People often ask us, “Why do you keep saying this is another bubble? All the real estate experts out there keep assuring us it isn’t.”

Puh-leeze, people! Do you really expect those so-called experts to understand the difference between national averages and Real Estate Where It’s Special? Of course not! Those silly “experts” think this isn’t a bubble because prices haven’t hit their pre-crash peaks.  Except if you followed real estate in the Real Bay Area you’d know that they have and they do, every day.  So let’s look at yet another “point of light” illuminating the real estate bubble that we damned well know is blowing up a little bigger every day in the RBA, Where It’s Special.

And even where it isn’t. Because today we’re looking at overbidding in Oakland.  Thanks very much to Burbed reader Bob in Oakland for the find.

3239 MONTEREY Blvd
Oakland, CA 94602
$840,000

5 Beds
3.5 Baths
4,971 Sq. Ft.
$169 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 2002
Lot Size: 8,755 Sq. Ft.
On Redfin: 104 days
Status: Active
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Community: Alameda County
MLS#: 81306257
Stories: 2
County: Alameda

Large beautiful home with a fantastic view!

This home may be large and beautiful, but the agent thoughtfully kept things simple by not including any photos other than the one you see right here. Now if that isn’t proof of a real estate bubble, we don’t know what to tell you. This house is telling you, you want an almost 5,000 square foot house? Well you can bloody well submit your overbid and hope you get to see the inside, then!

Did we say overbid? More like over-overbid, because last week the price got cranked up from $550k to $840k despite There’s No Bubble Here.

And if you’re wondering how the heck there’s almost 5,000 sf of house in this modest façade, have a look at the satellite photo. Looks like the builder went deep. Real deep. Also there’s another floor under the driveway, which means you’d best check the drainage.

Bunus: That’s a freeway in the bottom right corner: Lucky number 13!

We just noted that the cost of a median single family house in San Francisco is now a million dollars. So we really appreciate this contribution from Burbed reader sonarrat, who found us a bargain in Baghdad by the Bay. (Warning: Old Herb Caen references indicate blogger is older than the dirt you won’t get with this property.)  Let’s see what’s selling in San Francisco!

51 Octavia St
San Francisco, CA 94102
$849,000

HOA Dues: $372/mo.
3 Beds
2 Baths
1,620 Sq. Ft.
$524 / Sq. Ft.
Built: —
Lot Size: —
On Redfin: 7 day
HOA Dues: $372/month
Community: Hayes Valley
MLS#: 408755
Property Type: Tenancy In Common
County: San Francisco

Elegant, remodeled 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom TIC on a tree-lined block in Hayes Valley. This is an exceptional value for its size & scale. Living room with a decorative fireplace & pocket doors. Formal dining room with a built-in hutch. Large kitchen with stainless steel appliances & an exposed brick wall. Bathrooms with Carrera marble counters & a clawfoot tub. Private laundry room off the kitchen. A small office completes this home’s desirable floor plan. Gorgeous period details include softwood floors, high coved ceilings, & moldings. Lovely, bay windows with views of trees & the city. The unit has abundant natural light, good closet space & additional storage. A short walk to the Valencia St. Corridor, the Castro, Mid-Market, MUNI & BART.

Upcoming Open Houses

Sunday, Jun 9: 1:00-4:00 pm     Tuesday, Jun 11: 11:30-1:00 pm

No land, and it’s a Tenancy In Common? What could possibly go wrong? Let’s ask sonarrat.

Burbed doesn’t visit the City by the Bay all that often, but it’s worth a visit now and again. And if you play your cards right, then you, too, might be able to enjoy the round-the-clock traffic jams, endemic vagrancy, picayune city ordinances, and high prices that make San Francisco so great. Because what says you’ve arrived better than living in a city that hardly anyone can afford to tolerate?

Aw, you say that like it’s a bad thing! Look at how this living opportunity is close to everything!

If you’re providing services to mobile temps working from their cars (and seriously, who among us isn’t?), you can’t beat the location! You’re the first stop off the freeway!

Since we had a Sunday think piece (a really nice way to say TL;DR) yesterday on the supposed strength of schools in the East Bay (short answer: not even), let’s look at another property there. Today’s featured home for your holiday is brought to you from Berkeley by Burbed reader Bob in Oakland.  Thanks very much, and remember, if you have a listing that looks like it could use a little Burbed loving, please send it in!

1411 LINCOLN St
Berkeley, CA 94702
Sold for $805,000

2 Beds
2 Baths
1,083 Sq. Ft.
$743 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1938
Lot Size: 3,570 Sq. Ft.
Sold On: Apr 10, 2013
Type: Detached
Stories: 2
Community: N Berkeley
MLS#: 40605874
Style: Bungalow
View: Other
County: Alameda

Charming N. Berkeley/ Northbrae Bungalow on charming Lincoln St. Updated baths, large front & rear yards, spacious laundry room plus bonus room perfect for office or guest suite. And, just 1 block to N. Berk BART, Ohlone pathway and bike routes.

Now let’s check in with Bob:

For your consideration:

This little shack sold for $805k, and went pending two weeks after listing for $599k.  Per a postcard sent out by the selling agent (and received by a friend who lives nearby), it received 16 offers.

Note the Redfin ‘tour insights’ (gotta love ‘em using the word ‘insights’ – it takes the deep intuitive gifts of a realtard to come up with gems like ‘nice house’):

• ‘Not a fan of the kitchen’
• ‘Kitchen is small and could use some updating.’
• ‘There isn’t a great indoor outdoor flow. You need to go downstairs and out a side door to get to the backyard.’
• ‘Upstairs bath a little funky….’
• ‘Upstairs bath could use a remodel.’

Also:

Not much we can add to that other than we’re talking a 34% overbid.  And how many times can one agent use the word “nice”?

We’re almost done With the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and Wow is our Website Woozy.  What Will our readers Whine about When it’s gone? No Worries, some of you Wonder Why it Wore out its Welcome While others Winked at how Wonderful the Words Were.

Well… let’s move on to today’s featured home. It’s in one of Realest of the Real Bay Area areas, home to many famous Silicon Valley startup billionaires. Now it can be home to you as Well, and even at an Welcome asking price!

439 GLENWOOD Ave
Woodside, CA 94062
$888,000

1 Beds
1 Baths
480 Sq. Ft.
$1,850 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1933
Lot Size: 0.34 Acres
On Redfin: 6 days
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 1
County: San Mateo
Style: Cottage/Bungalow
Community: Woodside Glens
MLS#: 81312849

A Rare and Most Unique Opportunity2Bld Your Dream HM or Acquire a Cottage HM Retreat in Coveted Woodside Glens!Revive 2 Fxr Upr Cottages, or Pave the Way for Your NU LUX RES!This Desirable Prop offers 15,000 SQ FT of Wooded Serenity w/ an End of the Road Culdesac Lctn!Approx. 4 miles from Canada Road, EZ Ingress/Egress. Minutes 2 Town Village & Top Rated Woodside Elementary Schl!Super EZ Cmt2H-280!

Upcoming Open Houses

Sunday, Apr 28: 2:00-4:00 pm
Sunday, May 5: 2:00-4:00 pm

This may be the first property in Woodside to have its listing copy composed entirely in tweets.

Wow, What’s this? Woodside is known for huge spreads on acres of land. Today’s house is only oversized When compared With this cabin in the Woods.

Wait, there’s more (bunus!): Court confirmation may be required. Whee!

Today is the first day of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, so we’ll Abjure their Authorized Arms And Affirm our Abecedarian Attempt. And we Aspire to give A tip of the Aviator’s cap to Arlee Bird for Activating this Affair, with over 1700 blogs Associated!  Most All of them Aren’t in the Real Bay Area, so while we Advocate your Auditing Any and All, you Aren’t Accountable to Acquire Any properties.

We’re delighted to be part of this Amazing Alliance!  Now on to today’s Apt Acreage.

6792 ALMADEN Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
$865,000

5 Beds
3 Baths
2,704 Sq. Ft.
$320 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1969
Lot Size: 7,169 Sq. Ft.
On Redfin: 13 days
Property Type: Detached Single Family
View: Neighborhood
County": Santa Clara
Stories: 2
Community: Almaden Valley
MLS#: 81308508

Large 5 bedroom Almaden home with swimming pool, corner lot. Top Almaden Schools: Graystone, Bret Harte & Leland. Property is Lender-Owned, being sold "AS-IS, " US Bank makes no representations or warranties. US Bank financing available. All US Bank loans to be approved by US Bank. .

US Bank may make no representations, but we Aim to. Zillow says this house is worth $1.1 million, which might Account for why the bank sat on its collective Ass for An Absolute Annum After they foreclosed. That means $250 thousand of Alleged instant equity for you, the buyer! What Are you Anticipating?  You Assume every listing has an Attractive Appearance by Instagram?

Arrive in your Automobile, And Ask your Agent to Arrange for An Attractive Advance deposit! Actung!  This Allotment is still Active! And that Aerial Aspect sure is Attractive!  Remember, Abode, Address, Area!

And… do you think we’re going to Adjust the daily Alphabet in All of the 25 Afterward Articles? Absolutely not. April Fool!

Updated 11:30 AM – Second house found; see end for details and plenty of pix!

AOL has been doing a real estate area for a while, including a series of videos and articles beyond the listings and search tools. Someone over there must have been reading us, because they did a piece discovering that (gasp!) there are very expensive yet definitely crappy houses for sale in the Real Bay Area.  Worse, they had the gall to call this an “AOL original.”

Have they been living under a rock? This has been our signature claim for more than seven years! Let’s listen in as self-important talking heads who don’t bother introducing themselves tell us what we already know.  (Warning: dude with beard is extra smug.)

M’kay.  There’s some really useless accompanying text, so our mission is to do a slightly better job.  Remember, it’s fairly easy to succeed when you set your standards this low.

Decrepit Homes in San Francisco Bay Area Fetch Top Dollar for Mountain Views

By AOL Real Estate Editors | Posted Feb 21st 2013 5:14PM

A sorry-looking shack, with deep cracks in the cinder-block walls and busted windows, that looks like it’s ready to collapse: You wouldn’t pay a dime for that, would you? OK, say it’s nestled in the gorgeous hilltops of the San Francisco Peninsula with no shortage of pristine mountain views. Now how much would you pay? More than $1 million? Well, that’s how much it’s going for.

We’ve probably violated Fair Use by quoting an entire graf, because there’s only one more.  There’s also only two homes in the video, and only the more than $1 million OMFG Emerald Hills (Redwood City) place (shown above in a clip from the video) has mountain views.  The other (at left, also clipped from the video) is in Willow Glen, and didn’t seem to have any views beyond the neighborhood street.

We were able to find the place in Emerald Lake in about 3 minutes, and it definitely could use a big ol’ Burbed sloppy kiss, Of course it’s already pending.  This is the Real Bay Area we’re talking about!

209 LAKEVIEW Way
Redwood City, CA 94062
$1,275,000

3 Beds
2 Baths
1,490 Sq. Ft.
$856 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1948
Lot Size: 0.38 Acres
On Redfin: 207 days
Property Type: Detached Single Family
View: Mountains
County: San Mateo
Stories: 1
Community: Cordilleras Heights
MLS#: 81228879

Incredible opportunity in Emerald Hills. Originally three lots under two APN#’s (APN #057-031-480 and APN #057-031-049) which have been combined into one lot at approximately 25,150 SF. The value is in the land and the views of the surrounding hills with easy access to 280. Walk the site and let your imagination run wild. Dream big and build new or renovate. Plans are available for viewing.

We didn’t have the same success in finding the Willow Glen weedery.  This one is similar to it (Craftsman style bungalow, over 12,000 square foot lot, to be sold as-is) but we don’t think it’s the right house.  Can any enterprising Burbed readers find the house in the video? 

Update: House in video found by Burbed reader Chris. See end of this article for details and photos. We’ll also throw in a break as this is starting to get long, so click on through!

(more…)

If you take a look along our right-hand column, you can see a number of useful things to click.  There’s our email contacts, for when you want to send in the perfect example of Housing Win.  There’s some interesting websites we think you’d enjoy.  And there’s a link for every category we’ve ever filed anything under, along with how many articles are in each one.  Most of our categories are location, location, location.

Take a glance at today’s category, Foster City.  It’s a little on the scant side, and there’s a good reason for that.  Foster City is full of tract housing, and most of it’s in fairly good shape.  Places with good schools don’t tend to get run-down properties.  And besides, there’s so much housing win right next door in the flats of San Mateo.  All this is a fairly long-winded way to welcome today’s featured home, from Burbed reader Pizzawillcome.  Thanks very much for pulling up a rarity: Burbed-worthy in Foster City!

676 PILGRIM Dr
Foster City, CA 94404
$808,000

2 Beds
2.5 Baths
1,340 Sq. Ft.
$603 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1964
Lot Size: 5,225 Sq. Ft.
On Redfin: 7 days
Status: Active
Property Type: Detached Single Family
View: Neighborhood
County: San Mateo
Stories: 1
Community: Treasure Isle
MLS#: 81301481
Upcoming Open Houses:
Sunday, Jan 27: 2:00-4:00 pm

Great Foster City Eichler style home in excellent neighborhood. Laminate wood floors throughout. Heated pool and spa. Huge master bedroom. Kitchen with granite countertops. Remodeled baths. This house is perfect for entertaining. Home needs a little TLC but is in great shape. This will go quick. Great price!

Here’s the Pizza on this fab find:

I’ve been visiting Burbed on a daily basis for a few months. It is strangely therapeutic.

This house gave me an urge to send in my first burbed alert.  My favorites are the Cinderella-style bathroom mirror and the vanity.

Our favorite picture is the first one, because we don’t typically find such artistic photos in Foster City.  They’re all strangely identical, but this one is by an agent who says, “No, dammit, this house needs to be backlit! The right buyer wants a house that looms menacingly.

“Also that buyer will appreciate not one but two 8s in the price.”

Bunus: what’s that in the mirror?

Time once again to visit one of our favorite places in the entire Real Bay Area!  And it’s been a while because the properties go pending faster than we can click through the listing photos.  We’ve been telling you that many RBA neighborhoods are hot, hot, HOT.  Now we’ve got even more proof that The Bubbly is Back.  Check out this Palo Alto palazzo from Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater!

411 PEPPER Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
$868,000

3 Beds 
1 Baths 
987 Sq. Ft.
$879 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1940 
Lot Size: 6,534 Sq. Ft. 
On Redfin: 5 days
Status: Active
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories:1
Community: Ventura
MLS#: 81300120
Style: Cottage/Bungalow
View: Neighborhood
County: Santa Clara

Walk to California Avenue and enjoy all it has to offer, from this charming 1940s cottage with endless potential. Light filled rooms, hardwood floors, remodeled bathroom. Expansive backyard. Quiet location. Outstanding Palo Alto Schools. No offers prior to 1/14/13.

Not just a house in Palo Alto with endless potential (after all, every house in Palo Alto has endless potential, just by being in Palo Alto!), this is a 1940s cottage with endless potential.  Just look at that kitchen!  They sure don’t build them like they used to.

But did you catch the last line in the listing?  “No offers prior to 1/14/13.”  If that isn’t proof that it’s 2006 again, we don’t know what will convince you.  Once again, the realtards are so convinced that their listed houses sell themselves, they get to decide what day they sell themselves.

Now here’s what Michael thinks about this Would Sell Way Over Asking Right Now If Only The Agent Hadn’t Made Everyone Wait a Week property:

Nice neighbors too, if you like junkyards.

These will be terrific neighbors… if you ever need to borrow a cup of brake fluid.

The median Home Value in Mountain View, according to Zillow, is $877,900.  So what could you get for that amount, if you looked for a house in some other part of the country?  If you were willing to look in Maryland, you could get this nice painting of a house.  Plus HOA fees every month!

LOT 10, STURBRIDGE
Brookville, MD 20833
$852,900

Ownership Type : Fee Simple
Bedrooms : 4
Type : Detached
Full Bathrooms : 3
Status : Active
Half Bathrooms : 1
List Date : 09/25/2011
Square feet : 4500
Days on Market : 468
Price per sq. ft : $189
Status Date : 09/25/2011
Approx Lot Size (Acres) : 1.0
Price : $852,900
Approx Lot Size (Sq.Ft.) : 43560
Location : BROOKEVILLE MD 20833
Year Built : 2012

HOA Fee : $500.00 Annually
Elementary School : BUSHY PARK
ADC map : 8J12
Middle School : GLENWOOD
Advertised Subdivision : RIVERCREST IN HOWARD COUNTY
High School : GLENELG
DESCRIPTION
Short Sale : No

Remarks : ASK ABOUT OUR SPECIAL INCENTIVES! MASTER LISTING – “STURBRIDGE” LOT 10, OTHER LOTS AVAIL FROM $892,900. SCENIC, 1 ACRE WOODED HOMESITES OVERLOOKING CATTAIL CREEK! CUSTOMIZATION & STATE OF THE ART ENERGY EFFICIENCY INCL IN EVERY HOME! OTHER HOME DESIGNS AVAIL OR CUSTOM BUILD. MODEL OPEN DAILY 10AM-5PM @ 2836 MILLERS WAY DRIVE, ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043.

Internet Remarks : ASK ABOUT OUR SPECIAL INCENTIVES! MASTER LISTING – “STURBRIDGE” LOT 10, OTHER LOTS AVAIL FROM $892,900. SCENIC, 1 ACRE WOODED HOMESITES OVERLOOKING CATTAIL CREEK! CUSTOMIZATION & STATE OF THE ART ENERGY EFFICIENCY INCL IN EVERY HOME! OTHER HOME DESIGNS AVAIL OR CUSTOM BUILD. MODEL OPEN DAILY 10AM-5PM @ 2836 MILLERS WAY DRIVE, ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043.

Holy crap, that’s a lot of CAPITAL LETTERS for the same price you’d pay in Mountain View.  Plus you get a house that hasn’t even been built yet, so you have no idea of the build quality or the feng shui.  And just think of how much work it’s going to be mowing an entire acre or dusting 4500 sf of house.

For this much money in Mountain View, you’d be looking at a vintage one bedroom from 1948,on a 6969 sf foot lot (we’re just reporting the listing, we’re not making innuendos). It boasts a spacious 914 foot floor plan.  Plus the comparable Maryland place, while near such cosmopolitan confluences like Laytonsville,is 2831 miles from Google (we checked).  In current traffic that’s a whizzy 41 hour commute.  One way.

Also, no HOA fees for vintage homes in Mountain View.

Bunus: The home in Maryland was never featured on Burbed, either.  And homes in Maryland, whether or not they’re built, don’t go up $125K in just five months.  Or down $50K at the exact same time. 

It’s been several days since we last featured a property in Mountain View, and that means every one that’s been sent in has gone Pending!  Here’s one of them you can no longer buy because you weren’t phoning your agent every single minute.

2343 Craig Ct
Mountain View, CA 94043
Price:  $835,000

Loan Payment:  $2,798/mo
Bedrooms:  3
Bathrooms:  2
Size:  1,104 sqft
$/Sqft:  $756/sqft
Type:  Single Family House
Year Built:  1955
Lot Size:  8,000
Days on Movoto:  18 days
Neighborhood:  Thompson
MLS#:  81239158
Status:  Pending – Do Not Show
Go See This Home Make an Offer

 

* DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH!* ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES!* EICHLER STYLE HOME BOASTS HIGH CEILINGS & LARGE WINDOWS FOR PLENTY OF SUNSHINE!*TERRIFIC FLOORPLAN W/ SEPERATE DINING AREA*INSIDE LAUNDRY*LIVING ROOM W/ FIREPLACE* COVERED PATIO*LARGE BACKYARD PERFECT FOR SUMMER BBQ’S!*ACROSS FROM MONTA LOMA ELEMENTARY & MINUTES AWAY FROM GOOGLE, SHOPPING & FREEWAYS! WITH A LITTLE TLC THIS CAN BE THE PERFECT HOME!*

The only thing this house is missing is a million dollar price tag.  It’s got everything else: eye-catching facade, listing pix pulled off Redfin and most of the other major sites (thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster for Movoto!), ALL CAPS in the listing copy, along with a misused apostrophe and ENDLESS exclamation points!!!!!!

Bunus: Date stamps on the photos, too.  The only thing left to do is place your bets how high the winning overbid comes in at.