Pinole, California

Pinole has a small town vibe with lots of great Mid-century Modern houses surprisingly close to the Bay, between Berkeley and Vallejo. There’s a Kaiser, Sprout’s Market & Trader Joe’s, too!

Like many Bay Area cities, Pinole’s diverse  neighborhoods can have very different personalities. (Perusing the current Pinole  listings below confirms just that!)

Some friends of mine moved from Berkeley to Pinole where they bought a house on a huge lot in a hilltop subdivision. They then landscaped it as a self-sustaining farm along with chickens. They love the bay view. (The chickens do, that is.)

The climate is perfect for a little homestead or casual gardening as well as a long season of outdoor dining.

I’ve spend a lot of time visiting them in Pinole and hearing their stories about their tight-knit neighborhood.

Meanwhile, the old town area feels like a cute Gold Rush-era town with “olde tyme” Victorians, surrounded by blocks of Mid-century Modern and cute WWII-era starter homes.

Just as San Leandro is an affordable town in between Silicon Valley, Berkeley and San Francisco, Pinole fits that bill between Wine Country / North Bay, Berkeley / Oakland, cities to the east like Vacaville and workplaces in Contra Costa towns. 

Pinole is a perfect place to live if you are seeking:

-affordable homes and lovely townhouses under $1 million (many mid-century fixer uppers!)–
–easy access to I80 and the San Pablo Dam Road along Berkeley, the Richmond Bridge and Vallejo–
–great weather–
–an easy, suburban lifestyle–
-proximity to open space preserves as well as a gorgeous waterfront-

Want to know more about what it’s like to live in Pinole or tour some homes for sale? Please get in touch, and I’ll be happy to help!