875 San Ardo Way, Mountain View, CA 94043 North Shoreline MLS# 80848738 – Property Details
$675,000

* Status: Active
* Bedroom: 3
* Bathroom: 2
* Year Built: 1962
* Lot Size: 6144
* Square Footage: 1060
* List Date: 12/9/2008
* Garage Spaces: 2

What a great opportunity!! Turn this Mountain View home into your dream home. Bring your contractor, and your ideas to take this property to the next level. Original hardwood floors, room for your RV or Boat, open floor plan. NOT A SHORT SALE.. Just a home in need of some TLC.

Sheesh, at these prices, Burbed might not exist in the near future. $636 per square foot for what is NOT A SHORT SALE?  They’re practically giving this house away! It’s even got easy access to freeways – I don’t know why the Realtor forgot to mention this!

The best part?

I’m not sure what’s going on in that window (is it looking into another room), but I can tell you right now that funky stove is going to be an instant collector’s item that will only add to this house’s value.

20771 Mcclellan Rd, Cupertino, CA 95014 Cupertino MLS# 80845849 – Property Details

$920,000

* Status: Active
* Bedroom: 4
* Bathroom: 2
* Year Built: 1961
* Lot Size: 7446
* Square Footage: 1512
* List Date: 11/18/2008
* Garage Spaces: 2

Centrally located in a great Cupertino neighborhood. Wxcellent Cupertino schools. This home has a ton of potential. Open floor plan, lots of counter space, plentiful storage built in the garage. With the right updates and a little TLC, this home would be worth a lot more. Seller lives out of the area & has not lived in the home for over 40 yrs and has no knowledge of malfunctions.

Recently I discovered that the economy isn’t in such great shape. In times like this, having the right and best education is more important than ever. Monta Vista may be the only keys to success that your children will have. So I thought I’d help all the parents out there by finding the most affordable 4 bedroom house that goes to Monta Vista. And wow… what a find!

With Wxcellent Cupertino schools (that’s code btw), this fixer upper will give your children the right start. Just add some TLC, fix the lines of code that is triggering the malfunctions and BOOM you’ve got a million dollar house. Frankly, this is an amazing deal imho. The ZEstimate is $1,093,000 – hello instant equity!

Great school, great price. What more could you ask for in the paradise of Cupertino?

469 Valley St San Francisco, CA 94131
Price: $738,000

Beds:     4
Baths:     2
Sq. Ft.:     935
$/Sq. Ft.:     $789
Lot Size:     -
Property Type:    Detached, Full, Single-Family Home
Style:    Cottage
Year Built:    1910
View:    Panoramic, City Lights, Bay
Region:    San Francisco District 5 (Central)
Area:    Noe Valley
County:     San Francisco
MLS#:     348338
Source:     San Francisco MLS
Status:     Active
On Redfin:     5 days
Fixer-upper
Contractors Special; Zoned RH-2; Great Views of Noe Valley, Diamond Heights, the Bay, etc. Probate Sale. Property Sold in it’s present AS-IS Condition. Seller has full authority (Court Confirmation may not be required). Home in poor condition. Lots of deferred maintenance. Looking at offers any time

So much senseless, ridiculous claims about how the Bay Area is declining in the silly press these days. Thanks to Burbed reader Carsten, we can remain confident that San Francisco is in the Real Bay Area. $789 sqft for a fixer upper feels normal… almost relieving.

A little deferred maintenance? Like what?

I did warn you that this was NSFB didn’t I?

Happy Monday!

665 W. MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA
665 W. MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA
Wonderful Rehab Potential
2BR/1BA Multi-Family, 3 units

offered at $215,000
Year Built 1868
Sq Footage 2,088
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 1 full, 0 partial
Floors 2
Parking 3
Lot Size 4,429 sqft
HOA/Maint $0 per month

DESCRIPTION
Large 3 unit building. 2 bedrooms upstairs, 1 bedroom or studios down. Lot Size 4,429 /- Property in middle of rehab and will be sold �AS IS�. Great potential with possible seller financing to approved purchaser. Large lot, permits available
to be transferred.

Thanks to Burbed reader Alex for thsi amazing find.

Dude this is a huge lot! It’s like 4429 square feet! Wowsers!

And guess what? It’s sold as-is – in the middle of a rehab. That means you have instant equity when buy this amazing find.

I mean seriously – this has got to be the most affordable house in the Bay Area with instant equity!

I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to buy it. Can you find a better deal than this?

FARGO Ave (Unable to map) San Leandro, CA 94579
Price: $430,000

Beds:     5
Baths:     2
Sq. Ft.:     1,862
$/Sq. Ft.:     $231
Lot Size:     7,735 Sq. Ft.
Age (Years):    60
Year Built:    1948
Type:    Detached Single Family
Style:    Ranch
Stories:    1 Story
View(s):    Neighborhood
Neighborhood:    Alameda County
County:     Alameda
MLS#:     80813184

Fixer-upper
Needs your TLC. This is your chance to own a PRICED-TO-SELL-FAST home conveniently located near freeways, fire station, schools, restaurants & shops, but bring your toolbox because this house needs some work. This is great for big family having a big backyard, bonus bedroom and bathroom and in a quiet neighbohood. A once in a lifetime opportunity. Desperate owner needs action!

Burbed generally doesn’t venture much into the East Bay, after all it is fly over land. That said, Burbed reader James sent this great find in.

Usually Realtors, professionals at the craft of prose and poetry write in such amazing language that it takes scholars years to decrypt the hidden meaning.

This Realtor is clearly aiming at the common man. He’s helping make housing accessible to everyone. “Located near freeways, fire station” – the honest is refreshing. “Desperate owner needs action!” – wow, now the realtor is headed in the risque direction. Very bold. Very very bold.

Props to you for this literary work. People will be discussing this for years. Thanks James for this find!

372 Arleta Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134 Visitacion Valley MLS# 346045 – Property Details
$429,000

* Status: Active
* Bedroom: 1
* Bathroom: 1
* Year Built: 1947
* Lot Size: N/A
* Square Footage: 460
* List Date: 8/21/2008
* Garage Spaces: 1

This is a conservatorship sale subject to court confirmation. Fixer upper. Enter at your own risk. 50 x 100 lot with small home and older garage. Property to be delivered as is, loaded with the personal property and effects of the decedent left in place. Some view toward south bay.

Well… so far not too bad. Some view of the bay, free personal property, small hill.

Let’s look at some more pictures shall we?

Um…

Uh…

Er…

Eh…

Huh…

So… $429,000 for this. Ok, I can see that. Maybe you can clean this up a little (Junk King anyone?) and flip it for $800k. After all, it’s San Francisco – and they’re not making anymore San Francisco (except where they are.)

Frankly though, I’m simply amazed by this – and I bet you are too. I thank the two Burbed readers who sent me this (Heather and sonarrat) for this find.

Now… it’s Friday, and that means only one thing – story writing contest!

Who amongst you can come up with the most clever story to explain this fine piece of Real Bay Area Real Estate? Was there another earthquake? Corporate shake up? Let’s hear it!

2269 ADDISON Ave East Palo Alto, CA 94303

Price: $130,000
Beds: 1
Baths: 1
Sq. Ft.: 650
$/Sq. Ft.: $200
Lot Size: 2,500 Sq. Ft.
Age (Years): 57
Year Built: 1951
Type: Detached Single Family
Stories: 1 Story
Neighborhood: East of U.S. 101
County: San Mateo
MLS#: 80819060
Source: MLSListings
Status: Active
On Redfin: 33 days
Fixer-upper
Single family home is a fixer upper. Lots of potential. Close to transportation and shopping. NOT a short sale.

Holy. Cow.

If this doesn’t signify the bottom, I don’t know what does. A house for just $130,000.

Here’s what Burbed reader Brian had to say:

It wasn’t the boarded up windows, the 2500 sq ft lot, the all concrete lot, or the fact that the house looks like a garage that was a “wow” factor for me.

No, it was the Z-Estimate, that said that 2% of the homes in the zip code have a value lower than this home.

And with a Z-Estimate of $370,000, you’d be missing out on $240,000 of instant equity!

I present a challenge to the readers of Burbed, find a house in the bottom 1%.

- Brian

Nice find Brian. Again. Holy cow. That’s a crap load of instant equity!

Nice challenge.

Does anyone care to take up Brian on this offer? Or are y’all too busy putting bids on this amazing steal?

Vanguard Properties: 469 Clipper St , San Francisco, CA 94114
469 Clipper St , San Francisco, CA 94114

Bdrms Bths Pkg Year Sq.Ft. HOA Price MLS#
0 1 2 1900 1,983 $0 $995,000 343307
Additional Info: Rare opportunity! One of two side-by-side properties for sale, each 30′ x 114′ and zoned RH-2. A large single-story vacant Victorian of 1896 sq ft (per appraiser) that has been deteriorating for years. No kitchen, no bath and the rear portion of the structure is falling off. There would be potential Downtown views from a second story. South garden. Walk to 24th St or Church St restaurants and shops. Near J-Church streetcar, walk to 24th St BART, near Douglass and Noe Courts Parks.

Thanks to Burbed reader Laura G for this find.

This, more than any listing as of late proves how amazingly freakin’ special the Bay Area is. You could only be so lucky as to own a home like this.

No kitchen, no bath, part of the structure falling off? Can you say instant equity?

427 Larkspur Dr, East Palo Alto 94303 (East of U.S. 101)
$279,500

* Status: Active
* Bedroom: 3
* Bathroom: 1
* Year Built: 1954
* Lot Size: 5100
* Square Footage: 1020
* List Date: 3/19/2008
* Garage Spaces: 2
* MLS#: 785751

Can you get to Home Depot in your sleep? This cute but tired 50′s era rancher will really pay off for the diligent investor or first time home owner willing to put in the work. Decent size lot with lots of off street parking and still plenty of room left over for a front lawn. Tankless water heater = energy efficiency positive! Offered “as is”. BE CREATIVE, MAKE OFFERS!!!

Wow… the steals in East Palo Alto keep rolling in! When they talk about EPA having a high crime rate, what they’re talking about is how houses are going for a steal!

This house comes with a tankless water heater. Amazing. And, since it’s conveniently located within walking distance to Home Depot, you can easily furnish the rest of this house with pipes, walls, and more.

Most notable is the challenge the Realtor is presenting you: “BE CREATIVE, MAKE OFFERS!!!”.

Clearly, just offering a high price won’t help – might I recommend offering to sign a contract promising to feed the squirrels, or choosing one of the many other helpful tips I offer here to help buyers stand out?

Come on – you live in Silicon Valley. You can think of something innovative to do here!

This July 4th, please don’t use fireworks. They can be dangerous.

But if you do insist on using fireworks, please be careful. I’m not sure what the story behind this house is, and I certainly hope everyone is ok, but it’s pretty haunting…

395 LINKHORNE CT, San Jose 95133 (San Jose)
$249,900 Beds: 3 bed(s) Baths: 2 bath(s) MLS: 80810500

Bed/Bath: 3 / 2
SqFt: 1,101
Lot: 3,484 sq ft
Yr Built / Age: 1979 / 29 years
List Price: $249,900
Assoc Fee:

Remarks
REO property – NOT a short Sale. Fire damaged property. No interior access. Make offer subject to inspection. The fire damage inside this property extends to almost every room. Fire report available upon request. PLEASE DO NOT GO INSIDE !!IT IS NOT HEALTHY!

I doubt this was due to fireworks, but still remember that fire can be very dangerous:

The only thing I wanted to add was that this looks nothing like wreckage from movies/TV. In some ways, it’s more haunting because things are only partially destroyed.

Please be safe this July 4th.