My husband and I, along with our two toddlers, booked a 2 week vacation on balboa. Unfortunately, the pictures and condition of the home were completely misleading. We have pictures and documentation of all the issues below. •Exposed, what looks like black mold growth on the wall next to the back door •Nearly half of the windows did not open. (I did not get video of this) •8inx8in hole in the drywall of one the bedroom closets with exposed plumbing •tankless water heater being held up by black tape •Large patches of green moss that we almost slipped on several times in the courtyard •Exposed termite damage in a bathroom door jam •large chunk of paint peeling off the wall •holes in the screen door We checked in Sunday night and I called Julie the next morning to let her know our concerns. Her initial response was, "Then just leave, if you don't want to be there, we do not want you here." I said ok and asked about refunds....she told me the right thing to do was to charge us a cleaning fee plus the nights we were there. We found a new place the next day and informed Julie, she then put in WRITING that we would only be charged cleaning fee plus the nights we stayed. She took about a week to respond to us and then she said the issues were considered minor and that we would only receive a partial refund. We brought it up to VRBO and they kicked it back to us to deal with. We are obviously very upset and are now having our CC company dispute the charges.

We are locals who stayed in this property in between living in a long-term rental and moving into our renovated home. The house checked many boxes that are difficult to find on Balboa Island: private parking for 2 cars, indoor laundry, single home on the lot, and a large outdoor patio. The owner was super kind and quick to respond and resolve any issues that came up. There are things that could use some upgrading, a friend said it reminded her of the funky little beach cottages in Maine she visited as a child. Overall we had plenty of space for our family of 5 and stayed cozy through a very stormy week in January. It is a quick walk to the main drag, the location was great.

Great location, old-school feel with today’s needs fulfilled. Would return again. Thank you to the owners for sharing their special property.

Julie's home was great! The location is ideal for walking everywhere (restaurants, shopping, beautiful waterfront homes & people watching ) as well as quick drives to explore the surrounding area. So much to do and see!! Julie's home was beautiful and very comfortable. We had everything we needed to feel right at home. Julie was easy to get in touch with and quick to respond to any questions or issues. I would definitely recommend her property!

Great eclectic cottage decorated and furnished like a proper home. Host was fabulous to deal with and responded promptly to questions. Had a great 4 night stay and will definitely be back.

Staying here feels like you are on vacation away from your vacation. The proximity to the water and the calmness of the harbor are fantastic. There are great restaurants and shops around. It was a nice getaway from going to the parks each day. Commute is easy and the home is very inviting. Great communication! We will stay here again when we are in the area.

This house is in a great location and is super quaint and original. If you love classic, older homes with unique style, this place is for you. We loved the patio, kitchen and having two seating areas inside. The owner was easy to work with as well.

We have stayed at this property 7 times over a 13 year period. This vacation rental is perfect for our family. Our grandkids hope to one day be able to bring their family to this property. It is at a great location. We all have had a wonderful time here over the years. Thanks You Julie

We absolutely loved Julie's beautiful house. We were 5 adults all with plenty of room for our own privacy in a fabulous location for morning walks by the water and strolls down the main street for coffee and boutique browsing! Her kitchen is completely stocked with everything you need to make a nice meal to enjoy together around the table at the end of a leisurely day. Absolutely loved it, cannot recommend it enough.

Great house to entertain in or to just relax. Big pluses for me was the kitchen and outside patio. Double Dutch doors are fun. And helps with the airflow and adds a sense of privacy

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our stay earlier this month. This home had everything we needed, it was nice and clean and the owner was extremely responsive and easy to work with. The location was fantastic if you're looking for a low key locals vibe. We walked downtown almost everyday and enjoyed visiting the little restaurants and ice cream shops. Thank you for everything Julie!

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our stay earlier this month. This home had everything we needed, it was nice and clean and the owner was extremely responsive and easy to work with. The location was fantastic if youre looking for a low key locals vibe. We walked downtown almost everyday and enjoyed visiting the little restaurants and ice cream shops. Thank you for everything Julie!

What a wonderful place! Perfect to relax in.I really enjoyed the walks around the Island and the beautiful area. Hope to see you next year!