Los Angeles | $ 899,000
A 1953 two bedroom, two and a half bathroom ranch home with extra space in a converted garage on 0.1 acre lot
This home is located in the Valley Glen neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley, about a half-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles on Interstate 101. The campus of Los Angeles Valley College, a community college that serves approximately 18,000 full-time and part-time students , is two blocks away. The NoHo Arts District, part of North Hollywood known for its small theaters, vintage boutiques, and gastro pubs, is a 10-minute drive away. Ventura Boulevard, the valley's main thoroughfare, is about 5 km south.
Size: 1,859 square feet
Price per square foot: $ 484
Inside: A wide driveway leads from the street to the house's double front doors. The foyer has wooden floors and a guest toilet on the right. Straight ahead is a living room with white vaulted ceilings, a fireplace with traditional plaster cladding and two double doors to the rear terrace.
To the left of the entrance is a kitchen that has been updated with quartz counters and stainless steel appliances by the sellers who bought the house in 2011. The kitchen is connected to the dining room and a wide arched door connects the dining room to the living room.
A hallway from the living room leads to the two bedrooms. The guest room has a window to the front yard, plus space for a queen-size bed and desk. The primary suite at the end of the hall has the original brass and crystal fittings on the doors and access to the rear terrace. The recently updated bathroom has a bathtub, separate walk-in shower and new hardwood floors.
Off the dining room is a bathroom with a shower and a new vanity. A few steps down is the garage, which the sellers have converted into additional living space, with a wall of built-in wardrobes and shelving that doubles as the entertainment center and barn-style sliding doors that lead to the driveway.
Outside space: Next to the living room and the master bedroom is a paved terrace with space for a barbecue and garden furniture. Behind the terrace, the back yard is overgrown with grass, with old citrus trees on the edge. Two cars fit comfortably in the driveway.
Taxes: $ 11,419 (estimated)
Contact: Kevin Tidwell, Rodeo Realty, 310-383-3623; kevintidwell.com
Oakland | $ 899,000
A three bedroom, one and a half bathroom home built in 1972 on 0.1 acre lot
This home is in the Montclair part of Oakland on the west side of the Oakland Hills. Montclair Village, a shopping area with a hardware store, several bakeries, and a weekly farmers market, is a 10-minute walk (or a 3-minute drive) away. The picnic areas and hiking and walking trails of a number of parks – Shepherd Canyon Park, Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, and Joaquin Miller Park – are just a short drive away. Downtown Berkeley is about 20 minutes northwest. Downtown Oakland is a 15-minute drive away.
Size: 1,152 square feet
Price per square foot: $ 780
Inside: A steep driveway leads from the street to the entrance of the house with its redwood porch. The front door leads into a small foyer with stairs on the left that lead to the second level and a guest toilet at the bottom of the stairs.
A wide door on the right side of the foyer leads to the open living area with wooden floors, a wood fireplace and two windows leading to the veranda. A dining area is across from sliding glass doors that lead to the rear terrace. A breakfast bar with seating for three separates this space from the kitchen, which has been updated by the vendors. The appliances are stainless steel and the cabinets are white with a white subway tile backsplash. Next to the refrigerator is a small laundry area with a washing machine and dryer.
From the hallway on the upper floor, a hallway connects the three bedrooms. Two of the roughly equal rooms offer space for large beds and desks. At the back of the house is the master bedroom with a private balcony for a coffee table and chairs. The bathroom is off the main hallway and has a combined bath and shower.
Outside space: Sliding glass doors lead from the main level to the deck, That has a small storage shed and space for a dining table and chairs. A low rock wall separates the deck from a succulent garden. The driveway has space for several cars.
Taxes: $ 10,518 (estimated)
Contact: Jenny Wang, Golden Gate Sotheby & # 39; s International Realty, 510-289-1022; sothebysrealty.com
San Jose | $ 899,000
An 1881 three bedroom, three bath Victorian house on 0.15 acre lot
This Victorian home was built in 1881 and is located in the heart of downtown San Jose, the largest city in Northern California and in the center of Silicon Valley. A complex that includes the city's Convention Center, Children's Museum, and the Performing Arts Center is about a mile and a half northwest, and the Winchester Mystery House, a Victorian-era landmark, is about 10 minutes' drive away.
The home has an updated kitchen, as well as new HVAC and electrical systems, as well as solar power and chargers for two electric cars. Not included in the area are a partially completed basement and a tiny house in the backyard.
Size: 1,584 square feet
Price per square foot: $ 568
Inside: Steps from the sidewalk lead to the covered porch, which, like the rest of the exterior, is painted in the luscious colors common in homes of the time.
The lead-in door leads into a foyer that connects the main living rooms. The sunny living room has original wooden floors and a bay with windows facing the street. From this room an arched door leads to the dining room which is oriented to the side of the property with moldings and three windows.
Connected to the dining room is the kitchen, which has been updated by a previous owner. There is a garden window above the sink, and the area is large enough to accommodate a second dining table. Next to the kitchen is a butler pantry and laundry room with additional storage space.
A study that could be used as a second living room is also located next to the entrance. The windows face the veranda and a spiral staircase to the second level.
Next to the study is the master bedroom, which is accessible from the dining room. There is plenty of storage space: in addition to a deep cupboard, there is a built-in cupboard with drawers. The private bathroom, which can also be reached through a door next to the kitchen, is kept in mint black and equipped with tiles in the style of the 1930s and a combination of bathtub and shower.
The second floor functions as a guest suite with a sitting area at the top of the stairs and French doors that lead to a bedroom with space for a queen bed. Another room on this level is large enough to hold a large bed or desk. A bathroom off the sitting area has a claw-foot tub and vanity.
Stairs lead down from the kitchen to a partially completed basement; Half of the room is used as a storage room and the other half contains a family room and bedroom, as well as a bathroom with a shower cubicle.
Outside space: The back yard is overgrown with grass, with a well-tended vegetable garden and several old trees that provide shade. A stone path, framed by flowering bushes and potted succulents, leads to a tiny house with a bathroom and small kitchen, plus a loft bed. The driveway has space for a car.
Taxes: $ 10,788 (estimated)
Contact: Meryle Sussman, Intero Real Estate Services, 650-208-3841; 1111salmadenave.com
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