February 28, 2008

Along the Way…

I have to say that I had good intentions when I started writing this post, but in hindsight I see that it is all over the map, which tends to happen when you get in the car and drive around to take photos. Not only does the car make twists and turns as you roam the hills of Redwood City, but the mind seems to get on the same track. It all started with the need to take a photo of a new home on the market, one that made my Redwood City Editorial Pick of the Week. On my way, I passed two “Coming Soon” signs, so I stopped to note addresses and take a picture. Then along the way I saw some more homes, took some more pictures, and it all became a jumble. So I ask your forgiveness in advance, and hopefully you will find this more of a treasure hunt than a dead end.

First up is 3531 Highland, a 2400 square foot, three bedroom/two bath house located at the top of a fairly steep driveway. This is a “Coming Soon” property, but for a preview the agent has a website set up with 17 interior/exterior photos and a panoramic view of the kitchen/family room. The home appears to be completely updated, repainted, and in very good condition. My guess is that this home will be going on the market fairly soon, as it already looks staged. Price? No idea yet, but given the neighborhood and recent sales, probably in the $1.2mil range.

The second home I saw also had a “Coming Soon” sign. Located at 3567 Highland (photo above), I later found that this isn’t coming, it is one that has come and sat. It has been listed on Redfin for 50 days, so the sign is a bit outdated. A 4/2 with 1,792 square feet, it is listed for $1,239,000. While this price may have been spot on about a year ago, prices have fallen, as is evidenced by the home at 766 Canyon (4/3.5, 2450 sf), which is on its second listing, and has dropped it’s price (about 6 times) from the original $1,349,000 to the most recent reduction last week to $1,169,000. (To see this home, check out the open house Sunday from 1 to 4.)

Also on my little jaunt out and about, I came across 3724 Hamilton (photo below), a 3/2.5 split-level rancher on an 8,100 sf lot. A handsome home, it listed about a week ago at $1,359,000, which is considerably more than it sold for prior to remodeling (August 2005 for $1,025,000). There will be an open house this Sunday from 2 to 4.

And speaking of Open Homes, if you are up in this neck of the woods, there are 3 homes open on Lakeview Way, all within 2 blocks of each other:

555 Lakeview Way, 5/4 $ 1,949,000 Sat 13:30-16:30 Sun 13:30-16:30
628 Lakeview Way, 4/3.5 $ 1,299,950 Sun 13:00-16:00
744 Lakeview Way, 4/3.5 $ 1,899,950 Sun 13:00-16:00

Miscellaneous Bonus: I just want to point you in the direction of a blog post over at San Francisco Schtuff, which illustrated, to my horror, a conversation between agents. No names are listed, so we can’t steer you away from incompetence, but you should know that not all agents have your best interests at heart. Check out “Can We See The House Before Writing An Offer?“