What $730,000 Buys You in California

Sonoma | $729,000

A 1914 cottage with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, on a 0.2-acre lot

This house is a few blocks from a stretch of Sonoma Highway, the city’s main road, that is populated by food trucks, coffee shops and casual restaurants. The surrounding area is famous for wine production, and several vineyards, including Amapola Creek and Hanzell Vineyards, are nearby. Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, known for its geothermal hot springs, is half a mile away.

Heading south, downtown Sonoma is a 10-minute drive; a bit farther in the other direction are Sonoma Valley Regional Park, a 202-acre park with hiking trails, and Bouverie Preserve, a popular spot for admiring the local wildflowers.

Size: 1,155 square feet

Price per square foot: $631

Indoors: A wooden fence topped with lattice and backed by hedges separates the front yard from the street; a wooden gate at the center swings open to a walkway that leads to the yellow front door.

The bright living room, just off the entry, has wide-plank, painted wood floors, painted paneling on the walls and sliding-glass doors that open to the backyard.

It flows into an open dining area with a wall of built-in shelving. The adjoining kitchen has both upper cabinets and open shelving, a white subway-tile backsplash, a marble breakfast bar and a built-in banquette.

One of the bedrooms is off the entry and has a window overlooking the front yard. It is large enough to hold a queen-size bed and has the use of a nearby bathroom with a white pedestal sink and a white-tiled shower. A second bedroom and a bathroom with a claw-foot soaking tub are off a hallway that extends along the left side of the house.

Outdoor space: The property has two primary outdoor entertaining spaces. Off the living room is a wood deck with space for a dining table; it steps down to a paved patio shaded by mature trees, one of which bears quince fruit. The driveway, on the side of the house, has room for two cars.

Taxes: $9,108 (estimated)

Contact: Jennifer Powers, Sotheby’s International Realty, Wine Country Brokerage, 707-301-6257; sothebysrealty.com

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Oakland | $729,000

A 1922 bungalow with two bedrooms and one bathroom, on a 0.1-acre lot

Maxwell Park is a quiet section of Oakland developed in the 1920s, popular with young families. Mills College, a women’s liberal arts college, is one of the neighborhood’s anchors, and is within easy walking distance of this house. Also nearby is Julia Morgan School for Girls, a private middle school named for the architect and housed in a building of her design.

Downtown Oakland is about 15 minutes away by car; Berkeley is about 20 minutes away.

Size: 870 square feet

Price per square foot: $838

Indoors: From the street, steps lead up to a covered front porch. A bright red front door swings open into a living room with hardwood floors, a wide picture window and a fireplace framed by white-painted brick.

The hardwood floors continue into a dining room with more large windows. Behind it is the kitchen, which the sellers, who bought the home in 2016, updated with blue hexagonal floor tile and new appliances.

Off the dining room is a small hallway that leads to the two bedrooms and the bathroom. One bedroom, currently used as a nursery, has two windows facing the side of the property and a closet door trimmed with original crown molding. At the other end of the hall is the primary bedroom, with a street-facing window and a closet hidden behind wood sliding doors. Between the two bedrooms is the bathroom, also recently updated, with pink tile floors and a curbless shower accented with slate-blue tiles and a recessed shelf.

Two structures behind the main house have been converted into additional living space: a garage, currently used as a home gym, and a shed that serves as a home office.

Outdoor space: Behind the house is a wood deck, large enough to hold a dining table and chairs, divided from the rest of the backyard by a low wall. The landscaping was reimagined by the sellers with a focus on drought-tolerant plants, including wildflowers. There are also raised garden boxes for growing vegetables, as well as a gravel area, at the far end of the property, with room for seating around a firepit.

Taxes: $8,532 (estimated)

Contact: Valerie Hirbod, Coldwell Banker Realty, 510-339-4700; coldwellbankerhomes.com

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Santa Monica | $729,000

A one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom condominium in a 1972 building

This condominium is in a 13-unit complex in Ocean Park, where the wide streets are lined with low-rise buildings: apartments and condominiums, as well as Craftsman bungalows built in the early 20th century. The neighborhood is prized for its walkability, and the beach, a big draw for many area residents, is about half a mile away. Closer still are the restaurants of Pacific and Rose Avenues, home to boutique wine stores and a Whole Foods supermarket.

The heart of Santa Monica, including the Santa Monica Pier, is less than 10 minutes away by car. Los Angeles International Airport and Culver City are each about a 25-minute drive.

Size: 708 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,030

Indoors: This unit’s front door opens into a small foyer; beyond it is an open living-and-dining area with hardwood floors, a fireplace with a built-in bench and decorative beams lining the ceiling. A half bathroom off the living area has had a recent makeover that included the addition of distressed-wood paneling.

The compact kitchen was also updated by the seller, with a gray-tile backsplash and new stainless-steel appliances. There is ample room between the kitchen and the living area for a dining table.

Sliding-glass doors in the living room open to a private patio, one of the unit’s most appealing features. It can also be reached from the bedroom, which is connected to the living room by a hallway.

The bedroom is large enough to hold a king-size bed and a desk, and has more decorative ceiling beams and a mirrored closet. Next to it is an updated bathroom with a new white vanity and a combination tub and shower.

Outdoor space: Between the living room and the primary bedroom is a covered patio that feels like an additional room and is big enough to hold an outdoor love seat, as well as a cafe table and chairs. The low concrete wall that encloses it is topped by a screen-wrapped fence for additional privacy. The building also has a communal central courtyard, and this unit comes with one covered parking spot.

Taxes: $9,264 (estimated), plus a $430 monthly homeowner association fee

Contact: Amy Snider, Compass, 310-773-7512; compass.com

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