Claremont Homes for Sale | Oakland
The Claremont district is one of Oakland's most prestigious and storied residential neighborhoods — a hillside community on Oakland's western edge, bordering Berkeley, centered on the iconic Claremont Resort & Spa. The resort itself, which opened in 1915, is a defining landmark of the entire East Bay: a gleaming white Victorian-era hotel visible from across the Bay, sitting at the foot of the Berkeley Hills and providing the visual and geographic anchor for one of the region's most exclusive residential addresses. Claremont's winding hillside streets are lined with early 20th-century Craftsman bungalows and larger traditional homes on the lower slopes, transitioning to contemporary estates with panoramic Bay views — many rebuilt after the 1991 Oakland firestorm — on the steeper terrain above. The Claremont Country Club (18-hole golf, tennis, pools) and the Claremont Club & Spa (fitness, tennis, pools) give the neighborhood a resort-like character that is unique among Oakland residential districts. Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, directly adjacent, provides immediate access to challenging hikes and sweeping ridgeline views.
Claremont Real Estate
Neighborhood Character
Claremont occupies a unique position in the East Bay residential landscape — it straddles the Oakland-Berkeley city boundary, giving residents proximity to UC Berkeley, Berkeley's commercial districts, and Oakland's urban amenities in equal measure. The neighborhood feels physically separated from denser Oakland by the wooded hillside terrain and the Claremont Avenue and Ashby Avenue corridors that define its edges. Claremont Avenue itself — running between Berkeley and Oakland with restaurants, cafes, and specialty shops — provides a low-key commercial corridor that supplements the neighborhood's primarily residential character.
Neighboring communities include Upper Rockridge to the south and the Berkeley Elmwood and Elmwood Hill neighborhoods to the north and west. The Claremont Hills designation applies to the upper, steeper terrain of the district, while the lower Claremont addresses closer to Claremont Avenue have a more accessible, flatter character. The Parkwoods condominium community — rebuilt after the 1991 firestorm — sits on the neighborhood's eastern edge near the Caldecott Tunnel.
The Claremont Resort & Historic Anchor
The Claremont Resort & Spa, opened in 1915, is one of California's landmark resort hotels and the defining visual symbol of the Claremont district. Perched on the Oakland-Berkeley Hills with panoramic Bay views, the resort's white Victorian facade and tower are recognizable from across the Bay and from the San Francisco skyline. The resort's tennis, spa, pool, and dining facilities are accessible to guests and members, and the hotel's presence elevates the entire district's prestige and brand recognition in ways that few neighborhood amenities can match. Being in the Claremont district means your address is immediately understood as one of Oakland's premier residential locations.
Outdoor Access & Open Space
Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve is directly adjacent to the upper Claremont district, offering challenging hikes with panoramic Bay and San Francisco views from the ridge. Garber Park, a quieter 1-mile loop trail through mixed forest, is accessible from within the neighborhood. Grizzly Peak is a popular sunset destination a short drive above the neighborhood. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, with its unique geological trails and hidden labyrinths, is also accessible via Skyline Boulevard. The combination of immediate parkland access and the broader regional park network gives Claremont one of the best outdoor recreation profiles of any Oakland neighborhood.
Homes & Architecture
Claremont's housing stock spans a wide architectural range. Early 20th-century Craftsman bungalows and larger traditional homes dominate the lower, more accessible streets — many fully updated while retaining original built-ins, fireplaces, and period detailing. The upper Claremont Hills section, substantially rebuilt after the 1991 firestorm, features contemporary and Mediterranean-influenced estates on larger hillside lots, designed to maximize the Bay views the terrain provides. Midcentury moderns appear on streets developed in the 1950s–1970s. Home sizes range from cottage-scale bungalows to multi-level estates over 4,000 sq ft.
Pricing in Claremont spans a significant range depending on elevation, views, and post-firestorm versus pre-fire construction: entry-level bungalows on lower streets can start in the low $700Ks, while upper-hill view homes with contemporary finishes range from $1.5M to $3M+. The Claremont Hills segment of the market has seen median sale prices around $1.7M+.
Schools
Claremont is served by Oakland Unified District schools including Chabot Elementary (B+ on Niche, with African American Male Achievement program), Claremont Middle School (B on Niche), and Oakland Technical High School (A on Niche, specialty career academies). The Bentley School — a prestigious private K-12 academy ranked #20 in California by Niche and focused on college preparation — is located within the Claremont district and is the area's most sought-after private school option.
Location & Transit
Claremont's location provides both freeway and transit access. Highway 24 is accessible via Claremont Avenue and the Caldecott Tunnel, connecting directly to Rockridge BART (less than 3 miles) and onward to BART stations across the Bay Area. I-80 via the Grove-Shafter Freeway provides a Bay Bridge route to San Francisco (approximately 18 miles). Downtown Oakland is approximately 9 miles by freeway. Oakland International Airport is less than 15 miles. AC Transit bus lines on Claremont Avenue and Ashby Avenue connect to BART and downtown Berkeley without a car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Claremont neighborhood in Oakland?
The Claremont district sits on Oakland's western edge, bordering Berkeley, centered on the Claremont Resort on Domingo Avenue and Ashby Avenue. It extends up into the Berkeley Hills via Claremont Avenue, with the upper terrain designated as Claremont Hills. It borders Upper Rockridge to the south and the Elmwood district of Berkeley to the north.
What is the Claremont Resort?
The Claremont Resort & Spa is a landmark Victorian-era hotel opened in 1915, perched on the Oakland-Berkeley Hills with panoramic Bay views. Its white facade and tower are visible from across the Bay and from San Francisco. The resort offers tennis, spa, pool, and dining facilities and serves as the defining landmark and prestige anchor of the Claremont residential district.
What are home prices in the Claremont district?
Claremont pricing varies significantly by elevation and era. Lower-slope bungalows start in the low $700Ks. Claremont Hills homes — upper-elevation, many rebuilt post-1991 firestorm — have a median around $1.5M–$1.7M+, with contemporary view estates reaching $3M+. Homes typically sell in 14–35 days depending on the specific sub-area.
What happened to Claremont Hills in the 1991 firestorm?
The 1991 Oakland firestorm destroyed thousands of homes throughout the Oakland-Berkeley Hills, with Claremont Hills among the most heavily affected areas. Rebuilding in the following decade transformed much of the upper district from older stock into contemporary estates designed to maximize views and meet updated fire-resistant construction standards. The natural landscape has fully recovered, and the rebuilt homes are now among the district's most desirable properties.
How close is Claremont to BART?
Rockridge BART station is less than 3 miles from most Claremont addresses — a short drive or a scenic bus ride via AC Transit on Claremont Avenue. Direct BART service to downtown San Francisco takes approximately 25 minutes from Rockridge.
Work With Bruce Wagg
The Claremont market spans a wide range of price points, property types, and micro-locations — from lower-slope bungalows to upper-hill contemporary estates, pre-firestorm originals to post-firestorm rebuilds. Understanding which properties represent value in each segment requires a nuanced, experienced approach. Bruce Wagg brings that depth to every Claremont transaction, for buyers seeking their ideal Oakland Hills address and sellers seeking to maximize returns in one of Oakland's most prestigious markets.
Call Bruce at (669) 202-8888 or use the contact form below to explore Claremont homes.