The original owners of 4 Alondra have listed their house for sale at a low price of $317 per square foot. Why so low? They haven’t done any upgrades, so it’s a great opportunity for a buyer to come in and customize the home to their liking.

The basics:

Asking Price: $760,000

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Footage: 2,400

Lot Size: 4,792

$/Sq Ft: $317

Days on Market: 48

Property Type: Single Family Home

Year Built: 1977

Community: Northwood, Woodside

HOA dues are $97 per month and there are no Mello Roos.

Let’s start with the biggest downfall of the house: it backs to Irvine Blvd. This may be a deal breaker for some. Others may be enticed by the three car garage and the chance to remodel. For a home that hasn’t changed much since 1977, it is in very good condition.

A very small entryway leads right into the living room, which is carpeted and has high ceilings. It has several windows, but it doesn’t get a lot of light because of their placement. It leads directly back to the dining room, also carpeted, and with high ceilings. One large window looks into the backyard.

A doorway from the dining room leads to the kitchen at the back of the house. As was the style in the 70’s, the kitchen has u-shaped counters and panel lighting in the ceiling. The counters are white tile with plain wooden cupboards and a nice tile floor. While the dishwasher looks newer, the oven and stove are original. There is a large breakfast nook, surrounded by large windows and sliding doors that lead to the backyard. This kitchen has a lot of potential, as it is a good size and can easily be opened up and reconfigured.

The family room is through the other side of the kitchen and, unfortunately, the rooms don’t open up to each other. I’m not sure if it would be possible to open them up during a remodel, but it would be something to consider. The family room is big, with another sliding door out to the yard. There is a niche cut out for an entertainment unit, a wetbar, and a brick fireplace that is centered between the two. It doesn’t get a lot of light, since all the windows are down at one end. From the family room, you can access the three car garage, laundry room and the half bath.

The home has an L-shaped yard, with the back and side being about equal widths. The big patio has several large cracks in it and a cover over part of it. The owners just planted new grass in the back.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms. The master is to the right of the stairs and the other three are down the hall to the left. The master is very big but doesn’t leave a lot of space for furniture. One wall is covered with mirrored closets; another with a long, low window. The master bath has a long counter with two sinks, a sunken bathtub and a separate stall shower. The tub and shower are pretty dingy.

One of the secondary bedrooms has double doors and is a little smaller than the other two. It would make a nice office or playroom, but has a closet and could definitely work as a bedroom too.

The other two bedrooms are mirror images of each other. They each have a two-door sliding closet and a set of low, built in cabinets in a niche under the window. With a nice cushion, it would make a great window seat and a storage area for toys or off-season clothes. The upstairs bathroom has one sink and a shower/tub combo that has the original tile but seems pretty clean, though it is missing the shower head.

This home has a lot of potential. A buyer can get in at a lower price with a lower mortgage, and then spend the difference on remodeling. I recently reviewed 34 Alegria, which is just down the street and a comparable size. That one is fully remodeled and priced at $900,000. Which would you prefer? The higher price but not having to do any work, or get in for less, but have to put more money into it and spend the time and energy remodeling?

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