Berkeley | $1.695 Million
An 1888 Craftsman house with five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 0.3-acre lot
This was one of the first homes built in Panoramic Hill, a neighborhood named for its sweeping views of the surrounding area and, on a clear day, San Francisco Bay. Built in the late 19th century, it was altered and moved to its present location in the early 20th century. Edward Taylor Parsons, an early owner, was a director of the Sierra Club and entertained important naturalists of the day in the library.
The property is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Berkeley and 20 minutes from Oakland. Driving to San Francisco takes about half an hour.
Size: 3,421 square feet
Price per square foot: $495
Indoors: The house is set back from the street, and a brick path leads to the glass-and-wood front door.
Inside is a long, wood-paneled foyer that steps down into a living room with a fireplace, redwood paneling and original redwood box-beam detailing on the ceiling.
Beyond this space is a dining room with large windows and built-in cabinetry. This room has access to a balcony on one side and the kitchen on the other.
The kitchen has white cabinetry, a blue-tile backsplash, parquet floors and access to a laundry room.
A powder room and the library, which has a built-in bench and more redwood paneling, are also off the foyer.
Stairs in the foyer lead to the levels above and below. Four bedrooms are on the top floor. The primary suite, to the left of the stair landing, has a private balcony and a bathroom with a walk-in shower and separate soaking tub. Another large bedroom is next door. Two more bedrooms across the hall share a full bathroom with a combined tub and shower.
Another bedroom and full bathroom are on the lowest level of the house, which has its own exterior entrance. This level also includes a flexible space that could be used as a den, playroom or home office.
Outdoor space: The balcony off the dining room is long, with plenty of space for chairs and a small table. The property is steep, with an area behind the house that could hold a terraced garden. The detached garage has two parking spots.
Taxes: $21,192 (estimated)
Contact: Laura Arechiga, The Grubb Co., 510-701-5188; grubbco.com
Palm Springs | $1.7 Million
A midcentury-modern house built in 1958, with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, on a 0.2-acre lot
This house is a few blocks from Palm Springs International Airport and less than two miles from Indian Canyon Drive and South Palm Canyon Drive, the city’s two main drags, affording easy access to nightlife, shopping and galleries. It is about five minutes from the baseball fields, skate park and public library at Sunrise Park.
Indio, where the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is held, is about a half-hour’s drive. Joshua Tree National Park is less than an hour away. Driving to Los Angeles or San Diego takes about two and a half hours.
Size: 1,980 square feet
Price per square foot: $859
Indoors: A privacy wall topped with tall hedges shelters this property from the street, turning the front yard into private outdoor space.
White double entrance doors open to a foyer with polished concrete floors. To the right is an open living and dining area with a sleek fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the backyard and the swimming pool.
The adjacent galley kitchen has glossy white cabinetry and a stainless steel sink under backyard-facing windows. A door at the far side of the kitchen leads to the attached garage.
All three bedrooms are all off a hallway extending from the living area. At the far end is the primary suite: The bedroom has sliding-glass doors that open to the pool area; the bathroom has a walk-in shower and a long double vanity. Next door is another bedroom suite with access to a private outdoor space landscaped with succulents. The third bedroom also has an en suite bathroom.
Outdoor space: The concrete patio off the living area faces the swimming pool, which is framed by concrete and grass. A raised deck on the far side of the pool is big enough to hold several lounge chairs and has access to an in-ground hot tub. The front and rear yards are landscaped with grass and palm trees, and bordered with tall hedges. The garage holds two cars.
Los Angeles | $1.679 Million
A 1924 French Normandy house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, on a 0.1-acre lot
This house is in the Hollywood Hills, a few miles from Griffith Park, which is known for its walking trails, the Griffith Observatory and the Greek Theatre. It is half a mile from a stretch of Franklin Avenue with a French bistro, a bookstore and a Gelson’s supermarket.
Hollywood is less than 10 minutes away by car. The Hollywood/Western subway station on the Red Line is a mile away; from there, downtown Los Angeles is a 15-minute train ride.
Size: 1,620 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,036
Indoors: The house sits at the top of an incline, and the entrance is tucked into a corner of the facade.
Beyond the small foyer is a sunny living room with hardwood floors, a grand fireplace with a stone mantel, a staircase with a wrought-iron railing and street-facing windows. A wide doorway separates this space from a dining room with high ceilings and tall windows overlooking the back patio.
The dining room connects to an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances, including a Wolf range, and space for a breakfast table. The kitchen has access to a laundry room with a side-by-side washer and dryer and a full bathroom.
Both bedrooms are on the second level, reached from the staircase in the living room. The primary bedroom has several large backyard-facing windows, as well as French doors topped by a stained-glass transom window that open to a private balcony. It shares a full bathroom that has a combined tub and shower with the guest room at the other end of the hall.
Outdoor space: The large patio behind the house is paved with bluestone, framed by brick walls and has a brick fireplace in the corner. The attached garage has one parking spot.
Taxes: $20,988 (estimated)
Contact: Gretchen Seager, Sotheby’s International Realty, Pasadena Brokerage, 626-616-8146; sothebysrealty.com
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