Don't miss this charming & updated 3-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home in one of San Luis Obispo's most sought-after neighborhoods, located in the highly desirable Banana Belt microclimate and just moments from downtown SLO via the bike path. Situated on a super private "street to street" lot with a detached 2 car garage, you will love everything 1276 Sydney has to offer. Upon entering you'll find a cozy living room with so much character including the brick fireplace, bay windows, and gorgeous planked wood beam ceilings throughout. The hardwood floors are carried throughout as well, giving this house all the comforts of home. The kitchen has been beautifully updated with white quartz counters, subway tile backsplash and matching white appliances. Conveniently located off the kitchen is the laundry and a half bathroom, which could easily be converted into a 2nd full bath. Located on the other side of the home are all 3 bedrooms, two with private access to the back deck, and the full bathroom. The charm doesn't stop with the interior! French doors in the dining room lead to the gorgeous backyard with multi-level decks, private spa and fire pit area, all of which you'll be sure to love for entertaining or relaxing in the evenings. Fruit trees and flowers line the path along the side of the home. Ideal location close to schools, Sinsheimer park, Terrace Hill, and amazing restaurants. Best of all - the property comes with "permit ready" construction plans for an ADU above the garage or simply convert the 2 car garage to an ADU. This is truly a must see.

Listing Agent: Lindsey Harn

REALTOR® | License #01868098

Richardson Properties DRE #0146550

Welcome to this beautiful single-family home on 2.5 acres. Like new, completely turn-key and move-in ready! This home features 3 bedrooms, plus an office, and 2.5 bathrooms. Gorgeous designer-selected colors & finishes are found throughout the entire 2,462 sq ft. The kitchen, formal dining room and living room occupy the heart of the home, while the bedrooms are located on both sides. An open kitchen with quartz counters and large island, stainless steel appliances, and a pantry flows into the living room with a fireplace, which is perfect for entertaining or keeping an eye on little ones. Both the living room and master suite have direct access to the covered back patio, which is a nice spot for having morning coffee or relaxing in the evenings. This peaceful 2.5 parcel is surrounded by flat land which lends itself to so many possibilities, including RV parking, workshop or possibly an ADU. There's also an attached 3-car garage with a prewired 50 amp RV/EV receptacle and plenty of storage throughout the home. Only minutes from restaurants and parks, 15-minutes from downtown SLO.

Listing Agent: Lindsey Harn

REALTOR® | License #01868098

Richardson Properties DRE #0146550

Here's your opportunity to own a luxury turn-key Shell Beach home with extraordinary ocean views! This stunning home shows as brand new and comes with tons of upgrades and the finest finishes. This property features 3 bedrooms, plus an office/den/guest area, 3.5 baths, a spacious kitchen with beautiful finishes including quartz counters, and a 4-car (tandem) garage. You'll love the soaring 13-foot ceilings, dramatic entry and staircase, large kitchen island, open great room floor plan, front deck with beautiful ocean and hillside views, large windows, the luxury master suite with a private balcony, and the guest suite with its own bathroom and access to the back patio. The quality neutral finishes and natural light are sure to suit many personal styles. The home backs up to the Pismo Preserve, offering a private backyard patio with ocean views, plus a dog run. The area is an entertainer's dream! The amazing location offers close proximity to the beach and restaurants while still being private. Don't miss the chance to make this stunning home your own!

Listing Agent: Lindsey Harn

REALTOR® | License #01868098

Richardson Properties DRE #0146550

Adorable SLO condo in great neighborhood! Perfect for first time homebuyers or investors! Fresh paint throughout and neutral colored luxury vinyl flooring. The ideal first floor entry opens up to the light and bright living room, which features a nice brick fireplace. You'll find access to the front patio off the living room as well. Head down the hallway to find two large storage closets and a half bath, as well as the kitchen with laundry, the dining room and access to the private back patio. Upstairs contains two nice-sized bedrooms, both with double closets and private balconies overlooking the neighborhood, and a full bathroom. This property offers one covered parking spot and additional on-site parking. Conveniently located near shopping, hiking trails and restaurants!

Listing Agent: Lindsey Harn

REALTOR® | License #01868098

Richardson Properties DRE #0146550

New September Listings Hot Off the Press!

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Tight housing market forces home buyers in SLO County to leave their priorities at the door

When Samantha Meyers and her family started their search for a new house during the remote work boom of the pandemic, they thought they’d be living in a different city from the one they ended up settling in.

Meyers said she originally intended to move from the Bay Area to San Luis Obispo, but ended up purchasing her home in Arroyo Grande instead.

“We loved the Sinsheimer neighborhood in SLO, and unfortunately it just didn’t end up working out — there weren’t homes with the size that we needed for our family and the space needs that we had, so we ended up looking in Arroyo Grande,” Meyers said.

Her family also had to compromise on price, as she had to offer around $75,000 more than the asking price to purchase the property.

Meyers’ story is becoming more common as the tight housing market in SLO County and elsewhere is forcing home buyers to compromise more than they might normally on the specific demands of their homes-to-be, according to a new report from Anytime Estimate.

In fact, the vast majority of home buyers — 80% — are scaling back expectations on the priorities in their housing search in some way, the report said.

“Most people are having to see the purchase of a home as a project, and realizing that they need to maybe live there a little while and then get some of the updates,” said Christa Lowry, a Coldwell Banker Premiere Real Estate Realtor in Pismo Beach.

Lindsey Harn, a Realtor for Richardson Properties in San Luis Obispo, said that’s not necessarily unique to the current market conditions or location, which she said is cooling slightly.

“For a lot of buyers, especially if it’s their first or second purchase, compromises are involved just because what their dollars get them and what their dreams are aren’t necessarily in line,” Harn said.

Harn said that in much of SLO County, homes only average seven to 10 days on the market, giving buyers a small window to make a decision.

“I typically would tell people if (the home) meets about 70% of their needs, wants and desires, to strongly consider it and to maybe consider driving by it a couple of different times during the day, (and) walking around the neighborhood to get a feel,” Harn said.

Amenities such as the type of kitchen, flooring and finishes, Lowry said, are of less concern than simply getting a house in the first place. Plus, those issues can be addressed through remodeling later.

Sometimes, the competition is so tough, buyers have to give in on more prominent features of the home, like its number of bedrooms.

None of those factors seem to deter buyers, who are now looking for available housing rather than housing that fits their specific needs, Lowry said.

That being said, Lowry noted that remodeling a fixer-upper is also more of a challenge now than it once was.

“The cost of goods is so high right now that people are having a hard time with their fixer-uppers because they can’t update it as much as they want,” she said.

Harn advised first-time buyers to avoid fixer-uppers that require larger investments of time, labor and money, particularly once the cost starts exceeding $40,000 to $50,000.

Cosmetic upgrades like paint or replacing countertops are much more feasible for first-time buyers, Harn said. Further complicating the remodeling process, Lowry said, building goods such as lumber are in low supply, raising their price. The price of building goods is also elevated by inflation, which is still affecting the construction industry, she said.

Those supply chain delays limit what buyers can do with a fixer-upper, Lowry said.

If a bathroom used to cost around $15,000 before the current period of inflation and supply chain problems, it now costs closer to $22,000 or $25,000, she said.

MORE BUYERS CHOOSING FIXER-UPPER HOMES

The report agreed with Lowry’s experience, as 55% of buyers purchased what they considered a fixer-upper, though 24% of those buyers regretted their decision to buy a home that requires extra maintenance.

“Because they’re just excited to have a home — to be able to purchase a home — they’re willing to give up a lot,” Lowry said.

Younger, first-time buyers in particular — like millennials, who the study found make up 66% of first-time buyers — are more likely to spend more and take larger risks on their first home, the report said.

“We are seeing more and more millennials get into the housing market, and I think it’s a very wise thing for them to do as wealth shifts from Baby Boomers down to the next generation,” Harn said.

These younger first-time home buyers were 8% more likely to compromise on their demands for a new home, the report said, and 22% of all buyers in the survey ended up dissatisfied with their homes.

“After previously buying in ‘normal’ market conditions, repeat buyers were 75% more likely than new buyers to be dissatisfied, but the market left much to be desired among first-timers who struggled to find affordable homes,” the report said.

Lowry said priorities in home buying on the Central Coast differ from the three things the survey had found most buyers prioritized: a good neighborhood (50%), an affordable home (45%) and short commute (39%).

In her experience with buyers here, Lowry said, home-buying priorities focused more on the home’s floor plan, location and potential for future investments.

“Can we update it and sell it for more?” she said. “Does it have enough room or land to do what we’d like to do with it? Could we build on an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) or extra room that we could use as income potential?”

Harn said with the advent of widespread remote work, concerns over length of commute are lessened, while access to school districts and outdoor space are more relevant to the average SLO County home buyer.

That was the case for Meyers, though she said her home in Arroyo Grande has met her needs so far.

“Even though we thought we compromised to begin with, I think that where we ended up was actually the optimal solution for us,” she said.

This story was originally published SEPTEMBER 07, 2022 5:00 AM by JOHN LYNCH

Beautiful custom home in Santa Magarita that sits on 10-acres of usable land! This country getaway has charm around every corner. The main home has been lovingly updated and has high vaulted ceilings and large windows that bring in tons of natural light. A beautiful stone fireplace with a reclaimed wood mantle takes center stage in the living room, which is open to the kitchen and dining room. French doors lead out to several decks, perfect for taking in the beautiful Santa Margarita sunsets or enjoying a glass of wine. Don't miss the front sunroom which provides a large flex space and has views of the property. The mud room contains lots of additional storage and leads to an additional deck off the back of the house. You'll find multiple spots around the property that are perfect for providing some peace & quiet. The studio above the two-car garage has two separate entrances and is a wonderful feature for multi-generational families or simply for guests. There's also a workshop off of the garage and a storage shed. There's plenty of room for animals, a garden, recreational toys, plus so much more. Don't forget about the huge empty lot across the street that can be used to build an additional home! This property also contains 2 separate wells, two water storage tanks and a recently installed a state-of-the-art Ozone water treatment system. If you're looking for your own private country retreat, this is it!

Listing Agent: Lindsey Harn

REALTOR® | License #01868098

Richardson Properties DRE #0146550

Here is your chance to own a multi-generational property on over 1 acre in Arroyo Grande! Live in one house and rent out the other! The custom main home boasts 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, 2,557 sq ft of living space, a large front yard with semi-wrap around porch, remodeled kitchen with a farmhouse sink & wine fridge, two fireplaces, a formal dining room and a separate breakfast nook for indoor eating, plus a backyard that sits just above the creek and has a large deck perfect for entertaining. The backyard also includes a private fenced in area with a hot tub and plenty of room to add a garden! The large master bedroom is located on the 2nd floor and contains a remodeled bathroom, cathedral ceilings, bay windows, and an attached balcony with views of the surrounding trees and creek. The carpet for the main home was replaced in the last 2 years and a 35-year roof was just put on in 2015. The 2nd home is located on the other side of the property and has its own entrance, address, and driveway. It has 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, and is 1,250 square feet. It is currently tenant occupied on a month-to-month basis. This is truly a special piece of property as it offers plenty of space for animals and recreational toys including an RV, all while being close to wineries and only 10 minutes to the beach!

Listing Agent: Lindsey Harn

REALTOR® | License #01868098

Richardson Properties DRE #0146550

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Lindsey McConaghy, Monde PR

Phone: (805) 471-0165

Email: lindsey@mondepr.com

Lindsey Harn of Richardson Properties 

Featured in "Designing Spaces™" TV Program 

[San Luis Obispo, CA August, 2022] Richardson Properties, San Luis Obispo’s leading real estate brokerage, today announced that Lindsey Harn has been featured in Designing Spaces™, an award-winning home improvement show airing on Lifetime TV. The segment talked about the benefits of using solar energy to power homes and businesses, and the positive impact on property resale values.

Lindsey was interviewed about her experience installing solar panels at her home in San Luis Obispo with REC Group. “We spent some time analyzing my current bills and PG&E usage, and then looked at what I might need in the future to determine how many panels I would need. It was a very thoughtful approach to ensure I have the best experience possible.

“REC then came back with drawings and 3D diagrams so I could see how the panels would appear on the house. I was very concerned with aesthetics so they were careful to place the panels in a way that didn’t ruin the architecture or the look of my home.”

The segment went on to talk about how Lindsey tracks her energy usage. “I have an app I can check to see what the panels are generating, what I’ve done to offset my carbon footprint and how much I’m saving. The technology that allows me to monitor the system has been incredible.” 

Lindsey also talked about available tax credits and resale benefits of using solar energy. “Another reason I got solar was to take advantage of several state and federal tax credits. These actually offset the physical cost of the panels. As a real estate professional I can also attest to the fact that owning your solar panels outright can be a huge value-add on the resale of your home.”   

Last April the County of San Luis Obispo completed its largest solar project to date with ForeFront power. The 1.2 MW ground-mounted solar system was projected to offset 10% of the County’s total energy usage with renewable energy. 

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About Richardson Properties (www.richardsonproperties.com)

As San Luis Obispo County’s leading real estate brokerage, Richardson Properties | Christie’s International Real Estate, provides innovative solutions and superior customer service through a team of dedicated professionals. The team strives to exceed client expectations while positively shaping its local communities. 

As an exclusive Luxury Portfolio International® brokerage and member of Leading Companies of the World®; Richardson Properties offers an incomparable level of service and global visibility under brands that stand for trust, discretion, and excellence.

Leading the Way in Residential and Luxury Home Sales on the Central Coast.

New August Listings Hot Off the Press!

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