$786,133Average Value$568Average Price per Sq Ft4Homes For Sale
A midtown neighborhood full of midcentury charm
San Leandro’s Lower Bal neighborhood may be one of the sweetest places to live. Full of vintage charm and close to the heart of the city the neighborhood is home to the Ghirardelli Chocolate factory. However, Suzanne A. Agasi, a Realtor with Marker Luxury Properties, says the real treat about living there is the community feel. “It’s sunny, it’s safe, it’s sophisticated and it has a real warmth to it,” says Agasi. Most of Lower Bal’s residents have called this community home for years, even as its advantageous location near Oakland and San Francisco has created an in-demand housing market.
Lower Bal offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents rent their home.
Homes in Lower Bal come in a wide range of shapes and sizes.
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Home to the Ghirardelli chocolate factory
Ghirardelli has famously produced and sold chocolate in the Bay Area for more than 170 years. It moved its factory to Lower Bal in the 1960s. Today, residents and tourists head to the factory outlet there for chocolates, ice cream sundaes and milkshakes.
Hesperian Boulevard and 14th Street are two of San Leandro’s main retail corridors and both border Lower Bal. It’s where grocery options like Target and the Asian-themed 88 Seafood Supermarket are located. The Bayfair Center shopping mall at the neighborhood’s southern end has closed but the San Leandro Farmers’ Market continues to be held outside of it every Saturday. Also the Cinemark continues to show there. For a vintage movie-watching experience, the BAL Theatre, which opened in 1946, frequently hosts live music and independent film screenings. For dining Fat Fish specializes in Japanese classics like teriyaki, sushi and ramen, while Joe’s Pho serves up the famous Vietnamese soup. Parekoy Lutong Pinoy, which sits across from the BAL, offers a vast menu of Filipino staples like adobo and lumpia.
Ghirardelli Chocolate proudly manufactured in Lower Bal, San Leandro for many decades.
Ghirardelli Chocolate proudly manufactured in America for over 165 years.
A wide selection of delicious chocolate at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory in Lower Bal.
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Postwar ranch-style homes mix with 1970s condos in Lower Bal
The majority of Lower Bal’s housing stock was built during the 1940s and early 1950s, and ranch-style homes dominate its grid-patterned streets. These houses vary in price from $400,000 to $950,000, while split-level residences can fetch between $1 million and $1.3 million. Condos present less expensive alternatives, varying in price from $300,000 to $610,000. Lower Bal’s streetscapes are defined by small front lawns and driveways, while all homes enjoy sidewalk access. Condos and townhouses tend to feature community pools.
Lower Bal is an attractive place to live for those seeking a residential lifestyle.
In Lower Bal ranch-style homes dominate the grid-patterned streets.
You can often find manicured gardens in Lower Bal.
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Creative career pathways at San Leandro High School
Jefferson Elementary School receives a C-plus rating from Niche, while Bancroft Middle School scores a B-minus. San Leandro High School, rated “B,” offers AP courses in addition to specialized programs focused on fine arts, business, career technical education and a social justice academy. The school’s Maker’s Club recently took the top prize at a UC Berkeley robotics competition. Russell Means, a crusader for Indigenous civil rights, is among this school’s notable alumni.
Jefferson Elementary School is one of the top elementary schools in Lower Bal.
Bancroft Middle School provides a comprehensive program that supports all learners in Lower Bal.
San Leandro High School offers Advanced Placement courses for Lower Bal students.
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Community happenings at Halcyon Park
Halcyon Park forms the green heart of Lower Bal, both due to its central location and its popularity as a community gathering place. “There are lots of birthdays, lots of baby showers, lots of celebrating. Plus, people love to go walking there,” Agasi says. Abundant trees shade this park’s circular walking paths, and Halcyon Park also features a volleyball court, a large playground and a fenced-in tot lot. Lake Chabot Regional Park sits 3 miles around the corner from Lower Bal, and its 315-acre reservoir is popular for hiking, fishing, canoeing and picnicking.
Lower Bal resident can enjoy a brisk morning walk with their dogs at Halcyon Park.
An outdoor gym offers hours of exercise near Lake Chabot at Sequoyah.
Lake Chabot Park is encompassed by scenic natural beauty including lush greenery and hills.
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Train and highway access to the Bay Area's big cities
Lower Bal sits halfway between Interstates 880 and 580, connecting this neighborhood to downtown Oakland 13 miles to the north and San Francisco 25 miles to the northwest. This neighborhood is also close to the Bay Fair BART station, which takes commuters into both cities within a 30-minute train ride. San Leandro Hospital, a 93-bed facility, is located within the neighborhood.
Bay Fair station is the closest BART station to Lower Bal.
Lower Bal sits halfway between Interstates 880 and 580, connecting this neighborhood to Oakland.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Lower Bal
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Lower Bal Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Lower Bal, San Leandro sell after 39 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Lower Bal, San Leandro over the last 12 months is $768,888, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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