Menlo Park/Atherton/Portola Valley District Tour Report
Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2025
It was a quiet tour today, so much so I was wondering if I had the wrong day! There are some great properties for young families and some that are perfect for those that are looking for a single story. As there aren’t a lot of new properties coming to market this weekend in Menlo Park and Atherton, I decided to venture to Portola Valley, an area that I quite like.
I also need to find a synonym for the word “charm!” I find myself using it way too much! Any recos, don’t hesitate to reach out!
MENLO PARK 302 – County / Alameda Area
Listing Agent / Broker: Dana Carmel, Represent Realty
Address: 2061 Valparaiso Ave
Bedrooms: 3 – Bathrooms: 3 Full
Sqft: 1485
Lot Sqft: 6500
Price: $2,798,000
Listing Agent remarks: Storybook cottage charm meets modern updates!
My takeaways: Perfect house for a young family. High ceilings make the space feel bigger and airy, great character. It also offers a small detached structure that is staged as an office right now – I envision it as a kids playroom that can spill out into the yard. While it is on a busy road, once in the house you don’t hear the traffic.
MENLO PARK 304 – Allied Arts / Downtown
Listing Agent / Broker: Judy Citron, Compass
Address: 114 University Dr
Bedrooms: 4 – Bathrooms: 2 Full, 1 Half
Sqft: 1890
Lot Sqft: 10750
Price: $3,950,000
Listing Agent remarks: Outstanding opportunity, rare large lot, 3 beds up one down, A+ location
My takeaways: If you are looking for a French country house in CA this is it! Charming beyond words, and just gives an air of calm. Wainscotting, exposed brick, a claw foot tub, farm-style front door, and wrap around garden space. This one will live in my memory for a while!
Listing Agent / Broker: Deleon Team, Deleon Realty
Address: 128 Cornell Rd
Bedrooms: 3 – Bathrooms: 2 Full, 1 Half
Sqft: 1770
Lot Sqft: 8400
Price: $3,588,000
Original Price: $3,988,000
Listing Agent remarks: Price reduction!! Timeless character in Allied Arts
My takeaways: Right around the corner from 114 University drive. This property feels a bit more buttoned up than University Dr. Wonderful entry way, double front doors, and vaulted main room. I would have wanted a bit more garden space, but perfect for those that don’t want to over-spend on landscaping.
MENLO PARK 311 – Flood Park Area
Listing Agent / Broker: Pamela Culp, Compass
Address: 4 Athlone Way
Bedrooms: 3 – Bathrooms: 4 Full
Sqft: 2720
Lot Sqft: 6738
Price: $1,998,000
Original Price: $2,298,000
Listing Agent remarks: Remodeled and expanded single level home in charming Suburban Park.
My takeaways: This is actually an investment property. It is 3 1-bedroom units that currently have tenants and long staying tenants. These properties would not be hard to fill as rentals in this area, they’d always be in demand. They do need some work, and the current rents are likely under market value, so there is an opportunity for improvements that could bring further equity to the property
ATHERTON 291 – El Camino to Alameda
Listing Agent / Broker: Joe Piazza, Coldwell Banker Realty
Address: 88 Tuscaloosa Ave
Bedrooms: 9 – Bathrooms: 12 Full, 3 Half
Sqft: 12918
Lot Sqft: 61942
Price: $49,888,000
Listing Agent remarks: One-of-a-kind brand new construction
My takeaways: I hear this house is pretty incredible. While on the tour sheet when I arrived the gates were closed and I wasn’t going to go stomping around! Thinking maybe they just put it on the tour sheet to remind agents it is there for the taking?
ATHERTON 292 – Middlefield to El Camino
Listing Agent / Broker: Darcy Gamble, Coldwell Banker Realty
Address: 160 Stone Pine Ln
Bedrooms: 3 – Bathrooms: 2 Full, 1 Half
Sqft: 1969
Lot Sqft: 1899
Price: $2,198,000
HOA: $550
Listing Agent remarks: Enjoy recent finishes including windows, doors, floors and walls. Beautiful!
My takeaways: This was the surprise of the day. A single family home – you own the house, the land, the trees all of it – but in a townhouse like setting, with all the houses being designed in different styles so it doesn’t feel like one of many. Huge 2 story sitting room that looks out onto an amazing back yard. There are quite a few steps in this property so that could be a deterrent for some. The current owners left a note about how much they’ve enjoyed raising their kids in the house and really don’t want to leave but the stairs have become an issue. The HOA is for the community space and pool that is in the center of the complex.
Listing Agent / Broker: Vivian Lee, Homeland Realty
Address: 90 Crescent Dr
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 5 Full, 2 Half
Sqft: 5213
Lot Sqft: 9100
Price: $9,980,000
Original Price: $10,980,000
Listing Agent remarks: Significant price adjustment come take another look at this lovely home.
My takeaways: This is a brand new build. Located on the lovely Crescent Dr. They did a great job with positioning the house on the lot so one doesn’t particularly notice University Ave which is a main thoroughfare here in Palo Alto. They put in 2 kitchens upstairs to accommodate different cultures, a nice touch. I think this house would be tough for a young family as the bedrooms are split between the upstairs and downstairs, there are also stairs in the middle of the property so not particularly child friendly. The house has an odd flow to it, it feels choppy. The downstairs feels cavernous, just a lot of space that I am not sure would fully be utilized. It almost feels like 2 houses, the upstairs and the downstairs, but for those who have long staying guests it could be perfect.
PORTOLA VALLEY 264 – Ladera
Listing Agent / Broker: Rebecca & Karen, Intero Real Estate Services
Address: 760 La Mesa Dr
Bedrooms: 5 – Bathrooms: 3 Full
Sqft: 2800
Lot Sqft: 14472
Price: $3,795,000
Listing Agent remarks: Spacious Ladera home with separate 1 br apt.
My takeaways: Ladera offers you the opportunity to be tucked away in the trees, but literally 10mins from civilization! I went to look at this property for a client. The space does feel tight, and while one can live on the main floor (it has 1 bedroom) the majority of the living space is downstairs. It is perfect for an older family where the kids can take over the downstairs space. The separate 1 bedroom apartment is attached and flows seamlessly on the lower level – it also has a separate entrance from the outside.