Carmel Valley | $2.695 Million
A 1980 house inspired by cottages in the English countryside, with four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 1.3-acre lot
This house is in the hills above Carmel Valley, a 10-minute drive from the quaint downtown that draws tourists with its wine-tasting rooms and upscale resorts. It is a five-minute drive from the hiking, riding and bike trails in Garland Ranch Regional Park and about 20 minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Pebble Beach and downtown Monterey are half an hour away. San Jose is a 90-minute drive north. San Francisco is about two and a half hours away.
Size: 3,587 square feet
Price per square foot: $751
Indoors: At the street, a gate opens to a private driveway that leads to the garage. The front entry is to the left of the garage, through a vine-covered arch.
To the left of the entry is a living room with hardwood floors, a fireplace and French doors that open to a patio. The hardwood floors continue into a dining room with a built-in bench in a bay window.
Behind the dining room is a kitchen with granite counters, a center island illuminated by a chandelier and glass doors out to a patio. Beyond is a family room with a white-painted brick fireplace and French doors to the patio outside.
Also on this level, just off the entry, is a powder room.
All four bedrooms are upstairs. The primary suite, to the right of the landing, has a sloped ceiling, a fireplace and doors that open to a wood deck; the en suite bathroom has a walk-in shower. A second bathroom with a claw-foot soaking tub and a glass-walled shower is shared with the bedroom across the hall, which also has access to the deck and to the laundry room. At the other end of the hall are two more guest rooms that share a bathroom off the hall with a combined tub and shower.
Outdoor space: The patio and lawn behind the house have sweeping views of the hills. The property also includes a hot tub, an outdoor kitchen, an outdoor dining area, raised beds for growing vegetables and a small greenhouse. The attached garage holds two cars.
Taxes: $33,684 (estimated) and a $40 monthly homeowner association fee
Contact: David Bindel, Sotheby’s International Realty, Carmel Brokerage, 831-238-6152; sothebysrealty.com
Los Angeles | $2.65 Million
A 1923 farmhouse with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, two half bathrooms and a guesthouse with a full bathroom, on a 0.2-acre lot
This property is in Laurel Canyon, an area long popular with Los Angeles-based artists, from the magician Harry Houdini and 1920s film stars like Rudolph Valentino to musicians of the 1960s and 1970s, including Joni Mitchell, Jim Morrison and Neil Young. Today, the area is still close-knit, and locals make regular trips to Canyon Country Store, a market and cafe housed in a 1920s building.
The house is zoned for Wonderland Avenue Elementary School, a well-ranked public school about five minutes away on foot. Studio City and Hollywood are about a 10-minute drive.
Size: 3,820 square feet
Price per square foot: $694
Indoors: A wood fence separates the front yard from the street, and exterior stairs lead up to the main entrance.
The hand-carved front door opens into a long hallway. To the left is a sitting room behind a set of double doors, and nearby is a powder room. At the end of the hall is an open space divided by a free-standing brick fireplace, with a dining area on one side and a den on the other. Both rooms have access to the kitchen, which has Saltillo-tile floors and a green Viking range.
Two bedrooms are on this level, off the den. The primary bedroom, at the back of the house, has access to two bathrooms: one with a stall shower and a washer-and-dryer setup, and the other with a green-and-white-tiled combination tub and shower. The second bathroom also connects to a guest room with stairs to a lower-level family room.
An additional guest room is on the third level, with wide-plank floors and access to a half bathroom.
The guesthouse, at street level, is laid out like a studio apartment, with an open living and sleeping area, a kitchenette and a full bathroom.
Outdoor space: In addition to a wood deck, the property has several patios, including one at the rear, between the main house and the hillside, with room for a dining set and a barbecue. A second outdoor dining area is beneath the outdoor staircase in the front yard. The yard is landscaped with grass and mature trees.
Taxes: $33,120 (estimated)
Contact: Scott King, DPP Real Estate, 323-828-2049; dppre.com
Oceanside | $2,699,995
A 2015 house with three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 0.1-acre lot
This house is a few blocks from the beach, putting it within walking distance of the beach-adjacent businesses that line Oceanside’s bustling streets, including surf shops, casual restaurants and breweries. Surfside Educational Academy, a public elementary school, is less than half a mile away, as is St. Mary Star of the Sea School, a Catholic school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
The property is less than five minutes from the Amtrak station, where trains run south to San Diego and north to Los Angeles. Downtown San Diego is a 45-minute drive; Irvine, in Orange County, is about an hour away.
Size: 2,498 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,081
Indoors: A path runs from the sidewalk to the front door, which opens into a sitting room with white oak floors and a fireplace. Stairs lead up to an open living area on the second floor that includes another sitting area next to a street-facing balcony. This space flows into a dining area and a kitchen with Thermador appliances and a long island topped with quartz.
Behind the kitchen is a powder room and a room that could be used as a home office. At the center of the house, near the kitchen and dining area, is an elevator that runs from the entry level to the roof deck.
The primary suite is one flight up from the main level, and includes a built-in entertainment center, a walk-in closet with custom shelving and a large bathroom with a deep soaking tub and separate shower. A short flight of steps leads from the primary suite up to a lofted office with access to the roof deck.
The other two bedrooms are on the entry level, off a corridor extending from the front door. One has an en suite bathroom with a combined tub and shower, as well as outdoor access. The other has a bathroom with a walk-in shower and stone floors.
At the back of the house is a laundry room with a washer and dryer.
Outdoor space: The balcony off the main level is covered, with plenty of space for a lounge setup. The primary outdoor entertaining area is the roof deck, which has ocean views. The attached garage has two parking spots.
Taxes: $28,356 (estimated)
Contact: Kelly Madruga, Choice Properties, 619-993-1641; redfin.com
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