Publication Date: Friday, October 13, 2006

A snapshot of the market:
What you get for the median price in local communities

by Carol Blitzer

Here's a snapshot of what was on the market in the middle of September. Each home was offered at about the median price for that community.

EAST PALO ALTO

Address: 1112 Gaillardia Way

List price: $649,999

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1

Interior: 1,120 sq. ft.

Lot size: 6,840 sq. ft. (0.16 acres)

Date built: 1950

A contemporary mid-19th-century home, located on the west side of East Palo Alto, just blocks from Home Depot and Ikea, and not far from the Palo Alto Golf Course. Key features are recent upgrades to the kitchen and bath and a large, grassy yard. The listing billed it as "perfect for 1st time home buyers" with "lots of room to expand."

REDWOOD CITY

Address: 1820 Maryland St.

List price: $879,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 1.5

Interior: 1,030 sq. ft.

Lot size: 7,080 sq. ft.

Date built: 1951

Within easy walking distance of shopping, schools, churches and a synagogue, this well-located home just east of Alameda de las Pulgas has been remodeled and updated. A modern kitchen features white cabinets, black granite counters and stainless-steel appliances. Off the living room, with its fireplace and hardwood floors, is a deck overlooking the expansive, grassy back yard.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

Address: 460 Whisman Park Drive

List price: $899,000

Bedrooms:3

Bathrooms: 2.5

Interior: 1,728 sq. ft.

Lot size: 2,178 sq. ft. (.05 acre)

Date built: 1998

This contemporary, two-story home features hardwood floors, a built-in entertainment center in family room, warmly finished kitchen cabinets with granite counter tops -- all this in the transit-friendly Whisman Station neighborhood, close to major arteries and light rail. Several local parks and playgrounds are in constant use by young families. The neighborhood attracts the tech crowd, given that it's relatively new and well-wired.

MENLO PARK

Address: 212 Lexington Drive

List price: $1,269,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Interior: 1,640 sq. ft.

Lot size: 6,014 sq. ft.

Date built: 1951

Located on a quiet, tree-lined street in The Willows, near San Francisquito Creek, this ranch home features random-plank hardwood floors in the living/dining room and wall-to-wall carpeting in the bedrooms. Plenty of light streams into the living room from two opposite walls. Features include a two-car garage, fireplace in the living room, breakfast nook and patio.

PALO ALTO

Address: 953 Channing Ave.

List price: $1,395,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.5

Interior: 1,600 sq. ft.

Lot size:.07 acre

Date built: about 1924

On the edge of both the Community Center and Crescent Park neighborhoods, this older bungalow on a flag lot offers easy access to parks (Eleanor Pardee and Rinconada), schools (Addison Elementary and St. Elizabeth Seton) and the Lucie Stern Community Center. Features include hardwood floors, a breakfast nook, separate dining and family rooms, a fireplace in the family room and skylights.

LOS ALTOS

Address: 140 Formway Court

List price:$1,599,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms:2.5

Interior: 2,066 sq. ft.

Lot size: 12,632 sq. ft. (.29 acre)

Date built: 1973

Through a dramatic double-door entry, one enters a North Los Altos rancher with plenty of space for both living and entertaining. The highlight of the large lot, typical of the quiet, woodsy neighborhood, is a curvy swimming pool in the back yard. The house sports fireplaces in both living and family rooms, along with an updated kitchen and hardwood floors. The location is walking distance to downtown Los Altos shopping, as well as close to schools.

PORTOLA VALLEY

Address: 231 Gabarda Way

List price: $1,895,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 4+

Interior: 2,967 sq. ft.

Lot size: .33 acres

Date built: 1960

Exquisite views of a woodsy yard in the gentle Ladera hills await visitors to this updated, two-story home. Light illuminates the large living room from clerestory windows and sliding glass doors. Sophisticated pale wood kitchen cabinets are contrasted with black granite counter tops, with a handy, nearby wine rack. Although technically located in San Mateo County, the neighborhood feels like a small town, with its own shopping center, recreation district, preschool, church, community association and monthly newsletter. An added benefit: the Las Lomitas School District.

WOODSIDE

Address: 33 Bear Glen Drive

List price: $2,195,000

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3

Interior: 2,820 sq. ft.

Lot size: 5+ to 10 acres

Date built: 1991

If the views don't grab you, perhaps the light streaming into this multi-level home near Skyline Boulevard and Wunderlich Park will. It's modern, angular, edgy, from the raised hearth (with drop-down projection screen) in the family room to the state-of-the-art kitchen with high breakfast bar. The exterior is beautifully landscaped with a rock-edged pond and waterfall.

LOS ALTOS HILLS

Address: 25915 Elena Road

List price: $2,500,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Interior: 3,750 sq. ft.

Lot size: 1.14 acres

Date built: 1957

Sitting on more than an acre and overlooking Silicon Valley, this modern home boasts herringbone hardwood floors, soaring cathedral wood ceilings, multiple brick fireplaces, two master suites and a mega-kitchen fit for an entertaining CEO. Located behind the Foothill College campus, there's easy access to I-280. A wrap-around deck offers many opportunities to soak up the view.

ATHERTON

Address: 297 Polhemus Ave.

List price: $3,295,000

Bedrooms:5

Bathrooms: 4+

Interior: 3,010 sq. ft.

Lot size: 1.12 acres

Date built: 1956

Location. Location. Location. With easy access to Las Lomitas schools and the Menlo Country Club, this home just west of Alameda de las Pulgas sits on a desirable Atherton acre. Could be one of the most expensive teardowns on the market today.

Asst. Editor Carol Blitzer can be e-mailed at cblitzer@paweekly.com.