Lots of Lingering

Because last week was Thanksgiving and the real estate market took a break, there was an abundance of new properties open this Tuesday.  I put a lot of time the night before and in the morning into deciding which ones to visit and was really pleased with my choices - all three were houses I found myself wanting to linger in.

1) Beachwood Canyon Beauty - the pictures hardly do this exquisite Spanish home justice.  The house is built into the hillside, there are beautiful canyon views from just about every room and almost all open up onto balconies.  For this reason, it's not really a kid friendly family home, but absolutely perfect for anyone else.  The master bedroom/bathroom/dressing room/closet suite on the lower level was one of the most romantic and luxurious I've seen.  It's priced at $1.679,000.  Really hard to imagine how anyone could bear to move out of it.

Wood beamed living room with doors that open onto balcony

kitchen with top of the line appliances and wrap around view

large airy romantic master bedroom

walk-in closet with shoe display

2) The next house I saw was this Classic in Los Feliz -  Los Feliz is a very special part of Los Angeles .  I lived there during the first 7 years I was in Los Angeles and there's a part of me that wishes I never moved West.   Just on the other side of Hollywood, it seems a world away and always feels like home.  This 5 bdrm, 3.5 ba house (priced at $1,695,000) exemplifies that feeling. It would be the perfect family house to grow up in.

3) The last stop of the day was this modern farmhouse in the Silverlake hills designed by architect Barbara Bestor. The house has just been reduced by $100,000 to $825,000.   I loved the design of this house too, but the layout made it another hard fit for a family or anyone seeking a bit of privacy. Another one that would be best for a single person or a couple without kids.  There was a great detached studio that would also be a perfect artist's studio.

house sits on large corner lot

Open living, dining & kitchen

Master Bedroom on 2nd level

Master Bath

Large upper deck with treetop & canyon views

Permitted detached studio with bath

A Few Small Gems

As I drove around today, I realized my reactions to houses can be categorized in one out of 3 different ways.  I either 1) get excited and immediately want to start spreading the word, 2) feel like "Hmmmm nice, but lacks personality" or 3) just want to run away!

 The following 4 small gems all elicited reaction #1 today.  It's especially satisfying to see so many great properties at attractive price points in very accessible parts of LA.

1) Wilshire Vista 2bdrm, 2 ba updated Spanish - spacious rooms, lots of light, nice layout.  $629,000

Large Master had french doors and fireplace

2) My favorite of the day - Newly remodeled and upgraded Craftsman 3bd, 2ba Bungalow in Country Club Park.  This is a great largely unknown neighborhood just on the outskirts of Hancock Park.  I loved how the extensive original woodwork in the house was preserved, yet given a lighter, more modern approach in all the right places.  In addition to the 3 bedrooms, there was also a nice sized office/den.  This one's priced at $539,000.  I want it!

 

 3) Another Charming Wilshire Vista home - 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom.  This one had the most personality and warmth.  Although it looks small on the outside, the interior was actually quite spacious.  It would be very easy to live here.

4) Last but not least, I made my way up to Beachwood Canyon in the Hollywood Hills to see this Mid-Century.  This house had an unobstructed panorama of truly amazing views.  To the right was the Hollywood Sign, Straight ahead was the Griffith Observatory, to the right a postcard shot of the Downtown Skyline.  There was also a studio/office space and 1/2 ba accessible thru a separate entrance downstairs, and lots of room on that level to expand.  $799,000

Kitchen with new Viking stove and granite counters

great open layout

Large deck runs width of the house

wake up  every day to the amazing view!

3 Hours/6 Neighborhoods

I love driving around LA and seeing how everyone lives.  

Today I made my way thru a vast array of properties in Los Feliz, Silverlake, Koreatown, Hancock Park, West Hollywood, and an area called Faircrest Heights which is S. of Pico, W. of Fairfax.  I saw lots of fixers with potential (some with great views), and a few that were special, but a bit pricey.  My favorite was, of course, the last one that I saw in  Faircrest Heights.  It's a completely updated traditional that's brand new on the market.  I'm well familiar with this area as my kids go to school 2 blks away. 

3 Bdrms, 2.5 Ba, priced at $789,000

Farmhouse Sink is a nice touch!

Master Suite starts with this sitting room/den

Here's a few other pics of some of the other highlights of the day.

W.Hollywood Remodeled Spanish with nice outdoor
entertainment areas  

and a really functional kitchen

Another W. Hollywood Spanish
- this one was designed by a clothing
designer and comes with all the furniture,
something to see, but
very specific!

Modern Bachelor Pad in Silverlake

Two views of a Los Feliz Duplex -
price just reduced to $899,000

Income Property - Wilshire Vista Area

This unique architectural duplex by noted 1930's architect Harbin Hunter is a rental property that I could definitely live in.  Especially the second floor unit which I would guess was an owner's unit with more extensive "custom" renovations.  Both spacious units are 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom  and there's even a studio "penthouse" on the third floor (there's a spiral staircase that leads up to it from the back entrance). 

There's also a gated front and back yard and separate garage for each unit.  

This duplex is located right off Pico Blvd. - walking distance to hip restaurants like Bloom,  Chic and Paper or Plastik Cafe.  Currently priced at $899,000

This property is well manicured, gated and private 

2nd Story Unit has completely renovated kitchen

I loved the bright and open living room/dining room 

spacious and light bedroom

New tile is modern yet preserves the original architectural style