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La Canada Market Activity This Week
OK...so we were out of town last week for spring break. Went to beautiful Sanibel Island, Florida. For those of you who, like me do not know where that is...it is the best shell collecting beach in North America, about 30 minutes out of Naples. I highly recommend it as a family vacation, with a beautiful beach for those who like sand and (if you stay at Casa Ybel) a large pool with a bar. Fabulous family vacation! Then we were off to the Magic Kingdom for a wild weekend. We stayed at the Grand Floridian, even more beautiful than the Grand Californian. In spite of the beauty and the magic, we had a near disaster. We booked our dinner reservations weeks in advance (on the advice of a DW expert) so needless to say time constraints made me a bit stressed. On Friday night, we were perusing the lobby of the hotel when my 7-year-old announced she had to go to the bathroom. Wanting independence for my kids I let her go in alone and then promptly forgot she was in there. More than 5 minutes later when we were seated at the restaurant upstairs I realized (and so did the other 3 adults and 3 children) that she was not with us. We were blessed in that she was downstairs with a cast member and soon rejoined the party but the sting of my oversight carried through the remainder of our trip. I bring this up only to point out how easily children can get lost. I am a good, diligent parent and was floored that I left my daughter in a public restroom. Judge me if you like, as I surely would before this happened. I am designing hidden leashes now for both of my children. If you see a boy or girl at LCE with a long leash attached to their back pack you will know they are mine. When they are 16 the leashes will be attached to their very old, slow cars and will not allow them to leave LCF. I feel so sorry for my future son and daughter in law. But I digress...
We have 62 active listings in La Canada. 9 of them are new or repurposed:
4453 Rosebank last sold in 2009 for $475,000. It has been updated. The house seems to be surrounded by apartment buildings and overlooks Foothill on the north side of the property. 4837 Carmel...we tried to buy this off market. It is not for the faint of heart but either the house can be rehabbed and expanded or torn down. Nice piece of property. The only issue is that the house is in such disrepair that no bank will loan on it so it is cash offers only. 5256 Gould looks lovely. Great price though yard is only in front. 4919 Crown...I have not seen...and how hard is it to upload a photo or two (hang onto the link as they may be forthcoming). 4808 Crown last sold in 2003 when it was 1443 square feet. It was listed last year for $1,049,000 but did not sell. Have I mentioned how different the market is right now? 5236 La Canada Blvd. is a gem. Beautiful property, glam house. And by glam I mean if you were in your 70's and very hip, the details would represent many generations of style. I imagine that the woman who owned it was very cutting edge, involved in Showcase house one or two decades ago and would still read most Conde Nast publications. The overall color (flesh-peach) needs to be changed, though the wallpaper is timeless (hello...grass cloth in the guest room!). I love this house and pray that it does not get torn down. 619 Meadow Grove is one of my favorites...a true beauty left-over from Flintridge heyday. If only the 210 was not there. 4251 Commonwealth last sold in 2002 for $2,875,000. It has been off and on since 2008, starting at $6,300,000. It was last on at the end of 2011 for the same price. Work has been going on at the estate (I walk by with my dogs several times a week). Now back on the market, it seems like a pretty good deal in spite of the quirks.
One last one that came on late today:
1073 Oxford...the photos make this look scary but of you have cash it may be worth looking at.
10 homes have gone into escrow in the last 2 weeks in La Canada:
1901 La Granada Way is a sort sale that took almost 3 months to go into escrow. Way too close to the freeway for my taste. 4515 El Camino Corto last sold in 2008 for $718,000. It has been updated since then (and the market is so much better right now!). 4613 Alveo was on last year then pulled an updated. Still a bit funky but great location for the price. 1369 Journey's End sold after a price reduction. 5453 Ocean View was totally updated and sold within a week. 4909 Alminar last sold in 2007 when it was 1103 square feet. It has been updated and added onto. It sold with multiple offers in a market that is starved for new or remodeled. Contrast with 5535 Burning Tree that last sold in 2006 for $1,628,000. More than a pound of flesh has been carved from this one since the high times. I do think that the market has changed and in LCF "walkability" is more important that views. More on that theory in solds. 4536 Palm was last leased for $5000 per month. 4533 La Granada Way has been reduced from the original asking price of $1,775,000. 5305 Harter Lane was listed last year for $2,700,000. Wonderful house, less desirable location.
8 homes have closed escrow in La Canada in the last two weeks:
1931 Hilldale was a short sale. 4531 Hillard had one reduction before selling. 4617 Palm last sold in 2003 for $630,000. 4837 Crown last sold in 2003 for $600,000. It is a very charming house, though the heavily traveled street and one-car garage made me pause. 444 Canon de Paraiso is a great house that sold immediately. 4823 Alminar last sold in 2006 for $1,284,000. It oversold then and undersold this time around. Please note that this is not indicative of today's market at this price point. Compare to 4916 Rupert that originally sold around the same time for $1,100,000 and is now in escrow at $1,075,000. I do not want to point fingers and the Alminar house is far from perfect but it was grossly undersold to the benifit of the buyer this time around. 4386 Harter started at $1,250,000 and sold far below that. 4275 Mesa Vista is a great example of the improvement in the 2012 market. It was listed last year for $1,649,000 then reduced a few times down to $1,499,000. No offers. It was put back on again this year for about $50,000 less and received multiple offers. 4730 Hillard was off and on for a couple of years well into the 2's. It was off-market when it sold this time around for a good price (for the seller).
The LCf market is nuts right now. Not enough inventory and multiple offers on any good listing. If a home is well-priced be prepared to battle!
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I launched this blog to share information about our local real estate market and fabulous community. Along the way I have added design ideas and all things pertaining to making a house a home. Enjoy!
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4421 Hobbs Drive
- IN ESCROW! 4421 Hobbs Drive, La Canada
4021 Mesa Vista Drive, La Canada
- Gorgeous secluded Mediterranean Estate with breathtaking views Call 818 652 7304 for appointment $4,450,000
