Riverside | $895,000
A 1929 Spanish-style house with two bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms and a guest suite with a full bathroom and separate exterior entrance, on a 0.3-acre lot
This house is at the base of Mount Rubidoux, in a quiet neighborhood about five minutes from the center of the city. The sellers, who bought and renovated it last year, retained original elements wherever possible, including the quarter-sawn oak floors and the casement windows, which were removed, restored and reinstalled. The home is less than a mile from a community garden, a park with a playground and a trail winding up the mountain.
The campuses of the University of California, Riverside and California Baptist University are about 20 minutes away. Driving to San Bernardino takes about half an hour. Downtown Los Angeles is an hour and 15 minutes away.
Size: 1,972 square feet
Price per square foot: $454
Indoors: Stone steps flanked by a granite retaining wall lead from the street up to the main entrance, passing a patio with a stone fountain along the way.
The front door opens into a long hallway. To the left, through an arched doorway, is a living room with refinished original flooring, large windows, a wood-burning fireplace, custom-made wrought-iron sconces and access to a deck with views of mature live oak trees.
Behind this space is a dining room with a brass chandelier and two sets of French doors that open to a patio. The adjacent kitchen has tile floors, white cabinetry, a center island and windows overlooking the side patio and the backyard.
The primary bedroom is at the end of the entry hall, across from a sunny guest room. They share a full bathroom with Venetian plaster walls, a deep soaking tub and a walk-in shower with brass hardware. Also off the main hall is a powder room with a Carrara marble-topped vanity and an antique mirror.
The guest suite is near the base of the cobblestone stairs leading up to the main entrance. It is laid out like a studio apartment, with a kitchenette along one wall, a dining nook with colorful floral wallpaper, a full bathroom and enough space for a king-size bed.
Outdoor space: The patio off the dining room has a fire pit and ample space for chairs surrounding it. The property also includes an outdoor dining area covered by a wood pergola and a second patio with a white stucco fireplace adorned with colorful tiles. The detached garage has two parking spots.
Taxes: $11,184 (estimated)
Contact: Crystal Coleman, Famous Properties, Nest Real Estate, 951-801-0924; famousfred.com
Pasadena | $899,000
A two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominium in a 1979 building
This condominium is a few blocks from a busy stretch of South Lake Avenue, putting it within walking distance of an Erewhon market, a Trader Joeβs, a comedy club, and several restaurants and coffee shops. It is less than a mile from the California Institute of Technology and Pasadena City College, and less than a 10-minute drive from the Huntington Library and Old Pasadena.
Glendale is 20 minutes away. Hollywood is a 40-minute drive. The hiking and walking trails at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains are about half an hour away. Driving to Castaic Lake State Recreation Area takes about an hour.
Size: 1,249 square feet
Price per square foot: $720
Indoors: The apartmentβs front door opens into a foyer with laminate floors that continue into a combined living-and-dining area with a gas fireplace and two sets of glass doors that open to a private walled patio.
This space is partially open to a galley kitchen with custom cabinets, new appliances, including a stainless steel Samsung range with a built-in bread proofer, and a glass door that opens to the patio.
The primary bedroom, off the living room, has large windows, three walk-in closets and an en suite bathroom with a new vanity and a combined tub and shower.
The guest room, at the other end of the apartment, has the use of a bathroom with a walk-in shower. Also in this part of the home is a laundry room with a side-by-side washer and dryer.
Outdoor space: The patio runs almost the entire length of the apartment, functioning as an outdoor living room, with high walls that give it a sense of privacy and enough space for a dining table, a grill and plants. The building also has a communal courtyard that was recently renovated. This apartment comes with two parking spots in a subterranean garage and a dedicated storage unit.
Taxes: $11,232 (estimated) and a $700 monthly homeowner association fee
Contact: Sarah Rogers, The Agency, 626-390-0511; theagencyre.com
Long Beach | $900,000
A 1953 ranch-style house with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, on a 0.1-acre lot
This house is in the Stratford Square neighborhood, a mile from Bixby Elementary School and 10 minutes from public middle and high schools. It is about a five-minute drive from a Target and 10 minutes from El Dorado East Regional Park, which has a pond, an archery range and soccer fields.
The ocean is less than five miles away, and the nearest sandy beach is within a 15-minute drive. Long Beach Airport and Skylinks at Long Beach, an 18-hole golf course with a driving range and restaurant, are also close by. Driving to Disneyland, downtown Irvine or the Port of Los Angeles takes about half an hour.
Size: 1,456 square feet
Price per square foot: $618
Indoors: A paved path runs from the sidewalk to the coral-pink front door, which opens into a bright living room with street-facing windows and new flooring. On the left side of this space is a dining area that connects to a galley kitchen with white cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, a white porcelain farmhouse sink and a windowed breakfast area.
A bedroom with backyard-facing windows and a full bathroom with a glass-walled shower are off the kitchen.
The other two bedrooms are off a hallway with built-in storage that extends from the living area. The primary suite has three closets, sliding-glass doors that open to the backyard and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. The other bedroom has the use of a bathroom with a combined tub and shower.
Outdoor space: Behind the house is a concrete patio covered by a pergola. Beyond is a walled yard landscaped with grass and mature trees. The detached garage has two parking spots.
Taxes: $11,256 (estimated)
Contact: Lissa Lebel, Sothebyβs International Realty, Los Feliz Brokerage, 323-842-0003; sothebysrealty.com
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