A Former Finnish Ambassador’s Fanciful Retreat

1785 Cravens Lane (↓$100K to $6.895M) in Carpinteria has been on the market for 166 days, and yet somehow I missed it. And I know I would’ve remembered it, because among the 11.73-acre property’s many structures—”three houses, one guest house, a detached studio, and three two-car garages”—is one fabulous throwback: the main residence, pictured here, said to have been “built by the Finnish ambassador.” (Former, one presumes.) P.S. The lower half of the property is rented out to a commercial nursery.

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3007 Vista Linda Lane (↓$850K to $8.45M) is 7,200 square feet of Mediterranean Montecito mansion on nearly 10 acres. It seems like it’s priced pretty right, considering the ocean view, guest house, and pool.

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There’s such potential at 1745 Grand Avenue (↓$100K to $1.85M), but you’d have to make what is now a triplex into a single house, while retaining just enough of the funk.

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665 Las Alturas Road (↓$75K to $2.925M) has been on the market for almost a year now, having started out at $3.475 million. Some of the surfaces could stand updating, but the views are good.

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More views—and a lot of levels—at 2634 Montrose Place (↓$104K to $2.095M), up in Mission Canyon.

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In January 2019, 741 Hot Springs Road (↑$225K to $2.6M) was on the market for $2.375 million, and it didn’t sell. Now it’s back at much more, and it went pending immediately.

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Another house to hike its price: 2970 Hidden Valley Lane (↑$100K to $2.449M) which was $2.349 million in late 2019. It’s still a deal compared to its original listing price of $2.749 million in late 2018).

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Nearby is 2891 Hidden Valley Lane (↓$110K to $2.79M), with a facade only its architect could love. Great setting, though.

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