Twas the night before Christmas
And I didn’t own a house
Not a Realtard was stirring
Not even to grouse

Our last Black Friday DEAL before you open your presents tomorrow morning is this lovely little fixer-upper in the sure-to-impress-people-who-are-impressed-by-these-things community of Hillsborough.  There are less expensive homes that pop up if you search in this area, but this listing has an actual Hillsborough mailing address.  Don’t be confused by imitation “Hillsborough neighborhood” homes in Burlingame or San Mateo!  Buyer to verify with city whether any services are granted to this location.  (Okay, my ass is covered in case this is in Ladera North.)

751 Endfield Way, Hillsborough, CA 94010
$1,399,000

Beds: 2
Baths: 2
Sq. Ft.: 3,130
$/Sq. Ft.: $447
Lot Size: 0.35 Acres
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 2
Year Built: 1933
Community: Hillsborough Park
County: San Mateo
MLS#: 81036919
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active
On Redfin: 150 days

Charming hide-away on private cul-de-sac in lower south Hillsborough. 2 Bedrooms with 2 Baths. 3 additional bedrooms with 2 baths. (unwarranted) Enclosed sunroom and partially enclosed patio for BBQ’s. Family eat-in kitchen.

Hide-away is right!  The agent didn’t even give us a picture of the front of the house.  And the Googlecam is foiled by Hillsborough’s large lot sizes.  Talk about unwarranted!

Originally listed for $1,550,000 in July and a DEAL at twice the price!  It even has the trendy Southern California feature of Mello-Roos!  Now that’s a tax most of your friends aren’t paying, and you can get extra misery points by noting they aren’t even deductable!

So when you head out to the store today for some extra eggnog, why not pick up this little unwarranted cottage on your way back to your rented home?  Santa might stuff it down somebody’s chimney tonight, but this way you can ensure it’s yours.

Happy Christmas to all,  and to all a good night!

Forbes Magazine has their annual most expensive zip code collection again, and high-end real estate agents rejoiced.  This feature is the Capitalist Tool’s usual suck-off to NAR, with the lovely pictures there to move some expensive houses.  Anyway, California, despite its budgetary and property value woes, completely cleaned New York’s clock.  Unfortunately, Los Angeles is getting ahead of San Francisco.

Here are the top ten:

1. 91008, Duarte, Calif.
2. 94027, Atherton, Calif.
3. 90274, Rolling Hills, Calif.
4. 07620, Alpine, N.J.
5. 10014, New York, N.Y.
6. 90210, Beverly Hills, Calif.
7. 10065, New York, N.Y.
8. 94920, Belvedere, Calif.
9. 10012, New York, N.Y.
10. 93108, Santa Barbara, Calif.

If ever a list defined what flyover land was, this is it.  All ten are California or New York City suburbs.  How did Greenwich, Connecticut get knocked off this list?  More importantly, how did a town full of ginormous houses next to Monrovia get on it?  91008 is mostly big, expensive homes in Bradbury, but the post office calls the zip Duarte. High-priced enclave surrounded by working-class city, good thing we don’t have anything like that in the Real Bay Area (RBA)!

And we sure don’t have anything like this:

High-End Slump Slows
The median price of America’s high-end homes continues to slide, but not as fast as it did last year. Our index of 500 high-end ZIP codes saw the average home price fall 5%, to $1.2 million, from the same time last year. In 2009 the markets on our list saw a 7% price drop.

About 35% of the ZIP codes in our index saw median prices increase or stay flat, but that’s likely because more high-priced homes are coming on the market, while more affordable housing continues to falter. “The year-over-year price changes we’re seeing here aren’t necessarily the change in price for your house, if you have a house in this area,” says Simonsen. “It’s a change in the mix of homes on the active market.”

Anyway, on to the high-priced zips in the Bay Area.  Photos, stats, and smarmy real estate copy is from Forbes.  You’ll recognize what isn’t, and I’ve hunted down all the real estate so you don’t have to.

#2 – 94027: Atherton

Median Home Price: $4,010,200

Median Price Change: 4%

Average Days On Market: 109

Inventory: 57 properties

Median Household Income: $200,001

This remodeled mid-century four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 4,010-square-foot ranch with a cathedral ceiling, fireplace, media room, two-car garage and gardens sells for $4,488,000. It is listed with Alain Pinel.

And it’s up 4%.  RBA Win!  This house on Fredrick Ave is still for sale, listed 63 days.  Buy now with Redfin and save $56,100!

#8 – 94920: Belvedere

This three-bedroom, four-bathroom 4347-square-foot Spanish-style stucco home in the section of 94920 that’s in neighboring Tiburon offers views and a fireplace and sells for $3,195,000. William J. Smith has the listing.

What’s this?  The zip is shared with Tiburon?  Outrage!  If Belvedere had its own zip, it would kick Bradbury’s butt!  But wait!  This house isn’t in Belvedere but in Tiburon?  That’s bait and switch!  Just for that I won’t buy the house on Buckwheat Court.  In Tiburon.

#15 – 94022: Los Altos Hills

This 4,000 square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bathroom Mediterranean-style home has a stucco exterior, vaulted ceilings, a fireplace and study and is selling for $3,195,000. Alain Pinel has the listing.

Up 34%!  New York is our beeyotch.  And so is Forbes, because this house is on Jay St, in Los Altos, No Hills.  It’s also new construction.  Three lots down from busy El Monte.  You’re welcome.

#18 – 94024: Los Altos Hills

This 4,673 square-foot six-bedroom, four-bathroom home has hardwood floors, a fireplace, vaulted ceilings and a swimming pool. It is listed for $2,899,000 with Campi Properties.

Sloppy work again, Forbes.  This house is also in Los Altos, not Los Altos Hills.  And it’s only 4,367 feet, so you’re off by almost 300 sf.  It’s on Young Ct, off Summerhill, off Magdelena, off 280.  Talk about any easy commute, provided you don’t work anywhere near 101.

#20 – 94010: Hillsborough

This 4,190-square-foot, six-bedroom, five-bathroom home has a double-height foyer, two-car garage, fireplace and swimming pool, and is offered at $3,095,000 by Alain Pinel Realty.

What the – 101 properties listed in Hillsborough?  Are there even 101 properties in Hillsborough?  Trick question!  The zip is shared with Burlingame!  And this listing on Eucalyptus was a trick, too.  Everything in the description lined up, and here I thought they were going to put it in the wrong city.

But who the heck buys a 6 bedroom house with only a 2 car garage?  Where will the servants park?

There’s plenty more zip code madness to come, in another installment.  Although if you’re buying things on installment, you’re priced out of these zips.  Forever.