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What’s Going On Out There
August 15, 2011 | 
Author This chart shows Montclair market data from the first quarter of 1997 through the second quarter of 2011. As you can see, sales and selling prices are trending down.
As I was writing this blog post, I got word that my favorite property from last Thursday’s Broker’s Tour went pending in less than a week. A cool mid century home on Saroni was built in 1950 and and renovated to tug on the heart strings of any mid-century modern purist. Click here to view the project. This home was in pristine condition, was tastefully renovated to enhance the property, (no Home Depot cookie cutter finishes here), is level and has a sunny backyard. Additionally it was priced correctly, hence it is under contract.
Click on the link to view a cool video of the Montclair district of Oakland.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE
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Snapshot of Montclair Village, Oakland
Montclair Village is one of my favorite communities in Oakland. Here’s the scoop:
- The vibe is small-town
- It’s located in the beautiful tree-covered Oakland Hills
- I can get to it easily, because it’s close to major freeways and bus lines
- Families love the public elementary and middle schools
- There are many stair paths from the streets above that lead to the village
- There are great walking paths
- Drive along Scout Road and you might see a family of wild turkeys crossing the road
What to do in Montclair Village…
- Visit the Sunday Farmers’ Market. It’s year round. (And have a picnic at the park.)
- Go to my FAVORITE sushi restaurant and eat some cutting edge sushi rolls at Kakui
- Take a walk on the trail at the top of LaSalle, or take the short drive up Colton or Snake Road and you are at Huckleberry Preserve and Skyline Gate for gorgeous hiking trails
- Play tennis in the public court.
Montclair Village Shopping
Hiking Trails
Montclair Library
Montclair Village Park Tennis Court
Broker’s Tour Find in Montclair, Oakland
Sometimes a house is just a house, you know, walls, floors, roof, etc… Other times a house moves people. 6492 Ascot Drive moves me! It was my favorite house on Broker’s Tour this week. Classic mid-century modernist design for the purist who relish preserved original features. This house appears to have original green slate floors, original floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors and huge open spaces. The chrome vintage Frigidaire oven is a piece of art, the original built-in cabinetry in the entry makes organization easy and the rumpus room downstairs gives this house great separation of space. Frankly, I want to sell this house to a buyer, so I can come back and visit.
This house is so much more that the mere details that I mentioned above. It is also about the light, the privacy and the feeling that this house gives once you greet it. The cantilever design of the house that Realtors, Linda Elkin and Art White from Red Oak Realty call quietude reminds me of the celebrated Dave Brubeck’s home.
Photos below are courtesy of Scott Hargis. 6492 Ascot Drive is listed for $675,000, has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, circa 1963.
Patio photo by Deidre Joyner
Montclair Redo to View
5687 Florence Terrace in then.
Montclair is an area of Oakland above Highway 13 between Broadway Terrace and Park Boulevard, with properties built from the 1920′s to new construction. The appeal is the woodsy setting and in many parts of Montclair you will get the feeling that you are away from it all, yet so close to the city vibe. 5687 Florence Terrace is a 3 bathroom, 2+ bedroom home, currently on the market for $698,000. The cool thing is you are only two blocks up from Mountain Boulevard which is a straight shot to Montclair Village, (a retail and restaurant district of this area), yet you feel like you are in a very private, lush nook. Set back from the street, with drought resistant perennials flowers and paver-stone hardscape this house is very striking and handsome. Once inside the three sets of french doors to the grand balcony will capture your heart. The simple and tasteful white decor is minimalist, meets Shabby Chic, meets East Coast beach house. The owners of this house have done tons of upgrades from structural improvements to fantastic cabinetry and this house is truly a move-in and hang your artwork house. This property has been renovated tastefully, yet it retains all of the essence of 1923 the year it was built, making it a must see.
5687 Florence Terrace now
Living room showing just one of three French doors.