We’re back with our second week of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, so let’s resume! Today’s post is brought to you by the letter G. And when we hear G on this blog, we think of our absolutely positively favorite development eveh! That’s right, G is for Gables End! Thanks very much to Burbed reader Petsmart Groomer for Guaranteeing Gables End will always be one of our Guideposts.

If you’re a new reader to Burbed, you may not have heard of this townhouse complex before. Gables End was built right at the end of the Bubble, on some land that was under the Gentle Guidance of the EPA, but the development sold out anyway.

Why? Close to Google!

851 DONOVAN Way
Mountain View, CA 94043
Sold for $740,000

3 Beds
3 Baths
1,352 Sq. Ft.
$547 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 2008
Lot Size: —
Sold On: Mar 6, 2013
HOA Dues: $197/month
Stories: 1-3 (Low Rise)
County: Santa Clara
Property Type: Townhouse
Community: Rengstorff
MLS#: 81305251

Fabulous newer townhome! Wonderful floor plan with lots of natural light throughout. Open kitchen has granite counters & ample cabinets, spacious living room w/ large windows, wood flooring throughout main level, crown molding & decorative touches throughout. High ceilings. Lots of storage both inside & in the attached 2 car garage. Close to park, shopping & freeway access. Don’t miss!

We all missed it! Gone in four days!  And Given our Generous coverage of the Gables End Gin-up, watching a resale Generate a Greater fool buyer at 9.6 percent above asking price just brings tears to our collective eyes. And it’s no Glitch! Here’s another Gables End unit, asking $719,000, virtually Given away for $805,000!

You Get it, even Gables End is now part of the Greater RBA. Oh, this is just so Gorgeous.

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?

First time ever at Gables End: 3.5 percent down and a 2.875 percent rate
Gables End, in prestigious Mountain View, is down to its last few homes available. And it’s no surprise why – these homes are simply stunning, loaded with the latest high-end interior finishes, and they are located in a highly desirable location. There are already over 100 happy homeowners at Gables End.
And now, for the first time ever, Gables End is offering a super low 3.5 percent down and 2.875 percent rate. If you thought you couldn’t afford to purchase a gorgeous brand new home, you stand corrected. With an incredibly low down payment of only 3.5 percent and an excellent rate of 2.875 percent, purchasing a home has never been so attainable.
The quality of these exquisite homes is high and the prices are affordable. Now is the time to take advantage of this amazing offer. Three-bedroom homes with attached two-car garages start at $659,900. And if you are looking for something a bit more extravagant, there is a luxurious model home released for sale. The model home is loaded with upgrades and lavish interiors – it is simply stunning, and there is only one available! Not to mention it is in a prime location on the park. Time is running out to own at this highly sought after community. Hurry in to select your favorite home today.
The picturesque enclave of 108 homes is reminiscent of a New England Village. The floor plans are designed for multi-level living with the choice of three or four bedrooms. Sizes range from 1,524 to 1,872 square feet. Spaces are luxurious, light-filled and are complete with the highest quality features and finishes. Expansive windows, volume ceilings and cozy nooks inside add variety and interest. Each home has a private two-care garage with direct access.
Gables End is located in the center of Silicon Valley in the City of Mountain View. This high-efficient metropolis is extraordinarily civic-minding providing its citizens with a wealth of engaging amenities and progressive services (one of the first to offer free WiFi to its residence). The many city parks, along with Shoreline Regional Park, are a bonanza for outdoor activities. Charming cafes, inviting restaurants, all manner of shopping and entertainment, a state-of-the-art library and civic center can all be found within the heart of the country’s most dynamic business environment.
The community is punctuated with peaceful fenced courtyards, charming seating areas and colorful planted arbors. The lovely town homes have porches and front stoops that are perfect place to barbecue, read a book, nap or simply unwind and enjoy the fresh air. Richly landscaped streets, meandering walkways, mature trees, quiet sitting spaces, the Central Lawn with its grand arbor, and especially the adjacent Sierra Vista Park, are all wonderful places to enjoy the great outdoors. There’s even a charming recreational building for community gathering or special events.
Gables End recreated the kind of comfortable, congenial and intimate spaces so familiar to traditional neighborhoods. Everything at Gables End is designed to make life easy and to allow neighbors to enjoy one another. Regis Homes invites you to enjoy the village lifestyle now available in this lovely community.
Gables End is developed by Regis Homes of Northern California, Inc., one of Northern California’s leading homebuilding companies, specializing in well-designed, well-located, high quality homes. Regis Homes has built more than 1,000 residencies throughout Northern California and has earned a reputation for employing sustainable land use, innovative design, quality construction and attention to detail. The company’s design approach has garnered many industry awards together with the respect of its homebuyers.
The Gables End Information Center is located at 1925 Cambridge Drive, Plymouth Street at Sierra Vista, Mountain View, CA. Office hours are Monday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information please call 650-988-9955 or visit www.gablesendhomes.com.

Thanks to Burbed reader Herve for continuing to track the saga of Gables End.

As a refresher, here it is:

Herve notes:

Mountain View is a metropolis by the way. Or so it says.

Heck, it also says that Wifi is provided by the city – not really. I’m also not sure I’d want to have a BBQ or nap outside there – though who knows, maybe 101 flavored ribs taste better!

I’ve gotta ask… does anyone actually know anyone who lives at Gable’s End? What’s it like? How do they like their investment? Has it gone up 15% yet?

A special guest post today from Burbed reader Herve! Take it away Herve!

It’s been a while since we last featured our favorite community and I thought it was about time to give everyone an update…

First, Gables End went all Web 2.0 on us without any warning. Blog, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube… The Full Monty!

Second, as you can see construction is still going on and advertisement is key with some of the smartest potential census workers holding signs and both 101 South and 101 North being targeted. Over 60% of the units are sold and they are looking for a few angel investors to sweep the last few units. You can get one with a view on the ginormous freeway sign but obviously you’d have to pay extra for that.

It can only mean one thing: they are getting ready for IPO. With a new 4-bedroom floor plan, this can only skyrocket. Booyah!

This weekend only folks! THIS WEEKEND ONLY!

No mortgage payments for 6 months. $50k off.

What else could you possibly ask for?

Just like how people go to Costco to buy a 2000 pack of toilet paper and and cans of spam, you should be out scooping up an armload of these townhouses!

You’re going to slacking off this weekend once the economy recovers. And, when it does, traffic on 101 will come roaring back, giving your house an even more dynamic view.

Plan ahead… act now!

I just had to send you this update since you talk about Gables End ALL the time.

I don’t get over to Mountain View that much, but whenever I do, I think of you and your blog.  So you can imagine my delight when I was stopped at a light at Alma and Rengstorff this past weekend, and what do I see but a “bike billboard” advertising Gables End (see attached pic for a sample).

I had actually never seen one of these things before.  Sure, I’ve seen plenty of those oversized arrows waved by people on street corners trying to drive street traffic to a real estate open house.  And I’ve seen the car/truck billboards before.  But a BIKE billboard?  This was a new one for me, and it made me LOL.  If a train hadn’t come by delaying my left turn, I would have tried to catch up to Mr. Bike and take a picture for you.

Gables End.  They’re pulling out all the stops until the very last unit sells!

Thanks for the update Burbed reader Mia! Fascinating stuff!

I’m so proud to hear that Regis Homes is spending extra money to help inform the population that there are still some homes available in Mountain View. That said, I’m a bit puzzled – I drove by this weekend and the SOLD signs are gone, but the window coverings to replace them haven’t gone up yet.

What’s going on there?

Thanks to Pralay for taking this photo ago.

As readers of this blog know, Gable’s End is featured frequently because it’s constantly selling out. Over and over again. It seems like they’re always selling out and close to running out of homes. How curious!

Anyone know what the latest scoop is with Gable’s End? Does anyone want to drop by this weekend and give Burbed a report? Are they sold out again?

OH MY GOD! There’s only 4 homes left! They’re not making any more! This is it guys – if you don’t buy one right now, you’ll never be able to afford living near Google again!

And to think that some of you said this recently:

buckborden Says:
August 15th, 2008 at 5:39 pm

Those “sold” signs are faked to make sucker buyers think that sales are brisk and to promote sucker sales. A friend and I noticed four “sold” signs in the windows of several units of a new townhome complex near his place in San Jose, and when we asked the guy in the office how come nobody is moving in, he got really evasive and said that was not public knowledge. So I inquired myself down at City Hall, and much to my (un)surprise…..the signs were faked; there were zero sales recorded since the place opened three months ago! I told the office guy there was no record of sales AT ALL for his complex, and he got really angry then. I still haven’t seen ANYBODY move into any of the units. We are thinking of changing the “Now Selling” sign out front to “NOT SELLING.”

Can you say “Fall Bounce”?

Burbed reader Herve sent this clipping from one of those new home guide maps.

Although those giant SOLD signs have been out since early June, they are still pushing ads. But why advertise in such a low brow publication? Why not focus the ad spend on the Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, or the Shanghai Times?

Is it desperation?

Nope. The answer is simple my friends – this is to make all of your friends and co-workers jealous. That’s right. By the time this hits the streets, all the units will be sold, and the demand will soar. People will drive up and down 101 just to say “Damnit! That’s the one that got away!”. And you’ll then have to drown your sorrows at Krispy Kreme and In-n-Out

You’ll be able to flip this for 15% without a problem. You’ll even be able to ask the buyer to sign a contract promising to feed the (mutant) squirrels.

Yep, this my friends is how conscientious the developers of Gables End are. Constantly thinking of you, the customer.

Quick everyone!! Buy them while you can! The units facing 101 are sold out already according to the signs – but there’s a few left apparently and the price is now the amazingly lucky $615,888!

888!

888!

Hurry!