apples to oranges

I had a long drawn out story prepared, about why I had these photos of a Mission Hills, KS house {that's currently on the market for 600k} Basically, an old friend sent it - who's thinking of moving back to the states. We chatted about what a cultural change it would be for her family, I gave her the 'Are ya sure about this? ' talk, and then she sent me the link to this house:

Now I realize, six hundred thousand, is not a 'cheap' house, to most. This isn't what, this, is about. No matter how long I live in California, and how jaded I get ~ it never ceases to amaze me the huge difference between real estate in California and the Mid-West. What your dollar gets you. Or doesn't.

600k in a lovely Mid-Western city gets you a 3 story, English Tudor house with a slate roof, in a prestigious neighborhood and a public school system, that beats most private schools in the nation.

Sure it needs some TLC but that's the fun part. This house is a handsome old fellow, simply in need of a bit of work~ and at a certain age, in L.A., that's de rigueur. My friend and her husband, lovingly referred to it as the "Hogwarts House".

Forget the green. go past the green. look at those WINDOWS. For that matter, that whole landing is marvelous. {even if the radiator covers are history }

I wish there were photos of the Master bedroom {it's 17 x 21 with a fireplace} or any of the bedrooms for that matter. I have a feeling they may not be feeling very photogenic at this point in life.

Built in 1918, the house has been in the same family since 1942. bless its heart.

The formal living room.

My guess is the wood paneling is walnut. I can just hear it crying out to be restored. Love, the leaded glass windows and that fireplace. The screen~ I'm glad nobody has replaced it over the years.

how great is this, they have original photos of the house when it was new....

Look at this gazebo in the backyard.

A yard? Houses near the beach don't come with those. Tack on a mil. for a yard this big.

I thought I might intice them with beach living, so I went about looking for the comps in my neck of the woods. Nothing close to the beach for that price. But I found this, just West of the 405 freeway.

for 600k, in Torrance, CA {near a mall, not a beach} you can find a gem like this.

the formal living room.

emerald green walls don't look so bad anymore, do they.

kitchen.

{does this look like it was taken in 1964?}

oh wait, maybe this is the "formal living room"

Bricks for Marble.

So props for having two fireplaces. { that floor looks suspiciously photo-shopped }

back yard. Four car, side by side parking.

Whatever. Why did they even include this shot.

In the end, still planning the move and excited with their decision, my friends have decided that the undertaking of the old Hogwarts house would require too much of them. And I've quit trying to persuade them to move to the beach.