Hump-y dump-y--1012 Camellia Drive, Alameda, CA

Sometimes it feels as though whoever named the streets in 94502 was mildly dyslexic. They're all sort-of spelled the way you would expect, but with a strategic typo for whimsical effect: Mecartney, Parodi, Bismark, and now Camellia. Today's bank-owned Craigslist listing at 1012 Camellia Drive has the following specs:

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,623 sqft, lot, 5,096-sqft lot, $659,900

$659900 Large 3 bedroom in Bay Farm BANK OWNED (alameda) (map)

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Reply to: philip@kaakeproperties.com ^[?]
Date: 2008-10-13, 9:19PM PDT

1012 Camellia Way

This home is in need of a little TLC, however it could represent a good value to the right buyer. Close to Harbor Landing shopping center.

I love the non-committal yet threatening "it could represent a good value to the right buyer." I also like the fact it was purchased for a song many years ago yet still managed to be repossessed:

Sale History
01/18/2008:	$551,807 *
10/12/1994:	$63,000
No other sale data is available
* Transaction not included in Zestimate.

I would like it very much if someone could explain to me how you go from a $350 / month mortgage to a loan balance that's almost $490,000 higher in just 14 years and subsequently lose your house.

Is every homeowner a complete imbecile?

Oh, and to the people at the bank: $659,900? For a property that "could represent a good value to the right buyer"? You'd have more success selling whatever you're smoking than selling repossessed homes. Idiots.