A Great Ending POS in San Rafael

This 2 br 1 ba, 703 sq ft San Rafael POS (built 1930) is asking $549,000. Here is the realtor write-up:

Charm and walk to town location make this cute 2br 1 ba home an exceptional opportunity. Currently br used as dining room - front sun porch, lr with fireplace, small back porch or utility room, lush gardens and foliage make this a gardener's delight. One car garage and lots of adjacent storage. Opportunity is knocking - great starter property - write your offers

I see nothing "charming" about this place. Again, "charm" is a realtor code word for "tiny" and "no upgrades to speak of".

The point of interest here is "Currently br used as dining room". You see, tiny Marin POSs like this (and many that grace this blog) are all that most people can afford nowadays. But buyers want to live in a more normal house; you know, one with a dining room as in this example. So they have to make a single room dual-use -- a bedroom/dining room combo in this case.

That is just plain pathetic. You buyers should be demanding more. At least boycott housing for a while.

Next thing you know people will be spouting at parties, etc. about how living in a small house like this is the current trendy/desirable thing to do.

Oh, and I cannot pass on the "great starter property" comment. The phrase "starter property" is being used here like "starter car". A starter car was that beater car you drove when you were a kid so as to learned how to drive. Your parents figured if you dinged it or worse, then no great loss. There is no such thing as a "starter house" as it doesn't make any sense to "practice" owning a house.

No, what this realtor really means by "starter property" is simply a first-time purchase. Most first-time purchases are made by young couples who want to start a family. This POS is totally inappropriate for young couples planning to have kids. I'm sorry, but calling this POS a "great starter property" is irresponsible IMO.

If anything, this POS should be described as a "great ending property" as it would be perfect for someone who has retired, the spouse has passed on, and the kids are living their own lives somewhere else (almost certainly not in Marin as they probably could not afford it anymore).