Coming Soon! By Carrie Benuska

Coming Soon!  by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

I am very excited to announce a new listing that will be available for viewing in the next couple of weeks.  Located in the charming Caltech section of Pasadena, California, this English Tudor is certain to please.  It features 4 bedrooms, 3 baths and an additional guest bedroom and bath over the garage.  It is in beautiful condition with many upgrades, while retaining its architectural integrity.  Let me know if you are interested in getting more information on this Caltech Cutie!

Caltech Cutie, by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

A Neighborhood Gem, by Carrie Benuska

A Neighborhood Gem, by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

Curious George at San Marino Toy and Book, by Carrie Benuska

A warm memory from my childhood involves my mom reading to me.  She was always willing and eager to pick up a book, and I loved the whole experience – snuggling close to my mom, hearing a familiar tale, looking at wonderful illustrations.  As warm and sweet as the memory was, though, it wasn’t until I had my own child that I realized how important the read aloud tradition was to me and how much I wanted to duplicate it in my own home.  There started an obssession of sorts.  As a young mom I spent very little money on myself, but I sure did love to buy those children’s books, and I spent hours every day reading to my kids.  I loved every minute of it.

Because my husband grew up in San Marino, I spent a fair amount of time in town even before we lived here ourselves.  I clearly remember the first day that I ventured into San Marino Toy and Book for the first time, with my eldest daughter peering over my shoulder from her backpack.  I was completely captivated!  The very same titles that I remembered enjoying as a child were spread out on the bookshelves of this darling privately owned shop.  I think that the first book that I purchased was “Curious George”.  As I read this book to Ellie and then to my other kids time and again, I was transported back to the wonderful experience with my own mom.  The story is so clever, the illustrations so fabulous and the theme so enduring.  How could you not love it?

Well, my trips to San Marino Toy and Book did not end there.  I haunted that store all through my kid’s young years.  I was on a first name basis with the book specialists, knew the owner, Betty, and could always count on excellent service and a fabulous selection.  If I was going to read a book to my kids, I wanted it to be good, and that is what San Marino Toy and Book stocks exclusively – great kid’s literature.  We went to book signings (even met Julie Andrews once!), bought birthday presents, haunted the beanie baby section for new arrivals and enjoyed every minute of our time in the store.  San Marino Toy and Book is an incredible neighborhood gem, which serves a vital role in our family oriented community.

Does San Marino sound like the kind of place that you would like to live?  Call me and I would love to show you around.  We can even peek our heads into the famous San Marino Toy and Book.  I am ready and excited to help you with any of your San Marino, California real estate needs!  I can be reached by telephone at (626) 840-9149 or by email at carrie.benuska@gmail.com.

My Favorite San Marino Neighborhoods Part V, by Carrie Benuska

My Favorite San Marino Neighborhoods Part V, by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

Huntington Drive in San Marino, California by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

Historically, there has been a perception that the neighborhoods to the North of Huntington Drive in the city of San Marino, California are better and more desirable than those to the South.  Just like the historical perception that Valentine Elementary is better than Carver, I strongly disagree that South of Huntington is somehow “Sub-Marino”.  The neighborhood that I am going to spotlight today is below Huntington and to the West of Virginia.  I love this part of town and value its beautiful architecture, convenience to Huntington Drive and local freeways and its abundance of families with kids.

Highlights of this South of Huntington neighborhood are the beautiful Warwick and Windsor.  These streets feature stately homes on mid-sized properties, all running above the $2,000,000 mark.  These tree-lined streets have sidewalks and are ultra-close to the Elementary and Middle Schools, making them a perfect option for young families.  As much as I love these streets, though, my true favorite is the stretch of Sherwood Road that runs to the west of St. Albans.  I know so many amazing families that live on this stretch of Sherwood, I love the architecture and it is the best place to hang out on Halloween night.  A main street running through this section of town is Oak Knoll.  I have had the pleasure of spending time at several properties on the East side of Oak Knoll, and Holy Moly, these properties are huge.  We have dear friends who live at the end of Oak Knoll and host amazing parties in their enormous back yard.  They have an upper section which houses a guest house, pool, patio and tennis court, and then an untamed lower section, equipped with rope swing and forts for the kids.  Kids and adults alike love this backyard and all that it has to offer.  The darling streets of Roxbury and Darby, which run between Granada and Oak Knoll, are chuck full of great architectural homes, fun gardens and mature, fabulous trees.

So, in summary, if someone ever tries to tell you that South of the Drive is substandard, don’t believe them.  Some of our city’s best live in this section of town and the homes and properties are a true delight.  I am ready and excited to help you with any of your San Marino, California real estate needs!  I can be reached by telephone at (626) 840-9149 or by email at carrie.benuska@gmail.com.

Wowza! by Carrie Benuska

Wowza! by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

"Tara" in Gone with the Wind, by Carrie Benuska

I had to take a break from my series on great San Marino neighborhoods in order to spotlight a fantastic San Marino home.  I had the opportunity to look at this estate on our Thursday caravan, and walking through the house and grounds reminded me why I am so in love with San Marino real estate.  I was captivated by the Colonial Revival architecture, the fabulous grounds and exquisite details present throughout this family home.  What was even better was that it did not have a cold imposing feeling but made you feel right at home.

Designed by Architect, Robert Ainsworth and located on an extremely prestigious San Marino street, 1910 Lombardy Road gives me the grand feeling of ”Tara” in “Gone with the Wind”.  The property is set on a large, flat 31,000 square foot lot and is set back from the street, which provides ample privacy and a very impressive approach.  I am in love with the back yard with a pool, interesting rounded pergola structure and the owner’s collection of unique sculptures.

The interior of the home is pristine and packed with great woodwork, moulding, and interesting details.  It is grand in scale and features five bedrooms, seven baths and 5,780 square feet of living space.  Each of the four bedrooms upstairs has a bath and there is one additional bedroom downstairs.  The home has not been recently remodeled and some would want to come in and upgrade the kitchen and baths, but it is amazing as it is.

I could easily get used to this house.  Now all I have to do is come up with the $5,500,000 price tag.  I would love to show you 1910 Lombardy Road, and as always I am ready and excited to help you with any of your San Marino, California real estate needs!  I can be reached by telephone at (626) 840-9149 or by email at carrie.benuska@gmail.com.

My Favorite San Marino Neighborhoods Part IV, by Carrie Benuska

My Favorite San Marino Neighborhoods Part IV, by Carrie Benuska, San Marino Real Estate

Julienne Restaurant in the city of San Marino, California

Many might think that the only “downtown” section of San Marino is along Huntington Drive.  As you drive deeper into the community, though, you will find the extremely charming and attractive Mission Street, home of the fabulous restaurant, “Julienne“.  Surrounding this serene shopping area is a neighborhood that goes by the name, “The Mission District”.  People love the Mission District’s attractive architecture, family-oriented streets and convenience to area freeways.  The lots in this neighborhood tend to be small and the homes clustered closely together, but this adds to the cozy, community-oriented feeling.

There is a fantastic home on the market at 1660 Ramiro Street, right in the heart of the Mission District.  Ramiro is a nice, quiet street that runs only from Monterey Road to Doresta.  This one-story Spanish home sits on the East side of the street, with mostly larger two-story homes priced over $2,000,000.  You have to love it – an investor’s dream come true is to be the smallest house on a street of bigger homes.  Another interesting fact about 1660 Ramiro Street is that only a small corner of the property resides in San Marino, with the remaining property residing in the City of Pasadena.  The San Marino Unified School District confirmed to the author that this residence is within the district boundaries and claims a San Marino address.  To ere on the side of caution, though, the owner priced the home low and has been very open with her disclosures of the property line issues.

This home is very attractive from the outside and is absolutely immaculate on the inside.  It is clean and ready to go, but does not have the newer ammenities that many people want in a new home.  In addition to the three bedrooms and three baths, there is also a fabulous light-filled family room, which adds to the lure of this well-priced home.  The bones are great and people have been swarming this 2,500 square foot home, leading me to believe that it will go over asking.  The listing price is $1,169,000, which calculates out to a low $489 per square foot.  I have been trying to sell this house and think that it is a fabulous opportunity.

Does the Mission District sound like your cup of tea?  I would love to show you 1660 Ramiro and am ready and excited to help you with any of your San Marino, California real estate needs!  I can be reached by telephone at (626) 840-9149 or by email at carrie.benuska@gmail.com.