OTM: 4 Bedrooms and Under $100k
Hilltop is the place where many of our friends are buying houses these days. So, with this in mind, check it out… Designed and built in 1890 by F.A. Sexton, this home in the 1300 block of South J Street has 4 bedrooms, 1500 square feet, and an ugly fence. At least it’s “structurally sound.” At $99k, it could be an inexpensive way into home ownership… or into speculative investing.
Listed with Coldwell Banker
Filed under: On-The-Market
6 comments
J jamie from thriceallamerican May 29, 2008
My God, did that house get a window-ectomy? Not only does the top floor of the front look unbalanced, but if you look at the additional pictures in the listing, the whole side of the house is devoid of any windows.
Also, in the listing, what is this “North Hill” they’re referring to?
E Eric C May 29, 2008
Although the word speculative was mentioned it should be said that it’s inside the MLK Mixed Use Center and the zoning WILL be changed soon. Great chance to jump on a future commercial property. Hopfully it will have an NCX zoning with a max of 85’. We’ll just have to wait and see.
D drizell May 31, 2008
It’s good that zoning will soon be changed because the current zoning, R-4, prohibits development on the vacant lot. R-4 says the lot has to be 50 feet wide; the vacant lot next to the house is 25 feet wide. Even if you were granted a variance from that requirement, the only structure that could be placed on the site would be about as wide as a single wide mobile home.
The Tacoma Urbanist has many posts about how Tacoma needs to start adopting regulations for use in cities as opposed to suburban areas. Despite being the second-highest residential zoning classification in Tacoma, R-4 still prohibits most meaningful urban development. Its requirements completely ignore the elements that make a cohesive, attractive city. The other zoning codes function exactly the same way.
I would not purchase this property unless the zoning is changed to MUC.
E Eric C June 3, 2008
No offense Jake but those matchbox (to many exterior stairs) houses are cheap and hideous. Thank goodness they won’t be allowed in the muc after the zoning changes. Now if there would have been some forsight by the developer and built something live/work and urban then you might have a product to be proud of. Don’t get me wrong im all for infill but picking a design out of a book only shows one thing this the developer cares about and it ain’t legacy.
J Jake June 3, 2008
Eric,
While I am no hug fan of the skinny homes they are what they are. You have small lots in this old city and the city is requiring 5’-7’ side setbacks, 10’ front, and 20’ back, on a 25’ x 85’ lot then you are going to get a skinny house and you have to build up. Of course he did get a variance so the setbacks weren’t as much as above.
Yes it would have been nice for a more urban building with live/work space but with the current R-5 zoning that just isn’t allowed. Yes the builder could have sat and waited for the MUC rezone and waited… and waited… but builders usually get construction loans when they buy the lot.
As for cheap I am going to totally disagree. The builder builds a good quality product. He uses good siding, he puts in many upgrades into his standard product ( NEVER vinyl floors, always tile, carpet, or woood laminate, Slab Granite Counters, Rounded Corners on the Walls, Garage door openers, shelving in the closets, gas fireplaces, brush nickel fixtures, ceiling fans, appliances, etc) And as you may know many of his homes fetch top dollar ($300k+) in the Hilltop area.
Drive by some of his homes that have been around for a few years and they still look good. Now drive by some of the other spec builders and look at their places. Case closed.
E Eric C June 3, 2008
Jake,
Ok cheap may have not been the correct word. What I meant to say was lacking in quality craftmanship. While I am aware of WHY these homes end up having an inflated sales price. I would never put myself out there publicly to explain it!