681 Upland Road
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3
Beds
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3
Baths
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2,550 sq ft
Home Size
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25,615 sq ft
Lot Size
Overview
Spanning over one-half acre with commanding San Francisco Bay views, this circa 1918 home blends vintage elegance with modern living and an opportunity to further customize into your dream home. On the market for the first time in over 50 years, the home exudes timeless charm, enhanced by thoughtful updates that respect its heritage character, making it ready to enjoy as is. A private, long driveway lined by a towering hedge leads to a secluded lower-level garage at the rear of the property. The hedge also divides the expansive grounds, where open land on one side presents opportunities for gardening, recreation, or further outdoor enhancements. A stately Canary palm tree marks the elevated front porch, setting the stage for classic interiors that feature true divided light windows and doors, hardwood floors, and traditional crown moldings.
Oriented to capture sweeping Bay views, the home offers dual foyers that connect to expansive formal living and dining rooms. The spacious kitchen, with tiled counters and a casual dining area, opens through sliding glass doors to a large deck designed for outdoor living and entertaining. Additionally, a dedicated office space provides the perfect setting for work or study. There are 3 bedrooms upstairs, two offering sweeping Bay views—one featuring an en suite bathroom, while another provides access to a dual-entry bath. Two of the bedrooms boast breathtaking Bay views, enhancing the home’s connection to its picturesque surroundings.
The outdoor spaces extend the living areas with a fully fenced front yard that includes an above-ground spa, a wraparound deck, and ample room for gardening or play. Beyond the hedge, the tucked-away side yard features a bonus shed/workshop adding to the property’s versatility. Rounding out this property are its excellent schools; Clifford Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Sequoia High School (buyer to verify) making it a rare find that blends history, charm, and location.
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Built in
1918
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Listed
2 weeks ago
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Neighborhood
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Schools
Clifford Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Sequoia High School (buyer to verify)
Amenities
Sweeping San Francisco Bay views with close-in convenience
Circa 1918 heritage with numerous updates over the years while still maintaining its vintage character
First time on the market in over 50 years
More than one-half acre (0.588 acres; approximately 25,615 square feet)
3 bedrooms and 3 baths and dedicated office space
Approximately 2,550 square feet of living space (per tax records)
Enchanting vintage appeal set back from the street with a long wraparound driveway leading to the lower-level garage at the rear of the home
A towering hedge provides added privacy along the driveway and separation from the extended lot to one side with bonus storage shed and expansive open land
A signature Canary palm tree graces the entrance where wide stone steps lead up to an arbor-covered front porch with true divided light doors to the foyer and to the living room
The foyer has polished tile floor beneath a ceiling medallion with lighted fan; crown moldings adorn the ceiling and continue into the main rooms; a secondary foyer, with hardwood floors and chandelier, is at the center of the home along with the staircase to the upper level
Impressive formal living room with entire wall of Bay view windows and double French doors to the front porch, picture window on one side, 6 sconces, plus gas-log fireplace; glass-front cabinetry flanks the entrance to the room
Dual-entry formal dining room with Bay view windows and ceiling medallion with chandelier
Spacious kitchen and casual dining area, with tile floor, has sliding glass doors to a large Bay view deck and a chandelier defining the dining area; the kitchen has tiled counters and full-height backsplashes, including a peninsula counter; corner windows look out to the Bay views
Appliances include a gas cooktop with warming shelves, 2 ovens, compactor, dishwasher, and refrigerator
Main-level office with lighted ceiling fan, two closets, and sliding glass door to a deck
Serving the main level is a dual-entry bath with pedestal sink and tub with overhead shower surrounded in tile
Upstairs bedroom suite has a ceiling medallion with light, closet with bifold doors, and en suite tiled bath with shower
Upstairs bedroom with Bay views, full wall of deep closets, and direct access to a dual-entry tiled bath with tub and glass-enclosed shower
Additional bedroom with wraparound wall of windows looking out to the Bay views
Other features: laundry area with washer/dryer, outside entrance, and access to the main-level bedroom and bath; lower-level 2-car garage with significant storage space and wine cellar potential
Fully fenced and enclosed front yard with covered porch accessing the laundry room and bedroom, above-ground spa, raised planter beds, and drought-tolerant gardens
The front yard connects to a wide side yard with steps up the rear Bay view deck; generous side yard, beyond the hedge, features open land and a bonus workshop/shed
Excellent Redwood City schools: Clifford Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle School, and Sequoia High School
Redwood City
Cordilleras Heights/Emerald Hills
Emerald Hills is part of an area the MLS calls “Cordilleras Heights,” after a road snaking east-west through the neighborhood. Cordilleras Road is but one of several similar streets, however – narrow residential lanes without sidewalks, meandering up and down hill through an area that was once part of Don Jose Dario Arguello’s Rancho de las Pulgas and is now home to some of the Redwood City region’s most expensive real estate.
It’s difficult to find any of the old rustic 1920s cabins in the hills anymore. Cordilleras Heights/Emerald Hills real estate now tends more to the grandiose. With single-family properties starting at around $2 million and ranging all the way up to the mid-$3 millions, Cordilleras Heights homes emphasize size (many have over 4,000 square feet of space) and luxury. Most homes are no more than 20 years old – the area lacked a sewer system until 1982 and operated under a building moratorium between the 1970s and 1986 – and are filled to the brim with modern amenities. Huge master suites, home theaters, terraced yards with swimming pools, dramatic living rooms and chef-quality kitchens are easy to find, along with sometimes spectacular views reaching all the way to San Francisco Bay.
Though the area is hilly, many homes have very large lots – often with more than an acre of land. Compared to similar properties in Woodside and Hillsborough, Cordilleras Heights homes offer great value for their asking prices, though there’s no confusing those asking prices with anything other than the high end of the market.
Don’t mistake Cordilleras Heights/Emerald Lake Hills for a wealthy enclave, however. Residents are very aware of their district’s funky past. What few rustic cabins remain are greatly appreciated as windows into the area’s roots and the few businesses in Cordilleras (the district has a Walkscore somewhere in the 20s; not a big draw for those seeking a pedestrian-friendly urban lifestyle) include the Canyon Inn, a casual restaurant/bar with a definite “down home” vibe.
The homes surrounding both Emerald Lakes still sell at a premium, as they are not only waterfront but also very rarely change hands. The streets closer to Alameda de las Pulgas are more accessible to Redwood City amenities, and include among them some modest homes that more closely resemble “standard” Redwood City housing than the sprawling, multi-level properties further into the hills. There are blocks throughout Cordilleras Heights that appear classically suburban; there are also ones that seem to have transported completely intact from the north side of Lake Tahoe or somewhere in western Marin County. Cordilleras Heights is not a standard San Mateo County post-war housing tract. Its only constant is change.
Most homes in Cordilleras Heights are within the boundaries for the highly-regarded Roy Cloud K-8 public school which, along with spacious, luxurious homes with views, is another draw for high-end buyers. The district is not close to downtown or freeways, so residents must factor some extra minutes into their daily commutes and their trips to the grocery store. Homebuyers looking to buy in Cordilleras Heights don’t emphasize convenience, though; they’re looking for a little bit of seclusion and a whole lot of living space, with a touch of a colorful past thrown in for balance. They find it in the hills behind Redwood City, where a 1920s dream to build a resort eventually turned into the top of the Redwood City real estate market.
To view a detailed google map of the Cordilleras Heights/Emerald Hills neighborhood, click here. The MLS area is 336.
Redwood City’s location in the heart of the peninsula is an excellent location for working in Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Within close proximity to Atherton, Woodside and Stanford, the downtown is currently undergoing a major renaissance with a new movie theatre and shopping complex recently completed, as well as a new Whole Foods. The town is the county seat with courthouses and an array of county services, and has the only deepwater port on San Francisco Bay south of The City itself. The neighborhood of Redwood Shores is part of Redwood City, although it is not possible to travel by road from one to the other without passing through the neighboring city of San Carlos.
The outdoor enthusiast has plenty to be excited about with what a day of adventure can yield; Edgewood Park’s serpentine grasslands offers relaxing vistas with miles of hiking and equestrian trails, and Redwood Shores has delightful waterways and paved walking trails. The Mount Carmel and Emerald Lake Hills (in unincorporated SM County) neighborhoods reflect the area’s rich cultural heritage with well designed, distinct homes and large wooded, private lots.
Canada Community College, just off 280, is within striking distance of many peninsula homes.
Did you know? The DreamWorks animation division is located in Redwood Shores and produced Shrek, Shrek 2, Shark Tale, and Madagascar. Also headquartered in Redwood Shores is Electronic Arts, the largest video game publisher in the world, and Oracle Corporation.
- Diverse housing
- Very diverse housing opportunities — ranges from urban to suburban to rural
- Shopping options
- Dynamic downtown with myriad dining and shopping options
- Rich heritage
- Classic established neighborhoods with charming period homes
Contact Raziel to find the right property for you.
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