Stuff of legend: See eco-friendly Bay Area home that sold 89% over asking at $2.45M
The current California real estate market, with its stories about bidding wars among homebuyers, has seen its share of headline-grabbing sales.
The latest sensational sale is an El Cerrito home, near Berkeley, that closed for $1.15 million over asking price after being on the market for just 10 days.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence at 1 Carmel Avenue was listed at $1.295 million and sold $2.45 million — 89.2 percent over the asking price — to an all-cash buyer, according to Compass real estate firm.
The bright, eco-friendly home, which spans 1,482 square feet, received 11 offers, all of which were over the list price, ranging from $205,000 to $1.155 million over asking, according to Compass.
Compass agents Kevin and Laura Tannahill represented the sellers.
“Hundreds of people came to look at the home, and even more than the money aspect, the sellers were extremely happy that it was received so well,” said Kevin Tannahill said in a statement. “The husband is a photographer, and the wife is an artist, and the home has a holistic and artistic vibe. They are very conscious of the environment, which is important to people in the organic, nature-driven Berkeley area, and their upgrades to the home reflect that.”
The closing deal is reminiscent of a four-bedroom estate in Loomis, a town north of Sacramento, with an infinity pool and a gourmet kitchen that sold for more than $1 million above the list price. A fixer-upper in Granite Bay that hadn’t been renovated in 50 years but is within view of Folsom Lake sold for more than $200,000 above asking, according to a May 13, 2022 Sacramento Bee article. And a home in North Highlands that wasn’t livable sold for well above the list price to an investor.
The mid-century modern El Cerrito home uses radiant heat, which many homes in the area don’t have, according to Compass, and a foam coating on the roof is designed to preserve heat inside. The natural wood in the home had been preserved, and the furniture was chosen to aesthetically fit the house.
This single-level residence, designed by Berkeley architect John Rolf Hattam, sits next to a verdant creek. The entryway lets in abundant light through frosted glass. Warm exposed beam construction extends throughout the entire home, including a large living room with a marble fireplace and a high ceiling.
The property has a newly hardscaped and terraced back patio under the shade of a mature redwood tree. It’s equipped with a two-vehicle carport, with electric car-charging capability and a storage shed with bicycle docking. There’s a beautiful deck and a fire pit area , too.
“One of the things that was unique for us was that selling this home was really a collaborative effort with the sellers,” said Laura Tannahill added. “Since the husband is a photographer himself, he worked along with our photographer to make sure the aesthetics of the home were well-captured. We normally don’t have sellers who play such a big role in helping with the sale so that was a nice and refreshing change for us.”
This story was originally published May 15, 2022 at 4:44 PM.
