It finally happened.  One of our long-time regular readers (and we’re not going to Say which one) finally couldn’t take the Sadistic water torture of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge anymore, and wrote in to Snap about it.  But think about what it is we do here on this Site. We do things that make people Surly. So Sure, we got Someone Snippy about one of our Subjects? (Admittedly, one of our Subjects Strung out over even more time than the @*$(*$)*#(@!~ zip code lists.)  So Sorry about that.

Seems we’d Surely Show Some Superb Stuff after Seeing our Supporters in a Snit!  Say… Thanks very much to Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater for Sending this Speck of Sod in.

88 Townsend St
Unit P-124
San Francisco, CA 94107
$80,000

0 Beds
— Baths
— Sq. Ft.
Built: —
Lot Size: —
On Redfin: 17 days
Property Type: Condominium
County: San Francisco
Community: South Beach
MLS#: 406606

The property for sale is an independant side-by-side parking space within the 88 Townsend building. It can be rented out to potentail tenants that don’t live in the 88 Townsend building.

Now we really have Seen everything.  Condo parking Spaces, Side by Side yet. Complete with the Superness of tenants from other buildings. Sign us up! 

Sh—! Pending!

How much should land in the Real Bay Area cost, when they aren’t making any more of it?  It’s hard to tell, as most of it is already covered with houses.  But today’s featured property, courtesy of Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater, may help us get an idea.  All together now: Mountain View, so close to Google!

344 BRYANT Ave
Mountain View, CA 94040
$4,400,000

3 Beds 
1 Baths 
1,216 Sq. Ft.
$3,618 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1953 
Lot Size: 0.93 Acres 
On Redfin: 1 day
Status: Active
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 1
Community: Grant
MLS#: 81301915
Style: Traditional, Cottage/Bungalow
View: Neighborhood
County: Santa Clara

3BR/1BA WITH SPACIOUS KITCHEN OVERLOOKING YARD. FEATURES INCLUDE LIVING ROOM WITH REFINISHED HARDWOOD FLOORS, INSIDE LAUNDRY ROOM WITH PANTRY, & APPROVED PLANS FOR REMODEL/EXPANSION INTO SPACIOUS ATTIC AREA. POSSIBLE 4 LOT SUBDIVISION ON APPROXIMATELY 40,000SF LOT (. 93 ACRES). OUTSTANDING DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS WITH ACCESS FROM BRYANT FILOMENA COURT. IDEALLY LOCATED IN WELL ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD.

You know the agent is just phoning this one in to long list of OPPORTUNITY-minded investors. Otherwise, this house with all its expansion plans could have easily been featured instead of just an aerial shot.  Heck, Google even managed to find something once we realized the Redfin map was pointing to the wrong place (over at Beaumont and Apricot, and wonder why that happened, huh?)

Also look at this very odd cul-de-sac that abuts the property (right underneath the lot on the lower right).  Looks like it only culled half de sac.

So, do you think land in Mountain View in a good zip without the good schools is worth a million for a quarter acre?  Can you make money as a developer when your land costs are that high?  New homes in nearby Enclave at Waverly Park development (the old Pumpkin Patch property) went for $2M+, but they built 53 big houses there.  Hard to get economies of scale when this lot will support four of them.

Perhaps the third time’s a charm for this huge investment opportunity. The buyer is sticking to this price regardless of which agent has the deal.

Time once again to visit one of our favorite places in the entire Real Bay Area!  And it’s been a while because the properties go pending faster than we can click through the listing photos.  We’ve been telling you that many RBA neighborhoods are hot, hot, HOT.  Now we’ve got even more proof that The Bubbly is Back.  Check out this Palo Alto palazzo from Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater!

411 PEPPER Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
$868,000

3 Beds 
1 Baths 
987 Sq. Ft.
$879 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1940 
Lot Size: 6,534 Sq. Ft. 
On Redfin: 5 days
Status: Active
Property Type: Detached Single Family
Stories:1
Community: Ventura
MLS#: 81300120
Style: Cottage/Bungalow
View: Neighborhood
County: Santa Clara

Walk to California Avenue and enjoy all it has to offer, from this charming 1940s cottage with endless potential. Light filled rooms, hardwood floors, remodeled bathroom. Expansive backyard. Quiet location. Outstanding Palo Alto Schools. No offers prior to 1/14/13.

Not just a house in Palo Alto with endless potential (after all, every house in Palo Alto has endless potential, just by being in Palo Alto!), this is a 1940s cottage with endless potential.  Just look at that kitchen!  They sure don’t build them like they used to.

But did you catch the last line in the listing?  “No offers prior to 1/14/13.”  If that isn’t proof that it’s 2006 again, we don’t know what will convince you.  Once again, the realtards are so convinced that their listed houses sell themselves, they get to decide what day they sell themselves.

Now here’s what Michael thinks about this Would Sell Way Over Asking Right Now If Only The Agent Hadn’t Made Everyone Wait a Week property:

Nice neighbors too, if you like junkyards.

These will be terrific neighbors… if you ever need to borrow a cup of brake fluid.

And happy new year to all our Burbed readers!  Let’s get right back to housing win, shall we?  We shall.  Today’s fine featured facade was nominated by Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater.

917 North Rd
Belmont, CA 94002
$499,888

3 bed
2 bath
1,490 sqft
Single-Family Home
 
Listing Details
18 Days on Trulia
586 views
Provided by: Liberty Realty Via Mlslistings
Broker: Liberty Realty
Listing Agent: Patrick Sullivan

One original owners–built 1948—-more room than you could imagine–Third bedroom may non-conforming—-nice redwood tree in the back plus lot’s nice vegitation.Chandlier in bedroom is not included.

How hot is the Peninsula housing market?  It is so hot that this fine property, despite the unincluded Chandlier, went pending on New Year’s Day.  And that forced us to use Trulia instead of Redfin.

It is so hot that the agent responsible for this listing didn’t even bother taking an actual photo of the house and just slammed in a Streetview shot (trash bins included!).  Here’s proof at left if you don’t believe me, unless the one original owners have a very interesting outdoor light fixture.

And this market is so hot that a home could be described as “more room than you could imagine” and then force you to imagine it.  That’s right, no inside pix! 

It is so hot that not even the lovely view from the front yard could distract all the overbidders.

Yes, this market is so hot, this place went pending in 18 days.  2013 had better be the year you resolve to not get PRICED OUT FOREVER!!!!!!!!

We’ve just been alerted that we’ve been neglecting Mountain View property, which we are contractually required to discuss every ten minutes.  And it’s been ten whole days! Fortunately, Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater sent us this beaut, which we promptly misplaced during the Black Friday Sales.  Consider this a “we found it in the back of the storeroom” slightly mussed listing. It’s both pending… and selling shortly!    

492 N WHISMAN Rd
Mountain View, CA 94043
$750,000

4 Beds 
2 Baths 
1,748 Sq. Ft.
$429 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1965 
Lot Size: 0.25 Acres 
On Redfin: 33 days
Status: Pending With Release
Stories: 1
Community: Whisman
MLS#: 81241148
View: Neighborhood
County: Santa Clara

Short Sale! Charming two unit property located in Whisman Area of Mountain View. Huff Elementary, Crittenden Middle and Mt View High. Live in one, rent the other or great investment opportunity! HUGE 10,890 sf corner Lot. R-2 zoning provides multiple use scenarios. Both units are 2 bed /1 bath w/ laundry, garage AND carport. Please DO NOT Disturb Occupants!

It’s a great investment opportunity!  That’s because the current owners are passing the savings along to you rather than the bank.  Yes, savings.  If you had bought this property in 2006, like these investors did, the RBA would have done its magic and increased it by more than half its value in just six years.  And if you were smart and leveraged yourself with a 20% down, 10% down, 5% down, or even ZERO DOWN, then your investment returns would be much, much higher! 

Let’s calculate them, shall we?

So a little over a million dollars, put down 20%, looks like that investment… is now going to be someone else’s instant equity. So, bets on the over/under compared to 2003′s sale price?  Now that provides multiple use scenarios.

Let’s finish up our week in The City with some, um, Extreme Real Estate photography.  Thanks very much to Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater for finding this superb San Francisco studio.

1950 Gough St #203
San Francisco, CA 94109 (Pacific Heights)
$495,000

1 bath 600 sqft Condo
Open House:
Saturday Dec 15th, 2pm to 4pm
For Sale / Resale
Listing Details
7 Days on Trulia
397 views

Stunning Pacific Heights Jewel Box. This Lafayette Park view pied-a-terre in a desirable 1920′s steel frame building on top of the hill is sure to charm you with its attitude. Perhaps the most beautiful studio in San Francisco. Impressive chef’s kitchen. Formal dining area with built-ins. Hardwood floors and high ceilings. Handsome black and white tile bath. Inviting sleeping alcove. Good closets. Laundry, strg and small car deeded parking in bldg. Stunning lobby and facade. Elevator. A+ reserves. Professionally managed. Newly renovated Lafayette and tennis courts, Fillmore, Union, Polk, cultural meccas, downtown, Muni and Whole Foods.… Small pets ok.

Sorry, pending, and Redfin’s already yanked the pictures down but you can see the old listing copy, and better yet, the old (2003) price of $335K.  Also the old number of bedrooms (1) and the old HOA dues of $263. What the dues are now is a mystery. Perhaps this is a case of if you have to ask…

The missing photos are really a shame, as this curated photography gallery will really give your eyeballs a great workout.  We’ve included some of the better examples in case Trulia also goes dark on us.

Let’s begin with something you don’t often get to see in real estate photography: an actual action shot.  As you can see, not only is the building painted white, but vehicles can drive right by the front door.  Time-lapse photography illustrates how this could work in real life.

Also, in case the top photo made you wonder about the interior decorating scheme, we have plenty more that should assure you the current owner really did go all in on the burnt pumpkin and expired cream palette. 

Click on through to see those and more!

(more…)

One of the problems with buying a house in Mountain View is that much of the housing stock is old yet expensive.  And by “old” we don’t mean “charming,” we mean “out of style” and “needs major renovation.”  We’re still talking about cookie-cutter tract homes, but in Mountain View, they’re million dollar cookie-cutter tract homes.

Not today’s property!  Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater found us a new property, so new we’re having trouble figuring out where it is.  And that’s where you come in!

291 Geary Way
Mountain View, CA 94041
$1,249,900

Loan Payment:  $4,283/mo
Bedrooms:  4
Bathrooms:  4
Size:  1,744 sqft
$/Sqft:  $716/sqft
Type:  Single Family House
Year Built:  2012
Lot Size:  1,768
Days on Movoto:  48 days
Neighborhood:  Downtown
MLS#:  81231702
Status:  Pending – Do Not Show

This gorgeous new 4 bedroom home is sure to impress with its stunning wrap-around balcony. This Home is in a prime location on the park AND it is an end-unit! The open floor plan is spacious and fully equipped with all the latest interior finishes. The first level has a bedroom and full bath which is perfect for a guest or the in-laws. Hurry in before it’s too late!

You didn’t hurry in and now it’s too late!  Despite the lack of interior photos, you cannot buy this house (for $1.25M!!!!) because someone’s already beaten you to it.  And note that by “house” we really mean “who are they kidding, if they admit this is an ‘end unit’ then why not just call it a townhouse?”

Note the clever home type: “Single Family House.”  Nothing about whether it’s attached to or detached from anything (other than pricing sanity). 

Does anyone know where this complex is and if anything is still for sale there?  Could it be this one?  Because if it is, you have better like trains.  And by “like” we mean “like listening to them.” Lots of them. Most realty sites don’t map the location, and the one that did seems to be somewhat lost.  (Hint: Fremont is not a neighborhood in Mountain View.)

More importantly, are you impressed with its stunning wrap-around balcony?  PS: If you liked this house, you might also like this one, which is on the same street but not too late.

Everyone loves a flip!  That is if by everyone we actually mean Burbed readers who enjoy realty fail that happens to someone else.  Thanks very much to Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater for this awesome apartment arrangement!

2033 LATHAM St
Mountain View, CA 94040
$5,900,000

— Beds 
— Baths 
13,530 Sq. Ft.
$436 / Sq. Ft.
Built: 1958 
Lot Size: 0.59 Acres 
On Redfin: 20 days
Stories: 2
County: Santa Clara
Community: San Antonio
MLS#: 81230709

Quality 26 Unit Apartment Complex in desirable Mountain View location. Unit Mix of (4) 2 bedroom 1 bath units and (22) 1 bedroom 1 bath units. Property has been very well maintained and has been significantly renovated by its current owner during 2011 & 2012. Attractive curb appeal, apartments open out to a beautifully landscaped central courtyard w/ deck and BBQ. Ext. painted 2011. 25 Apts have DW

If a single family residence flip is good, then this is 26 times better!  Especially because the seller isn’t going to bore you with a bunch of pictures of the interior, when you have no intention of ever living there.

The photo on the right is the only one that matters.  Flip on, Garth!

Who wants to make a small fortune in real estate?  You know what to do: start with a large fortune.  That is, unless you’re investing in Real Bay Area real estate.  Then all you have to do is let the checks roll in while the property appreciates every single minute!

Thanks very much to Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater for this bodacious apartment block in… of course!  Mountain View!  In case you haven’t already noticed, we’re giving Mountain View a lot of extra love for three days in a row.  Why?  Because we didn’t talk about them once last week!

1720 WRIGHT Ave
Mountain View, CA 94043
$2,200,000

BEDS:  -
BATHS:  -
SQ. FT.:  8,120
$/SQ. FT.:  $271
LOT SIZE:  0.55 Acres
STORIES: 2
YEAR BUILT:  1969
COMMUNITY:  North Shoreline
COUNTY:  Santa Clara
MLS#:  81228487
SOURCE:  MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN:  9 days

The units are unusually large, averaging 902 square feet. They offer private backyards and balconies that face an expansive green space protected by the city. Built on over half an acre the land offers the investor a very strong long-term investment as both a rental property or a for sale redevelopment opportunity. The property is less than a mile from a number of major Mountain View employers.

Every real estate purchase is an opportunity in the RBA, and this is a great example.  We particularly like the realtard’s 100% correct but absolutely useless claim that the units average 902 square feet. The listing info says the building has eight one-bedroom apartments, each 865 square feet, and one 2/1 apartment, weighing in at 1200 sf. 

Are you on the fence about buying this place?  So’s the math!  The Gross Rent Multiplier is 15.03, right in between buy versus rent.

And speaking of opportunity, check out the location!

Looks like you’ll have a front row seat on whatever’s going in that right-of-way!  Maybe if you’re really lucky that’s the alternate route for High Speed Rail!

Success breeds success at Burbed, and our coverage of Google Central just keeps leading to more submissions as close-in as possible. Today’s property is a real treat because it’s so close to everything.  Thanks very much to Burbed reader Michael Boltonestater for this mixed-use manse in Mountain View.

1941 COLONY St
Mountain View, CA 94043
$828,000

BEDS:  3
BATHS:  1.5
SQ. FT.:  1,105
$/SQ. FT.:  $749
LOT SIZE:  0.27 Acres
PROPERTY TYPE: Detached Single Family
STORIES: 1
YEAR BUILT:  1950
COMMUNITY:  Rengstorff
COUNTY:  Santa Clara
MLS#:  81227723
SOURCE:  MLSListings
STATUS: Active
ON REDFIN:  1 day
 NEW LISTING (24 HOURS)

Zoned industrial, currently used as a single family house, not allowed to increase the living sqft. Can be used also as mixed residential/industrial. Currently considered non-conforming use and can be kept this way. City will not allow to change the industrial zoning to residential zoning.

This agent is such a defeatist! Of course the city will allow to change the industrial zoning to residential zoning.  The only question is, how much will it cost to encourage them to do it?  When you see what this house is near, the answer to whether it’s worth it isn’t just yes, but FOUKING HELL YES.

We’ve seen mixed residential/commercial zoning before, but this house enters a new paradigm for the Silicon Valley engineer/inventor who doesn’t want to be limited to just the garage.  Take a look at all you get just on your block!  Places to build things or store things or blow them up to the left, other is-this-a-house-or-a-wrecking-yard mysteries to the right.  It’s a win either direction you go.  

Plus, look at the  neighborhood we’re talking about!  It’s not often that the vehicles go so perfectly with the front yard decor.

And across the street, it gets even better!  No less than Burbed’s favorite townhouse community EVER!

If Burbed were a business that actually made any money, this house would be the place we’d be headquartered. So run out and buy the place, and start your Web 3.1 empire today!