It’s All Happening on Berkeley’s Benvenue

There’s a flurry of activity on Benvenue Avenue at the moment — a street which takes in Berkeley and Oakland, and includes The Elmwood and Rockridge neighborhoods, all the while remaining perfectly lovely: tree-lined, peaceful, friendly. (Or so I like to imagine — anyone out there with real-life experience, feel free to contradict me.)

First up, the distinguished looking home that is 6421 Benvenue Avenue (above left) — a 3+/2.5 traditional designed by John Hudson Thomas circa 1916 is already “sale pending” after barely a fortnight on the market. Its starting price was $1,095,000. It will be interesting to see what it went for. (This house sold 10 years ago for $428,000 — aaah, those were the days…)

In contrast, the two-level, 1,000 sq ft condo at 6422 (above right) across the street is finding it difficult to snag a buyer. It has been on Redfin for 118 days and has been reduced from $649,000 to $599,000.

But there were practically lines out the door on Sunday to see the first open house a little further north at 6468 Benvenue — a gorgeously renovated 3/2 Craftsman with a particularly lovely master suite and kitchen, as well as a ludicrously large back garden (actually two yards made over into one). I predict this $1,295,000 brown shingle will sell quickly, and for above asking, because it ticks lots of boxes: location, charm and state of repair among them.