Fans of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film “The Birds,” filmed in the Bodega Bay area of Sonoma County, may remember a Victorian home right next to the infamous Potter Schoolhouse.
That home, an 1880s Italianate Victorian that sits on 1.15 acres in Bodega, is on the market for $1.1 million. The house is also situated near another historic building: St. Teresa of Avila Church, a cherished subject of photographer Ansel Adams.
“It’s just surreal to have that as your backyard neighbor,” said David Gowan, the listing agent at Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty. “The setting is one-of-a-kind.”
The main property, a two-story home with just over 1,500 square feet, was enlarged over the years by the current sellers, who unexpectedly decided to move to the East Coast, said Gowan. Not thinking they’d leave, they’d spent the last six years doing a complete renovation of the home, which had no foundation and a failing septic system when they purchased it.
The 1880s Italianate Victorian featured in "The Birds," is on the market in Bodega for $1.1 million.
Courtesy of Golden Gate Sotheby’s International RealtyOther renovations included windows, an underground gas line, a hot tub, a tankless hot water heater, a furnace and expansions to the property - adding a detached office and a detached studio space.
All of those improvements, while still retaining the feel of a historic Victorian home, brought prospective buyers from all over the Bay Area, said Gowan, adding that he has even gotten inquiries from buyers in Los Angeles and Hawaii who were prepared to bid on the home sight unseen.
