Mansionmania continues with our Sweet 16 3rd-round contestants. You will choose among each pair of houses with the following assumptions:
The purchase price for you is $0.
All maintenance, utilities, property taxes, HOA fees, and cleaning is included.
You must live in the home for the rest of your life.
You can't travel more than 100 miles from home (via google maps drive time) other than 1 two-week vacation each year.
You get $250,000 per year as a living allowance
You get an additional living allowance at the cheaper home, which will be valued at 1% of any cost difference annually. I will note this amount in the poll.
You get the furnishings. If unfurnished, you get an allowance that will give you mid-grade furniture in every room.
You get any vehicles in the garage. But only the garage - nothing parked outside.
I encourage you to click on the maps in the listings to see the general location and neighborhood.
Also, I will only enter contestants if they have a sufficient number of photos to judge, as determined by me.
Originally Posted by Zebedee DuBois:
This is my favorite of the California properties, and I am voting for it.
The 100 mile limit makes the Hawaii place a one-note entertainment place - even though it is a fabulous note.
I think it would be easier to get my friends and relatives to visit me in SF than in HI, and I would put them up.
I agree 100%. Other than cars, hookers, and blow, what would you spend that extra cash on? San Francisco is a beautiful city with so many things to do and see. I will agree that the pool is kind of a waste because it's a rare day when the temps get much above 75. [Reply]
Originally Posted by oldman:
I agree 100%. Other than cars, hookers, and blow, what would you spend that extra cash on? San Francisco is a beautiful city with so many things to do and see. I will agree that the pool is kind of a waste because it's a rare day when the temps get much above 75.
Many pools are just entertainment backdrops. [Reply]
Originally Posted by oldman:
I agree 100%. Other than cars, hookers, and blow, what would you spend that extra cash on? San Francisco is a beautiful city with so many things to do and see. I will agree that the pool is kind of a waste because it's a rare day when the temps get much above 75.
It is like people have never heard of heated pools. [Reply]
Thought it was going to be a tough decision, but forgot we had a northern CA house, and don't really care for the house or location.... at least not compared to Hawaii. [Reply]
I guess I'm not sure what benefit there is to living outside SF compared to Kona. Kona has great restaurants, some of the best beaches in the world, jungle and mountain hiking nearby, fishing and whale watching tours. What would I be missing by not being in SF? Pro sports in person is the only thing I can think of that I'd be interested in, and even that is better on TV anymore. [Reply]
Originally Posted by MagicHef:
I guess I'm not sure what benefit there is to living outside SF compared to Kona. Kona has great restaurants, some of the best beaches in the world, jungle and mountain hiking nearby, fishing and whale watching tours. What would I be missing by not being in SF? Pro sports in person is the only thing I can think of that I'd be interested in, and even that is better on TV anymore.
SF just has so much more of all of that. Except for the best beaches. I've heard those Hawaii beaches start to close in on you after a while. [Reply]
I'm taking Hawaii but I do want to note that the pool does not seem to belong to the property if you look at pictures #4 and #5 and pay attention to the property line. Still, I could use a little of my surplus cash from the first year and put a custom one in. [Reply]
Originally Posted by MagicHef:
I guess I'm not sure what benefit there is to living outside SF compared to Kona. Kona has great restaurants, some of the best beaches in the world, jungle and mountain hiking nearby, fishing and whale watching tours. What would I be missing by not being in SF? Pro sports in person is the only thing I can think of that I'd be interested in, and even that is better on TV anymore.
Let's see -- One of the top 15 symphonies in the world along with a vibrant current music scene, world-class restaurants, museums, and art. There's a couple of pretty good universities around for your kids if they're smart enough. You can fish and hike close by if you want to go to that route. Outstanding vineyards within the 100 mile limit. Oh yeah, sourdough breasd that can't be matched. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Infidel Goat:
I'm taking Hawaii but I do want to note that the pool does not seem to belong to the property if you look at pictures #4 and #5 and pay attention to the property line. Still, I could use a little of my surplus cash from the first year and put a custom one in.
The house for sale includes multiple properties as defined on that map. The pool definitely belongs to this property. [Reply]
Originally Posted by oldman:
Let's see -- One of the top 15 symphonies in the world along with a vibrant current music scene, world-class restaurants, museums, and art. There's a couple of pretty good universities around for your kids if they're smart enough. You can fish and hike close by if you want to go to that route. Outstanding vineyards within the 100 mile limit. Oh yeah, sourdough breasd that can't be matched.
Some of those are interesting. The biggest draw, universities, would be difficult to base a decision on because my children could easily choose any other university. Fishing and hiking would be odd reasons to choose SF over Hawaii. None of them outweigh easy access to beautiful beaches like those on the Big Island. [Reply]
A lot to love about both spots. Hawaii would be my choice though, prefer the house and the weather. I trust all the unknowns about living way out there in the middle of the Pacific would sort out favorably, have a hunch. [Reply]
While the views in the CALI house of San Fran, GG bridge and the location is great (about 20-25 minutes to Napa/Sonoma), the house reminds me of a giant conference center/hotel.
To wake up, climb stairs to the ocean and snorkel or swim from your house and see whales, turtles, dolphins is paradise! [Reply]
This is a super tough one for me. I've been voting this Cali home in all the heats, but Hawaii, to be able to just plop into the ocean any old time is amazing. Probably the biggest drawback of living up here near this California home is can't go in to the ocean like I could in L.A.
Hawaii. and would probably have visitors 9 months year. [Reply]
