Open House Report, East Bay Edition: Gorgeous Houses on the Market in Oakland
Author:Philip FerratoIn sharp contrast to the currently overheated San Francisco and Peninsula housing markets, a lot of Oakland is just very warm. There’s a lot of house to be had in some great neighborhoods. As tech jobs and open up San Francisco’s Mid-Market, with its good transit connections, these Oakland neighborhoods start to look good again.
723 60th Street, North Oakland $629K (above)
We love this new construction in North Oakland. And while it may involves some urban pioneering, the 3-bed, 2.5-bath house has the design and finishes you’d pay a lot more for in other Bay Area neighborhoods. Another plus is the lack of a lawn (or much at all, landscape-wise) an amenity that some of us might actually see as a burden. High ceilings on both levels, big windows, and polished concrete floors with radiant heat all get our vote. Open Sunday June 3 from 2 – 4 p.m.
6155 Harbord Drive, Montclair/Oakland 919K
This 3-bed, 3-bath house built in 1960 retains most of its Mid-Century vibe along with an aqua exterior, and worth a look for its wide open spaces. Another house without much landscaping, this one has a wrap-around deck and views of San Francisco. The vintage kitchen has been updated, the baths look great, and the whole is probably move-in ready, except for a rethinking of the color palette. We also like the master suite upstairs and two other bedrooms down. Open Sunday June 3 from 2 – 4:30 p.m.
5265 Harbord Drive, Upper Rockridge/Oakland $835K
With its good bones and classic details— and a slightly Leave it to Beaver vibe, this 5-bed, 2.5-bath house built in 1938 is best described as a downhill version of the the classic Monterey Colonial. It needs some updating, probably electrical, and certainly the kitchen, which despite its homespun suburban charm might prove tough to cook in. There are some handsome Art Deco details, especially the wrought iron stair rail, but the clincher us would be the wide-planked knotty pine rec room. On the lowest level of the house, the vintage man-cave has big windows and a fireplace. Open Sunday June 3 from 2 – 4 p.m.
