Tag Archives: Berkeley homes for sale

Julia Morgan-designed home for sale in Berkeley

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A home designed by Julia Morgan is always worth a second look. The early 20th-century architect’s designs are woven into the very fabric of Berkeley, with many residential projects to her name, and two notable public buildings: the Berkeley City Club on Durant, and the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts on College.

Now comes to the chance to buy one of Morgan’s family homes. The 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom brown-shingle at 2900 Derby Street, opposite the Clark Kerr campus, was built in 1904 and it has just been listed for $1,025,000.

Along with the swaths of first-growth redwood paneling, the home’s stand-out feature is probably its  charming inglenook fireplace in the living room. The kitchen is modern and light and gives out onto the back garden.

According to the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, the house was moved to its current site from 2819 Garber Street in 1920. … Continue reading »

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In Berkeley, the sellers’ market just keeps on truckin’

This Craftsman home sold in October for $900,000 on a list price of $825,000

Latest figures on home sales suggest many buyers are still having to work hard to get their hands on a new home in Berkeley. Sellers, it appears, have the advantage, and, according to research compiled by Redfin, have done so for the past 12 months.

Everything in Berkeley points to the continuation of a sellers’ market. The data (presented in the Redfin graphs below) shows that the total number of homes for sale is down 26.8% from October last year, and down 15.2% over last month.

Meanwhile, prices are up 0.4% year-on-year, and up 8.6% from last month. Sale-to-list price is 101% for single-family homes and 106% for condos in Berkeley (a 12-month high), which means buyers are often having to pay over the listing price to ensure it is them not someone else closing escrow on their dream house. … Continue reading »

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Mid-century Berkeley home gets $300,000 price chop

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For fans of mid-century modern architecture — and those who appreciate plentiful acreage, additional living space and views — there’s a lot to recommend the 3-bedroom, 2 bathroom home at 636 Wildcat Canyon Road.

The property is sited on over an acre of land and the views are onto the Tilden hills; there are the tall ceilings and walls of glass one associates with the mid-century style; and there’s a separate 1-bedroom guest house included in the price tag. … Continue reading »

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Real estate

Pick of the listings: A mid-mod in the hills

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At first glance, I thought that was a little helipad in the backyard of this freshly listed mid-century modern house at 626 Vistamont Avenue. On reflection it’s probably where a hot tub might be placed, under the trees with sylvan view to boot. Either way, this looks like an intriguing property.

There’s the setting — a 20,000 sq ft lot of  greenery and trees, with hill views — and the architecture. The house was built in 1959 and … Continue reading »

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Real estate

Pick of the listings: Architect designed with big views

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David Stark Wilson is a Berkeley based architect whose style has found a loyal following in the Bay Area. His contemporary homes are invariably large and luxurious. He uses lots of natural materials such as granite, iron and wood and is fond of sweeps of  hand-plastered walls in delicate shades of terracotta. There’s usually a statement staircase, often vaulted ceilings and always a top-of-the-range, gourmet kitchen.

The recently listed five-bedroom, three-bedroom home at 961 Miller AvenueContinue reading »

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Real estate

Pick of the listings: Solano Craftsman with studio

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Sometimes you just see a house (or, in this case, the listing details of a house) and you think it makes sense. It’s a house that ticks the required boxes. One that would be worth investigating at the very least.

This one, at 943 Fresno Avenue, has character in that it’s a Craftsman with the molding, paneling, wood trim and chunky fireplace that the word implies, as well as the distinctive sloped roof-line and deep front porch … Continue reading »

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Real estate

Pick of the listings: A high-up Claremont house

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This is one of the nicest listed houses I have seen in a while in Berkeley. Of course, you would expect it to be pretty fine with a $1.695 million price tag.

Nevertheless, high prices don’t always equate to appealing homes, and there’s an awful lot to like with this five-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home at 90 The Uplands. There’s also one thing not to like — a potential deal breaker in fact — but we’ll come to … Continue reading »

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Real estate

Pick of the listings: Newly revamped on Stuart Street

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Someone may get in touch with me to point out some obvious flaw I have failed to notice on this listing, but it seems this remodeled lemon-yellow home on a corner lot at 1801 Stuart Street, might be worth a second glance.

Three bedrooms, and two baths, and a total 1,811 sq ft, a good-looking new kitchen and a tidy garden — and the price is $699,000, or $386 per square foot.

The home was built … Continue reading »

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Real estate

Pick of the listings: Characterful Elmwood remodel

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There’s a quirky element to this three-bedroom, two-bathroom house at 2961 Pine Avenue in the Elmwood — which held its brokers’ open house today. The owner has imbued it with her personal style while overseeing an extensive and rather lovely remodel. The home has been extended on the back and shows character, with an unorthodox, but not unpleasant flow.

There’s a colorful palette on the walls and some pretty Craftsman touches — such as built-in window seats, … Continue reading »

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Real estate

Pick of the listings: Berkeley brown shingle

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Today’s pick is a quintessential Berkeley home — a brown-shingle craftsman priced under $1m walkable to both Telegraph and College, although closer to the former. Also very convenient to Alta Bates hospital.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house at 2927 Florence Street has been restored  and there’s a new kitchen and one new bathroom, as well as hardwood floors. The rear garden looks like it’s on the small side, but the home has two fireplaces — one in … Continue reading »

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