West Berkeley: Starter Home With A Different Kind Of View

I can’t help but be excited about this smart 3 bed-1 bath tri-level bungalow on Matthews Street in West Berkeley. The reason is the view that you would get from your front room if you bought this home.

Here it is:

Yes, it’s Berkeley’s one and only Tardigrade house. Right opposite. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.

So here we have what I believe would make a great starter home on a quiet street in a calm neighborhood (if $619,000 is what one has to spend for a first home in Berkeley these days).

It’s small – 1,150 sq feet ($538/sq ft) but it’s been given a nice makeover with soothing sage green walls, nice hardwood floors and a freshly planted back yard. I thought the kitchen was tastefully done and there is a bonus room which would make a nice home office overlooking the garden.

The garage is used as a laundry room and unless you drive a Smart car I would doubt you could use it for its original purpose.

A short walk away is Cafe Trieste on San Pablo Avenue for your morning espresso, and Sea Salt, one of my favorite Berkeley restaurants.