Hello Everyone! So right now the $1 mill to like $1.2 mill range is going bonkers. Everything cute seems to be getting 18 offers! Now mind you the ones getting 18 offers are starting under a mill, but then going for $1.1 to $1.2 in most cases….crazy right now! I think the main problem is that there is not enough inventory. Literally, so much of the inventory in that price range were homes in the better transitional pockets of West Altadena and now that has all burned! This week there were cute cheap homes and amazing luxury homes and not much in between. But let’s get started! 1535 Circle Dr. San Marino $8,780,000 5bd & 7.5ba 6,808 sq.ft 32,156 lot Open Sunday 2-4 pm It’s amazing to me how many of these luxury homes are actually having open houses! This home is very grand indeed! It was actually built in 2002. They tore down a modest ranch style home and built this French Chateau Estate in its place. The ceilings are so high you get an echo in the living room! I do love the stonework in the front except for the border of stone around the windows…..I think that looks off. Because it was built in 2002 the finishes are dated, but I really wouldn’t change too much because it goes with the overall style of the home. It sits on an acre of lushly landscaped grounds….as you would expect since the previous owners made their money in the Garden Nursery business! 620 S Hill Ave. Pasadena $5,995,000 4bd & 5.5ba 4,615 sq.ft 2,9022 lot Open Sunday 2-5pm This home has a “U” shaped layout which I love because so many areas open to the yard spaces and this yard space is amazing! If nothing else, go to experience the splendor of that back yard…pictures don’t do it justice! Much like the house on Circle drive the upgrades are dated, but again so well done for the time that I am sure you can find a way to work with what is there and make minor changes to modernize. Of course, if you have $6,000,000 then you probably have the money to start over with another remodel! 1351 Sonoma Dr. Altadena $2,475,000 4bd & 3ba 2,990 sq.ft 13,860 lot Open Saturday 1-3 & Sunday 2-4 pm I love the flow and feel of this home with that beautiful formal living room that flows out to the side porch and the dining room also opens to that space. The kitchen is huge and open to the family room. All the living areas flow in and out of each other very comfortably. They did a very tasteful job remodeling everything with high quality finishes. For me there is a little too much white and for example I would like to change out the backsplash to tile rather than the countertop material, but again things that can be easily addressed for your personal taste! 970 Lehigh St. Altadena $1,499,000 3bd & 2ba 1,792 sq.ft 7,326 lot Open Sunday 1-4 pm Tucked away at the top of the Arroyo, lies this cute mid century ranch redo! The living areas are nicely opened up to each other and it has been nicely remodeled. You can tell it used to be a 2 bedroom house, but they did a nice job adding the primary suite. They created a hallway that leads to a mini den and then to the primary suite. It is a very good idea because you don’t have direct access from the living areas to the yard, but that hallway leading to the den improves the flow. Of course, then the den opens to that magnificent backyard! It is mostly pool and concrete patios, but they have enough greenery all around the edges of the property that it feels nice! 179 N Ivy Ave. Monrovia $995,000 4bd & 3ba 1,874 sq.ft 6,601 lot Open Saturday & Sunday, 1-4 pm I haven’t had a chance to see this one, but it is a great price for a duplex this size! You have a darling craftsman in the front with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and then you have a simple 50s unit in the back that has 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. I like that it sits on the corner because it is easier to create more separation between the units! Definitely a nice opportunity to get your foot in the door with the help of rental income from the back unit! 738 Stonehurst Dr. Altadena $980,000 2bd & 1ba 1,282 sq.ft 6,160 lot Open Saturday & Sunday, 1-4 pm This one was on the market at the end of the year and it didn’t sell. I’m guessing because of that kitchen and the yard not being big enough. Still, I like it for the price. I like the floor plan and the den off the living room. It has a nice open flow. I of course would want to put in a real kitchen and in the bathroom I would change the tub to a tub/shower combo and then take out the shower so I can have a nice large vanity with 2 sinks. I know that may seem like a lot, but the bathroom job can wait and the kitchen can too. Though I would do the kitchen as soon as I could….for sure! 2696 Casitas Ave. Altadena $949,000 3bd & 2ba 1,290 sq.ft 10,000 lot Open Sunday 2-5 pm This block of Casitas is not the busy part between Ventura & Altadena drive….so that’s good. It is a very nice value for the money and I’m sure it will also get like 18 offers! It has been tastefully remodeled and they opened up the living areas to each other which I like. The floor plan is a little quirky in that they added on a 3rd room and bath, but you get to it by going through the tight hallway where the laundry is located. Technically that is the primary suite, but I think it works so much better as a family room like they have it staged now. It opens nicely to the expansive backyard. The previous owner loved basketball, because there is a huge concrete area, professional hoop and lights! I am not a basketball player, so I would like to jackhammer some of that concrete and create a more landscaped area, but a relatively easy fix.
