Here’s another bubblicious find from Burbed reader nomadic!  This is a delightful Los Gatos home, so well-situated that hundreds of people will drive by every hour to admire it!

 

14540 BLOSSOM HILL Rd, Los Gatos, CA 95032
$948,000

BEDS:4
BATHS: 2.5
SQ. FT.: 2,193
$/SQ. FT.: $432
LOT SIZE: 0.29 Acres
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Ranch
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1967
COMMUNITY: Los Gatos/Monte Sereno
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81142627
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 26 days

Wonderful home in Los Gatos on xx-lg-lot presents everything a buyer is looking for. Remodeled home with granite kitchen, wood floors, open living areas, architectural details of scalloped arched ways, crown molding, inset lighting and lots of natural light, dual-paned windows, large 2.5 baths with double sinks, large master with 2 closets, bonus vanity. Easy commute access. Move in with confidence!

Here’s what nomadic had to say about this house

Failed flip, foreclosed, for sale.  A realtard bought this place in ’06 and did all of the renovation work.  The bank ate the loss in ’08.

These people have done nothing to the house since buying it 4/09.  It’s on a busy street with a freakin’ traffic signal in the front yard.  But they figure it has appreciated 30% in 2-1/2 years.  I expect this to linger on the market for many months to come unless they get real about the price.  They would be phenomenally lucky to get $800k; more realistically, $750k-ish.  Look at the awesome street view.  Just to the right is an assisted-living facility; at least the neighbors will be quiet.

That is one amazing default Streetview shot.  I’m wondering about just how wide-angle a lens they must have used to take that picture above from the sidewalk.

And you just can’t beat the feng shui of a T-intersection with another arterial.  That means all that commerce and prosperity is going to flow right into your house.  Or is it out of your house? And speaking of out, here’s the assisted living facility next door.

If you have allergies, this is a great neighbor to have: 80% of the front lawn is paved.  But back to the feng shui, if these residents need assistance to live, does their health flow into your house or the other way ‘round?  This is like Cations and Anions, I can never remember which is which.  But as long as both are flowing in or out, you’ll either get commerce or health!  Make an offer with lots of 8s in the price and move in with confidence!

Say it isn’t so!  A little bird tells me this place is going to be auctioned off soon.  Lots of homes are foreclosed on these days, but not many have the pride of place this one did.

 

633 COLERIDGE Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Last selling price $1,585,000 in Dec 2005
Auction Price: $1,262,250

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 3
SQ. FT.: 2,400
$/SQ. FT.: $660
LOT SIZE: 6,696 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Country English
STORIES: 2
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1945
COMMUNITY: Old Palo Alto
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 80531585
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Sold

Lovely 2 story English style in Old PA on a cul-de-sac near Walter Hays Elemen School. Spacious w/ gleaming hdwd, new paint, family rm/kit combination. Lge LR w/ beam ceilings 2 outside patios-reared gd fenced. Driveway at rear. Garage

Say it isn’t so!  The FBs are so down on their luck they have to use abbreviations in their listing, too!  And this house has such a convenient location, gently tucked into the corner near Middlefield and Embarcadero.  You can go ANYWHERE from there!

Here’s the auction information:

Whoa, that’s this Friday!  And it’s got a Zestimate of $1.94 million, so this is a no-brainer!  Now, the plot thickens, because both Redfin and Zillow say it’s off the market, with last sale in 2005.  But lookie here:

Instant equity ka-ching! Bring your cashier’s checks and come on down to San Jose, because this one is going, going, gone soon!

Here’s a find from comments, from Burbed reader San Matean,  San Matean wants to know what kind of games the bank is playing with this short sale in Palo Alto.  We know that a short sale means “selling shortly,” but going pending the same day it’s listed sounds more like an inside job.

1520 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA  94301
$829,000

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,500
$/SQ. FT.: $553
LOT SIZE: 5,600 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Spanish
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1930
COMMUNITY: Professorville
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81123457
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending With Release
ON REDFIN: 1 day
NEW LISTING (24 HOURS)

Location! Location! Location! The following was remodeled in 1997 Kitchen; Master Bathroom; 2nd Bath; Hardwood Floors underneath carpeting. Newly Landscaped rear yard. Large Kitchen great for gathering. Enclosed front with beautiful park like setting.

Wow, they were in such a hurry to “list” this property they didn’t even bother including any photos.  It isn’t any different on the agent’s own site, so let’s take a peek at the Googlecam.

Not bad, although this is an 80 year old house.  It may need new light bulbs and Drano.

It also looks like some other building has preempted the back yard.  The property lines suggest that this house and its next-door-neighbor have gone halvesies on their own meth lab:

Back to San Matean’s concern: this property was listed and went pending the same day.  That’s not the real puzzler, though. This house is in 94301, a Really Special Place, yet not only didn’t it double in ten years, it actually may have lost value.  Unless, of course, the bank decided that the overbidding would take this house right where it needed to be.

And the reason this house is now essentially owned by the bank, instead of the couple who bought it with a $706.5K conventional variable mortgage, is they refinanced it in 2005 for $962.5K (also variable). They must have liked the extra cash so much that they did it again a year later.  In 2006, the purported owners became FBs when they refinanced with a variable first mortgage of $990K, and a variable second mortgage of $198K, or $1,188,000 total.  That is, coincidentally, just $17,500 more than this place’s current Zestimate.

So, our question for you, Burbed readers: How much do you think this house sold for? We have so many fun factors in the mix: Busy street, around the corner from an even busier street (Embarcadero), bank owned property, mystery structure eating up a couple back yards, asking price a whopping 30% below the Zestimate, and a transaction that not only doesn’t look arms’ length, it suggests someone has a banker by the balls.

$950,000

47 CABOT Ave Santa Clara, CA 95051

Beds:	4
Baths:	4
Sq. Ft.:	2,566
$/Sq. Ft.:	$370
Lot Size:	-
Property Type:	Detached Single Family
Style:	Mediterranean
Stories:	3
View:	Neighborhood
Year Built:	2010
Community:	Santa Clara
County:	Santa Clara
MLS#:	81057271
Source:	MLSListings
Status:	Active
On Redfin:	160 days

Located in Cupertino school district this never occupied Mediterranean home in the heart of Silicon Valley has the added benefit of Santa Clara’s historic low utility costs. Easy access to shopping and freeways and quality craftsmanship with high end materials. The gourmet kitchen has granite counters, custom cabinetry and stainless appliances as well as a two car garage and AC.

Thanks to Burbed reader Herve for this find!

Wow! Will the innovation never stop in Silicon Valley? A gourmet kitchen with a 2 car garage and AC! What will the dreamers of the Valley think of next?

And what’s this… Santa Clara’s historic low utility costs? Fantastic! Fortunately the past is a strong predictor of the future!

It’s a shame that this unit next door doesn’t have these benefits:

April 28, 2010

Condo living in Santa Clara for under a million

Thanks to Burbed reader DreamT for this guest post!

67 CABOT Ave Santa Clara, CA 95051

$969,000

I guess this is version 2 of the unit with all these new innovations!

Many thanks to Burbed reader Heidi for this “very unique” find in Santa Clara.

2222 PRUNERIDGE Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050
$640,000

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,350
$/SQ. FT.: $474
LOT SIZE: 6,270 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Traditional
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1955
COMMUNITY: Santa Clara
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81121280
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 3 days

The house with the Dragon out front. Wonderful home conveniently located in Santa Clara. Wow! There are so many ‘special and unique’ upgrades that your fussiest buyer will appreciate. Bright, airy and open layout. Hardwood Floors, upgraded bathrooms, extra large and spacious 800 sq. ft garage. .. . and YES, the Dragon is included in the sale

Here’s what Heidi had to say about the house with the Dragon out front:

Either this is the home that comes with a dragon or the dragon that comes with a home.  This home has had "Coming Soon" on the sign for about five months.  I’m glad it’s finally on the market so I can share it with you.  Burbed is my new guilty pleasure.  I love the cawlums and my husband can’t stop laughing about the "two dudes chillin.’"

Sorry, Heidi, not every house comes with two dudes chillin’, you have to pay the big bucks for Palo Alto if you want a House With Dudes. But in a more affordable place like Santa Clara you can buy The House with the Dragon out front.  I don’t get why the agent bothered mentioning ‘special and unique’ upgrades when it has a Dragon out front. 

Plus the house number adds up to 8, 2+2+2+2.  What the hell was that Realtard thinking coming up with a price with no 8s yet with a 4 when it has a Dragon out front?  It’s like he wasn’t even trying.

Speaking of not even trying, check out the back yard.  There may be a Dragon out front, but doesn’t good fung shui need some balance with a water element or something (and a hot tub would be a mix of fire and water so that doesn’t cut it)?  They could really learn a thing or two from Beautiful Eichler with Poo house.

The house with the Dragon out front is open this weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so you have absolutely no excuse to not check this place out.  It has a Dragon out front, what more do you need?

Thanks very much to Burbed reader Tracy for today’s featured house!

3121 PRUNERIDGE Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95051
$679,950

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,760
$/SQ. FT.: $386
LOT SIZE: 6,900 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Traditional
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT: 1962
COMMUNITY: Santa Clara
COUNTY:Santa Clara
MLS#: 81104472
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending Without Release
ON REDFIN: 76 days

EXCELLENT SANTA CLARA LOCATION WITHIN A “STONE’S THROW” OF MAYWOOD PARK. KITCHEN, DINING AREA, AND SEPARATE FAMILY ROOM PROVIDE AN EXELLENT HOME LAYOUT. FORMAL DINING AND A BEAUTIFUL LIVING ROOM FEATURING LOVELY VIEWS OF THE BACKYARD. HARDWOOD FLOORING, DUAL PANE WINDOWS, COPPER PIPES, AND HARDWOOD UNDER THE EXISTING CARPET MAKE THIS HOME READY FOR YOU TO MOVE IN! NOT A SHORT OR REO PROPERTY.

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

“Subject: Stoned home.  I think the realtor was smoking when they wrote this one…”

Oh come on, just because the Realtard spelled “excellent” two different ways in the same paragraph, note that he got one of them right.  Plus he didn’t make any capitalization errors by the clever tactic of using only capitals.  That’s innovative thinking!  Best of all this is NOT A SHORT OR REO PROPERTY, which is good news.  I hate it when I buy a house and find out it’s actually in Brazil.

Perhaps this issue is that the house is within a “STONE’S THROW” OF MAYWOOD PARK.  Don’t worry about neighborhood hooligans breaking your windows and hiding in the park.  As you can see, the house is conveniently situated on a busy street, so there will be plenty of witnesses to any rock-throwing attempts.

Plus I question whether the house is really a STONE’S THROW from the Park.  There’s a piece of property in the way, so a park-based vandal would have to loft the stone over several houses as well as all that Pruneridge Avenue traffic to hit the front windows of this place.

Also, from where the house sits, I can tell you without having to look it up that it has Santa Clara schools!  Now we know residents of The Mission City love their utilities because they’re cheap.  So you’ll love these schools too, they make the house much cheaper than the ones across the street in that effete Cupertino Union district.

Pride of ownership: make sure the utilities match the schools and the carpets match the drapes.  Need I say more?  It’s got HARDWOOD underneath!

Another great find from Burbed reader sonarrat, to help kick off your weekend!

1940 HAMILTON Ave, San Jose, CA 95008
$1,299,999

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 1
SQ. FT.: 1,659
$/SQ. FT.: $784
LOT SIZE: 0.46 Acres
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1900
COMMUNITY: Willow Glen
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81042136
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 198 days

Excellent Location on Hamilton Near Leigh in city of Campbell. Last used as a residence, Zoned Professional Office with City. Business opportunities are endless. Can use existing house for Law Firm, Dentist Office, Optometry, Veterinary Clinic. Buyer to check with City. Large 20,000 sq ft Lot, plenty of parking. House has good bones for a remodel. Open to your creativity!

sonarrat asks: “Would you go to this dentist’s office?”  Would I!  Not many half acre properties in the San Jo sell for $784 a foot!  Think about that, you could live in San Jose with all the convenience of being close to the Shark Tank and the eastern gateway to Campbell, but know you have the prestige of Palo Alto prices!  Win-win!

And speaking of convenience, you’ll be able to walk to almost everything!

And that’s more win, because getting out of your driveway will have all the excitement of Frogger!

Here’s another incredible listing from burbed reader sonarrat, who loves the combination of high price and low quality. Put them together and you have today’s feature!

1424 Grant Rd  Los Altos, CA 94024
$1,288,000

Beds: 2
Baths: 1
Sq. Ft.: 816
$/Sq. Ft.: $1,578
Lot Size: 0.45 Acres
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Style: Cottage/Bungalow
Stories: 1
View: Neighborhood
Year Built: 1947
Community: South of El Monte
County: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81032687
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active 
On Redfin: 84 days

CHARMING 2BED/1BATH HOME WITH A LARGE LOT OF 19,500 SF * HARDWOOD FLOOR UNDER THE CARPETING * GREAT SCHOOL DISTRICT * WALKING DISTANCE TO SCHOOLS AND PARK * CLOSE TO SHOPING AREAS, EL CAMINO HOSPITAL, HWY 85/280 * EASY COMMUTE TO ANYWHERE IN THE SILICON VALLEY * THIS PROPERTY HAS LOT OF POTENTIAL:TO LIVE IN, UPDATE, REMODEL OR BUILD THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS * YOU MUST SEE THIS PROPERTY INORDER TO APPRECIATE.

Yes!  Another million-plus property with a listing in all caps!  Yes!  LOTS OF POTENTIAL.  Yes!  Busy street!  Yes!  Busy one-lane-each-way street with constant backups!  Yes!  No garage, just a one-car carport!  Yes, Yes, Yes!  YOU MUST SEE THIS PROPERTY INORDER TO APPRECIATE.  Because it’s just sitting there on Redfin, day after day, depreciating.  Take a look at how it’s depreciating while you don’t go see it.  It’s all your fault this lawn hasn’t been watered in 84 days!

Here’s another reason this property is a must-see, I mean a MUST SEE.  Yes, it’s on a busy street, but did you consider how the lot shape could mitigate that location fail? 

All you have to do is bulldoze the scraper that’s only on the land to allow a home mortgage, instead of paying 50% down for an empty lot.  Then BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME in the extended area in back, far from the traffic,  And if you think just being on a busy street is bad, take a look at this.

That street right across Grant from this property is Oak Avenue, and it’s used by a lot of savvy locals to avoid traffic further south (the preschool, the intersection with Fremont Avenue, the feeder to Foothill Expressway).  The large open area to the right is Mountain View High School.  Put those facts together and they spell “EASY COMMUTE TO ANYWHERE IN THE SILICON VALLEY provided you can ever get out of your driveway.”

If the economy ever gets any better you’re going to have an even longer wait, because the old Pumpkin Patch parcel, a little further north, is just waiting to add more homeowners (and car owners) to the traffic mix.  But that’s okay.  You shouldn’t time a major purchase like a house anyway.  Buy this property today and worry about the 53 new houses going in later.  If you’re really lucky the economy will splutter and the developer will go bankrupt.  Hey, it could happen!  Failing developers have kept downtown Sunnyvale retail-free for ten years!  Doesn’t a Los Altos address deserve just as much?

476 FERNANDO Ave Palo Alto, CA 94306

$1,499,000

Beds:	4
Baths:	3.5
Sq. Ft.:	2,347
$/Sq. Ft.:	$639
Lot Size:	7,840 Sq. Ft.
Property Type:	Detached Single Family
Style:	Mediterranean
Stories:	2
View:	Neighborhood
Year Built:	2005
Community:	Ventura
County:	Santa Clara
MLS#:	81040389
Source:	MLSListings
Status:	ActiveThis listing is for sale and the sellers are accepting offers.
On Redfin:	24 days

Exquisite 5 Year Old Home with beautiful finishes through out. Custom built with formal entry, formal dining room with crown molding, coffered ceiling and wainscoting. The family room kitchen opens to the patio and backyard. Large master bedroom with balcony, walk-in closet and luxurious master bathroom with jetted tub. Groud floor bedroom with full bath. Neighborhood with new and upcoming homes!

Thanks to Burbed reader Brendan for this find!

Wow! Palo Alto for just $639! What an amazing deal! But wait… it gets better!

That’s right! The house is right next door to Boston Market! Dinner’s served! No wonder this neighborhood is new and upcoming!

Here’s some notes from Brendan:

1. The next door neighbor is the boston market parking lot. The lot goes way back behind the property, has garabage and graffiti everywhere. I assure you it’s really great at night time.
2. Behind the house is a stagnant creek that routinely stinks
3. Busy el camino real is right there
4. I’ve personally witnessed guys hanging out in the park near the house during the day rapping at the top of their lungs. NO JOKE

Oh… so it’s lively and colorful as well!

Why move to San Francisco when you can live on the the King of Roads & Boston Market!

Here’s another in our series of our seven-digit properties.  Unlike Thursday’s San Jose house, this one is much closer in.  In fact, this one is so close-in, it’s on El Camino Real.  Or at least El Camino Real del Sur.

1645 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
$2,998,000

BEDS: 7
BATHS: 7.5
SQ. FT.: 7,500
$/SQ. FT.: $400
LOT SIZE: 0.47 Acres
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Mediterranean
STORIES: 3
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1919
COMMUNITY: Central San Jose
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81005748
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 129 days

Completely restored “One of the Original” Grand Mansions. Dialed in top to bottom. Impressive statement property. 4-unit compound currently set up for a work/live environment, but many options. Gorgeous main hse, restored in 2002,3-suite office-recpt area, full kit & bath. Sep guest hse rebuilt on sep lot on Randol-3bd/3ba. Oversized prking courtyard, New 5-car garage w/ apt above added 2002.Too much to list

It’s not every day that a house with a 5-car garage comes up for sale, especially one that already has all the parking it needs.

Definitely a “live/work environment!”  Let’s see who your new neighbors are going to be!

Can’t wait to meet them!  But if you’re going to cross the street for a cup a sugar, better do it during business hours.

Here’s a look from the side.  How many of the buildings are included with the sale, I wonder?

I see one advantage of this place already.  There’s no Google Streetview of the front of the house!  How many people can make that claim?

The compound seems to include the “Owner’s Living Quarters” on the ground floor of The Big House, the Guest House (with 4 bedrooms if you believe the agent’s virtual tour, or 3 bedrooms if you believe the listing), the Garage (with a one-bedroom apartment) and a building to be named later.  The Big House also boasts three office suites (so the emphasis is more on the “work” than the “live.”)  If you’re a Type A who wakes up at 4:30 in the morning to pound out a few dozen memos (after having turned in at 3:30), you could just set up a cot in each office and expect the same from your minions.

Since the listing promised seven bedrooms, your job, burbed readers, is to find the missing ones!  Here’s the virtual tour so you don’t have to bother the listing agent.  First one to find them gets their pick of either a.) Your very own house featured on burbed, or b.) Your very own house never featured on burbed.  Second one to find them gets their house featured twice.