September 30, 2007
Garage-less in Oakland
As I was pondering some of the homes I’ve reviewed in the last month I wondered if some are not selling due to lack of a garage and/or off-street parking. When we were looking for our first house, we saw some homes that were priced significantly less due to no garage. Although the low price-point was attractive to us, we realized that the ability to re-sell (with a garage making a house more marketable) as well as protecting our car was worth the extra money. Which brings me to 353 Lester. It’s a gorgeous craftsman shingle with a very good location and has been beautifully renovated. However, it’s been on the market 33 days and has had 1 price reduction. Looking at the description more closely, I now see that it has no garage (but it does list “tandem parking”; does that mean an off-street space?). For comparison, 432 Lester just went on the market in the last 24 hours. It too is a craftsman (stucco) and has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths (353 Lester has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths). It also does not have a garage (nor does it have “tandem parking” for that matter). However, it does have about $200,000 less to its name: its listed for $635,000 while 353 Lester is listed for $850,000. These two will be interesting to keep an eye on. Now all we need is a comparable home on Haddon Hill with a garage. Tips, anyone? Also, any thoughts on garage-or-not-to-garage?
SFNew Yorker said:
I went to the 432 Lester open house and found that there was a fair amount of street parking. The house shows well and the Haddon Hill location is very nice. I guess it would be priced much higher if it had a garage. It just depends on your price range. Everything is a trade-off. I think that if I have to make a choice, I personally will choose location over a garage.
October 3, 2007 10:28 AM
alison.ching said:
Thanks for your comment SF New Yorker. Yes, I suppose everything is a trade-off, especially in the Bay Area with its diversity of both housing and locations. It can be like comparing apples and oranges: you just can’t. Often what it gets down to in the end is your ideal vs. what’s out there, knowing what you don’t want to compromise and then accepting what you can live without.
October 3, 2007 11:55 AM