Area Information
San Ramon is a suburban city of the San Francisco Bay Area, and lies in the San Ramon Valley. San Ramon’s population was approximately 74,000 in 2012, making it 4th largest city in Contra Costa County, behind, Richmond, Concord and Antioch. San Ramon is home to the headquarters of the Chevron Corporation, 24-Hour Fitness, the West Coast headquarters of AT&T Inc., the Global Software Center of GE, Bank of the West, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) as well as the San Ramon Medical Center. Major annual events include the Art and Wind Festival on Memorial Day weekend, the Fourth of July Picnic and Fireworks Show, and the Primo’s Run for Education in October. San Ramon was originally a ranching and agricultural area, with rolling oak studded hills and spectacular valleys. It was the gold rush in the 1700s that helped the village of San Ramon get established, thanks to a stage coach line that ran from the valley to Oakland. The first post office was established in the village in 1873. The Southern Pacific Railroad came to the valley in 1891, along what is now the iron horse trail. It remained predominantly an agricultural and ranching hub until 1966, when Interstate 680 was completed connecting San Jose with Walnut Creek, and bringing with it suburban development.
Several early settlers purchased large tracts of land for ranching and agriculture. One of the notable settlers, Thomas Bishop, acquired 3000 acres of land in San Ramon. In 1978, this land became Bishop Ranch, encompassing Bishop Ranch Business Park which is home to several major employers now. Indeed, it was the development of Bishop Ranch that shaped San Ramon, as large corporations moved operations from the expensive San Francisco and Oakland marketplaces to the wide open spaces of San Ramon, bringing with them thousands of well paid employees. In 1983, the city finally incorporated, and officially became the city of San Ramon.
While San Ramon Real Estate experienced tremendous growth starting in the 1970’s, it still lacked one feature found in Danville, Pleasanton, and Livermore… a downtown. Various plans have been put forth to develop a downtown area for San Ramon. Original plans envisioned redeveloping the site of the original village off of Crow Canyon Rd, San Ramon Valley Rd, and Deerwood Dr. Recently in 2008, the city announced plans to build a “downtown” city center on 40 acres along Bollinger Canyon Rd in Bishop Ranch. At a projected cost of $750 million, the current plan proposes a hotel, high end retail, movie theatre, restaurants, library, city hall, transit center, residential units, and high end office space.
San Ramon is part of the San Ramon Valley School District, which also serves Danville, Alamo, and Blackhawk. The San Ramon Valley School District is very highly regarded, boasting some of the best schools in the Bay Area. Housing in San Ramon covers many styles and price ranges. There are affordable condos and townhomes, luxury townhomes, patio homes, and higher density planned unit developments, and many single family home developments. There are modest older homes in central San Ramon, more luxurious homes in the Twin Creeks & Bollinger Hills area, and 3 major master planned communities on the Eastern edge of San Ramon in the Dougherty Valley: Gale Ranch, The Bridges, and Windemere. It is the ample supply of new neighborhoods and homes that makes San Ramon such a popular destination for home buyers. Luxury home developments, such as Norris Canyon Estates, provide exquisite estates for those searching for more exclusive housing options. Indeed, there are a variety of choices for virtually every price range.
Dublin is a suburban city of the East (San Francisco) Bay region of Alameda County. Located along the north side of Interstate 580 at the intersection with Interstate 680, roughly 10 miles (16 km) east of Hayward, 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Livermore, directly north of Pleasanton, and 35 miles (56 km) north of San Jose, it was named after the city of Dublin in Ireland. Dublin is the second-fastest growing city in the state of California, behind only Santa Clarita. The population was 46,063 (2010 census), and the 2013 estimate at 49,890. It is forecasted that by 2030, the population will grow to about 75,900. Dublin is home to the headquarters of Sybase, Inc, now part of SAP AG, Tria Beauty, Medley Health and Arlen Ness. Historically, Dublin had been a bedroom community originally settled in the 1800s, mainly by Irish immigrants. Back then, it was located at the junction of two important stage coach lines (the early gold rush equivalent of interstate 580 & 680). For much of the 1960s through the 1980s Dublin was a small, charming community proud of its Irish heritage, with affordable housing and strong community ties.
Beginning in the late 1990s, Dublin experienced a dramatic transformation from a small bedroom community to a more urban, planned modern city with sparkling subdivisions, golf courses, major shopping centers, new schools and parks, and upscale homes, many well over $1 million. Dublin’s strategic location has created strong demand from major employers, including Sybase, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente, as well as home buyers. The unmatched quality of life in Dublin has made it a destination for buyers looking for the ultimate in suburban living.
Dublin offers many neighborhoods, with prices ranging from $500,000 to well over $1 million. Dublin enjoys an abundance of new homes and properties, and offers buyers outstanding real estate opportunities. Dublin Ranch, a master planned community on the Eastern flank of the city, combines higher density condo & attached homes with traditional detached single family homes, built around the Dublin Ranch golf club, a magnificent golf course and clubhouse with sweeping views of the valley. Dublin Real Estate boasts Hacienda Crossings, a popular shopping center and movie theatre complex with tenants such as Best Buy, Old Navy, Any Mountain, Barnes & Noble, and more. Several high end retail developments are planned for the East Dublin area, providing excellent access to shopping and services alike. There is also an additional BART station in West Dublin across from the Stoneridge Mall. With such excellent access to transportation, plentiful housing options, a strong employment base, and abundant retail and medical resources, Dublin real estate is poised to continue its strong historic appreciation in the years to come.
Dublin is a suburban city of the East (San Francisco) Bay region of Alameda County. Located along the north side of Interstate 580 at the intersection with Interstate 680, roughly 10 miles (16 km) east of Hayward, 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Livermore, directly north of Pleasanton, and 35 miles (56 km) north of San Jose, it was named after the city of Dublin in Ireland. Dublin is the second-fastest growing city in the state of California, behind only Santa Clarita. The population was 46,063 (2010 census), and the 2013 estimate at 49,890. It is forecasted that by 2030, the population will grow to about 75,900. Dublin is home to the headquarters of Sybase, Inc, now part of SAP AG, Tria Beauty, Medley Health and Arlen Ness. Historically, Dublin had been a bedroom community originally settled in the 1800s, mainly by Irish immigrants. Back then, it was located at the junction of two important stage coach lines (the early gold rush equivalent of interstate 580 & 680). For much of the 1960s through the 1980s Dublin was a small, charming community proud of its Irish heritage, with affordable housing and strong community ties.
Beginning in the late 1990s, Dublin experienced a dramatic transformation from a small bedroom community to a more urban, planned modern city with sparkling subdivisions, golf courses, major shopping centers, new schools and parks, and upscale homes, many well over $1 million. Dublin’s strategic location has created strong demand from major employers, including Sybase, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente, as well as home buyers. The unmatched quality of life in Dublin has made it a destination for buyers looking for the ultimate in suburban living.
Dublin offers many neighborhoods, with prices ranging from $500,000 to well over $1 million. Dublin enjoys an abundance of new homes and properties, and offers buyers outstanding real estate opportunities. Dublin Ranch, a master planned community on the Eastern flank of the city, combines higher density condo & attached homes with traditional detached single family homes, built around the Dublin Ranch golf club, a magnificent golf course and clubhouse with sweeping views of the valley. Dublin Real Estate boasts Hacienda Crossings, a popular shopping center and movie theatre complex with tenants such as Best Buy, Old Navy, Any Mountain, Barnes & Noble, and more. Several high end retail developments are planned for the East Dublin area, providing excellent access to shopping and services alike. There is also an additional BART station in West Dublin across from the Stoneridge Mall. With such excellent access to transportation, plentiful housing options, a strong employment base, and abundant retail and medical resources, Dublin real estate is poised to continue its strong historic appreciation in the years to come.
Pleasanton (P-Town) is a city in Alameda County, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about 25 miles (40 km) east of Oakland, and 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in the United States by the Census Bureau. Pleasanton is home to the headquarters of Safeway Inc. and Blackhawk Network. Although Oakland is the Alameda County seat, a few county offices and a courthouse are located in Pleasanton. Additionally, the main county jail is in the neighboring city of Dublin. The Alameda County Fairgrounds are located in Pleasanton and are held during the last week of June and the first week of July. Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park is located on the west side of town.
Pleasanton is reported being number 4 by “USA Today” in “America’s 50 best cities to live in” in 2014, number 63 in Money’s list of “The Best Places to Live” in 2010, and was also named one of “Americans’ Top Hometown Spots” in the United States in 2009 by Forbes. Pleasanton was named the third wealthiest city in terms of earnings in the United States by NerdWallet in 2013.
Pleasanton’s downtown area is filled with numerous fine restaurants, cafes, antique and specialty shops, and boutiques, which makes it truly the heart of the community. Pleasanton real estate market is fast growing Tri-Valley region. Pleasanton is home to Stoneridge Mall, a major regional shopping mall featuring Nordstrom’s, Macy’s, JC Penny, Sears, and all the major mall retailers, as well as major restaurants such as Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s. Pleasanton is also home to Hacienda Business Park, one of the largest business parks in the western United States, with several Fortune 500 tenants. Pleasanton also has a major Sports Park, which contains over 28 youth and adult sports fields. It hosts several major shows such as The Good Guys classic car show, Home & Garden shows, and Boat shows to name a few. Pleasanton also has several major medical facilities such as Valley Care Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente.
Pleasanton boasts some of the best public schools in the Bay Area, as well as two highly regarded high schools in Foothill High and Amador Valley High schools. Regarding housing, Pleasanton offers a wide range of options, from condos and townhomes to single family tract homes in good neighborhoods, to an impressive high end and luxury home communities. To name a few luxury home neighborhoods, Golden Eagle Estates in the West Pleasanton hills, and Ruby Hill a gated golf community and private country club in the wine growing region on the eastern side of Pleasanton. There are many housing options available for every budget. Pleasanton is certainly one of the most desirable cities to live in the Bay Area.
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. Its estimated 2013 population was 85,156. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California’s San Francisco Bay Area. Livermore was founded by William Mendenhall and named after Robert Livermore, his friend and a local rancher who settled in the area in the 1840s. Livermore is the home of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the California site of Sandia National Laboratories. The south side of Livermore is home to local vineyards. The city is considered part of the Tri-Valley area, including Amador, Livermore and San Ramon Valleys. Livermore is one of the oldest wine growing regions in California. Livermore vineyards, such as Wente Vineyards and Concannon Vineyards, have graced the valley since 1849. In 1984, Livermore’s microclimate was deemed perfect for growing varietals like Sauvingnon Blanc, Semillion and Cabernet grapes. The South Livermore Valley Area Plan, adopted by Alameda County in February 1993, intends to promote viticulture in the 14,000 acres southeast of Pleasanton, one of our neighboring cities.
Livermore adopted an economic development program in 1992 and is actively pursuing the expansion of Livermore’s industrial and commercial base. In the past few years, the city has seen significant retail activity, especially along Interstate 580. Target, Walmart, Costo, and Ross all have claimed a spot in the city’s economy. Perhaps most exciting is the downtown redevelopment plan, which has transformed downtown Livermore real estate into a attractive shopping district and destination, with a movie theatre, a performing arts center, and high end restaurants, retail and office developments and more recently a factory outlet mall which hosts most renowned retail chains.
The Livermore schools system is improving dramatically, and with the construction of several new schools on the North side of the city, the school test scores have seen significant progress, and now place Livermore schools among the best in the East Bay area. Housing has always been more affordable in Livermore. There is a significant number of older, modest neighborhoods near downtown Livermore. Beginning in the 1990’s there has been significant development on the North side of Livermore, with newer affordable housing and sparkling neighborhoods, parks, and schools. There has also been significant higher end development in the South Livermore area, where luxury home neighborhoods mix with vineyards to create a unique wine country experience.
Livermore offers a variety of community events including the Livermore Pro Rodeo, Harvest Wine Festival, Days of Wine and Honey to name a few. The weather is warmer and dryer than the shore cities of Alameda County, but not as hot as the Central Valley. Livermore is a unique combination of rolling hills, scenic vineyards, a quaint downtown, and a generous mix of price ranges and neighborhoods, which makes this an attractive destination for home buyers.
The town of Danville is located in the San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County. The population was 42,039 in 2010. Danville is one of California’s top 25 wealthiest cities, and one of the wealthiest suburbs of Oakland and San Francisco. Danville is home to some of the most expensive real estate and exclusive country clubs in the nation. The Iron Horse Regional Trail runs through Danville. It was first a railroad that was later converted to an 80-foot (24 m) wide corridor of bike and hike trails as well as controlled intersections. Extending from Dublin to Concord, the trail passes through Danville. The Danville Library hosts a number of community events, such as the annual Halloween activities for kids and book sales. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is located in downtown Danville and hosts regional history exhibits and traveling shows in the converted railroad station adjacent to the Iron Horse Trail.
Danville is home to two main public high schools: Monte Vista High School and San Ramon Valley High School. There is a continuation high school called Del Amigo, which is stationed next to San Ramon Valley High. It is also home to The Athenian School, a private college preparatory school for grades 6-12 that is nestled in the foothills of Mount Diablo State Park. Danville’s public schools are rated some of the best in California, with 98% of its high school graduates attending colleges and technical schools. Danville is also home to the Village Theatre and Art Gallery, hosting children’s theatre, Broadway shows and art discussions.
Danville has been in existence since the gold rush days. Like several other Tri-Valley cities, Danville was originally a grazing and agricultural center, and was a stage coach stop during the 1800’s. In the late 1800’s, Southern Pacific railroad came to the valley, and a train stop was located on Railroad Ave near downtown. With the completion of Interstate 680 in the late 1960’s, Danville began to experience growth, as families began to move East for more affordable housing and a sunnier climate. When the office space and business parks boomed in San Ramon and Walnut Creek in the 1970’s and 1980’s, Danville quickly became a desirable destination due to its charming downtown, as well as its attractive neighborhoods with generous lot sizes. In the 1980’s, real estate and homes for sale in Danville became known for its luxury home developments, specifically with the development of Blackhawk, a gated luxury golf course development in the foothills of Mt. Diablo. Beginning in the 1980’s, development began to cover the Tassajara Valley, a picturesque area with rolling hills and spectacular views. Danville has purposely shunned the large scale commercial development that put San Ramon and Pleasanton on the map, preferring to keep its unique downtown as the center of commerce. Danville is home to several quality restaurants including Bridges, where segments of the movie Mrs. Doubtfire were filmed. Danville indeed is a great choice for buying real estate.
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