Orinda

Orinda Village was once the sight of ranching and summer cabins for Bay Area residents to retreat into the Oakland Hills. Today, the neighborhood is a close community with good schools and houses tucked away in the rolling hills of the East Bay. “Orinda Village has a true small-town feel,” says Ann Sharf, Realtor at Village Associate Real Estate. “This is a neighborhood where kids grow up, and everybody knows their neighbor.” Orinda Village maintains a strong connection to the Bay Area and is no longer just a summer retreat due to modern transportation access, such as a BART Train Station. Housing in Orinda Village dates to the early- and mid-20th century, with Ranch-style homes and cozy bungalows tucked away on hilly streets. “The neighborhood contains that classic California architecture with some Spanish Traditionals mixed in,” says Sharf. The market is very competitive, and an entry-level house in the neighborhood sells for around $1.8 million, while larger midcentury moderns can reach $2.5 million. Orinda Village is considered at risk for wildfires, but many neighborhood associations, such as the one found in Sleepy Hollow, implement fire safety measures adhering to standards set by Firewise USA®. “Orinda Village has access to some of the best schools in the state,” says Sharf. Younger students may begin their education at Wagner Ranch Elementary School and Orinda Intermediate School, both of which scored an A rating on Niche. Miramonte High School offers a broad spectrum of Advance Placement and Honors classes to prepare older students for college-level curriculum. Miramonte High School received an A-plus rating from Niche. Graduates looking to continue their education and stay close to home may attend the University of California Berkeley, just 10 miles away. Residents don’t have to go far for recreation as Orinda has its own community center, country club, and sports field. The Orinda Park Pool is one of ten pool clubs within the city and helps contribute to the area’s legacy of producing world-class water polo players. Golfers can head to the Orinda Country Club to tee off, while those looking to improve their background can play on the tennis courts at the Orinda Community Center. For more relaxed recreation, the Siesta Valley Recreation Area runs along the neighborhood’s southern border and has miles of hiking trails surrounded by scenic bay views. The neighborhood’s main commercial area is centered on Orinda Way and contains numerous shops, restaurants, and administrative buildings like Orinda City Hall. While the bright lights of Hollywood may be in southern California, the Orinda has been illuminating the silver screen since it opened its doors in 1941. Locals head to Casa Orinda for an upscale dining experience surrounded by Old West Décor. For a classic American breakfast, Village Inn Café serves the neighborhood with tasty corned beef hash and Belgian Waffles. Safeway provides the neighborhood with fresh produce and groceries. The Church of Saint Maria serves the area. Although Orinda Village may seem isolated from the Bay Area, the BART Orinda Train Station allows direct access to the nearby urban hubs. The commercial center of Orinda is walkable, but those looking to get to San Francisco or Oakland will require a car and can use California State Route 24, running along the neighborhood's southern end. Oakland International Airport is 17 miles away for those looking to travel. Orinda Village is a neighborhood centered around community, as reflected in the annual events hosted throughout the seasons. Residents head to the year-round Orinda Farmers Market every Saturday morning to shop for locally sourced produce, goods, and artisanal crafts. The Orinda Community Center hosts summer concerts every Thursday, and locals can enjoy the live music and food trucks free of charge. Crime in Orinda Valley is lower than the national average, according to the CAP Index. The neighborhood also contains a more desirable climate compared to surrounding cities. “Our weather is perfect,” says Sharf. “When it is cold and foggy in Oakland, it is warm and sunny in Orinda.”

Swimming clubs, community fun, and seclusion make Sleepy Hollow-Orinda one of the Bay Area's most desirable neighborhoods. "It's a real suburban area that has great schools, and it's coveted because the lot sizes are bigger in our area," says Shannon Conner, Realtor with Village Associates Real Estate, who has been working in real estate for 15 years and lives in Orinda. "Orinda is a great community." 20 miles from San Francisco and a quick drive to downtown Oakland, Sleepy Hollow is popular with people working in the city who want to live somewhere sleepy and free of metropolitan hustle and bustle. Sleepy Hollow-Orinda homes start in the multi-millions and range from $2-$12 million. Houses fetch these prices thanks to the neighborhood's location and the size of most of the lots here, and styles go from ranch and craftsmen to colonial and modern. The area is secluded, with the Briones Reservoir to the north, Orinda Country Club to the South, and 15 miles to downtown Oakland. Sleepy Hollow is known in part for its trick-or-treat streets. "You know, where people take their kids to trick or treat," says Conner. People decorate their houses for the occasion around Halloween, says Conner. The area is served by the Orinda Union School District, which has four elementary schools named "California Distinguished Schools" in 2023. Sleepy Hollow Elementary and Orinda Intermediate have A ratings on Niche, and Miramonte High School has an A-plus rating. Miramonte High has plenty of activities for students, including astro, martial arts and comic clubs. Hiking and being outside is a big part of life in Sleepy Hollow-Orinda. Biones Reservoir is less than a mile from the neighborhood. Trails loop around the water, and hikers can reach overlook points to take in the landscape and view the sparkling water. The community is active in more ways than hiking – people also love to swim in Sleepy Hollow-Orinda. "Swimming is very popular in our area. All the neighborhoods have swim clubs," says Conner. Adults and kids alike jump in the pool, volley tennis balls back and forth at the club's courts and hang out around picnic tables in the shade. Other than swimming, many people in the neighborhood enjoy a round of golf at the Orinda Country Club, which has an 18-hole course, clubhouse and swimming pool. Sleepy Hollow is close to shops but far from noise. Orinda Village is the closest shopping center just outside the insulated residential area. Restaurants range from Mexican food to Thai, plus a Starbucks and essential businesses like a post office and a Safeway. More shopping is a short drive away, like Theatre Square, home to Orinda Theatre and additional restaurants and shops. Sleepy Hollow-Orinda isn't sliced up by noisy interstates but is bordered by California State Route 24, which leads to San Francisco, Oakland and inland toward hiking spots like Mount Diablo. A BART station is also available that leads into Oakland and San Francisco. For international travel, the San Francisco International Airport is about 30 miles away.