What did your house originally sell for brand new?

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by comingbacktocali

that's a fine looking house! well done!

Thanks! We love it, here's what it looks like now. The redwood tree in the front yard is about 60' tall. It was planted by the original owner in 1955 from a seedling that they got for free at the California State Fair.

[Ultrarunner]

My 1922 house sold for 2800 + 400 for a detached garage... I have the original contract and the down payment was $20 US gold and had payments for 10 years to the builder.

I paid 60k for it 60 years later...

The one next door sold for 510k in 2007 and again sold for 130k in 2009.

Neighbor on the other side bought in 1933... he said half the block was in trouble and anyone with a steady job could buy a house... his bank had postings on the window of Bank owned homes available for taking over the payments...

It was very rough in Great Depression around here.

[Cruithne]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

Thanks! We love it, here's what it looks like now. The redwood tree in the front yard is about 60' tall. It was planted by the original owner in 1955 from a seedling that they got for free at the California State Fair.

Wow. I'm not generally a fan of mid century houses but wow your house looks just gorgeous. Love the colour and what you have done with the garden. Really beautiful. Well done.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Cruithne

Wow. I'm not generally a fan of mid century houses but wow your house looks just gorgeous. Love the colour and what you have done with the garden. Really beautiful. Well done.

It's really similar to an Eichler but appears to be better built than an Eichler.

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

It's really similar to an Eichler but appears to be better built than an Eichler.

It was built by an obscure builder/architect R.P. Watt. They were the earliest mid-century modern style homes in the area built in 1954. A few years later Streng Brothers built homes that have become quite sought after. They used the same post and beam ceilings and roof line windows as Watt, but incorporated some nice Eichler touches like atriums and double patio sliders. Midcentury Modern is something people either love or hate, fortunately we love it

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

It was built by an obscure builder/architect R.P. Watt. They were the earliest mid-century modern style homes in the area built in 1954. A few years later Streng Brothers built homes that have become quite sought after. They used the same post and beam ceilings and roof line windows as Watt, but incorporated some nice Eichler touches like atriums and double patio sliders. Midcentury Modern is something people either love or hate, fortunately we love it

Watt, as in, Watt Avenue?

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Watt, as in, Watt Avenue?

I have no idea, it's hard to find out very much at all about the builder. I did find this interesting old ad from the Sacramento Bee though

[mrazyattic]

Originally Posted by mstnghu2

My grandparents paid $27k for their brand new house in Almaden Valley in San Jose back in 1962. It included many upgrades too. Right now it sits empty because my grandpa recently died and my grandma is living in a care facility because she has dementia.

It's never been updated and is literally like walking back into 1962. Even the carpet is original! My uncle is in the process of updating it so it can be rented out soon. Even in its current condition, it's estimated value is right around $1 million in today's market. My mom and her brothers can't sell it though because they'd have to pay capital gains taxes.

My grandparents bought their house in the same area and around the same time for 30k. It is now worth aprox 1.2 million. Insane.