Archive for November, 2007
November 30, 2007
What can $1 million dollars and under get you in Marin? Probably a bit more these days than past. So, it’s worth it to go out this Sunday and browse around the various neighborhoods of Marin and see how far your dollar can go. Interesting to note, but not surprising news, that southern Marin doesn’t give you as much as central Marin. The southern Marin homes are both townhome/ condos while for a bit more you can get a single family home in San Rafael.
All are open on Sunday from 1/2 - 4 PM.
39 Sandpiper Cir, Corte Madera - 2 Beds, 3 Baths, 1725 SF, $829,000: In northern Corte Madera, near the border of Larkspur is this fairly large 2 bedroom townhome. Convenient access and well maintained.
65 Eucalyptus Knoll St, Mill Valley - 2 Beds, 3 Baths, 1745 SF, $909,500: In the Eucalpytus Knoll complex, this condo/ townhouse has bay views. On the market now for 85 days, this has been reduced from $925,000.
58 Marina Court Dr, San Rafael - 4 Beds, 3 Baths, 2204 SF, $969,000: Reduced from $1,025,000, this lovely house is near the Pt. San Pedro area. With views and a nice in-law unit for your upcoming holiday visiting family.
133 Reservoir Rd, San Rafael - 4 Beds, 4 Baths, 1627 SF, $998,000: Off of the Gerstle Park area of San Rafael, this house sits on a large lot and generates its own electricity. It’s been reduced from the original ask of $1,049,000 and sits on almost 1/4 of an acre. You can go green here.
November 30, 2007
Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore are sporting a range of open homes this weekend. Some are new on the market and others have been around awhile. Today’s highlights are newbies (less than 14 DOM) and the self-explanatory ninety-plusses.
Dublin
Newbie: $999,000 5bd/3ba 5570 Newfields Ln. 1 DOM Open Sunday 1PM-4PM
Newbie: $569,000 5bd/2.5ba 4631 Sandyford Ct. 1 DOM Open Sunday 1PM-4PM
90-Plus: $609,000 11750 Silvergate Dr. 3bd/2ba 146 DOM Open Saturday 1PM-4:30PM and Sunday 1PM-4PM
Pleasanton
Newbie: $428,000 655 Concord Pl. 2bd/1.5ba 1 DOM Open Saturday 1PM-4PM
Newbie: $2,175,000 1124 Piemonte Dr. 5bd/5ba 9 DOM Open Sunday 1PM-4PM
90-Plus: $2,849,000 8506 Lupine Ct. 6bd/5.5ba 94 DOM Open Sunday 1PM-4PM
90-Plus: $499,900 7303 Stonedale Dr. 2bd/2ba 139 DOM Open Sunday 1PM-4PM
Livermore
Newbie: $634,900 6372 Owl Way 4bd/2.5ba 6 DOM Open Sunday 12PM-4PM
90-Plus: $1,399,900 2294 Minerva Ct. 5bd/4.5ba 135 DOM Open Saturday & Sunday 1PM-4PM
90-Plus: $312,000 1001 Murrieta Blvd. #40 2bd/1ba 118 DOM Open Saturday 12PM-3PM
90-Plus: $529,900 1006 Baltusrol Rd. 4bd/2.5ba 196 DOM Open Sunday 1PM-4PM
November 30, 2007
Always a good indication of the state of play, this week’s homes sold data for Berkeley (as in homes recorded as having been sold last week) clearly demonstrate that the bubble has largely burst even in the city’s higher-end neighborhoods.
The beautifully appointed traditional home at 3202 Claremont Avenue (above) sold fast, but went for $50,000 less than its asking price.
Over in the north Berkeley hills, the unusually designed “12-sided house” (above) at 171 Hill Road (which had our Bay Area Sweet Digs editor Susan Brady intrigued) sold for $885,000, 11% less than its original asking price of $995,000 — and that was after a price cut too.
Enough said.
November 30, 2007
Is 13 an unlucky number? If home pricing data is an indicator, it surely is.
According to Wednesday’s Associated Press, government data was just released that showed a 0.4 % overall dip in home prices across the US. Hardest hit were California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada and Rhode Island. 20 states showed dips, and ironically, the ones showing dips were the same states showing the sharpest increases in years gone by.
Some factors that may stem this negative tide include a recent drop in interest rates by the Federal Reserve, Governor Arnold working with major banks to provide programs where introductory interest rates will be retained for those who can’t make the higher payments, and new equity sharing plans that will allow those without substantial down payments to enter the housing market.
November 30, 2007
Our Daily Stats board turned up five hot Burlingame properties today. The first is located at 2880 Adeline Drive up in the Burlingame Hills/Skyline neighborhood. This two-story contemporary home has 1950 sf with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. Surrounded by oaks, the house has floor-to-ceiling windows in some rooms, walls of windows in other, and generally is very light, with views of the bay and the canyon. On the market 67 days, it is listed for $1,398,000. (Bonus: It is open this Sunday from 1-4.) Also in this neighborhood is a larger home on Skyview Drive with 2,040 square feet and 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths. A bit boxy, it does sit on a cul-de-sac and has had some remodeling. It has been waiting 77 days to find a buyer willing to pay $1,399,000. Next on our list is a home in the Burlingame Village neighborhood with eager sellers. An 1,810 sf home, it also has 3 bedroom and 2.5 baths, but not near the character of listing #1. On the market 53 days, it is priced more moderately at $1,030,000. Next up is a smaller 2/1 located at 1124 Rhinette Avenue. This ranch-style home is closer to downtown, has 1,120 sf, plus a separate cottage in the back. Priced at $895,000 and on the market just over one month. The last listing is at 123 Fey Drive, in the same neighborhood as the first two properties. It is the largest of the bunch at 3,520 square feet, but with only 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths. The newest home of them all, it is a three-story majestic looking home with panoramic views of the hills. On almost half an acre, it sold last year for an even $2 mil and is now on the market 10 days for $2,200,000.
November 30, 2007
FREMONT
Lowest: 3791 Milton Ter. – 1/1 – 796 SF $318,995 Sun 1:30-4:30
Mid: 38457 Logan Dr. – 4/2 – 1637 SF $699,950 Sun. 1:30-5:00
Highest: 41903 Corte Santa Barbara – 3/2 – 2736 SF $699,950 Sun. 1:30-5
HAYWARD
Lowest: 677 Atherton Pl. – 3/3 – 1224 SF $484,888 Sun. 1:30-4:30
Mid: 19868 Kennedy Park Pl. – 3/2.5 – 1550 SF $595,000 Sat. 1-4
Highest: 29938 Sugar Maple Ct. – 5/3 – 2958 SF $1,079,888 Sun. 1-4
MILPITAS
Lowest: 307 N. Temple Dr. – 2/1.5 – 976 SF $380,000 Sun. 1-4
Mid: 1466 Ashland Dr. – 3/2 – 995 SF $579,000 Sat. 1-4
Highest: 110 Meadowland Dr. – 4/3.5 – 2851 SF $949,888 Sat./Sun. 1:30-4:30
NEWARK
36185 Rosewood Dr. – 3/1.5 – 1036 SF $477,777 Sun. 1-3
UNION CITY
Lowest: 33423-3rd St. – 2/1 – 1152 SF $499,999 Sun. 1-4
Mid: 109 Windflower Ln. – 3/2.5 – 1772 SF $699,000 Sat. 11-2
Highest: 2412 Heritage Way – 4/2.5 – 3020 SF $1,029,950 Sat. 11-7
REAL ESTATE TERMINOLOGY:
Crawl Hole - Exterior or interior opening permitting access underneath a building, as building codes may require.
November 30, 2007
It might be the slowest time of the year for home sales, but there’s always something going on if you keep your eyes peeled.
The former FSBO brown shingle home on the corner of Gilbert and Ridgeway (above) which I flagged up in early October has now “gone conventional” and hired an agent and is selling as probate. Although the exterior looks a little shabby, the inside spaces look well proportioned. There’s potential here for $650,000 in a nice ‘hood.
Another property I mentioned recently — the $800,000 duplex with house potential at 5455 Shafter Avenue is pending — I am intrigued to learn its sales price as the agent told me he thought it was a whopping $100K overpriced!
I’m also watching a home on the same block of Shafter which looks like being in the final stages of a major renovation. A near-wreck 18 months ago it was raised and a story was added. There then followed months of painstakingly slow tinkering, but it looks like the craftsman-like woodwork that is now being completed will allow it to stand proud in what is a pretty nice part of Rockridge.
Finally, a tipster tells me 118 The Uplands (above) in Berkeley’s Claremont area is in contract for $1,545,000. This elegant home went on the market in early September for $1,800,000, was rapidly reduced to $1,650,00 and now looks like going for 14% under its asking. In this neighborhood, that’s real news.
November 30, 2007
Price reductions continue in the South Bay, as the housing market continues to cool. It is hard to tell when the market will bottom out, but in the meantime, there are some great bargains in this buyer’s market.
Some of these bargains include:
1) Listed on Craigslist, this 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath home located on Dailey at Calahan in San Jose was just reduced $100k to $699,000. It has a beautifully landscaped backyard from the photos, and a hot tub.
2) Also listed on Craigslist is a 2 story European Villa with 2938 square feet of living space, 4 bedrooms, and 3.5 baths. Located in South San Jose, this home was just reduced by $50K to $1,024,888. It is also listed as a possible rent-to-own.
3) 14848 Leigh Ave in San Jose is located right next to Los Gatos, and boasts a 11,000 square foot lot. It is a 3 bedroom, one bathroom home with a pool, and has just been reduced $40k to $729,999.
Most of the reductions I see are in San Jose - Cupertino and Sunnyvale appear to be holding prices steady while Los Gatos is actually going up.
November 30, 2007
How about we play a new game on Fridays and test your knowledge of the loony local real estate market? I will bring you questions on local real estate, whether it be a listing, a sale, a gimmick, or new point and you tell me if it is true or false? Answers will be provided on Monday. Oh, and no cheating by searching Redfin (or the competitor’s) databases.
(1) A standard attached home in the Sunset District of San Francisco is listed for $629,000. It is 65+ years old, has about 1100 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths, ocean views, and a nice back yard. After two weeks, the agent takes offers. Everyone is astounded when 29 offers flood in and the home goes for over asking. Oh, and did I mention that the roof leaks, there is water damage throughout, as well as mold and dry rot?
(2) A small 750+ sf cabin located above Los Gatos on just over 1.5 acres goes on the market for $422,000. One bedroom, one bath, with rustic features, the home has been well maintained and in the same family since it was built in the 1940s. The home goes unsold in the 90-day listing period.
(3) Foreclosures in Emeryville have reached an all-time high. Approximately 17% of all mortgages that originated in 2005 have defaulted and have been or are in foreclosure at this time and home prices overall have dropped 5.6% in the third quarter of 2007.
Recent Sweet Digs Posts:
Open Houses: Daly City, SF, Mid-Peninsula, Richmond
Recent Home Sales in Santa Clara
Designing Wizardry - Holiday Lights
Craftsman on Kingsland: Today’s Most Popular
SF: Subject to Tenants’ Rights
November 29, 2007
Prices definitely look lower in Daly City, compared to earlier this year and especially compared to San Francisco. Considering Daly City’s proximity to the ocean, convenience to San Mateo, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, and San Francisco, it’s a great place to consider for settling down. Here are a few properties open this weekend. Let us know if you visit any; we’d love some candid reviews!
3043 Geneva Ave, Daly City: 900 SF, 2 bed, 1 bath for $579,999. Open Sun 1-4pm.
425 Higate Dr, Daly City: 1760 SF, 3 bed, 2.5 bath for $583,500. Open Sun 2-4pm.
205 Oak Ct., Daly City: 1200 SF, 3 bed, 2 bath for $515,000. Open Sun 2-4pm.
797 Beechwood Dr, Daly City: 1060 SF, 2 bed, 1 bath for $599,000. Open Sun 1-4pm.
299 Willits St, Daly City: 1500 SF, 3 bed, 2 bath for $599,000. Open Sun 1-4pm.
photo credit: Almanac-Inside Bay Area.com
