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 $50,000 of today’s price: $1.65 million.
Mid-Wilshire
In central Los Angeles, this revamped Spanish-style sports oak floors, recessed lighting, A/C, and new hardware, fixtures, windows, plumbing, and electrical. Some of its 1930s charm still shines, most notably in the living room, with its scalloped entryways, exposed beams, and wall nooks. The updates are most evident in the open kitchen, which features a quartz backsplash and counters and a large center island with bar seating. In total, the residence comes in at 1,760 square feet and holds two bathrooms and three bedrooms, two of which open to the backyard. Walkable to Little Ethiopia and the Miracle Mile museums, the 5,924-square-foot property is listed at $1.699 million.
Pico Union
This charming, rock-encased home has been standing for 115 years. Step inside, past a screened-in front porch, to find turn-of-the century details intact, including original hardware, wood floors, built-ins, picture railings, and coved ceilings. In 1,524 square feet, the dwelling holds three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The sale also includes a second parcel with a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home dating to 1923. Close to Koreatown and Downtown LA, the properties are listed at $1.649 million.
Sawtelle
Fresh off a makeover, this sunny Traditional-style home was built in the 1940s but looks almost brand new. Updates include recessed lighting and new hardware, tile, and cabinets. Located a couple of blocks from Stoner Park, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence clocks in at 1,342 square feet and sits on a 6,509-square-foot lot that also holds a new detached studio ADU with a full kitchen and bathroom. Last sold for $1.21 million, the property—which is walking distance to Plan Check Kitchen + Bar, Cafe 50’s, and the Expo Line station at Bundy Drive—is on the market now for $1.695 million.
Encino
Here’s a midcentury modern offering that’s sited on nearly a half-acre with a pool that boasts “endless mountain and sky views.” Built in 1959, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home has an open floor plan with tall, pitched ceilings; oak floors in a herringbone pattern; a two-sided glass fireplace; and glass sliders that open to the backyard. The asking price is $1.64 million.
Los Feliz
Nestled below Griffith Park, this 2,610-square-foot Monterey Colonial takes advantage of its hilly location, offering verdant views from nearly every room. Features include a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace flanked by built-in bookshelves; large casement windows; parquet floors; a formal dining room; an updated eat-in kitchen with granite counters; and a master suite—one of four bedrooms and four bathrooms—with a walk-in closet, fireplace, and French doors that open to a patio and balcony. Built in 1966, the residence sits on a 7,261-square-foot lot and is listed at $1.695 million.
Comments
"We’ve found five homes and condos within about $50,000 of today’s price: $1.65 million."
Headline should state $1.65 million, not $1.6 million.
It’s disingenuous to include homes priced at $1.695 million ($1.7 million) in an article with a headline specifying $1.6 million. Does that extra $95,000 have no meaning?
By BingoWest on 01.29.20 12:24pm
Los Feliz 1st with Mid-Wilshire a close 2nd. I like them both
By mrjim1 on 01.29.20 12:46pm
I hate to admit it but Los Feliz has always been a desirable neighborhood for me. Even with all the traffic, hipsters, and tourist that flock to it. I think I can live with all of that
By subaruwrx on 01.29.20 12:59pm
Desirable neighborhoods are desirable because people want to go there. It’s a Catch-22, but I certainly understand people who want to live far away from the chaos and that’s why we have the suburbs
I’ll admit the older I get the less important "trendy" neighborhoods become. Sometimes you just want to do what you you need to hassle-free
By mrjim1 on 01.29.20 1:40pm
Do tourists really go to Los Feliz? Maybe they drive up Vermont Avenue to get to Griffith Park but I can’t imagine them stopping in Los Feliz for any particular reason. It’s always felt like a locals neighborhood to me.
By DoctorVenkman on 01.29.20 1:43pm
Per Wikipedia:
By mrjim1 on 01.29.20 2:10pm
Shops and Restaurants on Vermont and Hillhurst are pit stops for those exploring the Observatory or taking a ride on a pony/miniature train. Also, traveling guides and online blogs coin Los Feliz as a celebrity sighting hot-spot.
By subaruwrx on 01.29.20 5:20pm
The other nice thing about Los Feliz is that you may spot celebrities you won’t find the usual celebrity houses like this…
By mrjim1 on 01.29.20 7:28pm
I wouldn’t be inclined to leave it, so traffic, hipsters, and tourists wouldn’t be a factor.
By kcp1 on 02.01.20 9:35am
That Mid-City home makes me sad…the before obviously wasn’t perfect, but I’m so tired of these flips that strip every single interesting detail out of the home. The gorgeous vintage tile bathrooms are gone. They replaced the beautiful front window. I just hate it.
By Saima96 on 01.29.20 3:37pm
Looking at the Mid-Wilshire place for $1.7M…put down 20% (=$340K) and have a $8.5K / month payment. Could maybe get away with public schools there…might be dicey. Going to need annual income in the $400K-$500K range to make all that work and be comfortable.
By _Bird_ on 01.29.20 3:59pm
It is kind of crazy how $1.6 million doesn’t even register as all that expensive these days. Most of these would all have been $500,000 or less homes not very long ago. I am definitely glad we had the foresight to buy when we did and feel for those who didn’t.
By lady who lunches on 01.29.20 4:03pm
Agreed. When the "extreme/abnormal" doesn’t even register as such, you have to question some things. If the market maintains a 3% growth rate (fairly modest) – that $1.7M house is going for ~$2.0M in just 6 years. That $400K-500K income requirement goes to $500-600K. LA (and other major cities) is going to need to continue to pump out very very well paying jobs for this to continue. There’s virtually no room for error at these valuations.
By _Bird_ on 01.29.20 4:15pm
Foresight or good fortune?
By LosFeliz$ean on 01.29.20 9:46pm
Most definitely not fortune. We had to scrape and save in order to buy our even at the time VERY INEXPENSIVE starter home.
By lady who lunches on 01.30.20 8:56am
…are you saying you knew that property values would appreciate as much as they have?
By LosFeliz$ean on 01.30.20 12:43pm
Dear lunch lady, since you once again mention your "foresight" to have bought years ago, what I sense is smugness, not sympathy.
By kcp1 on 02.01.20 9:38am
My top 3 are. Mid-Wilshire, Encino, and Los Feliz. I voted for Encino because of the view/pool. A great place to have parties.
By Topaz113 on 01.29.20 5:21pm
I live next to the one on Mid-Wilshire, it’s cool but on a pretty busy cut-thru street that people speed on and barely stop at any of the intersections. People are also starting to get rid of their lawns in the neighborhood, and I would love to see the owner do something interesting with the landscape in front.
By Scunicycler on 01.30.20 9:33am