2581 ANNAPOLIS St East Palo Alto, CA 94303

Last sale: Jun 16, 2009 Sold $573,732 (This is a bank take back)
Last REAL sale: Nov 10, 1999 Sold $270,000

I found the mortgage history of this home on PropertyShark, and it is quite interesting.  First the homedebtor bought the house in 1999 with two loans from Bank of America:

Notice that the two loans add up to the purchase price. So great, this guy is buying the home for 0 down, but at least it is a fixed loan. Now he lived in it for  a bit over 3 years before doing another refi.  This time it is a cash out refinance because the amount borrowed is $300k.  This time it is from Indymac:

Notice that now it is an adjustable loan. A year and a half later there was another cash out  refi in June 2004:

So basically he took another $30k out, but wait, it’s not over! Another 16 months later, he did another HUGE cash out refinance:

Yup, in this final refinance he took out another $242k.  Then finally the home was foreclosed this year.  So at least he enjoyed the house atm for almost 10 years and took out over $300k.  Here is the funny part, all the banks he dealt with are dead except for Bank of America.  I guess  it sort of makes sense, too.  I don’t think this guy lost much since the money he took out was tax free and he didn’t really have any equity in the house anyway.  The last bank definitely lost the most on this series of refinances, but I guess they have ” imploded”.

2330 University Ave #110 East Palo Alto, CA 94303

Last sale: Feb 22, 2006 Sold $445,000
Loss if sold for asking: $246,000 or 55%

I don’t know about you but these listing photos just make me somewhat dizzy.  You can sort of make out some chairs in the first one, but the second one seems like the realtor took it while he/she was drunk and fumbled around. Anyway, I suspect the cut down price is to elicit more bids, or the realtor was really drunk?

Last sale: Feb 14, 2006 Sold $708,000

This one makes me have a sinking feeling. It’s about $24k below the latest median, but it’s reduced quite a bit from its last sale price.

This house seems to have a good facade, and it’s the same size of the condo I rent, but to buy it would cost twice as much as renting. Awesome huh?

Last sale: May 26, 2005 Sold $780,000

This one is more than $200k below its last sale price and it’s a short sale, which means the deal probably won’t complete.  It’s priced right at the county median now.  It’s an okay neighborhood, but it’s on a busy street.

The general pattern to the median priced home seems to be the following:

1) The house is less than 1200 square feet

2) The house is more than 50 years old

3) The house isn’t exactly affordable to those with a median income.

Oh well, maybe one day this madness will end.

12 ATHLONE Ct Menlo Park, CA 94025

Last sale: Nov 23, 2005 Sold $960,000
Loss if sold for asking: $161,000

It looks like the current owners bought this home back in 2005 with a $720k adjustable loan.  Their listing price will help them just break even.  Open house this weekend on September 12th and 13th from 1pm to 4pm.

1825 MIDDLEFIELD Rd Redwood City, CA 94063

Price: $259,900

Last sale:
Sep 11, 2006 $630,000
4/18/2000 $297,500

Yup, this little rancher has rolled back to below its 2000 sale price. What a difference 9 years make. This is currently owned by U.S. Bank and it is definitely the cheapest single family home in Redwood City now based on price per square foot. It looks like it needs some fixing, and it is not in the best neighborhood, but at least it is priced to be affordable to median income families now.

154 ALTA VISTA Way Daly City, CA 94014

Price: $850,000

Last sale:

So this home isn’t exactly listing for under its last sale price, but its listing history is quite funny.  According to Redfin it has been listed at least 8 times since May 24th 2006.  That’s right everyone, these sellers have been trying to sell for almost three years.  They must have priced it at over a million during 2006 and 2007 because it should have sold fairly easily then.  Now they are still going for $850,000, which is 50% above all the comparables.  All I can say is good luck.

4238 GEORGE Ave #00001 San Mateo, CA 94403

Price: $365,000

I first put this one up over a year ago.  Looks like the price has been cut another $75,000 since then.  This is still a short sale which means that the troubled sellers are still holding onto the property.  Hopefully it will sell soon?

665 FOOTHILL Dr Pacifica, CA 94044

Price: $468,000

Last sales:

Loss if sold for asking:  $247,000 or 34.5%
This home is now $23,000 above its 2001 price.   It was funded by a $143,000 fixed mortgage and a $572,000 adjustable mortgage in its 2005 sale.  Yup, that’s another 100% financed home and now it is a short sale.  There is an open house on 4/5/2009 from 1 to 4pm.

1160 WALNUT St San Carlos, CA 94070

Price: $839,000

Last sale:

Loss if sold for asking: $26,000

This is probably a good example of a delusional seller.  The median price per square foot in San Carlos has dropped to $511 and the owners of this tiny “classic Tudor” is still going for $792 per square foot.  This home isn’t on the hills but it is close to downtown.  Anyway, there is an open house this weekend on Feb 22, from 1 to 4pm.

90 CARLETON Ave Daly City, CA 94015

Price: $437,000

Last sale: Nov 16, 2005 Sold $718,000
Loss if sold for asking: $281,000 or 39.1%

This is a REO listing, but the tax records still say its owner is at 192 Ashland Dr.  It seems like the last buyer took two loans from Ameribanc Corp to buy this possibly second home or investment property.  80% was an ARM and 20% was fixed so it was basically  a 100% loan.   AmeriBanc unceremoniously died last year so I’m not sure who owns this property right now.  Anyway,from the pictures it looks like the inside of this property is still intact.