Improvements to long-dormant Juniper Street home considered transformative

By Dave Fidlin | SDUN Reporter

For nearly two decades it was a home that sat empty and neglected. Exterior paint was chipping, once vibrant colors were fading and siding was deteriorating.

But a grand vision and an extensive amount of care has transformed the North Park home at 3428 Juniper St. Representatives from a local real estate group said the overhaul is a game changer for the entire neighborhood.

Two years ago, an investor purchased the home and sunk an undisclosed amount of money into the two-story property. To say the home, built in 1952, received an extreme makeover is an understatement.

“It was a complete remodel. It was stripped down, all the way down to the studs,” said Mary McTernan, who heads the Mary McTernan Real Estate Group, a North Park-based company that is affiliated with Home Vision Realty. McTernan’s company began marketing the property last month.

Although structurally sound, the home needed an extensive amount of cosmetic updates. Outdated fixtures and designs on the interior were replaced with modern accents. A whole new color scheme was introduced, and new building materials – including wood siding – were incorporated into the design.

“An architect was brought in, and a lot of reconfiguration had taken place,” McTernan said.

McTernan and her business partner, Z. McT-Contreras, said the home has a $1.29 million asking price: a figure once unheard of in North Park. McTernan and McT-Contreras said most homes in the neighborhood sell in the $500,000 to $700,000 price range.

“For North Park, this is almost like a mansion,” McT-Contreras said.

The home itself encompasses 3,360 square feet and features four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

McTernan and McT-Contreras unabashedly said the home was an eyesore before the improvements were made. They believe the spruce up will have a ripple effect throughout the surrounding community.

“This really is a huge transformation for this area,” McT-Contreras said. “The neighbors have been really excited about what has been taking place.”

The initial goal was to market the property several years ago. But the home’s unique vantage point at the bottom of a canyon required a more extensive review process from city officials.

“It required a little more effort and a little more patience,” McT-Contreras said. “But everything has worked out. [The investor] took the time needed so that everything was perfect.”

The delay turned out to be optimal, McT-Contreras and McTernan said. As the housing market has rebounded, they said this is an ideal time to market the property and all of its attributes.

“We’ve had three interested buyers,” McTernan said. “They have definitely spoken.”

McT-Contreras and McTernan said the practice of investors purchasing properties and sprucing them up has been a growing phenomenon. While it has, at times, crowded out home buyers, they said it has positives.

“Investors have turned out some really nice houses and have certainly improved neighborhoods,” McT-Contreras said.

McTernan added, “They’ve been able to clean up neighborhoods and escalate property values.”

Mary McTernan Real Estate Group, known for its pink real estate signs, markets homes in a number of Uptown neighborhoods, including Normal Heights, South Park and University Heights.

McTernan and McT-Contreras, who are both from New York City, have been working together for more than 20 years. They began working in San Diego real estate nine years ago, with offices at 3855 Granada Ave. For more information visit marymctsoldme.com or call 619-818-8122.