1920 Lower Riviera Bungalow for $2.1 Million

Noteworthy new listings….

The teensy 1920 Spanish bungalow at 620 Sierra Street ($2.1 million) is so cute I want to keep it as a pet. It’s set up as a one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath upstairs and a one-bedroom, one-bath downstairs, and the kitchen and primary bath are relatively roomy. The views are splendid, as is the location in general, with a walkway leading to the staircase that goes to Alameda Padre Serra. Not shown in the photos: a handy ramp for dogs alongside the exterior stairs.

················

The selling point of 2170 Ortega Ranch Lane ($16.25 million) is its size: 9,684 single-level square feet sprawling out on five acres with ocean views. The floor plan is idiosyncratic, with only three en-suite bedrooms in the main house, one of which is off the garage and clearly for the help. (There’s also a guest house.) All that square footage is instead used to supersize the living room, kitchen, primary bathroom and closet, and so on. The listing says the property has been “newly renovated”; if so, it was done contrary to prevailing design trends. Even if you farmhoused the crap out of the place, you’d still be left with a shared driveway that winds nearly all the way around the house.

················

The 1987 house at 910 Buena Vista Drive ($14.75 million), given a Becker Studios revamp, is very livable, with a ground-floor primary bedroom and a sexy 60-foot-long infinity pool. It feels smaller than its 5,773 square feet, however; the fifth bedroom is more of a library, and the pitched roof squeezes some of the usefulness out of the upstairs. The property would probably be an easier sell in the dry season, when you don’t have to drive through a creek to reach it. Or you could just buy a Mercedes G!

················

The multimillion-dollar question about 700 Via Hierba ($5.795 million) is whether the floor plan works—i.e., can you get away with just changing out the surfaces? (The entrance is a total redo either way.) But 2,920 square feet is not large for Hope Ranch (or for $5.795 million), and the house only has two and a half bathrooms.

················

Bummer that there are no interior shots of 739 Alturas del Sol ($1.998 million)—judging from the exterior, the price, and the fact it’s being offered “as is,” it has to be a doozy. Will the 1977 house designed by Barry Berkus survive? Doubt it. P.S. The listing answers the question posed in my Las Alturas walk: the tennis/pickleball court is shared with the house next door. P.P.S. What do you think an “Italian powder room” is?

················

For a recently-ish (2005) built house, 3115 Calle Noguera ($3.895 million) in San Roque has oodles of character—plaster walls, arched doors, a seductive spiral staircase, and more. The detached garage is accessed via the alley that runs parallel to State Street, which lends the front curb appeal but may or may not feel great when you arrive home after dark. N.B. The property sold for $3.3 million in late 2021.

················

Much of the 1927 charm of 832 Cheltenham Road ($2.79 million) has been erased over the decades, but the floor plan still has appeal, particularly in the adorable breakfast room and upstairs, where there’s a big bonus room in front and the primary bedroom in the rear.

················

The highest and best use of 7351 Happy Canyon Road ($18 million) is commercial/institutional, and therefore not particularly relevant here, but for all I know there’s a cult leader out there looking for a new home. And it has fascinating time-capsule decor and a notable history: “Comprised of five parcels totaling approximately 285 acres, with multiple residences, barns, gathering spaces, and recreational opportunities. Former owners include Ray and Joan Kroc’s Double Arch Ranch from 1966 to 1990. After Mr. Kroc’s death the ranch was purchased by Gerald Kessler of Nature’s Plus Vitamins in 1990 and renamed the Circle K Ranch.” As in the convenience stores?! “Ranch buildings designed by Glenn Marchbanks Jr. are nearly intact from the Double Arch days including a 17,000-square-foot main lodge with 3,000-square-foot gathering room, dining room for 100, a commercial kitchen and offices. The 5,200-square-foot conference hall seats 62 and multitasks as auditorium or theatre. There are 25 en-suite double occupancy lodging rooms. The Founder’s Building serves as a library, with five bedroom suites, and ranch offices. In 1971 a new main home was built on the highest knoll with 360-degree views of Santa Ynez Valley. Other structures include three single-family residences, barn, paddocks and numerous fenced corrals.” UPDATE 4/16: Thanks to Jimmy C. for this: “Agree that the highest and best use for Circle K Ranch is commercial/institutional, however it is not zoned for that. It’s AG zoned so it may indeed have to wait for that special cult leader who needs room for lots of (non-paying) guests. This ranch has been on the market for ~2.5 years and a few days ago dropped its asking price from $26,950,000 to the current $18,000,000.”

················

Also worth checking out:
••• 1109 Las Olas Avenue ($3.5 million): 1926 Mesa house with some ambitious style choices. Never underestimate the allure of a built-in booth to parents who romanticize dining with the littles (below).
••• 2685 Memory Lane ($3.275 million): 2014 Mission Canyon house awash in beige; great views.
••• 1006 Fairway Road ($2.75 million): Two-bedroom townhome across from Ty Warner’s gate.

················

Love real estate? Sign up for the Siteline email newsletter.