and 26 percent “severely overpaid.”

The report adds that there are no assisted living facilities affordable to low income seniors in the city. It says the city has placed a 180-unit cap on small apartments — also known as “efficiency studios,” like the ones at San Antonio Place — so only 62 more can be built.

Mountain View’s median income for 2008 is slightly lower than the county median of $81,246, according to the report. Per capita income, however, is higher: $46,644 versus $37,470.

Congrats to Mountain View on these amazing stats!

Remember, the more you spend on housing, the cooler you are. Go Mountain View!

Need agent ONLY to help me with offer and closing on a house – what is the fee for this? – Trulia Voices
Need agent ONLY to help me with offer and closing on a house – what is the fee for this?

Burbed reader T.M. suggested that I share this with everyone. Here’s what he had to say about this thread:

Hi Burbed – thought you’d enjoy this gem of a discussion on the Advice pages of the realtor-supported website, Trulia, said “advice” consisting mainly of spammy advertisements for members of the realtors’ cartel.

Watch as a poor hapless customer in San Jose seeking advice on finding a simple fee-for-service arrangement gets over 100 self-serving, inaccurate, semi-literate replies, with realtor after realtor trying to persuade him that as a buyer, he will pay nothing if he and the seller each use 3% brokers.

Actually, T.M. had a lot more to say, but this in itself is comedy gold. Check out the thread. There’s definitely a lot of… uh… advice!

It’s Saturday… that means it is time for Burbed’s book of the week! Here’s today:

Find It, Fix It, Flip It!: Make Millions in Real Estate–One House at a Time

Much has been written about real estate these days, from inflated prices to the softening of the market. It can be difficult to sort the good from the bad, the reality from the hyperbole, but Corbett, television host and actor, manages to relay practical use-it-now information. What’s his gig? Insider-type information and established methods that will drive successful deals. His hints include controlling every step of the process; including a closet for each room legally to be considered a bedroom; upgrading to high-tech digital thermostats; and avoiding FSBOs (for sale by owners). Before-and-after photographs enliven a fairly high-powered text, as do a bundle of flip tips and trade secrets. Occasionally, self-help verbiage creeps in, such as “give yourself the power to accomplish anything you set your sights on.” Otherwise, chock-full of value-added information–enough, perhaps, to overcome a saggy real-estate venture.

I don’t know about you, but I’m always hungry for more information. And where do I usually turn to? That’s right – by asking television hosts and actors. Who else?

But here’s the part that fascinates me – why would you avoid FSBO’s?

There’s only one wayto find out – buy this book today by clicking on the link. Help support Burbed!

675 Hamline St, San Jose, CA 95110 Central San Jose MLS# 80912084 – Property Details

675 Hamline St, San Jose, CA 95110

$485,000

Status: Active
Bedroom: 2
Bathroom: 2

* Year Built: 1947
* Lot Size: 3827
* Square Footage: 1716
* List Date: 3/9/2009
* Garage Spaces: N/A
* MLS#: 80912084

Property is being rented. Excellent HWY 880 visibility. Next to a Window Shop in a Light Industrial area.

It’s Friday and I figured I’d feature this fine house that sonarrat found. Personally, I love The Truth, so I find it great when Realtors come out and demonstrate the reality of a certain house.

Let’s face it, this house isn’t going to win any design awards. Heck, it might not even be a house. But it’s got excellent Highway 880 visibility so that you know how traffic is like before you leave. You’ll also have great SJC visibility so you can partake in hobbies like planespotting. Finally, you live near a window shop so you can get great deals on quintuple pane windows.

Great find. Great value. Great deal. This is definitely a winner in my book!

Burbed would like to thank Richard for his gracious $10 donation.

Thanks Richard!