Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, where we explore what you can rent or buy for a certain dollar amount in various LA ’hoods. We’ve found five homes and condos within about $20,000 of today’s price: $1.16 million.
Highland Park
This Spanish-style abode is cute inside and out. Gracing the exterior are a porch, turquoise garage door grille, and a matching front door. Adorning the interior are hardwood floors, arched entryways, vaulted beamed ceilings, and a fireplace. Measuring 1,485 square feet, the house holds three bedrooms, two bathrooms (including a master suite), and a family room that opens to a large backyard with a patio and drought-friendly landscaping. Walking distance the bars, shops, and restaurants on York Boulevard, the 4,200-square-foot property is listed at $1.175 million.
Pasadena
In the historic Garfield Heights district, this shingled Craftsman was built in 1910 but has been “reimagined with a contemporary eye.” Blessedly, it still has some charming character details, including a built-in hutch, exposed beams, and moldings. In 1,510 square feet, it holds three bedrooms and one and three quarter bathrooms. Its biggest selling point might be the size of the lot, which spans a generous 13,000 square feet with a new redwood deck, raised gardening beds, towering pines, and large swaths of grass. The asking price is $1.15 million.
Mid-Wilshire
This centrally-located, glammed-up English-style cottage has three bedrooms and one bathroom, plus a refinished attic with another bedroom and small bathroom. Downstairs, features include a master closet, a fireplace, a formal dining, and an updated kitchen with subway tiles, a farmhouse sink, and French doors that open to a grassy yard with a small shed and chicken coop. The 4,960-square-foot property has an asking price of $1.175 million.
South Pasadena
This three-bedroom, two-bathroom Craftsman is in an undeniably good location. It’s positioned about a half mile from the Gold Line and is walking distance to multiple bus stops, the Arroyo Seco, Trader Joe’s, the library, and Charlie’s Coffee House. Inside, flourishes include knotty pine paneling and a brick fireplace, and a restoration-minded buyer might see the 1,436-square-foot home’s potential to be returned to its 1910 glory. The 6,292-square-foot lot is populated with citrus and fig trees and is asking $1.18 million.
View Park-Windsor Hills
Flipping to the market in South Los Angeles is this Spanish-style that’s looking very stylish after a thorough makeover. Period details from the home’s construction in the 1920s include barrel ceilings, arched entryways, and a picture window, while updates include marble counters, gold fixtures, new cabinetry, and in the master suite, a soaking tub. The 6,401-square-foot lot contains a backyard with a detached, two-car garage currently set up as additional living quarters. The home clocks in at 1,677 square feet, with a price tag of $1.149 million.
Comments
Highland Park – proof that blue is the new flipper color.
Mid Wilshire – adorable home. the chicken coop did it for me.
Despite the bile in my throat because of what $1.1 million buys in January 2020…it is what it is. You’re either in, or you’re out.
The winner is a tie for me:
Pasadena – because I like Pasadena and this home looks like it offers a lot for the money
View Park – because this home offers the most house for the money in turn-key condition…but I don’t know much about the View Park neighborhood
By BingoWest on 01.22.20 8:44am
I like them all too. The BIG question today is… are any of them EARTHQUAKE PROOF?
… or was that just a big bus that went by?
By mrjim1 on 01.22.20 9:02am
That bus rocked my windows and felt more roll’ey than shakey.
By subaruwrx on 01.22.20 10:16am
Are you in the Valley?
By mrjim1 on 01.22.20 10:25am
Over a million for Highland Park and Northwest Pasadena… please.
South Pasadena all the way (assuming your life is based on the east side of town.)
By corner soul on 01.22.20 9:22am
Based on location, no question South Pasadena is the best choice…but damn, it has been rendered soulless with the tone-deaf remodels, and requires significant additional investment to bring it back to its rightful glory.
By BingoWest on 01.22.20 9:28am
It looks like it almost was an office building with all the cheap IKEA built-ins, plus the garage shows significant rotting
By mrjim1 on 01.22.20 10:30am
Fair point!
By corner soul on 01.22.20 10:58am
That poor Pasadena Craftsman has been transformed into a barn in the inside. What gives!? It’s still my favorite because of the size of the lot you get with all of the money you’re spending. It’s definitely a flip based on when it last sold in April of 2019.
I guess the insides can be change after the fact.
By subaruwrx on 01.22.20 10:20am
I’m always a sucker for a Craftsman even though all the wood has been painted they did a pretty nice job
By mrjim1 on 01.22.20 10:31am
You think so? I guess I’m old school and love the natural wood look. Hmm…
By subaruwrx on 01.22.20 10:46am
I know and I agree, but I also know that sometimes the wood is in such poor condition that it isn’t feasible to try and bring it back, usually the wood built-ins are ripped out and everything is spray painted white. At least these people kept the existing wood painted in a contrasting shade
By mrjim1 on 01.22.20 11:49am
And frankly some of the original douglas fir paneling in many early craftsman houses was bug ugly to start with (stained too dark with awkwardly contrasting grain patterns/colors). Sometimes white is an improvement.
By kcp1 on 01.22.20 9:38pm
True and in this case the sage green gives the house a light, bright feel, rare in a Craftsman. Even the grey kitchen cabinets look pretty good
By mrjim1 on 01.22.20 11:46pm
Crazy the level of staging these properties are going through these days.
By yvr_boi on 01.22.20 10:50am
I might be confused, but the Pasadena house (horrible flip btw) looks to be a 2 br, not 3. Are they counting the garage in the back?
By natsmith69! on 01.22.20 11:17am
Good catch!!!
The floorpan published in the listing clearly shows two bedrooms.
By BingoWest on 01.22.20 11:30am
That’s just wrong unless they’re trying to pass that sleeping porch (sitting area) off as a separate bedroom
By mrjim1 on 01.22.20 11:55am
And only one closet.
By LADude on 01.23.20 9:47am
Anyone know where the 3rd bedroom is in the Pasadena house? And there is only 1 closet. Assuming it is 3 bedrooms on public records, I can’t even see where the 3rd bedroom was before they made it 2 bedrooms.
By LADude on 01.22.20 3:41pm
It’s a tied for me. Highland Park and View Park.
By Topaz113 on 01.22.20 5:01pm
Spent 2 years looking for something to buy in LA. Now I’m just moving. Ridiculous.
By WehoLady on 01.22.20 8:10pm
By Kermit Kardashian on 01.23.20 12:09am
Oi Vey! These are all too expensive! You can still get a huge bluff front house overlooking the ocean in San Pedro!
By Big Moshe on 01.23.20 2:33pm
Buy you’d have to live in San Pedro! What a shanda!
By BingoWest on 01.23.20 5:45pm