A Tale of Two Palo Alto Homes: A 2019 Modern Masterpiece and a 1912 Craftsman Full of Potential
Palo Alto, CA 94306 & 94301 One home is finished to the last detail. The other is waiting for its next chapter. Which Palo Alto story is yours?
By Eric & Janelle Boyenga | Boyenga Team, Compass | Property Nerds®
Palo Alto has always been a city of contrasts: century-old shingled Craftsmans under heritage oaks, and crisp modern homes built for the way Silicon Valley lives today. This fall, two new Boyenga Team listings show both sides of the city better than any market report could.
In Midtown, 3080 South Court is a 2019 custom modern home with two primary suites, a glass-enclosed wine cellar and the kind of detailing you usually only see in design magazines. About two miles north, 770 Everett Avenue is a 1912 Craftsman in a quiet setting near downtown. It's full of original character and waiting for someone with vision.
Different eras, different price points, different buyers. Here's how they compare, and how to decide which story fits you.
At a Glance
3080 South Court: The Modern Masterpiece
Neighborhood: Midtown Palo Alto
Year built: 2019
Style: Custom modern / contemporary
Bedrooms / baths: 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths
Living area: approx. 3,461 sq ft*
Lot: approx. 6,456 sq ft*
Parking: Finished 2-car garage with dual 240V EV outlets
List price: $6,498,000
Schools: El Carmelo Elementary, JLS Middle, Gunn High**
770 Everett Avenue: The Craftsman with Potential
Neighborhood: Crescent Park area, near downtown Palo Alto
Year built: 1912
Style: Classic Craftsman
Bedrooms / baths: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
Living area: approx. 2,088 sq ft*
Lot: approx. 3,201 sq ft*
Parking: Street parking
List price: $1,998,000
Schools: Addison Elementary, Greene Middle, Palo Alto High**
*Per MLS; buyer to verify. **Buyer to verify school assignments with PAUSD.
Home #1: 3080 South Court, the Modern Masterpiece
5 bedrooms · 4.5 baths · approx. 3,461 sq ft · built 2019 · Midtown Palo Alto · offered at $6,498,000
Built from the ground up in 2019, 3080 South Court makes an impression from the street. A warm ipe wood façade, a full-view glass garage door and an interlocking paver driveway set the tone. Inside, wide-plank oak floors, ceilings over 13 feet in select spaces, light wells and wide sliding doors fill the home with daylight.
The main level is built around a great room anchored by a linear gas fireplace. The kitchen features Dacor wall and speed ovens, a five-burner Dacor cooktop, a Bosch dishwasher, quartz counters and a skylight. Three bedrooms and 2.5 baths are on this level, including a primary suite with dual walk-in closets.
The lower level is where the home becomes truly flexible. A walk-out level with its own entrance, it includes a second primary suite, another bedroom, two full baths, a family room, a full second kitchen and full-size laundry. There's also a glass-enclosed wine cellar that holds roughly 500 bottles. The two levels can be closed off from each other, which makes the home ideal for multigenerational living, long-term guests, or a live-work setup. (Any separate rental or occupancy use should be confirmed independently with the City of Palo Alto.)
The details are what Property Nerds® love:
Heated floors in all four full baths, finished in Spanish and Italian tile and Calacatta
Separate heating and air conditioning for each level, and dual tankless water heaters
Motorized shades, built-in audio and smart locks
A metal roof built for the long haul
A central courtyard with a bluestone patio and fire pit, surrounded by drought-tolerant landscaping
A finished two-car garage with built-in cabinets and his-and-hers 240V EV outlets
Location: Midtown puts you close to everyday conveniences, with El Carmelo Elementary just steps away. JLS Middle is under a mile away, and Gunn High, Caltrain, Stanford, 101 and 280 are all within easy reach.
Want the full design story? Read our deep dive: 3080 South Court: Modern Architecture and Exceptional Flexibility in Midtown Palo Alto.
Home #2: 770 Everett Avenue, the Craftsman with Potential
3 bedrooms · 2.5 baths · approx. 2,088 sq ft · built 1912 · near downtown Palo Alto · offered at $1,998,000
Some homes are finished. Others are invitations. 770 Everett Avenue is a classic 1912 Craftsman in a private setting across from the creek and framed by mature trees. It's minutes from University Avenue, downtown Palo Alto and Stanford.
The character is already here: a shingle exterior with crisp white trim and a gabled dormer, wood floors, paneled doors, traditional millwork and generous windows. Upstairs, sloped ceilings and a vintage freestanding tub with a pedestal sink bring a timeless charm that new construction can't copy. The two-level layout works well for a home office or guest space. The natural-wood kitchen is an inviting starting point for your own vision.
Outside, there's a fenced yard with a paved patio. An unfinished three-quarter basement with its own stairs to the yard adds storage and possibilities.
Why buyers should look closely:
Rare entry point: a single-family home near downtown Palo Alto at under $2 million.
Authentic Craftsman character: a 114-year-old home with original details that many buyers search for and seldom find.
Room to personalize: update the kitchen and baths, refresh the systems (the home currently has a wall furnace and no air conditioning), and put your own stamp on a classic.
Location: near the creek, downtown and Stanford, served by Addison Elementary, Greene Middle and Palo Alto High School (buyer to verify).
A note from the Property Nerds®: older Palo Alto homes can come with extra layers of review. Before planning a major remodel, addition or basement conversion, confirm zoning, setbacks and any historic-review requirements with the City of Palo Alto, and bring in an experienced contractor early. We're happy to connect you with trusted local pros and walk through the questions to ask before you write an offer.
Finished or Potential: Which Palo Alto Story Is Yours?
These two homes are a useful lens on a question every Palo Alto buyer eventually faces.
Choose finished if your time is your most valuable asset. A home like 3080 South Court lets you move in and enjoy it on day one, with modern systems, energy-efficient design and flexible space already built. There's no permitting, no construction timeline and no surprises behind the walls.
Choose potential if you'd rather invest in a location and shape the home yourself. A Craftsman like 770 Everett offers a lower price of entry into one of the Peninsula's most in-demand areas, with character you can't reproduce and upside from well-planned updates.
Either way, the fundamentals are the same: Palo Alto's schools, its access to Stanford and Silicon Valley's biggest employers, and a housing supply that rarely keeps up with demand.
Why Work with the Property Nerds®?
Whether it's a modern masterpiece or a century-old Craftsman, the Boyenga Team brings the same data-driven approach to every home. Eric & Janelle Boyenga have helped Silicon Valley buyers and sellers for decades. They're known as the Property Nerds® because they dig deeper into design, history, school boundaries, pricing data and renovation potential.
For sellers, that means launch strategies like Compass's 3-Phased Marketing, which can build demand before a home ever hits the MLS. For buyers, it means clear, honest analysis of what a home is, what it could become, and what it's really worth.
Schedule a Private Tour
Want the disclosures, pricing insights or a private showing of 3080 South Court or 770 Everett Avenue? Curious what your own Palo Alto home could sell for?
Call or text Eric & Janelle Boyenga at (408) 373-1660 or email homes@boyenga.com.
Boyenga Team | Compass | DRE 01254725 / 01254724