Little River | $1.6 Million
An 1877 cottage with two bedrooms and one bathroom, on a 0.3-acre lot
This house is perched above Van Damme State Beach, within walking distance of several popular trails and Spring Ranch Nature Preserve. It is less than five minutes from Little River Inn Golf and Tennis Club, which has a nine-hole golf course where players have spotted great horned owls, ospreys and bobcats.
Shopping, dining and galleries are five minutes away, in Mendocino. Driving south to Santa Rosa takes about two hours. The Bay Area cities are three hours away.
Size: 1,452 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,102
Indoors: This house, which sits behind a rough-hewed wood fence and an expanse of lawn, has decorative wood shingles and a wide covered porch big enough to hold a bench or swing.
The front door opens into a living room with a bay of double-hung windows overlooking the side yard and another wide window facing the front yard. The wood floors that continue from this space into the dining area have under-floor heating.
The dining space, which has a wrought-iron chandelier, is open to an updated kitchen with white cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and access to a patio. One bedroom is also in this part of the house; it has the use of a full bathroom nearby.
Stairs off the entry lead to the second floor, which is configured as a primary bedroom large enough to hold a king-size bed and a sitting area, with windows offering ocean views.
A few steps from the main house is a large garage that has been converted into a combined gym and writing or art studio.
Outdoor space: The patio off the kitchen gets plenty of direct sunlight and has room for chairs and a grill. A flat patch of land between the house and the converted garage could hold a garden.
Taxes: $18,564 (estimated)
Contact: Sarah Schoeneman, Mendo Sotheby’s International Realty, 510-418-0070; sothebysrealty.com
Los Angeles | $1.575 Million
A three-bedroom, two-bathroom 1947 bungalow and a guesthouse with a full bathroom, on a 0.1-acre lot
This house is on the Westside, less than 15 minutes from Santa Monica State Beach, Culver City and the University of California, Los Angeles, in Westwood. It is a five-minute drive from Marukai Market, a Japanese grocery store, a Trader Joe’s, a pet supply store and restaurants serving sushi, vegan food and deli sandwiches.
Santa Monica College, the home of the KCRW radio station, an NPR affiliate, is five minutes away, as are the ball fields and picnic areas at Clover Park. Los Angeles International Airport and downtown Los Angeles are about half an hour away.
Size: 1,275 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,235
Indoors: The house sits behind a lawn shaded by a mature tree. The front door, sheltered by a covered porch, opens into the dining area and kitchen with a large window facing the front yard, new cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and a center island.
Through a wide doorway is a living room with large windows facing the street and the side of the property and a fireplace surrounded by white-painted brick.
A hallway off the living room leads to the three bedrooms. The primary suite, at the far end, has a spacious bedroom with a barn-style sliding door that opens to a bathroom with a walk-in shower.
The other two bedrooms (one of which has backyard access through a sliding-glass door) share an updated bathroom with a combined tub and shower and a white porcelain sink.
The garage has been converted into additional living space with air-conditioning and a full bathroom; it could be used as a guesthouse or a home office.
Outdoor space: The backyard is landscaped with mature ficus and orange trees. It includes a paved area used for outdoor dining and a lawn that currently holds playground equipment.
Taxes: $19,692 (estimated)
Contact: Victoria Velazquez, The Agency, and Jaclyn Lyons, Amalfi Estates, 310-614-4240; theagencyre.com
Berkeley | $1.575 Million
A recently renovated 1913 house with four bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, on a shared 0.1-acre lot
This house shares a lot with its neighbor, in a tenancy-in-common arrangement that allows ownership of a piece of the property rather a single unit (like a condominium) or a share of a corporation (like a co-op) — meaning the new owner is entitled to private outdoor space.
The property is a few blocks from Berkeley High School and about a 10-minute bicycle ride from the University of California, Berkeley. Walking to the shops and restaurants on Shattuck Avenue takes about 10 minutes. The Berkeley Bowl grocery store is a 15-minute walk. The trip to San Francisco by public transit takes about 40 minutes. Downtown Oakland is a 15-minute drive.
Size: 2,672 square feet
Price per square foot: $589
Indoors: A new wood fence surrounds the property, and a path leads to the home’s covered front porch.
The front door opens into a foyer with new hardwood floors, a staircase to the second level and access to a full bathroom.
The living room, to the left, has an original brick fireplace painted black and new double-hung windows on three sides, with a window seat and built-in cabinets on the back wall.
The dining room, to the right of the foyer, has more built-ins. It is open to a breakfast room and a kitchen with a center island and new cabinetry, counters, tile backsplash and appliances. A laundry room is off the breakfast room.
All four bedrooms are on the second floor. The primary bedroom, to the left of the landing, includes a flexible space that could be a study or an oversized walk-in closet. Another bedroom with a large closet is next door. The other two bedrooms, to the right of the stairs, have enough space for queen-size beds. A bathroom with a combined tub and shower is also on this level.
From the second-floor landing, a door opens to stairs that continue to the attic level, which has a powder room and several areas that could be turned into additional guest quarters or office space.
Outdoor space: In front of the house is a patio big enough for grilling and dining, shaded by a mature tree. The yard is landscaped with drought-tolerant plants. This house has the use of two off-street parking spots in back.
Taxes: $19,692 (estimated)
Contact: Anthony Koutsos, KW Advisors San Francisco, 415-218-2539; 1800-blake.com
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