We haven’t looked at condos for a while. Let’s see what’s on the market:

165 E Okeefe St ##3, Menlo Park, CA 94303 MLS# 40385413 – Property Details
$399,000

* Status: Active
* Bedroom: 2
* Bathroom: 1&1/2
* Year Built: 1983
* Lot Size: N/A
* Square Footage: 1182
* List Date: 12/12/2008
* Garage Spaces: 1

*PRICE REDUCED!*Townhouse ft.2BR/1.5BATH, SPACIOUS, easy flowing layout frm kitchen to LR. Great Deck area for entertainment and gorgeous fireplace – also ft LOTS of CLOSET SPACES, Kitchen fit for a natural cook, plantation shutters and EASY access to FREEWAYS and CLOSE to DTN Menlo Park & Shopping!

Phew. Sunnyvale and Mountain View had me all worried. Fortunately Menlo Park steps up to shore up the market for condos. Sure this is slightly bigger than the other ones, but at $399k this is a clear $100k more than the others. And that’s a good thing.

I think the best part about this condo, besides the price, is the fact that it has a kitchen that is fit for a natural cook. Natural cooking is all the rage these days, so let’s see how this kitchen promotes that:

You see, that giant tube coming down is actually a solar tube. So basically, you’ll be cooking your food with direct sunlight. And rain water. You can’t get more natural than that!

355 Woodland Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 Scotts Valley North MLS# 80850169 – Property Details
$299,900

* Status: Active
* Bedroom: 3
* Bathroom: 2
* Year Built: 1979
* Lot Size: 39500
* Square Footage: 1360
* List Date: 12/18/2008
* Garage Spaces: 1

* MLS#: 80850169
Great opportunity to own a piece of Scotts Valley! Home details are from last MLS listing. Home was left in the middle of major recontruction. Fixer upper or tear down. No kitchen, only one bath. Please view with caution. Unsafe deck. The information is provided by others and has not been verified by CENTURY 21 Alpha, seller or listing agent. Not a short sale!

Burbed doesn’t usually venture to Scotts Valley, but fortunately Burbed reader Scott (no relation) did and this is what he found!

Wowsers. Talk about affordable. And its just a short commute on beautiful 17.

The fact that this is half finished is what makes this an amazing deal. Look at some of the work that has been done already:

If that’s not an awesome design I don’t know what is. After a long day of work you can come home, soak in the bathtub, and admire nature all at the same time. Wowsers. And if you have to go potty, it’s right next to it!

This house is just waiting for you to complete the masterpiece. Quick! How will you complete this:

Wow. I think the boundaries between space and time are collapsing here. Hey, that means you can build an unpermitted addition into the 4th or 5th dimension!

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.

1601 Havana Dr, San Jose, CA 95122 Alum Rock MLS# 80814535 – Property Details

1601 Havana Dr, San Jose, CA
$269,900

* Status: Active
* Bedroom: 3
* Bathroom: 2
* Year Built: 1959
* Lot Size: 5800
* Square Footage: 1040
* List Date: 6/9/2008
* Garage Spaces: 1
PRICE REDUCTION! TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROPERTY IN GREAT CONDITION, LARGE CORNER LOT WITH SIDE YARD ENTRANCE, ADDITIONAL BONUS AREA IN BACKYARD. PERGO FLOORING, TEXTURED WALLS, GRANITE KITCHEN. REO/EASY PROCESS NOT A SHORT SALE CALL ME DIRECT WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

Thanks to Burbed reader Garret for this find. Garret was wondering if this house was built on dead houses. A Frankenstein’s monster of houses.

Huh? All I see is a fantastic looking bridge – very zen in East San Jose!

Maybe a closer examination of the photos may be required.

Uh. Interesting use of orange and lime(?) green. It totally has this tropical feel that makes me think of Cuba – how fitting for the street name.

I like the plant. It’s an interesting study in isolation.

And check it out, you don’t need to move to Belmont to have granite everywhere - you can save a few hundred thousand and live in East San Jose to get the same effect!

At this price, I don’t know how you could afford not to buy this house!

So where’s this bonus area that the description mentions?

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!

10049 IMPERIAL Ave Cupertino, CA 95014
Price: $828,000

Beds:     2
Baths:     1
Sq. Ft.:     672
$/Sq. Ft.:     $1,232
Lot Size:     7,130 Sq. Ft.
Age (Years):    68
Year Built:    1940
Type:    Detached Single Family
Style:    Cottage/Bungalow
Stories:    1 Story
Neighborhood:    Cupertino
County:     Santa Clara
MLS#:     80823175
Source:     MLSListings
Status:     Active
On Redfin:     96 days
Unsold in 90+ days
MONTA VISTA BUNGALOW ZONED ML SOLD AS-IS TRUSTEE SALE. TOP CUPERTINO SCHOOLS. NEAR PARKS, DEEP CLIFF GOLF COURSE, DE ANZA, HWY 85 & 280. SHOW AFTER 4:30PM W/ 24 HOUR NOTICE.

More happy news for these glum times – $1232 per square foot. Woot!

This is exactly the kind of cheering up that people here in the Real Bay Area needed! After all, it’s Cupertino!

Oh but wait, it gets better! Let’s look at this amazing prime location:

Can you say easy access to shopping? I don’t know what kind of stores those are, but heck, they’re convenient. And look – you’ve got a neighbor who appreciates cars!

Win win win!

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?

It’s Friday! Time to wrap up San Jose week! Here’s the final entry!

3262 Firth Way, San Jose, CA 95121 Evergreen MLS# 80776102 – Property Details
$299,000

* Status: Active
* Bedroom: 2
* Bathroom: 1
* Year Built: 1971
* Lot Size: 5300
* Square Footage: 805
* List Date: 2/2/2008
* Garage Spaces: 2

* MLS#: 80776102
Beautiful home close to freeway and shopping center. New hardwood floor and remodeled bathroom. Go and show it.

Are there any Realtor photo competitions coming up soon? I’d really like to enter this photo into a competition. The haunting light really enthralls attracts me. It has this ominous beckoning sensation – telling me to come to the house. That once I do, the glory of light and hope will instantly radiate as the SOLD sign is planted into the fertile soil.

It’s quite the breathless composition – wouldn’t you agree?

I also like the Realtor’s captivating caption: “Go and show it.” Go and show it – I command thee. Biblical reference?

I think it’s time for a captioning contest – what would you call this photo?

I’m thinking: “Good Morning San Jose”

Welcome to Day 3 of San Jose week!

Evergreen, San Jose, CA 95121 MLS# 80777766 – Property Details
$375,000

* Status: Active
* Bedroom: 3
* Bathroom: 1&1/2
* Year Built: 1971
* Lot Size: 5200
* Square Footage: 910
* List Date: 2/10/2008

* Garage Spaces: 2
Charming 3 bedroom/1.5 bath ranch style home. Ready to move in! (Remodeled 2 years ago – kitchen/paint/texture/carpet)** BANK-APPROVED SHORT SALE !**

When I looked at this entry, the first thing I wondered was: What? No address? That’s peculiar!

But that’s when I remembered and realized that many rich and famous people do not want their addresses listed because they’re afraid of home invasions and robberies. Security is on the top of everyone’s minds these days – and no wonder. Crime is up again unfortunately. That’s why this house has its address hidden.

But then I started wondering – does this house come with the dubs or not? If it doesn’t come with the dubs, then no deal!

Dubs – oh yeah. They’ll make any house classy!

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!