Let’s continue looking at some homes untouched by Bay Area Bubble 4.0 fever!  Thanks very much to Burbed reader dollarbin for this fantastic find: over 200 days on the market and wait until you see the price history! Amazing!

1915 83RD Ave
Oakland, CA 94621
$189,000

3 Beds
2 Baths
1,526 Sq. Ft.
$124 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1963
Lot Size: 5,400 Sq. Ft.
On Redfin: 210 days
Type: Detached
Stories: 1
County: Alameda
Style: Custom
Community: East Oakland
MLS#: 40592548

Come and see this custom built Eichler in Oakland. You will own the house that everyone talks about. This house is an architectural masterpiece and the additional master bed and bath make it incredible. This is the only Eichler in this part of Oakland. Open House April 6th, 10 AM- 12PM.

Here’s what dollarbin thought of the place:

I’ve been sitting on this one for quite some time and it’s finally pending but as a short sale, I bet it will have a long luxurious escrow.  Check out the listing price history, more ups and downs than a whack-a-mole game. Bring on the Eichler lovers!

There’s so much to salute about this property, it’s hard to figure out where to start the rollout.  How about we take a look at all the attractive price points it has offered in search of the One True Buyer.

No wonder it’s selling shortly!  Don’t miss the Open House, either! Um, whoops.  Hey, this is the only Eichler in this part of Oakland!

It’s time for another expedition a little further from the usual Google-Facebook-Twitter locations, locations, locations.  Today’s featured frontage is a full-on flip, thanks to Burbed reader dollarbin!

203 SUNNYHILLS Dr
Watsonville, CA 95076
$319,000

3 Beds 
2 Baths 
1,380 Sq. Ft.
$231 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1954 
Lot Size: 5,227 Sq. Ft. 
On Redfin: 21 days
Status: Pending With Release
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 1
Community: Watsonville
MLS#: 81241943
Style: Contemporary
View: Neighborhood
County: Santa Cruz

Freshly Remodeled 3 bedroom 2 bath Eichler home at the end of a cul de sac. Short walking distance to schools in nice stable neighborhood. new roof, all new plumbing, upgraded electrical service, wiring and light fixtures, new heater, and water heater upgraded kitchen with granite counter tops and stainless appliances. all double paned windows

Granite and stainless and panes, oh my!  And dollarbin has another reason to send in this listing.  Let’s listen in.

I was checking out the listing for this Watsonville flat-top.  Looking at the listing I noticed that it sold back in April for roughly half the price.  Fortunately, the old listing also has interior photos.

Shame they had to paint over all of that original artwork.

Wait, old listing?

203 SUNNYHILLS Dr
Watsonville, CA 95076
Sold for $160,000

2 Beds 
1 Baths  1,470 Sq. Ft.
$109 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1954 
Lot Size: 5,227 Sq. Ft. 
Sold On: Apr 26, 2012
Status: Sold
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 1
Community: Watsonville
MLS#: 81200844
Style: Cottage/Bungalow
View: Neighborhood
County: Santa Cruz

Subject located on corner lot at end of road. Large backyard patio area. Centrally located near all amenities. Interior of home is vandalized and will require much TLC. Good opportunity for a contractor/investor fixer.

Let’s enjoy that original artwork, then.

And best of all, these pictures are actual size.  So for once you don’t have to go to the listing to embiggen them.

But the photo of the living room above is the only picture that we can tell for sure was taken in the same house.  See if you can identify some of the others!

And note the good wishes the artist left for the future homeowners.  It’s in red so you can’t miss it.  SUCCESS.

Burbed began in February 2006, when the market was running bubbly, the RBA ran clear to Seattle, and an East Palo Alto crapshack would run you $850,000. It's early days but we're seeing definite signs of re-carbonation. Burbed reader dollarbin sends in some further proof.

Of course this is Palo Alto. When ads like this run in East Palo Alto, we will have arrived. Again.

Did you check out last week's Palo Alto Weekly? There were at least two different full page ads from Realtards with groups of buyers looking for houses they can close by the end of the year. High end stuff too, 1.5 to 4 million. I can't find links online, but I can take photos of the ads from the physical paper, it might make an interesting weekend post.

Interesting is the word for them. Voyla!

This is also your Weekend Open Thread, so go wild. Buyers 1 through 6 are counting on you!

Okay, have we been telling you that Mountain View is hot, hot, hot?  We have.  And today we have a home in, yes, Mountain View, that wasn’t just sold and didn’t go pending over the weekend.  Or maybe it did, but they hadn’t updated it yet.  What can we say?  RUN do not WALK to get your overbids in!  Thanks very much to Burbed reader dollarbin for yet another Monta Loma medalist!

Updated 12:04: Not in Monta Loma actually.  See below.

726 TELFORD Ave
Mountain View, CA 94043
$712,000

3 Beds
2 Baths
1,104 Sq. Ft.
$645 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1955
Lot Size: 5,529 Sq. Ft.
On Redfin: 6 days
Property Type: Attached Single Family
View: Neighborhood
County: Santa Clara
Stories: 1
Community: North Shoreline
MLS#: 81233532

Mountain View k-8 schools with-in 2 minutes walk and 5 minutes bicycle ride. Work at Microsoft? Google? Spectra Phsyics? 5 Minute bike ride. Need to get coffee, turn the corner hit StarBucks. You can create a place to call home near everything, far from nothing. Quiet street, awesome neighbors, no cross traffic – this will sell quickly. Don’t miss the boat!

Here’s what dollarbin thought about this latest Mountain View dispatch:

This RE agent was so busy spewing hyperbole that he neglected to provide any interior shots.  I think my favorite line is “near everything, far from nothing.”

I’m not versed in RE speak, but is “Negotiate Possession” a warning sign, or does it just mean that there’s rental tenants that you’d have to boot before you move in?

Well we think it means “Mountain View is hot, hot, hot! So just because we’re going to sell you this house doesn’t mean we’re moving out any time soon.  Your appreciation will more than pay for your rent somewhere else.”

Do any of our readers have a better idea?

Work at Microsoft? Google? Spectra Phsyics [sic]?  Does anyone still work at Spectra Phsyics?

Updated 12:04: The house is not in the Monta Loma neighborhood (also observed in comments).  Here’s dollarbin with some followup.  Burbed regrets the error on our part.

Small correction, this house is not in Monta Loma, it’s on the wrong side of Rengstorff and the wrong side of Middlefield. It’s the same kind of Mackay and vintage as those built in ML, though.

Today’s fine featured flop is brought to you by the letter F.  And it’s also brought by Burbed reader dollarbin, who sent this in the split second it hit all the MLS redistribution websites.  Let’s see what happened when this Pearl of Great Price hit the market.  And you have to agree, for Palo Alto, this is a great price.  In fact, this price is so low for Palo Alto there has to be a flaw.

240 Whiteclem Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94306
$699,000

Bedrooms: 4 
Bathrooms: 1 full, 1 partial 
Property type: Single-Family Home
Size: 1,413 sqft
Lot: Ask agent
Price/sqft: $495/sqft
Year built: 1951
MLS/ID: 81232060
Zip: 94306
Provided by: Coldwell Banker-The Real Estate People
2 days on Trulia

This home has the potential for a larger home and the area is located in a quiet neighbor. Great shopping close by and public transportation available. What a Gem. Lowest price in Palo Alto

Here’s what dollarbin said when sending in this home just two days ago:

Less than $500/sq ft in Palo Alto?  No pics?  Low property taxes?  Everything about this listing screams Hoarder House.  The house doesn’t look unusually run down on street view, it almost makes me curious to swing by if they ever have an open house.  I don’t know for sure, but I would bet that this lot is subject to a single-story
overlay, which might limit its value as a teardown.  I’ll keep my eye on it, and report in if I learn anything more.

Looks like you didn’t keep your eye on it 24/7. because here’s what happened when we followed the link back to Redfin.  And Zillow.

Both sites say this house is no longer for sale, and there’s no property history whatsoever on either of the sites. The home was definitely listed for sale two days ago on Redfin. Unfortunately, Trulia doesn’t show property history or we’d have the listing date, but this place was only on Trulia for two days.

But it’s not a complete loss for a listing that’s about to be yanked, and maybe brought back at a much better (read: higher) price, if it hasn’t already sold for a couple of suitcases of cash.

Look what we found when we did an extreme close-up of the carport in Streetview.  DHO! DHO!

Now here’s something else that should make you smile even more.

Located in a quiet neighbor, and possibly overassessed at $86K.  No wonder it’s gone.  This listing must have collapsed the space-time-money-potential continuum.

Today’s house must be an Olympic-level winner, because three different Burbed readers sent it in.  We’re sure you’ll love it as much as they did.

375 ANNA Ave
Mountain View, CA  94043
$698,000

BEDS:  4
BATHS:  2
SQ. FT.:  1,216
$/SQ. FT.:  $574
LOT SIZE:  5,000 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT:  1956
COMMUNITY:  Thompson
COUNTY:  Santa Clara
MLS#:  81227441
SOURCE:  MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN:  8 days

Contractor Special! Excellent opportunity to purchase a fixer-upper in a great location in the Monta Loma Neighborhood. Excellent floor plan with private rear yard backing up to Monta Loma Elementary.

Here are the nominating speeches, first from dollarbin:

From the always popular Monta Loma neighborhood we have a hot little “contractor special”.

Only $574/sq ft?  Fortunately, local realtor Pat Jordan’s newsletter has the full story:

“375 Anna Avenue, 3 BR, 2 BA Mardell with 1,216 Sq. Ft. on 5,000 Sq. Ft. lot.  In very poor condition, offers subject to inspection (cannot see until an offer is written, because it is infested with fleas).  Notice of default has been filed.  Listed for $698,000 by Sereno Real Estate. “

I guess I won’t be able to post a first hand account from an open house.  In fact, I drove by tonight and they’re going with stealth marketing, there isn’t even a sign out front.

Not only that, have a look at the Googlecam.  The next-door neighbor is close.  Real close.

Bunus: trash bins!  Next, another nod from mabel du, who was yesterday’s Guest Blogger:

there’s only one pic on zillow or redfin, and boy-howdy it’s a beaut!  doesn’t it make you want to rush to buy this gem?  you could lose sight of your dog or kid in that weedy front lawn.  the realtor is set to make a chunk of money on this place, but he couldn’t drop $50 to get the front yard mowed?!?

“…private rear yard backing up to Monta Loma Elementary” -  oh yeah.  the sounds of screaming kids, intercom announcements, and timed school bells all day long, that’s “private” and peaceful.  (check out the satellite maps)   in case you were ondering – the school bells ring early & often, even on holidays.  so don’t plan on sleeping late very often.

Sleep late?  With all those delightful sounds you’ll be hearing?

Not to mention the amazing history this offers.  Well, amazing listing history.

Looks like this property is back in the RBA, if it can pull off this price double after just 13 years.  Which it really needed, after losing value from 10 years before that.

And just wait until you hear where this prime location, location, location is!  Thanks very much to Burbed reader dollarbin for this terrific townhouse!  And of course, it went pending in one week!

1901 Newbury Dr (Unable to map)
Mountain View, CA 94043
$659,000

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 3.5
SQ. FT.: 1,879
$/SQ. FT.: $351
HOA DUES: $197/month
LOT SIZE: –
PROPERTY TYPE: Townhouse
STORIES: 1-3 (Low Rise)
YEAR BUILT: 2010
COMMUNITY: Rengstorff
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81218499
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Pending Without Release
ON REDFIN: 13 days

Fantastic 2 year old townhome end unit in a prime location. Formal tile entry, 1st floor jr. bdrm suite, hardwood floors, large & open kitchen w/ granite counter, gas stove, stainless appliances & island, inviting living rm w/ office nook, generous size bedrms, grand master suite w/ high ceiling & walk-in closet. Custom shutters thru-out, skylight, central AC, 2 car garage & great natural lighting.

Here’s why dollarbin sent in the townhouse:

This one came on the market last week, I’m pretty sure it’s in Gable’s End: the address is Newbury but the entrance is on Colony St.

Are the photos re-used from a previous listing? It’s supposed to be an end unit, but the exterior shot seems to centered on the middle units. No idea what the interior actually looks like. Seems like a pretty half-assed listing, no mention of Google? No mention of Facebook? I’m going to need some more ALL CAPS HYPERBOLE before I warm up my overbids.

From looking at the original Gables End ads, this photo sure looks like one of their offerings. And there’s some interesting history on this property as well.  Zillow says it sold in November, 2010 for… $208,500!  That’s quite a price, given that they were advertised as starting in the low $600s.

Zillow also gives this place of ZEstimate of $735,800, which means instant equity galore for the lucky buyer!  Or some serious overbidding.  That is, if anyone could find the place, since Redfin couldn’t.

But it’s in a prime location.  Or did they mean a super location?

Let’s look at another seven-digit property in the Best Place in the Universe, Palo Alto!  Thanks very much to Burbed reader dollarbin for this item, which will definitely have lower gardening bills than yesterday’s home.

The update is at the end of the article, and it’s important.

3424 COWPER Ct
Palo Alto, CA 94306
$2,890,000

BEDS: 6
BATHS: 5.5
SQ. FT.: 990
$/SQ. FT.: $2,919
LOT SIZE: 6,102 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Contemporary
STORIES: 3
YEAR BUILT: 1952
COMMUNITY: Midtown
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81216133
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 1 day
NEW LISTING (24 HOURS)

Two blocks from elementary & middle schools, Mitchell Park & public library. Corner lot on cul de sac court. Living room with high ceiling & huge windows; wired for surround sound. Big gourmet kitchen with granite counters & island, Subzero fridge. Eating nook opens to backyard. Brazilian cherry hardwood floors. Formal dining. Powder room. Large bedroom with full bath (possible in-law suite).

Here’s why dollarbin sent in this six bedroom behemoth on just 6100 square feet:

This is probably a typo and will be corrected soon but…

6 BR
5.5 BA
990 Sq Ft?

I’ll save a screen cap in case they change it.

And it’s a good thing you did, dollarbin, because there were changes made to the listing on May 14th.  Does that mean the $2,919 per square foot price sat there on MLS for two entire weeks or was the realtard fiddling with this listing a little at a time?

Here are the changes to the listing:

SQ. FT.: 990 3,853
$/SQ. FT.: $2,919 $750
YEAR BUILT: 1952 2006
ON REDFIN: 1 day 21 days

Two 2 blocks from elementary & middle schools, Mitchell Park & public library. Corner lot on cul de sac court. Living room with high ceiling & huge windows; wired for surround sound. Big gourmet kitchen with granite counters & island, Subzero fridge. Eating nook opens to backyard. Brazilian cherry hardwood floors. Formal dining. Powder room. Large bedroom with full bath (possible in-law suite). Guest suite (or 2nd Master suite) with full bath.

He actually changed “Two” into “2.”  Talk about brilliant editing, along with remembering that the house is 54 years newer!  And you want to see another divergence from the public record?  Take a look at this:

Looks like the agent found both an extra bedroom and an extra story that the county doesn’t know about.  What’s all those unfinished square feet, an eight-car garage?  Why are the property taxes less than one percent of the valuation?  So many questions!

So with all that Facebook money floating around, why is this home still for sale?  Perhaps multimillion dollar Midtown homes circa 2006 aren’t what the market wants?

Update 9:32 AM: The house was delisted yesterday and relisted today by a different agent and broker for $2.75M.  Now take a look at it, after the break!

(more…)

It’s been far too long since we’ve heard from Burbed reader dollarbin.  Let’s check in with this palace in Palo Alto!

2783 RANDERS Ct
Palo Alto, CA 94303
$3,248,000

BEDS: 5
BATHS: 5
SQ. FT.: 5,255
$/SQ. FT.: $618
LOT SIZE: 8,712 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Contemporary
STORIES: 3
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 2010
COMMUNITY: Midtown
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81146955
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 147 days

Elegant newly constructed (2010)3 level executive estate in midtown Palo Alto in a cul-de-sac * One of a kind quality & workmanship with mahogany paneling & hand carved custom doors * Gourmet kitchen with S/S appliances, granite counters, custom cherry cabinets & a breakfast bar * Brazilian teak flooring & imported marble floors throughout * Includes library, exercise & media rooms.

Here’s what dollarbin had to say, when passing this parcel along:

Anybody send you this one yet?

Who says Palo Alto is free of McMansions? I had given up the dream of spending less than $700/sq ft in Palo Alto, but this Spec House misadventure proves it saves to buy in bulk. Plus it has a totally classy fountain burbling in the front yard.

This listing caught my eye because I noticed they have a flyer sign out on Colorado Ave that actually lights up at night, so I looked up the Redfin knowing it would be full of win.

Wait… spec house misadventure?  How can anyone have a misadventure when they’ve lit your way there?  Although the price history may tell us a thing or two.

And here we thought the misadventure was the .60 FAR or the 11 HDR.  So let’s help this poor spec house.  What is keeping it from generating dozens of overbids?

Bunus: Mawbul kawlums are rectangular!  Break out the red arrows!

Update 10:41 am: Two more kawlums lurking on the right of this picture, noted by Burbed reader SEA.  Mawr red arrows, please!

It’s always fun when a house previously featured on Burbed comes back for a second look. Sometimes it’s a flip that’s awful in a new way, sometimes it’s the same problems ensuring that the house will be bidless for a long, long time.  Today’s Mountain View mansion, courtesy of Burbed reader dollarbin, has some changes since its last appearance, but it’s not just the house that’s had things moved around.

290 CHIQUITA Ave
Mountain View, CA 94041
$888,000

BEDS: 3
BATHS: 3
SQ. FT.: 1,565
$/SQ. FT.: $567
LOT SIZE: 4,414 Sq. Ft.
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STYLE: Traditional
STORIES: 2
VIEW: Neighborhood
YEAR BUILT: 2009
COMMUNITY: Downtown
COUNTY: Santa Clara
MLS#: 81150934
SOURCE: MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN: 48 days

Curb Appeal-Perfect 10. Own this 2.5 yr old Single Family Home for the price of MV townhomes and Condos. Warm & BEATIFULLY designed. Very energy efft/extra insulation w/ E. Eff appls. Showroom finish 2car garage. Gated access for added security/privacy n kids to play. Walking dist. to Downtown restrnts/shops/farmrs mrkt/CalTrans & Parks. Xcllnt APIs for schools. Nice fenced back yard w/ patio. NO HOA Dues.

And here’s a reminder of how the house looked in its previous incarnation:  (warning, 180 comment thread)

Here’s what dollarbin has to say about why you should take another look at 290 Chiquita:

One of burbed’s most talked about houses is back on the market, baby!

What’s more, unlike 2009, it now sports lucky 8′s in the price tag.

Plus, unlike 2009, the assigned elementary school will be Castro, rather than having to schlep your kids across El Camino into the fancy side of town to attend Bubb with all of those obnoxious rich kids.

Also, thanks to Habitat for Humanity, you’ll have new neighbor families enjoying “eight ownership homes for ‘very low- and low-income families’ ” at 300 Chiquita Ave.”

You may object that the “Xcllnt APIs for schools” was not intended to be a factual statement, and there will be BMR housing next door.  The crime rate might be higher than you’re comfortable with.  You may not be too excited about the sex offender who lives around the corner on Villa Street.  And two different Redfin agents complained about how small the bedrooms are.

None of this matters in the least.  The agent presents picture #21 to refute all Negative Nellie natterings.

Start your overbidding!