 I hitched a ride this morning on the Brokers' Caravan in Burbank with Judy Graff, who comments here as sfvrealestate, which is also the name of her blog. I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. She does not drive a Mercedes. She drives a Toyota Prius.
Here's what we saw, most of it new on the market:
1100 and 1100 1/2 N. Buena Vista Street 91505 (pictured): $658,000 for two legal residences totalling 1,600 square feet -- a 2 plus 1 main house plus a one-bedroom guest house/carriage house, plus a small standalone office. Nice, old-school Spanish revival with lots of original detailing. If you are into trees, the property has a massive eucalyptus tree in the back yard.
3022 N. Lamer Street 91504: On the market since last summer, reduced from $1.2 million to $999,999. An airy, 2,300-square-foot, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home with a heated, kidney-shaped pool and sweeping Valley views from the Burbank Hills. A handsome house with large public rooms, but no yard to speak of.
2223 N. Lamer 91504: $699,000 for a 2,122 square foot, 4-bedroom, 2-bath house that will have to find a very specific buyer. As in, a buyer who doesn't want much grass to maintain, because this house has a paved front yard and a pool in back. The marble floors are not for everyone, either.
2304 N. Sparks 91504: Reduced, from $699,000 to $575,000, this is a short sale, and a house with a sad story to tell. The previous occupants clearly left in a hurry -- children's toys are strewn about, and his-and-hers college diplomas are still framed and mounted on one wall. Judy blogs about it here. UPDATE: The listing agent informs the owners are still in the process of moving out. So scratch the sad story and the leaving in a hurry -- it's the opposite. They're leaving slowly.
824 N. Parish Place 91056: $774,999 for a 2,012 square-foot, 4-bedroom, 2 3/4 bath home, half a block from the Chandler Bikeway. Unremarkable.
1430 W. Valleyheart 91506: $1.65 million for an unusual house -- a horse-lover's paradise, zoned for five horses, and beautifully redone -- so unusual that I gave it a separate post.
Your thoughts? Comments? E-mail story tips to peter.viles@latimes.com.
Photo credit: Nick Tatone
A confession: Writing this blog, with the constant drumbeat of doom and gloom, sometimes makes me forget why real estate in Los Angeles is such a local obsession in the first place. Then I visit a house like Stan Smith's in Burbank, and I understand again.
I'll give you the details, but won't do justice to it: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3,400 square feet, exquisitely redone (think Ralph Lauren if he was a real horseman), zoned for five horses (yes, horses in Burbank). It has 10 stalls, two tack rooms and a large pool on a huge lot (16,000-plus square feet). Four fireplaces, a three-car garage. Yes, it is very close to the 134. No, I couldn't hear freeway noise in the house. The owner, real estate agent Stan Smith, is embarking on a new chapter of life: he's buying an inn in southern Vermont. 1430 W. Valleyheart Drive, 91506. Listed for $1.65 million. More pictures below.
Photo credits: Stan Smith
 While real estate agent (and blogger) Linda Slocum was whisking us to five open houses this morning, the temperature was rising to 101 degrees. It's hot in Canyon Country. Think about a pool.
Listings:
--19003 Fairweather St.: White's Canyon: 4-bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,144 SF, granite in kitchen, pretty lawn, converted garage, above-ground pool. $449,000.
--19535 Fairweather St. (pictured): 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 1,598 SF with in-ground pool, nice curb appeal on tree-lined street. Was in escrow, fell out. $525,000.
--17235 Crest Heights, off Sierra Highway: Mediterranean "showcase home," built in 2004 with beautiful mountain views, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, huge kitchen, 3,660 SF. $785,000. Was listed early last year at $889,000 -- based on a neighborhood comp that proved misleading.
--17370 Sierra Sunrise: Same development as above, 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3,300 SF, $770,000.
--27102 Buckskin Lane: Golfer's delight in gated Robinson Ranch, 5 bedrooms, 6 baths, 4,681 SF Colonial-style with stadium kitchen, built in 2005 on large (24,398 SF) lot. $1.699 million.
Comments? Thoughts?
Photo Credit: www.danapope.com
A note: We'll be out of pocket today, so comments will be slow to post. No, we are not playing golf. Though, the last time we played Robinson Ranch, we deposited half a dozen Titleists in the Santa Clarita Valley, and we will be looking for them today.
We'll be looking at new listings on Brokers' Caravan in Canyon Country in Santa Clarita. Look for items this afternoon.
Photo Credit: Robinson Ranch
Did something change on this post? Yes, eagle-eyed one. The previous version mentioned Stevinson Ranch, which is in Northern California.
 Once a week we try to get out and eat the free sandwiches at brokers' Open Houses, er, that is, see the brand-new listings in an LA neighborhood. Today was Manhattan Beach with local Realtor Kaye Thomas. What we saw:
215 19th Street: Steps to the beach, this 3-story custom-built Mediterranean-style on a "walk street" is big: 4,252 Square Feet, 5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths. Five balconies, ocean views, elevator. $4.99 million. Kaye: "They'll get close to that. There's not much down here with views like these."
2311 Poinsettia Avenue: Big house (3400 Square Feet, 5 bedrooms) on a not-so-big lot in the "Tree Section"; granite kitchen, spa tub, walking distance to Greenbelt. $2.149 million. Kaye observes the colored tiles in bathrooms are a bit dated, and may bring the selling price down. "For the price, the bathroom in the master needs an upgrade."
1707 Voorhees Avenue (pictured): Big (5 bedroom, 4-bath), 2004-built Cape Cod-style east of Sepulveda has beautiful Mahogany floors and 30 feet of emerald granite counters. $1.925 million. Kaye: "It's a really nice house, but it's a short lot."
911 Duncan Avenue: A beautiful architectural modern -- 5 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, huge open spaces for entertaining, ocean views, elevator, custom stone bathrooms, media room, the works. Flyer: "Reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Falling Water.'" $3.77 million.
1707 1st Street: Remodeled 3 bedroom, 2 bath east of Sepulveda, 1,407 Square Feet. Priced at $979,000, which is on the low side for Manhattan Beach. Owners of 30 years are relocating to a 3,000-square foot home on a lake in Arkansas. Kaye: "This will go. You'll have multiple offers on it."
What's new on the market in Glendale -- north of the 134:
1934 Verdugo Knolls (pictured): Picket-fence, cottage-style Traditional, 3-bedrooms, 1 3/4 bath, 1,522 SF, secluded and nestled into the hills north of Glendale College. Listed at $839,000, with two offers already, one at the listing price.
1864 Verdugo Vista: Secluded 3-bedroom, 1 3/4 bath, 1,303 SF, very large deck under mature Oak trees. Originally listed at $739,000, redued to $719,000. Gerri Cragnotti's opinion: "This is a deal. Very charming little house. This will sell." (Note: she is not the listing agent).
1405 Bruce Avenue: "Romantic Courtyard" Spanish built in 1931, 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 1,619 SF on handsome, tree-lined street. $789,000. Gerri's Opinion: "This will sell right away." (She is not the listing agent).
1664 Ben Lomond Drive: 3-bedroom, 3-bath, 2,846 SF (including basement rec room) with pool in Northwest Glendale. House hasn't sold in 50 years. $949,000.
1338 Carmen Drive: 4-bedroom, 2 bath, 2,569 SF, two-story Spanish Revival in Rossmoyne. $1.169 million. Brochure says "Old world charm throughout," Gerri says: "It's a cosmetic fixer." She adds, "To redo an 80's redo is expensive. It's got potential. It's a great location."
LA Land tries to get out to one Brokers' Caravan every week. Today we drove the 62 hilly miles from the Westside to Palmdale-Lancaster, where we saw something rare in LA County: acre after acre of brand-spanking-new houses. Resale Listings:
1653 Baring St., Lancaster: Short Sale. Four-bedroom, 2-bath, 1,621 square feet, built in 2003. Current owner made payments for two years, but home is now in pre-foreclosure. Listed at $299,000.
Saint Andrews St., Lancaster: Another Short Sale. Four-bedroom, three bath, 2,094 square feet, built in 1990. Originally listed at $369,000, now reduced to $349,900.
41003 Via Tranqilo, West Palmdale: Five-bedroom, 3-bath, 3,077 square feet on 20,000-square foot lot in gated Belle Vista community. Gated, paved RV pad. $649,999. Broker consensus was the house would go in the $600K to $615K range. 100% Financing advertised at Open House.
5709 Avenida Entrada, West Palmdale (pictured): Five-bedroom, three baths, 2,900 square feet on a huge lot (28,000 square feet) in the gated Belle Vista area. Infinity pool with sweeping Valley Views. Built in 1996. $620,000.
5308 W Avenue L10 Lancaster: Another Short Sale. Three bedrooms, two baths, 1,638 square feet, built in 1971. Needs TLC. After a refinance, owner owes roughly $400K; Originally listed at $389,000, now listed at $314,900. Listing agent, Donna Oehler: "Honestly, I think the bank will take less than $315,000 on this one."
Comments? Always welcome. Email story tips to lalandblog@yahoo.com.
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I hitched a ride this morning on the Brokers' Caravan in Burbank with Judy Graff, who comments here as sfvrealestate, which is also the name of her blog. I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. She does not drive a Mercedes. She drives a Toyota Prius.
