Here’s a moldy oldie that got stuck to the lining of the ol’ Burbed inbox.  Of course you can no longer buy it since it went pending in ten days and has now sold. But we can still enjoy it.  Many thanks to Burbed reader Petsmart Groomer for bringing this superb Sunnyvale shelter to our attention!  That’s right, Sunnyvale, one of the ten best places in the entire country to raise kids!

884 BROOKLINE Dr
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Listed for $1,198,000; Sold for $1,288,000

BEDS: 5
BATHS: 3
SQ. FT.: 2,411
$/SQ. FT.: $534
LOT SIZE: 7,605 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Contemporary
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT: 1967
COMMUNITY: Sunnyvale
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81214209
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Sold

Pinnacle of Contemporary Indoor-Outdoor Living * Landscaped Open Air Atrium * Spacious Living & Dining Area w/ Brick Fireplace & Glazed Cement Floors * Gourmet Kitchen w/ Granite Counters, White Frameless Cabinets, Island, Sitting & Eating Area, Italian Tile Floors * Master Suite * Pitched Roof * Two Car Garage * Landscaped Yards w/ Stamped Cement Patio, Lighting, Sprinklers, Fruit Trees * Cumberland Elem/Homestead *

There’s no doubt that the Real Bay Area is hot, hot, hot!  But even here in the Corridor of Not Quite (which hugs El Camino Real), there’s hard evidence of overbidding.  This house sold for 7.5% above asking!  How else can anyone explain the sale price for this home that doesn’t have Cupertino schools or even the best Sunnyvale elementary?

At least the photographer did a nice job lining up photos 3 and 4 so everyone could really enjoy that pitched roof.

Too bad the same care wasn’t applied to the HDR.

If those trees glowed any more the EPA would have to remediate the entire neighborhood.

Burbed began its life as a housing price and mortgage insanity site back in 2006.  And if home prices keep going up, up, up like they are now in some Very Special Places, we could be back to our glory days soon, when every article had over 100 comments no matter how meh the listing was.

Not only are listing prices up Where It’s Special.  So are lease costs.  Have a look at this well-situated rental, courtesy of Burbed reader Adennris.

229 Polaris Ave
Mountain View, CA 94043
For Rent: $1,195,000/mo

Beds: —
Baths: —
Sqft: —
Lot: 15,246 sq ft / 0.35 acres
Type: Single Family
Year built: 1973
Parking: —
Availability: now
Lease term: ContactForDetails
Cooling: —
Heating: —
Fireplace: —
On Zillow: 21 days
MLS #: 81211034
Other facts

This may be a bigger entry error than simply putting in a sales price in the monthly rental field.  Here’s this same property on a realty site (photo right) and here’s the listing copy.  It’s a little different than what Zillow had.

Great income opportunity for the right buyer. 1031 exchange is possible. 2 buildings on one lot. Many possible uses in the ML disdrict of Mountain View. Near the worlds greatest companies and close to many of Mountain View’s wonderful services and delights. Easy commuting access to El Camino, Central Expressway, 85, and 101.

Last updated on  4/25/2012

More Details for 229 POLARIS AVE

Property Class:Commercial Industrial
Listing Status:Active
City:Mountain View
Area:203 North Shoreline
County:SANTA CLARA COUNTY
State:CA
Lot Size:15164.00 SF
Stories:2
Year Built:1973
MLS#:81211034
List Date:3/24/2012

So it’s not a single-family home, then?  But the upside is you definitely can bring your arc welder.

Trulia calls it an income/investment.  But Zillow wasn’t the only one to assume this place was a residence.  Check it out!

This is a 380 square foot, single family home, which can rent for only $608 a month.  No beds or baths, but it has assigned schools, and more importantly, places doing business.

Redfin never heard of this location or either MLS listing number above.  That’s because this site is a 6019 sf office building for sale.  And this description might explain all the confusion.

Check this out!!
Real close to downtown Mountain View.
16 unit office building in ML district of Mountain View.
2 buildings on one lot.
Recent Zoning changes have allowed for additional uses.
ML zoning.
Buyer to check with City of Mountain View for precise zoning uses allowed for this location.

Near down town Mountain View.
Blocks from El Camino.
Easy access to highway 101, Central Expressway and highway 85.

If you read all these conflicting real estate offers for the same location, you will also notice that it’s been described as being in three different neighborhoods.  That’s because Mountain View is so cutting edge, it transcends space, time, and money.  No wonder it’s so hot, hot, hot!

We haven’t visited Belmont for a while, so this find from Burbed reader Overheard in San Carlos was very much appreciated.  And this property going pending despite the inept presentation goes to show that anyone can succeed as a Realtard.  At least anyone can when the Peninsula is this hot, hot, hot!

3034 SAN JUAN Blvd
Belmont, CA 94002
$1,249,000

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 3.5
SQ. FT.: 3,120
$/SQ. FT.: $400
LOT SIZE: 0.3 Acres
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Mediterranean
STORIES: 3
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 2004
COMMUNITY: Haskins Estates
COUNTY: San Mateo
MLS#: 81205312
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending Without Release
ON REDFIN: 73 days

GORGOUS 8 YR NEW MDETEREAN BEAUTY IN A UNBELVABLE PRVT BRTHTKNG CONTRY SETNG. ELEVATOR FOR YOUR MAJESTY’S CONVENIENCE TO A BRGHT AND CHEERFUL 4 BR 3.5 BTH FLR PLN. BALCONIES TO ENJY UR BBQ, WRK FRM HM OR READ A BOOK IN A PEACEFUL AND RICH SETNG. NU PNT, CRPT AND REFRBSHED HDWD FLRS, HI CEILNGS, REC LGHTS, OVRSIZE GRNT KITCHEN/PNTRY, LAVISH MSTR RM & BTH, LOFT IN GRG, EZ FWY ACSS TO SF, SJ, FSTR CTY.

While the agent correctly addressed Us as YOUR MAJESTY, We do not consider issuing decrees or declaring war on the East Bay to be WRK FRM HM.  The elevator is appreciated but the lack of a throne room makes this a poor Seat of State for Our Royal Self, Our Royal Family, Our Trusted Advisors, and Our 500 liveried retainers, guards, and servants.

Despite the LOFT IN GRG, We are not amused by the plastic stair protection.

Real estate is a great investment that can pay you to live in your house.  That is, it pays you to live in your house if you rent some of it out.  Here’s an investment opportunity too good to miss from Burbed reader Petsmart Groomer.

3799 PARK Blvd
Palo Alto, CA 94306
$1,149,000

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 3
SQ. FT.: 2,236
$/SQ. FT.: $514
LOT SIZE: 6,930 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 2
YEAR BUILT: 1979
COMMUNITY: Ventura
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81207935
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 30 days

Duplex home set up as a two separate units of 1,100sq feet each rents for $1,950. 1 level is a 2 bedrooms/2 baths and the other unit is a 1 bedroom/1 bath rents for $1,500 on a month to month. 1 car garage is rented for $100 a month. Home can be shown by appt only every TuesdayRight fence to be fixed before close of escrow.

The market is hot, hot, HOT here at Ground Zero of the Google-Facebook Nexus.  I don’t understand why this one hasn’t been snatched up yet.

Any ideas why some dot.com entrepreneur hasn’t moved into one unit, rented out the other, did some internets magic in this amazing Garage, and raked in the Profit?

Is it because the listing copy has even Redfin too befuddled to compute a rent ratio?

If we just add up all the dollar amounts mentioned above, we get $1149000 / ($1950 + $1500 + $100) * 12 = 26.97.  That ratio would say “RENT!” anywhere but in Palo Alto.  Here, just getting the privilege to bid on a neglected rental property in a dynamic neighborhood right on the cusp of High Speed Rail is such an honor, the agent won’t show you the inside.  Even though today is Tuesday.

Here’s another big-lot big-win find from Burbed reader Tracy!  And this one has been off-market long enough that most of the usual listing sites didn’t have the listing photos anymore.  Good thing there’s always Movoto, keeping them available so you can decide if you want to rent this puppy.

3010 Jenkins Ave
San Jose, CA 95118
$1,100,000; Reduced from $1,200,000 after 2 months
Off market since February 5, 2012

Price: $1,100,000
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 2
Size: 2,767 sqft
Type: Single Family House
Year Built: 1950
Lot Size: 20,196
Days on Movoto: 124 days
MLS#: 81147324
Status: Expired
Views: 2

Off the market to be rented. Wonderful 1 story on 1/2 acre, brick fireplace, Lots of charm & ready for your touch. Tall windows and sliders line the F/R and hallway overlooking the lush backyard & covered patio. Tile entry, hardwood floors Oversized new drvwy to 2car, plus detached garage. Hedges and trees offer privacy. New roof, new walk way, copper plumbing, updated wiring too! Regular sale!

Tracy called this a “mid-century half acre Japanese farm,” but you’ll just call it Burbedelicious!  And the more you look at these pictures, the more you realize that this property photographer really should have taken a different career path into fine arts.  This is some seriously disruptive work!

For instance, delightful juxtapositions of lush and sere, idyllic and workaday, shaded and exposed, continually inform this paradoxical collage that is all of one and the same property.  Note the clever reflection of the utility pole shadow with its power cable above.  Brilliant!

This pairing achieves the same discordance: concrete concrete versus idealized landscape.  One nice touch is the clever contrast of shade on the garage, versus bright sun on the trees at the upper left.

The two previous diptychs cannot prepare the viewer for this partnership: A hint of the verdant yard from the dank interior, and the grounds with HDR turned up to 11.  Wowza!

And it’s going to stay at 11, whether or not there is any furniture in the picture!  Tell me, have you ever seen heavy HDR with an empty room before?  Is this mid-century minimalism?

Okay, now it’s your turn!  Compare and contrast!

Here is an extra-credit problem for those of you who find this too easy.

And I will leave you with this riddle to ponder: which is worth more, the stove at left, the computer at right, or all of these photos?

Silicon Valley may seem like the the only economic engine driving California in 2012, but let’s not forget there’s other places to live in the Bay Area.  Many of the high-paying jobs in San Francisco are in the same industry as those 50 miles south, which means many of you could consider living in a real city. 

Yet downtown SF and environs is everything that Santa Clara County is not: hip, cool, exciting and not a front lawn to be seen for miles.  Thanks very much to Burbed reader Petsmart Groomer for this eye-popping penthouse in SoMa.

1160 Mission St #2313
San Francisco, CA 94103
$1,998,000

BEDS: 2
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: –
LOT SIZE: –
PROPERTY TYPE: Luxury, Condominium, Penthouse
STYLE: Contemporary
VIEW: Panoramic, City Lights, Water, Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, Downtown, Hills
YEAR BUILT: 2008
COMMUNITY: South of Market
COUNTY: San Francisco
MLS#: 392733
SOURCE: San Francisco MLS
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 45 days

Feel the WOW! factor as you step into this dazzling Philippe Starck-style top floor corner penthouse with super-luxury finishes throughout and sensational views from City Hall to the Downtown Skyline and Bay!Fantastic location close to Twitter, Zynga, Google and other red-hot technology companies in SOMA’s booming, world-famous technology center- AND close to Opera House and Davies Symphony Hall. 2 parking/ EXTRA high ceilings/$800K+ (per owner) custom designer finishes/high-end built-in audio-visual systems/motorized shades/stainless VIKING gas stove, refrigerator and wine fridge/Bosch dishwasher/Studio Becker kitchen and MORE!Full service building with fabulous Club Room, outdoor plaza with firepit, gym, 24-hr security & concierge-a MUST SEE!

Here’s what motivated Petsmart Groomer to share this place with the greater Burbed community:

What cracked me up… "$800K+ (per owner) custom designer finishes"
Bought 2 years ago for $1,145,000, on the market now for $2M.

Plus a firepit.  I’m feeling that WOW! factor already.  I thought you had to buy in Sunnyvale to get one of those.

And, you also get 2 parking with EXTRA high ceilings.  That’s for buyers who absolutely must garage their London double-decker busses.

But those $800K+ (per owner) customer designer finishes mean this 1,613 sf condo (per county records) should be worth at least $8K more than as originally furnished.  Good luck with that wishing price.

The best example of the WOW! factor? $851.38 monthly homeowners dues.  You’ll feel the WOW! every time you write that check along with the mortgage.  Buy with Redfin and save $22,478.

1500 ALTURAS Dr
Burlingame, CA 94010

$1,198,000

These days it’s so easy to become overexposed with all these social services like Youtwitface. Tumyambook or Xanga.

So I appreciate it when I see a listing with some restraint and privacy.

Just click through the 5 photos. Enjoy the zen of the slight tilt of angles. Ahhhh.

And that, my friends, is why this house is priced at $1.2 in Burlingame.

If you wanted to see “under the kimono” – well… maybe you’re looking in the wrong neighborhood, sailor!

We’ve had many discussions on what makes a place Real Bay Area (RBA) and more importantly, what makes a place Not.  Good schools, professionals for neighbors, and no uncorrectable deficits such as freeways, airports, and toxic waste dumps is a start.  But what’s a real tip-off that a place is in the RBA?

Not only is it way too expensive for what you’re buying, but the asking price has been increased.  Many thanks to Burbed reader Praveen for today’s featured listing.

 

42261 CAMINO SANTA BARBARA
Fremont, CA 94539
$10,998,000

 

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,931
$/SQ. FT.: $5,695
LOT SIZE: 7,910 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT: 1964
COMMUNITY: Alameda County
COUNTY: Alameda
MLS#: 81200779
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 1 day NEW LISTING (24 HOURS)

Very exclusive Mission Highlands East section of Chadbourne. One level four bedroom with huge remodeled kitchen and family room. Large master bedroom newly remodeled master bath. Large yard. Wonderful layout. Easy wlk to Mission High, Chadbourne elementary.

This not particularly large home on a not particularly large lot was listed for $1,099,000 on EBRD, the East Bay multiple listing service, last Friday.  But when it appeared on MLS (used by the West Counties) the following Monday, the price had gone up tenfold.  What happened?

Simple. Houses marketed to East Bay buyers aren’t as Special as houses for Peninsula and South Bay buyers.  That’s why there’s one price for the East Bay and a higher, better, more exclusive, lots more Real Price for Silicon Valley lucky duckies.

And boy, some Silicon Valley home-owner-to-be is going to want this place!  Doesn’t that location, location, location suggest rural isolation and quiet evenings at home?

Absolutely!

Get your overbids ready, because photography like you see for this listing doesn’t come cheap!

1021 SEQUOIA Ave
Millbrae, CA 94030

$1,070,000

Nothing says Millbrae pride like a house with parking.

Now, I know that real estate in the Valley doesn’t have to follow any rules – in fact, we’re outright encouraged to break the rules!

So I think this house excels in breaking the rules of physics. Just how do you fit 3 cars in a garage like that? Shouldn’t it be an even number?

Or, maybe this reflects some new origami practice? Or car elevator! oooh! The mind boggles!

By the way, they’re not kidding about the shed in the back being large:

What a green, green, lawn!

1820 ASH St
Palo Alto, CA 94306

$1,149,500

At $2017 per square foot, this listing is the pride and joy of Bay Area real estate. Now, granted, this isn’t exactly accurate as there’s also a guest house that can bring in revenue – and as we all know, revenue is what counts.

But wait. This house sure seems familiar. Where have we seen this before? Quick! To the wayback machine to a period when I was still regularly contributing to this site!

September 7, 2010

A healthy priced property in Palo Alto

1820 ASH St Palo Alto, CA 94306

$1,499,000

OMG. What. Is. Going. On? No, seriously… what is going on with these prices?

What’s your prediction for what this house will sell for next year? Keep in mind the coming torrent of IPOs that will rock the Valley!