Strange Home, Strange Land - Page 2

Ironically, that doesn't apply to his fellow realtors who have offered to staff open houses for the property, especially transplanted Californians who "want to revisit, so to speak."

"I think it's a very unique home, and certainly for the East Coast, it's unusual," Santos understated. He said the lack of a basement or attic is compensated for by extensive closet space, but that it still appears to trouble potential buyers: "That seems to be the question that people who are looking at the house are asking."

Erps noted that although Santos and Callahan "chose to basically leave it like it was," changes could be made to adapt the home to Eastern climes, such as enclosing the atrium and carport.

But then it would lose its Eichler charm, wouldn't it?

"A lot of the glass that they have is original, so that may need replacing," said the realtor. On the other hand, he said, "The bathrooms are magnificent...They [Santos and Callahan] are super decorators of their house."

"We have loved living here. It's a very bittersweet departure," Santos said sadly, noting that he and Callahan have an offer accepted on a New Jersey home in order to shorten their work commute into New York City.

Santos said a community garage sale in the neighborhood last week gave him the opportunity to show off the house to shoppers and neighbors, adding, "It was exciting to talk to people about the house and let them see what it is."

For now, they continue in search of that "certain specific buyer," as he put it, who appreciates the indoor-outdoor feel that Eichler brought to this tiny enclave of the East.

"It think that it's inspiring for the person who wants that kind of home," said Santos, conceding all the while, "I don't think anyone that wants a Colonial [style] house is going to buy this one."