The Best of the Best: Sweet Digs Readers Provide the Juice
Woodside (left) annexed by Berkeley (right)?
Many of the most interesting views voiced on this blog appear in the Comments sections of my posts, which not everyone has the time or the inclination to read. So, today, I present some edited highlights so we all get the chance to hear the experts out there in the field:
On the appearance on the market of 1730 Sonoma Avenue, a 3-bedroom house with pool described as “Hawaii in Berkeley!”, for a cool $1.8 million:
“Yow! $896/sf! Has Berkeley been annexed by Woodside?” — Toady
“I like Monterey Market and Solano, but not for $896 a square foot!” — Mrbogue
“Looks pretty, but you’d think for a $1.8m house they could at least find a photographer who understands aperture.” — Mrbogue
On 1185 Glen Avenue, a 3/2.5 contemporary that was apparently on the market for a chunk of last year before taking a breather and coming back on again five days ago:
“I’ve seen so many listings that were on the market last year, heck, I’ve seen some where they RAISED the price from last year. If you see something interesting, put it in a spreadsheet. Then you’re not “confused” when the ethically challenged agent or owner re-lists it as a new listing.” — David
“Yeah, I hate it when the crust gets all dry and you have to microwave it to … Wait, we’re talking about houses? Does a house really get stale? Are we buying into the NEW! Exciting! bull that drives advertising, or are we buying a house?” — Red
Finally, on the delicate matter of a home, 1357 Northside, associated with a heartbreaking family murder/tragedy that has just come on the market:
“Is it callous to wonder how this home’s history will affect its final sales price?” — Toady
“’Is it callous to wonder how this home’s history will affect its final sales price?’ No, it’s perfectly normal, and indeed it does affect the price, by around 30% I think for murders within the home.” — Doug
“For what it’s worth, I believe the all the murders occurred in Tilden park, not that house.” — Daniel
“Chances are, if you buy a house more than 70ish years old, someone died in it at some point. Not murdered, necessarily of course, but died. It happens. People live, people die.” — David
And from there I can elegantly segue into a tip-off about a home that may hit the MLS soon, quite possibly after its owner moved on — in one way or another; 2 Encina Place in the Claremont area (pictured below) is holding an estate sale this weekend. Listed on Zillow as a 3/2.5, it has a nice garden and needs updating. Its Zestimate is $1,304,000.
Rumor has it there are a couple of homes coming up for sale soon in this tony neighborhood. I’ll keep you posted.
[Photo credits: Berkeley Campanile www.terragalleria.compicture.usca9424.html; Woodside Filoli Gardens www.californiatraveldreams.com]
