What you get for $4 Million in California
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San Francisco | $3.995 Million
This house in the Mediterranean style was built in 1937 and has five bedrooms and three and half bathrooms. It is situated on a 0.1-acre lot.
Lone Mountain is a neighborhood located just blocks from the University of San Francisco. Many home buyers consider it a hidden treasure. The wide streets and trees are quiet and lined with trees, and many of these houses are within walking distance of at most one park. This home is located across the street of Rossi Park which features a public swimming pool, a baseball diamond and a few blocks away from a section in Golden Gate Park that has grassy meadows as well as a Victorian-era greenhouse. Driving to Marin County via the Golden Gate Bridge takes about 20 minutes; Fisherman’s Wharf is 15 minutes away.
Size: 3,590 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,113
Indoors: From the street, steps lead to the main floor entry. The front door leads into a sunny foyer. To the right, you will find a living area with hardwood floors and large windows that overlook the street.
The hardwood floors lead to an open kitchen with dining area and a marble-topped center island. Skylights illuminate the area. A large family room is located behind the kitchen. It has two sets sliding-glass doors that lead to the rear patio. This space also has a powder room.
The second floor houses four bedrooms. The primary suite is at the end the hallway, facing the rear of the property. The en-suite bathroom has a soaking bathtub inside a glass-walled tub and a sleek vanity with 2 sinks. The guest room is next to the primary bedroom and shares a terrace.
The other two bedrooms, at the opposite end of the hall, have access to a covered balcony with wrought-iron railings and Mediterranean-inspired arches. Both bedrooms share a bathroom with walk-in showers.
The en suite bedroom is large enough to accommodate a queen-size mattress and is located on the lowest level. It can be reached via the stairs from the dining area. Another family room is also on this level, along with a mudroom, a laundry room and a temperature-controlled wine room.
Outdoor space: The terrace extends from the house’s width to the end, and continues along the entire lot. A hot tub can be found on one side and a firepit the other. There is ample space for outdoor dining. The wood fence is lined with trees, including one that bears citrus. The attached garage has two parking spots and is located at street level.
Taxes: $49,932 (estimated)
Contact: Frank Nolan and Andrew Warren, Vanguard Properties, 415-321-7011; vanguardproperties.com

Credit…Amy Bartlam
Los Angeles | $3.95 Million
A 1950 house with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, plus a detached studio with a bathroom and half-bathroom, on a 0.2 acre lot
This house was recently redesigned in Architectural Digest by Allie Boesch. It is located in Pacific Palisades. It is an upscale neighborhood situated in the hills above the stretch of coastline that runs from Santa Monica to Malibu. The area was home in the 1930s to many artists and intellectuals like Thomas Mann and Theodor Adorno. The property is now a cultural facility operated by the German government that sponsors seminars, conferences, and arts programming.
You can drive about 20 minutes to reach downtown Santa Monica or the heart of Malibu. Westwood and Beverly Hills can be reached in about half an hour.
Size: 2,815 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,403
Indoors: Stone stairs lead up to the front yard from the street. A stone path leads to the main entry.
The first floor has an open layout with a sitting space around a white brick fireplace. This is surrounded by windows that face the front porch or the yard. The hardwood floors lead to a dining area, which leads into a cozy family area with a fireplace.
The family room is located opposite the kitchen. It has an island and a built in banquette that is a soft gray-blue. This level also has a full bathroom, which is just around the corner of the staircase. The sellers also use the guest room as a playroom.
The staircase leads to the second floor with three bedrooms off of the main hallway. The primary suite, located at the end of the hall, features sloped ceilings and exposed beams. There is a fireplace with jade-green tile surround, as well as glass doors leading to a balcony that faces the street. The attached bathroom has marble-tile flooring and a fireplace built into a wall above the bathtub.
Two guest rooms are nearby, one featuring an accent wall made of textured pink Schumacher wallpaper and the other with more glass doors that lead to the balcony. These two bedrooms share a full bathroom that includes a combination tub/shower off the main hallway.
The studio detached in the backyard is designed to look like the main house. It has a half-bathroom and could be used for a gym or office.
Outdoor space: The stone patio that runs from the family room to the kitchen is partially covered with a pergola and features a wet bar and built-in barbecue. The back lawn is framed by mature trees. The attached garage can hold two cars.
Taxes: $49,380 (estimated)
Contact: Cody Garcia, The Agency, (310-579-1384, theagencyre.com).
Sonoma | $3.98 Million
A three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom house built in 1999, with a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guesthouse, on a nine-acre lot
They are antiques collectors who used to own a Sonoma home furnishings shop. They designed the house as a showcase for some their pieces, including hand-carved wooden doors from Spain and Mexico. Rammed earth is a wood-like material that is made from compacted soil and is fire-resistant. It keeps the interiors cool during the summer heat.
The property is located in George Ranch, a gated community that was established in the 1980s. The city’s center, Sonoma Plaza is just 15 minutes away. Napa is approximately a half-hour away; Santa Rosa is 45 mins away.
Size: 3,475 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,145
Indoors: A private driveway leads you to the front door of the house. The wooden front doors open to a tiled foyer that leads to the bedroom wings.
Just off the foyer is an expansive sunken living area. It features Spanish-tile floors, plaster walls and beamed ceilings. Glass doors open to the pool area from either side of a fireplace that has a rough-hewed wooden mantel. The foyer also houses a powder room that is located across the living room.
The living area flows into the dining area, which also has access to a pool. The tile floors continue to the kitchen, which has high ceilings, stainless steel appliances, a long counter, and a wooden central island.
The living room has a sitting area with built-in bookshelves, a ceiling fan and a ceiling fan. It is the secondary suite that lies beyond, with a separate sitting space currently used for a home office. The bedroom opens onto the patio through doors. The bathroom features a cobalt blue-tiled shower and bathtub.
The guest rooms are located at the opposite end of main house. Each room can hold a king-size mattress and they share a shared bathroom.
The guesthouse is currently being used for a home gym and has a spa-like full bathroom.
Outdoor space: The covered patio at the back of the house can be accessed from almost all rooms. It has ample space for multiple dining and sitting arrangements. The outdoor fireplace, which faces the swimming pool, is located in its center. It is framed with Spanish tile.
Taxes: Estimated cost: $49,752 plus $225 monthly homeowner association fees
Contact: Andy Ardila, David Costello, Compass (415-808-1003; www.compass.com).
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