Foreclosure rattles upscale San Jose neighborhood, and tenants

By Pete Carey, San Jose Mercury News
Posted:   03/14/2012 05:53:36 PM PDT, Updated: 03/15/2012 10:14:37 AM PDT

The two-story home in the East San Jose foothills could belong to any well-to-do family, but step through the door and you’re inside a million-dollar suburban foreclosure quagmire.

More than a dozen adults and their pets have been living in a warren of rented rooms in the foreclosed house, turning a tranquil cul-de-sac into what one upset neighbor called "a nightmare for all of us living on that block."

According to attorneys for the tenants, the former owner was renting out rooms — including the laundry room and a living room split in two — in the months after the home was foreclosed by the bank. They claim she never told tenants about the foreclosure. Now the tenants face eviction in a hearing to be held Thursday in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

San Jose police officers have responded 16 times since September to resolve disputes and disturbances at the five bedroom, four bath home on La Castellet Court, where houses are valued at $1 million or more. The city’s code enforcement department says it has an open case on the house.      

Remember the Cubicle House?  This owner simply took that idea one step further now that rentals beat office space.

For all of you who have been criticizing the idea of The Real Bay Area versus The Part That Is Not, this should definitively settle those arguments.  Things like this simply Do Not Happen In The Real Bay Area.  If someone in Los Altos Hills were to notice 15 cars parked along the street in front of the 4,000 square foot housing tumor next door, Code Enforcement would not merely say they have “an open case on the house.”

And in Palo Alto, every one of those vehicles would have collected parking tickets within 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Anyway, our intrepid reporters have tracked down the house in question.

Unfortunately for purposes of journalistic outrage, the Streetview photo does not have the aforementioned excess vehicle collection.

Zillow can show us the neighborhood values.

Homeowners here certainly may have paid over a million for this area, but Zillow has a disturbing lack of faith in their reported valuations.  The expressway-like street against the backyards is Aborn. 

And if you’re wondering why the FB felt the need to fill this home chock-a-block with tenants while hiding from Bank of America, wait until you hear the bubblicious price paid for this place: $1,580,000 on Halloween of 2006. 

We get all kinds of fan comments at Burbed.  (If you’re not reading the comments as well as the articles, you’re missing out on a lot.)  Here’s one that recently came in on a house that ran in November.  November, 2010. 

First, the old listing.  This seems like a fairly typical treatment of a property with some lexically lacking listing copy.

Here’s what our new fan, Kim, had to say about our helpful home hugging.  We’ve included a few pictures of the house under discussion, available to anyone with a search engine.

This is the most nasty real estate blog I’ve ever read. I’m surprised that nobody has filed a lawsuit against you for slander.

For the record, I live in Saratoga and know the Vendome area quite well because a few friends live there. Rankin and Ayer streets are full of beautiful houses. Did you ever visit the area? It’s more classy that Cupertino.

There are a few bail bonds offices since the County jail and court are approx 1 mile from the area. That’s all.

I know 2 attorneys and 3 engineers who reside on this street.

Pl be careful with your writing. It’s not funny. Put yourself in the shoes of the vendor.

btw, I’m not in the real estate business. I wonder if you hold grudges against the vendor or the listing agent.

Given that Burbed has run a different home listing every single weekday for more than six years, our having a grudge against this particular “vendor” or listing agent is not very likely. 

Maybe Kim has a relationship with the vendor or listing agent and wanted us to take another look at this house.  And we’d be delighted to, because it’s still  for sale!

130 RANKIN Ave
San Jose, CA 95110
$550,000

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2.5
SQ. FT.: 1,852
$/SQ. FT.: $297
LOT SIZE: 5,000 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: French
STORIES: 2
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1937
COMMUNITY: Central San Jose
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81200563
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 67 days

REGULAR SALE! Motivated Seller * * Home nested in a truly manificent & elegan vendome neighborhood, a rare find * * * Format entry, Seperate D/Room, Gracious L/Room w/ fireplace, French doors & windows * * Hardwood floors * * Partial basement * * Conveniently located, near light rail, Japan Town, minutes to freeways and shopping centers.

Looks like over the past year and a half, this house has had its price cut 21 percent and also managed to misplace two full bathrooms while not losing a single square foot.  That must have happened with the Format entry.

But it gets even better this time! The house is no longer a Colonial.  For $149,000 less, you now get a French chateau.  C’est magnifique!

Also, can one slander a listing?  We can think of one way, but never was this house’s repute ever discussed, for good or ill. 

But don’t just point the finger at this blog.  Even the Redfin agent is gossiping about this house!

Is she suggesting that entertaining be done downstairs and, um, other things up?  That might be an even better money-maker than the Jail Annex suggestion last time.  Thanks, Jane!

Here’s a peach of a property courtesy of Burbed reader Swan, complete with an agent who ought to look into some alternate nicknames.

1980 HEATHERDALE Ave
San Jose, CA 95126
$475,000

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2.5
SQ. FT.: 1,550
$/SQ. FT.: $306
LOT SIZE: 6,360 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1946
COMMUNITY: Santa Clara
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81208684
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 6 days

Move in conditions, up dated kitchen and baths. Well maintained 4 bedrooms plus one additional master bedroom. Large level back yard , 2 car side by side. Apartment complex at back of this house. Short sale , 2 lender’s ( 2 loans )

Here’s what Swan thought about this place:

I came across this listing today and found it possibly Burbed-worthy.  First, the realtor’s name is Lucky Chan.  In my experience, any person or animal named Lucky is usually the opposite.  This realtor should change his name to Honest.  He is very honest in the listing:  apartment complex at the back of the house (yup, sure is), short sale (have fun looking at the price history on Zillow), and two lenders (that can’t be good).  Last we have "2 car side by side."  Do the cars come with the house?  Where are the lucky 8s in the price?  Anyway, someone buy this quickly so Lucky can get lucky. 

For a short sale, this property is in surprisingly acceptable shape… that is, for what little we get to see of it.  I do wonder why, given how little clutter was left in the yard, why we’re looking at any of it.  It would have taken all of 2 minutes to move that ladder and the blue ball out of the frame above, and another 2 for the small collection of patio crap at left.  I guess it was easier to simply go for the soft-focus effect.

And Honest, or Lucky, could have been even more honest by telling us about this home’s excellent location, location, location.  Not only is there an apartment complex behind it, you’re also really close to transportation!

Plus let’s take a quick peek at the neighborhood.

Awesome!  A gated home next door, plus on-street parking is at a premium.  Looks like you’ll be having all kinds of spirited discussions with your neighbors! 

All this and a house old enough to collect Social Security.  Maybe you’ll get Lucky, too.

Today’s prestigious property was sent in by Burbed reader Tracy.  You know that saying about shutting the barn door after the horses run away?  These barn doors are wide open, and the barnyard is large.  Deep, too.  Come to Peacock Canyon, and breathe in the fresh air.

UPDATE at end of article.

16235 ALUM ROCK Ave
San Jose, CA 95127
$320,000

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,400
$/SQ. FT.: $229
LOT SIZE: 2.17 Acres
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 2
VIEW: Mountains, Canyon
YEAR BUILT: 1900
COMMUNITY: Alum Rock
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81208053
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 11 days

Historic ALum Rock Stables is ready for a new start. 12 stall horse stable as well as level lot that could be used for a home or possibly an arena. Gourgeous views of Peacock Canyon and access to the Alum Rock Regional Park make this an ideal location for the horseman or naturist.

Here’s why Tracy sent this listing in for some Burbed loving.

I have fantasized about this place, many times when it has been on the market. It looks to be located midway down a landslide, but that might just be me. The view is amazing, and the price seems right, but it is a crap shack, so qualifies for the burbed treatment.

It certainly does!  This place sold for an eye-popping $1.2 million in 2006, which means it’s worth almost two million now.  What a deal the bank is offering. 

And go over to the Redfin listing to check out the pictures, because this is another one of those homes for visually organized people where every room is painted a different very bright primary color.  Maybe the FBs were running a daycare along with the horse business.

Given how old the structures are, these are in surprising good shape!  They were built in the 19th Century, yet modernization was allowed to happen.  Look, they even installed indoor plumbing!

Now if you really want some cognitive dissonance with your morning coffee, check out Zillow’s price history:

You let those horses out of the barn, and the barn is now worth less than it was 21 years ago.  Then again, Zillow has a completely different set of pictures for the property, so that could explain the discrepancy.  Also a different address.  Maybe these are competing Alum Rock Stables properties.

Well, one address or the other is an ideal location for the horseman or naturist.  I just wonder if the Realtard who wrote this copy knows what a naturist is.

Update 12:15 pm: The Redfin link above is now bouncing to 11125 Canon Vista Ave, with 2006 information. And different pictures since that’s a previous listing. It also says that property is pending as of today.  Head over to Trulia to see the above pictures and copy, while you can.

Today’s Adventure in Realtard Listing Copy is courtesy of Burbed reader Tracy.  Thanks very much for separating the wheat from the chaff, and sending us the chaff!

2430 RUBY Ave
San Jose, CA  95148
$579,000

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,420
$/SQ. FT.: $408
LOT SIZE: 0.57 Acres
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Contemporary
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1950
COMMUNITY: Alum Rock
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81205841
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 21 days

* * * Regular Sale * * * Newer home with 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms in a 24,829 sqft land. It has Pergo floors throughout, recessed lighting, ceiling fan, double Pane windows. Inside laundry room in the kitchen area. Kitchen has granite counter top and newer cabinetry. Low maintenance backyard with large patio and large storage room. Close to Eastridge Mall, restaurants and easy access to frwy 680/101.

Here’s why Tracy thought you’d be interested in today’s featured house:

HUuh??? Built 1950 “newer home”  708 sf with 3/2 and the most ginormous lot.. I am confused. I like the “Low maintenance backyard” and the storage shed might be bigger than the house.

The house is 708 sf, but the agent reports it as 1420?  Maybe the garage and that storage shed were added into the sqft land.  And do you see what’s there on the front porch?  I think it’s time to break out the Burbed Red Arrows, because we’re looking at some MAWBUL KAWLUM ACTION.

Also have to wonder about this Realtard leading with the kitchen cabinets instead of the awesomeness of these profound pillars.

Fortunately, there’s plenty of greenery in the back yard, so don’t worry about the seller neglecting the landscaping.

In fact, there’s so much treasure to hunt for, both on the property and in the surrounding neighborhood, that both you and your kids will enjoy being told to play outside in the Low maintenance backyard!  That is, if you and your kids are intrigued by vintage automotive finds.

Otherwise, at least you’re Close to Eastridge Mall.

We still have plenty of fantastic finds from Burbed reader sonarrat to share with you, so let’s see what’s waiting for you in the Campbell neighborhood of sunny San Jose!  Looks like another fine feature from the bank vaults!

3624 MOORPARK Ave
San Jose, CA 95117
$439,900

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,143
$/SQ. FT.: $385
LOT SIZE: 4,444 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1955
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81150615
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 78 days

REDUCED PRICE! Spacious home with good layout! Updated kitchen with granite counters, granite island and stainless steel sink and appliances! Hardwood and tiled floors, great backyard for entertaining. Located close to parks, schools, shopping and easy freeway access!

Here’s what sonarrat thought about this house:

location location location – busy street, San Tomas Expressway, and 280.

Wait, don’t you want to admire the, um, interesting choice of paint in the living room?  No?

Okay, then let’s have a good look at that location, then.

Win-win-win!

Today’s fun find is a Cambrian cutie from Burbed reader yaknuts.  If you’ve been wanting something in the suburbs, but enjoy a sense of excitement and unpredictability, this may be the house for you!  Come and talk a walk on the wild side of the Cambrian!

3682 May Ln
San Jose, CA 95124
$439,900

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,234
$/SQ. FT.: $356
LOT SIZE: 7,519 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Ranch
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT: 1959
COMMUNITY: Cambrian
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81204098
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending Without Release
ON REDFIN: 25 days

This is a CASH AS-IS SALE ONLY. contractor exp investor Special. THERE IS NOT A KITCHEN SO FINANCING IS NOT POSSIBLE. Aproximatly 500 foot of unpermitted additional space. Garage has been converted to living space. The property is dangerous holes in floors debris all over, dog waste all over back yard. Old garage converted to living space. Cooking done in microwave and outdoor bbq grill.

Here’s why yaknuts thought this home was Burbed-worthy:

I have been a long time reader of your blog. I came across this listing the other day (already taken down from Redfin).

Check out all the junk in these pictures and the description: "the property [has] dangerous hols in floors," "dog waste all over back yard," or "cooking done in microwave and outdoor bbq grill." It went pending on 2/5/12 for $439K. I don’t have time to do a full write up at this time, but I had to bring this to your attention. I hope to see a feature on this property soon — you should have plenty of material in this listing. Cheers!

This is one of those features that just writes itself.  After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, so we can save 7,000 of them.  Redfin could take these pictures down again any minute!

This must be one of those listings where the agent made a drunken bet with the broker.  In this case I’d venture they bet over whether incoherent photography sells houses faster.  That should explain why some of the rooms look almost staged, while others suggest they refused to spend 10 minutes picking up.

And since this poo palace went pending the very next day, congrats to the winner of that bet!  It clearly worked! 

Although we know who the real winner was when it came to this house: the geniuses who sold it in 2007 for $620K.

Sometimes we’ll run a few ginormous homes with even more WTF price tags, but here at Burbed we never forget our roots.  This blog was founded on small homes at big prices in poor condition, and Burbed reader sonarrat certainly has found two out of three.

978 DELMAS Ave
San Jose, CA 95125
$344,900

BEDS: 2
BATHS: 1
SQ. FT.: 778
$/SQ. FT.: $443
LOT SIZE: 5,480 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Contemporary
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT: 1925
COMMUNITY: Willow Glen
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81202775
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending Without Release
ON REDFIN: 26 days

Quaint 2 bedroom, 1 bath Willow Glen charmer on a fabulous lot! Bits of character that needs your touch.

Here’s why sonarrat sent in this charmer!

this is stick built? Really?

I think you must have misheard the agent.  This house is sick-built.  Although I like the “bunus” in the bathroom where the realtard couldn’t be bothered to move the trash can out of the photo.

And of course it’s an REO!  If you wanted to buy it from the previous owners, you could have done so last year for just $299,000.  But we can all enjoy these pictures instead of the boring ones the bank put up.  (Thanks so much to Movoto, for not updating the listing despite it being canceled a year ago!)

Here’s the listing copy that went with the house when this was a regular sale:

Great starter home in Willow Glen neighborhood. Walk to Lincoln Avenue restaurants and shops. Manicured backyard with giant avacado tree! Spa in backyard too! Can’t beat the price! Move-in ready. Priced to sell FAST!

I really like that the exact same shot of the bathroom yields no trash can, but the toilet seat is up.

It’s time for a weekend getaway!  Burbed reader Tracy has just the spot: yet another installment in our collection of castles for sale!

10180 CINNABAR HILLS Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
$1,699,900

BEDS: 5
BATHS: 3.5
SQ. FT.: 5,740
$/SQ. FT.: $296
LOT SIZE: 12.53 Acres
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Contemporary
STORIES: 3
VIEW: Mountains, Lake, Valley, City Lights
YEAR BUILT: 2009
COMMUNITY: Almaden Valley
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81203188
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending Without Release
ON REDFIN: 20 days

3 story Almaden Castle on the top of Mountains. 3 years old. Custom built. 180 degree view. Endless Opportunity and freedom to add your own finishing touches, arrange your wine cellar in the basement. Master bedroom on the top floor. Patio, deck, balconies. Two garages 2 car each. Gated community. Top rated Almaden schools: Graystone, Bret Harte, Leland. Fresh air and no one above you, only eagles

Freedom!  Freedom like the eagles above you, no one else!  Freedom to add your own finishing touches!  Freedom to arrange your wine cellar in the basement!  That’s realtard-speak for the owner ran out of their own freedom, I mean money.  Their misfortune is your opportunity!  Endless Opportunity!

Here is your Endless Opportunity to add your finishing touches to the kitchen.  Can you figure out what is missing from these pictures?

You can enjoy nine more pictures than Redfin provides, as this castle has its very own website.  On the right is one of several extra photos showing the Endless Opportunity you will have getting all the electrical plates, switches, and outlets to blend in a bit more unobtrusively with the paint scheme.

Nothing like living in a three story castle with no one above you.  That means your family has to live in the dungeon.

Here’s a winner of a house in the Berryessa district of San Jose, also known as “I can’t believe it’s not Milpitas!” Today’s listing is courtesy of Burbed reader bmwman91.  Thanks very much!

3318 ONSLOW Way
San Jose, CA 95132
$454,900

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,645
$/SQ. FT.: $277
LOT SIZE: 6,534 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 2
YEAR BUILT: 1974
COMMUNITY: Berryessa
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81151168
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending Without Release
ON REDFIN: 43 days

Cash only!!! property is in poor condition and needs a lot of repairs. Spacious 4 bed 2.5 bath home located in a nice neighborhood. Spacious and open floorplan with good size rooms throughout. 2 car garage with ample storage space. Bank owned property !! As-is sale . Min disclosures.

Here’s why bmwman91 thought this house was Burbed-worthy:

At least they tell you that the property is in bad shape. For a paltry sum of not a lot of money less than half a million dollars, you really shouldn’t expect to get something livable in a sort of shitty part of the bay area.

No, no, no, not a lot of money IS half a million dollars.  Mitt Romney said so.  If you want something livable, you have to spend like you’re part of the one percent,  That’s an income of $386,000, which means you could afford a $1,958,000 house, if you did a little bit of creative financing.  And if you want to buy in the Real Bay Area, that’s a given.