11150 Terrace Drive, Forestville (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Properties)
The current median home price in Sonoma County has risen again to $639,000. Many people have already thrown their hands up in defeat when it comes to the prospect of becoming a homeowner, but there’s hope on the horizon.
Owning a house, with a yard and no shared walls or HOA fees, can be a wonderful thing. I chose $350,000 as the maximum price and made sure that the homes listed weren’t mobile/modular, condos, or foreclosures.
The houses I found may not all be pretty, and they aren’t close to any downtown, but they are an undeniable entrance to home ownership.
Here are the 5 most affordable homes currently on the market in Sonoma County:
11150 Terrace Drive, Forestville – $299,970
2 Beds, 2 Baths, 1,280 square feet. Year built: 1965.
Side entry to home. (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Properties)
At first glance, it may appear that this is one of the ‘not pretty’ homes, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Living room. (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Properties)
As per the listing; upgrades include new cabinets and quartz counter tops in kitchen, new paint, lighting, hardwood floors, custom tile and a new roof.
Kitchen. (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Properties)
I spent more time looking at this home in particular, as everything inside is brand new, but the asking price is still more than reasonable.
Bedroom. (Photo courtesy of Vanguard Properties)
Forestville is a lovely area, and you can tell the view from the bedroom would be a treat for nature lovers.
20340 Highway 116, Monte Rio – $159,000
2 beds, 1 bath, 1,147 square feet. Year built: 1949.
Side view of house. (Photo courtesy of Alain Pinel Realtors)
And then we have the ‘not so pretty’ house. The price is great for a home that’s over 1,000 square feet, but it has some issues…
Interior. (Photo courtesy of Alain Pinel Realtors)
Actually, it has a lot of issues. The biggest being that it’s stripped down to the studs. However, for a contractor who would like to make a custom home, this could be a wonderful starting point.
View from the deck. (Photo courtesy of Alain Pinel Realtors)
The payoff from all the sweat-equity that would be put into the house would be having this view from deck whenever you stepped outside.
88 Railroad Ave, Camp Meeker – $285,000
3 beds, 1 bath, 1,000 square feet. Year built: 1920.
Front of home. (Photo courtesy of The McCall Team)
The Camp Meeker area has a storied history, and is oftentimes overlooked when homebuyers are scouting for houses. Though it looks small from the front, this home has over 2,600 square feet of interior space.
Backside of home. (Photo courtesy of The McCall Team)
It’s when you venture around the back of this home that you get a feel for how much house you’re truly getting for the money.
Living room. (Photo courtesy of The McCall Team)
The interior looks and feels like a cabin, but it’s well taken care of and appears that it would be an acceptable turn key opportunity.
15500 Willow Rd, Guerneville – $239,000
1 bed, 1 bath, 570 square feet. Year built: 1930.
Exterior of home. (Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker)
Guerneville has quite a few of these small, 1930s cabins. Though it’s a tiny 570 square feet, it’s only two miles from downtown, and just a few blocks from the Russian river.
Living room. (Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker)
This house may be small, but it looks comfortable. The current owners have it set up to sleep three people (one regular bed, one bunk bed), showing that if you truly love the house you’re in, nothing is impossible.
Fireplace. (Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker)
I absolutely love old, wood-burning fireplaces. During cold days, this would warm the entire house, no problem.
11896 Laurel Ave, Forestville – $350,000
2 beds, 1 bath, 752 square feet. Year built: 1961.
Exterior of home. (Photo courtesy of Pacific Union International)
This cabin in the woods is in the part of Forestville known as Summerhome Park, which was an area set up in 1908 for vacation homes. The days of most families owning a second house for summer vacations are long gone, but this may make an excellent starter home.
Dining area. (Photo courtesy of Pacific Union International)
The interior is dark wood paneling throughout, but nothing a few cans of paint can’t fix.
Front porch. (Photo courtesy of Pacific Union International)
And no one says you need to stay inside if you don’t want to redecorate. One of the joys of home ownership is being able to relax on a porch of your very own.
