Rare, large lot in Kaimuki

Unless you’re living in a luxury home, it’s rare to find a really huge lot in the older Kaimuki area. This listing is so spacious, though, it feels like a rural home. (Click here for more details.)

There are two houses on the 10,315-square-foot lot: one was built in 1939, and the other in 1960, so the property is well-established and the trees are mature. You get both shade and fruit from the mango, lychee and avocado trees, which is a plus.

“The homes are in original condition, but very well preserved, so there’s potential for restoration,” says realtor Yvonne Ahearn of Home Shoppe Hawaii. She notes that although she doesn’t know which architect designed the front house, it was obviously built by someone in the field. It wasn’t designed like most cookie-cutter homes of that era, since there are walk-in closets in every bedroom and desks with shelves built into the walls.

“There’s even an entire storage area under the house. Whoever built it put a lot of thought into how they live,” Ahearn adds.

The front house has three bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms with high ceilings, wood floors and a sunny retro kitchen with wood and metal cabinets. (My favorite part was the original dish-drain cast iron sink like the one at my grandmother’s house.)

The front house also has a large one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in the basement, which currently rents for $1200 per month.

The back house is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage with a carport, from which currently rents for $1800 per month.

This listing is one to see, especially if you’re fond of retro chic; however, it’s not open on Sundays. You can see it at the next broker’s open next Wednesday, October 24, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Money talk: $1,179,000 fee simple (just reduced)
Contact: Yvonne Ahearn, Home Shoppe Hawaii, 721-8088, yvonne@HomeShoppeHawaii.com