Across the East Bay, single-family homes are showing demand strength despite borrowing costs around 6%. Inventory remains tight in Alameda County, and sales-to-list ratios are holding above 100% in many pockets, even as condos soften.
In Berkeley, the median sale price is approximately $1.35M, up roughly 12% year over year. Homes are going pending in about 20 days, with many trading significantly above list.
The clearest signal, however, is not the median. It is how well-located single-family homes are performing.
BERKELEY CASE STUDIES
Two recent North Berkeley sales illustrate the current buyer depth:
1833 Sonoma Ave (3 Beds, 2 Baths; 1974 sq ft in Northbrae)
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Listed: $1,898,000
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Sold: $3,071,250
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62% over asking
1175 Colusa Ave (4 Beds, 2 Baths; 2042 sq ft. in North Berkeley)
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Listed: $1,695,000
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Sold: $2,305,000
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36% over asking
Notably, these were not oversized trophy properties. They were well-positioned homes in strong pockets of North Berkeley.
When multiple single-family homes trade 30–60% over asking within weeks, that reflects concentrated demand, particularly this early in the calendar year.
In today’s rate environment, properties do not stretch this far above list without meaningful competition. These outcomes suggest:
This is sustained pressure in a specific segment of the East Bay market. Historically, when Berkeley tightens in these pockets, buyer search expands into adjacent Oakland neighborhoods.
