A couple of little dumplings

This week's new entries to the market were definitely limited by the upcoming holiday weekend, but that didn't keep me from extracting three little pearls to tour. Unfortunately, one was colossally overpriced, though paradoxically it appears to have a motivated seller. Another was an enticing buy, with an unusual unfinished upstairs - 2 rooms framed in, with a quite serviceable existing staircase - on a wide friendly street. The third one was technically not a new listing (it had a sale fail) and a client of mine coaxed me over to show it. Glad I did!

1. Enticing Tabor 2+BR/1BA $319,500 1736 SE 51st Ave. Well-preserved late-40's traditional has rare unfinished 2nd floor, sweet & clean eat-in kitchen and nice main floor bath & bedrooms. Great yard, but it is only accessed through the driveway side. The only other drawback is the paucity of space for formal dining. If one has the typical 6-chair set, it would be mighty tight in the allowable area off the kitchen. Still, the street is wide and great and the blank canvas upstairs is pretty compelling at this price point.

2. Diamond-priced Zirconium 1BR/1BA $329,000 4234 SE Washington St. Petite but charming bungalow with very lovely yard, beautifully appointed & cozy interior, upscale-remodeled kitchen. Sparkles! But is it a true diamond? The kitchen is so small that what I took for a wine fridge was the fridge. (A full size one is quite inconveniently located in the basement.) The bath is nice, but not stellar; it's also pretty small. So is the bedroom... you get the picture.  Should be closer to $289,000.

3. Scrumptious Victorian Farmhouse 2BR/1BA $279,900 22 NE 61st Ave. I could just about smell the pancakes cooking in this delicious little house, decorated and clearly loved for all its vintage glory:  battered but cool wood floors, a handsome living room & fireplace with peek-view of the west hills adjacent to a generous kitchen and quirky-neat back room (dining room?). Both bedrooms were adorable, though one is small... however, its size actually adds to the the charm of its wainscot and Cape Cod transom windows on two sides, still very much in good working order. A tad high for the street, but a lovely, private yard almost makes up for that. More (though limited) possibilities in the basement, too.