Riverbank | $895,000
A 1929 Spanish-style home with two bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms and a guest suite with full bathroom and separate exterior entrance on a 0.3 acre lot
This house is located at the foot of Mount Rubidoux, in a quiet area about five minutes from the city center. The sellers, who bought and renovated it last year, retained original features wherever possible, including the quarter-sawn oak floors and casement windows, which were removed, restored and reinstalled. The home is less than a mile from a community garden, a park with a playground, and a trail that winds up the mountain.
The University of California, Riverside and California Baptist University campuses are approximately 20 minutes away. The drive to San Bernardino takes about half an hour. Downtown Los Angeles is an hour and 15 minutes away.
Size: 1,972 square meters
Price per square meter: $454
Inside: Stone steps flanked by a granite retaining wall lead from the street to the main entrance, past a terrace with a stone fountain.
The front door opens into a long hallway. To the left, an arched doorway enters a living room with reclaimed original floors, large windows, a wood-burning fireplace, custom wrought iron sconces, and access to a patio overlooking mature live oak trees.
Beyond this room is a dining room with a brass chandelier and two French doors leading onto a patio. The adjacent kitchen features tile floors, white cabinets, a center island, and windows overlooking the side patio and backyard.
The master bedroom is at the end of the entrance hall, opposite a sunny guest bedroom. They share a full bathroom with Venetian plaster walls, a deep soaking tub and a walk-in shower with brass fittings. Also off the main hall is a powder room with a Carrara marble-topped vanity and an antique mirror.
The guest suite is located at the bottom of the cobblestone stairs leading to the main entrance. It's laid out like a studio apartment and features a kitchenette along one wall, a dining area with colorful floral wallpaper, a full bathroom, and enough space for a king-size bed.
Outdoor area: The patio off the dining room has a fire pit and plenty of space for chairs. The property also includes an outdoor dining area covered by a wooden pergola and a second terrace with a white stucco fireplace decorated with colorful tiles. The detached garage has two parking spaces.
Steer: $11,184 (estimated)
Contact: Crystal Coleman, Famous Properties, Nest Real Estate, 951-801-0924; famousfred.com
Pasadena | $899,000
A two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominium in a 1979 building
Located just a few blocks from a busy stretch of South Lake Avenue, this condo is within walking distance of an Erewhon Market, a Trader Joe's, a comedy club, and several restaurants and cafes. It is less than a mile from the California Institute of Technology and Pasadena City College, and less than a 10-minute drive from the Huntington Library and Old Pasadena.
Glendale is 20 minutes away. Hollywood is a 40 minute drive. The hiking and walking trails at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains are about half an hour away. The drive to Castaic Lake State Recreation Area takes about an hour.
Size: 1,249 square meters
Price per square meter: $720
Inside: The apartment's front door opens into a foyer with laminate floors, which flows into a combined living and dining area with a gas fireplace and two French doors opening onto a private walled patio.
This space is partially open to a galley kitchen with custom cabinetry, new appliances including a stainless steel Samsung appliance with built-in bread maker, and a glass door that opens to the patio.
The master bedroom off the living room features large windows, three walk-in closets and an ensuite bathroom with a new vanity and a combination tub and shower.
The guest bedroom at the other end of the apartment has a bathroom with a walk-in shower. There is also a laundry room in this part of the house with a side-by-side washer and dryer.
Outdoor area: The terrace extends almost the entire length of the apartment and serves as an outdoor living room. The high walls ensure privacy and provide enough space for a dining table, barbecue and plants. The building also has a communal courtyard that was recently renovated. This apartment includes two parking spaces in an underground garage and its own storage room.
Steer: $11,232 (estimated) and a monthly homeowners association fee of $700
Contact: Sarah Rogers, The Agency, 626-390-0511; theagencyre.com
Long Beach | $900,000
A 1953 three-bedroom, three-bathroom ranch-style home on a half-acre lot
Located in the Stratford Square neighborhood, this home is 1 mile from Bixby Elementary School and 10 minutes from public middle and high schools. It's about a five-minute drive from a Target and ten minutes from El Dorado East Regional Park, which has a pond, archery range and soccer fields.
The sea is less than eight kilometers away and the nearest sandy beach can be reached within a 15-minute drive. Long Beach Airport and Skylinks at Long Beach, an 18-hole golf course with a driving range and restaurant, are also nearby. The drive to Disneyland, downtown Irvine or the Port of Los Angeles takes about half an hour.
Size: 1,456 square meters
Price per square meter: $618
Inside: A paved path leads from the sidewalk to the coral pink front door, which opens into a bright living room with street-facing windows and new flooring. To the left of this room is a dining area connected to a galley kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a white porcelain farmhouse sink, and a windowed breakfast area.
A bedroom with windows facing the backyard and a full bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower are off the kitchen.
The other two bedrooms are off a hallway with integrated storage space that leads off the living area. The master suite features three closets, sliding glass doors leading to the backyard, and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. The other bedroom has a bathroom with a combined bathtub and shower.
Outdoor area: Behind the house there is a concrete terrace covered by a pergola. Behind it lies a walled garden with lawn and mature trees. The detached garage has two parking spaces.
Steer: $11,256 (estimated)
Contact: Lissa Lebel, Sotheby's International Realty, Los Feliz Brokerage, 323-842-0003; sothebysrealty.com
For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here.