$4 Million Homes in California

What You Get for $4 Million in California

San Juan Capistrano | $3.95 Million

A French country-style house built in 2000, with three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, and a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guesthouse, on a 2.7-acre lot

This house is nestled in the hills above San Juan Capistrano, about a five-minute drive from the center of the city and from Mission San Juan Capistrano, where the chapel is thought to be one of the oldest buildings continuously in use in the state. Two public elementary schools, a public high school and a private school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade are all less than 10 minutes away by car. The picnicking and camping facilities of Doheny State Beach are less than 15 minutes away.

The property is zoned for equestrian use, and the surrounding hills are a major center of equestrian activity in the area, with several riding facilities a few minutes away.

Size: 4,830 square feet

Price per square foot: $818

Indoors: A long, gated driveway leads from the street to a motor court separating the main house from the garage and guesthouse.

The front door to the main house opens into a foyer with hardwood floors that continue straight ahead into a living room with coffered ceilings, a fireplace and French doors out to a terrace and swimming pool.

To the right of the foyer is a bright kitchen with vaulted ceilings, custom-made white cabinets and a center island topped with butcher block. Off this space is a combination pantry and mudroom with additional storage and a separate entrance. Facing the kitchen is a family room large enough to hold a sofa, with another set of doors out to a covered patio.

A guest room with a wall of built-in cabinets and a bathroom are just off the entry. A half bathroom is also on this level.

On the second floor is a guest room with two built-in daybeds, a matching desk, a walk-in closet and a bathroom with a marble-topped vanity. Across the hall is the primary suite, which has high ceilings, a fireplace, a private terrace and an en suite bathroom with a claw-foot soaking tub and a walk-in shower. A windowed room off the primary bedroom currently functions as a home gym, but could also be used as a nursery.

The guest quarters over the garage include one bedroom, a kitchenette and a full bathroom, as well as an additional space that could serve as a second bedroom or a playroom.

Outdoor space: Off the kitchen is a shaded patio with a fireplace, used as an outdoor dining room. A few steps down is a pool surrounded by stone paving, with ample room for lounge chairs; more stairs lead down to the gardens. Elsewhere on the property, a flat dining area is shaded by mature trees, and walking paths are lined with planters and flowering bushes. The garage has room for four cars.

Taxes: $49,380 (estimated), plus a $165 monthly homeowner association fee

Contact: Nick Hooper, Mike Johnson + Partners, Compass, 949-939-708; mikejohnsongroup.com

Credit…Courtesy of Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty

San Francisco | $3.998 Million

A four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom house, built in 1926 and rebuilt in 2008, on a 0.1-acre lot

This house sits on a double lot, and was renovated with a focus on maximizing outdoor space: In addition to several private patios, it has an AstroTurf soccer pitch, ideally sized for practice or small pickup games.

Bernal Heights Park, a large green space with a community garden and sweeping views of the city, is a few blocks away. A popular spot for bird-watchers, the park is home to raptors, red-tailed hawks and great horned owls. Prentiss Mini Park, across the street, has picnic tables and a small children’s playground.

Size: 3,481 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,149

Indoors: The front door, at street level, opens to a foyer with tall windows facing an interior light well. Up a staircase with a metal railing is the second level, where almost every room has access to outdoor space.

To the right is a living room with a fireplace and a bar with a wine refrigerator. A short set of stairs leads to a media room with a built-in entertainment center and wide sliding-glass doors that open to a deck.

To the left of the main staircase is a kitchen with Gaggenau appliances, including two wall ovens, two dishwashers and an induction cooktop. There are two spots for dining: Close to the marble-topped kitchen island, there is space for a breakfast table; between the kitchen and living room is a large, bright area intended to hold a long dining table.

Also on this level are a dedicated office and a powder room with 1960s-inspired floral wallpaper.

The main staircase continues up to the third floor, where there are three bedrooms. To the right is the primary suite, which has hardwood floors, a walk-in closet and a bathroom with a steam shower and access to a deck with room for a sofa and a table. Across the hall are two guest rooms, each large enough to hold a queen-size bed, as well as another full bathroom and a laundry room. A third guest room is on the entry level, with a full en suite bathroom.

Outdoor space: The main deck, large enough to function as an outdoor living and entertaining area, can be reached from the living room, media room and dining room. Drought-tolerant plants line one wall, and a barbecue is built into a corner. Outdoor stairs connect this deck to the one upstairs, and to the garage at street level. The soccer pitch, which could also be used as a putting green or a bocce ball court, is connected to the main deck and the kitchen. The attached garage has two parking spots.

Taxes: $49,980 (estimated)

Contact: Michael Minson and Tracy Hsieh, Level Up Group, Keller Williams Luxury International, 415-606-2625; levelupgroup.com

Mill Valley | $3.995 Million

A 2021 house with four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 0.2-acre lot

Construction was recently completed on this house in the Homestead Valley neighborhood, about a mile from the center of Mill Valley. The local community association is active, with events centered around the Homestead Valley Community Center, which has a garden, a year-round camp for children and a swimming pool open during the summer.

One of the main draws of Mill Valley is its proximity to the hiking and biking trails of Muir Woods National Monument: The park’s visitor center is about 15 minutes from this house by car. Highway 1 runs through the park toward the Pacific Ocean, and Muir Beach is just 20 minutes away.

Size: 3,198 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,249

Indoors: This house is spread out over four levels, with an elevator running from the street level to the primary bedroom suite at the top.

The main entrance is up one flight of outdoor stairs, with a glass door that opens to a foyer with gray hardwood floors. Two bedrooms are on this floor, off the main hallway; they share a bathroom with a combination tub and shower. Up half a flight of stairs is a third guest room with an en suite bathroom and its own balcony.

Up another flight of stairs (or a short trip on the elevator) is the main living area, laid out in an open-plan style. Nearest the stairs is a sitting area with a fireplace and glass doors that open to a balcony with forest views.

At the other end of this floor is the kitchen, rendered in gray and white tones like the rest of the house. A Viking range sits in front of a glossy, gray-tile backsplash, and stainless-steel pendant lights hang over the center island.

The primary suite occupies the entire floor above. The bedroom has an attached office, a large private balcony looking out over the treetops and a bathroom with a deep soaking tub set beneath a large window.

Outdoor space: In addition to the balconies, each large enough to hold several chairs, there are two flat outdoor spaces landscaped with drought-tolerant plants. One, to the side of the house, is large enough for a dining table and barbecue; the other is higher up on the property, with room for chairs and a firepit. The garage holds two cars.

Taxes: $49,932 (estimated)

Contact: Marcine Engel, Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, 415-902-9438; sothebysrealty.com

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