Is that a window? I see jalousie things overlapping.
“Year Built 1956”
“In the family since 1947”
Huh?
If that is a window above the sink…why would they have the black things closed? Unless it looks over a dumpster!
Wondering if it’s an estate sale…and it was just over priced to begin with. When I see 1/4 acre lot being listed as “enormous” it does make me chuckle. But then I remember that where I am…it’s 2 acre zoning!
Over the kitchen window, it’s one of those windows with the horizontal panes of glass that open. But it was dark when they took the photo, so the outside looks black.
What I want to know is, What are all those square white things hanging from the patio ceiling? And what are all those wires there? Are they speakers? Or lights?
The square things look like lights, but yes…why all the wires hanging in front of that window?
The black thing looks awful above the sink. They should have taken the picture at a different time…or that dated thing needs to be removed (along with the vertical blinds and the mauve carpet).
It’s not black, it’s just darker outside that window because it’s not facing the sunset. Another example of bad lighting and not so great photography.
What bugs me is all the mauve carpeting!
Another thing that bugs me is that they took all these lovely sunset photos and then they ran out of time and the last few are lower level rooms with black windows because it’s night. Uhhhh, you couldn’t come back the next day and take a few more? For a house of that price?
Just looked this one up. It is an inexperienced real estate agent that is not known in this area at all. Agent made the mistake of only paying for twilight photos. Usually you need to pay for a set of daytime photos taken inside the h ouse when there is the most natural light available. Then you pay separately for twilight photos to capture the sunset and the exterior (not the interior!!!). So photos of interior are way too dark.
The kitchen window is the louvered type of window and I can see that it looks out to side of the house on the south - probably a fence there. I think the funny thing is that someone went in there and put in modern cheap laminate flooring and some new cheap carpet. I don’t think the carpet is ‘mauve’, it’s just the lighting in the room. It’s probably dark beige carpeting. And they wasted their time painting the interior.
Estate sale. Looks like parents passed in 2013. I know that they have been renting the house for several years because I drive by this house every day. They have had a For Rent sign in front for at least 3 months and then suddenly it became a For Sale sign. They probably hired a low commission agent, they should have gone with a good local agent. They got the pricing very wrong and now the Confidential Remarks in the MLS listing says “Owners want it sold this weekend!!”. That is why there is a huge price drop
The location and the lot are extremely desireable. Also, there is a slight danger that they could lose view if everyone across the street went up into 2nd story. That has happened a lot in that little pocket neighborhood. Everyone is remodeling larger and taller and blocking each other’s view. A good local agent representing a buyer would make sure that the buyer was aware of the possibility.
I would have listed the house at $1,250,000 for location and lot because a buyer is going to gut that house and enlarge it to take advantage of the views. Total waste of money to put in new flooring and paint.
I sure wish I had a spare $1,250,000 sitting around!!
I’ll keep you posted on whether this gets sold this weekend 
They aren’t having any open houses this weekend, but maybe the major price drop will get someone’s attention.
Regarding 1947 versus 1956… for some crazy reason they have the original sales flyer in the photos. The flyer is for “last lots available”. I’m guessing that they bought the lot in 1947 but didn’t finish building a home on the lot until 1956.
The house on Santa Barbara with the horrible photos and huge price reduction DID go into contract Pending today. We will see what the final sale price is
Meanwhile, a house about two blocks down the street sold in 3 weeks at $1,295,000. This house is newer construction, built in about 2010. Smaller lot, no views, a lot less privacy. But, it is nice.
4319 Del Monte, 92107
I loaded a lot of photos to the Flickr group this morning. The tile and grout are done. I chose the pale grey grout for the white subway tile and I think it looks really good. Just a very slight outline between the tiles. I don’t think the photos do justice to the beautiful floor tile - I need to tie everything together with wall color and fixtures
Also loaded some photos of our huge haulout last week into the 3rd dumpster. It’s really sad because I was trying to keep everything for recycling but they will not take wood that has been painted or stained or pressure treated. Also won’t take the plaster torn off the walls or ‘succulent’ type plants (which is the majority of what we pulled off the slope). All I have left in the back yard now is stuff that can be recycled.
Got my plans!!! Going into the City tomorrow morning to submit for permit approval
“Got my plans!!! Going into the City tomorrow morning to submit for permit approval!”
Wow. Congrats!!! Where should I send you a celebratory bottle of bubbly?
The house looks so pretty now, is it going to get messed up a bit with the second floor construction happening?
I’m trying to be really careful that we do not work on anything that is in the ‘zone’. The main mess that will happen to the existing house will be tearing apart the center to build the staircase up to the new 2nd floor (I think the City is going to call it a ‘third floor’).
We ran all new gas lines (and the pressure test stuck very first time!!) for stove, two furnaces, water heater and deck. We made extra sure that those lines are not running anywhere near where the new construction will be happening. We don’t exactly know where the new furnace for 2nd story is going to be located so we just stubbed out a line to run in the attic after it is placed.
I have been reviewing the plans with my carpenter and we cannot make heads or tails out of what we need to do to vault the kitchen ceiling. But, the rest of the structural requirements are pretty clear and we have done them all before, including building the stairs. Not that we are experts… but we will be able to muddle our way through it.
I have hired several sub contractors to do some of the critical tasks. I have a concrete foundation team coming in June to start digging and forming the new foundation and I have two experienced framers who will work for 6 weeks doing the structural, framing and roof trusses. My little crew will concentrate on the remodel work in the existing portion of the house in the living room, dining room, kitchen, new staircase and powder room.
Yesterday, while driving back from picking up the plans, I received a phone call from the listing agent who sold me the Del Monte house. They are representing some buyers and they drove the buyers by the property yesterday. They want to know if I will sell the house As Is and stop all construction. I’ve had these types of offers before but they never materialize.
The buyers are a retiring contractor from Las Vegas. My first concern was that you cannot get a bank loan on a property that is torn apart and is ‘unliveable’. So, I wanted to clarify with the agent and he said the buyers are All Cash, closing escrow on their home in Las Vegas. We did see a couple stop their car in alley behind the house yesterday, wave to one of my workers, and actually get out and stand on their hood for 3-4 minutes.
Last night I had to spend hours combing through the detailed plans and correcting, by pen, certain errors that I think will be critical for the City review. The most important issue is going to be the height of the house versus what is allowed. By code, as long as I do not demolish/remove/alter more than 50% of the original house (the bulletin is not clear on whether that includes interior walls or just exterior walls) I am ‘exempted’ from Coastal Commission review in the coastal zone. We are definitely under that figure.
I am allowed to build up to 30’, but the 30’ measurement is very tricky when you are on a sloped lot. You have to identify the high point of the lot and then the low point. The difference between the two is added to your 30’ allowance. In other words, you get to build 30 ft from the high point (within 5 ft of house). Our overall height from the lowest point is going to be 33’4". The difference between our high point and low p oint is 6’4". For some crazy reason the designer put 40’ height allowance on the plans. I called them up and explained that I think he has the calculation incorrect (based on my analysis of the technical bulletin). I should only get an allowance of 36’ 4". His answer was “Well, that’s what I put on some plans last year”. Ugghhhh Either way we are well below the allowance so we should be OK.
So, in between reviewing every detail of the plans (which I have never seen before) and preparing a bunch of forms to go to the City this morning… I had to crunch a lot of numbers and send out my asking price and terms to this listing agent. I truly expect nothing to materialize with these potential buyers, but I’m hoping I might be able to get out from under the upcoming huge stress to try to build out this project.
I know it might be the best thing for you, but I’m sure I am not alone when I say that I was/am REALLY looking forward to seeing what you would do with this project!
Wishing you the best of luck with this potential offer! A contractor should at least understand existing issues and appreciate all the work you’ve already done.
Clearly…this potential buyer wants the location. And must have pretty deep pockets to finish it off.
Wondering if they will want an inside tour of the existing condition if they decide to put in an offer.