Here’s some news from the exciting and ever-fragrant community of Milpitas!

State suspends license of contractor in fatal trench collapse

By Joe Rodriguez, Posted: 02/03/2012 08:34:27 PM PST
Photos by ABC7 News

State officials Friday suspended the license of the contractor building a home in Milpitas where an immigrant carpenter was buried alive over the weekend when a trench collapsed over him.

The Contractors State License Board said it suspended U.S.-Sino Investment, based in Fremont, after discovering the builder claimed to have no employees when it filed paperwork in 2008. Agency spokesman Rick Lopes said the employee list was necessary to meet state requirements for workers’ compensation insurance.

The owner of the company, Richard Liu, is believed to be in China and could not be reached Friday for comment.

We have to go back to some earlier articles to find out a little more about the home in question.  It turns out that you need a state permit, not just a mere city Mother-May-I, to dig trenches deeper than five feet. 

Furthermore city inspectors had issued a stop-work order three days before the tragic accident, because the trench was not shored. The recent rains made it even more unstable, plus the construction work by the contractor was also considered poor quality.

Why do you think a 5800 sf house foundation needs a 12 foot trench?  Were they building their own wine caverns?  Given that it was in Milpitas, shouldn’t it have been corn syrup caverns instead?

Anyway, here is the property in question:

Notice anything interesting about this 2010 sale?  Not only did the agent provide both ends of the deal, but that name ought to sound a tad familiar.  If it doesn’t, go back and read the third paragraph of the Merc’s article above.

Criminal charges are being considered against the contractor, but then again, building a 5800 sf “small mansion” seems to require additional karma loss.

Yesterday’s featured property in Milpitas was well-received, so let’s return to the City of a Thousand Aromas with this great find from Burbed reader nomadic!

682 KIRKWALL Pl, Milpitas, CA 95035
$788,000

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 3
SQ. FT.: 2,690
$/SQ. FT.: $293
LOT SIZE: 10,000 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 2
VIEW: Mountains
YEAR BUILT: 1982
COMMUNITY: Milpitas
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81118480
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 63 days

PRICE REDUCED!! NICE HOME IN A GREAT AREA OF MILPITAS. 4BEDS/3BATHS, 3 CAR GARAGE. BEAUTIFUL BACKYARD AND NEW LANSCAPE OF FRONT HOUSE. NEW INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PAINT. SUNROOM BUILT WITH PERMIT. TOTAL SQUARE FEET OF THE HOUSE: 3000sf.

Here’s what nomadic thought of this NICE HOME:

The neighborhood across the freeway from today’s featured house is filled with snout houses with HUGE noses.  Check out this hideous example.  Fitting street name too: as the Redfin agent helpfully points out, it’s next to the sound wall for the freeway.

But wait!  That’s not ALL you get!  How about this poorly lit living/dining room? The same effect in the bedroom?

The late 80s kitchen décor?  The two-tone ceiling in the bedroom? 

The indescribable feeling you’re in a shotgun shack in a 2,690 square foot house?  The mismatched marble-like surfaces in the bathroom?

Good thing they included those gorgeous pictures of the back yard.  You’re really going to enjoy that holiday from the humdrum by relaxing out here instead of staying indoors.

Ahhhh!

$649,000

364 OLIVER St Milpitas, CA 95035

Beds:	3
Baths:	2
Sq. Ft.:	1,260
$/Sq. Ft.:	$515
Lot Size:	6,392 Sq. Ft.
Property Type:	Detached Single Family
Style:	Traditional
Stories:	1
View:	Neighborhood
Year Built:	1960
Community:	Milpitas
County:	Santa Clara
MLS#:	81118300
Source:	MLSListings
Status:	Active
On Redfin:	39 days

Now, you could be dismayed that this the first photo in this listing is of the backyard. Or that the photos are tiny. Or that there’s no detailed description extolling the virtues of this house.

But let’s face it – this is house is a mere $649k! What do you expect? A full service, high quality listing?

Look, if all you can afford is $649k, that means you’re probably making less than $100k. Should you really be living in the Bay Area if you make less than $100k? Probably not.

So yeah. Take it if you want it. Leave it if you don’t. We probably don’t want your kind here anyway.

Here’s another great find from Burbed reader Tracy!  I hope Tracy doesn’t find a house to buy anytime soon, or say goodbye to these terrific listings and I’ll have to look at places like these myself.  Don’t know if I’d dare face the wilds of Milpitas, though, so thanks very much, Tracy!

436 COELHO St, Milpitas, CA 95035
$674,950

BEDS: 5
BATHS: 3
SQ. FT.: 1,962
$/SQ. FT.: $344
LOT SIZE: 7,975 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Traditional
STORIES: 2
VIEW: Mountains, Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1964
COMMUNITY: Milpitas
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81121789
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 18 days

GORGEOUS COMPLETELY RE-MODELED DREAM HOME!! NEUTRAL COLORS THRU-OUT. MASTER BEDROOM LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS MAGAZINE WITH JACUZZI TUB, FIREPLACE AND VIEW OF THE HILLSIDE. ENORMOUS ALMOST 8,000 SQ. FT. LOT. GET HERE FAST!! WON’T LAST!!

Here’s what Tracy had to say about this place:

I don’t know what magazines they are reading! Absolutely hideous  complete with Kawlums ! Strange, there are no granite countertops or red walls???  Very fancy outdoor kitchen and shed too! Maybe the house looks better in person? Could be just a horrible set of photos, a lame description, and lack of caps or punctuation that makes this one a candidate for the blog!

Hey, not every house featured on Burbed claims their interior decoration is good enough to be in a national magazine.  The closest thing I can think of is that place in Campbell that said it looked like it was in Saratoga.

And not every house featured in Burbed has MAWBUL KAWLUMS FTW.  Too bad there aren’t any on the outside.

But, oh wow, when was this kitchen done, 1986?  And the living room, um, I can’t figure out if those are sanitary covers or if someone has too much time on her hands and a sewing machine.

At least they put their laundry away, you know what I’m saying?

Hey look!  You get your own mini-golf park in the back yard!  Awesomeness!  Plus a terrific design touch in the bathroom: the premium sink/basin so conveniently located right next to the crapper.

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the MASTER BEDROOM that LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS MAGAZINE WITH JACUZZI TUB, FIREPLACE AND VIEW OF THE HILLSIDE.  Ready?

OMFG.  Is that a fireplace, or a 1958 television console?  I figure it needs the fan to keep the vacuum tubes from overheating.  Here’s another view, in case you don’t like this one.

Yeah that looks like something out of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine all right: a before picture.

Some of you Burbed readers do not want to live in a free-fire zone, or can’t afford an expensive la-di-da zip code.  Today’s Black Friday DEAL is for YOU.  Milpitas is conveniently situated next to (and I mean right next to) several popular commute routes, yet is distinct from both the sprawl of San Jose and the Five Cities in Search of a Civic Identity otherwise known as Fremont.

Milpitas means little rows of corn, and today’s DEAL is about as little and corny as they come.

363 Timber Way, Milpitas, CA 95035
$294,800

Beds: 3
Baths: 2
Sq. Ft.: 1,010
$/Sq. Ft.: $292
Lot Size: 3,000 Sq. Ft.
Property Type: Attached Single Family
Stories: 1
View: Neighborhood
Year Built: 1965
Community: Milpitas
County: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81047076
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active
On Redfin: 77 days

3 BEDROOM, 2 BATH HOME, NICE SIZE LIVING ROOM WITH HARDWOOD FLOORS AND WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE. CLOSE TO THE GREAT MALL AND MAJOR FREEWAYS, A MUST SEE!

Like many things in life, Milpitas is all about compromise.  In this case it means a real estate agent who can spell and use English correctly, but can’t be bothered to turn off the CAP LOCKS key.

It also means an agent who will tell you the truth.  Did the listing say close to major freeways?  It sure did.  And you’re in luck if you work at LSI right across the street; Just build yourself a little pedestrian bridge and you won’t need to sit in traffic!

But the listing did not say “award-winning agent noted for fine real estate photography.”  And that’s a shame, because there’s a certain something to these photos.  Perhaps the series should be entered in a community art showcase with a poignant title such as Under Water, August 2010.

Compromise.  That’s a good philosophy to embrace when dealing with fewer job offers, smaller paychecks, and vanishing bonuses.  It means Milpitas instead of Mountain View, and attached home instead of 4/3 on a 10,000 sf lot.

Do you want a piece of the American Dream?  Sure you do!  This house sold for $358,000 in 2003.  Do you hear that noise?  That’s not the plumbing, that’s opportunity knocking!  Your DEAL awaits.  All you have to do is sit in traffic on 237 to get it.

Thanks to Burbed reader BK for this find!

6. Milpitas, CA

Population: 67,503

Single: 30.4%

Median family income: $113,735

Ever dream of flying? Give it a try in this Silicon Valley town, which serves as the epicenter of Northern California’s hang gliding and paragliding community. Milpitas has one of the largest ratios of residents to parkland in the San Francisco Bay area. All that wide-open green space and a warm, Mediterranean-like climate make it great for outdoor sports all year-round, and young singles enjoy hiking, fishing and cycling in Ed R. Levin Park. Plus, the dog park there can be a great place to find puppy love. –A.C.

Go Milpitas! What? No mention of… The Smell?

7. Sunnyvale, CA

Population: 133,876

Single: 30%

Median family income: $110,276

Geek is chic in this hub for tech companies, where you’re likely to meet an engineer from Yahoo!, Honeywell, Palm or Lockheed Martin at the latest Tweetup or "Tech and Beer" happy hour. Flirt over the latest gadgets and a cup of Joe at the Sunnyvale Art Gallery’s café, where Thursday is open mic night. Or take a romantic walk through the historic Murphy Avenue area downtown — a popular place for bar-hopping, open-air summer concerts and farmers markets. –A.C.

Congrats Sunnyvale! Nothing says chic like big box office buildings that you have to cross a giant parking lot to get to. Nope, nothing at all.

8. Mountain View, CA

Population: 73,093

Single: 34.8%

Median family income: $109,215

With NASA and Google in town, Mountain View is the perfect place to find a rocket scientist. Googlers alone range from former neurosurgeons, CEOs and puzzle champions to alligator wrestlers and Marines, so there’s no shortage of interesting dates. But since eligible bachelors outnumber women in this town, the savviest singles may want to head to wine-tasting classes, get involved in a local charity, or try yoga — instead of standing around in a bar. –A.C.

Woot Mountain View! Wait… eligible bachelors outnumber women in this town? Only this town? No way!

BTW, where is this photo taken?

10. Santa Clara, CA

Population: 110,200

Single: 34%

Median family income: $105,516

European-style streets lined with upscale shops, spas and restaurants give this Silicon Valley `burb a sophisticated appeal. Stroll along Santana Row for luxury boutiques and bars. Like many of Santa Clara’s neighboring towns, you’re likely to meet wealthy techies here, but that’s not all. Since the 49ers are headquartered here, you can also rub elbows with eligible single football players and cheerleaders. –A.C.

So true. You can’t walk a foot without bumping into a 49er.

Ok, confession: I did not know Santana Row was in Santa Clara. It’s so confusing over there.

15. San Jose, CA

Population: 948,279

Single: 31.3%

Median family income: $100,219

There’s a reason San Jose’s residents jokingly refer to their city as "Man Jose." Since men outnumber women in Silicon Valley’s high-tech jobs, the dating scene is disproportionately male. Meet the dot-com millionaire of your dreams in the city’s downtown area, which offers a technology museum, several parks, free concerts, an outdoor ice rink in the winter and — great for those nerdy dates — the world’s largest outdoor Monopoly board. –A.C.

Dot-com millionaires? Whoa… dated. But nonetheless, congrats to Man Jose!

89 WHITTIER St Milpitas, CA 95035

$499,000

Beds:	3
Baths:	2
Sq. Ft.:	1,116
$/Sq. Ft.:	$447
Lot Size:	6,480 Sq. Ft.
Property Type:	Detached Single Family
Stories:	1
Year Built:	1955
Community:	Milpitas
County:	Santa Clara
MLS#:	81005907
Source:	MLSListings
Status:	Active This listing is for sale and the sellers are accepting offers.
On Redfin:	6 days

Great Manor Area location!Cul-De-Sac!Semi-circular Driveway. .Walking distance to Spangler"CAL Distinguished School"Great First time Buyer opportunity OPEN SAT 2/13 1-4pm

Dear Realtors of the world,

It seems to me that recently you discovered Adobe Photoshop and some of the filters it has. While I appreciate your artistic aspirations, and your attempts to bring the art of selling real estate to the visual arena, let’s just say that some results are not particularly flattering.

For example, I find myself wondering if this house is located in/near Mordor based on the sky and background.

I know the photographer was “on fire” when he took this amazing shot, but looking at it, I wonder if he was literally on fire.

In closing, might I suggest that you please discontinue using these new fangled techniques. Perhaps you can return to the old standbys of fuzzy focus, soft edges, and painted blue skies.

Thank you.

1000 COUNTRY CLUB Dr, Milpitas, CA 95035 | MLS# 80917953
1000 COUNTRY CLUB Dr Milpitas, CA 95035
Price: $5,500,000

Beds: 6
Baths: 7
Sq. Ft.: 15,705
$/Sq. Ft.: $350
Lot Size: 4.02 Acres
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: Tri-Level
View: Bay, City Lights, Golf Course
Year Built: 2009
Community: Milpitas
County: Santa Clara
MLS#: 80917953
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active
On Redfin: 206 days
* * * HUGE PRICE REDUCTION FOR A QUICK SALE * * * ONE OF A KIND LUXURY MANSION WITH SPECTACULAR 360 DEGREES VIEW OF THE CITY, BAY & GOLF COURSE. ALL MARBLE MATERIALS ARE IMPORTED FROM ITALY. MARBLE COLUMNS, INTRICATE CEILING DESIGN, CAROUSEL STYLE MORNING ROOM, 6 MASTER SUITES. * * * NOT A SHORT SALE & NOT AN REO * * *

Thanks to Burbed reader mike w for this find.

Mike thought that the proper description for this house should be:

Contractor’s special.
Perfect for investor or first time home buyer .
Needs a little TLC.

Heh.

Personally, I when I saw this house, I thought… “Who lives here? Saddam Hussein? Saddam Hussein of Milpitas?”

Let’s face it, all the time people are looking for the unique house… Just think, you could live like a dictator… in Milpitas! Just think of all the weapons of mass destruction you can pretend to own and hide in the house. And remember, this is not a short sale and not an REO.

Personally, the first thing I’d do with this house is replace the carousel style morning room with an actual carousel. How awesome would that be? There’d be a line of people waiting to check it out. And you know what that kind of scarcity means – that’s right! Cha-ching!

So go buy this house. Heck, don’t even finish it all at once. Keep at it. Eventually, this could be called the Gaudi of Milpitas!

225 CORNING Ave, Milpitas, CA 95035 | MLS# 80918123
225 CORNING Ave Milpitas, CA 95035
Price: $499,000

Beds: 3
Baths: 1
Sq. Ft.: 1,040
$/Sq. Ft.: $480
Lot Size: 4,968 Sq. Ft.
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 1
Year Built: 1955
Community: Milpitas
County: Santa Clara
MLS#: 80918123
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active
On Redfin: 39 days
FOR FIRST TIME BUYER OR INVESTOR NICE PROPERTY AND CLOSE TO SHOPPING CENTER, SCHOOLS AND CLOSE TO FREEWAYS.

Not too shabby. I mean… $480 per square foot for a house near 880? There’s got to be something special… right?

And indeed there is!

Let’s take a look at the photos:

Apparently, in this house, you can have a fridge in the dining room and the kitchen. Furthermore, you can disable the inertial dampener in the kitchen, to produce a shaky cam effect. Sweet! That’s the ultimate “talk about” feature that none of your other friends will have!

The 25th century is available today – in Milpitas!

792 Canada Dr, Milpitas, CA 95035 | MLS# 90019444
792 Canada Dr Milpitas, CA 95035
Price: $700,000

Beds: 4
Baths: 3
Sq. Ft.: 2,566
$/Sq. Ft.: $273
Lot Size: 5,000 Acres
PROPERTY TYPE: 1 House on Lot, Detached, Tract
STYLE: Contemporary
STORIES: 2
Year Built: 1979
Community: Santa Clara
County: Santa Clara
MLS#: 90019444
Source: MetroList
Status: Active
On Redfin: -
This property is subject to the Banks approval. (Short Sale. Nice Shapell home, located in a quiet neighborhood Near Parks Easy Access to shopping and highways.

Thanks to Burbed reader Rick for this find.

Holy moley. No wonder Milpitas is no longer in the Real Bay Area. 5000 acres = 7.8 square miles. For just $700,000?

We really need to get a law passed to ban short sales. These things are destroying the economy. Instead, the government must reimburse the buyer for the purchase price, funded out of a bond measure that our children and grandchildren will pay for in the future. It’s only fair. We’re keeping house prices high for them, so that they’ll understand the value of work and debt.

Sheesh. 8 square mile lot for just $700,000. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil.