Surrealistic POS in Lagunitas

1 br 1 ba, 672 sq ft, built 1949. Asking $575,000. I want to say it looks like an outhouse in a state park except that this Lagunitas POS comes with its own outhouse. I'd really like to meet the person who actually thinks something like this is worth over half a million dollars; I think I could use them as the basis of a lucrative pop-psychology book or two.

And what's up with the realtor posting this picture of a stone chicken?


We have truly entered the surreal.

The New Math for the Mathematically Challenged in Corte Madera

1 br + 1 ba + 921 ft^2 + Corte Madera + built 1931 + no" lifestyle" upgrades = $749,000.

Sausalito POSs

Two enchanting updated cottages (on one lot)...[realtor BS]... The back cottage is approximately 128 years old & the front is 5approx 53.

So these Sausalito POSs consist of two 1 br 1 ba cottages, each approximately 878 sq ft. One was built in 1878 and the other in 1953. The lot is 8,000 sq ft. No details vis. "updating" so I guess all that it means is that the 19th century water well, oil lamps, horse tie-ups, etc. have been replaced with their more modern counterparts, say 1970s era. Asking price is $1,295,000. That's $737 per square foot (total). I guess mom and dad could live in one and junior in the other cottage. Or raze the place and build a McMansion on it for another million.

Overgrown San Anselmo Cottage

Original 1913 cottage, rare opportunity for creative buyer to remodel or build your dream home...[realtor BS]...Strictly as-is sale.

Yup, all original vintage 1913 cottage, 2 br 1 ba, 1173 sq ft located in San Anselmo. Asking $719,000.

Butt Ugly Townhouse in "Prestigious" Marinwood

This is one ugly townhouse. It is within beer-can-throwing distance to the 101 so it is great for those of you who like to hear freeway noise and breathe exhaust soot. But what do you care? It's Marin! And I'm sure you can find a realtor who will assuage your lingering doubts (you know, those unfortunately very faint, nagging voices-of-reason in the back of you brain which, if you are seriously considering paying anything close to the full asking price of $585,000, has shriveled into a dried-out husk) and assure you that this is a great starter home for any young family; they always are.

Brings Out the Sarcasm in Fairfax

Built in 1920 . 1 bedroom 1 bath. Beautiful setting but home needs fair amount of repair. 994 sf in this charming cottage if you have the talent to restore this beauty...

Located in Fairfax. Asking $565,000.

Judging by the pictures, all of the fixtures are vintage 1920s and are showing every one of their 86 years worth of use.

She's Gonna Blow in Fairfax

This Fairfax POS was mentioned in the comments section of the previous post. It comes in at 2 br 1 ba, 960 sq ft, built 1923, 0.44 acre lot. It is described by the realtor as a "fixer". Asking? $525,000.

Here is what one reader who visited this POS had to say:

We just viewed this property today, the entire foundation is sliding off the hill, retaining walls bursting etc. the *hidden* second unit has been condemmed by the city of Fairfax (yes it is that bad) red tagged and about to slide down the hill behind.

The smell of sewer was very strong inside, I was genuinely too fearful to walk out on that deck, you could feel it flexing underfoot.

The realtor showing this property genuinely looked embarrased when we walked in.

And another:

"I was genuinely too fearful to walk out on that deck"

I had a similar reaction from that photo--a plywood deck? That lot may be .4 acres, but how much of that is useable?; getting permits from Fairfax is another issue. Definitely another PoS candidate.

Thanks for pointing this one out.

Update: Here is a shot of that lovely deck; yeah, sure, this is worth every penny:

I Thought Versailles Was in France or Something?

Update: Price Reduced: 07/10/06 -- $5,900,000 to $4,950,000
Also, Zillow.com's "zestimate" puts it at $1,687,970.

This POS is in Belvedere and was sent to me by a reader (thanks!). I decided to post this one just in case there is anyone out there who thinks I have been discriminating against very expensive Marin POSs.

This one comes in at 5 br 6 ba, 2113 sq ft, built in 1955, and sits on 0.67 acre. It is asking $5.9 million. The realtor write-up goes like so:

The most exciting .67 acre estate to come on the market in decades. Dead flat, largest lagoon lot, 1BR/2BA main house, 2BR/2BA guest house, caretakers quarters with two BR/BA suites, pool, Versailles-like formal gardens. PRIVACY! AMAZING!

0.67 acre does not constitute "an estate" in my book nor does it imply 'amazing privacy'. Furthermore, I've been to Versailles and I can tell you from first-hand experience that only with the wildest stretch of the imagination does this POS resemble this:

Nor does its garden come anywhere close to those of Versailles:

I'm all in favor of community pride and all, but this comparison just plain smacks of Marin arrogance or realtor naiveté.

And how much do you want to bet that this POS is sitting on a liquefaction zone?

Buy an Urban Legend in Sausalito

This Sausalito POS comes in at 1 br 1 ba, 1334 sq ft, asking $699,000. According to the realtor write-up:

The horn house this building is purported to have been brought around the horn in the late nineteenth century. Very special fixer with a lot of history.

Hey, I've got a house that was assembled by hairless albino Borneo pigmies who were brought here by chance when they got sucked up a water spout and who subsisted on only Marin's cockroaches. Really. And it's a steal at $400K.

Dinky, Blue Mill Valley POS

This tiny Mill Valley POS comes in with 2 br 1 ba, 958 sq ft, 1,002 sq ft lot (!), built in 1971, and is tightly crammed in with a bunch of other houses. If you don't value privacy then this POS is for you. And it comes with most of the "must have" lifestyle clichés that you would expect in yuppidy South Marin. Asking $629,500.

Dark and Dreary Update

Just an update, but Dark and Dreary in Larkspur is still for sale; I've been watching it all these months and (like so many POSs that grace this site) it never seems to go away (which is ironic given all of the "intangibles"-based arguments that were offered in that thread). ZipRealty indicates that it has been on the market for 174 days which sounds about right since I first blogged it in December, 2005.

The price of this POS has been reduced twice (it is currently asking $598,000). Why hasn't it sold? Probably the reason why it hasn't sold is because the total price reduction amounts to a paltry -4.3% Who are the sellers trying to kid?

This property is a good example of seller stubbornness resulting in no sale. This property should serve as a warning to those sellers who do in fact want to sell their property -- lower the price, do it soon before the property sits on the market too long; if it still doesn't sell, then lower the price again; repeat until sold. Don't end up being like other fool sellers who chase the market down.

San Rafael Crack House

Absolutely nothing, nothing, has been done to this San Rafael 3 br 2 ba, 1288 sq ft POS. The sellers won't even bother watering the grass. Yet they still have the audacity to ask $699,000. When will the madness end? When will buyers be discriminating? I guess when money is earned again.

F-ing the Buyer in Fairfax

I am posting this one just to spite the seller of this Fairfax POS because of the insultingly small price reduction of 0.4% Yeah, four tenths of one percent. They're gaming the system I'd guess.

It comes in at 3 br 2 ba, unknown square footage (but it looks really small), unknown build date. Currently asking 1,034,000. It's been on the market for just 32 days.

Vertiginous POS in Fairfax

I just love the desperation in this write-up:

Run!Now $659,000!A $70,000 price reduction from original price,which you all thought a good price!What a buy!Charming home(not a condo! Writer or artist, a romantic get-away!A sun-filled zen retreat...

The price has been reduced three times and it's been on the market for 60 days and still no greater fool to unload on. 2 br 1 ba, 1286 sq ft, built in 1981. Asking $659,000. Asking tomorrow...?

"which you all thought a good price". Huh? If this POS has not been able to sell, then who exactly are you referring to? Must be other realtors.

"Charm" Means San Anselmo POS

Wow move in condition at this great price!! Charm charm and more charm...

"Charm" = small
"charm" = very small
"and more charm" = it's a POS

This San Anselmo POS comes in at 3 br 2 ba, 980 sq ft, built in 1944. How do you get three bedrooms along with everything else into 980 sq ft? And what are those trees hiding? Well, at least this one isn't being described as a "starter home". Asking $719,000.