front view of home, presents well- notice beam trim is intact, it's often missing
Let's face it, the sharp upturn in the market is great news for owners, but difficult for buyers. Look to the historically reasonable (as compard to the Peninsula) Eichler markets of San Jose, Walnut Creek, Terra Linda and Marinwood and you'll see homes now climbing into the $800K-$1,000,000 range with no slowing in sight. High paying jobs make the SF Bay Area a hot ticket.
Concord has been an overlooked gem until recently. Where houses languished on the market for 30-60 days in the high $200K to low $300K range during the recent recession, you now have homes going into escrow within a week in the $500,000 range with multiple offers. Neighboring Walnut Creek's Eichlers are squarely in the $800K range. It is not unreasonable to project that Concord will be in the $600,000 range soon, back to its 2005 high.
So what's an entry level Eichler buyer to do? First, prepare to buy in the high $400,000's- mid $500,000's, that's bascially where the market is now. Hey, next to the rest of the Bay Area's Eichlers, Concord's Eichlers are still an amazing deal! Second, if money is tight, fill up your tool chest and find a *livable fixer* to get a deal at the lower end of the price range.
Luckily, for those Eichler seekers on a budget, one has just came on the market!
4112 Phoenix Street, Concord, CA asking $500,000
UPDATE: This home sold for $565,000
Here's the rundown:
- 4/2, 1656 sf
- 7,200 sf lot
- Atrium, carport/garage
- Jones and Emmons #1184 model
- DOM: 3 (it's brand new to market!)
- Rancho del Diablo neighborhood
Positives:
- Great curb appeal with Eicher trim intact
- Good location in active, Eichler enthusiast neighborhood
- Radiant Heating still works (as per Redfin)
- House is clean
- Lot is clean a good size
- Lot has some trees and is ready for landscaping and veggie garden on side yard
- Kitchen has original luan paneling in good shape
- Original, mahogany kitchen pantry intact (very rare to find!)
- Kitchen doors to livingroom are both intact
- Ball lights are intact
- Fireplace is unpainted
- Arcadia sliders look to be in good shape
- Beams appear to be in good shape
- Some of mahogany trim remains unpainted
- Driveway appears to be newer
- Bathrooms are clean and livable
Needs work:
- Majority of the siding needs to be repaired or replaced
- Majority of the interior and Exterior of the home looks like it needs to be repainted (except areas with luan) because of age, wear, or colors not harmonious with an Eichler
- Replacements windows on the back of the home are white vinyl and divided
- Some dry rot on atrium feature wall from oddly located downspout
- Tile in atrium floor should be removed and planting beds refreshed
- Majority of kitchen is old and unattractive- needs to be removed and replaced
- Ugly side door was added in kitchen should be replaced or removed
- Flooring is yellow wood- possible candidate for a refinish, but probably better to remove with radiant floor
- Ceiling was sprayed white
- Bathrooms are dated and not harmonious with the Eichler
It appears that the majority of the work is cosmetic making this home a great candidate for someone with some renovation skills, or a larger budget than the asking price, to polish up this Eichler and make it shine. It looks to be clean enough to live in while work is taking place. If I were in the market for a home, I'd definitely consider this one.
beam trim which is a very cool detail of Jones and Emmons' Model #1184
atrium view from bedroom #4
slated atrium cover
lots of lovely luan! kitchen area with garage to door
*That 70's Kitchen!* Hey, look at all the wonderful luan. There's the pantry door!
it's hard not to geek out over an original pantry!
looking back at kitchen from livingroom, addedside door in distance, original luan continues in dining area
ball lights are all there!
livingroom view from dining area
looking back at dining area & the white vinyl replacement windows
bonus: unpainted mahogany casing!
back of house in generally good shape, aggregate patio a bit wavy but usable
simple, clean landscaping- I would remove the screen in front of the Master
left side yard planting beds with newer fencing
right side yard is basic, but cleaned up
house from the street, looks good! neighboring house on right is heavily renovated
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any realtors or real estate brokerages. I am not a general contractor or home inspector. I am an Eichler homeowner with 15 years of renovation experience. Observations on homes are my own and are made during a walk through viewing. Buyers should obtain their own inspection by a qualified home inspector before purchase.