Hahahahaha...that was such a funny story! In addition to bad photos, I have been on crazy non-permitted home tours as well and was like? Wouldn't it have been cheaper to get a prescription than to work out your lunacy on this poor house?
Here's a link to a home on my real estate tour! Definitely select "see the slideshow" http://www.redfin.com/CA/Oakland/2570-94th-Ave-94605/home/730578
Some had graffiti! (several, actually) and most had been broken into! Hahahahaha! I swear a few had been crack houses. It was clear someone had tried to set a fire in the middle of the floor and it got away from them.
http://www.redfin.com/CA/Oakland/4708-Macarthur-Blvd-94619/home/1742983
Wish you could see this one: http://www.redfin.com/CA/Oakland/6304-Monadnock-Way-94605/home/1432989 It was listed as a 3 bedroom, but it really had ONE! You had to walk through the bathroom to get to it. If you want to call the other room a bedroom, then okay, but you had to go through that one to get to the other bedroom. Not only did you have to go through the bathroom to get to the bedroom, but the pedestal sink was literally propped up...not connected and not even parts of the same sink. There was a regular door with tons of security locks coming out of the "bedroom". The other exit from the house went from the bathroom! There were marble tiles laid down in the kitchen and bathroom but not sealed...just laid down. You could just pick one up and move it if you didn't like the design, hahahaha.
Oh, and the "side/back?" door...I was so confused by now...anyway, the one coming from the Bathroom (not the bedroom! hahaha) had been busted in and although it was a nice door, the door frame was hanging from nails (door still locked). Hahahahaha!!! I am like Geeezzzzzzzzz! Who or what tries to get in here at night???
And the bars on all of the windows...shhuuuuuurrrrrrreeeeeeee it's a safe neighborhood. I usually say something like, oh, I love the Spanish Revival look with the wrought iron work on the windows! Charming touch! I wouldn't have thought to put it on a Craftsman/Tudor/etc. but it works, it really does...
Here is what is considered a pretty good house considering the options:
http://www.redfin.com/CA/Oakland/1176-92nd-Ave-94603/home/1445883
Hahahahaha!
In one house, where they were apologizing for the graffiti, I said, "Oh no! I need to know which gang rules this neighborhood before I buy! It is more important than which schools or who the elected officials are!" (they thought I was serious and I never let on that I wasn't).
Here is one that was $159K one day and $99K the next...after the rains came! I guess they had an inspection as well. Check out the dishwasher. Actually, the current photos show way better parts of the house than when I was there.
http://www.redfin.com/CA/Oakland/2946-76th-Ave-94605/home/1096692 Darling house, you gotta admit. Oh, and there was a squatter in there. Yep. I'm like great! Get him a rental application and I will show it to my lender as potential rental income. He seems like a quiet enough fella!
