El Cerrito

The town of El Cerrito has a low-key, homey feel. Its residential neighborhoods run the gamut from modest bungalows with tidy front yards in the flats, to more stately (and some downright grand) homes in the hills. Climbing the winding roads, home styles include period revival, Mediterranean, mid-century ranch, and contemporary. Many have unsurpassed bay and Golden Gate Bridge views.

El Cerrito’s commercial districts include the El Cerrito Plaza, with many major retail chain stores and a bi-weekly Farmers’ Market, and San Pablo Avenue, which features small owner-operated shops, professional services, and a wide array of great restaurants and coffee houses.

The historic old El Cerrito Theater, closed for many years, has reopened with the help of the El Cerrito Community Foundation and the City. In 2002, the Redevelopment Agency/City Council voted to purchase the Cerrito Theater, and created a comfortable, renovated movie theater with eclectic offerings and good food. El Cerrito’s elementary schools serve local neighborhood families and have active PTAs.

Excellent city services, a community center with a great swimming pool and many classes, live theater, numerous neighborhood parks, and the East Bay Regional Park District, with miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, all add to El Cerrito’s livability. On the site of an old quarry, the Natural Hillside Park offers great hiking trails (no bikes) with fantastic panoramic bay views.The Point Isabel off-leash dog park on the bay is a nearby treasure.

The city is served by two BART stations, direct bus lines to downtown Oakland and San Francisco, and easy access to I-80, which all make commuting easy.

With a wide range of housing options and a friendly feel, El Cerrito offers an excellent opportunity for those looking for a welcoming community in which to buy a home.