Question: What to do when you have 10 young men, all about to enter Cal as one sports sports team, and they all want to live together?
Answer: Help the corresponding team of parents locate and invest in a fine old sprawling Berkeley home on College Avenue!
I first got the call from one of the team parent several months before we successfully secured the right property. The boys required a place that was walking distance to campus, large enough that they were not living on top of each other, and safe enough that friends and family would feel comfortable visiting. The parents required an affordable sound investment, an architecturally significant home, and the opportunity to increase their equity through property improvements.
The rambling, classic brown-shingle home on College Avenue in Berkeley’s Elmwood district was a perfect fit. Designed by noted architect Leola Hall, the home is sure to remain in high demand in years to come. Technically a condo, the structure is one of two houses sharing a single lot, resulting in a much more affordable price. And like many old Berkeley homes, especially those near campus, there has been a creative re-imagining of interior space — especially the attic — allowing lots of opportunity for upgrading to more conventional interior design, with a corresponding boost in equity.
