Welcome back from your three-day weekend!  That’s assuming you didn’t work all three days because you’re up against some arbitrary deadline.  And if you did, maybe you’re thinking you really need a vacation.  Today’s property is for you!  Thanks very much to Burbed reader Dr. Jim for this superb bivouac in Big Sur!

51422 PARTINGTON RIDGE Rd
Big Sur, CA 93920
$799,000

3 Beds 
3.5 Baths 
3,203 Sq. Ft.
$249 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 2003 
Lot Size: 2.03 Acres 
On Redfin: 483 days
Status: Active
Property Type: Detached Single Family
View: Green Belt, Mountains, Canyon, Ocean
County: Monterey
Stories: 2
Community: North Big Sur Coast
MLS#: 81120578

The essence of Big Sur, an awesome opportunity, to own an amazing Big Sur retreat property. A private & serene location, on 2+ acres with dramatic vistas of the Pacific Ocean, along with the green and gold flowered hills of the rugged Big Sur Coast. This diamond in the rough, a terrific value, property being sold AS-IS. 2728 s. f. main house, is 75% complete, & a separate 480 s. f. cottage.

And here’s why Dr. Jim took the time to share this with you:

Just found your web site – love it!
What’s going on with this one?  The property history is bizarre.

Property history?  What about the tiny little pictures that don’t show the 25% of the house that isn’t complete?  Talk about an awesome opportunity… to take on someone else’s money pit!

But Dr. Jim is right.  Head over to the Redfin link and check out that property history.  We’d include it here, but it goes on for so long that we literally cannot copy it into one screenshot. Instead we’ll send you over there to have a scavenger hunt, where you have to find the not-an-arms-length transaction, the foreclosure, the sale at more than twice the above asking price, and count the exact number of times it went pending.

And then there’s this, back when the property was sold 9 years ago (for more than today’s asking price), when those plans for a “2800 SQ FT DREAM HOME MOSTLY FLAT” hadn’t been acted on yet.

$940,000 Last Sold Price 
0 Beds 
1 Baths 
500 Sq. Ft.
$1,880 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1999 
Lot Size: 2 Sq. Ft. 
Sold On: Feb 25, 2004
HOA Dues: $655/month
Style: Cabin
View: Mountains, Canyon, Ocean
County: Monterey
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 1
Community: North Big Sur Coast
MLS#: 80340955

PRIVACY, OCEAN AND CANYON VIEWS WITH THE COMFORT OF PAVED AND GATED ACCESS GARDENS BLOOM WITH FLOWERS ON 2.1 AC. APPROVED PLANS FOR 2800 SQ FT DREAM HOME MOSTLY FLAT. VIEWS OF THE OCEAN AND A NATIONAL PRESERVE WILL GUARANTEE YOU

Will guarantee you what?  Argh, this is like reading a mystery and someone tore the last page out of the book!  Maybe it’s “If you build it, the foreclosure will come.”

Here’s a find in the East Hills of San Jose, in Almost-But-Not-Quite-Evergreen.  Thanks very much to Burbed reader Tracy Tea House for this disappearing domicile.  Yes, disappearing, the listing went Pending-Do Not Show the day we wrote this and we had to search for it on literally SEVEN different real estate sites until we found one that hadn’t pulled the pix fast enough.  Today’s Thank-goodness-somebody-out-there-is-lazy real estate website is SAWBUCK.

3157 Markwood Court
San Jose, CA 95148
$586,000

Bedrooms : 5
Bathrooms : 3
Lot Size : 0.29 ac
Finished Sq Ft : 2,253 sq. ft.
Type : Detached Single Family
Style : Traditional
Year Built : 1976
Subdivision : Evergreen
Stories : 2
MLS# : 81220317
WalkScore™ : 38 (Car-Dependent)

Diamond in a rough. Good location, near schools, EastRidge Mall. No warranty on Swimming pool/spa. Big lot. Two separate storages with no permit at rear. A lot of potential for this property. As-is sale.

Here’s why Tracy sent this Evergreen edifice in:

Not only does it have the favorite phrase Diamond in the rough.” The pictures are “works of art.” From the sideways one, the stairway cage or the coiled hose… Classic… especially the non-warrantied swimming pool. 

Humm I wonder what is wrong right with it??

That’s “Diamond in A rough” not “diamond in THE rough.”  Perhaps they left a word or two out after rough.

Tracy also notes that the listing copy used to end with “Price reflect deferred maintenance on property.” instead of the current “As-is sale.”  We’ve added both the as-is and needs work tags. 

The pictures, all of them. are indeed works of art, if by “art” we actually mean “seriously, WTF?”  We’ve got every one of them for you (in case Sawbuck feels the need to abide by MLS rules) after the break.

(more…)

Burbed continues to look at the kind of houses that made this site what it is: crapboxes!  Today we have a Guest Post from Burbed reader mabel du of a memorable manor in Mountain View!  Please welcome mabel to the front page as today’s Guest Blogger!

Want to see your name in lights too?  Submit your housing finds for us to dissect, or your full write-ups, to the email addresses in the top right corner.

330 MOFFETT Blvd
Mountain View, CA 94043
$875,000

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,176
$/SQ. FT.: $744
LOT SIZE: 5,700 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Ranch
STORIES: 1
VIEW: City Lights
YEAR BUILT: 1960
COMMUNITY: North Shoreline
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81215495
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 32 days

Highly desirable Mountain View area within a couple of blocks of downtown with bountiful of good restaurants. Commerical residential zone. This site can be either one. Fixer upper. Could be a builder/investor’s dream place. Property to be sold in “as is condition”. Lots of potential!!! Easy access to highway 85 and freeway 101.

Don’t let this gem slip away into pending status before you can post it.  This is the hot new/old recycled listing from our past – twice – see the olde but goode listings on Burbed.

This crapshack wouldn’t take “no” for an answer a few years ago, so they raised the price $10k trying to win the housing (Facebook) lottery again.  I guess they think the kids with new Facebook money will jump all over this place as a diamond in the rough (note to realtor:  don’t hold yer breath).

This time, instead of sharing multi photos of Moffett Blvd, they’re just showing us the outside of the lil’ darling in a multi-use neighborhood. (Check out the satellite photo)

This entry must be Burbed-worthy, especially the 3rd time around.  It looks like they’ve really spiffied-up the yard in the years since entry #1 graced yer lovely website;  they must have raked the leaves at least once in the last 6 yrs. 

Based on these front yard pix, i assume there’s a good sized corn mash still tucked away in the backyard.  It’s like re-visiting my childhood trips thru Appalachia; and it’s right here in mountain view, but without the nauseating drive through the mountains in the back end suicide seats of a station wagon! 

And I didn’t even include the actual trauma of being IN Appalachia for summers w/my dad’s family! That the old station wagon was probably circa 1965 with those back end suicide seats – no seat belts, who needs ‘em!?!   One good bump and all the kids would have been projectiles out the back window, which was already rolled down and sucking in additional exhaust fumes (no AC back in the dark ages).  If you’re not old enough to remember ‘em, you missed an era.

Today’s fun find is a Cambrian cutie from Burbed reader yaknuts.  If you’ve been wanting something in the suburbs, but enjoy a sense of excitement and unpredictability, this may be the house for you!  Come and talk a walk on the wild side of the Cambrian!

3682 May Ln
San Jose, CA 95124
$439,900

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,234
$/SQ. FT.: $356
LOT SIZE: 7,519 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Ranch
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT: 1959
COMMUNITY: Cambrian
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81204098
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending Without Release
ON REDFIN: 25 days

This is a CASH AS-IS SALE ONLY. contractor exp investor Special. THERE IS NOT A KITCHEN SO FINANCING IS NOT POSSIBLE. Aproximatly 500 foot of unpermitted additional space. Garage has been converted to living space. The property is dangerous holes in floors debris all over, dog waste all over back yard. Old garage converted to living space. Cooking done in microwave and outdoor bbq grill.

Here’s why yaknuts thought this home was Burbed-worthy:

I have been a long time reader of your blog. I came across this listing the other day (already taken down from Redfin).

Check out all the junk in these pictures and the description: "the property [has] dangerous hols in floors," "dog waste all over back yard," or "cooking done in microwave and outdoor bbq grill." It went pending on 2/5/12 for $439K. I don’t have time to do a full write up at this time, but I had to bring this to your attention. I hope to see a feature on this property soon — you should have plenty of material in this listing. Cheers!

This is one of those features that just writes itself.  After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, so we can save 7,000 of them.  Redfin could take these pictures down again any minute!

This must be one of those listings where the agent made a drunken bet with the broker.  In this case I’d venture they bet over whether incoherent photography sells houses faster.  That should explain why some of the rooms look almost staged, while others suggest they refused to spend 10 minutes picking up.

And since this poo palace went pending the very next day, congrats to the winner of that bet!  It clearly worked! 

Although we know who the real winner was when it came to this house: the geniuses who sold it in 2007 for $620K.

Here’s a winner of a house in the Berryessa district of San Jose, also known as “I can’t believe it’s not Milpitas!” Today’s listing is courtesy of Burbed reader bmwman91.  Thanks very much!

3318 ONSLOW Way
San Jose, CA 95132
$454,900

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,645
$/SQ. FT.: $277
LOT SIZE: 6,534 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 2
YEAR BUILT: 1974
COMMUNITY: Berryessa
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81151168
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending Without Release
ON REDFIN: 43 days

Cash only!!! property is in poor condition and needs a lot of repairs. Spacious 4 bed 2.5 bath home located in a nice neighborhood. Spacious and open floorplan with good size rooms throughout. 2 car garage with ample storage space. Bank owned property !! As-is sale . Min disclosures.

Here’s why bmwman91 thought this house was Burbed-worthy:

At least they tell you that the property is in bad shape. For a paltry sum of not a lot of money less than half a million dollars, you really shouldn’t expect to get something livable in a sort of shitty part of the bay area.

No, no, no, not a lot of money IS half a million dollars.  Mitt Romney said so.  If you want something livable, you have to spend like you’re part of the one percent,  That’s an income of $386,000, which means you could afford a $1,958,000 house, if you did a little bit of creative financing.  And if you want to buy in the Real Bay Area, that’s a given.

Redwood City is always full of delightful surprises!  Today, Burbed reader Mole Man has one to share with all of you.  Unfortunately, it’s pending, but let’s enjoy it anyway.  Oh wait… they pulled the listing.  WTF?

1363 Gordon St
Redwood City, CA 94061
Sold on 4/21/2006 for $760,000

Fortunately, Burbed will stop at nothing to scour teh internets to find you photos, listing history, prices, anything we can, no matter how slimy the rock it’s under or how icky the bits in that old cache are.  Let’s see if we can come up with anything.

Ding! Ding! Ding!  Look what we found on Sawbuck!  Six photos and some listing lusciousness!

Bedrooms : 2
Bathrooms : 1
Lot Size : 0.18 ac
Finished Sq Ft : 840 sq. ft.
Type : Detached Single Family
Year Built : 1946
Subdivision : Central Park Etc.
Stories : 1
MLS# : 81145133
WalkScore™ : 66 (Somewhat Walkable)

BANK-OWNED! Adorable starter home in move-in condition; hardwood floors throughout; updated bath; 6-car garage in the backyard perfect for car collectors. Hurry this won’t last! Sold AS IS! Bank of America Prequalification REQUIRED on all offers! Plus Proof of Funds! "Cash transactions are subject to special deed restrictions."

Here’s why Mole Man thought this property belonged on the front page:

Check this redwood city gold mine out:

• Sold for $760k in 2006
• Now listed at $467,850
• You save nearly 40%!

And don’t worry about the flood zone stuff– it’s been years since there was high water around there.

Um… what flood zone stuff?  Is that why they pulled a pending listing?  And it looks like the price was cut some more, to $450,000, after Mole Man sent it in.  Somebody sure wanted a new house for the New Year, going into contract on December 30th.

Plus a six car garage?  Let’s say that again, an 840 square foot house with a SIX CAR GARAGE.  That means the garage is bigger than the house, as a two-car garage is 400 sf.

When I first saw this photo, I thought I was looking at a barn, and wondered where the riding tack was.

As you admire the rest of the photos (not available on most other sites!), remember, they really knew how to build them in 1946.  Look at those hardwood floors, and those hardwood floors!

And yet another Home Depot Bathroom Sink Special right up against the bathtub.  You can’t great design like this just anywhere.

Hurry, this won’t last.  That’s why it’s being sold as-is.

Any idea what the “special deed restrictions” might be for all-cash transactions?  At least they’re saying this place is Special.

What’s this, another find from the East Bay?  Yes, we’re back in El Cerrito, courtesy of Burbed reader Becca.  This may not be the Real Bay Area, but the house is definitely Burbed-worthy.  Read on to find out why.

1120 Lawrence Ct
El Cerrito, CA 94530
$405,900

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2.5
SQ. FT.: 1,992
$/SQ. FT.: $204
LOT SIZE: 4,200 Sq. Ft.
TYPE: Detached
STYLE: Contemporary, Fixer/Handyman Special
STORIES: 2
YEAR BUILT: 1969
COMMUNITY: El Cerrito
COUNTY: Contra Costa
MLS#: 40554395
SOURCE: EBRD
STATUS: Pending
ON REDFIN: 44 days

Submit all offers- seller wants this sold NOW!! Large home on quiet court. This home has lots of potential with great floor plan. Some finsh work and updating will really make this shine. Buyer responsible for all compliance issues- property sold "As-Is". $75 buyer doc fee at COE.

Here’s why Becca thought this house was worth looking into:

I’ve been reading Burbed for a while, and I was happy to see that you featured something in my neck of the woods today.  If you care to show another house in El Cerrito, this one has some interesting attributes:

This one was listed earlier this spring for ~$600k, cash only, and the description of the house mentioned that it had been a "pot house".  I don’t know if the hideous blue color all over everything helps the plants grow faster.

No luck recovering a cached version of the one hit I got for this address and “pot house.”

Looks like the back yard would suit just fine.  Although it’s what’s behind the back yard that made this place so well-suited for its former function.

Remember that house we just featured in San Mateo?  What’s a bug for a residence is a feature for a grow house! 

Feast your eyes on the satellite shot!  There’s no way this blue beauty is subject to any power outages!

One of the interesting things about reading so many real estate listings is noticing just how few agents have a decent command of the English language.  When the market was red-hot back in the mid-oughties, listing copy was slapdash because the homes, RBA or not, essentially sold themselves.  And now that market action is found at the very high and very low ends, nothing says low-end like a listing that doesn’t even try to scan.

Today’s housing horror, from Burbed reader MS, is a good example of this.  The copy sounds like a Monopoly instruction.  The only question is whether this property is in the Dark Purples (now Browns) or the Light Blues, because it sure as heck isn’t Boardwalk.

 

438 CAVANAUGH St
San Mateo, CA 94401
$499,000

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 5.5
SQ. FT.: 1,804
$/SQ. FT.: $277
LOT SIZE: 5,610 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT: 1959
COMMUNITY: North Shoreview/Dore Cavanaugh
COUNTY: San Mateo
MLS#: 81148666
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending With Release
ON REDFIN: 42 days

Tenant occupied. Two large dogs. Do Not Go Direct. As Is Sale, No Seller Warranty, Additions may or may not have permits

Here’s what MS had to say about this fantastic find:

All tenant-occupied places mean you have to call agent for appointment. . Just to get the point across about how real this short is,  these tenants have TWO LARGE DOGS that make showings even more difficult, not that you planned to! And then there’s the unpermitted additions. What are they in a 3/5.5?
How’d they add onto it, to get that configuration?
I’m stumped. I’ll go if someone goes with me.

Have a look.  It seems like they just kept moving on back.

Whoah.  Come for the “may or may not have permits” additions, stay for the high-voltage transmission lines.  And if you’re ever worried about not having enough power to run your flatscreen television collection, just tap in behind your fence.

“Bunus”: Golf course right across the street means random broken windows!

Happy New Year, everyone.  One of our New Year’s Resolutions is to keep bringing you plenty of excellent real estate finds, like today’s winner from Burbed reader Tracy.  Thanks very much.

Remember, Burbed is more than just crapboxes.  It’s community.  It’s community of crapboxes!  Without you wonderful readers sending in finds like this one, Burbed would be nothing but… uh…. interesting real estate photos.  Like these!

 

22750 STEVENS CREEK Blvd
Cupertino, CA 95014
$950,000

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,258
$/SQ. FT.: $755
LOT SIZE: 0.25 Acres
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Contemporary
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1952
COMMUNITY: Cupertino
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81146749
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 61 days

LARGE LOT LOVERS, GREAT OPPORTUNITY 110.96 x 100 = 11,096FT. FACING STEVENS CREEK BLVD, PERFECT FOR ENTERTAINING, MONTA VISTA SCHOOL, FIX IT NOW AND BUILT NEW HOME LATER. BRING IN ALL OFFERS, PROPERTY IS BEING OFFERED "AS IS ".

Here’s why Tracy was kind enough to share this listing with us:

Get my award for scariest pictures . How about the price 999,988. Too bad I didn’t see this before Halloween

Well if Tracy liked it at $999,988, then how do you like it at $950K?  Other than taking out those lucky eights, this is a great find, especially if you always wanted to live near a world famous newsmaking site.  And while the news is over, there will be plenty of reminders, like the ten kajillion cement trucks that will drive past your house all day, every day.

Plus check out what the GoogleCam has for this home.

Now THAT is a million dollar look in Cupertino at only 95% the price!  HURRY, Spring Bounce is just around the corner, and so is access to this house!

Let’s finish up with the Black Friday DEALS, DEALS, DEALS as close to the Googleplex as we can.  This is the best DEAL in Mountain View!

177 FAIRCHILD Dr, Mountain View, CA 94043
$390,000

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2.5
SQ. FT.: 1,720
$/SQ. FT.: $227
LOT SIZE: 5,367 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT: 1945
COMMUNITY: Whisman
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81114167
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 264 days

This is a bank owned property to be sold as is.

No muss, no fuss, no silly listing copy to make claims it can’t keep, and best of all, it’s already been featured on Burbed back in March, 2010!  Only back then, it was selling for (are you sitting down?) $760K!  All that instant equity could be yours, because it’s probably worth a million now! 

All this, and still close to freeway!