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Searching for the perfect home is often a stressful and daunting task, but taking a step back and evaluating similarly priced homes in different neighborhoods can help whittle down your choices.

In the Rex Manor neighborhood of Old Mountain View known for its 1950s charm, a three-bedroom home with a master suite sells for nearly $525,000. In the Menlo Park area, one can find a similarly sized home for nearly $70,000 less. In Palo Alto, a home with a comparable interior size costs at minimum $870,000.

Stretch the budget to $800,000 and the choices expand to include granite counter tops, mature gardens and homes on larger lots.

The following are options that were available on the market in early March:

$500,000:
MENLO PARK
Address: 581 7th Ave.
List price: $450,000
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Interior: 1,140 sq. ft.
Lot size: 4,950 sq. ft.
Date built: 1945
This one-story home is located in North Fair Oaks, popularly called "Little Mexico," because of its substantial Latino population. The home is equipped with a remodeled kitchen and laminate floors, and a gorgeous, expansive front yard. With easy access to Highway 101 and Middlefield Road, it is also a short drive away from the Woodside Central Shopping Center. Families with small children will find this residence ideal as it is only blocks away from Fair Oaks Elementary School and picturesque Hoover Park.

MOUNTAIN VIEW
Address: 915 Farley St.
List price: $525,000
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1.5
Interior: 1,146 sq. ft.
Lot size: 5,760 sq. ft.
Date built: 1951
The location of this detached single-family home in Mountain View satisfies avid shoppers and nature-lovers alike. The home is very close to Bailey Park Plaza Shopping Center and less than two miles away from the San Antonio Shopping Center. The residence is also surrounded by Stevenson, Monta Loma and Rengstorff parks and the Whisman Sports Center, which are short drives away. The home's traditional exterior of white wood contrasts with its luxurious interior -- kitchen with granite counter tops and deluxe skylights that illuminate the spacious living area.

$800,000:
MENLO PARK
Address: 2045 Menalto Ave.
List price: $849,000
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1
Interior: 1,090 sq. ft.
Lot size: 7,350 sq. ft.
Date built: 1949
This vintage Willows home with its lovingly designed landscape radiates a rustic charm worth considering. Its front yard of pink roses, mature fruit trees and stone paths and patios creates a simple and serene atmosphere. The home features a wood-burning fireplace, double-paned windows with wooden blinds, and honey-toned hardwood floors. Although secluded, the property is easily accessible to Highway 101.

MOUNTAIN VIEW
Address: 730 Cuesta Drive
List price: $829,000
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Interior: 1,178 sq. ft.
Lot size: 8,892 sq. ft.
Date built: 955
Across the street from the green fields of Cuesta Park, this property also enjoys a view of the hills in Rancho San Antonio. The home has recently been updated with a new roof and refinished hardwood floors. Granite counter tops and an elegant fireplace in the living room give the home a lush, yet inviting aura. Other highlights include its proximity to public and private schools (Mountain View and St. Francis high schools, Bubb Elementary School) and to downtown Mountain View.

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