Sebastopol: Pleasantville… And the Sound of Your Own Hammer.
Sebastopol is one of the best places to live in Sonoma County. It’s pretty. It’s hip, in a farmy, get-your-wheat-grass-on sort of way. It’s a nuclear-free zone. Which means that no trucks carrying weapons of mass destruction are allowed to drive on any of the roads here, and the Farm Trails are no exception. Make no mistake, Sebastopol does have its fair share of terrorists, but most are quite tiny, safely ensconced in Volvo wagons and on their way to Waldorf School. Still, it’s good to feel protected.
This house is very close to Ragle Park which is especially great if you have a kid that plays soccer or a dog as your cross trainer. It’s also way too close to the road, which is not good if your pup is especially frisky or your child is young. Built in 1940, it’s been abused ever since. It needs more than a face lift. The added issue of country-style utilities (well, septic and propane) can pose big problems for the uninitiated.
The agent calls it a fabulous opportunity to re-build on level 1.6 acre lot near Ragle Ranch Park & Atascadero Creek. Perfect for organic gardening and a contractor’s delight. Fabulous opportunity to re-build? Contractor’s delight? I just love real estate talk. What she means is that the new owner of this place better have lots of energy and cash left at the close of escrow. Still, it’s nice to see anything in Sebastopol with acreage coming in at under $600,000. An honest mess is better than one that’s been airbrushed white, so if you are VERY resourceful and creative, and you know the difference between a serious problem and a smelly nuisance this could be your deal. If not, I think that spending an extra $150,000 to $200,000 on a house that’s beefier would be a wise move. Think of it as getting a salad with your main course. You know that the salad will add around 25% to the total bill. But the salad adds essential nutrients and can sometimes be more satisfying than the main course. You’re committed to spending – sometimes if you spring for just a little more upfront, it’s less likely that you’ll leave hungry.
