Redwood Heights Homes for Sale | Oakland
Redwood Heights is one of Oakland's most warmly regarded family neighborhoods — a diverse, multicultural community of Craftsman bungalows, storybook cottages, Tudor Revivals, and midcentury moderns set along hilly, sidewalk-lined streets above the Laurel District. Named for the former logging road that once wound into the Oakland Hills, Redwood Heights has evolved from a suburban Oakland enclave of the 1920s into one of the city's most actively sought neighborhoods for families with young children, drawn by a top-rated elementary school, an active recreation center, and Peralta Creek running through the neighborhood as a designated wildlife corridor. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park's 1,883 acres of redwood forest and 40+ miles of trails begin just 2 miles from most Redwood Heights addresses. For buyers who want the green, family-friendly atmosphere of a neighborhood that has been lovingly tended across generations — and where families routinely plant roots and stay — Redwood Heights consistently earns its reputation.
Redwood Heights Real Estate
Neighborhood Character
Redwood Heights has an unusually stable and community-oriented character. Many families move in and stay for decades, contributing to the generational continuity that gives the neighborhood its warm, neighborly atmosphere. The Redwood Heights Neighborhood Association, active for over 60 years, is dedicated to preserving community cohesion and organizing the summer block parties and barbecues that are a regular feature of neighborhood life. The Redwood Heights Recreation Center at the intersection of Aliso Avenue and Redwood Road serves as the neighborhood's community hub — hosting classes in dance, cooking, and fitness for all ages, neighborhood association meetings, and after-school care. Redwood Heights Park is currently undergoing a transformation with a butterfly garden, pavilion, and plans for expanded sports and recreation facilities.
The neighborhood is close to the Laurel District to the west — Oakland's beloved commercial strip on MacArthur Boulevard, known for its restaurants, breweries, and boutiques — and the Lincoln Square Shopping Center directly across Highway 13, which offers a Safeway and CVS for everyday needs.
Peralta Creek & Outdoor Access
Peralta Creek runs through Redwood Heights and has been designated as a wildlife corridor, supporting a naturalistic green ribbon through the neighborhood that a local nonprofit — Native Environment Watershed Transformation (NEWT) — actively stewards through creek restoration and school field trips. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park is approximately 2 miles away, with 1,883 acres of second-growth redwood forest and over 40 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails including the East Bay Skyline National Trail and the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Joaquin Miller Park, with its redwood groves and the Chabot Space & Science Center (public observatory and planetarium), is similarly close. The Oakland Zoo is less than 5 miles away via I-580 — a practical neighborhood asset for families.
Homes & Architecture
Redwood Heights' housing stock was primarily built between the 1920s and the 1950s, with a remarkably diverse range of styles that gives the neighborhood its eclectic visual character. Craftsman bungalows with tiled fireplaces and original woodwork, storybook cottages with ornate detailing, Tudor Revival homes with arched entries and half-timbering, French Normandy designs, Mission-style homes, and midcentury moderns share the neighborhood's hilly streets. Most are 2–3 bedroom homes in the modest-to-medium range — practical family homes that have been updated across generations without losing their period character. Some hillside homes on 35th Avenue and Redwood Road offer sweeping Bay views.
Home sizes range from approximately 825 sq ft to over 4,500 sq ft, with most Redwood Heights homes in the 1,000–2,000 sq ft range — reflecting the neighborhood's original development as a middle-class suburban community.
Pricing & Market
Redwood Heights' median sale price has been approximately $937K–$996K over the past year, with homes selling in 16–19 days. The market is very competitive — hot homes have sold up to 32% above list price and gone pending in around 13 days. This places Redwood Heights in an attractive pricing position: below the premium hill neighborhoods like Montclair and Oakmore, but with comparable access to parks, schools, and community character that many buyers find equally compelling.
Schools
Redwood Heights Elementary School — a top-performing OUSD elementary that has served the neighborhood since 1949 — is the primary educational anchor and a leading reason families choose the neighborhood. Skyline High School serves at the secondary level with specialty programs. The Redwood Heights Recreation Center provides robust after-school and summer programming that complements the formal school calendar. Private school options in the broader Laurel, Montclair, and Piedmont areas are accessible within a short drive.
Location & Transit
Redwood Heights sits between Highway 13 (the Warren Freeway) and the Oakland foothills. Highway 13 provides immediate freeway access to I-580, I-880, Highway 24, and Rockridge BART. The Freeman Expressway and I-580 provide surface and freeway routes to downtown Oakland (7 miles), San Francisco (Bay Bridge, approximately 25–30 minutes), and Oakland International Airport (less than 7 miles). AC Transit bus service along 35th Avenue connects to BART and downtown Oakland. The neighborhood is approximately 2 miles from the Laurel District's MacArthur Boulevard for dining and shopping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Redwood Heights in Oakland?
Redwood Heights is in east Oakland above the Laurel District, at the base of the Oakland Hills. Highway 13 (the Warren Freeway) runs along its western boundary. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park is 2 miles away, and the Laurel District's MacArthur Boulevard commercial corridor is just west.
What are home prices in Redwood Heights?
The median sale price has been approximately $937K–$996K over the past year. Homes sell in 16–19 days on average; hot homes go pending in about 13 days at prices up to 32% above list. The range extends from under $800K for smaller homes to over $1.5M for larger properties with views.
What makes Redwood Heights popular with families?
Redwood Heights Elementary School is a top-performing neighborhood school. The Redwood Heights Recreation Center provides after-school care and community programming. Peralta Creek wildlife corridor runs through the neighborhood. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park and Joaquin Miller Park are 2 miles away. Block parties and neighborhood events reflect strong community cohesion going back generations.
What architectural styles are found in Redwood Heights?
The neighborhood features a notable diversity of styles from the 1920s–1950s: Craftsman bungalows, storybook cottages, Tudor Revivals, French Normandy homes, Mission-style residences, and midcentury moderns. The variety of architectural styles is a defining characteristic of the neighborhood's streetscape.
What is the Redwood Heights Recreation Center?
The Redwood Heights Recreation Center at Aliso Avenue and Redwood Road is the neighborhood's community hub — offering fitness and arts classes, after-school care, neighborhood association meetings, and space for community gatherings and events. It is a central institution in the neighborhood's social life.
Work With Bruce Wagg
Redwood Heights' combination of competitive pricing, architectural variety, and family-oriented community makes it one of Oakland's most rewarding neighborhoods to help buyers and sellers navigate. Bruce Wagg brings deep East Oakland knowledge and decades of experience to every Redwood Heights transaction — helping buyers understand which blocks and properties represent the best value, and helping sellers position their homes to win in a competitive, fast-moving market.
Call Bruce at (669) 202-8888 or use the contact form below to explore Redwood Heights homes.