Berkeley: Too Good To Be True?

I bumped into an acquaintance who is a realtor when I visited this new listing at 650 The Alameda near Solano Avenue — an excellent shopping street by the way — and she offered me her verdict: “It’s underpriced.”

I have to say that, in my humble opinion, I agree.

The 4 bed/3 bath lemon-yellow home is on a relatively quiet, narrow stretch of a street that, further south, is a main thoroughfare.

Its selling points are numerous: a large living room giving onto a wide deck with great views of the Bay and San Francisco (not quite high enough to be unobstructed, but good nonetheless — see above); a lower level that has been tastefully converted into a self-contained two-bed/2-bath apartment with its own patio garden (below) and kitchenette, as well as a separate entrance (it could easily be reintegrated into the house though); and some nice details, including original fireplace and an autonomous dining room.

The house is very light with lots of large windows and French doors on both levels leading outdoors.

All in all $879,000 seems eminently reasonable. (Either that or I’m missing something.)