The Top “Bang For Your Bucks” Homes In Berkeley
A house for sale in the second most over-priced suburb in the country for $261 per square foot? It can happen.
In these straitened economic times it is more important than ever to achieve value for money as a buyer. So here are the Top 5 “best value” homes currently for sale in Berkeley, based on dollars per square foot. And below that, the Top 5 “worst value” homes based on the same.
(Bear in mind the factors that are not included in this assessment, including the sometimes overridingly important location.)
Top 5 “best value” homes for sale in Berkeley
$261 — 1239 Ashby Ave 3/2–$398,500 — 1,528 sq ft
$269 — 1249 Bancroft Way 3/2–$549,000 — 2,044 sq ft
$288 –2809 Matthews Street 3/2–$519,000 — 1,800 sq ft
$304 – 1708 Oregon Street 3/2–$559,000 –1,841 sq ft (below)
$308 – 1531 Oregon Street 3/2–$399,000 — 1,294 sq ft
Top 5 “worst value” homes for sale in Berkeley
$729 — 293 Fairlawn Drive 2/1 — $749,000 — 1,028 sq ft (below)
$685 — 1404 Oxford Street 3/1 — $749,999 — 1,095 sq ft
$646 — 1452 Grizzly Peak Blvd 3/3.5 — $1,385,000 — 2,143 sq ft
$626 — 1051 Park Hills Road 4/2.5 — $1,350,000 — 2,157 sq ft
$622 — 2700 San Pablo Avenue 1/1 — $395,000 — 636 sq ft
Kim said:
And then there is 2135 Roosevelt in Berkeley – 1.052 sqft (from craigslist)
FOR SALE:
December 07: $760,000 ($722 pr. sq ft)
Price reduced February 08: $725,000 ($689 pr. sq ft)
Kim
February 15, 2008 3:15 PM
Tracey Taylor said:
Kim: Well even with a price cut that put this house at number two in my little league table of “worst value” homes for sale. Not exactly a bargain. Thanks for the info.
February 15, 2008 4:12 PM
catsjellicle said:
the 1404, oxford(2nd worst value home)property is priced so because its close to gourmet ghetto. i suppose that premium is worth paying because of the location for some people.
February 18, 2008 12:07 PM
tracey.taylor said:
Catsjellicle: Yes, and that’s why these league tables need to be viewed with a healthy dose of salt. As you know, a prime location often overrides all other considerations when it comes to buying a home, including price per square foot. Thanks for the comment.
February 18, 2008 4:38 PM
mrbogue said:
Oxford is a pretty busy street to live on and the lot size for that property is awfully small. $749,000 is way too much of a premium for such a small house even in the Gourmet Ghetto.
February 20, 2008 12:34 PM
tracey.taylor said:
Mrbogue: Do you know what the lot size is? It’s not listed on Redfin. But the areal photo sure makes it look small. The sales history is telling (if not atypical): 1988: $256,500; 1991: $270,000; 2003: $585,000. A big concern of mine would be why there are NO interior shots in the listing. Raises alarm bells for me.
February 20, 2008 1:20 PM
mrbogue said:
the lot is 2726 sqft, which is extremely small, *even* for Berkeley/Albany/Oakland. The house at 2/1 1095 sqft is awfully small as well.. I guess it might be perfect for a single person, but then again if I were single I’d rather just opt for a much more convenient condominium.
For families however, IMO its extremely easy to outgrow 1095 square feet with a bare minimum backyard (you’ll be stuck taking your kids out to public parks to play) which is probably why many are skipping out on this one.
February 20, 2008 3:33 PM
catsjellicle said:
they had converted the garage into another room. this seems to be the latest trend…good grief! why??..i thought berkeley permits were notoriously difficult to obtain. i have a curious aversion to houses that do this garage>room conversion.
it’s ridiculous up there.
anyways…the oxford house is off the market. we should know what it went for in about a month.
February 24, 2008 8:50 PM
Kim said:
Hi All,
I say another “worst value” homes for sale in Berkeley Today.
2960 Pine Ave. Price $899 – 1,250 sq ft. ($719 pr. sq ft)
Great location, NOT a great house.
Kim
February 28, 2008 12:39 PM
Kim said:
…and the Roosevelt house (see first comment) is now $699,000.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/rfs/589536796.html
Kim
February 28, 2008 12:53 PM
tracey.taylor said:
Kim: Interesting. Why did you think Pine was such poor value?
February 28, 2008 1:29 PM
Tracey Taylor said:
Kim: And did you see the other open house on Pine? What did you make of that one?
February 28, 2008 2:41 PM
Kim said:
Tracey,
The Pine house ($899,000) is VERY small, for the price. That’s all. I like the house itself – needs work. I should have said “NOT a great house for that price”. The same goes for the other Pine house (1,350,000) I feel.
Kim
February 29, 2008 12:28 PM
Kim said:
Tracy, I would love it if there was an alert function on Redfin, so that I can know when someone has posted a comment on a blog. Otherwise I have to check all blog comments to see if anyone has responded to my comments.
Kim
February 29, 2008 12:35 PM
tracey.taylor said:
Kim: thanks for the feedback on the two Pine houses. I have forwarded your query about Comment alerts to the good folks at Redfin and will let you know what I find out.
February 29, 2008 1:01 PM
The Distress Signals Are Clear: Proceed With Caution, Or Walk Away | Redfin San Francisco Sweet Digs said:
[...] Pine Avenue (above left): One-level craftsman in The Elmwood which reader Kim believes is small for the price, and I hear it could do with some basic tidying up not to mention a [...]
March 1, 2008 6:06 AM
catsjellicle said:
i saw the park hills property today. its a double lot..very tempting..a tad over (well..more than a ‘tad’, actually) our budget. very green and spacious.
and oh..$540 HOA.
March 2, 2008 9:10 PM