Oakland Hills Community Information

The Oakland Hills surround the San Francisco Bay area and are part of the Pacific Coast Ranges. The Oakland Hills or Contra Costa Hills (as they have been more formally known) refer to the section along the eastern Oakland side of the Berkeley Hills range.  Sunny and mild all year round the Oakland Hills are blessed with natural beauty and an impeccable quality of life. The Oakland Hills are famed for both their luxurious homes and the fantastic panoramic views of the Bay and Pacific ocean. The open spaces and outdoor lifestyle can be enjoyed to the full with exceptional walks and trails to embark on as well as the beautiful recreational Tilden Park  and Sibley Park.

In 1991 there was a large fire in the Oakland Hills “The Oakland Firestorm”. This caused devastation to the area, however lessons have been learned from this. A further fire occurred in 2008 and thanks to the measures put in place since the 1991 experience, this was promptly contained and extinguished. One of the positives to come out of this natural disaster is the phenomenal sense of community that now exists. The same huge spirit, courage and care for neighbors that was needed to re-build homes can still me witnessed today.  The idealistic hillside setting and stunning views of the area make the Oakland Hills an exceptional and exquisite area to live where residents are able to enjoy the beauty of their surroundings to the full.

Rockridge is a residential neighborhood and commercial district in Oakland, California. Rockridge is generally defined as the area east of Telegraph Avenue, south of the Berkeley city limits, west of the Oakland hills and north of the intersection of Pleasant Valley Avenue/51st Street and Broadway. It is known for being one of the wealthiest areas of Oakland.   Rockridge was listed by Money Magazine in 2002 as one of the "best places to live".  It lies at an elevation of 187 feet. Some residential portions of the neighborhood consist mainly of relatively large homes built between the 1920s and the 1950s, although some homes date even earlier to 1909-1912. Other portions of the neighborhood consist of small bungalows and cottages. In other sections, multi-family apartment buildings add density which supports nearby transit and retail.

Rockridge is named for the outcroppings of rock at the northern end of the long shutter ridge formed by the Hayward Fault which encloses the linear valley in which the Montclair district of Oakland is situated. An example of this rock can be seen at an abandoned quarry adjacent to the Rockridge Shopping Center on Pleasant Valley Road. This quarry was operated well into the 1950s and is now used as a reservoir for the Claremont Country Club. Prior to the construction of the shopping center in the late 1960s, the Broadway side of the shopping center had a used car lot. Additionally, Pleasant Valley Avenue did not cross over the hill to Piedmont Avenue. Instead, there was a short street called "McAdam". Mather Street, which intersects Broadway near Oakland Technical High School, formed the continuation of what is now the downhill side of Pleasant Valley Avenue.

Like many neighborhoods, Rockridge has had its ups and downs. Prior to the completion of Highway 24 in 1964, Miles Avenue and several other streets were laid out differently. Residents living in the area at the time, once known as "Little Italy" because of a large number of Italian immigrants, saw the decline of the neighborhood's human scale into the 1970s due to the separation of the neighborhood caused by the SR-24 freeway. In the mid to late 1970s, some storefronts on College Avenue were boarded up. However, due to the success of a number of new businesses, who together formed a "critical mass" of commercial attraction, the Rockridge commercial district began to thrive again.

Oakland Hills Real Estate Information

The Oakland Hills real estate market is upscale and diverse. There are numerous newly rebuilt homes with a variety of architectural style which add to the character of this desirable area. Homes for sale with luxurious amenities dominate this attractive neighborhood, though homes are available to fulfill a wide variety of styles and budgets.

Condominiums and townhouses in the Oakland Hills start below $250,000 and range up to the $400,000 range.
Single family three and four bedroom detached homes range in price starting below $400,000 to the mid $1,500,000 range.
Larger estate-style homes in the Oakland Hills with dramatic views of the San Francisco Bay and city range in price from $1,700,000 to $4,500,000.
Raw land is in short supply, however new custom built homes are available within the Oakland  Hills.

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