Hello Everyone,

This week there were actually fewer houses to see and not many I would go out of my way to see, so I pulled up a couple that just came on that look nice just to fill in the gap. Buyers are definitely still out there, especially under $1.5. The darling craftsman with the artist studio on Sierra Bonita that I mentioned last week got 19 offers!!! The one on El Molino went right into escrow!

I still can’t get a good feel for the homes close to the fire zone though. The one on Midwick reduced their price to $1,079,000 because they had no bites at $1,150,000. This was a cute house but there were some burnt properties surrounding the home and this home had no garage. Then there was one on Sonoma that was a total fixer on a bit larger lot but the street was completely intact. The house was a smidge over 1000 sqft and it sold for around $1 million! I took 2 different buyers with young families through both homes. They both nixed the one on Midwick saying that they were nervous about the toxins that would be stirred up in the dust during the construction process, as well as the fact that they would have to come up with the cash to build the garage. But then they both were interested in Sonoma…..which even though there would be no construction immediately on the block they would still be affected by toxins in the dust??? I think it is more about not knowing what is going to be built in those burnt lots that make buyers nervous!. It does seem that the homes where the street and/or neighborhood is still intact are selling…. though still at a reduced price from last year for sure!

Anyway, let’s get on with my favorites for this week!

I love what they have done with this home. If you can believe it, a gentleman who is a Pharmacist by trade designed this whole remodel! Most professional designers couldn’t do as good a job! It is a double lot so there is so much yard to the side, which is great because the living and dining areas flow out so nicely to that space. The house has great bones and then I just love how they added on to create that magnificent kitchen & family room! I mean the ceilings must be like 14ft high with beautiful wood beams. When you go that high with a ceiling it’s all about scale because if the space isn’t big enough it will feel weird. The finishes are just perfect for this style of home, keeping true to the period of the home yet with a modern touch! The 2 main drawbacks are that there are 2 bedrooms up and 2 bedrooms down and of course it’s better to have 3 bedrooms up. Also the fact that it’s on Orange Grove, but still definitely worth going out of your way to see this one.

I ran out of time so I didn’t get to see this one in person. But who can’t appreciate a beautifully restored Craftsman! All the original stained woodwork and I love that bay window where you can enjoy your morning cup of coffee as neighbors stroll by. The kitchen and baths look to be tastefully redone. The biggest problem is that you have such a big house on such a small lot….but still it’s South Pasadena so it will probably sell at that price anyway.

Even though the curb appeal is not my favorite. I really liked the inside of this house. It has a really great flow for 2200 sq.ft! I like that it has a nice open flow with an office downstairs and 3 bedrooms and 2 baths upstairs including a primary suite! It gets great light and it has been tastefully and recently remodeled throughout. The pool is a very nice feature, but I’m disappointed that you have to cross the driveway to get to it! The house sits on the corner so I would seriously consider moving the garage closer to the street if it can be done.

This one just hit the market, but it is a nice price for the size as long as you don’t care about a big yard. I like that they spent good money on wood stained doors and windows and that wall of built-ins is very attractive! The bathrooms are definitely dated but look to be in great condition. The kitchen has been remodeled with the theme of the house which is more of a Ranch with Craftsman influence!

This one also just hit the market and I just love that the owner put everything they had into turning an ordinary ranch into a Japanese inspired home! From the shoji screens to the landscaping! This house definitely has a theme, so either you love it or hate it…..not much in between here! I can’t wait to see this house…..it looks so cool!

This house has a lot of space for the money. This part of Palisade sits between Forest and Arroyo so it’s a good block and it’s a really big backyard!. It’s not perfect…..ergo the lower pricing. There is too much concrete in the backyard, but nothing a jackhammer can’t fix and then I would want to plant hedges in order to get some privacy. The original floor plan was 2 bedrooms and 1 bath off the main hallway. Then there’s a den off the kitchen that also connects to the hallway so it can be used as a bedroom and that’s where the 2nd bath is located. They added another bedroom off the back bedroom but you have to walk through the bedroom to get to it. I would actually combine those 2 rooms to create a really lovely master and then close the den off from the kitchen and use it as a bedroom. The hardwood floors aren’t in great condition and I’m not sure they can be saved…so set aside money for flooring. The smoke smell (and I don’t mean the fires) will go away once you paint and refinish the floors.