Moving to Oakland area from Pasadena (Montclair, Benicia: short sale, condo, custom home)

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Dublin, El Cerrito.

[fizbin]

Alameda . . .

[cardinal2007]

It is certainly possible to buy a 2bd in Oakland, Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Alameda for less than $350,000, even ones that are not REO or short-sales, in such cases the owners bought the property a long time back for less than $100k, the probably are ready to move on, and don't care to time the market.

My guess is that Walnut Creek would meet your criteria the best, but you won't find townhouses for that much.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by cardinal2007

It is certainly possible to buy a 2bd in Oakland, Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Alameda for less than $350,000, even ones that are not REO or short-sales, in such cases the owners bought the property a long time back for less than $100k, the probably are ready to move on, and don't care to time the market.

My guess is that Walnut Creek would meet your criteria the best, but you won't find townhouses for that much.

Where in Oakland other than East or maybe parts & maybe West can you do this? I've looked it's not there unless you plan on living in a high crime area.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by City Boy

Where in Oakland other than East or maybe parts & maybe West can you do this? I've looked it's not there unless you plan on living in a high crime area.

There are some decent pockets in the Laurel and Dimond neighborhoods...

There is a 3 bedroom home across the street from me marketed at 160k which the last owners paid 440k a couple of years ago.

They never had any crime issues at all and still live in the neighborhood... only now renting because it costs about a third of what they were paying to own in the same neighborhood.

The home of a childhood friend near Chabot College in Hayward just went pending for 250k... this was a 550k neighborhood recently. I know it's not Oakland... but the neighborhood is solid.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

There are some decent pockets in the Laurel and Dimond neighborhoods...

There is a 3 bedroom home across the street from me marketed at 160k which the last owners paid 440k a couple of years ago.

They never had any crime issues at all and still live in the neighborhood... only now renting because it costs about a third of what they were paying to own in the same neighborhood.

The home of a childhood friend near Chabot College in Hayward just went pending for 250k... this was a 550k neighborhood recently. I know it's not Oakland... but the neighborhood is solid.

How many Square feet? I've seen some 3 bedroom houses going for that price but they are like 1000 sq ft. I have no idea how they fit that many "bedrooms" in a 1000 sq. foot house.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by City Boy

How many Square feet? I've seen some 3 bedroom houses going for that price but they are like 1000 sq ft. I have no idea how they fit that many "bedrooms" in a 1000 sq. foot house.

Small, as in 1050 sq feet... Actually a very typical 3 bedroom home size for homes built in the 20's, 30's and 40's The big push post WWII was the 2 car garage and 2nd bathroom...

The 1960 Home I grew up in was 1180 sq ft, 3 br, 2 ba... people own more stuff today... and need bigger closets and much bigger bathrooms

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Small, as in 1050 sq feet... Actually a very typical 3 bedroom home size for homes built in the 20's, 30's and 40's The big push post WWII was the 2 car garage and 2nd bathroom...

The 1960 Home I grew up in was 1180 sq ft, 3 br, 2 ba... people own more stuff today... and need bigger closets and much bigger bathrooms

Yea I knew it was going to be that size based on the how old the homes are in that area. Closets are a huge selling point today

[westcoastbound]

I would even consider that. Some of the condos I saw online are only 900 feet. Cozy...

[cardinal2007]

Is Adams Point considered a high crime area? Some friends where suggesting that area. I certainly wouldn't expect 2bd condos/apartments to be huge, 900-1200 sqft makes sense, 1200 would be pretty large. Certainly plenty of condos in the 900-1100 sqft range there.

375 JAYNE Ave #105, OAKLAND, CA 94610 | MLS# 40379674
66 FAIRMOUNT Ave #218, OAKLAND, CA 94611 | MLS# 40408081
407 ORANGE St #209, OAKLAND, CA 94610 | MLS# 40405735

1830 LAKESHORE Ave #407, OAKLAND, CA 94606 | MLS# 40394933
177 19TH St Unit 2D, OAKLAND, CA 94612 | MLS# 40400954

7 W EMBARCADERO W #313, OAKLAND, CA 94607 | MLS# 40406623

These include places in Adams Point, or near Lake Merritt, and one place in Jack London Square. I'm not sure about crime in those areas, I guess they are probably high crime areas, weren't the riots near there earlier this year?