REAL ESTATE
what you get for…
BY B.J. LORENZO
ARROYOLAND OFFERS A BANQUET OF DIVERSE HOME STYLES. ONE CAN LIVE IN CRAFTSMAN SPLENDOR, EITHER IN A COZY BUNGALOW OR A RAMBLING MANSION. ONE CAN ELECT A NEIGHBORHOOD OF FLAT ROLLING LAWNS OR AN EDGY VIEW OF THE RUGGED, ROCKY ARROYO. SPANISH COLONIAL REVIVALS MIX WITH FRENCH, ENGLISH AND ITALIANATE VILLAS; SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S MIDCENTURY MODERN STYLE CO-EXISTS WITH ITS EUROPEAN-INFLUENCED PREDECESSORS. SO HERE, IF YOU’RE LUCKY, YOU CAN FIND A GRAND PLACE TO HANG YOUR BASEBALL CAP. WE BRING YOU A LOOK AT JUST A FEW OF THE HOMES AVAILABLE. AS A WISE MAN ONCE SAID, “BUY REAL ESTATE. NO ONE WILL EVER MAKE MORE LAND.”
You can get more space for the money, but it would be hard to get as much charm as you’ll find in this rejuvenated 1923 hacienda in Glendale, listed at $487,000. The two-bedroom, one-bath home, just south of the 134 freeway, looked pretty glum when Realtor-developer Frank Verdugo bought it in 2009. He says he liked the location and the bones of the old place—its high ceilings, arches, airy open spaces and abundance of light. So he gutted the interior, put in new electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, insulation, hardwood floors, roof, fencing and landscaping. He tore out a storage room to create a breakfast nook and opened the kitchen so it flows into the dining room. In other words, he did everything most owners of old homes would like to do but don’t have the energy or funds to take on. The result is a 1,200-square-foot space with Spanish architectural vibes and up-to-date stainless steel appliances and custom oak cabinets in the kitchen. There’s a bonus room that can double as a third bedroom, playroom or office and a backyard big enough for swings and barbecues. It may be pricier than some other houses of equal size in the area, but that’s because this is a 1920s residence that’s tricked out for 2010. It’s a trade-off that will appeal to some buyers who look both ways before they cross the street—to the past and the future.
WHAT YOU
$ 500 T GET F OR
HOUSA ND
ARROYO ~ MAY 2010 ~ 11