This house was renovated by Barbara Bestor, recognized by the American Institute of Architects for her contributions to local residential and commercial architecture. It is in Eagle Rock, a few blocks from Colorado Boulevard, one of the neighborhood’s main thoroughfares, and a 15-minute walk from Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School. Rockdale Elementary School and Occidental College are five minutes away by car.

Pasadena and Glendale are about 15 minutes away. Driving to downtown Los Angeles takes about half an hour.

Size: 2,175 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,080

Indoors: The low picket fence in front has a gate that swings open to a manicured yard.

The front door, framed by a covered porch, opens into a living room with Douglas fir floors, street-facing windows, a staircase up to a lofted family room and a brick fireplace flanked by built-in bookshelves.

This space flows into a kitchen with custom-designed cabinetry, a center island with a Douglas fir counter, and a glass door that opens to the yard.

All three bedrooms are off a corridor extending from the back of the kitchen. The primary bedroom has vaulted wood ceilings and an en suite bathroom with a walk-in shower. The bedroom next door is used as a home office; the third bedroom, at the back of the house, has a window seat and built-in shelves. They share the bathroom across the hall, which has a combined tub and shower tiled in white and a bright red storage cabinet.

The guesthouse, linked to the main house by a paved walkway, has an open living area, one bedroom and a full bathroom with a claw-foot tub that has a shower overhead.

Outdoor space: In addition to the guesthouse, the property has a detached studio used as a home gym; a gravel patio shaded by mature trees; and a pergola-covered patio with a built-in wood banquette. The carport attached to the house has two parking spots.

Taxes: $29,376 (estimated)

Contact: Lilian Pfaff, Modern California House, 323-218-9361; uniquecaliforniaproperty.com

This home is in the Gold Coast neighborhood, known for its stately, well-kept houses dating to the early decades of the 20th century. It is less than a 10-minute walk from public elementary and middle schools, and from several city parks with playgrounds and athletic fields. Alameda City Hall, several restaurants and an Art Deco-style movie theater are within a five-minute drive.

Driving to downtown Oakland or Berkeley takes about 20 minutes. San Francisco is about half an hour away.

Size: 3,939 square feet

Price per square foot: $608

Indoors: A brick pathway leads from the sidewalk to the front door, which opens into a large wood-paneled foyer.

To the right is the sunken living room with an original plasterwork ceiling, a fireplace, arched windows overlooking a rose garden and French doors that open to a brick patio. Across the foyer is a dining room with a view of the gardens.

The dining room connects to a breakfast room with a built-in china cabinet. This space has direct access to a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and ample cabinetry.

A full bathroom with a stall shower is off the kitchen. Nearby is a bedroom large enough to hold a queen-size bed. Also in this part of the house are a powder room and a family room with a wood-burning fireplace and French doors that open to the patio.

The other five bedrooms are on the second floor, reached by a staircase with an original wood banister and an arched leaded-glass window. The primary suite, off the landing, includes a large, sunny bedroom, a walk-in closet and a full bathroom with an updated walk-in shower. Next to the primary suite is another, smaller bedroom. The third bedroom is at the end of the hall, with another en suite bathroom. The fourth and fifth bedrooms are also off the landing and share a bathroom with a combined tub and shower.

Outdoor space: The patio off the living and family rooms feels private, thanks to the brick wall and mature plantings surrounding it. Another patio, used for dining and grilling, is on the other side of the house. The attached garage has two parking spots.

Taxes: $29,940 (estimated)

Contact: Kate McCaffrey and Julia Brady, Compass, 510-522-5223; katemccaffrey.com


The property is about 10 minutes by car from the center of this small city, which has a Safeway grocery store, a Costco and a municipal airport. It is less than an hour from Clear Lake, a popular spot for boating, fishing and camping, and from Mendocino National Forest, which has campgrounds and hiking trails.

Driving to Mendocino, on the coast, takes about 90 minutes. San Francisco is about a two-hour drive. Sacramento is less than three hours away.

Size: 3,200 square feet

Price per square foot: $748

Indoors: A long driveway passes vineyards and mature oak trees on the way to the house. At the top of the driveway, wide steps lead up to the double front doors.

To the left of the entry is a kitchen with an oversized center island; stainless steel appliances, including Miele wall ovens; a breakfast nook with built-in banquette seating surrounded by windows facing the driveway and the trees beyond; and access to the main patio. This space is open to a living area with high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a fireplace with a raised hearth. A central staircase separates the living area from a dining area with patio access.

Three bedrooms are on this level. Two are off a hallway extending from the dining area; they share a bathroom with a walk-in shower. A laundry room with a side-by-side washer and dryer is also in this part of the house. The other bedroom, off the kitchen, has the use of a full bathroom next door.

A loft overlooking the living area is one level up. From there, the stairs continue up to the primary suite, which has a glass door to a balcony with panoramic views of the property and a bathroom with a walk-in shower and a windowed soaking tub.

Outdoor space: The patio off the kitchen and dining room is partially covered by a roof overhang, with a fireplace, a built-in fire pit and enough space for separate dining and entertaining areas. A garden with raised planter boxes is within walking distance. The property also includes a 10-acre vineyard, a pond, barns and several detached structures that could be used as guest quarters. The driveway is big enough to hold 10 cars.

Taxes: $26,580 (estimated)

Contact: Kaiti Donati, Artisan Sotheby’s International Realty, 707-696-3480; sothebysrealty.com

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Angela Serratore

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