What's it like Living in Berkeley, CA - Real Estate, Culture and Local Statistics

A soldier named Luís Peralta was granted land rights to a large piece of land, including the Berkeley area, by the King of Spain and ranchlands were established in the region. Ranching remained a primary industry even after sovereignty was transferred from Spain to Mexico, but the mania of the gold rush in the mid-nineteenth century resulted in major legal confusion over who owned the Peralta ranchlands. In the end, what remains of the early days of Peralta's dominion is his name, and the names of his sons, Domingo and Vicente, as well-known Berkeley street names.

Alameda County was established in 1853, and at this point in history, a visit to Berkeley would have shown you thriving ranches, bustling wharves and large stretches of open land. Berkeley was eventually officially christened in honor of the Irish philosopher, Bishop George Berkeley, when the University of California was founded there in 1866. The Berkeley Branch Railroad reached the city in 1876, and the next decade would bring the telephone and electric lights to the homes and businesses of Berkeley. As the century turned, Berkeley survived the 1906 earthquake, a major fire in the 1920's and the Great Depression. The war years saw significant population growth as war workers moved into the East Bay to man shipyards and factories.

It is Berkeley's post-war history that is, perhaps, most closely associated with the city today. Educational institutions are truly the heart of this city, and the University of California's strong stance in the 1950's and 1960's against McCarthyism and in favor of Civil Rights and Free Speech set the liberal tone of Berkeley which many locals continue to cherish to this day.

Berkeley Today
The diverse, creative atmosphere of Berkeley makes it a place of tremendous appeal to both residents and the millions of tourists who visit the city each year. Shattuck Avenue is the main business center, and the shopping and dining along streets like Telegraph Avenue has an international and artistic flavor. One of the unique features of Berkeley are bicycle boulevards which have been created by the city to offer safe routes for bicyclers and pedestrians. Berkeley has more bicycle and pedestrian commuters than almost any other city in the United States and is considered exceptionally safe for these health-conscious, environmentally-conscious travelers. Transportation around the city is made easy for everyone with both AC Transit buses and BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) stations.

Berkeley has the intellectual and cultural sophistication of a world class city with the heart, soul and character of a small town. The University of California continues to be central to the character of the area, with thousands of people visiting the University every year for lectures and events. Property values have historically increased in all market conditions due to high demand and short supply in the many desirable neighborhoods.

Architectural Styles Prevalent in Berkeley Homes
The Elmwood District, bordered by Berkeley's exclusive Claremont area and Oakland's vibrant Rockridge district, is known for its large, distinctive brown shingle homes on tree-lined streets near fabulous shops, restaurants and the vibrant University of California. There half-a-dozen different and highly desirable neighborhoods in Berkeley, from the hills to the flatlands. View a map of our East Bay Neighborhood Guide for geographic information on Berkeley neighborhoods. If you are looking for a home in Berkeley, California, you will have your pick of the following excellent architectural styles:

• Craftsman
• Mediterranean
• Tudor
• Victorian
• Contemporary
• Traditional

In addition to this broad array of residential properties available to the home buyer, Berkeley boasts numerous historic homes and building from the Victorian era which are some the nation's finest examples of this period of architecture. Over the past few decades, many Berkeley homeowners have taken tremendous pride in resorting classic homes to their original, period condition, down to moldings, paint colors and interior furnishings. If restoration is your fascination, Berkeley has a home for you!

Things To Do in Berkeley, CA
Few cities in the United States can rival Berkeley for educational and entertaining things to do. Apart from the tremendous curriculum and roster of events offered by the University of California, Berkeley is home to three splendid public gardens: the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, the University of California Botanical Garden and the Berkeley Rose Garden. The Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Berkeley Community Theatre host plays and concerts year-round. Life on the bay means easy access to the Berkeley Marina and the Berkeley Aquatic Park. Birders will truly enjoy the Shorebird Nature Center.

Museums include the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, the UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology and the The Badè Museum of Archaeology. The Berkeley Public Library branches are beautiful community resources, and also offer Adult Literacy Programs. Berkeley is famous for its matchless bookstores and shopping ranges from tiny, unique shops to well-known chain stores. Fine dining is available in an unbelievable number of cuisines including, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Italian, American and Vegetarian.

Things To Do With Kids in Berkeley, CA
Children will be delighted by a ride on the historical Merry-Go-Round, built in 1911, in lovely Tilden Park. Or, take the kids to the Habitot Children's Museum for drop-in art classes and workshops geared toward children age 2-5 and their families. The Habitot Children's Museum also offers children's birthday parties which are loads of fun. No doubt the best known destination in Berkeley for families with children is the Lawrence Hall of Science. Young ones and adults alike will be fascinated by the hands-on, interactive experience with larger-than-life science experiments. There are several YMCAs in Berkeley with activities and classes for youth. Get further information on the Berkeley Unified School District here.

Places of Worship in Berkeley
An excellent variety of Faiths are present in Berkeley and the following is a sample selection of local places of Worship:

• All Souls Episcopal Church - 2220 Cedar, Berkeley, CA
• Berkeley Assembly Of God The Lighthouse - 2414 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA
• 1st Congregational Church Of Berkeley - 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA
• St Mary Magdalen Church - 2005 Berryman St, Berkeley, CA
• Berkeley Buddhist Temple - 2121 Channing Way Berkeley, CA
• Congregation Beth El - 1301 Oxford St, Berkeley, CA
• First Baptist Church of Berkeley - 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley
• Berkeley Masjid Foundation - 2716 Derby Street Berkeley, CA
• Church of Jesus Christ of LDS - 2368 Le Conte Ave, Berkeley, CA

The above is just a representative sampling, and people of most faiths will find appropriate places of worship in Berkeley or in the neighboring cities.

Buying or Selling a Home in Berkeley, California
My family has been doing business in the East Bay for generations and I know the Berkeley region intimately. Berkeley is one of the most desirable places to live in the Bay Area, and selling your home at the right price, or making an appealing offer on a home you want to buy requires effective, professional negotiation. As your realtor, I offer you the experience and skills you need to understand and benefit from the Berkeley real estate market. Email me or call me today at 510-339-0400, Ext.265 to learn how I can make selling or buying your Berkeley home a pleasure.