790 S 10TH St San Jose, CA 95112

Listed at: $299,888

Beds:	3
Baths:	2
Sq. Ft.:	1,248
$/Sq. Ft.:	$240
Lot Size:	5,754 Sq. Ft.
Property Type:	Detached Single Family
Style:	Craftsman
Stories:	1
View:	Neighborhood
Year Built:	1920
Community:	Central San Jose
County:	Santa Clara
MLS#:	81011874
Source:	MLSListings
Status:	Pending With Release This listing is in escrow and all contingencies have been fulfilled. "With Release" means that there’s a release clause with the offer stating that the buyer is trying to sell his current home before closing. A release clause lets the seller back out of the deal if the buyers can’t sell their home within a set time frame.
On Redfin:	71 days

A REALLY NICE HOME IN A REALLY CHALLENGING LOCATION * * Current owners have invested a lot of time and money in making this home a very special place to live * * You’ll appreciate the combination of old style hardwood floors and contemporary recessed lighting * Beautiful tile and updated kitchen * * a Patio built for entertaining * * and even a detached studio apartment for guests * * This home is worth the wait * *

Thanks to Burbed reader sonarrat for this find!

Here’s what he had to say:

This house, I must say, is a triumph of the Bay Area spirit. The intrepid owners bought a house in the absolute worst place possible – on the busiest street in downtown San Jose, next to a lane that doubles as a freeway onramp and offramp, with a 7/11 right behind, self storage across (underneath the freeway), and student apartments next door, with a view of a spider’s web of power lines. Yet, instead of conceding that they had bought possibly the worst house in the entire city, they took the equity and made it the nicest house on the block. They landscaped, completely modernized the interior, gave it a charming look on the outside, and even added a detached studio.

And now, they’re short selling it and letting the bank eat the cost of the remodeling.

Isn’t the Bay Area great?

Can anyone say: spirit award?

Thanks to Burbed reader Madhaus for sending in this guest written post. Here it goes:

901 Cascade Drive — With Real Cupertino Schools

Here’s another typical overpriced house in a “special” zip code.  What makes 94087 so special?  Some of it has REAL CUPERTINO SCHOOLS!

Can you think of anything else to explain the price these sellers are asking?  $1.15 million?  (Whoops, cut to $1.099 million!)  AS IF!  The last $1.15 million sale in this tract went down in Spring, 2008, which just happened to be the local market peak.  And the property was on a 9500 square foot lot!

Let’s take a look at this one.  Oops!  Not quite as generous, is it?

Oh, dear, that looks like quite a busy street only one house away.  Oooh!  Looks like this house is on the corner of a couple of arterials! Well, let’s go inside, shall we?

The original design in this tract is an L-shaped 4/2 with a large living room.  901 Cascade has had some remodeling done in the 1970s.  The garage was turned into a room with a half bath and a laundry room off it.  Since the new space was set up as a formal living room, the effect of these

utilitarian offshoots is jarring.

Here’s a view of it that cleverly leaves out those rooms that don’t belong.

A free-standing garage was built next to the front bedrooms, ensuring little sunlight.  A continuous roofline/gating thing connects the garage with the former garage, giving the house some unity of concept but hey, it’s still an awful shade of olive green.

The smallest front room had a doorway (not a door) installed from the entrance hallway and is used as a piano room.  The two rear bedrooms, including the master, were extended five feet into the back yard, so they don’t seem as pitifully small as the front rooms are.

The hardwood was nicely done throughout.  Homes in this 1956 tract do have hardwood floors, usually covered with carpeting.

The kitchen made no impression.  Probably not enlarged at all but the appliances are newer than 1980.

The front shared bathroom appears to be either the fifties original or a very old update.  The master bath was enlarged to replace the tiny shower with a smallish jacuzzi tub.  The tiling looks old and feels dated.  Well, what do you expect, with a remodel done in the early 1970s?

The agent is from Willow Glen (clearly a wanna-be ZIP who doesn’t know about Special) and obviously doesn’t know this neighborhood.  Yes, it has REAL CUPERTINO SCHOOLS, but even so, this is overpriced. Corner undersized lot, too close to Mary Avenue, schools threatened with layoffs and severe budget cuts, 2008 peak sale of 1.15m was on 9500 sf lot on quiet street.  Agent admitted this Green Home was listed for $1.2m last summer and the sellers didn’t get the price they wanted: 1.15m.  Now they’re just asking for it up front.

Not many other visitors, either, just 2 couples, one when we arrived and one as we left.

Evidently the agent decided to drop the price after a month of no “serious” offers, and now it’s Pending Without Release.  Given that only ePraisal estimates this home as being worth anything remotely near that, do you think those those REAL CUPERTINO SCHOOLS will keep adding as much value as they had?

372 EL CAMINO REAL Atherton, CA 94027

$1,315,000

Beds:	2
Baths:	2
Sq. Ft.:	1,330
$/Sq. Ft.:	$989
Lot Size:	8,500 Sq. Ft.
Property Type:	Detached Single Family
Stories:	1
Year Built:	1922
Community:	El Camino to Alameda
County:	San Mateo
MLS#:	81005654
Source:	MLSListings
Status:	Active This listing is for sale and the sellers are accepting offers.
On Redfin:	7 days

Complete renovation 2 years ago! Beautiful chef’s kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, breakfast bar, & wine fridge. Living room with access to patio/lawn, 2 remodeled baths, dual-paned windows, hardwood floors, surround sound, and lutron switches with remotes.

It’s been a while since condos and townhouses have been featured here, so let’s take a look and see what the market is like.

4388 EL CAMINO REAL #399, Los Altos, CA 94022 | MLS# 80946898
4388 EL CAMINO REAL #399 Los Altos, CA 94022
Price: $489,880

Beds: 1
Baths: 1
Sq. Ft.: 787
$/Sq. Ft.: $622
Lot Size: -
Property Type: Condominium
Style: Contemporary
Stories: 1-3 (Low Rise)
View: Neighborhood
Year Built: 2009
Community: North Los Altos
County: Santa Clara
MLS#: 80946898
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active
On Redfin: 21 days
New homes! Located at Los Altos Ave & El Camino Real. Construction complete! Ready for move-in. Located close to schools, parks, shopping, restaurants. Minutes from downtown Palo Alto/Los Altos. 78 townhomes and condominiums designed to provide the urban oasis you seek. Clean architectural lines. Lush courtyard with pool/spa.

Sure, the $/sqft seems a bit high at $622, but let’s face it… it’s only $489,880. They’re practically giving away this 1br/1ba condo in Los Altos.

And just look at the features! It’s construction complete! There’s no need for you to worry about living in a construction incomplete residence!

Located on the historic and prestigious road of royals, El Camino Real, you really can’t beat this location for convenience!

Heck, you’ll be living right next door to a gas station! You’ll never see your fuel gauge on E again! And by having that much traffic outside, it’ll really help realize the promise that this will be your urban oasis.

But again… at this price, they’re practically giving away condos in Los Altos.

504 ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAS, Redwood City, CA 94062 | MLS# 80933551
504 ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAS Redwood City, CA 94062
Price: $1,159,988

Beds: 5
Baths: 4
Sq. Ft.: 3,950
$/Sq. Ft.: $294
Lot Size: 9,350 Sq. Ft.
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Style: Contemporary
Stories: Bi/Split Level
Year Built: 2004
Community: Cordilleras Heights
County: San Mateo
MLS#: 80933551
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active
On Redfin: 35 days
Reduced $190,000 for a quick sale. Stunning custom designed 5 Bed/4 Bath. approximately 3950 Sq. ft. of charming living space. Elegant finishes and materials. Open floor plan featuring three bedrooms two baths upstairs and two-bedroom one-bath downstairs, In-law unit with separate entrance. Beautiful hardwood floors, Double Paned Windows, Crown Molding and Skylights. Easy access to Highway 101 & 280

Thanks to Burbed reader M.R. for this amazing find.

WOWSERS! Check out those columns. Right there. $1 million dollars.

But wait, there’s more! It’s even got an in-law unit (cha-ching!) and allt he nicest materials.

And did I mention: COLUMNS!

Here – let’s take a quick look at one of your neighbors:

You know, usually they tell you “Buy the worst house in the best neighborhood.” But guess what – sometimes it’s ok to have a special treat. You’ve made it. Go for it. Buy the nicest house on the street.

Just think about how jealous the neighbor must feel everyday. His pride of ownership is far less than yours!

820 El Camino Real, Belmont, CA 94002 Belmont Country Club MLS# 80848600 – Property Details
820 El Camino Real, Belmont, CA

$699,000

* Status: Active
* Bedroom: 5
* Bathroom: 3
* Year Built: 1909
* Lot Size: N/A
* Square Footage: 1800
* List Date: 12/7/2008
* Garage Spaces: 3
* MLS#: 80848600

*
PRECED TO SELL – CHARMING FIVE BEDROOM, THREE BATH HOME IN BELMONT, OFF STREET PARKING IN FOUR CAR TANDEM PARKING GARAGE OR LOTS OF STORAGE. CLOSE TO TRANSPORATION AND SHOPPING BRING ALL OFFERS ! ! Vacant and ready to show!

Close to transporation (sic) and shopping indeed! And just think about how awesome it will be to juggle your cars in that 4 tandem parking garage (as opposed to… living garage?) since you’ll be living on the world famous El Camino Real.

Wowsers! What a deal! Easy access to everything! It’s like living on Market St in San Francisco, or Champs-Élysées in Paris. The minute you tell your co-workers “I live on El Camino”, they’ll know what you’re talking about.

And let’s not forget, unlike so many houses which are priced not to sell, this house is priced to sell. Go get it today!

MLSlistings Property Detail for MLS number 709717
1169 SARATOGA AV
$499,500

Great first time homebuyer home!
Open today Sunday from 1;30pm to 4;30pm. Sold “as-is”. Good size lot.

This Single Family Residence has the following features:
MLS#: 709717 Approx Age: 58 Years Approx Sq Ft: 750
Detached Single Family Bi/Split Level Traditional
2 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom 1 Shower over Tub

Let’s overlook the fact that this is right near a major street and a major freeway. Let’s overlook the fact that it’s in East Palo Alto.

Can you over look the fact that the listing agent somehow managed to say that this home is great for first time buyers, and that it’s a good size lot (presumably for tearing down)?

And this, my friends, is why you’re not a Realtor(R).

Burbed Reader Nick had this fantastic find recently at 1098 W El Camino Real in Mountain View:

Ok… so what’s across the street:

Here’s what Nick had to say:

I thought you might be amused by this house that I pass every day on the way to work. For only $1.8M you can be the proud owner of this very ordinary-looking single-family home at 1098 W El Camino Real in Mountain View. That’s right, it’s directly on the busiest road in the area so you get to listen to traffic and sirens all day and night. But to make up for that minor annoyance, it is very conviently located and close to shopping: you’ve got an “adult” video store directly across the street. (Sorry about the crappy camera phone pictures.) That sign in the video store window says “Help Wanted”, so it should be easy for the buyer to get a part-time job to help pay the mortgage.

http://listings.metrodt.com/agents/r/richards-david/mountainview/

What do you think? Could this be the perfect starter home for my wife and I to raise a family?

Well Nick, I’m not familiar with your family – but perhaps if you and your wife are open minded, this might be a great property for you! Your kids could set up a basketball hoop on El Camino, and when they get older, they can get a job across the street to help you pay your mortgage. Even if you and your wife are prudes, they could work at what appears to be a car repair store next door.

Great find!

BTW, did you remember to buy your wife a Valentine’s Day present? Because if not, I know a place you could go to on El Camino Real…