Fixer Hero Wanted This forlorn home is in dire need of a rescuer. The stairs and decks are a wreck, water damage to walls and floors is evident in some areas, the paint is almost pre-stripped on the south side, and the foundation has allowed floors to wave and sink. In spite of all this, the house's strong bones and good basic materials indicate the potential to make this a great home again. If this house was anywhere else, it would be a tear down. As it is, the choice to fix the existing property has to be balanced against the extra trouble caused by working within existing walls and conditions. This $285,000 home would require a ground up effort including a new septic system, foundations, a lot of framing, and extensive ripping out of walls, windows, doors, plumbing, electrical, etc.... 02/07/2008

I wrote about a lovely 1893 fixer in Healdsburg a few days ago. There's no question in my mind that a solid restoration is the best choice for that house and the neighborhood. It's a classy three unit building on a large lot on a street with lots of homes from the same era. There are plenty of period details and the decent construction that has helped it survive for 110 years. A week of scrubbing and painting and some new appliances and window glass and it would be a serviceable rental by Halloween. For a price of $525,000 and close to the Healdsburg Plaza it represents an excellent value for a patient investor.The listing I took over the weekend is in a different category. We've all seen forlorn houses abandoned by owners and left to the mercy of time. We're lucky in Healdsburg and Son... 10/15/2007