4119 Phoenix Street, Concord exterior view
With the San Francisco Bay Eichler market climbing at a dizzying rate, it should not surprise me where the market currently is, even for Eichler fixers.
Yet, here we are, and here I am in shock how values have soared. Now even the least of them- the ones which have seen misunderstanding, neglect, deferred maintenance, and even loathing from their owners are surfacing in this time of real estate gold rush.
Bottom line... it's a tough road for those who are buying their first time home with so much pressure from rising SF Bay Area wealth.
With the aid of popular magazines such as Dwell and Atomic Ranch, and too many midmod blogs to mention, MCM real estate is the hot ticket. Those looking for a *modest* mortgage had better get creative, accept a whole lotta bad with the good, and tuck into a home which will need some major renovation- even beyond what would be considered a livable, cosmetic fixer!
Concord still offers the best bargain for an Eichler in the Bay Area, easily commutable to SF, but values have climbed steeply in the last 2 years!
Here's what's happening... three Eichler homes are on the market this week, shaken loose by triple digit equity & short days on market. One is lovely and exceptional (see companion post, following this one, from July 14), & two are straight up fixers.
Here's the low down on the two in need of serious work:
HOUSE ONE
4119 Phoenix Street, Concord asking $595,000
Contact: Ken Fox 510-999-0923 East Bay Modern Real Estate
2,121 sf (expanded) , 4/2, 7,200 sf lot
Claude Oakland Designed, 1963
Rancho del Diablo neighborhood
2-car garage, atrium (enclosed), pool
Summary:
This home is helped tremendously, in parts, by the staging!!
But, over-all, it's rough around the edges. Atrium was enclosed and needs some work. Bathrooms seem dirty & smelly; and the the kitchen is worn, dated, non-Eichler. There is evidence of some dryrot and possibly mold in walls.
Original VCT Eichler floor was taken off a while ago and owners were living on bare slab. A good thing is that the demo is done for you, but plan to re-floor entire house.
Home does have a few original ball lights left. This model has a great pantry off the kitchen! Original glass appears to be intact. Large side yard on right.
Entire lot needs cleaning up and refreshing, including fencing. Pool will needs some work. Bathrooms and kitchen are a gut job. Looks like the home with need new sheet rock in parts, and some new interior and exterior doors. Luan needs stripping or replacing. Will need paint inside and out, and new siding as well. Basically... lots of time, effort, and money to bring this one back. Great neighborhood, big home, lots of potential.
4119 Phoenix Street Concord front view
enclosed atrium is dark, but could be turned into something cool!
atrium view from living room
dining room area with stripped siding... great potential to use a Cabot stain on the siding (like was originally on the Eichler)
area in kitchen- can be used for eat in, or as family room
kitchen is worn, ready for demo
kitchen
large pantry off kitchen
view from master bedroom to back yard pool
master vanity
master toilet sitting all alone
original Eicher tiled shower is cracked, will need renovation including new blue board
repair and possible mold in wall of bedroom closet
going outside....
exterior looking into living room
back fencing is chain link and wood.
back pool is in decent shape, but may need rehab
pool deck- well, this is novel!?
HOUSE TWO
4010 Salem Street, Concord asking $600,000
Contact: Ken Fox 510-999-0923 East Bay Modern Real Estate
1,811 sf , 4/2, 9,240 sf lot (large lot!!)
Claude Oakland Designed, 1965
Rancho de los Santos neighborhood
2-car garage, atrium
Summary:
This Eichler is a true fixer!! Neglected big time! Lots to strip away, clean, and repair here before renovation. This one is totally vacant...
This house needs a total refreshing and some repair. Large lot needs to be cleared. Horrid, exterior commercial air con unit and ducting need to be removed and exterior tongue and groove repaired (was cut in for ducting). Plus evidence of dry rot in eaves. Siding is cooked in parts from total lack of maintenance. Yard is totally abandoned looking with dead above ground pool, oil drums, weeds, and rotted deck and patio cover.
Slab in the kitchen has a pretty significant slope. Bedroom has a busted slider. House needs total repainting. I am going to assume a new roof is needed (once you take off all the giant ducting). New exterior hardscape and landscape needed.
Well, the bones are still there! Atrium is original and open. Kitchen is original layout with flying coffin and swing table which need to be brought back to 1965 form. Home does have a few original ball lights left. This model has a great pantry off the kitchen. Most of original glass appears to be intact. Large yard.
Like the house on Phoenix Street... lots of time, effort, and money to bring this one back. Another great neighborhood with lovely neighbors! This is a good sized home, with large lot, it has potential with a big investment.
4010 Salem Street, Concord
atrium, looks pretty good
atrium (concrete here looks good here)
kitchen with bad tile, but original layout and cabinets under the refacing!
right side of kitchen, door on right leads to large walk-in pantry
kitchen (left hand side), door leads to 2-car garage
kitchen has replaced window (older) and this odd skylight
nice glass corner at kitchen (right) and living room (left)
living room is carpeted, and original fireplace is faced in dated marble, back glass looks OK
living room to dining area, original luan, or siding, wall is covered in mirrors.
hall bath is non-Eichler renovation
master slider is shattered
back yard has tons of potential once you clear out what's there. All wood is rotted here... looks like two hot tubs on property
back right corner of lot is pie shaped, got lots of room though!
back right corner of lot
the siding on the right side of the house is roached! Will need new siding
now the left side... that needs a lot or cleaning, repair, demo, removal before landscaping
left side exterior electrical... the eaves, the t&g, look pretty bad here
not sure why someone would install this oversized, commercial air con unit in an Eichler?? Horrible. They cut out the tongue and groove here which will be hard to repair.
dead above ground pool also on the left side of lot. more demo and removal...
going back out- the door knob is changed, but at least the escutcheon is still there!!
original house numbers
**all photos by Suzanne Dunn, The Glass Box. Please only use with permission...**
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any realtor or real estate brokerage. 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.
Comments