Bus routes are usually for commuters; but it is understandable if you think of Route 346 as being for shoppers. It starts near Aurora Village and ends near Northgate Mall. Along the way, it is there for shoppers, commuters, and whoever needs a ride in Haller Lake, Shoreline, Meridian Park, and Parkwood.
↑ Start in the backyard. Do you want a swimming pool? This one is in-ground, surrounded by tall, privacy-providing trees and a concrete deck. With 0.4 acres, there should be enough room to relax and lounge. Either that’s a great draw, or a reason to move on. There is also a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,570 square foot house that was built in 1959. The asking price for the package is $734,950, which also reflects the recent renovation. The interior is much more modern, with frosted glass double front doors, simple steel railings, and the necessarily up-to-date kitchen. The Before pictures would be interesting to see because it sold in May 2015 for only $275,000. The buyers probably did more than just paint.
↑ If you start in this house’s backyard you’ll find water as well; but no diving. It is a hot tub. At least it is covered. That may be enough, and is probably a lot less maintenance. The house is slightly newer, 1963; but a few of the elements are reminiscent of the era. The brick and tile stairs and fireplace are certainly lower maintenance, and may eventually come back into style. For $535,000, they are offering a 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 3,008 square foot house on a 0.6 acre lot. At least one of the baths has been nicely upgraded since the Cold War. With the extra land outside and extra room inside, you’ve got opportunities for extra projects, too.
↑ Pick the right lens, and the house can look enormous. Update the kitchen, the bath, the paint, the deck, and the fencing, and it is hard to tell that the house isn’t new. The house is, however, a 3 bedroom, 1 bath that fits into 960 square feet that was built in 1961 on a 7,616 square foot lot. The price is $425,000, which would’ve bought a lot more in 1961; but that was the appeal of holding real estate for long enough. With these upgrades there’s a chance its life has been extended that much longer. Given that much time, it probably makes sense to give that tree trunk in the back deck a bit more space.
↑ Here’s another remodel, which is inevitable for a 1935 house. Looking in the backyard it is obvious that the neighborhood is also being remodeled. The 3 bedroom, 1 bath, 1,708 square foot house has multi-story neighbors. At least they don’t block the sunshine. The asking price is $414,950 for the house and the 8,712 square foot lot. Inside, the updates are obvious and provide color contrast. Rather than white on beige, the dark brown cabinetry stands beside a mottled tile backsplash, and lighter counters.
↑ At least the listing is upfront about it. "Significant cosmetic repairs" are required, unless you like a moss-stained exterior, smudged walls and floors, and a mossy roof. The upside it, that may be why a 3 bedroom, 1 bath, 1,060 square foot house is listed at $225,000. The house was built on the 6,000 square foot lot in 1949, just after the War and at the start of the Baby Boom. Heady and busy times. Since then, it has been bought and sold a few times. This time may be the time for upgrades, renovations, repairs, remodels, and uncovering surprises. Take lots of photos for your album of Before, During, and After.
· Route 364 [Metro]
· All Bus Tours coverage [CS]