3640 Loadstone Dr, SHERMAN OAKS 91403—$1.1M

Sunday, April 26, 2009
MLS # F1805519CN

We visited this 3 bed/3 bath only because it was a few doors down from the previous Loadstone Dr. open house. It's corner lot house with (sigh...yet again) a pool that takes up 80% of the backyard.

First of all, owners, you MUST do something about your front walkway. Seriously, people, someone is going to get hurt. It's the equivalent to driving on the edge of the Grand Canyon with no guard rail. Your brick walkway teeters on the edge of a steep hill with no handrail in sight. One brick had broken away and was moments away from plummeting to its death.

Second of all, the smells in your house were...disturbing. Was that mold? Pet dander? Cigarette smoke? Yikes. We walked in with our kid and after 30 seconds I swooped her up and waited outside until Daddy finished looking at the house.

However, your kitchen is gorgeous. And the house seemed to have a nice square footage.

3700 Loadstone Dr, SHERMAN OAKS 91403—$995,000

Sunday, April 26, 2009
MLS # F1803868CN

From the outside this 3bed/3bath house looked like the perfect all-American suburban home, and I think that's what attracted us to it. The inside wasn't so bad—it's definitely move in ready, but over time needs some updating (kitchen and bathrooms). We didn't like the pool, yet again, taking up so much of the back yard. (LA Homeowners: what's wrong a lush, landscaped, grassy backyard? What's with your obsession with concrete and pools)?

I didn't know the price until after I was done looking through the place. I laughed out loud at the $995,000 suggested price. But, the realtor said they're very motivated sellers and will entertain all offers.

4332 ALLOTT AVE, SHERMAN OAKS—$699,000

Sunday, April 26, 2009
MLS # F1805565CN

3bed/3bath. We just wanted to see what $699k would buy you in Sherman Oaks, so we paid the open house a visit. We knew it was going to be popular, and we were right. People were definitely coming and going and we're sure, by the end of the day, they had a few offers. My husband had a good point—it felt like the house was a double-wide trailer that was plopped down and no one bothered with a foundation. I had to agree.
I overheard the realtor / assistant / open house monkey explain that a contractor bought it a few years ago, tore it apart, then for some reason or another couldn't finish the project. It went into foreclosure when the current owner bought and finished it. He/she knew where to put their money—the kitchen and bathrooms were great. The fireplace in the middle of the open

No garage to be seen, but I guess that's why it's $699k.

3428 MANDEVILLE CANYON RD, BRENTWOOD—$899,000

Sunday, April 26, 2009
MLS # 09-364573
This house is the poor cousin of 3343 Mandeville Canyon. NOTHING was updated, the carpet was old, stained, and looks like the owners had left and the caretakers didn't bother with any wall patches or painting. The pool takes up almost the entire flat part of the yard, and there was a weird loooooong stairwell that led up the hill. I doubt any future owners of the house will ever venture up the steps on a regular basis.
The house needs a few $100k to update it and to make it livable.