Here’s your proof: two great offers on Columbus, it is now in escrow.  Two offers from on two different homes that are outstanding values for my buyers and now…… (drum roll, please)

5022 Reynard in Glendale!  At $449,000 this should get a lot of attention.  It is completely remodeled with lots of style and soul and it is on a quiet cul-de-sac located high above Foothill Blvd off of Lowell.

I’ll be open Sunday, 1 – 5 PM.

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Yesterday I abandoned my usual hiking ladies for the inaugural hike of the Montrose Patch Hiking Club. Our intrepid leader, Tanya, decided on the Deukmejian Wilderness area for the first meeting and it was simply magical.  I have not done this area before and I was completely surprised at how lush and interesting the hike was.

We passed a 200+ year old oak tree the firefighters managed to save from the devastating Station Fire.  The first part of the hike was dry and “moonscape-esque”.  Pretty soon, however, things started to green up and we saw a ton of waist and chest high chaparral that has grown over the burned out trees.

The trail started to slope downward and we were suddenly at the bottom of a ravine with a lovely rivulet of water gurgled along- pooling in some areas, cascading over small boulders in others.  As a native of dry Southern California, I find the sound and sight of running water irresistible.

Our group was awesome with a wide range of ages and temperaments.  I hear we might tackle St. Lukens, next.  Details of upcoming hikes will be posted to Montrose Patch and 365 Things To Do in Glendale in Facebook.  I personally invite you to come along- it is fantastic way to start your weekend!

And **POOF** just like that, it’s the weekend once again.  It is time for the Open House Guide for Glendale, La Cañada and La Crescenta.  There are not a lot of homes being held open- since this is the weekend before Thanksgiving you’d think everyone would want to be open!  The weather should be outstanding and the buyers are in a buyin’ mood.  Alack, and alas, I am currently out of inventory myself or I would surely be at a home to greet you.

If you’re looking for value in La Cañada,  Indiana is your clear choice. The front courtyard is nestled between garage and house for an intimate and completely serene experience.  Perhaps you want a Northwest Glendale Character Home- I would hustle over to 1420 Sycamore, just above Bel Aire. This is a sweet home that just exudes love. Finally, I am in love with this private retreat in Glendale, deep in the Chevy Chase Canyon.  There are two homes on the lot and each one is sited to give maximum privacy and views.

Enjoy the weekend Duckin’s!  I shall be hiking and doing good amongst the community. What have you planned?

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Someone told me that it was fall, but I told them that were lying.  No tootin’ way it is fall when the temps are above 100!  However, I’ve heard a rumor that fall will make a brief appearance this weekend- which will make this Sunday’s Open Houses a pleasant respite.

So- where will you go?  If you are in the mood for the lovelies (and who doesn’t love a beauooootiful house?) I can’t get enough of  4168 Dover in the Flintridge Hills.  This is local developer Jay Johnson’s idea of a La Cañada post and beam modern and I LOVE it.  If the Lotto struck today I would be hard pressed between this one and the other PB Modern on Domal.  Too bad I don’t actually play! (Bwahahahaha).

Further into the foothills the clear choice is 3300 Henrietta.  This cute home is crisp and clean (with no caffine) and for $499,000, well above Foothill in La Crescenta- it is a bloody steal.  See it now, because if you snooze you lose.

Moving down the hill takes us the Jewel City- Glendale, where this redone 2 story Craftsman home awaits your visit.  This home is located on the part of Spencer that is west of Pacific.  Wow-I saw this last year while I was making my rounds of the neighborhood- this sucker was a dead ringer for a haunted house.  (Get it?  Dead Ringer? Halloween?)  Today it is all spiffed up, remodeled and landscaped and I think they did a bang up job.  Added bonus- there are killer views of the Downtown Glendale buildings from upstairs.

Remember- if you see it, like it and want to buy it,  call me.  I am an amazing buyer’s representative!

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Ok, show of hands, People.  Who is boring, like me, and has no sexy plans to take the weekend in Tahoe or Palm Desert or Malibu?   I thought about jetting down to the South of France for the weekend, but, decided I could knit, just as well, on my couch in the living room watching Dr. Who.  C’est la vie.

SO, for those who are in town this weekend, I present the usual Sunday diversion- the Open House Guide!

Best bets: for a great priced Montecito Park cutie, 3381 Vickers Dr. is a must see.  It is $574,500, it’s super clean and adorable and it belongs to CVHS.  Puh-lease!  Just go see it.   2732 Sleepy Hollow is a very splashy newer built executive home in Glenoaks canyon.  Here’s a little 15 sec video I took on caravan.  As one of tweeps said, “this place is sick!”.  4168 Dover is a treat for the eyes and for the soul.  This La Cañada Mid-Century home is Zen, re-imagined by Jay Johnson.

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I know I’ve ben a bit heavy on the Open House info this week- but I’ve heard from many of you that you like this kind of stuff.   If you like the open house guide would you leave a comment?  Thank you so much!

Ok, here are your best bets for the weekend.

Obviously, I want you to see my two listings, the remodeled Glendale home on Kirkham and the charming Glendale cottage on Highland. Pretty high on the Deal-O-Meter is this lovely view home in Glendale Whiting Woods.  4 bed, 3 bath and nearly 2200 sf- I can’t believe it is still available.  If you are in the mood for some sight seeing, I highly recommend this remodeled La Cañada ranch home on Descanso.  It is so lovely it’ll poke your eyes out and Descanso is one of the loveliest streets in town.

Interest rates are still very low and you have a chance to scoop these properties while al the other buyers are out of town, on vacation!

Here is your weekend’s list.  Enjoy!

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If I were to be completely honest and authentic with you- and I always am… today’s cavalcade of homes was rather underwhelming.  Perhaps the splashier homes are waiting for everyone to get back from vacation!

Nonetheless there are a few worth mentioning.  First up is the tranquil La Cañada Cottage at 308 Baptiste.  This petite but perfect little jewel is on the other side of Crown- the part where the Oak tree juts out into the street.  The backyard is divine and the bonus space behind the garage is lovely.
Here is my 15 sec video of the backyard:

Another neat house was this sprawling La Crescenta Ranch estate at 2335 El Moreno.  Located just off of Briggs, this looks like one of the original ranch homes in the area.  It has been tastefully remodeled and has a lovely guest suite, pool and extensive grounds.
Here’s a video about the curb appeal:

But the winner for the day is this perfect La Crescenta Fixer on 2914 Franklin.  Located above Foothill Blvd, this is nearly 1500 sf of LOL house (that’s Little Old Lady not laugh out loud, BTW) for only $435,000.

Here’s the inside:

That’s my day on Foothill Caravan!  Remember, you can click any of the links to see details, pictures or schedule an appointment to see any of these homes.  Hit the search button at the top to search for you ideal home!

If you would like to follow me, virtually, on caravan go to Tout on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to be the first to see the best- and worst- homes on the market.

La Crescenta

Let’s start off easy, shall we?  La Crescenta is known as the Balcony of Southern California- not as the bastion of big dwellings.  There is a new development of 5 homes and the most expensive is at 2625 1/2 Prospect Ave.,  listed at $989,900.  The floor plan comments by the agent indicates that these are your basic modern floor plan- heavy on the master suite, bed/bath combo on the first floor.  Very little is said about the finishes, but I think it is safe to assume granite/stainless steel in the kitchen.  If you are into the new home look- this is your best bet.

Next up is the only home in La Crescenta over one million dollars 3048 Markridge is listed at $1,099,000 and has been on the market for 134 days.  It features miles of stone, stainless steel and dark wood cabinetry.  It has a large yard with a sparkling pool. Located high up in the hills it has some great valley views and is close to the Deukmajian Wilderness Park.  I am guessing, however, that the right buyer for this home is an unlikely hiker.

Glendale

The most expensive home in town- at least in terms of the absolute dollar, is (drum roll, please) 2047 Rimcrest Dr., listed for $2,899,000. This ginormous home is 8143 sf of living space (NOT the lot size,people- the house size). The ceilings are high, the floors are sparkling and the view will knock your socks off.

These homes are amazing, but, to my way of thinking, they are not even close to the most expensive listing in town.  That honor goes to 501 Caruso Ave. in the famed Americana at Brand.  This is Urban Concierge style living and it is unlike any other residential choice in the area.  This penthouse unit is listed for $2,050,000 for an efficient 1894 sf of living space.  There is also a HOA fee of $939/mo. This buys you an unparalleled style of luxury living that I can’t begin to describe.

Now, Children, I am the first to admit that this shocks my Cheap Chinese Heart in ways that I can not begin to count.  On the other hand, I would never pay for a first class airline ticket and this is clearly my own problem.   I can’t wait to sell this to someone who is free from my own, idiosyncratic, limitations.

La Cañada Flintridge

While there is no lack of money in La Cañada, we are an unpretentious people, not given to flaunting the successes of our lives.  But,  for every rule, there is the exception.  567 Meadow Grove tells the world, on no uncertain terms, just what sort of people live here.  Listed for $10,700,000, this is a French Chateau whose interior draws from the Versailles and the Louve.   It is rich, sumptuous and just a tiny bit over the top.  If you want a home that says, “I have arrived”, this is your place.

And now this is the drum roll moment, for sure… the most expensive home in all of La Cañada is… 4385 Commonwealth Ave., clocking in at a heart palpitating $12,200,000.  I wish I could list all the ways I love this home.  I love it’s elegance, quality, style and the fact that there is a sound proof studio for a drum set (a drumset!!).  If I were to win a Super Lotto (a regular lotto will not be enough) I would buy this home in a heartbeat.

This home is completely understated and completely perfect. It won’t necessarily wow you with pictures- this is home you must experience.

Which one would you like to buy?

I kid… not really.  Remember, you can click on any of the adresses to see details and pictures.  If you want to buy any one of these homes there is a convenient appointment  button at the bottom of each listing!

So, here’s my question:

If money were no object, which one of these homes would you chose and why?

Today is the Fourth of July- and I have already written the obligatory blog post about where to see fireworks in our fair corner of the world.  Today,  I want to talk about something even more American than fireworks- Homeownership.

Here are the least expensive homes in our area.  They are all single family homes and none of them are short sales.  Without further ado…

Glendale

Unsurprisingly, Glendale had the least expensive homes, by far.  Both of these homes are “South of the Freeway” but they are sweet and cheap!

First up is 817 E. Wilson (click on the link to see property pictures and details).  This bank owned home is a sweet Walton’s Family type Craftsman Bungalow with 2 bed, 1 bath and a small yard.  Listing agent says it needs some work (I’ve seen worse) but at $249,900 I think there’s some room for repair!  Located close to the city Government buildings it is also very close to Trader Joe’s and Chipotle’s.

Next is another $249,900 beauty- 603 S. Louise.  while still a Craftsman, this Bungalow is more Pasadena inflected.  There is a huge brick apartment building looming over the backyard and there is only 1 bedroom- but the kitchen is updated and it looks fairly clean.  This is also a bank owned property.

La Crescenta

Moving up, waaaaaaay up,  is a very cool home at 2845 Los Olivos.  Located ABOVE Foothill, y’all! (This is like being across the tracks, for those who don’t know).  At $324,900 I think this might be the best buy on the market right now.  Three bed, one bath and a remodeled kitchen…. who cares that the backyard is minuscule?

Unfortunately Los Olivos makes the next listing look a little like Jed Clampett moved to La Crescenta- and that’s not nice since 3722 3rd Ave.is a rare standard sale at only $335,000.  There is a certain mountain cabin rustic charm to this simple home.  It looks like there might even be a charming yard- once you hack beyond the over grown jumble.  With 904 sf of living space this is probably the best deal for space.

La Cañada Flintridge

Yes, Dorothy, there are even low priced homes in La Cañada!  Of course, we are still over half a million dollars and next to the freeway, but, DARLING!, this is La Cañada, home of the “so good you can’t touch this” school system!  (I’ve been listening to M.C. Hammer this weekend)

The most inexpensive deal in town, at $519,000,  is 4210 La Tour Way.  This block long street is off Verdugo Rd. opposite Verdugo Memorial Hospital.  The good news is that this clean little post war home is NOT backing to freeway.  No.  It is 2 houses away from where the Glendale and Foothill freeways merge.  However- it IS part of the coveted La Cañada school system, it has one and a half baths, a conventional sized lot and it is neither a short sale nor a bank owned home!  If schools are your thing there is no doubt that this is a best bargain!

Last, but not least, is 4344 La Granada Way, clocking in at $569,000.  La Granada swoops down off of Foothill Blvd. right near the Foothill offramp off the 2 freeway.  Subject home has it’s side to the 2 and 210 freeway with one home in between.  Enough of the bad- here is the good!  This is a standard sale home with lots of move-in ready upgrades like new windows, central AC, copper plumbing and newer roof.  It also feature a huge yard and newer kitchen.

There you have it- the least expensive homes for sale, right now.  Don’t forget, you can click any of the highlighted addresses for pictures and details.  You can also contact me at the bottom of each page if you want to schedule a showing.