Real Estate Information Archive

6319 Castle Drive, Oakland CA 94611 in Piedmont Pines

This rare Piedmont Pines retreat was initially built in 1952 by a contractor for his daughter.  There is really nothing like it, boasting over a half acre of land and positioned for both inside and outside views of San Francisco.  The home has a fabulous full size swimming pool, extensive landscaped patio and both fire pit and detached cabana with its own fireplace and exterior grilling station.  The floor plan of the home has been exceptionally thought-out with all bedrooms including the master on the main level.  The lower level of the home features a large rumpus room leading out to the cabana area, small kitchen and retro pool room with half bath, two changing stalls and a 1950’s fountain bar (great for pool parties).  Further atributes include an attached two car garage with inside access and newer roof.

First open house is scheduled for Sunday January 8th from 2-5:00pm.  Contact Dave Higgins for further information and showing times 510-698-2678 or Dave@DaveAndCarla.com

Classic central Piedmont home with four bedrooms on upper level, gracious formal living room and dining room with gumwood trim, arched and leaded glass windows. We proudly represented the buyers on this transaction.  (The Grubb Company also represented the seller). Congratulations to one of our premiere clients who successfully purchased this property in multiple offers. 

note:  Our buyers are luxury home renovators, please stay tuned for the unveiling of a wonderful newly updated home in the early spring of 2012. Call 510-390-6929 for details

Ok, our blog is beginning to take on some redundancy with all of the 'Best of Awards' that Crocker Highlands Elementary is continuing to win.  Granted, we may be a little biased toward this outstanding institution since we personally live in Crocker Highlands and have one child entering second grade there and another about to begin kindergarten, but seriously, this school does rock! The faculty is amazing and really cares about our children and their educational well being and the parents that comprise the Crocker PTA are all business.  The after school programs are wonderful with options in everything from guitar lessons to acting. Our daughter performed in three plays last year alone (Peter Pan, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Mary Poppins).  The Crocker Highlands Elementary PTA organizes and puts on a yearly fundraising Auction and every other year has a neighborhood home and garden tour.  In spring there is a great school carnival with bounce houses to dunk tanks and an old fashion cake walk. This school is one of the great things about Crocker Highlands and we want to personally say thank you to everyone who makes it so great!

Here is a hyper link to the digital online version of this month’s Oakland Magazine and the badge of 'Best Of'' for Crocker.  Below is a cut out (the fact that the title to the upper right is PETS has nothing to do with our kids! ha ha ).

http://www.pageturnpro.com/Alameda-Magazine/28088-Oakland-Magazine/index.html#/64

In the most current issue of Parents Press here in the East Bay the yearly 'Best of' list was published and Crocker Highlands Elementary was voted (in the Readers Choice Category) #1 in the East Bay for Elementary Schools...Go Crocker Highlands!  We have a 2nd grader at Crocker and our five year old will be starting Kindergarten here as well this Fall.  We can tell you first hand that Crocker Highlands Elementary is truly an exceptional school with an amazing faculty as well as PTA and overall parent base to support it/them.  Carla chaired the last Crocker Elementary Home and Garden Tour which is a huge fundraiser for the school and we both oversaw the last two Crocker Elementary Carnivals (which have become mini-fundraisers as well).

If you would like to see a digital version of this Parents Press issue and article relating to Crocker Highlands Elementary and the 'Best of' list you can click this link:

Parent's Press Best of the East Bay Addition 2011

  Here is a preview of this weeks ad in the Hills Newspaper group here in the East Bay.

October 1st is currently scheduled as the date that loan limts are sceduled to decrease.  In our Bay Area market this could have a drastic effect on buyers purchasing power - Here are the details.

• max loan size for single-unit transactions will fall from 729,750 to 625,500
• for FHA, that means the max purchase with minimum down payment is down from $756k $649k
• for Conventional, the max purchase price to avoid MI (20% down) is down from $912k to $781k
• The impact range is approximately $649k to $912k
  • Inside this range, financing options will become more limited, specifics vary by case
  • Any buyer or seller planning to transact in this range should evaluate their scenario with a lender to explore the impact specific to their situation

EAST BAY JULY 4TH 2011

Alameda: 4th of July Parade - Monday July 4th, 2011. Alameda Race starts at 9:45 am (www.alamedarace.com), Parade starts at 10am, down Lincoln and Park, Alameda, CA (Second longest parade in the nation); Jumpin’ & Jivin’ Jubilee noon – 4pm. [FREE]

Oakland: 4th of July Celebration at Jack London Square – Monday, July 4, 2011, 11am – 4pm. Performers from Kinetic Arts: stiltwalkers, jugglers, and face-painters. Clowns and Balloon Artist. Hula Hoop Dancing. Children’s Art Activities. Magic! The Conscious Carnival Games. Two Jump Houses. The Amazing Bubble Man, Bike, Canoe, and Kayak Rentals. Enormous Slide. Acrobats. The music of Big Cat Tolefree Band and the sounds of Eric Bolvin. Plus lots of food and drink (no fireworks). Jack London Square, Broadway & 1st St, Oakland, CA. [FREE]

Piedmont: 4th of July Parade - Monday July 4th, 2011. The Parade begins at 11:00 am on July 4th at Highland Avenue and Park Way, ending at Piedmont Park where we will continue the celebration through the afternoon, starring Dave Martin’s House Party.. [FREE]

Antioch: 4th of July Parade – Monday July 4th, 2011. The July 4th Parade kicks off the celebration at 10am on Main Street. A children’s Fun Fair follows at Williams Park. There is also a 5K run, picnic, entertainment and fireworks. Day long event. Main Street, Antioch, CA. [FREE]

Benicia: Torchlight Parade – Sunday July 3rd, 2011, 6:30 pm. Benicia’s Independence Day Parade stretches along First Street and includes music, dancers, floats, horse’s clowns, and entertainment. [FREE]

Berkeley: 4th of July Celebration – Monday July 4, 2011. Party from noon-10pm with live entertainment on the main stage from noon until 9:30pm. Afro Cuban Rumba Drumming and Circus Art performers around the marina, jugglers and magicians in Shorebird Park. Free dragon boat rowing from 2-6pm, pony rides, a dunk tank, Adventure Playground open 11am-8pm, and more. Fireworks off the end of the Berkeley Pier at 9:30pm. South Shore of the Berkeley Marina. [FREE]

Concord: 4th of July Jubilee and Parade – Monday, July 4, 2011. Pancake Breakfast: 8am (fee). Entertainment begins at 9:30. Parade starts at 10am at Willow Pass Road near Park ‘n Shop Center and ends by Todos Santos Plaza on Salvio Street. Festivities for the children in the Plaza both before and after the Parade include free jumpies and face painting. Free parking in the City parking garages. Singing Flag performance and Fireworks at Dave Brubeck Park next to Concord High School starting at 7:30pm.  Todos Santos Plaza, Concord, CA. [FREE]

Danville: 4th of July Parade - Monday, July 4, 2011 9am – 12pm. Marching bands, antique cars and more. Parade runs from the corner of Hartz Avenue and Railroad Avenue, continues down Hartz and San Ramon Valley Boulevard, and ends at the corner of San Ramon Valley Boulevard and Sycamore Valley Road. Downtown Danville, 400 Hartz Ave, Danville, CA. [FREE]

Dixon: Old Fashion Fourth of July Celebration - Monday, July 4, 2011 starting 11am until evening. Fireworks at 9:30′ish. Activities, food booths, music, motorcycle/car show and demolition derby.  Dixon Fairgrounds, 655 South First Street, Dixon, California 95620.

Fairfield: Main Street Independence Day Parade - Monday, July 4, 2011, 10am. Parade route along Texas street. Flag-waving, music, car exhibits, and local clubs all in honor of the USA. Texas St., Fairfield, CA.

El Ceritto: Fourth of July Celebration – Monday, July 4, 2011 10am – 6am. Rides, carnival games, live music, food and a circus. Cerrito Vista Park, 950 Pomona Avenue, El Cerrito, CA. [FREE]

Fremont: 4th of July Parade - Monday, July 4th, 2011, 10am. Parade in the Mission San Jose District, Mission Blvd to Washington Blvd., Ellsworth St. and Pine Street, Fremont, CA. [FREE]

Hayward: 4th of July Family Festival & Picnic – Monday, July 4, 2011, 11am – 3pm. Old-fashioned games and a History Hunt around the park. Adults can kick back, relax with neighbors, and listen to free live music by the Banjo Racketeers. Bring your own family picnic, or hot dogs and soda will be available for sale. Meek Park, 240 Hampton Road, Hayward, CA. [FREE]

Martinez: Hometown 4th of July Celebration & Fireworks – Monday, July 4, 2011 – 9am to 9:30pm. Pancake breakfast 8am; Parade begins at 10am along Main St; live music from 11:30-4pm. Main St. Plaza, Main St. at Castro St. Martinez, CA. [FREE]

Orinda: Annual July 4th Parade & Celebration – Monday, July 4, 2011 7am – 1pm. Parade begins at 10am. Roadrunners’ Pancake Breakfast, flag raising ceremony, fun run, parade, live music, food, games and booths in the park following the parade. Schedule of Events. Orinda Way, Orinda, CA. [FREE]

Pleasanton: Fourth of July Concert & Celebration - Monday, July 4, 2011. 12pm – 1:30pm. Music and food. Concert by the Pleasanton Community Concert Band at Lions Wayside Park, 1st St & Neal St, Pleasanton, CA. [Free]

Pleasant Hill: 4th of July Fireworks Celebration – Monday, July 4, 2011. Celebrate Pleasant Hill’s 50th birthday. Firecracker 5K Fun Run at 8am, Parade at 9:30am through downtown Pleasant Hill. Fun at at the park at 10:30am, at Pleasant Hill Park right after the parade. The park is located downtown at the corner of Cleaveland & Gregory Lane, a short walk from the parade route. Fireworks at dusk, around 9:10pm, at College Park High School, located on Viking Drive just west of Contra Costa Blvd (between Morello & Contra Costa Blvd). Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa, CA. [FREE]

San Ramon: Star Spangled Spectacular – Monday, July 4, 2011 1pm – 10pm. During the day, inflatable features, interactive games including hamster balls – plus, food and beverage booths. San Ramon Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Blvd. Fireworks aprox 9:30pm, synchronized to music. 2501 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon, CA. [FREE]

Suisun City: Independence Day Spectacular - Monday, July 4, 2011 11am – 10:30pm. Fireworks show at 9:15pm with music on 1610 AM radio. Music, crafts, food vendors, restaurants, dancers, giant slide, and rock climbing all day. Harbor Plaza, 558 Solano St, Suisun City, CA. [FREE]

Vacaville: 2011 4th of July Spectacular - Monday, July 4, 2011 6:30pm – 10pm. Clean Slate will be performing at this special Creekwalk Concert from 6:30 – 9:30. Fireworks around 9:30pm. Concert and Fireworks in Downtown Main Street, Vacaville, CA 95688. Anywhere in Downtown Vacaville is great for viewing the fireworks show. [FREE]

Information used here was gathered from SavvyCities.com

This wonderful property located at 744 Calmar Ave in Crocker Highlands was just reduced to $649,000.00.  Featuring multiple upgrades, vista views and newly landscaped backyard, this home represents a lovely value.  Click this link for further details and full photo tour.