Deb Graceffa, Realtor
Professional Real Estate Consultant

Voicemail	510.452.6126
Cell	510.459.7623
Fax	510.288.1349
www	www.debgraceffa.com
Email	graceffa@pacbell.net

Why Live In The East Bay?
                     
If you have lived in the East Bay, you are likely aware of what a diverse, rich and fun place to live it is. Even if you have lived here for a long period of time, you may not be aware of all that each city, and what each particular neighborhood within each city, have to offer.

As the real estate market has grown rapidly over the last 5-7 years, neighborhoods have changed equally as rapidly. If you are considering making the move from San Francisco to the East Bay, I welcome you to consider how much further your dollar will stretch in the East Bay, the likelihood of easier parking, the better weather, the fact that you may actually have a yard (!) and a sometimes a shorter commute from the East Bay to the City than from one part of the City to another. With more and more people moving from the City to the East Bay, stores, cafes, restaurants and the like have stepped up their offerings to meet the influx of people, bringing a wealth of great options for the East Bay dwellers.

Richmond

Located a short 16 miles from San Francisco and an even shorter jaunt across the Richmond - San Rafael Bridge, Richmond has seen many positive changes over the past few years. Some consider Richmond an undiscovered jewel given the fact that homebuyers are not paying Berkeley prices, but have easy access to Berkeley amenities. Richmond houses many diverse neighborhoods including Marina Bay, North & East, Point Richmond, Richmond Annex and Richmond View. Richmond also hosts the Richmond Bart Station.  

City Of Richmond - Website

Albany

Albany, known for its excellent school system, and quiet, tree-lined streets, is a short drive on interstate 80 to San Francisco. While it feels like a small town setting, Albany shares the bustling Solano Avenue with the City of Berkeley, complete with great eateries including the famous Zachary’s Pizza, Kirin, Ajanta, Fonda, Rivoli, the Sunnyside Café, Monteros, Peet’s Coffee and many others. Albany is conveniently located near the El Cerrito Plaza Bart station.  Many of the homes in Albany consist of charming houses built in the 1920s including Craftsman Bungalows and Spanish Style Mediterraneans.

City Of Albany - Website

El Cerrito

El Cerrito is nestled between Richmond and Albany and stretches from Interstate 80 up into the hills where the homes boast spectacular views of the Bay. Many of the homes in El Cerrito are larger, mid century homes. The El Cerrito Plaza, once a ghost town of small shops, has been transformed into a convenient shopping area hosting the likes of Trader Joes, the Cold Stone Creamery, Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, and many others. The Plaza also holds a farmers market twice a week. While sporting modern conveniences, El Cerrito also contains within its borders a number of parks and creeks to kick back in or bring the dog for a run. Bart stops in two places in El Cerrito, the Plaza Station and the del Norte Station.

City Of El Cerrito - Website

Berkeley

Berkeley's many distinct neighborhoods offer something for everyone, with architectural styles such as charming Victorians, Craftsman bungalows, fabulous view homes, hillside retreats, and period revival homes by famed architects such as Bernard Maybeck, John Hudson Thomas and Julia Morgan. (Visit Berkeley's Architectural Heritage Association or Berkeley Landmarks for more about Berkeley's historical buildings)

Home of the famed University of California, Berkeley has an incredible array of residential areas, cultural events, shopping and attractive restaurants (view a selection of restaurants in the Berkeley area) to please the most discriminating resident or visitor.

Berkeley enjoys convenient freeway access to San Francisco, Oakland, and the Silicon Valley. It also boasts parks and recreation areas that include Tilden Regional Park comprised of 2,065 acres of open meadows and forests with spectacular views of the Bay Area, hiking and biking trails, a botanic garden, picnic areas, a golf course, and a beautiful lake, plus many other wonderful Berkeley Parks, Paths & Walking Tours.

BART Stations In Berkeley

Kensington

Kensington is an unincorporated city located on the north side of Berkeley. Kensington is known for its restaurants, shopping, and a pleasant suburban environment.

City Of Kensington - Website

Oakland

Oakland's many wonderful neighborhoods include Crocker Highlands, Dimond, Glenview, Jack London Square, Lake Merritt, Laurel, Montclair, Redwood Heights, Rockridge, Temescal and West Oakland, to name a few. (see neighborhood links below)

Located just 20 minutes from San Francisco in the center of the Bay Area, home to the Oakland A's, Oakland Raiders and the Golden State Warriors. Also home to the beautiful Lake Merritt, sometimes called the Jewel of Oakland, and wonderful parks and trails.

Homes here range in style from classic Victorian, charming craftsman, Spanish Mediterranean, and elegant Tudors.

San Leandro

Because many of the residents who moved to San Leandro in the 1950s and 1960s have stayed here, San Leandro now has a large elderly population, although increasing numbers of families with children have begun moving into the City. In the 1980s, the community's diversity grew as African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanics also began moving in to the City. In addition, the industrial makeup of the City has been changing, moving away from its traditional manufacturing base toward more of an emphasis on services and warehousing industries.

City Of San Leandro - Website

Hayward

Known as the “Heart of the Bay”, Hayward is focused on creating a pedestrian-friendly downtown with a balanced mix of housing, retail shops, offices and restaurants. The new Civic Center serves as the focal point for this revitalization. Hayward is also encouraging new businesses to move to the city, expanding its tax base and strengthening its economy.

City Of Hayward - Website

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