The tech boom has reshaped the whole Bay Area, in particular San Francisco, which is becoming an increasingly expensive and exclusive enclave.

 

Which is why SF homebuyer eyes tend to wander to the sunny side of the Bay for more square footage, a yard, and possibly even a garage, while enjoying relatively easy access to the city from a world away.

 

The East Bay has an allure for many San Francisco residents right off the bat -- as dedicated East Bay locals through and through we know this all too well -- but it particularly tugs at the attention of young families who begin to decipher how critical space and diversity, in all senses of the word, can be when raising a family.

 

As East Bay born and bred, and with deep local real estate and neighborhood insight and knowledge, we want to share what to know about our home market as you ponder a potential move here.

 

 

The East Bay is incredibly vibrant and diverse, home to all kinds of races, ethnicities, colors, orientations, languages and, according to some studies, Oakland -- the East Bay’s heart and cultural hub -- has more artists per capita than any other U.S. city.

 

But it’s not just the people who are diverse. We have a rich, diverse geography.

 

We have Bay front properties in Richmond and Alameda and homes tucked among the redwoods in the hills of Berkeley, Kensington and Oakland.

 

We have quiet, nestled hill homes in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood, comfy, walkable family-filled neighborhoods such as Oakland’s Laurel District and urban, happening condos and single-family homes that offer true city living in Jack London Square.

 

 

Also, the area opens you up to a whole new world. The wine country is closer than you think -- Napa’s a 45-minute drive on a Saturday morning, and the east East Bay, over the hill, offers diverse, rural excursions of all kinds.

 

There’s a sense of cultural and nature adventure here that just does not exist in the same way in the city.

 

While it may not be the big city, East Bay home prices have skyrocketed in recent years and live in the same realm as San Francisco.

 

For example, the median price of single-family homes for the second quarter this year in Oakland and Berkeley -- the East Bay’s two largest cities -- were $850,000 and $1.365 million, respectively. By contrast, the median price of San Francisco single-family homes in the second quarter was $1.61 million.

 

While prices run high, you’re still getting way more value when you opt for the East Bay lifestyle. East Bay homes comparable to SF homes in regards to walkability and proximity can run up to 58 percent less cost per square foot.

 

Of course, this depends on where you live in San Francisco. If you’re in the Sunset or Richmond districts, many, if not most, East Bay locations offer faster commutes to downtown San Francisco.

 

BART runs frequently, public transbay buses run express routes from multiple East Bay locations, casual carpool -- where drivers pick up city-bound fellow professionals at dedicated spots on weekday mornings -- thrives, and the ferry, which ports from Alameda and Jack London Square, is perhaps the Bay Area’s best commute.

 

And if you must drive, the Bay Bridge offers a quick shot in off-peak hours.

 

You’ll likely get more bang for your buck in the East Bay, regardless of comparable prices to the city. Check out the median price per square foot of homes in a pair of comparable San Francisco and East Bay neighborhoods around walkability and proximity to coveted amenities: Noe Valley (San Francisco) and Rockridge (Oakland), and Hayes Valley (San Francisco) and Temescal (Oakland).

 

 

Enjoy a yard to play in and maybe even a garage.

 

The Inner East Bay has many diverse cities and neighborhoods to explore, which offer different lifestyles and have distinct appeals.

 

Some standout East Bay cities and neighborhoods:

 

• Located right on the water, the city of Richmond is an up-and-coming residential area with plenty of small, neighborhood parks and accessibility to most any amenities. go on a run at MLK Park in Coronado or take a ceramics class at the Richmond Art Center. And starting on August 3, summer weekend ferry service begins to San Francisco.

• Oakland’s Glenview neighborhood features early twentieth-century craftsman bungalows and the Oakland hills. It borders Sausal Creek and feeds right into Oakland’s great Grand Lake commercial district, which features wonderful restaurants such as Penrose and great coffee shops and a Saturday morning farmer’s market.

• The Oakmore neighborhood, wedged between the Sausal and Palo Seco Creeks just northeast of downtown Oakland, has california bungalows, ranch homes, and some smaller Mediterranean homes, with shops and good food along the Park Boulevard commercial area.

• Piedmont, a tiny city tucked in the middle of Oakland, is one of the Bay Area’s most expensive areas. With its large houses and large lots, it offers a classic, timeless, otherworldly feel.

The East Bay’s real estate culture follows something fairly unique: the vast majority go for far over asking, farther over asking price than any other Bay Area location.

 

This has picked up steam in recent years and has become practice. Sellers and their agents hoping to get $900,000, will list the home at $799,000 with the hope of selling at or above their target price.

 

East Bay buyer’s agents know the drill, so if they’re clients really want a home, they rightly advise to bid over asking. That’s just how it works here.

 

The East Bay has many worlds in one, which is one of its chief appeals and one of the key reasons why you need an expert who not only knows the area well, but knows the market.

 

There’s so much to learn about the East Bay, you likely won’t know what area or home would best suit you until you get a lay of the land. Our agents, staff and leadership -- who all live and work in the East Bay -- are experts in that.

 

Contact us to get some perspective on the East Bay and how it may fit your family.