The DEALS continue, and we’re back in Santa Clara County, too!  So if we’re going to go bargain hunting, let’s head to one of the best places to find underappreciated houses: Campbell!

Because nothing says poorly maintained old house that isn’t in East San Jose like Campbell does.

And nothing says poorly maintained old house for HOW MUCH???? like Burbed.  So we at Burbed love us some Campbell very much.  Mmm – mmm – good!

176 W ROSEMARY Ln, Campbell, CA 95008
$350,000

BEDS: 2
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,118
$/SQ. FT.: $313
LOT SIZE: 9,170 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Cottage/Bungalow
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1942
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81149398
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 3 days

Nice and quite location, 2 bed rooms, 2 baths. original 3 br, one bed room open up to make living room biger.

Alright, we’ve got the picnic in the back yard that wasn’t cleaned up, we got the toys in the living room not cleaned up, and there are a lot of items on the kitchen counters as well.  Maybe you’re going to have to do some serious overbidding to get their attention because these sellers really can’t be bothered with this “staging” business and they figure the bank will get back to you in about a year and a half.

Here’s an on-the-ground report from Burbed reader Sam Adu, direct from comments.  In case you were wondering if they were making any more land, it looks like they are.  Unfortunately, this county land is going to end up in Campbell.  Hurry, offers are due Wednesday! Thanks very much for the Open House report, Sam!

The best ‘burbed-esque house I visited yesterday was, of course, in Campbell…or should I say a soon-to-be annexed part of Campbell.

 

1125 SHAMROCK Dr, Campbell, CA 95008
$380,000

BEDS: 2
BATHS: 1
SQ. FT.: 791
$/SQ. FT.: $480
LOT SIZE: 9,558 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Ranch
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1954
COMMUNITY: Cambrian
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81135861
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 5 days

Ready for expansion or to bring out the city gardener in you! Adorable home on an almost 10,000 sf lot. Updated – Kitchen, bathroom, dual paned windows, hardwood floors, electrical panel, foam insulation. Schools, Farnham, Price, Branham. This county area to be annexed to Campbell. HAFA approved short sale-can close in 45 days! Open Sat 8/20 1-4pm. Don’t miss this opportunity. Offers 8/23.

I’m always captivated by homes with huge walls surrounding them (i.e. 183 Dillon, Campbell). It must be how they remind me of my very short stay in a Ghanaian prison during some unrest we had in the late 90s. I wasn’t mistreated in there but all the guys on my street were definitely fearful and we were surrounded by these humongous walls in prison.

Anyways, we visited 1125 Shamrock yesterday. There is a zero lot line in the rear of the house with a giant rear hotel wall (easily seen in pics) abutting the property.

The real estate agent recommended that we paint a mural (or graffiti?) on the hotel wall to pretty it up. I liked to imagine myself throwing a tennis ball against that wall all day long for my lab and waking up all the hotel guests. Who the hell would be getting a hotel room in that part of Campbell though?

Redfin picture #3 of the place has a ‘cat on a dresser’, which is almost as good as ‘dudes on a couch’. It was funny visiting the place because that dang cat was sitting in the exact same spot when we were there.

Right next to that cat (and cropped out of the picture) is a bookshelf full of scientology dvds+books. Black cat + Scientology material + foreboding wall = Mr. and Mrs. Adu high-tailing it out of there.

Too much bad ju-ju at that house for us…not to mention that the house is smaller than the Adus’ current apartment.

We really have been neglecting Campbell for too long.  So, do you want to be a slumlord?  This place even has an address that sounds trashy!

300 DUNSTER Dr, Campbell, CA 95008
$1,950,000

BEDS: –
BATHS: –
SQ. FT.: 8,656
$/SQ. FT.: $225
LOT SIZE: 0.41 Acres
STORIES: 2
YEAR BUILT: 1957
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81019760
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 448 days

Great Campbell location. No rent controll. Lots of upside. Please do not disturb the tenants.

Here’s some more information you may need before making up your mind on this beauty tucked into the quiet, bucolic Hamilton and Winchester area:

Multi-Family Information

• 1 Bedroom Unit(s)
• 2 Bedroom Unit(s)
• # of 1 Bed 1 Bath Units: 9
• Min Rent for a 1 Bed 1 Bath Unit: $925
• Max Rent for a 1 Bed 1 Bath Unit: $1,175
• # of 2 Bed 1 Bath Units: 5
• Min Rent for a 2 Bed 1 Bath Unit: $1,150
• Max Rent for a 2 Bed 1 Bath Unit: $1,400
• Vacancy Factor: 5
• Vacancy Amount: 9526
• Existing Rental Terms: Month-to-Month Rental(s)

Financial Information

• City Transfer Tax: No
• Tax Amount: $23,693.32
• Gross Rent Multiplier: 10.24
• Laundry Income: $4,200
• Rental Income: $186,312
• Net Income: $132,813
• Gross Scheduled Income: $190,512
• Gross Annual Income: $180,986
• Gross Annual Income Includes: Laundry
• Gross Annual Income Includes: Rents
• Capitalization Rate: 6.8110000000
• All Cash or Conventional
• Financial Information Source: Tax Return

You see?  You can make money every time your serfs tenants do their laundry!  Could anything be more awesome than that?  Now all you have to do is figure out how to make them pay you when they surf the internet or use the kitchen appliances.  I think coin-operated routers, stoves, refrigerators, and microwaves are the wave of the future!

I feel we’ve been neglecting Campbell for a while, so here’s another listing from the City Without a Nickname (please feel free to make one up in the comments) or how about More City for a Million.  However, according to Wikipedia, Campbell was where the fruit cocktail was first invented.  I don’t know how they poached that feat from Sunnyvale, where the Fruit Cocktail Tower is still standing.

Thanks very much to Burbed reader THN for bringing this great deal to our attention.  Burbed reader Sam Adu also recently mentioned it in comments.

183 DILLON Ave, Campbell, CA 95008
$424,900

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,565
$/SQ. FT.: $272
LOT SIZE: 4,599 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Traditional
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1934
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81056007
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 244 days

Great home for the growing family. Close to sought after Downtown Campbell and Rapid Transit line. Kitchen has been remodeled with granit counter tops and tile flooring. Home comes with gas stove, microwave, and refrigerater. Back yard has built in BBQ with separate guest cottage (permit unknown)

Well, this listing copy’s a bit of a head-scratcher; the agent misspelled “granit” and “refrigerater” but nailed “separate guest cottage.”  I like how the “granit” goes with the single-pane windows and that seafoam green paint job from 1956.

That first picture’s a puzzlement, too.  Do they expect you to park your car in the garage?  Most people park on the driveway and use the garage as a storage shed, but the white picket fence makes that option impossible!  Where the heck are you going to store your back issues of National Geographic?

While your jaw drops lower and lower as you read the listing history below, we’ve highlighted the most important parts for you.  This house has not only been foreclosed, it’s been pending five times, and changed hands for $693,000.  In 2005.

And if you think that’s a lot of money, wait until you see the Zillow record.

Talk about freefall!  This house is doing the limbo, because nobody’s figured out how low can it go.  Meanwhile, four different Redfin agents have toured the place, and the reviews are in!

The location isn’t that bad, is it?

No, it’s not as close to the freeway as Monday’s house!  Whew!

UPDATE: Thanks to Burbed reader AstroWallaby’s on-target comments, I have this neighborhood photo for your consideration:

Unfortunately, the artist was influenced by Pablo Picasso.  Picasso was definitely a great artist, but he was no architect.

Today we are back in Campbell, with a house built after 1956, even!  Also there’s at least a 25% chance this house might not have been a meth lab.  But note that the listing doesn’t claim it’s meth-free, so no promises.

It also doesn’t claim there aren’t any Cubist painters in the garage, either.  I do wish these agents would be a little more helpful.

2947 DEL LOMA Dr, Campbell, CA 95008
$699,950

 

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2.5
SQ. FT.: 1,927
$/SQ. FT.: $363
LOT SIZE: 8,470 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Contemporary
STORIES: 2
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1982
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81127945
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 21 days

Beautiful Spacious Campbell Home! Great price. 1927 SqFt/ 3 bedroom 2.5 bath. In ground pool & spa. 8400 sqft lot. Abundance of Natural Light! Bright and light open floor plan. Dual Pane windows. Large kitchen. formal dining. inside laundry. 2 balconies. atrium. a very cool floor plan.

Speaking of influential Spanish painters, no doubt this home designer had some influence, in turn, on the real estate photographer.  That is why we have these museum-quality prints, suitable for framing.  Or slashing.

Not only that, Captain Obvious is now working for Redfin!

Next to 85 freeway, you say?

That is so unfair to this house!  That row of trees should screen all that harmful pollution, noise, and fumes from the back yard.  And what the trees don’t catch, the swimming pool will!

Here is a little news that will have some of you quaking in your boots: You could lose your prestigious 408 area code.  Oh noez!

Santa Clara County’s 408 will spin off a new area code: 669

By Bruce Newman, SJ Mercury News
Posted: 03/07/2011 06:18:25 AM PST ; Updated: 03/07/2011 01:51:36 PM PST

There are 8 million phone numbers in the naked city. And no matter who you were calling in San Jose — or large swaths of the South Bay — for the past half century, you’ve had to dial this: area code 408.

But with the explosive proliferation of cell phones, wireless IP addresses and 4G-enabled baby pacifiers, the area code that has served San Jose since neighbors could listen in on each other’s party line calls is officially "exhausted."

That conclusion — arrived at by the Orwellian-sounding North American Numbering Plan Administration, or NANPA, in December — means some South Bay phone customers will start being assigned area code 669 by the end of next year.

Deciding who gets to hang onto their 408, and who becomes a 669, is the job of the California Public Utilities Commission, which will convene hearings March 16-18 in San Jose, Los Gatos and Morgan Hill to explain the switch.

Brie is 415, Velveeta is 408.  Columnist Herb Caen played the Area Code Game in the SF Chronicle, back in the early 1980s.  That was before all those other area codes bloomed in the little family tree above.  Now I guess Brie is 650, Velveeta is 209, Kraft American is 925, Vegan Gourmet Cheese Alternative is 831, and ten pound blocks of government cheese is 510.  Oh, 415 and 408?  415 is Myzithra.  408 is whatever you put in front of them, it’s not like they’re tasting it while they’re writing iOS device drivers.

The new area code will be arriving by October 2012.  So, who’s going to go to the CPUC meetings to complain about losing their Silicon Valley area code?  There are a couple of proposals, one of them where everyone keeps their numbers and new ones are assigned the 669 code (the overlay), and the other where there is an area code split.

Next up for this kind of torture will be area code 510, forecast to run out of available phone number blocks by 2016.  415 should follow a year later.  And bet you didn’t know this: a new area code should have kicked in ten years ago, but by pooling phone number blocks everyone has been able to keep their area code and their seven digit dialing.

Below is the map of the proposed 408-669 split.  It comes from the CPUC, who obviously don’t care much about geographical features such as city borders, streets, freeways, or rivers.  So good luck figuring out whether this map actually affects you.  Also note how they don’t commit to who gets to keep the coveted 408 identity, but I’ll tell you who: it’s the B People.

But don’t get too upset, after meeting with the telephone providers,the CPUC is inclined to go with the overlay plan anyway. And that means instead of turning Los Gatos, Campbell, Saratoga, and San Jose West into 69ers, instead the newbies are going to have that 669 area code.  It also means that you’ll have to dial eleven digits when making phone calls, even to next door, or for that matter to the fax machine in the same room.  Have fun reprogramming just about anything you have that calls phone numbers, and hoping that your alarm company and your cable company and anything else doesn’t forget to switch over to 1-408+number dialing.

And what this means for Burbed readers is that Silicon Valley area code jokes are going to get a lot more raunchy.  Have fun figuring out what kind of cheese they are.

$699,950

11930 VALLEJO Dr Campbell, CA 95070

Beds:	3
Baths:	1.5
Sq. Ft.:	1,220
$/Sq. Ft.:	$574
Lot Size:	9,842 Sq. Ft.
Property Type:	Detached Single Family
Style:	Ranch
Stories:	1
View:	Neighborhood
Year Built:	1950
Community:	Campbell
County:	Santa Clara
MLS#:	81102039
Source:	MLSListings
Status:	ActiveThis listing is for sale and the sellers are accepting offers.
On Redfin:	15 days

Beautifully updated home in very desirable neighborhood. Many upgrades throughout. Forced air heating, central air conditioning, recently installed tile floors, windows, kitchen, baths, roof, electrical (200 amp service), you name it, it’s been done. Excellent location provides easy access to wonderful shopping, transportation, schools and leisure. In ground pool recently re-done and is beautiful.

More than anything else, I’m impressed with the photos that are attached to this listing. Let’s take a look!

The lead off photo:

Proof that this house exists near an intersection. Hey, that’s convenience. I just hate it when you buy
a house and it turns out it’s not near an intersection of any sort.

Look! A street! And it’s paved! That’s the sign of excellence! (although it’s a little strange how the right side of the street in this photo seems to be wet the entire distance. Huh?

Look! Buying this house even gives you rights to go to the prestigious and exclusive El Paseo de Saratoga and Westgate clubs!

Wow. Wow. Wow!

This house is definitely packed with value – and 200 amp service.

Black Friday DEALS continue, and today we look into the always-on-the-go cutting-edge City of Campbell.  Unfortunately,searching for inexpensive houses in “Campbell” doesn’t necessarily give you inexpensive houses in Campbell. You have to enter the actual zip code, or you’ll end up with listings in San Jose, and not even San Jose next to Campbell. 

Here at Burbed, when we bring you a DEAL, it’s a DEAL in the place we say it’s in.  It might be a crapbox, but it’s a crapbox in the right location, location, location!

108 E Latimer Ave, Campbell, CA 95008
$489,900

Beds: 2
Baths: 1
Sq. Ft.: 1,108
$/Sq. Ft.: $442
Lot Size: 9,100 Sq. Ft.
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 2
Year Built: 1947
Community: Campbell
County: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81050161
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active
On Redfin: 57 days

Spacious and bright 2 bedroom and 1 bath, single story home in an excellent Campbell location. Large Lot zoned for multi residential 2 or 3 units, check with city for use. Additional area at the back of the house (Permit unknown). Great location, easy access to all major freeways, close to schools, parks and shoppings. Must See Now!

The value is definitely in the land for this 9100 sf lot, or maybe in the shoppings, or in that mysterious permit unknown additional area at the back of the house.  Any idea just what it is at the back of the house?  My money’s on meth lab.  Check with city for use.

But when you buy a property, you don’t just buy the house and any mysterious permit-free structures in the back.  You’re also buying into a community, so let’s take in the bigger picture.

The possibilities are endless what you could do with this place.  Take a look at all the land-use options in the neighborhood!

Condos, triplex, McMansions, Montessori school?  How about all four?  We weren’t kidding about the value being in the land, because it sure isn’t in the house.  Unless this home photography wins some kind of high-falutin’ artsy-fartsy award.

I tell you, you can’t make up stuff like an agent putting this snap on their real estate website.  This is a photo that says, “Of course this is a DEAL, if it weren’t, don’t you think I’d check if the picture were in focus, properly exposed and actually showed the room in question?” 

And speaking of DEAL, look at all the instant equity you’ll get if you buy NOW:

Not too many properties do as good a job as this one in showing the history of the last real estate bubble.  Looks like the 2007 sellers nailed it perfectly.  Think you can time the market just as well?  Does it matter?  This is a DEAL!  Operators are standing by, buy, bye!

Today’s item was sent in by burbed reader Pralay.  Wow, this is disturbing!  Thanks for making sure we’ll never look at an open house the same way again!

Thieves targeting open house events in the West Valley

By Chris Vongsarath

Posted: 08/04/2010 04:42:52 PM PDT
Updated: 08/05/2010 08:02:29 PM PDT

It seems thieves in the West Valley are using houses on the market as a marketplace to do their own brand of shopping.

Reports are starting to circulate in the real estate community about people attending open house events and walking off with more than the listing price. The crime usually involves an individual or group of people pretending to be interested in the home and then stealing valuables when nobody’s looking.

Police departments are starting to hear more about the crimes recently, but some real estate agents say they have been taking place for several months. The most recent case happened on Walnut Drive in Campbell last weekend and resulted in an arrest, thanks to the homeowners being alerted prior to the open house event.

"In all my years, I’ve never had anything ever stolen or taken," said Derek Deaton, a Realtor with more than 20 years of experience.

The article goes on to describe some alert Campbell homeowners who staked out their own property during an open house and nabbed themselves a repeat thief.  They caught a woman red-handed who was helping herself to perfume and vitamin supplements.  Vitamin supplements?  Guess that’s what’s worth stealing in Campbell.

I’ve heard of attending open houses for the free cookies, but this is a little too much.  Have you any experience with either having something taken during an open house, or actually seeing a theft while attending one?

Remember Hazelwood Avenue in Campbell?  Somebody’s been dreaming about it!

1133 Hazelwood Ave, Campbell, CA 95008
$425,000

BEDS: 2
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 808
$/SQ. FT.: $526
LOT SIZE: 10,200 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT: 1940
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 80933914
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 351 days

VALUE IN THE LAND ONLY. APPROVED PLANS FOR 4400 SF HOUSE AVAILABLE. GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A HOUSE OF YOUR DREAMS. CONVENIENT LOCATION.

Plans for a 4400 square foot house!  That would be great, if only somebody wanted a ginormous house in Campbell.

Most dream houses are built in a more Real Bay Area location, either close to something important and expensive (Stanford University, Foothills Park, Sunnyvale Fry’s) or far away from everybody else.  The plans might be approved, but this may not be the best place for them.  So for now, let’s see what’s actually at 1133 Hazelwood instead of potentially, where potentially means after you pay buckets of money to contractors who won’t show up.

Rather than a 4400 sf house of the sellers’ unfulfilled dreams, this is what you get for $425,000:

Awww, it’s too shy to come out and pose!  This little wallflower was still the house of somebody’s dreams, when they listed this place for $890K.  Yes, I said $890,000.  In 2008.  And it was the house of the current sellers’ dreams when they got $140K of instant equity by paying $750K for it, 3 months later.  Now it can be the house of your dreams for $425K, which includes $465K of instant equity.  Wow! That’s more than the house is selling for!  That means this house is better than FREE! Plus it includes the APPROVED plans for the house of the seller’s dreams!  Guess the seller woke up, smelled the coffee, and said “Oh my god I live here!”

One advantage of a two-story house is you get to spy on your neighbors’ yards!  Let’s take an advance peek at the great views you’ll have if you build the house of someone else’s dreams.

Oooh, wonder what’s going on with those neighbors on the right!  They look like some fun folks!  Let’s meet them!

Hey, what do you want for $425,000?  Remember yesterday’s house?  Location, location, location: $600K teardown less than a block from a freeway?  That is not a problem with today’s featured property!  No freeways in any direction for miles!  Nothing but… lots and lots of other houses.

And it’s a pretty safe bet that most of the others cost way more than $425,000!  At least they will if you all keep dreaming! Nighty-night!