This $725K Berkeley Home Is Part of the City’s History

Designated as a landmark in 1992, the well-preserved residence is a prime example of a 19th-century workman’s cottage.

Location: 1814 Sixth St, Berkeley, California

Price: $725,000

Year Built: 1878

Footprint: 704 square feet (1 bedroom, 1 bath)

Lot Size: 0.07 Acres

From the Agent: "Step into a rare piece of Berkeley history with the Joseph Alphonso House, a beautifully preserved workman’s cottage built around 1878 and recognized as a city landmark in 1992. Workman’s cottages were modest 19th-century homes built for artisans and tradespeople—compact in scale but often accented with Victorian detail. Few remain in Berkeley today, making this home a cherished link to the city’s working-class beginnings. This one-bedroom, one-bath residence is raised above the street to protect against flooding. The home retains its 19th-century craftsmanship in its 20-by-30-foot footprint and original detailing. Inside, it lives larger than its size suggests, featuring a sleeping loft and a custom-designed office nook that maximize space and functionality for contemporary living."

The home was likely constructed, C.W. Davis and E.R. Forsyth, prominent builders in Berkeley's early Victorian era.

The home was likely constructed by C.W. Davis and E.R. Forsyth, prominent builders in Berkeley’s early Victorian era. 

Aerial Canvas

The home has been carefully preserved as a tribute to Berkeley's history. In 1992, the home was recognized as a city landmark.

The home has been carefully preserved as a tribute to Berkeley’s history, and in 1992 it was recognized as a city landmark.

Aerial Canvas

The past decade has seen significant renovation and rehabilitation to the home, with over $170,000 spent on improvements.

The home has been renovated and rehabilitated over the past decade, with over $170,000 spent on improvements.

Aerial Canvas

See the full story on Dwell.com: This $725K Berkeley Home Is Part of the City’s History

Before & After: How a Retired Couple Adapted Their Forever Home for Aging in Place

Almost 50 years after building their Bay Area home, Larry and Pearl Toy call on Blue Truck Studio to make it more comfortable and accessible while preserving all the things they love.

TKTK A built-in table, opened up etc

When Larry and Pearl Toy first built their house in Orinda, California, in the mid-1970s, they didn’t know what they wanted, except that it should be comfortable. "I was just 30, and my wife was 28, and we really did not know much about architecture at all," says Larry. Through a recommendation, they hired San Francisco architect Henrik Bull to design their house. "We relied on his expertise to give us a beautiful home, which he did," Larry explains.

In Orinda, California, Pearl and Larry Toy hired Blue Truck Studio to adapt the home they built in the ’70s for aging in place.

In Orinda, California, Pearl and Larry Toy hired Blue Truck Studio to update and adapt the home they built in the ’70s for improved comfort and accessibility.

Photo by Gregg Segal

Over the years, the house grew with them—the couple built an addition after the birth of their daughter. But recently, after nearly 50 years, the house was showing its age and it was time for an update. Comfort remained a primary concern for the couple, especially as they were now retired—Pearl from a career as a hematologist and professor, and Larry as an astronomer and the founder of a higher education nonprofit—and they planned to age in place in their home.

The Toys tapped Blue Truck Studio for the renovation after their daughter, a landscape architect, heard about the practice through a colleague. The firm set about making the home safer and more accommodating for Larry, now 80, and Pearl, 78.

Before: Primary Bathroom

The master bathroom was originally TKTK.

Before: The primary bathroom had one sink, and the bathtub was seldom used.

Photo: BLUE TRUCK STUDIO

One of the couple’s top requests was for more accessible bathrooms designed with aging and mobility in mind. Most of the home’s bathtubs, which the Toys rarely used, were removed in favor of walk-in showers. The curbless shower in the primary bath is large enough to accommodate a wheelchair, should one be needed in the future. Redone in gleaming blue tile of varying shades, the space now connects to the bedroom as an en suite for easier access. 

After: Primary Bathroom

The bathroom can now accommodate a wheelchair if needed. The floor is slightly slanted so that any water that splashes will flow to the drain.

The shower now has grab bars, and it can accommodate a wheelchair if needed. The floor is slightly slanted so that any water that splashes will flow to the drain.

Photo: Gregg Segal

See the full story on Dwell.com: Before & After: How a Retired Couple Adapted Their Forever Home for Aging in Place

Gavin Newsom Just Signed a Divisive Housing Bill for California. Here’s What to Know

Senate Bill 79 will override local zoning to allow the construction of housing near transit in major counties across the state. YIMBYers are calling it a win, but opponents have a less favorable outlook.

It’s been called a game changer and the YIMBY Holy Grail, a reference to both the pro-housing movement that has become a force in local and state politics in recent years, and the expected impact it will have on housing production in infamously expensive California cities. Senate Bill 79 has also been labeled a destroyer of neighborhoods, usurper of municipal political power, and a ticking time bomb that will wreck local infrastructure

Now, in a highly anticipated decision, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed the bill, which offers a targeted example of what’s called transit-oriented development. Real estate developers will be allowed to build taller, denser residential buildings near high-volume transit lines, with the idea being that nearby access to transit will decrease the need for cars and additional parking while adding a significant number of housing units. Here’s what to know about SB 79.

What is SB 79 and how did it come about?

Repeatedly reworked and moderated during its contentious path through the state legislature, SB79 will upzone areas around major transit stops (rail or bus rapid transit stops), overruling local laws limiting building heights and density. In eight urban counties across the state, mostly in the Bay Area and Southern California: San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange, buildings sites within a half-mile of such a stop can build 80 units an acre, up to a height of 55 feet, with more height and density for buildings closer to the station, up to 95 feet tall and 160 units an acre.

YIMBYs have celebrated the law as an antidote to the glacial pace of housing construction in the state. Advocates point to the slow progress of cities in zoning for more housing or getting anywhere close to meeting state-mandated housing goals—known as the Regional Housing Needs Allocation, or RHNA—as a reason why the state needs to overrule local control.

"I believe SB 79 would address that issue in a very meaningful way by really opening up a lot of capacity for mixed-income housing and affordable housing around transit stops, land that historically mixed-income housing and affordable housing is not allowed to be built on," says Mahdi Maji, Director of Policy at Inner City Law Center. "It’s important housing is built in areas where people have historically been excluded."

Since it passed, what does that mean?

There aren’t exact figures or estimates on how many such projects will get completed in the first few years; labor and material costs, financing, and the ways the law gets interpreted locally will impact the initial wave of development. But it’s likely to be seen as a significant YIMBY victory, and a source of consternation and pushback for local government and many residents opposed to the plan. 

"If you pass a law like this, you don’t get housing on every eligible parcel overnight," says Brian Hanlon, president and CEO of California YIMBY. "But the end goal here is to build a ton more housing to make California affordable, so folks don’t have to wake up every morning with a pit of anxiety in their chest, wondering if this is the day they order a U-Haul to Arizona. We want people who live here to be able to build a future here." 

The most significant change is that SB 79 will allow development in areas and neighborhoods previously meant just for single-family housing. Detractors have been vocal, especially in Los Angeles. Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council—on an 8-5 vote—opposed the bill on the grounds that it negates local zoning control and shoehorns density into inappropriate areas. 

Assemblymember Rick Chavez-Zbur, a Los Angeles Democrat who represents portions of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood, summed up many constituent’s feelings when he told CalMatters, "This blunt, one-size-fits-all bill will not work for a district like mine. For many Californians, living in a single-family neighborhood fulfills a lifelong dream—the American Dream."

How much housing could this add?

There aren’t exact figures yet—Hanlon estimates it could mean hundreds of thousands of units over the next decade—but the main advantage of this bill is that it gets rid of zoning distinctions that made previous changes less effective. For instance, municipalities across the state already have local programs to develop denser housing near transit. In Los Angeles, the Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) program provides incentives to build more near transit. 

However, it’s severely limited; it doesn’t allow for building in the three-quarters of Los Angeles that is zoned for single-family homes. SB 79 allows for more density in more places, and that means a much higher ceiling in terms of total units produced. California YIMBY estimates that if 10 percent of the housing allowed by SB 79 were built out in L.A., it would cover roughly two-thirds of the city’s housing shortage (now at roughly 270,000 units).

Why California needs more housing

State data shows the cost of housing in California continues to rise; since 2020, rent is up 30 percent or more in many parts of the state, monthly mortgage payments average $5,900, and houses cost twice as much as they do in other parts of the country. Citizens and cities pay the price, including financial hardships, lower local tax revenue, increased homelessness, and even decreased political representation nationally, as population declines impact Congressional delegations. And cities have struggled to build more units. Take Los Angeles, where housing permits hit a 10-year low last year. While New York City might build 50,000 homes in 2025, Los Angeles has only permitted 3,100 as of July, per CalMatters. 

The bill’s passage also provides a boost to public transit, which has weathered significant pandemic-era ridership drops. It would boost ridership by adding more potential customers near transit stops, and allow for development on land owned by transit agencies, offering additional sources of revenue.

Has a bill like this been proposed before? 

Democrat State Senator Scott Wiener, a progressive San Francisco representative, has been a YIMBY champion for years, and has repeatedly tried to pass laws like SB 79 since 2018. This is the first time he’s been able to get the legislation out of the Senate, passed in the State Assembly, and signed by the Governor, a feat that in part was due to his ability to compromise (the bill went through 13 changes before final approval, including the use of only high-frequency transit stops, and limiting building to mostly urban, not suburban, counties.) 

Wiener has long seen the housing challenge as central to so many other issues facing California, saying in a statement after SB 79 was passed in the legislature, that "decades of overly restrictive policies have driven housing costs to astronomical levels, forcing millions of people away from jobs and transit and into long commutes from the suburbs.

What happens next? 

The law is set to go into effect beginning on July 1, 2026. Signing the bill into law will bolster Governor Newsom’s case that he has taken the housing crisis seriously and taken bold steps forward to fix the state’s more potent policy issue.

In the interim, final maps of the areas that would be impacted by SB 79 need to be created by relevant local authorities, such as the Southern California Association of Governments. In debates around the bill’s passage, local government posted maps with the asterisk that these weren’t final determinations of where SB 79 projects would be built, leading opponents to cry foul; there’s sure to be strong pushback around the creation of the final maps. Many housing advocates across the country will likely be watching to see how SB 79 ultimately works in practice to pass similar bills in statehouses across the country.

Top photo: Adobe Stock

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A Water Crisis Halts Phoenix’s Home Building—and Everything Else You Need to Know About This Week

"Zombie" mortgages come back to bite homeowners, a new low-carbon technique for cooling buildings, and more.

  • In the suburbs of Phoenix, a 2023 moratorium on new groundwater-based housing halted the building of nearly half a million homes, exposing how the desert city’s thirst for growth finally outpaced its water supply. The result now is a "bridge to nowhere" effect, pitting affordability against sustainability in the Sun Belt. (High Country News)
  • Debt collectors are resurrecting "zombie" mortgages from the 2008 era. These old, often-forgotten second loans are now coming back to haunt homeowners as property values rise. (Bloomberg)

  • California renters just got a cool new law: starting in 2026, every rental unit must come with a working fridge and stove, which means no more scavenging on Facebook Marketplace for basic necessities. (The Los Angeles Times)

Tasked with reimagining a 1935 bungalow and adding an ADU in Austin’s historic Rosewood neighborhood, Side Angle Side used archival photos and salvaged materials to rebuild the original structure and weave in a contemporary addition.

Tasked with reimagining a 1935 bungalow and adding an ADU in Austin’s historic Rosewood neighborhood, Side Angle Side used archival photos and salvaged materials to rebuild the original structure and weave in a contemporary addition.

Photo by Rob Gomez

  • Hospitals, schools, hotels, and data centers are turning to "ice batteries" that freeze water overnight to cool buildings during the day, reducing energy use and costs. The technology offers a low-carbon way to keep temperatures comfortable without overtaxing the grid. (AP News)

  • AIA Austin’s 39th annual homes tour spotlights 10 standout residences that capture the city’s evolving design DNA, from a concrete ADU tucked behind a preserved 1930s facade to a treetop retreat carved into a hillside. (Dwell)

Top photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images.

The Midcentury Home of a Frank Lloyd Wright Apprentice Seeks $2.2M in Seattle

Architect Milton Stricker designed his 1967 residence with wood paneling, extensive built-ins, and a top-floor primary suite with a balcony.

Architect Milton Stricker designed his 1967 residence with wood paneling, extensive built-ins, and a top-floor primary suite with a balcony.

Location: 3303 South Massachusetts Street, Seattle, Washington

Price: $2,250,000

Year Built: 1967

Architect: Milton Stricker

Footprint: 2,860 square feet (5 bedrooms, 3 baths)

Lot Size: 0.21 Acres

From the Agent: "As soon as you cross the threshold, you can immediately sense the rich architectural pedigree of this midcentury-modern home designed by Milton Stricker, apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright. Stricker designed and built the home for himself and his family, and it was his personal residence from 1967 to 1993. From 1993 to the present day, the house has been thoughtfully cared for, thoroughly enjoyed, and meticulously maintained, preserving the integrity of the home as it was intended. Now the time has come to pass the torch to the next steward."

Milton Stricker was the first of Frank Lloyd Wright's apprentices to be licensed as an architect in Washington State.

Milton Stricker was the first of Frank Lloyd Wright’s apprentices to be licensed as an architect in Washington State.  

Photo by Cooper Reid and Prince David of Lensit Studio

A wood-burning fireplace provides additional heat to the living room.

A woodburning fireplace warms the living room.

Photo by Cooper Reid and Prince David of Lensit Studio

Photo by Cooper Reid and Prince David of Lensit Studio

See the full story on Dwell.com: The Midcentury Home of a Frank Lloyd Wright Apprentice Seeks $2.2M in Seattle
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In Brentwood, a Restored 1951 Post-and-Beam Midcentury Asks $9.4M

It was honored with the 2022 AIA Los Angeles Award for Historic Preservation.

2179 Mandeville Canyon Road in Los Angeles, California, is currently listed at $9,450,000 by Ernie Carswell and Edward Kubow at Sotheby’s International Realty - Beverly Hills Brokerage.

Tucked away on a private drive off Lower Mandeville Canyon Road, this California midcentury modern estate offers rare privacy, iconic design, and luxurious living, perfect for anyone seeking a showpiece residence in one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious neighborhoods. 

Designed by acclaimed architect Kenneth Lind in collaboration with the legendary Pierre Koenig, the home was fully renovated in 2021 with no expense spared, blending historic design with cutting-edge updates. This classic post-and-beam home welcomes you with a stylish entryway that opens to a dramatic living room with a wood-burning fireplace and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that frame stunning views of one of two private yards, ideal for entertaining or serene outdoor living. 

The open-concept chef’s kitchen, equipped with high-end appliances and custom finishes, flows effortlessly into the family and dining areas, all leading out to a second yard featuring a lap pool and lush landscaping. The romantic primary suite is a private sanctuary complete with a sitting area, fireplace, and panoramic canyon views of verdant hills and natural beauty. 

The spa-inspired primary bath holds a luxurious soaking tub, oversized shower, dual vanities, and a custom walk-in closet. Step onto your private deck for tranquil mornings or direct access to the pool area. Two additional en suite bedrooms provide space, privacy, and comfort for family or guests. 

Listing Details 

Bedrooms: 3 

Baths: 2 full, 1 partial

Year Built: 1951 

Square Feet: 3,904 

Plot Size: 0.65 acres

Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty - Beverly Hills Brokerage

Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty - Beverly Hills Brokerage

Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty - Beverly Hills Brokerage

See the full story on Dwell.com: In Brentwood, a Restored 1951 Post-and-Beam Midcentury Asks $9.4M
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Ask a Realtor: I’m Selling a Niche Property. How Do I Find the Right Buyer?

Real estate agent Nicole Reber shares what to do when an open house just won’t cut it.

Welcome to Ask a Realtor, an advice column about the ins and outs of home finding, renting, buying, and selling from expert Douglas Elliman real estate agent Nicole Reber. Have a question? Submit it here.

Q: I am the trustee/owner of a property owned by a beloved family member who died tragically last year. It has been on the market for six months with strong interest but no offers. Agents and buyers alike agree it’s in amazing condition and priced right, but its attributes appeal to a niche group (i.e., childless and working age buyers vs young couples with kids or retirees) who want walkability to downtown and loft-living (vs a suburban single-family home). If not sold by December, I’ll have to rent out the property, which is not ideal for the close-knit loft community, or desired by the beneficiaries. So, my question is: Besides open houses and agent events, what are the best ways to find and alert prospective buyers to the opportunity?

A: Thank you, reader, for your question, and I’m so sorry for the circumstance that led to the sale of this property. I hope my tips not only help with strategies for selling the loft but also bring a sense of closure for this chapter of the healing process.

When I’m preparing a house for sale, I think about the four main ways buyers encounter a property: through the internet, their agent, their community, and in-person showings. Each tangent is an opportunity for communication and differentiation—and a chance to connect with the right buyer.

Internet strategy
  • Your property photos should be high-quality—and arranged with intention. When uploading images to online real estate platforms, a bit of purposeful sequencing goes a long way. This is particularly important with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS); the order of the images you upload to that database will aggregate to the platforms where many potential buyers will first encounter your property, like Zillow and Redfin. A common mistake is uploading listing photos in the order the photographer shot them, often starting at the front door. That means a potential buyer will see five angles of the foyer before ever reaching the kitchen. Instead, use an exterior or the most desirable interior shot as your cover image, and ensure that within the first 10 photos you’ve shown the kitchen, primary bedroom, main living spaces, and any amenities. If outdoor space is a highlight, include it twice in those first 10 shots. When you post listing photos to social media, be intentional about order as well—attention spans are short, and you want to get to the parts of the property that people care about the most, the fastest.
  • The description shouldn’t be a fall-off point. You’re off to a good start, having already identified the types of buyers that may be interested in this loft: professionals who value walkability. Buyer avatars like this will help you build out a marketing narrative for the property that aims to stick out to the best-fitting groups. Imagine what these types of buyers may like most about the area, even where they may walk to after visiting the loft to get a feel for the neighborhood. Make sure that context about lifestyle and area amenities is in your listing descriptions. On social, you may want to adjust some text to take advantage of the various platforms’ algorithms. Instagram, for instance, has said that it recommends posts to users based on key words in captions and profile bios. Meanwhile, TikTok’s search engine has the ability to work more like Google’s, picking out words in captions that align with user searches. I think that’s one of the key advantages of using TikTok when it comes to connecting directly with the consumers you’re looking for.

  • Activate other people’s internet. Think beyond your own channels. You want to make sure that your property is being publicized via every potential avenue for the highest visibility—you never know when one extra post can reach an interested buyer, or an agent who has the right client. Many cities have designated weekly times for private broker’s tours that allow agents to preview multiple new properties at the same time for their clientele. The properties shown on those tours might be publicized via Facebook groups, newsletters, or printed brochures. Reach out to local social media creators who’ve made content about your area by searching terms like "things to do in," "places to try in," or "real estate in" (with the name of your city). Invite these creators to tour your property and share it with their followers. Run targeted ad campaigns on social media, and consider sponsored posts in local newsletters or Substacks.

Agent strategy
  • Don’t sleep on the power of IRL. I firmly believe in the importance of a phone call, even in 2025. Conversations often stir momentum in ways emails can’t. Have your agent call, text, or email agents who’ve sold similar properties in the last two to three years. Ask if they met prospective clients during those sales who might still be looking. This gives those agents a reason to reconnect with their databases and bring buyers forward. It also may give you a sense of the types of buyers that are looking in the area. Perhaps several people who’ve looked at downtown properties similar to yours are downsizing from another part of town where the homes are bigger. With this insight, you could talk to agents representing for-sale houses in that area and ask them to alert those sellers to your property. This is a sales job at its core, and sales happen when you’re top of mind.
  • Do high-level lurking. Ask your agent to see if their MLS offers a reverse prospecting feature. This is a search function private to their agent database that shows which agents have saved searches that your listing is showing up on. Go through that list and call the agents that are matched to your property. Whether those searches are tied to active clients or not, it gets agents talking and thinking about who in their network could be a fit. If it’s available in your market, leverage Top Agent Network, a membership platform for the top 10 percent of agents that allows members to post properties before they hit the market and browse a database of buyer needs. Searching the buyer needs list by price point and area may uncover exactly the right match for your loft—possibly even someone who overlooked your property as an option.
Community strategy
  • Activate other residents. Ask neighbors if they know friends, colleagues, or family who’ve admired their places and might be interested in living in the building. Word of mouth is powerful in close-knit communities, and a direct ask can go a long way. You never know when someone has just thrown a dinner party where someone said, "I wish I could live in a place like this"—and with that, you may have found your buyer!
  • Cross-promote with local businesses and utilize local organizations’ resources. Brainstorm the routine of your potential buyer—nearby coffee shops, gyms, design stores, or restaurants they might already frequent if they live in the area. Leave postcards advertising your property near the cash register or on the bulletin board, if the business has one. Your chamber of commerce can be a great place to get an idea of which companies are bringing new people—in your case, potential buyers—to your area by hiring for work. Get a list of those employers and reach out to put your property on their radar. Prep a one-sheet that highlights the lifestyle perks and walk-to-work benefits of your listing and share it with HR and relocation departments. Connect with arts nonprofits, business improvement districts, or civic associations that promote downtown living. Many have newsletters or social media channels, and who knows, you could find the buyer working at one of those organizations!

Showing strategy
  • Break down—and highlight—important financial info. Build a one-sheet that compliments the property brochure to display at open houses and online with estimated monthly mortgage payments. Seeing "own for $X/month" can help make ownership feel more tangible for prospective buyers and lead to actual decision-making. Since your loft may appeal to younger, first-time buyers, partnering with a local lender to show estimated monthly costs could spark interest among those who didn’t think ownership was in reach.
  • Stage for lifestyle, not just rooms. Help buyers imagine themselves living there, not just admiring finishes. In your case, lean into the loft vibe—industrial-modern furniture, art books, candles from a local business, a designated WFH space. Take a look at what similar properties to yours have sold in the area and see if there are any standout design choices that you might be able to incorporate. Share a map with restaurants, shops, event venues, and parks within walking distance. If the property’s HOA has social events, showcase flyers or photos so prospective buyers see they’d be joining a community, not just buying a unit.

  • Host lifestyle-driven events. Beyond traditional weekend open houses, try cohosting an evening food and drink tasting, charity event, art show, or workout class with a local business to get new groups of people to experience your property. Perhaps a local trainer is looking to attract new students with a free class—offer your space to them and promote their business alongside your listing. Getting your neighborhood involved is a great way to generate renewed visibility and excitement.

Ultimately, every property has its perfect buyer, it’s just a matter of creating enough touchpoints for them to discover it. I once sold a property that had a vineyard, a wine tasting room, and a winemaking room, but the original listing didn’t elaborate on those features beyond straightforward photos. By adding more info to the description, I was able to find a buyer that was intrigued by the winemaking room, and that helped get the house sold. In tailoring your listing’s internet presence, activating the agent community, leaning on local connections, and making every showing a preview of the lifestyle the property offers, you multiply the chances of your listing finding the right match. 

Top illustration by Ana Galvañ.

Have a burning real estate question or want a realtor’s advice about the ins and outs of home finding, renting, buying, or selling? Ask our expert columnist!

Questions will be anonymized and may be edited for publication. Content shown in this column includes fact-specific advice, limited by the context given. We recommend consulting a licensed professional for your individual needs.

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