Well, I trekked over to Martindale, mostly because of brother Gideon’s (false) promise of food. Saw a decent, if sideways piece of land and a beautiful house. Unfortunately, they were on two separate lots. And just as a by-the-bye, what’s with aluminum gutters on a $4.5 million house?

19 Boulder Brook
I was surprised by 19 Boulder Brook, asking $3.295. I walked in, saw a rather dated kitchen, thought ho-hum, and then went up a side stair and found a neat guest suite – sitting room, artists studio, bedroom and bath. Continuing, there are more children’s bedrooms with two baths on the opposite side of the hallway – hey, that’s how houses were built back in the ’60s so get over it – it’s a perfectly workable, livable arrangement. Nicely updated master bedroom.
Back to that “dated” kitchen, it has a bumped-out section to make it an eat-in, and off that are a number of family, dining and whatever rooms. The total effect was that of a charming house with character and one that would be a great place to raise a family.
The house itself has new double-pane windows, a slate roof, beautiful pool and patio and a nice lawn. I hadn’t expected any 60’s house, even renovated, to be this good but to my taste, it’s a fine one.

17 Shore Road
I also liked 17 Shore Road, asking $1.799 million. It’s small, but the owners, with the help of a good architect have made good use of what space there is. The tiny back yard backs up to Innis Arden’s golf course so it feels absolutely huge. New kitchen with large room off it, updated baths and an incredible-looking German (? Looks German) high-efficiency furnace – hey, guys notice these things or should, given the cost of fuel today. Good house.
Neither of these houses may be for you – Gideon pointed out this morning that real estate agents are like movie critics who see eight movies a day, most of which are stale varieties of the same three or four plot lines that have been around since our grandfather was vamping with Greta Garbo. When something totally different comes along the critics love it just for the relief from boredom it supplies. “Hairspray”, Gideon posited, is such an example.
Same thing with us agents. Since a spec builder wants to sell his house, he designs it to be as least-objectionable to as many people as possible, with the result that after seeing a few hundred of them we can tour them blindfolded and tell you exactly what’s in the house and where it’s located. So houses like these two whose owners have adapted the house to their needs and tastes over the years they’ve lived there, are far more interesting than when they were first built. But interesting to me may not be at all what you’re looking for, so be forewarned.