Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 9, 2011

16

HOMES AND PROPERTY

 Mountain Views-News Saturday, April 9, 2011 

One Of A Kind: Featuring unique homes and gardens and the people whoe create them Story By Chris Bertrand 


Just Listed: Expansive Hastings Ranch Traditional Home


Perfect to Welcome a Crowd or as a 
Haven From Life’s Hectic Pace

There are some homes that just 
lend themselves to the soccer team’s 
championship party, the end of the 
school year pool party or the “best is 
yet to come” 40th birthday party for a 
crowd. This stunning traditional home is one of those. 

While the kids are splashing in the pool in the private resort-
like yard, there’s plenty of room for some parents to hang 
out in the spa. Envision another group around the firepit to 
ward off the evening chill, with room for more, comfortably 
relaxing on the long shaded patio or around the barbecue. 

When the party’s over, the family has plenty of space inside 
to chill together or separately, as the need arises. It’s as perfect 
to welcome a crowd as it is for a haven of quiet respite from 
life’s hectic pace.

When you drive by on the street, it’s one of those homes that 
catches the eye with its great curb appeal. Situated high above 
the street with a lush lawn rising from the curb for added 
privacy and curb appeal, a charming walkway winds to the 
welcoming front porch with the proverbial “front porch 
swing”. 

The owner remembers that she was sold the minute she 
walked the first floor floorplan of the home. Then she learned 
there was a huge, separate master suite upstairs, and the deal 
was done.

If you’ve got an active busy household with conflicting 
schedules of people coming and going at all hours, this home 
can easily accommodate. A sumptuous family room with 
built-ins beckons to watch a great movie. A beautiful living 
and dining room for gracious, more formal entertaining, for 
piano practice, homework, or just a quiet read next to the 
lush verdant views out the front or back windows.

Three separated bedroom areas provide privacy for all. A 
magnificent 2nd floor, dedicated entirely to the master suite, 
includes a large bedroom, retreat area, private office, two 
walk-in closets, a soaking tub and plate glass shower. 

Off the living room on the main floor, a door leads to another 
private bedroom wing with 2 bedrooms and bath. Yet another 
private wing adjacent to the foyer includes a bedroom and 
bath. All the baths have been updated, offering are stone, 
tile, plate glass showers and more. In fact, the home was 
extensively updated in 1993, and again in 2009.

The gorgeous, eat-in kitchen is the focal point and hub of the 
home. With stainless appliances and slab granite, it connects 
both the casual and formal for easy meal staging, and traffic 
control of children and activities. 

Behind the family 
room, a large, 
wonderful hobby and 
laundry room, which 
includes a service sink 
and an adjacent full 
bath, is the perfect 
place for school art 
projects, sewing, or 
a computer station. 
When dinner time 
comes, no need to 
close up the hobby 
or project for the 
meal. Just close the 
door on the mess of 
uncompleted projects 
to leave them out of 
sight and mind til 
you’re ready to take 
them up again.

The setting is lush, 
private and serene, 
with a lush expansive 
lawn and mature trees 
providing filtered 
shade out front. Out 
back is a resort-like paradise, 
with pool, spa, firepit and patios. 
The long driveway provides off 
street parking for guests, and 
leads to the three car garage. 

The Hastings Ranch location 
is absolutely prime, with easy 
I-210 freeway, bus and Gold 
Line train access, and within 
walking distance to Hastings 
Ranch shopping restaurants 
and services, bus service. It’s 
also walking distance to both La 
Salle and Alverno High schools. 
Imagine no car pooling? 

3765 Greenhill Road, Pasadena, 
offers 3757 square feet, four 
bedrooms, two full and two 
••• baths and four fireplaces is 
listed at $1,575,000. For more 
information, contact Reni Rose, 
of Prudential Real Estate in 
Sierra Madre, at 626-355-8400, 
or visit the home’s website, www.3765Greenhill.com or www.
ReniRose.com 

Know of an interesting home, garden of person who helps 
create them? Send the contact information to C.Bertrand@
MtnViewsNews.com. 

Photos by Chris Bertrand and Reni Rose


SIERRA MADRE’S BEAUTIFUL HOMES ...

If you would like to see an on-line video showing 78 beautiful homes in 
Sierra Madre go to youtube.com and search Sierra Madre California 
Homes Or Sierra Madre’s Beautiful Homes.


When you buy a home, or just make an 
offer, you will encounter the term “escrow 
account.” Like making a friendly bet and 
asking a third party to hold the wager money, 
the “escrow agent” is the neutral party that 
holdsfunds in the interest of the mortgage 
lender and the borrower.

When the terms of the purchase and loan 
agreements have been met, the money is 
released. When your application is approved 
and the loan takes effect, the lender will 
likely require money for property taxes 
and homeowner’s insurance also to be held 
in escrow. These funds are added to our 
monthly mortgage payment and disbursed 
when the tax and insurance bills are due.

This protects the lender by ensuring a lien 
isn’t placed against your property for non-
payment of taxes, and your home (their 
collateral) is protected against catastrophe. 
But escrow also benefits borrowers by 

spreading the large annual payments for 
taxes and insurance over twelve months.

For example, if your taxes are $1,600 per year 
and your insurance is $800, you’re budgeting 
a reasonable $200 per month instead of 
making two big payments. Escrow accounts 
do not earn interest, so if you make a large 
enough downpayment, you may be able to 
avoid the monthly escrow and ay the bills 
directly. Ask your agent and your lender 
about the pros and cons.

Luther Tsinoglou has just been named the 
top producing sales agent in Dickson Podley 
Realtor’s Sierra Madre office for 2009, 
making the top 10% at the company overall. 
Luther has been licensed and practicing 
real estate since 1992. He specializes in 
residential and income property in Southern 
California. Luther can be reached at his 
direct line (626) 695-8650 or at luther@
tsinoglou.com. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com