3281 Sterling Ave. in Alameda is a time warp of a home, asking $787,000.
Aerial CanvasIn the East Bay city of Alameda, we find rare sighting of an endangered species: a single-family home under $800,000. Indeed, this frozen-in-time property is a throwback in many ways. Not only is 3281 Sterling Ave. a time capsule, seemingly untouched for decades, but its price is well below the current median for the area.
The patterns, textiles, and surfaces all speak to design eras long gone, and to designers of today who hunger for the chance to make a house their own.
Aerial CanvasThe 1,540-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom home was built in the early 20th century. According to Property Shark, records show a 1917 construction date, and 1925 as the last year the home was altered. And though the interior doesn’t look quite that antique, it’s certainly an example of a bygone era.
From the floors to the curtains, this is a rare time capsule of a home.
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Unfortunately, the asking price — though nostalgic in its own way since it represents one of the least expensive single-family homes in the area on the market right now — is probably a vestige of yesteryear as well.
Despite the retro quality, the home is in excellent basic condition.
Aerial CanvasComparable property analysis puts the selling price of this home at more than $1 million dollars, though it’s hard to say if those comps take into account the fixer aspect of 3281 Sterling Ave. The listing invites buyers to “bring your hammer.”
Bathroom remodeling is among the most personal remodeling out there: here you get the chance to do it your way.
Aerial CanvasBut fixers aren’t the hard sells they once were — not in this market. Tim Allen, who is co-listing the home with Ed Massey, told SFGATE that “this home will most likely sell to an investor and is a property that someone like Chip and Joanna Gaines from ‘Fixer Upper’ would love. If that’s the case, we expect the home to sell for more than the asking price since an investor will see a lot of potential profit once the home is renovated.”
A garage in the East Bay is timelessly welcome.
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The backyard is also a blank canvas for your design ideas.
Aerial CanvasIn the past year, Alameda County’s median sale price for single-family homes has jumped to $1.513 million, up almost 19% year-over-year, according to Property Shark.
Anna Marie Erwert writes from both the renter and new buyer perspective, having (finally) achieved both statuses. She focuses on national real estate trends, specializing in the San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Northwest. Follow Anna on Twitter: @AnnaMarieErwert.