Having trouble getting going this morning? Today’s featured home, brought to you by Burbed reader Tracy Tea House, will get you going.  You’ll really be excited when you see you can’t have it anymore.

1015 S Genevieve Ln
San Jose, CA 95128
Sold: $650,000
Listed:  $579,000

Loan Payment:  $1,953/mo
Bedrooms:  3
Bathrooms:  2
Size:  1,357 sqft
$/Sqft:  $426/sqft
Type:  Single Family House
Year Built:  1955
Lot Size:  8,400
Days on Movoto:  34 days
Sold Date:  11/19/12
MLS#:  81240587
Status:  Sold for $650,000

Custom Home in a very desirable neighborhood! Nice floor plan with eat-in kitchen & living room/dining room combination. Living room with wood-burning fireplace, large windows & sliding glass door! Gleaming hardwood floors! New interior paint! Some plantation shutters! Ceiling fan! Indoor laundry! Original kitchen & baths. Large covered patio! Large lot with a very spacious back yard! Fruit trees!

Here’s why Tracy sent this one in:

I liked that house it was so WTF!

This one might not be worthy… But I wonder if the amount of !!!! will be enough to push it over the edge… This actually is my type of flipper potential. I like the house and location… and there are , some, plantation shutters!

What’s worthy is that it sold for more than 10% over asking! So WTF, is the 28 the Next Mountain View?

Not just hardwood floors, but gleaming hardwood floors. No, not just gleaming hardwood floors, but gleaming hardwood floors! Also, original vintage kitchen from 1955.  Why that doesn’t have an exclamation point (like almost everything else in the listing) is a real surprise. We mean a real surprise! Fruit trees! Ceiling fan! Some plantation shutters!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Sorry today’s house is late, as we were up all night prepping for a Burbed Feast.  Did you know how difficult it is to cut up the Real Bay Area into Census districts of half inch cubes without crossing any zip codes?

Now on to our entree. Today’s house was sent in by one of its former owners, a Burbed reader who wishes to remain anonymous.  Can’t imagine why!

361 Ardis Ave
San Jose, CA 95117 
Price:  $555,000

Loan Payment:  $1,902/mo
Bedrooms:  4
Bathrooms:  3
Size:  2,943 sqft
$/Sqft:  $188/sqft
Type:  Single Family House
Year Built:  1951
Lot Size:  9,424
Days on Movoto:  547 days
Sold Date:  05/31/11
MLS#:  81123441
Status:  Sold for $535,000

Contractors special-Huge Lot w/ Unlimited Potential. Build your Dream Home near Santana Row/Valley Fair.

Here’s what our unnamed fan has to say about today’s main course:

The house that keeps on giving.. Yes I was one of the people who lost money on this West Valley Brigadoon. The person who bought it from me, never did one thing he said, just held it and turned it for my profit… This wreck has been untouched through 4 sales…

Will the next buyer be able to rehab this behemoth???

Bad houses happen to good people :-0

This house was sent in just a week and a half ago, but the usually suspect real estate sites have it marked as sold already.  Either our correspondent just noticed his/her old place changed hands after almost two years on the market, or there’s a more recent listing we’re not finding.

Hey, Redfin, pass the white meat!  Click on through if you’re joining us from the front page.  The table is groaning.

(more…)

And we’re done with another exciting week of properties, finishing off in the “Capital of Silicon Valley”!  Today’s featured home was sent in by Burbed reader Tracy Tea House.  Sit back and relax as we bring you yet another San Jose Special, after we let Zillow and Redfin duke it out over what neighborhood it’s in.  Is it in West San Jose?  Is it in the Campbell area?  You decide!

456 Ardis Ave
San Jose, CA 95117
Sold for $1,285,000 on 7/27/2012
Sold for $437,000 on 2/3/2012

Beds: 4
Baths: 4.5
Sqft: 3,700
Lot: 9,300 sq ft / 0.21 acres
Type: Single Family
Year built: 2012
Last sold: Jul 2012 for $1,285,000

Public Facts:
Beds: 3
Baths: 1
Sqft: 1,032
Lot: 9.300 sq ft / 0.21 acres
Type: Single Family
Year built: 1951

BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION, this “Estate Quality” home features a wonderful open floorplan and so many designer features that include a “Chef’s Kitchen w/all stainless appl incl. refrigerator, wine chiller, wet bar, walk-in pantry and more! Fully landscaped! 10′-11′ coffered ceilings, crown/baseboards, 1,200+/- sft attic w/engineered flooring and so much more! A must see! Open Sa/Su 1-4!

Here’s why Tracy sent us this house:

Look quick cause this one shows the pictures from pre-flip. They bought the house in Feb. I think tore it down, built a new house  in six months and are trying to sell it for double the purchase.

Guess we didn’t have to look that quick, because Tracy sent this in 3 weeks ago, the day after it was listed.  The house went pending 2 days later.  It must have been a cash deal, because the sale was recorded just one week after that.

Now we could be party-poopers and show you the fancy pictures on Redfin, or we could be Burbed and revel in the cognitive dissonance between the listing copy above and these lovely photos still available on Zillow from the February listing.  We are talking “Estate Quality” in every room.

Also fortunately for us, Redfin saved the pre-flip listing so we can share that description with you too!

New listing! Large 9,300 +/- SF lot. Perfect starter home or for investment! Attached 1-car garage with washer/dryer hookups. Close to Santana Row, Westfield Shopping Center, and entertainment. Close to highways 280 and 880.

Yeah.  Definitely close to 280.

Bunus: Even closer to Winchester Ranch Mobile Home Park.

Burbed reader Petsmart Groomer week continues, this time right in the heart of San Jose!  No, not downtown, silly.  Santa Row!  The Real San Jose!

334 SANTANA Row #300
San Jose, CA 95128
$1,298,000

BEDS: 2
BATHS: 2.5
SQ. FT.: 2,042
$/SQ. FT.: $636
HOA DUES: $620/month
LOT SIZE: 435 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Condominium
STYLE: Modern/High Tech
STORIES: 1-3 (Low Rise)
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 2002
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81202429
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 77 days

Santana Row Villa space at a great loft price! Over 2,000 sf on just 2 floors! ~$200k in upgrades, including, remodeled kitchen with high end all-European appliances, remodeled bathrooms with Japanese soaking tub, 3 parking spaces, and more.

Burbed has visited Santana Row before, and it was thanks to PG that we discovered something very exciting about the real estate over there: All of the Santana Row condos that sold new in 2005 and ‘06 have dropped around 40% in value since then.  That article last May featured twenty separate units for sale or recently sold, and all but one of them showed some homedebtors taking pretty serious haircuts.

All but one.  This one.  Because this one is Special.  It’s so Special, you can still get it at the 2011 asking price!  How’s that for Special?  It’s so Special that despite selling new for $996,000 in the wild, heady, bubbly days of June, 2006, and despite the $200K in upgrades, it’s now worth more than $300K than it was six years ago!  Or at least this seller thinks that’s the best way to recover all those monthly $600 HOA fees.

This unit does come with three parking spaces, which is one thing in limited quantities here.  We suggest you snap this place up for that reason alone.  You’ll make your investment back within ten years just from renting out the spaces.

Somewhere in the Great Temporary Handover of This Site, there was a Twitter account with our name on it.  Unfortunately, it must have fallen between the couch cushions when we were rearranging the boxes of light bulbs and Drano.  That’s too bad, because Burbed reader Swan has found the perfect house  for those who need to make every letter count.

Please welcome Swan to the front page as today’s guest blogger with this compelling Campbell/San Jose casa!

3226 RIDDLE Rd
San Jose, CA 95117
$568,888

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,646
$/SQ. FT.: $344
LOT SIZE: 7,956 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1948
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81205068
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 49 days

Gorgus inside:Brit/chesfl!tstflly remdle/update in modern style * Kit w/ track li, doubl-sink, grden windo . . * Huge clasy hal ba w/ jet tub, sep stal shower, dubl-sink, sky li . .. * Lrg Ms BR w/ slid dr to nuly lanscap B-yd * Nu fenc in Mar. * Wk-In Clset * Shor * 2-pane windos * Butifl wod fl * Tiled bath/kit/dining fl * nuer stov/roof/heater/drway . . * Recnt int/ext/paint. .. much mor * Convnt loc nr Santana Row/ W-field *

Oh my…I realize we are fast paced society who wants everything in Tweets of 140 characters or less.  But this realtard takes abbreviations to a whole new level. 

I teach elementary school and have seen some odd spelling skills in my time, but some of these I can’t even decipher.  For example, "chesfl!tstflly."  What is that?

Gud thng the hous is on Ridl Rd, bc the rite up is a ridl.  Bunus:  8s in the pris. .. . & nr santa rw!

Njoy!

We still have plenty of fantastic finds from Burbed reader sonarrat to share with you, so let’s see what’s waiting for you in the Campbell neighborhood of sunny San Jose!  Looks like another fine feature from the bank vaults!

3624 MOORPARK Ave
San Jose, CA 95117
$439,900

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,143
$/SQ. FT.: $385
LOT SIZE: 4,444 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1955
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81150615
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 78 days

REDUCED PRICE! Spacious home with good layout! Updated kitchen with granite counters, granite island and stainless steel sink and appliances! Hardwood and tiled floors, great backyard for entertaining. Located close to parks, schools, shopping and easy freeway access!

Here’s what sonarrat thought about this house:

location location location – busy street, San Tomas Expressway, and 280.

Wait, don’t you want to admire the, um, interesting choice of paint in the living room?  No?

Okay, then let’s have a good look at that location, then.

Win-win-win!

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.

Today’s find is from Burbed reader Swan, and what a find it is.  Have you always hankered to create a side business, where you simply find a need and fill it?  This house will have carloads of cash leaping into your pockets!  Ka-ching!

374 S REDWOOD Ave
San Jose, CA 95128
$450,000

BEDS: 4
BATHS: 2
SQ. FT.: 1,880
$/SQ. FT.: $239
LOT SIZE: 6,534 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Traditional
STORIES: 1
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 1945
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81043492
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending With Release
ON REDFIN: 495 days

SUBJECT TO RELEASE OF CONTRACT. CAMPBELL SCHOOL DISTRICT. SANTANA ROW. CLOSE TO SHOPPING, FREEWAYS AND/OR TRANSPORTATION. BACKYARD. BUYER TO VERIFY USE.

And here’s why Swan brought this domestic discovery to discussion:

Here’s a listing longing for some Burbed lovin’!

What’s not to love?

ALL CAPS, 460 days on Redfin, concrete front yard, what was the realtard thinking photos, proximity to the famed Santa Row (never worry about finding parking again – you’re within walking distance), and the always fun, “BUYER TO VERIFY USE.”

Concrete front yard?  You see a front yard, I see satellite parking lot.  This is all about location, location, location.  Santana Row is somewhere in the same timezone, and you could probably park eight cars in front of the house.  Set up a few orange cones and reserve street parking for your concession as well.

And there’s a backyard too!  No wonder you have to verify use!

Look, when opportunity like this knocks, you had better fling that door wide open.  You never know what’s going to be on the other side.

Today’s finds are from Burbed reader Tracy, featuring the double delights of craptacular East San Jose properties with aggressive out-of-the-box marketing, and that’s just for starters!

 

Somewhere on Clayton Road, San Jose 95127
$1

For Sale:$1

Zestimate^®:$288,800

Mortgage: $0/mo
Beds: 2
Baths: 1
Sqft: 1,152
Lot: —
Type: Single Family
Year built: 1949
Parking: —
Cooling: —
Heating: —
Fireplace: —
On Zillow: 34 days
County: Santa Clara
Covered parking spaces: 2
Legal description: —
Parcel #: —
Per floor sqft: 1,152
Zillow Home ID: 2124087924

COMING SOON. WE DON?T KNOW THE PRICE YET. BANK OWNED! IF YOU’RE A SERIOUS BUYER CALL ANN 408-561-7539 OR E-MAIL [email protected] FOR SHOWING & WRITE UP OFFER TODAY! IF THIS IS NOT THE HOUSE FOR YOU, WE HAVE OVER 50 MORE FORECLOSURE LISTINGS THAT WILL BE GOING ON THE MARKET/MLS SOON!Brokered AndAdvertised By: Ann ThaiListing Agent: Ann Thai

Here’s what Tracy had to say about this and some other similarly placed houses by this agent.

Yesterday I discovered a Zillow mystery. An Agent Ann Thai who advertises “ foreclosures to come”  by listing the houses with no address, or no price. See “clayton rd, SJ CA  # 95127 .”  I found numerous postings by this realtor, all with the same MO. Not sure if it’s a scam, but something about it seems like a manipulation of the MLS system/ Zillow. 

Let me know what you think if you have a chance. Is it wrong?  I am wondering if I should call, but I have called these forclosuretors before and it was nothing but slime.

What do you think, readers?  Is this nothing but slime?  Couldn’t there be some sleaze and scum in the frothy mix as well? Tracy sent this in two weeks ago, so clearly this realtard has a looser definition of “soon” than most of us do.  Kind of like “mañana” but without the sense of urgency.

Here are two more properties listed in the same way, but with addresses so you can check them out a little more.  First we have a high-res, high visibility property in not-Campbell with a “potting shed.” The quotation marks say it all: something was spinning in there.

176 N Bascom Ave, San Jose 95128
$1

and this one that has a watermark in the tanbark, along with “Landscaping, carpet, paint, linoleum, fixtures, lights, heater&more!”  So many extras!

1258 Ortiz Ct, Sunnyvale 94089
$1

Each of these homes in turn link to Redfin pages saying “Foreclosed Home: Not for Sale” as you can verify yourself for both the Bascom Ave and Ortiz Ct properties.  You can also get the full text on the Zillow links on each address, and most of it is an assurance that there are 50 MORE FORECLOSURE LISTINGS THAT WILL BE GOING ON THE MARKET/MLS SOON.

Also let us know how you do making a full asking price offer of a dollar on any of these winners!  You could be featuring an even faster flip than the pros in Redwood City can manage, and we promise to give it plenty of Burbed love.

Remember when we took a good look at “Santa Row” to see how the prices were holding up?  The original oughties buyers probably weren’t too happy with their investments in San Jose’s answer to the Faubourg Saint-Honoré district.  (Paris’ response to that provocation is not printable.)

Burbed reader Petsmart Groomer has another Santana Row Spectacular for you today.  Thanks very much for finding this amazing listing at a seriously WTF price.

 

356 SANTANA Row #315, San Jose, CA 95128
$1,324,950

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 2.5
SQ. FT.: 2,161
$/SQ. FT.: $613
LOT SIZE: 435 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Townhouse
STYLE: Contemporary, Mediterranean
STORIES: 4-8 (Mid Rise)
VIEW: Mountains, Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 2002
COMMUNITY: Campbell
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81104502
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 274 days

LUXURIOUS TOWNHOME IN VILLA CORNET SITS IN THE HEART OF FAMED SANTANA ROW * THIS 3 BED 2.5 BATH PROPERTY IS PRICED TO SELL * SECURED BUILDING WITH UNDERGROUND PARKING SPOTS * GRANITE SLAB KITCHEN WITH STAINLESS APPLIANCES * 2 PATIOS * THIS IS AN AMAZING PRICE * * * NEEDS A LITTLE TLC * * *

Here’s what PG thought about this LUXURIOUS TOWNHOME:

They’re right about one thing: THIS IS AN AMAZING PRICE

Check out the sold prices for the entries on Santa Row then and now – Santana Row took a serious beating.

Yes, do check them out, and tell us what this seller is thinking?  Must be spending too much time at the bars conveniently just steps away!  But if the previous owner could make a profit buying in 2005 and selling in 2008 at a 20% markup, the current seller has correctly figured it out: This Place Is Special.  So Special that this bedroom at right can also function as an office and an exercise room!

And while you’re deciding whether you’d love to have the nightlife of San Jose combined with the traffic problems of living near the intersection of two major freeways, check out the $950 monthly HOA fees combined with needing court confirmation to buy this place.  And to really appreciate the location, location, location of this home, today’s listing is in the complex right above Borders.  Borders closed this Spring in advance of the whole chain shutting down.