Rancho Mirage | $724,999
A midcentury-modern-inspired house built in 1978, with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, on a one-acre lot
Built in the late 1970s, this house was updated by Thomas Troy, a local builder and designer known for contemporary interpretations of midcentury-modern style. In addition to an interior makeover, the house got a new roof and an outdoor water feature.
The property is part of the Springs Country Club, one of 13 golf resorts in Rancho Mirage, and is adjacent to Eisenhower Health, one of the largest hospital complexes in the Coachella Valley. Downtown Palm Springs is about half an hour away; Los Angeles is about a two-hour drive; and Las Vegas is a four-hour drive.
Size: 2,994 square feet
Price per square foot: $242
Indoors: A paved path flanked by succulents and privacy hedges leads from the street to red double doors. They open onto a long foyer with hardwood floors and a view of glass doors out to the backyard.
To the right of the foyer is a combination living-and-dining area with more hardwood floors, a white brick fireplace, a wet bar and tall windows that face the backyard. Opposite the living area is an updated kitchen with a breakfast bar, quartz counters and a center island with two dishwashers.
A short corridor lined with glass shelving leads from the kitchen to the bedrooms. At the back of the house is the primary suite, which has floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors out to the backyard. The attached bathroom has a dark wooden vanity topped with quartz and a sunken shower with glossy brown tile and a small collection of plants.
Two guest rooms at the front of the house have floor-to-ceiling windows. One, used as a den, has built-in shelving, deep red walls and an en suite bathroom; the other, large enough to hold a king-size bed, has an en suite bathroom with a sunken shower set under a skylight and adorned with plants.
Outdoor space: The foyer and primary bedroom both have access to the rear patio, which has a paved area for lounge chairs surrounded by gravel and a fountain designed to echo the red front doors. Tall hedges form a privacy wall, and planter boxes hold small trees. The attached garage, which includes a laundry room, has space for two cars.
Taxes: $9,276 (estimated), plus a $1,103 monthly homeowner association fee
Contact: Guy Miracle and Richard Delao, Sotheby’s International Realty, 310-205-0305; sothebysrealty.com
Corning | $720,000
A 1991 farmhouse with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, on a 10-acre walnut orchard
This property includes 10 acres of Chandler walnut trees, a variety developed by the University of California, Davis in the late 1970s. Many homes in this part of the state are near large farms, and it is common for small orchards like this one to contract the harvesting of walnuts and other crops to neighbors.
Corning is a few miles from the Sacramento River and about a half-hour drive from Chico. New Clairvaux Vineyard, owned by a community of Trappist-Cistercian monks, is less than 10 minutes away.
Size: 2,894 square feet
Price per square foot: $249
Indoors: A long driveway leads from the street, past a large lawn, to the entrance. A covered porch wraps around most of the house, with double doors set on the right side of the front facade.
The foyer has a high ceiling and oak floors, which run throughout most of the house. To the left is a living room with a fireplace and a bay of windows overlooking the porch. Through a wide doorway on one side of the living area is a dining room.
The kitchen, also accessible through the living room, is spacious, with room for a casual dining area and a built-in storage hutch with drawers and glass-fronted cabinets. An office and a laundry room are off the kitchen.
From the foyer, a staircase with a wooden banister leads to the three bedrooms on the second floor. The primary bedroom, at the top of the stairs, has windows facing two sides of the property and an en suite bathroom with a double vanity and a claw-foot soaking tub. The two guest rooms have the use of two hallway bathrooms, each with a combination tub and shower.
Outdoor space: Glass doors in the kitchen open to the back porch and patio, which offer plenty of room for seating. The patio is paved in concrete and framed by grass and low hedges; several mature trees provide shade. The walnut trees are enclosed by a low fence, making it possible to enjoy coffee in the backyard while admiring the orchard. To the right of the house is a detached garage with space for three cars.
Taxes: $7,200 (estimated)
Contact: Brandi Laffins, RE/Max of Chico, the Laffins Real Estate Team, 530-321-9562; laffins.com
Oakland | $725,000
A 1925 Mediterranean house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, on a 0.08-acre lot
This property in the Fruitvale neighborhood is one of four bungalows built by the same developer in the mid-1920s. While it has been updated several times since then, it retains some original features, including a wrought-iron gate and a brick fireplace in the living room. The center of Fruitvale, about a mile and a half away, has a BART station with trains to Oakland and across the San Francisco Bay. The Central Reservoir Recreation Area, a public park built in 1910, with basketball courts, picnic areas and a walking trail circumnavigating the reservoir, is nearby.
Size: 1,285 square feet
Price per square foot: $564
Indoors: A long staircase leads from the sidewalk to the front entry, where a wrought-iron gate opens to reveal a small porch.
Beyond the front door is a foyer that opens to a living room with recessed lighting and windows facing the street. The brick fireplace divides the living room from a dining area that faces the kitchen’s breakfast bar. The kitchen counters are granite, and the appliances and sink are stainless steel.
Behind the kitchen is the primary bedroom, which has sliding-glass doors that open to the backyard. The en suite bathroom has a combination tub and shower and a new vanity with chrome hardware. Two other bedrooms and a second bathroom with a combination tub and shower are on the right side of the house.
Outdoor space: A stone path leads from the primary bedroom to a small patio at the top of the backyard, where there is a mature tree strung with lights and space for a cafe table and chairs. The backyard, landscaped with native plants, is surrounded by a wooden fence. A two-car garage is attached to the house at street level.
Taxes: $8,484 (estimated)
Contact: Sarah Baggott, Sexton Group Real Estate, 510-891-1557; sextongroupre.com
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Source: | This article originally belongs to Nytimes.com
