Let’s start the week with another drop-dead multimillion dollar property in San Jose. Wait, um, San Jose?

1631 UNIVERSITY Way
San Jose, CA 95126
$3,595,000

5 Beds
4.5 Baths
5,959 Sq. Ft.
$603 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1951
Lot Size: 0.48 Acres
On Redfin: 2 days
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 2
County: Santa Clara
Style: Traditional
Community: Central San Jose MLS#: 81315965

UNPRECEDENTED LOCATION & STYLE IN PREMIER ROSEGARDEN NEIGHBORHOOD~THIS HOME WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY~DESIGNED & REMODELED BY DEMATTEI WITH AWARD WINNING ARCHITECTUAL DETAILS & DESIGN~UNPARALLED INDOOR OUTDOOR LIVING~POOL, CABANA, SPORT COURT~COVERED LOGGIA, OUTDOOR KITCHEN, FLAGSTONE PATIOS & WALKWAYS. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN LUXURY. YOU TRULY FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN A RESORT~PERFECT ENTERTAINER’S PROPERTY.

Are three and a half million dollar luxury homes in San Jose now a thing? This isn’t anywhere near Google. But at least we get to break out the Red Arrow Kit again.

Also, this house has earned the Burbed Jackson Pollock Photography Award (and good on you if you already knew that Pollock was not known for shutterbugging) for Hitting the Dial Religiously.

Let’s return again to our roots and feature one of the homes that Burbed was best known for. Have a look at this spacious place while we take a good look at some prices.

418 ALDEN St
Redwood City, CA 94063
$390,000

1 Beds
1 Baths
640 Sq. Ft.
$609 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1925
Lot Size: 5,000 Sq. Ft.
On Redfin: 18 days
Property Type: Detached Single Family
View: Neighborhood
County: San Mateo
Stories: 2
Community: Lenolt
MLS#: 81312880

NEW KITCHEN WITH GRANITE COUNTER TOP, NEW WINDOWS, NEW BATHROOM. CONVENIENTLY LOCATED CLOSE TO SHOPPING, FREEWAY AND TRANSPORTATION.

For $390K, you’re only going to get one GRANITE COUNTER TOP and one NEW BATHROOM and zero photos of either. But that’s not the only reason we’re featuring this delightful dwelling.  Have a look at the listing from the last time it went on the market, as a short sale.

418 ALDEN St
Redwood City, CA 94063
Sold for $239,000

1 Beds
1 Baths
640 Sq. Ft.
$373 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1925
Lot Size: 5,000 Sq. Ft.
Sold On: Jun 10, 2011
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Community: Lenolt
MLS#: 81053292
Stories: 2
County: San Mateo

SHORT SALE. SALES PRICE AND COMMISSION SUBJECT TO LENDER’S APPROVAL.

Just because the price went up 63 percent due to a GRANITE COUNTER TOP doesn’t mean we’re in a bubble. 

Why, just take a look at the price history for this palace.  We have a lovely little line graph for you as well as the screenshot from Redfin.

Obviously there’s no Bubble 4.0 in this part of Redwood City, because it was completely derailed after 2006. All the dots on the graph are sales except for the last one on the right, that’s the current asking price.

Do you have any doubt where this investment is heading? In case you don’t, the house itself has the answer for you.

Welcome to one of the Scrabble “bunus” rounds of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge! Yes, some of the letters are worth more points, because they’re Quite harder to play. And there aren’t any cities in the entire Bay Area that start with the letter Q, so we’re going to have to come up with another Quality. And we’ll have the same Quixotic Quest again when we deal with X and Z!

So, are there any other place names we can use? Neighborhoods, local landmarks, that sort of thing?  San Francisco has 118 distinct neighborhoods, and not one starts with the “Scrabble Challenge Trio.”  Ditto for the 33 hoods in San Jose.  (Which raises a Question: why does San Jose, with more geography and more people, have much fewer place names?)

Fortunately, we are about to be Quietly rescued by Redfin, who helpfully has their very own Quirky neighborhood names!

Update 10:16 AM: See added picture and graf toward the end. Quite Quintessential.

2705 NORBERT Ct
San Jose, CA 95148
$740,000

4 Beds
2 Baths
1,713 Sq. Ft.
$432 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1978
Lot Size: 7,980 Sq. Ft.
On Redfin: 3 days
Property Type: Detached Single Family
View: Mountains, Neighborhood, Valley, City Lights
County: Santa Clara
Stories: 1
Community: Evergreen
MLS#: 81312097

AMAZING EVERGREEN HOME–ONE HOUSE AWAY FROM GROESBECK HILL PARK! BRIGHT VAULTED ENTRY, GOURMET KITCHEN WITH STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES, GRANTITE COUNTERTOP, SEPERATE DINING RM W/ GRANITE WET BAR, TILE IN KITCHEN AND HARDWOOD FLOOR IN HALLWAY, BAY WINDOW IN LIVING RM, CEILING FANS IN MOST ROOMS, FLAGSTONE PATIO WITH SPORTS COURT, FRUIT TREES, CUSTOM-BUILT VIEWING DECK IN BACKYARD! RENTS $3,100/MO

Upcoming Open Houses

Saturday, Apr 20: 2:00-4:00 pm

Now while this home isn’t the sine Qua non of Questionable real estate, it has certain Qualifications for the front page. Head off to the comments with your Questions and Quell any doubts that we would come up with some Quip.  Or Quirk.

Update 10:16 AM: Or in the case of this Quality structure on the left, we’re wondering how it will fare during the next Quake.

We could share even more pictures. Or we could always Quit.

We move on with the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and today’s a Premier Prospect! Pronto, Propose a Principality where the Population is Pushy, Pretentious, and Proud? Did someone say Palo Alto? Perhaps Piedmont? Possible, but we’ll Put them aside. 

Today’s Property is in Portola Valley!  Profound thanks to Burbed reader laurenatuw.

187 DEGAS Rd
Portola Valley, CA 94028
$3,150,000

5 Beds
3.5 Baths
3,600 Sq. Ft.
$875 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1962
Lot Size: 2.56 Acres
On Redfin: 6 days
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 2
Community: Central Portola Valley
MLS#: 81311884
Style: Colonial

AWESOME OPPORTUNITY IN WESTRIDGE, THIS HOME IS A WELL LOVED ORIGINAL JEWEL. FIRST TIME ON THE MARKET HOME BOAST HAND CRAFTED, BEAUTIFUL FINISHED INTERIOR LIVING AREAS. HAND CRAFTED WOODWORK AND HARDWOOD FLOORS THROUGHOUT METICULOUSLY CARED FOR AND STAND OUT IN THIS COMFORTABLE 5 BDRM, 3.5 BATH FAMILY HOME. SITUATED ON 2.5+ ACRES OF SCULPTED AND NATURAL LANDSCAPE, THE PROPERTY IS PRIVATE YET CONVENIENT

Let’s Pester laurenatuw for a Precis:

hand crafted interior not worth picturing

interesting new listing in Portola valley……. the town is so distracted by the housing bubble that pics of inside the house are now considered optional, even with a 3.15mill asking price.

guess you’ll just have to take the realtard’s word for it when they say (in all caps) "HAND CRAFTED, BEAUTIFUL FINISHED INTERIOR"…….

This Property is so Private that the agent Provided 14, Poll ‘em, 14 Pictures and every single Photo Portrays another Piece of the Peripheral Premises.

Our typical pattern for daily articles is to feature a house on weekdays, and anything real-estate related runs on weekends. One of our most well-received weekend articles was a long-form post about Orchard Park. Orchard Park was a 700-home development built after World War II on the San Jose-Santa Clara border. One of our regulars (thanks, Burbed reader Swan!) sent in an original brochure for Orchard Park homes, and it was Kaptivating.  (Terms as low as $59.50 a month!)

Today, as we continue the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, K is for Kaiser.  As in Henry J. Kaiser (1882-1967), the shipbuilder, founder of the HMO originally created for his employees, and, oh yeah, real estate developer.  The Kaiser as in Kaiser Community Homes, in Los Angeles, Portland Oregon, and San Jose/Santa Clara, who brought you Orchard Park.  Here’s a photo from 1947 of the development.

Today we have a Kaiser Kastle for your Kuriosity.

1994 HEATHERDALE Ave
San Jose, CA 95126
$598,000

2 Beds
1 Baths
924 Sq. Ft.
$647 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1946
Lot Size: 5,184 Sq. Ft.
On Redfin: 13 days
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Community: Central San Jose
MLS#: 81309942
Stories: 1
County: Santa Clara

BEAUTIFUL HOME IN A GREAT LOCATION. BIG DRIVEWAY WITH LOTS OF PARKING AREA. VERY WELL KEPT UP. DOUBLE PANE WINDOWS. DRIVEWAY, GARAGE FLOOR, PAINT, ROOF AND JUTTERS, AND SPRINKLERS ARE LESS THAN 8 YEARS OLD. CLOSE TO SCU. POSSIBLY COULD BE USED AS A BUSINESS/OFFICE BUYERS TO CHECK AND VERAFIY WITH CITY FOR USAGE PERMIT. CALL LISTING AGENT RUSS VIERRA FOR SHOWINGS. PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB RENTER.

Yes, do NOT disturb the renter who probably has no idea that the Seller is Licensed Real Estate Agent, Agent Related to Seller, and oh yes is about to sell his or her home Kallously out from underneath.  That’s because you could POSSIBLY use this as a BUSINESS/OFFICE BUYERS. 

And here’s another view of the Keep with BIG DRIVEWAY WITH LOTS OF PARKING AREA.

Lots of street area to play Keep Away in as well.  Remember those JUTTERS are less than 8 YEARS OLD.  CHECK AND VERAFIY WITH CITY.

Today is day #5 of the A to Z blogging challenge:  Everything’s Easy. Eventually Excellent Estates would be Examined, as Everyone Expected we’d Essay on Entities Eastwards. Ever Espy how adding East to an Entity makes it Easier to Enjoy?  East Palo Alto is an Easier Expense than Palo Alto.  East San Jose is less Expensive as San Jose. And East Oakland? Empty. Ecch, Examine the Entire East Bay if you Endeavor to Evade being priced out forever!  Er, End Emit Equity Emerging Evermore.

2318 PALO VERDE Ave
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
$369,000

2 Beds
1 Baths
860 Sq. Ft.
$429 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1951
Lot Size: 4,800 Sq. Ft.
On Redfin: 3 days
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 1
Community: East of U.S. 101
MLS#: 81310172
Style: Contemporary
View: Neighborhood
County: San Mateo

BEAUTIFUL REMODELED HM W/ MANY WINDOWS, GARDEN VIEWS & ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL LIGHT. INCL NEW KIT, GRANITE COUNTERTOP, BACKSPLASH, TILE FLRS, NEW STOVE, LARGE LR & BEDROOMS. NEW LAMINATED FLR THROUGHOUT. REMODELED BATH. FRESHLY PAINTED INSIDE & OUT. PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPING W/ AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION. PEACEFUL SETTING AFFORDS PRIVACY YET REMAINS MINS TO SHOPPING & FREEWAY ACCESS. MUST SEE TO APPRECIATE!

There is one term for this kind of a building and that is “snout house.” It’s all garage and the front Entrance is not Eyeable. But there’s so much more to today’s Entry!

Not only is there a Gated Entryway, in Excellent snout house tradition, we still can’t find the front door. Note the addition of a stunt portal.

The remodeled Eatery is Eclectic, while the yard is Easy maintenance. Want to get an Estimate of Effort involved in the update? Examine this Earlier Eyesore!

Must see to appreciate. Eyeball, Extol, Expand!  The End.

Who likes Mountain View? Lots of people, from watching the prices keep rising! So let’s visit another terrific home-buying opportunity in Google’s backyard, thanks to Burbed reader Single Pane Lass.  But there may be trouble in paradise with this piece of property. Why?

It’s been on the market for 31 whole days. That’s like 310 DOM in Stockton!

717 ALICE Ave
Mountain View, CA 94041
$1,300,000

4 Beds
2 Baths
1,654 Sq. Ft.
$786 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1978
Lot Size: 8,932 Sq. Ft.
On Redfin: 31 days
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 1
Community: Sylvan Dale
MLS#: 81304634

LOVELY MTN VIEW HOME WITH GOURMET KITCHEN, GRANITE COUNTER TOPS, LAMINATE WOOD FLOORS, WALK IN CLOSETS, SKYLIGHTS, GAS FIREPLACE AND HUGE LOT OF APPROX. 8900 SQ FT! CLOSE TO SHOPPING, PARKS AND DOWNTOWN MOUNTAIN VIEW.

Here’s why SPL sent in this fine façade in the Fortress.

Here is a wonderful example of how easy and fun it is to be a Professional Real Estate Agent–and a seller– in Silicon Valley these days.

Say you are running an illegal "foreign work program"/youth hostel/sweatshop. Not to worry! Just tell those kids to roll out of their Ikea bunkbeds, hop in the shower, use several towels, and fling them around the bedroom. Snap a few shots, and you’ll be pending in minutes. If anyone asks about why you have six people sleeping in one bedroom, just remind them that you are close to downtown!

We’re not sure if these pix are quite good enough to earn a Good Housekeeping Tag of Approval, but this is definitely proof that Bay Area Bubble 4.0 is making agents cocky.

Properties featured on Burbed can be one of several things.  They can be the classic ridiculously high-priced crapbox, which is our bread, butter, and without so much rat in it.  There’s your basic eye-popping completely-overdone-for-the-neighborhood McMansion.  There’s your that’s-not-eclectic-that’s-just-WTF white elephant that doubles as a falling knife.

Today’s property seems to fit into that third category. Thanks very much to longtime Burbed reader sonarrat, back with more Bay Area Real Estate Win!  And speaking of Realty Win, today’s winner is also Movoto because Redfin is on the blink and wouldn’t load this listing up.  (Or maybe they blocked us because they’re sick of our whining about those trackbacks.)

15950 Blackberry Hill Rd
Los Gatos, CA 95030
$4,095,888

Loan Payment: $14,260/mo
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4&1/2
Size: 5,700 sqft
$/Sqft: $718/sqft
Type: Single Family House
Year Built: 2010
Lot Size: 1
Days on Movoto: 44 days
MLS#: 81301292
Status: Active

CUSTOM GATED ESTATE. NEWER CONSTRUCTION. NEVER LIVED IN. MAIN HOUSE: 4,500 SF. 1,033 GUEST HSE. HIGH-END FINISHES. SMART HOUSE; DIGITAL EVERYTHING. VEGAS STYLE PEBBLE TEC POOL W/LED LIGHTS & H20FALLS! AMAZING UNOBSTRUCTED VIEWS: SF TO SJ FOOTHILLS. CHEF’S KITCHEN, VIKING APLS. HIGH CEILINGS. 3 CAR GARAGE. RESORT PROPERTY. *AMPLE* FLAT; MORE FLAT LAND THAN YOU THINK! 1.5 MILES TO DWNTWN. LG SCHOOLS

And here’s why sonarrat checks in with this property:

Los Gatos – $4 million, Ghostbusters pool.  Built in 2010, never lived in. Is it any wonder?

Is the house also infested with ectoplasmic residue, or is all telekinetic activity confined to the pool?  Also for some reason Movoto doesn’t provide the lot size.  Per Zillow, it’s 87,120 sq ft, sufficient to snag an acreage tag.

BUNUS: Dude Hanging Out (DHO) in listing photo #20, admiring *AMPLE* FLAT; MORE FLAT LAND THAN YOU THINK!

We love it when listings rise from the dead canceled and return betteh than EVEH.  Today we have a house that already made one appearance on Burbed, so another one makes it so much more full of Win!  Thanks very much to Burbed reader Dibber for unearthing this unabashed ultimate unavailable (yep, PENDING!) um…

11441 Eastbrook Ave
Los Altos, CA 94024
Pending: $2,499,000
Zestimate^®: $2,507,171

Bedrooms: 6 beds
Bathrooms:6 baths
Single Family:9,300 sq ft
Lot:23,086 sq ft
Year Built:1992
Heating Type:Forced air

Description

HUGE CUSTOM CONTEMPORARY HOME W/2100SF ATTACHED GUEST HOUSE**PERFECT FOR LARGE EXTENDED FAMILY OR INVESTMENT RENTAL**EXPANSIVE LIST OF AMENITIES INLC LIMESTONE FLRS, CUSTOM FAUX PAINT, LRG MASTER SUITE W/ SITTING ROOM, GOURMET KITCHEN W/ GRANITE, WINE CELLAR/TASTING ROOM, 5-ZONE HVAC, 4FIREPLACES** TWO (2) CAR GARAGES INCL OVERSIZED HEIGHT FOR R/V/WORKSHOP**FRESH LANDSCAPING,ROOFTOP BALCONY!

We’ll leave it as an exercise to the reader to find out why Zillow led with the cabinet picture instead of the front of the house.  Now let’s check in with Dibber:

Or maybe it never left?  Winchester Mystery House, Los Altos Hills campus.   Check out the listing history.  Who says Silicon Valley is expensive.  I can get you into Los Altos Hills baby!  And only $269 per square foot.  I’m thinking listing mistake…Concord? 

Perfect for the large extended family?  Honey, please show aunt Betty to the 2100 square foot guest house, but this time please keep her out of the wine cellar and off the roof deck.  And honey, the kids really shouldn’t be playing pick-up soccer on the 280.

Yes, ridicuously cheap.  Too bad Foothill College doesn’t have fraternities.  This place would would be perfect… traffic noise would drown out the party noise!

Wonder why this never got snapped up last time we featured it… And here it is all the way from 2010!  Remember this one?

Wow, has the unwitting seller finally dropped the price low enough price to find a buyer?  Or is this just a coincidence that prices are finally going up again?

Today’s building is not only in soooo prestigious Woodside (home of the record-breaking $117.5 million property sale), it’s got a look that makes it so much more than merely a trophy home.  Plus it’s just steps away from cosmopolitan Redwood City!  Thanks very much to Burbed reader Petsmart Groomer for this superb structure.

240 CINNABAR Rd
Woodside, CA 94062
$14,800,000

4 Beds
5 Baths
8,669 Sq. Ft.
$1,707 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1991
Lot Size: 3.01 Acres
On Redfin: 131 days
Status: Active
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 3
Community: Woodside Hills
MLS#: 81235457
Style: Contemporary
View: Bay, City Lights
County: San Mateo

MODERN HIGH-TECH HOME ON 3+ PRIVATE ACRES WITH SWEEPING VIEWS OF SF BAY, EAST BAY HILLS & STANFORD. 2-STORY LR W/ WALLS OF GLASS ORIENTED TOWARD THE VIEW; FLOATING STAIRCASE, FULLY CUSTOMIZED LIBRARY AND OFFICE; 4 BED PLUS 2 MULTI-ROOM APTS; ELEVATOR; 21 KW SOLAR SYSTEM, UNDERGROUND GARAGE; 12′ CEILINGS IN BASEMENT; GROUNDS W/ INFINITY POOL, SPA, TERRACES, PLAYGROUND, PUTTING GREEN, FIREPIT

12’ CEILINGS IN BASEMENT? Unless there’s a squash court in there, why would you need the basement floors so deep?  Was this a former mausoleum but they’re just not copping to it?

And have a good look at the aerial shot: as PG so aptly notes, all those smaller lots are Redwood City in your backyard.  Don’t worry, despite bordering your property, they can’t get to your street.

It’s the FLOATING STAIRCASE that scares them away.